There is no single, universally accepted “best game of 2025.” Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has the clearest cross-award case, while Hades II led Metacritic’s score-based Game of the Year selection. For a shortlist that suits different tastes, consider Blue Prince, Split Fiction, and Donkey Kong Bananza as well.
Which game was the best of 2025?
If “best” means recognition across major awards, start with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Metacritic’s award tracker lists it as the winner of the BAFTA, D.I.C.E., GDC, New York Game Awards, and The Game Awards Game of the Year categories. The site’s PC roundup also reports that it received 13 nominations and nine wins, including Game of the Year, at The Game Awards. Those results make it a strong consensus-led pick, not proof that every critic or player would choose it.
That distinction matters because Metacritic named Hades II its overall score-based Game of the Year. The two labels measure different things: one reflects awards from named organizations, while the other is Metacritic’s review-score-based selection. GamesRadar+ also chose Clair Obscur as its team’s top game and reports that it won the reader-voted Golden Joystick Awards. AP writer Lou Kesten placed it first on the AP list, calling it “as profound an example of interactive storytelling as I’ve ever seen, and an easy choice for game of the year.” That is Kesten’s critical judgment, rather than a measured consensus.
Best 2025 games by play style
These picks offer different ways to play; they are not a definitive ranking across genres. The selection draws on Metacritic’s all-platform chart and PC roundup, alongside award and editorial lists.
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| Game | Why it belongs on the shortlist | Style | Metacritic 2025 all-platform score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Multiple major Game of the Year awards and a strong editorial case. | Turn-based RPG | 92 Metascore, as shown on the chart accessed in 2026; scores can change. |
| Hades II | Metacritic’s score-based overall Game of the Year pick. | Roguelike action RPG | 95 Metascore, as shown on the chart accessed in 2026; scores can change. |
| Blue Prince | A high-scoring option for players looking for a puzzle-focused game. | Puzzle adventure | 92 Metascore, as shown on the chart accessed in 2026; scores can change. |
| Split Fiction | A co-op pick highlighted by TIME; both players need to contribute. | Cooperative adventure | 91 Metascore, as shown on the chart accessed in 2026; scores can change. |
| Donkey Kong Bananza | A platforming and exploration choice on Metacritic’s all-platform chart. | Platformer and exploration | 91 Metascore, as shown on the chart accessed in 2026; scores can change. |
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | Another highly rated all-platform release on the chart. | Not stated in the cited Metacritic chart | 90 Metascore, as shown on the chart accessed in 2026; scores can change. |
For a major-award winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Choose this turn-based RPG if you want the shortlist’s clearest multi-award case. Metacritic’s 2025 PC roundup reported that it had sold more than 5 million units at the time of publication in 2025; that is a dated milestone, not a current sales total. Check the platform and edition you intend to play before buying.
For a review-score leader: Hades II
Hades II is the choice if you are using Metacritic’s score-based Game of the Year designation as your guide. Its 95 Metascore led the cited 2025 all-platform chart when accessed in 2026. Aggregates can change, and that result is not the same as winning the major award categories listed for Clair Obscur.
Rank #2
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For puzzles: Blue Prince
Blue Prince pairs a puzzle-adventure style with a 92 Metascore on the cited chart as accessed in 2026. That score places it alongside Clair Obscur on that snapshot, but the games offer different kinds of play.
For two-player co-op: Split Fiction
Consider Split Fiction if you have a partner ready to play cooperatively. TIME highlights it as a co-op game that requires both players to contribute, so it is a less natural fit if you want a solo-first experience. Confirm the available platform and edition for both players before purchasing.
Rank #3
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For platforming and exploration: Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza adds a platforming and exploration option to the shortlist. Metacritic’s all-platform chart showed a 91 Metascore when accessed in 2026; the chart does not make that score directly comparable to the award results above.
For another high-scoring pick: Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong appeared at 90 on the same chart snapshot. The cited chart establishes its score and placement, but does not provide a basis here for a more specific style description.
Rank #4
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Why 2025 lists disagree
Year-end rankings can use different evidence and different definitions of “2025.” A review-score chart is not an award ballot, and an editorial list reflects its panel’s choices. Even two lists that both call themselves 2025 rankings may not cover the same release window.
- Metacritic’s PC list ranks eligible games by Metascore and uses a January 1–December 31, 2025 release window.
- GamesRadar+ says its team ranked ballots covering December 1, 2024 through November 30, 2025, while excluding remasters, expansions, and early-access games.
- TIME’s list includes releases whose eligibility for other awards may differ because of release timing.
As a result, a game’s position can change depending on whether a list is PC-only or all-platform, which release dates it accepts, and whether it excludes early access or certain editions. Scores can also change as review aggregates update.
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How to choose a game from the shortlist
- Choose by the experience you want. Use the play-style column to narrow the list to role-playing, puzzles, co-op, or platforming and exploration.
- Decide whether you will play alone. Split Fiction is specifically a cooperative pick that calls for both players to participate.
- Use the evidence that matters to you. Look to awards for recognition by particular organizations, review aggregates for a score-based snapshot, and editorial lists for critics’ selections.
- Check platform and edition. Availability can vary by game, platform, and edition. Verify the current listing and compatibility for your system before buying.
- Check the ranking’s scope. Note whether a list is PC-only or all-platform and its eligibility dates, especially for games released near the end of a calendar year.
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