It’s been a bonkers six months in video games. Alongside the record-breaking launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its turbo-charged accompaniment Mario Kart World, we’ve had fearlessly ambitious indies, well-received reboots of beloved franchises and surprise remasters that have given new life to old favourites.
With so much going on, you probably haven’t had a chance to check out everything released so far this year. To make things easier, we’ve compiled a list of 15 essential games from 2025 that you absolutely need to play. And the sooner, the better, because the next six months don’t look any quieter on the new release front.
Words: Ali Shutler
Mario Kart World
Eight years in the making, the Nintendo Switch 2 launch title is easily the biggest entry in the Mario Kart series. ‘Grand Prix’ races have been supersized to feature 24 speedsters; the intense online ‘Knockout’ mode is a chaotic multiplayer race for survival; and players can perform Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater-inspired tricks to give them an edge. There’s even a sprawling open-world to cruise through.
Our tip? Crank the volume up to fully appreciate the impressive soundtrack that features drum ‘n’ bass Mario remixes and brilliantly catchy country-pop bangers.
For fans of: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Forza Horizon
Split Fiction
It Takes Two set a new benchmark for co-op multiplayer titles. Released in 2021 by Hazelight Studios, it got reluctant partners around the world to pick up a controller and kept them hooked with enthralling gameplay and an emotionally-driven story. Now, developers have taken things to new heights with Split Fiction. You’ll bounce between fantasy and sci-fi universes in this wild two-player world that’s basically a love letter to every video game ever made. Yes, it’s just as joyful as it sounds.
For fans of: Overcooked, It Takes Two
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
On the surface, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a little bit like Animal Crossing. It’s a cute, cosy adventure that asks you to perform chores and make the world around you more beautiful. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, though, you’ll be confronted with horrifying monsters to slay, dank dungeons to explore and a vast open-world map to survive. It’s a bamboozling game with a whole lot of depth.
For fans of: Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Every year on the isolated, fictional island of Lumière, the terrifying entity known as the Paintress writes a number down – and everyone of that age, or older, disappears forever. Afterwards, a ragtag team of volunteers heads out to try and slay the Paintress. In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you’re tasked with leading the fight against this annual horror.
With a smart, turn-based-combat system, a stacked voice cast including Daredevil’s Charlie Cox and video game legend Ben Starr, a gorgeous score and a whole lot of heart, it’s easy to see why so many have fallen in love with the debut title from Sandfall Interactive.
For fans of: Final Fantasy, Persona 5
Monster Hunter Wilds
For years, Monster Hunter existed as a cult franchise until 2018’s World turned it into a global phenomenon. This long-awaited follow-up takes everything that made World so captivating and polishes it. As the name suggests, you’ll spend most of this game taking down hulking beasts with an arsenal of deadly weapons, while adapting to the ever-changing environments you find yourself in. If you need a break from all that brutality, there’s a range of mouth-watering meals for you to try recreating – either in-game or in your own kitchen.
For fans of: Pokemon, The Witcher
Lost Records: Bloom And Rage
The newest game from the creators of Life Is Strange takes influence from Stranger Things and Yellowjackets. Part of the story is set in 1995, when you and your mates start your very own punk band and get ready to take on the world. A mysterious event changes all that, though, and 27 years later, you reunite with your bandmates to try and work out what the hell went on. It’s a rich coming-of-age tale that’ll make you long for the good ol’ days.
For fans of: Life Is Strange, Alan Wake
Doom: The Dark Ages
The original Doom set the rules for first-person shooters, but in recent years, developers id Software have been taking the beloved franchise to new places. While 2020’s Doom Eternal put you in control of a more agile demon slayer, the hulking protagonist of The Dark Ages acts more like an unstoppable tank. That’s exactly how you want to feel as you tear your way through hordes of demonic beasties and make use of a deliciously violent arsenal of weapons. The cherry on the top of this wonderfully over-the-top carnage is a ferocious metal soundtrack.
For fans of: Gears Of War, God Of War
South Of Midnight
When disaster threatens her hometown, the plucky young Hazel is called on to become a mystical warrior known as a weaver. It might sound like your standard action-adventure game, but South Of Midnight is actually full of surprises. With a macabre environment created from Hazel’s own memories and plenty of Southern folklore weaved into the slick, emotional storyline, it’s a story of identity and belonging set to a kick-ass soundtrack.
For fans of: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Uncharted
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
An awful lot of Assassin’s Creed games have been sold since the first instalment in 2007, but it felt like developers were running out of ideas with 2020’s Valhalla. However, Shadows marks the energetic rebirth of the fantasy stealth series. Entering the lush world of 16th-century Japan, you take control of either hench bruiser Yasuke or the more nimble Naoe as you embark on a mission of revenge. With an impressive open-world to explore and two very different approaches to every obstacle in your way, the whole thing feels fresh and exciting.
For fans of: Metal Gear, Ghost Of Tsushima
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
The original Oblivion is still one of the best fantasy epics ever made, and this faithful remaster modernises the 2006 game without destroying any of its magic. That’s a tough balance to get right, but the updated graphics, smarter NPCs and a streamlined user interface pull the action role-playing title into 2025. Still, developers have treated the project with respect, keeping in beloved bugs and refusing to change the fundamentals too drastically. In short, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered sets a new standard for updating the classics.
For fans of: Skyrim, Fallout 3
Atomfall
Atomfall was dubbed “British Fallout” by fans after developers Rebellion first showed it off last year. When players actually got their hands on it, though, they quickly realised there was so much more to the quirky game than another post-apocalyptic quest for survival. Inspired by creepy ‘60s sci-fi shows and a very real slice of British history, Atomfall is a wonderful hodgepodge of horror, mystery and action. There are several ways for you to complete the story and each one is mind-bendingly brilliant.
For fans of: Fallout: New Vegas, Death Stranding
Blue Prince
Balatro became a 2024 viral smash by offering gamers a reworked take on poker. This year’s puzzling sensation is Blue Prince, a slow-burning mind-mangler that lets you explore an ever-shifting house in an attempt to reach the mysterious room 46 and claim your inheritance. The premise seems straightforward enough, but before you know it, you’ll be spending an entire night investigating handwriting samples while trying to remember where you saw those car keys. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
For fans of: Professor Layton, Outer Wilds
Avowed
Avowed may build on the lore of Obsidian’s hugely-popular Pillars Of Eternity series, but this fantasy epic never feels like a tired copy of what’s come before. Taking to The Living Lands, a lush environment that would feel like paradise if not for a disturbing plague that’s sending residents insane, your job is to save the day. With plenty of horrible-looking monsters to defeat, fiendishly tricky puzzles to solve and loads of loot to uncover, Avowed will put a serious dent in your social life.
For fans of: Skyrim, The Last Of Us
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii
Ever since 2005’s Yakuza, Sega’s Like A Dragon series has walked the line between zany soap opera and gritty mob drama. The nine mainline games and numerous spin-offs have all felt a little unhinged as you earn your place in the criminal underworld of Japan. As the name suggests, Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii takes you to the high seas for a swashbuckling beat-‘em-up adventure that refuses to take itself too seriously.
For fans of: The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Streets Of Rage
Dune: Awakening
Have you ever wondered how you’d get on scratching out an existence on the desert planet of Arkanis? The blockbuster movies and sprawling set of Frank Herbert novels certainly never made it seem easy, but the open-world Dune: Awakening is an absolute delight. Avoid the various enemy houses out for blood, build up your political powerbase and claim a corner of the planet for your own – all while avoiding the jaws of a giant sandworm. Simple.
For fans of: Ark: Survival Evolved, Frostpunk