top rated video games

Ready to dive into the absolute madness that was 2025? It’s been a totally wild year for new releases, and honestly, trying to keep track of all the must-play titles that dropped feels like an extra boss fight. From massive, jaw-dropping open-world sagas to unexpected indie gems that stole our hearts (and our weekends), the sheer quality has been off the charts. We’ve played through the biggest sequels, dissected the next-gen visuals, and battled countless foes to bring you the definitive list of the top-rated video games of 2025. If you’re looking for your next obsession—or maybe just need to argue about which game truly deserves the Game of the Year crown—you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get into the rankings.

Top-rated Video Games of 2025 to Buy Now

11. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

(Images credit: Sega)

You know how some games just look so good you want to frame them? Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is absolutely that game. To be honest, it might be the most gorgeous thing I’ve played all year. The hand-drawn art is stunning, and when you’re flowing through enemies with that buttery-smooth combat, you feel like an unstoppable ninja god. It’s easily a contender for the best action revival of 2025 just for how satisfying the movement feels.

But… we need to talk about the level design. There are moments where it feels like the game is actively trolling you with blind jumps and cheap enemy traps that you can’t possibly see coming. It’s a weird mix where the gameplay is 10/10 with “Game of the Year” material, but those frustration spikes make you want to throw your controller across the room, arguably earning it a spot on the “most rage-inducing” list, too.

10. Monster Hunter Wilds

(Images credit: Capcom)

Look, Monster Hunter Wilds is easily the most confusing entry on my list because it manages to be the best and the worst experience of 2025 all at once. On one hand, it’s an absolute masterpiece; the combat feels smoother than ever, the seamless open world is gorgeous, and being able to switch weapons on the fly while riding your Seikret is a total game-changer.

But on the other hand? The performance issues on launch were rough enough to make grown gamers cry, with frame rate drops that turned epic hunts into slideshows. Plus, while I love how accessible it is, some hardcore veterans are heartbroken that it feels a bit too easy compared to the grueling grind of older titles. Basically, if you can run it, it’s the best action RPG of the year—if you can’t, it’s just a beautiful heartbreak.

9. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

(images credit: Konami)

8. Hades 2

(Images credit: Supergiant Games)

You can’t write about 2025 without talking about Hades 2, which is basically a guaranteed Game of the Year contender—and honestly, it deserves that hype for being the best because Supergiant Games somehow made the combat even smoother and the characters even more captivating than the first game. The new witchcraft mechanics and the dual paths (down to Tartarus and up to Olympus!) give the loop a massive replay ability boost, making every run feel fresh.

The only real argument for it being the worst is that it followed up a nearly perfect game, and for some players, the new protagonist, Melinoë, doesn’t quite have the same sarcastic charm as Zagreus, plus the new Magick system makes it feel less like pure, uninhibited button-mashing fun until you unlock a ton of late-game upgrades. Basically, its only major flaw is that it has to compete with its own legendary predecessor!

7. Elden Ring Nightreign

(Images credit: Bandai Namco)

You hit on a fun one! The truth is, Elden Ring Nightreign is a total genius move, which is why it’s also so polarizing. It definitely earns the title of Best Game because FromSoftware took the absolute best combat in the business and turbo-charged it into a frantic, roguelike co-op frenzy—those 45-minute runs where you’re desperately trying to kill a Nightlord with two friends are pure, addictive adrenaline, and the new character classes are fantastic.

However, for a lot of veteran fans, it feels like the Worst Game because that high-octane speed completely strips away the original Elden Ring’s best qualities: the quiet, methodical exploration, the slow-burn mystery, and the freedom of an open world. So, it’s either a brilliant, tight, multiplayer spin-off or a betrayal of the Souls formula, depending on who you ask!

6. Hollow Knight: Silksong

(Images credit: Team Cherry)

Ah, Hollow Knight: Silksong. It’s the game that has been talked about for a thousand years, and now that it’s finally here, the conversation is even louder! On one hand, it’s easily the best game because it absolutely nails the sequel brief: the movement as Hornet is faster, the combat is more complex and acrobatic, and the world of Pharloom is just as gorgeous and massive as Hallownest, backed by another stunning soundtrack—it’s everything fans dreamed of and a true masterpiece of the Metroidvania genre.

However, for many, it’s also not the best game of 2025 because Team Cherry really ramped up the difficulty; between enemies that hit twice as hard and aggressive new boss AI, it feels designed only for the most hardcore players, making the early hours a frustrating, almost punishing experience that sadly turned off some fans who just wanted a cozy return to that beautiful bug world.

5. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

(Images credit: Sandfall Interactive)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sparked some huge debates this year! On one hand, it’s arguably the best game of 2025 because its visual style is absolutely jaw-dropping—think painting-meets-Belle-Époque-fantasy—and the story is so emotionally deep and unique that it completely hooks you. Plus, the voice acting is top-tier, making you genuinely care about the characters.

But here’s the flip side: it can also feel like the worst game of 2025 for some players because of its unique active turn-based combat. You have to nail those perfect parries and dodges with strict, almost action-game timing, and if you miss, you get punished hard. For people who just want a chill, purely strategic RPG experience, that demanding rhythm can feel more frustrating than fun, making some folks feel like the gameplay gets in the way of the gorgeous story.

4. Mario Kart World

(Image credit: Nintendo)

When it comes to Mario Kart World, it’s one of those games that simultaneously makes the “Best” and “Worst” lists for completely different reasons. On the one hand, it’s easily the best racing experience of the year thanks to the huge 24-player matches, the gorgeous next-gen visuals, and the totally chaotic, but brilliant, new “Knockout Tour” elimination mode—it’s pure, polished Nintendo fun that has completely raised the bar for online multiplayer.

On the flip side, what drags it down is that ambitious open-world element; the “Free Roam” mode, which was supposed to be a game-changer, sadly feels pretty empty and lacks compelling things to do, making the intermissions between the fantastic structured races feel a little tedious. It’s an all-time classic when you’re on the track, but a bit of a snooze fest when you’re taking the scenic route.

3. Split Fiction

(Images credit: Hazelight Studios)

That brings us to Split Fiction, the co-op adventure that has been everywhere this year, and it’s genuinely the perfect example of a game that’s both incredible and kind of exhausting. The reason it’s the best game of 2025 is the sheer, non-stop creative genius: one minute you’re a sci-fi ninja platforming across a dystopian city, and the next you’re a fairy riding a dragon through a fantasy realm—it never runs out of ideas, and the co-op teamwork is absolutely flawless.

However, this non-stop variety is also why some critics (and maybe your friend who plays it once a month) feel it’s the worst game: the mechanics change so fast that the moment you finally master a cool new ability, the game snatches it away and throws you into a hot dog simulator level. It’s like having twenty amazing little games duct-taped together—brilliant, but sometimes you just want one thing to settle down for a minute.

2. Arc Raiders

(Images credit: Embark Studios)

You know, picking the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ for Arc Raiders is tough because it’s such a rollercoaster! On one hand, it’s easily one of the best multiplayer experiences of 2025 because it absolutely nails the tension of an extraction shooter while making it feel genuinely accessible—you get all the high-stakes thrills without the super-punishing barrier to entry. The graphics are stunning, the robot AI is smart enough to be terrifying, and the emergent player stories, where you choose to team up or betray others, are totally legendary.

But here’s the rub: for some people, all that accessibility comes at the cost of long-term excitement. Critics point out that the core loop of looting and extracting can start to feel a little too repetitive once the initial novelty wears off, and the gear system, while balanced, lacks the crazy, game-changing variety that keeps players hooked on similar, but more hardcore, shooters. Basically, it’s the best for making the genre fun for everyone, and the worst for those who crave a grind that never ends.

1. Ghost of Yōtei

(Images credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Ghost of Yotei is the game that everyone loves to love and loves to nitpick all at the same time. On the one hand, it’s easily one of the best experiences of 2025 because of the sheer artistic mastery—I mean, the way the wind carries individual flower petals across the snowy peaks of Ezo is just jaw-dropping, and the expanded, brutal combat system with new weapons feels slicker than ever. It perfectly refines that samurai revenge fantasy we all crave.

But here’s the rub: for a lot of players, it’s also the worst game because it played things way too safe. The core structure is basically identical to the first game, and some critics felt the “revenge story” plot was predictable and failed to innovate in a year where other open-world games totally flipped the script. It’s a gorgeous, must-play spectacle, sure, but if you wanted a revolution, you only got a highly polished evolution.

Final Recommendations and In Closing

2025 truly delivered on its promises, giving us endless hours of unforgettable gaming moments. From those massive, heartbreaking story campaigns to the competitive multiplayer titles that stole our weekends, there was absolutely something for everyone. Seriously, my backlog is officially out of control, but in the best way possible! Now that we’ve laid out the definitive list, the tough part is over.

But the discussion doesn’t end here! We want to hear from you. Did your personal Game of the Year make our top-rated list? Which one are you downloading first, or which game do you think we totally missed the mark on? Jump down to the comments section and let the debates begin! When you’re ready to jump into the action, remember to click the links or buttons near your favorite game and start playing your next obsession today. That’s all from me. Take care. Until next time 🙂