I played a lot in 2025, kinda wished i finished more games and maybe played less wow err maybe played wow in a more optimal way but hey what can you do. Anyway here are my Favs of 2025
Clair Obscure Expedition 33 - This game just clicked in all the right places. I know active elements in turn based combat is not new but the dodging and parrying really worked well. The picto system is really cool and really fun to break late game. Really cool story as well I’m not even that sure what my failure aspect of it is, the Clair obscur or the expedition 33. The characters also amazing, really liked the way relationships worked kinda Mass Effect style and persona but a bit more streamlined. Of course the music is amazing especially when certain themes drop during certain fights. Hell even performance is great, in a sea of UE5 games this turns out to be not only amazing looking with good performance also somewhat endearingly they use UE5 meta human tech so you can see sand fall using appropriate features to save on money and dev time. Anyway like I said everything clicks and we got ourselves a masterpeice made by a relatively small team.
Hades 2 - its Hades just more refined and with arguably a better loop for progression, you always making a bit of progress and coupled that with the rest of what came in the original Hades you have a really good sequel.
Blue Prince - if you like puzzle games, escape room type challenges this might be the game for you. Also it just goes places you would not expect.
Donkey Kong Bananza - turns out the people who made Mario odyssey are pretty good at making video games and are back with another banger platformer.
Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered - I played a lot of oblivion back in the day turns out its still pretty good. Some 360/PS3 era games still look good but Oblivion is a bit questionable in this day and age and this new coat of paint and additional voice actors keep it so you focused on the obvilvion experience and not the Gamebryo
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 - Its tony hawk and it still works. Slightly annoyed about the changes to the THPS4 campaign but tbh making the timer 1h kinda solves most of the issue. Bring on a THUG 1+2 remaster.
Ball X Pit - turns out that Balatro formula works for block breaker game.
Pokemon Legends Z-A - while not without its issues this new take on the formula and it works
OthOtherer Notable
Other Notable
To a T - Very charming game, probably something good for kids
Doom the Dark Ages - very pretty game, plays really well but that story is not much to write home about
World Of Warcraft TWW - retail wow is still good, Undermine was a fun zone, Karesh and Mana Forge Omega are stunning but maybe grew old a bit quickly.
Simpsons Fortnite - Its Fortnite so if that aint your thing it probably wont change much but the recreation of Springfield in Fortnite was really cool, really detailed. You could tell the people who worked on it were fans. Also I enjoyed the KPOP demon hunter mode in Fortnite aswell.
Powerwash Simulator 2 - Decent Sequel, still largely the same game but bigger scope, more tools more shenanigans
South of Midnight - Really cool look, interesting story. Very much a PS2 game for the modern era though that’s a good thing. Very tight cool experience,