Looking back on 2025 as a lifelong gamer feels like sorting through a box of old, cherished trading cards—some are the rare, shiny holofoils you dreamed of for years, while others are the surprisingly powerful commons you never saw coming. On paper, it was supposed to be a monumental year. As an unabashed Nintendo fan, we finally got the Switch 2. My all-time favorite series, Pokémon, delivered a new entry. And after what felt like a lifetime of waiting, Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived. Yet, while I enjoyed them, these titans didn't quite reach the stratospheric heights I'd imagined. My year, it turned out, was defined by different adventures. So, as we settle into 2026, let me walk you through my personal top ten.

10. Donkey Kong Bananza

Starting at number ten is Donkey Kong Bananza, and its placement here is a damning indictment of the Switch 2's opening months. It's a fantastic, fun game, but it's the only Switch 2 exclusive on my list. Remember the original Switch's launch year? My top three were all from that console. I hope 2026 brings a stronger lineup for the new hardware, because right now, the launch window feels as sparse as a forgotten attic.

9. Dispatch

I had zero intention of playing Dispatch. Never touched a Telltale-style game before. But FOMO is a powerful force, and I'm glad it won. From Episode 2, I was hooked. I loved it so much I played it twice, the second time with my non-gamer fiancée. Aside from some clunky hacking segments, we had an absolute blast. It opened a whole new genre for us to explore together.

8. Yes, Your Grace 2

This is the second of my "your choices matter" games this year, and here, they reaaaaallly mattered. Yes, Your Grace 2 ramped up the stakes from the original, giving me hypothetical sleepless nights (I binged it in two sittings). It was the first game in 2025 I played back-to-back, desperately trying to shepherd my kingdom to different endings. The weight of every decision hung in the air like a thick, unspoken promise.

7. Elden Ring: Nightreign

Elden Ring is in my personal top three games of all time. Its expansion, Nightreign, took me until late November to get to. The run-based formula was initially jarring, like trying to write with your non-dominant hand, but I grew to love it. Had I played it earlier, it might have climbed higher. A brilliant, if initially disorienting, return to the Lands Between.

6. Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Pokémon is my favorite series. Ever. Legends: Arceus is my second-favorite Pokémon game. So my expectations for Legends: Z-A were sky-high. It mostly met them. It kept Arceus's faster-paced, open-style gameplay and added great real-time battles. But I never fully vibed with its single-city setting. It felt brilliant yet confined, like a master painter choosing to work solely on postage stamps.

5. Hollow Knight: Silksong

More surprising than Pokémon at six is Hollow Knight: Silksong at five. The original is a top-five all-timer for me. The sequel? Just a top-five game of 2025. It's fantastic—stellar atmosphere, engaging story—but at points, its difficulty felt like a brick wall I had to headbutt repeatedly. A beautiful, challenging, but slightly exhausting masterpiece.

4. Hades 2

I always liked the first Hades but never placed it in the god-tier. Hades 2, though? Melinoe's story clicked instantly. The choice between the Overworld and Underworld shattered any potential monotony. I didn't get as deep into the endgame as I wanted, but it completely earns this spot. It refined the formula into something magical.

Honorable Mentions!

Before the top three, a tip of the hat to the games that just missed the list:

• Dead Letter Dept.: A charming, narrative-driven puzzle game.

• Once Upon A Katamari: Pure, rolling joy.

• Mario Kart World: The best kart racer got even bigger and better.

3. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

If it existed, this would win the "Game I Never Expected to Love" award. I never played the first one and had zero plans to play the sequel. A random purchase in February led to one of my most memorable gaming experiences of the year. Its immersive, historical world completely swallowed me whole.

2. Monster Train 2

No game consumed more of my 2025 than Monster Train 2. Hundreds of hours on PC, then I bought it again on Switch 2 for long flights. For me, it was 2025's Balatro. As a deck-building roguelike fan, it's perfect: broken card combos, immense variety, and a "one-more-run" hook sharper than a dragon's tooth. Writing this makes me want to play it right now.

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

And here we are. My undisputed 2025 Game of the Year, cemented since April. I placed it so high that only Silksong had a shot at dethroning it. As someone said perfectly, the developers "really wanted the game to be good." And boy, is it. The music, performances, narrative, and its genius ability to subvert expectations make it an absolute joy. It's a game that doesn't just want to be played; it wants to be felt. Congratulations to Sandfall Interactive. You made my favorite journey of the year.

So, 2025 wasn't the year of the predictable giants for me. It was the year of unexpected depth, of sequels that surpassed their origins, and of one stunning original title that reminded me why I love this medium. Here's to what 2026 brings!