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TechRadar Gaming’s 2025 Game of the Year list ranks Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 first, followed by Blue Prince and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Published on 19 December 2025, the ranking grew to 20 games from 10 the previous year. It reflects the editorial team’s collective preferences—not sales figures or a simple review-score leaderboard.
How TechRadar Gaming chose its 2025 games
Managing Editor Rob Dwiar described the list as a distillation of editors’ and writers’ views on games released during the year. The team says its discussion considered each game’s impact on staff and the community, its artwork, innovation in follow-ups, and how much fun it was to play. The result is a subjective editorial ranking, so a lower position does not mean a game performed worse commercially or received a lower score in a particular review.
TechRadar Gaming’s top 20 games of 2025
The entries below follow the published ranking. Platform lists reflect TechRadar’s article; availability can vary by region, edition, and date, so check the platform store or publisher listing before buying.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. TechRadar’s top pick, praised for combining style, narrative, memorable characters, action, and role-playing choices.
- Blue Prince — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac. A puzzle game built around drafting rooms; its layered clues reward close observation and repeated runs.
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. A role-playing game set in medieval Bohemia, noted for systemic freedom, consequential choices, and its central friendship.
- Hades 2 — Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC. Supergiant’s action game combines replayable runs, character-driven storytelling, and Greek mythology; the entry also acknowledges its Early Access development period.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong — PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Mac. A demanding 2D action-platformer praised for its combat, exploration, and audio design.
- Donkey Kong Bananza — Nintendo Switch 2. A platform adventure built around destructible environments, physics, puzzles, and transformations.
- Ghost of Yōtei — PS5. An open-world adventure whose entry highlights exploration and a multi-weapon combat system.
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. A branching story that moves between 1995 and 2022, with a camera mechanic and details rooted in the 1990s.
- Silent Hill f — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. The contributor praises its story, setting, characters, and performances, while criticizing combat as repetitive and unpolished.
- Arc Raiders — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. A PvPvE extraction game where cooperation and betrayal both matter; TechRadar also points to enemy audio cues and voice chat.
- Shinobi: Art of Vengeance — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC. Fast side-scrolling action with swordplay, ninpo abilities, hand-drawn 2D art, and light metroidvania elements.
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC. Set in Feudal Japan, it contrasts Naoe’s and Yasuke’s combat styles across stealth, action, and character progression.
- The Alters — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. A science-fiction mix of life simulation, management, and action centered on alternate versions of its protagonist.
- Elden Ring Nightreign — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. A multiplayer-focused take on Elden Ring, built around three-player exploration, loot, bosses, and difficult runs.
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach — PS5. The entry highlights delivery gameplay alongside changing weather, a day-night cycle, combat, stealth, and driving.
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC. A racer with drifting, customization, gadgets, cross-network multiplayer, and ongoing character additions.
- Dispatch — PS5, PC. An episodic, choice-driven superhero comedy featuring branching storylines, voice acting, and tactical mini-games.
- Battlefield 6 — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. TechRadar praises its large-scale multiplayer, class roles, destruction, and Portal, while describing the campaign as solid rather than exceptional.
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac. A narrative-focused survival role-playing game that expands on the first game’s travel system.
- Split Fiction — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC. A cooperative adventure mixing puzzles, platforming, combat, and frequent shifts between imaginative scenarios.
How to choose from the list
The ranking covers different kinds of play, so position alone is a poor way to decide what suits you. Compare each game’s platform and central play style with what you want from a game.
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#1 Best Overall
Sale
Asmodee Ticket to Ride Board Game (2025 Refresh) - A Cross-Country Train Adventure for Friends and Family, Strategy Game for Kids & Adults, Ages 8+, 2-5 Players, 30-60 Minute Playtime
- EXCITING TRAIN ADVENTURE: Embark on a journey across early 20th century North America, collecting train cards and claiming routes to expand your network and connect cities.
- EASY TO LEARN, HARD TO MASTER: With simple rules and engaging gameplay, Ticket to Ride is perfect for both new and experienced players, making it a great choice for family game nights.
- BEAUTIFUL GAME COMPONENTS: Features a giant map of the North American train network, accompanied by miniature trains for each player, enhancing the visual appeal and immersive experience.
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO WIN: Strategically collect color sets of train cards, complete your tickets, and build the longest routes to secure victory, offering endless replayability.
- FUN FOR ALL AGES: Whether you're playing with family or friends, Ticket to Ride offers hours of fun, making it an ideal choice for casual and competitive gamers alike.
- For a story-led experience: consider Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Citizen Sleeper 2, or Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.
- For multiplayer: look at cooperative Split Fiction, extraction shooter Arc Raiders, large-scale Battlefield 6, or the multiplayer-focused Elden Ring Nightreign.
- For action and platforming: compare Hollow Knight: Silksong, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Hades 2—while keeping their different difficulty and format in mind.
- For puzzles and repeatable systems: Blue Prince emphasizes clue-solving over repeated runs, while Hades 2 and Arc Raiders offer different kinds of replayable play.
Platform support is especially important: TechRadar lists Donkey Kong Bananza only for Nintendo Switch 2, while Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is listed for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. These are the article’s platform fields, not a guarantee of current regional availability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Source and scope
This is a summary of TechRadar / Future’s “TechRadar Gaming’s Game of the Year list 2025: our top 20 games from this year”, published 19 December 2025 and accessed 8 October 2026. Its order and descriptions represent that publication’s editorial judgments.
Quick Recap
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Best Value
Mattel Games UNO Minecraft Card Game for Kids, Adults, Families & Parties, Deck & Special Rule Inspired by the Video Game, 2 to 10 Players
- Now Minecraft lovers can play a special version of UNO!
- Same as Basic UNO but features Minecraft characters and includes special Creeper rule card. Draw this card and the other players have to draw three more cards from the pile!
- The goal is to get rid of all the cards in your hand.
- First player or team to 500 wins.
- When you're down to one card, don't forget to yell "UNO"!
Rank #2
R36S 2025 New Retro Handheld Game Console, 20000+ HD Games Mini Retro Video Console, 3.5 Inch IPS Screen, Portable Arcade Video Gaming Console Gift for Adults (Grey)
- 🎮【Screen & Controls】Display: A 3.5″ HD IPS screen with a resolution of 640×480 ensures vivid colors and crisp visuals. Controls: Dual joysticks, L/R bumpers, and a classic layout deliver precision and comfort for every game. Whether you’re chasing pixel-perfect nostalgia or smooth gameplay, the R36S console bridges vintage aesthetics with modern innovation.
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