A look back at a year that didn’t just meet the hype—it completely rewrote the rulebook.
If you’ve been following the industry for a while, you know the drill: usually, the games critics adore are the ones players argue about in comment sections, and the fan-favorites get shrugged off by the press. But 2025? This year was different. It was nothing short of a miracle for the medium. From tiny indie passion projects to budget-busting AAA blockbusters, we saw an absolute tidal wave of quality.
What made this year truly special, though, wasn’t just the games themselves—it was the rare harmony between professional reviews and the community. We saw titles hitting that “Metacritic dominance” while simultaneously racking up user scores that honestly shouldn’t be mathematically possible.
So, let’s cut through the noise. Based on a mix of the official Metacritic aggregate data and the raw, unfiltered voice of the player base, here is the definitive ranking of the top 20 video games of 2025.
Tier 1: The Absolute Pinnacle (Scores 90+)
These aren’t just “Games of the Year”; these are the titles we’ll be talking about a decade from now.
1. Hades 2 – The King of the Underworld
Metascore: 94 | User Score: 8.7 | Platforms: PC, Switch 2, Switch
Let’s be real: Supergiant Games doesn’t miss. But even with their track record, Hades 2 feels like a flex. Earning the highest critic score of the year (94), this sequel took the “perfect” loop of the original and somehow found room for improvement.
We stepped into the burning sandals of Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld, and the shift in perspective changed everything. The narrative is deeper, expanding the mythology in ways that feel earned rather than tacked on. But it’s the gameplay where this thing really sings. It’s faster, arguably more aggressive, and the customization options—between the new weapons, boons, and upgrade paths—make the first game feel almost restrictive by comparison.
The voice cast? Incredible. The art direction? Chef’s kiss. It’s a roguelike that refuses to let you get bored. Sure, you might hear a whisper here or there about pacing issues in specific runs, but that’s nitpicking. Hades 2 is a polished gem, plain and simple.
2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – The “Wait, is that Score Real?” Moment
Metascore: 91 | User Score: 9.7 (Highest in History) | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Every few years, a game comes out of nowhere and just captures the collective soul of the gaming community. This year, that game was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Sandfall Interactive didn’t just make a good debut; they made history. That 9.7 user rating isn’t a typo—it’s the highest player score ever recorded on Metacritic.
It’s a turn-based RPG with a twist, mixing classic strategy with real-time mechanics (think dodging and parrying mid-turn). The story is high-stakes fantasy at its best: you follow Gustave and his crew trying to stop “The Paintress,” an entity that erases everyone of a certain age every year. You have one year to save the world. No pressure.
It’s the combat that hooks you, though. It creates this genuine tension where you have to think like a tactician but react like an action-game player. Combine that with a stunning “Belle Époque” art style and a soundtrack that has been living rent-free in my head for months, and you get a masterpiece. Are the menus a little clunky? Maybe. Does it matter when the game is this good? Absolutely not.
3. Blue Prince – The Brain Burner
Metascore: 92 | User Score: 8.5+ | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
After eight years in the oven, Blue Prince finally dropped, and it was the pleasant surprise we didn’t know we needed. It’s a puzzle-adventure game that feels like it was designed specifically for people who love keeping a physical notebook while they play.
Inspired by the cult puzzle book Maze, you’re exploring a manor with 45 rooms, hunting for the elusive 46th. The genius here is the “drafting” system. It’s a roguelike, but instead of drafting weapons, you’re drafting room layouts and puzzle synergies. Even when you fail, you’re building knowledge for the next run.
It’s cerebral, aesthetic, and incredibly smart. I’ll admit, the difficulty spikes and occasional RNG can be frustrating if you aren’t in the right headspace, but for puzzle junkies? This is nirvana.
4. Hollow Knight: Silksong – The Myth Become Legend
Metascore: 92 | User Score: 9.1 | Platforms: Multi-platform
Put away the clown makeup, folks. It finally happened. Silksong is real, it’s out, and thank goodness, it’s incredible.
The hype cycle for this game was dangerous—nothing could possibly live up to it, right? Wrong. Team Cherry delivered a metroidvania that feels familiar yet entirely distinct from its predecessor. Playing as Hornet feels agile and lethal in a way the Knight didn’t, and the kingdom of silk and song is visually breathtaking.
It debuted with a historic (albeit temporary) perfect 100 on Metacritic before settling into the low 90s, but the user score of 9.1 tells the real story. Fans are happy. It is brutally difficult—perhaps even more so than the first—but that’s part of the charm. It’s a cultural event as much as a video game, and it stuck the landing.
5. Split Fiction – The Couch Co-op King
Metascore: 90 | User Score: 8.8 | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2
Just when you thought Hazelight couldn’t top It Takes Two, they dropped Split Fiction and reminded everyone why they own the co-op genre.
The premise is meta and brilliant: you play as two writers, Mio and Zoe, trapped inside their own stories. The split-screen gameplay hops between genres—one minute you’re in a noir detective story, the next a sci-fi thriller. It forces you and your partner to constantly adapt. You cannot “carry” your friend in this game; you have to communicate, or you will fail.
The writing is genuinely funny and surprisingly touching, dealing with themes of creativity and friendship without getting too sappy. While some critics felt a few story beats dragged, the sheer variety of gameplay makes this one of the most fun experiences you can have with a controller (and a friend) in 2025.
Tier 2: The Gold Standard (Scores 88-89)
These titles might have missed the 90+ club by a hair, but make no mistake—they are essential playing.
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Meta: 88 | User: 8.6): This is for the immersion junkies. It’s 15th-century Bohemia, and it doesn’t hold your hand. No magic, no waypoints—just gritty, realistic medieval life. The quest design is stellar, even if the complexity (and the learning curve) can be a bit of a slap in the face to newcomers.
- Elden Ring: Nightreign (Meta: 89): FromSoftware proving they can do no wrong. This co-op focused spin-off takes the Elden Ring DNA and condenses it into tighter, multiplayer-focused encounters. It’s aggressive, it’s beautiful, and it’s exactly what the “Souls” community wanted.
- Silent Hill F (Meta: 89): I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Silent Hill is back. This isn’t a nostalgia cash-grab; it’s a terrifying, mature psychological horror game that finally sheds the baggage of the franchise’s mediocre years. The atmosphere is suffocating in the best way possible.
- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (Meta: 89): A masterclass in how to do a remake. They took a 20-year-old JRPG classic, updated the visuals and quality-of-life, but kept the soul and the massive script intact. It’s the perfect entry point for the series.
- Ghost of Yotei (Meta: 89 | User: 8.1): Sucker Punch returns to Japan, and it’s gorgeous. It refines the Ghost of Tsushima combat and tells a revenge story that hits you right in the gut. It’s cinematic comfort food of the highest order.
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Meta: 89 | User: 8.2): A flagship title for the Switch 2 that justifies the hardware. The destruction mechanics—smashing through levels—feels incredibly satisfying. It’s pure, colorful, chaotic platforming joy.
- Dispatch (Meta: 89): Telltale might be gone, but Dispatch is carrying the torch. This episodic adventure about workplace drama mixed with superhero action is witty, sharp, and surprisingly emotional.
Tier 3: The “Must-Play” Selection (Scores 86-87)
Don’t sleep on these. In any other year, these could have been top contenders.
- Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (Meta: 87): Square Enix finally showed this classic some love. The political intrigue and deep strategy are all there, just cleaner and prettier.
- Absolum (Meta: 86 | User: 8.3): Imagine Streets of Rage but as a roguelike. The combat flow is incredible, making every run feel unique and punchy.
- Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Meta: 86 | User: 8.1): A legendary revival. It takes cues from Sekiro but keeps that arcade-y side-scrolling spirit alive. Stylish as hell.
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Meta: 86 | User: 8.2): If you like reading and crying in space, this is for you. Minimalist gameplay, maximum emotional impact.
- Monster Train 2 (Meta: 87): How do you improve on one of the best deckbuilders ever? You add more clans, more cards, and more chaos. It’s dangerously addictive.
- Arc Raiders (Meta: 86 | User: 8.1): This extraction shooter showed up late and stole the show. The emergent gameplay moments are fantastic—every match is a story.
- Lumines Arise (Meta: 87 | User: 8.0): It’s Tetris Effect but for Lumines. A complete sensory overload of light and sound that proves puzzle games can still blow your mind.
- Monster Hunter Wilds (Meta: 88 | User: 8.0): It’s Monster Hunter. It’s huge, the weapons feel heavy, and hunting dinos with friends is still the best co-op loop in gaming. A few PC performance hiccups aside, it’s a blast.
