ComicBook’s 10 Best Games of 2025, Ranked

2025 was an amazing year for games, with a ton of fantastic titles across all sizes and genres. We saw major releases like Silent Hill f and DOOM: The Dark Ages, alongside exciting mid-range games such as Revenge of the Savage Planet and Rematch. Even smaller indie titles like Consume Me and Sword of the Sea made a big impact. What was unique about this year was the lack of a few dominant games—instead, there were many great options. Despite ongoing challenges in the industry, like layoffs and corporate practices, this variety is definitely a positive thing.

There are lots of ways to pick the best games of the year, but here’s ComicBook’s list of the top 10 games of 2025.

10) Battlefield 6

The latest Battlefield game is a strong return to form for the series. Unlike previous releases that needed months or even years of updates to become truly enjoyable, this new installment launched as one of the best multiplayer shooters available. It excels thanks to its impactful and distinct weapons, combined with the series’ renowned sound design, which creates those unforgettable “Battlefield Moments.” The game constantly delivers shareable, exciting events – from incredibly lucky shots while riding a jet to chaotic, cartoonish scenarios where a stray object saves you from certain disaster.

While the main story and character development aren’t groundbreaking, it’s the incredible, player-created moments that truly make Battlefield special. Previous games have been held back by technical issues like bugs and server problems, but the latest installment has finally fixed those issues, allowing players to fully enjoy those amazing, unpredictable experiences without constant frustration.

9) Arc Raiders

Extraction shooters are so common that they’re often overlooked. New ones appear constantly, and many quickly fade away. However, Arc Raiders stood out from the crowd, earning widespread praise and becoming a surprising success, even beyond the expectations for its genre.

Arc Raiders was notable for its unique retro-futuristic style, the fact that you didn’t constantly lose your equipment, and its cleverly designed robot enemies. However, what truly set it apart was its strong community and the support offered to players. Unlike many games, starting out alone wasn’t daunting, because you always had access to reasonably good basic gear, letting you quickly get back into the action.

Players frequently enjoy chatting and helping each other, which is surprisingly heartwarming in today’s world and has resulted in many funny, widely shared videos and stories. The in-game voice chat makes these interactions even better, and it’s often more appealing to stay within the game than to switch to a separate app like Discord. While the core gameplay of collecting resources and fighting robots is incredibly fun and keeps you coming back for more, it’s these social features that truly make the game a fantastic multiplayer experience. It’s welcoming to both new players and those seeking a challenging survival game.

8) Hollow Knight: Silksong

Despite years of intense anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong largely lives up to the hype. The game features challenging platforming sections that demand precise movement and skillful use of its controls to navigate tricky obstacles and avoid enemies. Players will need to master the mechanics to survive encounters with numerous foes and overcome demanding boss battles. These intense fights require learning enemy patterns, but succeeding feels incredibly rewarding.

Sometimes, the game’s challenge feels unnecessarily harsh, even cruel. Having to repeatedly run back to bosses or checkpoints feels like artificial punishment designed to lengthen the game. While frustrating, this high difficulty is meaningfully connected to the game’s rich world and story, which explore themes of atonement and overcoming obstacles. These themes are woven into the gameplay itself, and though more options to adjust the difficulty would be welcome, the connection between challenge and narrative shows a clear level of care and design throughout the entire game.

7) Ghost of Yotei

Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Yotei feels quite similar to the previous game. It shares a lot of characteristics with other exclusive PlayStation titles, creating a familiar experience overall. However, what makes it special is how all these elements come together seamlessly.

Offering a wider range of weapons makes fighting feel more natural than in Ghost of Tsushima, where remembering all the different fighting styles can be tricky. This variety also adds more depth and excitement to battles. Each weapon has its own advantages and disadvantages to master – like the kusarigama’s satisfying grappling hook – but they all build on a strong foundation of core combat mechanics. The responsive controls and impactful visual effects make everything feel great, from perfectly timed parries to quickdraw pistol shots and throwing swords at enemies. This is especially true on the challenging, but highly customizable, Lethal difficulty. While combat is often an addition in games like this, it’s a core part of the experience here, making each fight enjoyable and worth pursuing.

While the story of Ghost of Yotei focuses on Atsu’s quest for revenge, the game’s world is truly the star. The rendition of the Ezo territory is breathtaking, but it’s the clever design that really stands out. The world is filled with interesting structures – a burning building here, a uniquely decorated bar there – that draw players in. These landmarks are often visible from a distance, encouraging exploration and leading to new quests or even just cool items. This organic way of discovering things makes the world feel dynamic and lived-in, something many other open-world games struggle to achieve. Though the narrative can be uneven, the world itself consistently impresses.

6) Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Okay, so Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is definitely challenging. It’s the kind of game where you actually have to think about things like keeping Henry clean and wearing appropriate clothes – seriously, being smelly or dressed wrong can have consequences! But honestly, that’s part of what makes it so good. It’s incredibly immersive. You really feel like you are Henry, and that means taking care of the basics – sharpening your sword, getting enough rest, eating, and yeah, even bathing. If you ignore those things, the game world definitely notices. It’s not perfect – sometimes it doesn’t react to my actions quite right – but those little issues don’t take away from how much freedom it gives you to really get into the role of Henry and just live in that world.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 delivers on the legacy of older Bethesda games by giving players meaningful choices and letting them interact with a complex game world. The game’s numerous side quests – often surprisingly detailed and well-written – really draw you in and make the world feel alive. While it’s a large, visually stunning game with solid combat, it’s the immersive moments where you can explore and are rewarded for doing so that truly make Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 a standout title.

5) Blue Prince

Roguelikes have come in many forms – action, shooting, and even card games – and now Blue Prince adds a unique twist: exploration combined with building rooms. This unusual and surprising combination makes Blue Prince one of the most innovative games released this year.

The initial step in this complex game is learning to connect rooms effectively to maximize your progress. It requires some strategy, logical thinking, and a bit of chance. Understanding what each room does – since they all have unique benefits and designs – takes time and practice, but players can gradually become skilled at it.

The game offers much more than just surface-level enjoyment. Players are constantly challenged to observe small details and unravel a surprisingly rich backstory, turning discovery into a puzzle itself. Progress requires careful attention, and while occasional bad luck can be frustrating, each attempt feels valuable and contributes to the game’s overall quality. Ultimately, Blue Prince is shaping up to be a truly memorable and defining game within its genre.

4) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Kojima Productions surprised many by taking a familiar approach with their latest game. Known for drastically changing things up in sequels, Hideo Kojima and his team have instead delivered a follow-up to their 2019 game, Death Stranding, that feels relatively safe. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach puts players back in the role of Sam Porter Bridges, continuing the story without majorly altering the core gameplay or setting.

Even though you likely know what to expect, this game is still a treat, showcasing the studio’s signature style. Driving packages through rundown Australian and Mexican environments isn’t just about getting there – it’s a puzzle. Players need to figure out the best route and how to equip their vehicle. Will you rely on clever gadgets and non-lethal options, or go in with heavy firepower? Space is limited, so even though this game is a bit more forgiving than the first, every decision matters.

Despite some over-the-top drama and a needlessly complicated story – typical of Hideo Kojima – this post-apocalyptic delivery game is well-made and surprisingly heartfelt. It’s packed with symbolism and boasts a visual style that few games can match, making its ambitious, if sometimes cheesy, ideas truly impressive.

3) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Originally an obscure RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 became one of the most talked-about games of 2025. Its development was a rare success story; a new team escaped the typical cycle of big-budget game production to create something truly unique. In an industry dominated by sequels and unoriginal concepts – and where new studios often struggle – Clair Obscur‘s achievement really stood out.

The game’s upbeat presentation is a striking contrast to its serious story. Clair Obscur is a deeply affecting and complex game that thoughtfully explores themes of grief and loss. While it tackles difficult and relatable issues, it does so through a unique, dreamlike French perspective. Even in a market full of great stories, Clair Obscur stands out.

The game’s excellent combat system is a major highlight, allowing it to stand out even without a compelling story. It successfully borrows elements from action games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Devil May Cry, adding a layer of skill and precision to the turn-based battles that’s often missing in the genre. Players need to master timing their defenses, which feels incredibly rewarding and complements the strategic choices around attacks, combinations, and equipment. It’s a clever blend of familiar ideas, presented with enough style and strategic depth to make it one of the most satisfying games released this year. Combined with a fantastic story and distinctive visuals, it’s clear why Clair Obscur is such a complete and enjoyable experience.

2) Hades 2

As a huge fan of Supergiant Games, I was so excited to see them make a sequel to Hades – their first in 16 years! And Hades 2 definitely proves they should make more! It really feels like the game I loved, with all the things that made the original so special. The characters are gorgeous and really bring the world to life, and the writing is as beautiful and poetic as ever, with amazing voice acting. What I love most is that every run feels different. There are so many weapons, bosses, and Boons, plus tons of dialogue and ways to build your character, that you can play for ages and never have the same experience twice. The controls are so smooth, so when you do die, it’s never the game’s fault – it just makes you want to jump right back in for ‘one more run’!

Okay, as a huge fan of the first Hades, jumping into Hades 2 felt instantly comfortable, but it definitely has its own thing going on. It’s hard not to compare it to the original, but honestly, that’s not a bad thing! Playing as Melinoë is different from Zagreus – she’s all about smart positioning and using spells, which is really cool. The Arcana Cards are a fantastic addition; they’re more involved than the Mirror of Night stuff from the first game and make the meta-progression even more satisfying. Plus, the familiars are way deeper than the Keepsakes were, and they really help you feel like a powerful sorceress. The story wraps up a little awkwardly, especially compared to how perfectly the first Hades ended, but it doesn’t ruin the overall experience. Honestly, Hades 2 is incredible and proves why this series is still one of the best in the roguelike genre.

1) Dispatch

Telltale Games achieved a lot of success, but its formula became predictable. While they continued to make good games, they struggled to evolve the adventure game genre. This ultimately led to the studio’s downfall, and similar games like Star Trek: Resurgence and The Expanse: A Telltale Series couldn’t revitalize the style. That changed with the release of Dispatch by AdHoc Studio.

This workplace comedy about superheroes revitalized the genre with a fresh approach. It consistently released new episodes weekly, allowing players to fully engage with the story and anticipate what would happen next. The game excels at developing its characters, enhanced by consistently funny writing and plenty of gags. While not every joke lands perfectly, it’s a surprisingly humorous experience, made even better by polished writing and detailed animation. Thankfully, the game has moved away from the rough animation style of previous titles, opting for a look similar to a standard animated TV show, with bright, colorful visuals that are a pleasure to watch.

Dispatch improves the gameplay by moving beyond simple item searches and frustrating puzzles. Assigning heroes to missions and figuring out the best person for each job is a satisfying process that encourages strategic thinking. While the game doesn’t always explain these systems clearly, and these missions usually don’t impact the main story, it’s still impressive to see a story-driven game try to offer engaging gameplay beyond just button presses.

Dispatch is a fantastic burst of energy that this type of game desperately needed. With a charming cast of quirky characters, a constant stream of funny moments, surprisingly engaging missions, and a stylish look, it’s a standout success. Hopefully, it signals great things to come for both the development team and the genre itself.

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2025-12-28 17:16