If we’re being honest, you’re probably here to judge my picks, and I can’t really blame you. I’ve done the same with every other writer at TheGamer who has published a list like this. So, I’m grateful for this opportunity to potentially help you discover a great game you may have missed this year.
Like every year, several of us will publish a list with our own personal picks, and once those have all been shared, our lovely Editor-in-Chief, Stacey Henley, will tally up all our rankings and present the official TheGamer GOTY picks. So be sure to check out all the other lists to see what has a shot at making it!
10
The Alters
The Alters was one of those games that just came out of nowhere. I’m not generally very good at survival games because I’m terrible at managing supplies and don’t like to be limited, but The Alter’s story was so interesting that I just couldn’t help but stick around.
We’ve all had those moments where we wonder what life might have been like if we made slightly different choices, and so seeing how they played out for Jan was engrossing. And I mean, come on, it even had a musical number!
Game Of The Year 2025 – Editor’s Pick, Jade King
Here are Jade King’s top ten games from the past twelve months, ranging from survival horror to psychic babies.
9
Kirby Air Riders
Unfortunately, Kirby Air Riders was released so late in the year that it wasn’t eligible for even a nomination at The Game Awards, but that doesn’t mean it still can’t make my list.
This game came after decades of waiting and didn’t remotely disappoint. Several other notable racing games were released this year, such as Mario Kart World and Sonic Crossworlds, but none of them held a candle to Kirby Air Riders for me. It shines like the chaotic star it is.
8
Dispatch
Dispatch may be lower on this list, but I need you to keep in mind that this list is basically ten games that I loved almost equally in 2025. This one is simply where it is because I wish the actual gameplay itself offered a little more. Bt the narrative is incredible, and the voice actors are phenomenal.
You can feel the passion behind this game in every inch of it, from the stunning animation to the incredible voice acting. It’s hard not to fall in love with a game that radiates the joy of those who created it.
7
Tiny Bookshop
I knew the second I saw this game that I had to have it. I’m an avid reader and have been since I was a kid, so running my own tiny bookshop is basically a dream. Tiny Bookshop is the perfect way to relax when I need something to take away the stress of the day, and I mean, you’re recommending actual books.
It’s not only given me a cathartic way to push my recommendations onto people, ahem, Fourth Wing (insert eyes emoji), but also helped me discover books I hadn’t heard of. If you love to read, I can’t recommend it enough.
6
Date Everything!
I am not always one for dating games, but I couldn’t have been more impressed by Date Everything. The lineup of voice actors, including everyone from Matt Mercer to Damien Haas, meant I was buying this no matter what the gameplay was. Thankfully, it’s a great game anyway.
Walking up to a piece of furniture in your home and thinking, “Surely not, right?” only to find out that you can, in fact, date your ceiling was something else. My partner and I spent hours excitedly scanning things, only to be met with an incredibly clever design for the human version of an inanimate object, and yet another recognizable voice.
And yes, I will tell you some of my favorites. Thanks for asking. They are Daisuke, Sophia, Betty, Chance, Jerry, Dirk, Dorian, Volt, and Eddie. Don’t analyze that.
5
Blue Prince
Utter rage-inducing nonsense, and I loved every second of it. Puzzle games always end up being something I love in theory, but hate in practice, but not Blue Prince. After pages of notes and tons of screenshots, I could not let this game go until I solved it.
Honorable Mentions
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades 2
- Mario Kart World
- Metroid Prime 4
4
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
There’s no way a new Pokemon game was going to come out and not make this list, but I have to say, I enjoyed Legends: Z-A far more than expected. I know some felt limited by being entirely trapped in Lumiose, but I loved it.
Also, the real-time battles were just incredibly fun. They changed the way hazards and AoE moves worked, and it was fascinating to re-learn Pokemon battles because of it. I hope this series continues to experiment with new mechanics in the future.
3
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is breathtaking in more ways than one, and I am thrilled over the spotlight that its 2025 GOTY win is putting on indie games. That said, personal grievances with story aspects keep it out of my number one spot.
Still, something this remarkable coming from an Indie developer is a testament to the fact that Indies aren’t just lower quality games. If anything, they have more heart and creativity behind them than most Triple-A titles.
2
Split Fiction
Hazelight doesn’t miss. Split Fiction, which had the unfortunate luck of launching around Clair Obscur, was a mindblowing gaming experience. I played it alongside my partner, whom I also played It Takes Two with, and the jump in quality from what was already an incredible game is astounding.
Split Fiction paid homage to so many classics in its clever level designs and genuinely had something for everyone. If the feeling of pride over gaming history that The Game Awards evokes could be translated to one game, it’s Split Fiction. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun playing a co-op game.
1
Silent Hill f
I’m a major scaredy-cat, so despite loving horror games, they’re incredibly time-consuming for me to get through. Which is why the fact that I was willing to immediately dive into Silent Hill f’s NG+ is so impressive in and of itself.
The constant questions surrounding Hinako’s life and Fox Mask meant I needed to see the whole story through, and it just kept getting better. This is a phenomenal horror game, from the acting down to the story, and so, while I was slightly devastated to see that it didn’t take home Best Narrative, that doesn’t mean you can’t still check it out!
Game Of The Year 2025 – Editor’s Pick, Meg Pelliccio
Here are all the games I annoyed the team with this year because I wouldn’t stop talking about them.
