The best games of 2025, picked by NPR's staff - NPR
2025 was a year for the indies. From breakout hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince, to long-awaited sequels like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, small teams frequently…
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James Perkins Mastromarino
2025 was a year for the indies. From breakout hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince, to long-awaited sequels like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, small teams frequently outperformed established studios, as the wider industry lurched frommassive strikestolandmark labor dealstodeep layoffs.
Despite the tumult, major companies still notched some significant wins. Nintendo finally released theSwitch 2console and blockbuster exclusives likeMario Kart Worldand Donkey Kong Bananza. PlayStation published acclaimed cinematic epics like Death Stranding 2 andGhost of Yōtei. Microsoft, which facedfan wrathover cancellations and price hikes, still brought anunprecedented numberof new titles to their Game Pass subscription service.
NPR staff members and contributors have explored the breadth of this gaming year, from multiplayer sensations like Arc Raiders and Elden Ring: Nightreign to narrative-driven experiences likeDispatchand Consume Me to inventive tabletop games like Molly House and The Old King's Crown. Whether you're looking for a short diversion or an epic 50-hour adventure, we invite you to discover your next favorite game on this interactive list.
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A previous version of this story incorrectly labelled Mario Kart World and Split Fiction as being playable on the Nintendo Switch 1.
