Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hades II became the main games of the year according to Rolling Stone
The authoritative publication Rolling Stone compiled a list of the 25 best games of 2025 and it can quite be considered a recommendation, as all the titles in it truly deserve attention.
What's known
The author of the material noted that the year was rich with excellent games, and this time indie developers and small studios surprised more than large publishers.
As expected, the main game of the year according to Rolling Stone is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — this RPG masterfully combines a deep yet understandable combat system, a captivating storyline, beautiful aesthetics, and touching personal stories of the central characters.
In second place is another game from an indie collective — Hades II, which delights with its combat system, detailed elaboration of each mechanic, and interesting characters.
The trio is concluded by Nintendo's new release Donkey Kong Bananza.
However, one of the main hits of 2025, Hollow Knight: Silksong, only ended up in 11th place, and the hit RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance II was not on this prestigious list at all, yet the popular multiplayer shooter Battlefield 6 and the folk adventure unnoticed by most gamers South of Midnight are included.
The Top-25 games of 2025 according to Rolling Stone is as follows:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33;
- Hades II;
- Donkey Kong Bananza;
- Dispatch;
- Ghost of Yōtei;
- Blue Prince;
- The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy;
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach;
- BALL x PIT;
- ARC Raiders;
- South of Midnight;
- Hollow Knight: Silksong;
- Mario Kart World;
- Shinobi: Art of Vengeance;
- Battlefield 6;
- Ninja Gaiden 4;
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves;
- Absolum;
- Despelote;
- The Séance of Blake Manor;
- Split Fiction;
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector;
- REMATCH;
- Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles;
- Silent Hill f.
Source: Rolling Stone
