by Filippo DinolfoFor all of 2025’s faults, I’ve found that I had a lot of great games to play.
I’ve got to admit, as far as gaming goes, there were a lot of games I really enjoyed this year. When I look over my list, retro remakes, revivals, and RPGs seem to be where I spent most of my time. Very few, if any AAA games made it to my list, and the one that did is a toss-up on whether you’d consider it AAA at all.
I also can’t go into a list like this without mentioning Balatro. Yes, that game came out last year, but my hours played on that game is well past a thousand at this point. So if you haven’t played Balatro, give it a shot. You might find a new addiction, or as it has become for me, a stalwart comfort game that’s always fun.
So without further ado, let’s get into my top 10 games of 2025:
10. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake – Multiplatform
Square-Enix’s treatment of their past catalog has been excellent as of late. Having these two foundational titles in one package is an awesome way of getting into the series.
9. Blippo+ – Multiplatform
Blippo+ is one of those games that really defies explanation. You just have to try it out for yourself. It’s a game you can play one-handed (get your mind out of the gutter, you perv) with the other dipping into a bowl of popcorn. It’s a unique vibe.
8. Earthion – Multiplatform
This is just a fantastic old-school shooter. It has also received several updates since launch, fixing issues and refining QoL. When this comes out physically on Genesis, I am there.
7. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter – Multiplatform
This is an excellent remake of an already excellent game. It’s a good on-ramp for those curious about the franchise, too.
6. R-Type Delta HD Boosted – Multiplatform
This is R-Type Delta, for me, a high-point in the series. This version has a few minor quirks, but nothing the devs haven’t already acknowledged and are working on. If you want an entry point to the franchise, this is it.
5. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance – Multiplatform
This is a great return for Shinobi. It’s familiar in some ways, and very different in others. If it had gone a bit further into Accessibility options than it did, this would have been higher up.
4. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound – Multiplatform
While it does have a few rough edges, and it does feel like they padded the length a bit, Ragebound is a game I thuroughly enjoyed. Its callbacks to past entries in the series put a smile on my face.
3. Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection – Multiplatform
Without a doubt, the best way to play these older MK games on a modern system. The game selection goes to show that it isn’t just about preserving perfect versions, but preserving the versions you grew up playing. Often, that just means more.
2. Lumines Arise – Multiplatform
Lumines Arise is a game you can play two ways. By default, it’s an intense reflex-based puzzler. But it can be tweaked to become a game you can just vibe with. I love it for that, and for the obvious passion the team has for making it.
1. Hades II – Multiplatform
I enjoyed the original Hades immensely, but the sequel improves and refines it in all of the best ways. It’s incredibly compelling, keeping me coming back for more.
That’s it for me for this year. Looking ahead to 2026, I’m not sure what I’m looking forward to. Of course, there’s the Balatro update that LocalThunk is working on, but other than that? D&D game, Warlock has me intrigued, though I am not sure we’ll actually see that in 2026. Maybe AEW will get a sequel to Fight Forever out? Mostly, though, I think the continuing remakes and retro-inspired games that will come out will keep me busy the most.
See you all in 2026!