by Michael Fertitta
2025 was an incredible year for games, and naturally, it was just as difficult for me to keep up with all the games coming out. So instead of a top 10, here’s my top 5.
5. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – Multiplatform
I was raised on Mario Kart, so I had never really delved into other racing games. That all changed when I jumped on the Open Network Test for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. I was left stunned at how much fun I was having with the game. With all the DLC that has come out for the game since launch, and with more on the way, this is shaping up to be my top kart racer for the foreseeable future! The gadgets that can be used to adjust your strategies, the several side modes, including the event-specific Festival modes that come up periodically — everything about this game is just so much fun!
4. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles – Multiplatform
This game was significant in multiple ways for me. It was my first ever time officially reviewing a game from one of my favorite developers of all time, and it was my introduction to one of the most well-regarded Final Fantasy spinoff series ever. Getting the chance to explore the world of Ivalice for the first time and experiencing the tales of Ramza and disturbingly relevant themes of authoritarianism and corruption made for a great gameplay experience.
3. Pokémon Legends Z-A (Switch 2, Switch)
Upon the initial reveal, I was a bit worried about Legends Z-A. Pokémon games have sparked a lot of discussion about “quality” lately (to put it lightly), so naturally, I was skeptical about how much I would enjoy this entry. Dozens of hours later, I can safely say this was easily one of the more enjoyable modern Pokémon games I’ve played! The number of side missions gives plenty of things to do, the battle system is decent to play around with, and overall, it was a decent experience. While I’m not entirely sold on the DLC as of writing this, I think Z-A is a moderately entertaining Pokémon game.
2. Once Upon a Katamari – Multiplatform
Bandai Namco have been cooking with the recent remakes of the Katamari games, so naturally I was hyped when I heard about a brand new game coming out with an entirely new theme. I thoroughly enjoyed rolling through historical settings, and the different level objectives made the entire game all the more fun to play through. While the multiplayer leaderboard features fell flat for me, I can still imagine people getting enjoyment out of rolling Katamaris with their friends.
1. Hades II – PC, Switch, Switch 2
When I tried the first Hades, it was an immediate hook. Hades 2 took the entertaining gameplay loop, continuous stream of upgrades, and excellent cast of characters, and somehow did it all even better the second time. Every run is better than the last, and I can’t get enough of it!
These aren’t the only games I enjoyed this year, but they were games I had the strongest feelings about. I can’t wait to check out all the incredible games coming in 2026, and I look forward to writing more about them here!