2025 game of the year
2025 has been a transformative year of gaming for me. Not just because the games were great, but because my journey with them helped to solidify the kinds of experiences I resonate with the most. When I look back on 2025 and think about the games that laid the groundwork, I'll remember the ones whose narrative themes cut straight to the heart. The games that made me think and reflect on both myself and the world around me. The games that left me stunned and sitting in disbelief at the end of the journey as the credits rolled. These qualities, in addition to traditional tenets such as fun gameplay, remarkable music, and stunning visual design are what I look for in my game of the year. So, without further ado, here are my top five games of 2025!
#5 Claire Obscure: Expedition 33 - Sandfall Interactive
Coming in at number five is the hit indie debut from Sandfall Interactive: Claire Obscure Expedition 33. Initially, I had a bit of a tough relationship with this game. The shock of its first major story beat reeled me in tight. However, the light-hearted tonal shift that would follow clashed with the foundational atmosphere of the game, leading to what felt like a jarring narrative back and forth through the end of Act I. Additionally, this game's unique take on turn-based combat took a little for me to find the fun in. Nevertheless, eventually, everything clicked. The more the game's world-building began to unravel itself, the more I found myself able to connect with its heart-wrenching story. Verso, Maelle, and the rest of Claire Obscure's powerfully written cast of characters began to pique and retain my interest, and once I came to grips with the nuances of the combat system, it transformed into a fun challenge I was excited to conquer. The key reason why I've placed this game in this particular spot on my G.O.T.Y. list is because of how well it handles its big moments. Though at times their impact was lessened due to opaque dialogue, you could feel every ounce of power and creative intention baked into them, resulting in a game whose twists and turns will be remembered throughout gaming history.
#4 Hades II - Supergiant games
Hades II has earned the #4 spot on my G.O.T.Y. list because of how masterfully it transcends the roguelike genre. Roguelike games are often crafted to constantly remind the player of the guard rails baked into its design foundation. This isn't a bad thing, as there's tons of fun to be found in hammering out run after run until you meet your goal, even when starting from zero can result in a level of frustration unique to the experiences only this genre can create. At the core of Hades II, the experience is no different. You fight your way down through the depths of Tartarus for as far as you can go, but regardless of whether or not you succeed, you'll always start over. But in Hades II, you're never starting from zero. There will always be some sort of story beat, whether it be an interesting conversation with one of the game's incredible cast of characters, or a compelling character moment, to continuously push the momentum of the experience forward. The dialogue feels endless and lovingly hand-crafted, always leaving you on edge for what may come next. Equally as impeccable is the gameplay, which is incredibly fine-tuned and supported by what feels like an endlessly deep weapon and abilities system. Melinoë’s journey to reunite the family she never knew is a remarkable one full of powerful themes and memorable moments that I won't soon forget.
#3 Kingdom Come Deliverance II - Warhorse Studios
MY first foray into Kingdom Come Deliverance II actually didn't go so well. In my first attempt, I tried to B-line my way through the main story without taking the time to play the game the way it was meant to be played. At the end of the Trosky saga, I decided it wasn't for me, uninstalled it, and moved on to other games. However, as the year went on, I never stopped thinking about this game. Eventually, I would find my way back to Kingdom Come Deliverance II and decided that I would meet it on its terms rather than trying to brute-force my way through the experience. By doing so, I discovered that KCD2 is more than just a video game. It's a relentlessly deep and wide-ranging experience -- one whose immersion transports the player to its world in ways many other games only attempt to do. By giving myself over to this game, I discovered what it was really like to live in Medieval Bohemia with a breathtaking level of immersion. From nights drinking in the tavern, getting thrown in the stocks, hammering away in the forge, hacking and slashing my way through bombastic sword fights, and everything in between, I felt the weight of this world more so than I have with any game I've played before it. The story of Henry's continued adventure of revenge and conquest in the wake of the Wenceslas - Sigusmmund conflict is a remarkable feat of historical adaptation brought to life by world-class character writing. The world is breathtakingly large and lovingly hand-crafted to the point where everything around the player feels just about as authentic as anything can in a video game. The adventures of Henry of Skalitz are one for the history books -- literally!
#2 Kirby AirRiders - Masahiro Sakurai, Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Sora LTD., HAL Laboratory
When Kirby AirRiders was announced, I immediately decided it would very likely be my game of the year. The sequel to the niche little Kirby game I had spent decades of my life playing could do no wrong. For me, this game WAS the reason I decided to buy a Switch 2, and in fact, was the game that brought Nintendo as a whole back into my personal gaming atmosphere. City Trial is bigger, better, and cranked up to 11. AirRide is vastly improved thanks to its impressive suite of new and excellently designed courses. Top Ride, while having not piqued my interest this time around, is still a lovingly crafted experience and much improved over the original. The addition of things like online play and the My Machine marketplace rounds out the game in a way that leaves no room for doubt that I'll be playing it for many, many years to come. I said at the beginning of this segment that upon its announcement, I immediately declared that Kirby AirRiders would be my game of the year. However, there was one game that impacted me so deeply, that I couldn't help but place it one spot higher.
2025 mylesofbacon games g.o.t.y.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
kojima productions
In my eyes, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an absolute masterpiece. No, the game is not perfect, but it's as close to perfection as a game can be. I adore DS2 because it dared to be different. It dared to take a gameplay mechanic as mundane as delivering packages, refine it, and turn it into an otherworldly experience full of dynamic challenge. It dared to tell a story that trusted the player to see through its complex web of themes to arrive at one of the greatest narrative payoffs in all of gaming. It dared to be weird so that it could be undeniably true to itself.
When I rolled credits on Death Stranding: On the Beach, I had tears rolling down my face. Tears for the impact the conclusion of Sam's story had on me. Tears for not only how masterfully this game unraveled its narrative webs, but also for how it gave powerful meaning to Sam's journey spanning all the way back to the first game. It's a game whose narrative theme of connection transcended the screen and left me reflecting on the connection in my own life. I'm forever saddened that I'll never get to experience Sam Porter Bridge's story for the first time again. Sad that I'll never make a delivery for the first time again. Sad that I'll never be captivated by Dollman's quirks, or enraged by Higgs’ emotional torture of Sam for the first time again. Sam's journey is one that will undoubtedly stick with me forever, and will live on as that experience that defined my journey of gaming in 2025. Now to listen to Minus Sixty-One for the 100th time!