It might come as no surprise that among the various topics I cover, including games and technology, I also enjoy indulging in the pastime of playing video games for pleasure.
As a self-proclaimed enthusiast, I can’t help but boast about the intricate Excel spreadsheet I maintain to catalog my gaming journey – from completed titles, ongoing backlog, right down to my coveted wishlist. Since I embarked on this quest, I’ve conquered an impressive 195 distinct games (many of them fully mastered), 197 games reside in my Xbox Series X library waiting for their turn, and there are numerous others, either not yet mine or still tucked away on my wishlist.
2025 has undeniably been an extraordinary year for gaming, so I decided to reminisce about the games that caught my attention thus far, the one that could potentially be my game of the year, and the ones in my queue that I eagerly anticipate playing.
The honorable mentions
Initially, let’s acknowledge two notable mentions before we proceed. The first is Copycat, an independent game I previously reviewed. It’s poignantly melancholic in its minimalism, and it undeniably tugged at my heartstrings – however, due to its brief duration, it didn’t leave the same lasting impression as these other games did.
The second release of this year from Xbox’s own studio is called “South of Midnight.” In our critique, we lauded “South of Midnight,” but I concur with my teammate in their assessment that the art design, world creation, characters, and storyline are all exceptional; however, it leans too heavily on gameplay which, although initially engaging, eventually feels shallow and repetitive.
5. Avowed
One item high on my list is often overlooked since it came out at the start of the year. I’m referring to Avowed, the upcoming release (for a few more weeks, at least) by Obsidian Entertainment.
In my critique, I utterly enjoyed Avowed and found it immensely entertaining as a vibrant role-playing game that skillfully incorporated wit in its grim storyline. Yet, I’m curious why Avowed doesn’t rank higher on this list.
To put it simply, the game encountered several problems upon release, including many glitches and suboptimal performance. Furthermore, while Obsidian did a fantastic job creating an immersive world, other games released this year offered a more impactful storyline or more captivating gameplay experience.
4. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
As a tech enthusiast, let me share my perspective on Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, a game that has been quite polarizing among gamers. While there are valid reasons for distrusting Ubisoft, I urge you not to judge Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate based on those grounds alone. This game offers an engaging experience and is worth trying out, despite the company’s past issues.
Ubisoft, as a publisher, has been experiencing a decline for quite some time, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows stands out as one of its finest games in years. This game is expansive and bold, boasting a stunningly beautiful world, captivating and varied gameplay that’s hard to put down, and a narrative, though simple, that manages to engage players effectively.
In the course of writing my review, I invested approximately 112 hours in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, nearly reaching full completion. This wasn’t compelled; instead, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the gameplay experience. However, the subsequent three games left a deeper impact on me.
3. Blue Prince
Among the year’s standout games that caught me off guard is Blue Prince, a game I previously hadn’t even known existed. It skyrocketed to become one of the highest-rated and most praised video games ever made by critics.
As an analyst, I’d describe it like this: I’ve stumbled upon a fascinating blend of strategy and intellect called Blue Prince. In this game, I find myself as the new heir to an enigmatic uncle’s estate, but there’s a catch – I must navigate through a perpetually changing 45-room manor to locate the elusive 46th room.
The Blue Prince is an exceptional game that has gotten my coworker hooked to the point she had to remove it from her device. I found myself captivated by discovering hidden mysteries, yet what initially made the game so remarkable sometimes feels repetitive after numerous play sessions – and this repetition is due to its randomness.
2. Citizen Sleeper: Starward Vector
Coming in second is a game that many of you may not be familiar with yet – but it’s well worth checking out: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, the follow-up to a game that inspired one of my most popular editorials ever.
The Citizen Sleeper video games are role-playing titles with a science fiction theme, modeled after dice-driven tabletop games. As a player, you assume the role of a Sleeper – the mind of a genuine human encased within an artificial body, laboring to settle a debt across far-off star systems.
Starward Vector highly commends it as a remarkable sequel that manages to recreate the magic of its predecessor. Gareth Damian Martin is now among my top favorite video game writers, and I strongly recommend playing this game whenever I get the chance.
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
To put it simply and clearly, among all contenders, it’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that seems like a tough-to-beat Game of the Year for 2025. Can you think of any other game I might be referring to?
From a lesser-known studio, titled Expedition 33, offers an exceptional take on the turn-based role-playing genre. Unlike conventional games in this category, it’s not just another version you’ve encountered before. The world creation, visual style, audio composition, game mechanics, storytelling – this game is almost flawlessly perfected in these aspects.
I penned a lighthearted piece expressing my mixed feelings towards Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, yet it’s hard for me to conceive of any other game that might surpass its brilliance in the near future.
The 2025 backlog, including what I’m playing now
With a day job, a household to care for that includes a daughter and a pet cat, leisure time is at a minimum. Consequently, I can’t indulge in every game I wish to play. The hours in a day are insufficient, leaving me lagging behind on the games I aim to explore by 2025.
Currently, I’ve been immersed in the world of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and it’s like stepping back into the countless hours I once lost in Skyrim. As I approach my 20th hour, I can already sense the magnetic pull that will likely keep me engaged for numerous hours more before I finally log off (our review concurs with this expectation).
In terms of my gaming schedule, I have yet to play The Alters, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition, Ruffy and the Riverside, Eternal Strands, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Lost in Random: The Eternal Die. At this point, my plan is to play them in the following order: The Alters, Warhammer 40,000, Ruffy and the Riverside, Eternal Strands, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and finally, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die.
Apart from the unlaunched games scheduled for 2025, there’s a lot more to keep me occupied, and I’m perfectly content with that bustling schedule.
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2025-07-05 23:09