2025 was an absolutely insane year for games.
Whether you're on Xbox, Windows PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, or PlayStation, one thing unites all platforms: there was a seriously huge amount of high-quality games to play this year.
The bangers came in all shapes and sizes. Whether it was the huge AAA budgeted dozens-of-hours behemoths from the mega-publishers, or small and scrappy teams with viral indie hits — the backlog is absolutely real.
As we head towards 2026 and start giving 2025 a wave goodbye, the team here at Windows Central decided to come together and rank our favorite Xbox and PC games of 2025, chosen wholly unscientifically and ranked based on votes.
What were your favorite games of 2025? Do hit the comments too, and let us know!
Ranking our favorite games of 2025!
This year saw mountains of high-profile games of all types and genres. We don't have a very big team here at Windows Central, so don't be mad if we missed out on your favorite game here. Drop your favorites in the comments below, and let us know what your ranking would've been here.
We've also added some more honorable mentions further below for games that don't quite fit the bill (either because they were remakes, DLC, or ones that didn't get enough votes from the whole team).
10. Silent Hill F
Silent Hill F is an amazing return to form for a franchise that has been practically dormant for over a decade. Set in 1960s Japan, Hinako carves a bloody path through an all-too-familiar nightmare, warped by her familial trauma and relatable school problems.
The twists are extreme, the combat is satisfying, and the atmosphere is on point. Konami has proven that it can still deliver strong games in 2025, and we're here for it. — Jez Corden
9. Elden Ring: Nightreign
FromSoftware is known for its grand, highly structured, methodically paced action RPG adventures, so Elden Ring Nightreign — a co-op roguelike spinoff with an emphasis on zipping around a shrinking map and taking out camps of enemies and minibosses to get as many randomized upgrades as possible — is a hugely experimental departure from that norm. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it when it came out, but my friends and I quickly fell in love with its distilled focus on fast-paced "Soulsborne" combat.
Nightreign combines Elden Ring's refined mechanics and 10 different playable characters (two from the new The Forsaken Hollows DLC with new bosses and a second map as well) that each cater to specific playstyles with different abilities and stat spreads. I'd enjoy greater enemy and boss variety, but all in all, Nightreign is an excellent idea from FromSoftware that is executed well, and is a must-play for any Soulslike fan. — Brendan Lowry
![Elden Ring Nightreign (Xbox Digital]](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BkXhR3g6UZd2jBxXTfQH3h-200-80.jpg.webp "Elden Ring Nightreign (Xbox Digital]")
8. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Years in the making, Hollow Knight Silksong took the world by storm this past summer, dropping straight into Xbox Game Pass and launching alongside the Xbox Ally handheld.
This hardcore metroidvania pulls no punches, wears its soulslike inspirations on its sleeve, and isn't afraid to make you rage with its difficulty. From its stunning environmental art, fantastic soundtrack, evocative storytelling, and tight combat, Hollow Knight Silksong is an instant classic and a must-play for fans of the genre. Just take it slow ... — Jez Corden
7. Arc Raiders
I don’t know if it’s because I grew up in the era when DayZ was the game everyone played on PC, but ARC Raiders hits a similar nerve for me. The level of player choice, and the unpredictable people you meet along the way, is something I haven’t felt since DayZ in 2013.
DayZ constantly made you question whether you could trust someone or not. Seeing that kind of tension become more mainstream again is great, and it pulls me back to moments from over a decade ago. ARC Raiders reminds me of the Xbox 360 era of multiplayer gaming, and it definitely carries the same spirit that made DayZ so special. It almost makes me wish DayZ had received the same spotlight ARC is getting now. — Adam Hales
6. Battlefield 6
After a couple of misfires from the only credible alternative to Call of Duty, EA's beleaguered Battlefield franchise came out of the gate swinging this year and was big and bold enough to put a serious dent into Call of Duty for what feels like the first time.
A return to truly grounded warfare, Battlefield 6 offers everything modern Call of Duty doesn't, and players rewarded EA heavily for it this year. — Jez Corden
5. Ball x Pit
It feels like our entire team was addicted to this one this year. Ball x Pit came out of nowhere over the Q3 period and took the world by storm, balls in hand.
Ball x Pit combines classic gameplay from the likes of DX Ball and combines it with the auto-battler addictiveness of titles like Vampire Survivors. Fight waves of enemies with cascading and mutating power-ups in what might be the most addictive game of 2025. — Jez Corden
4. Hades 2
Supergiant Games already delivered a masterpiece with the original Hades, setting the bar extremely high for the studio's first-ever sequel. Launching and updating through early access, the team once again knocked it out of the park with a bigger, grander roguelike experience that merges gorgeous artwork and frenetic gameplay with a fascinating take on Greek myth.
I absolutely adore the new protagonist, Melinoë, who earns her place alongside her brother and the rest of the cast of this imposing tale. No two runs are ever the same, and it's ever-satisfying to build up your godly strength as you tackle the Titan of Time and his menagerie of lieutenants.
Topping it all off is a killer soundtrack, once again composed by Supergiant's Darren Korb. Hades 2 easily stands as one of the best games in an impressive year. — Samuel Tolbert
3. Blue Prince
When thinking about my favorite games this year, I hesitated to include Blue Prince. Its impact on me was unmistakable, but I had such a love-hate relationship with how completely it consumed my brain and broke my spirit on multiple occasions — yet I still went crawling back for more.
Earlier this year, I wrote that I was quitting before I lost my mind, and then, of course, I promptly went back for another 20 hours of punishment. The mansion is a puzzle, and within it lies a myriad of other puzzles, and just when you think you’ve solved one, the mystery continues to unravel.
It’s refreshing in the sense that you need to keep a pen and paper on hand to make notes, and infuriating because solutions often come to you in the middle of the night when you’re trying to sleep. It’s maddening to spend a week trying to figure something out only to realize the solution was staring you in the face all along.
Blue Prince was also an unexpectedly fantastic co-op experience as I compared notes with friends playing the game and pieced clues together. It’s rare for a game to be this clever, and rarer still for me to love something that seems intent on destroying my sanity, but Blue Prince is unforgettable and an absolute must-play for any puzzle and/or roguelike fan. — Jennifer Young
2. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is my pick for Game of the Year, and edges out the juggernaut that is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for me.
Warhorse Studios' colossal medieval open-world RPG is an incredible achievement, with some of the most reactive and dynamic systems I've ever seen in a role-playing experience, alongside terrific combat informed by realistic techniques from the era and a nuanced armor system that factors locational damage against every layer of cloth, chainmail, and plate.
The story, too, is amazingly well-written and fun to engage with, as are the 120+ hours of side quests and activities that flesh out this rendition of medieval Bohemia wonderfully. And the cherry on top? KCD2's gorgeous visuals bring that world to life in stunning detail, as does its grand orchestral soundtrack. I cannot recommend this game enough. — Brendan Lowry
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a revelation for a variety of reasons. Sandfall Interactive emerged from the minds of ex-Ubisoft vets, tired of the bureaucracy that prevented true creativity from flourishing.
A single vision: create an homage to JRPG greats of the past, albeit with evolving modern flair, visuals, atop a uniquely French setting.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 went on to be one of this year's most successful and most renowned games. It gave long-suffering Final Fantasy fans the spiritual successor to AAA JRPGs that Square Enix inexplicably refuses to offer, while also offering a genuinely unique spin on the formula. It helps that the game's twist-laden story is as evocative as it is relatable, despite its dark and fantastical setting that is as bleak as it can be uplifting.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is our Game of the Year for ascending despite the odds, and standing out from the crowd despite wearing its inspirations on its sleeves. Pure unfettered creativity, and a strong, important reminder of what truly drives the industry forward. — Jez Corden
Honorable Mentions
For games that didn't quite get enough votes to make the top 10, or simply weren't truly full new games that launched in 2025, we've rounded up some honorable mentions here. What would've been some of yours? Let us know in the comments!
Atomfall
Atomfall is the very definition of AA, but developer Rebellion has proven that it's no one-trick pony with this one. Known for the Sniper Elite franchise, Atomfall is a uniquely British shooter set in a gorgeous, hand-crafted Cumbrian countryside. It celebrates all the quirks and weirdness of Britain, warped through the lens of a lesser-known real-world nuclear disaster that took place in the North of the country.
Despite its title, it's less Fallout and more STALKER, where exploration, stealth, and open-endedness rise to the fore in a fantastic way. — Jez Corden
Dying Light: The Beast
I feel like Dying Light: The Beast unfairly flew under the radar. It launched during a very busy time, and I also feel like its name created some confusion. This is essentially Dying Light 3, and I feel like Techland was a bit shy of using that moniker since it started life as a DLC. It grew, and grew, though, and became its own thing, with a new map, new features, new systems, and a new story.
Following Kyle Crane from the original game, Dying Light: The Beast changes things up by allowing Crane to transform into a hulk-like mutant, punching zombies to death with sublimely satisfying blood-soaked melee. If you loved any of the Dying Light games, don't overlook this one. It's arguably better than Dying Light 2, and the beast mode is infectious. Literally. — Jez Corden
DUSK
This gets an honorable mention purely for the Xbox version. DUSK is the progenitor of the boomer shooter genre, reviving the classic fast-paced FPS format typified by the likes of DOOM. The retro-stylings, masses of secrets, and hyper-violence make Dusk's 2025 arrival on Xbox one of my favorite games of 2025, as someone who missed out on it until now. It's also fantastic on the Xbox Ally. — Jez Corden
The Alters
The Alters is another game that flew under the radar a bit, and I'm a tad frustrated that Jan Dolski's voice actor, Alex Jordan, was overlooked at The Game Awards for his stellar performance here.
Indeed, in The Alters, you don't play as a singular Jan. You play as several incarnations of Jan, cloned and implanted with memories to aid with the maintenance of a giant roaming space station. You're stranded, oxygen and supplies are running low, and you need to rendezvous at an extraction point before the planet's sun turns you into a radioactive crisp.
The game's tense management gameplay and unique and emotional storytelling will be familiar to anyone who played This War of Mine. This deserves your consideration in 2025. — Jez Corden
Keeper
I played dozens of games in 2025, and I only awarded three a perfect 10/10 score — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Alters, and... Keeper.
Years of waiting and building up excitement for Double Fine Productions' next game after Psychonauts 2 didn't dull Keeper's edge at all; if anything, Keeper still managed to exceed my lofty expectations for Xbox's most creative first-party studio.
You can reduce Keeper down to "You're a literal lighthouse that became sentient, grew legs, and went on a rather long walk with your dinosaur bird friend," and every part of that description screams "Double Fine," but Keeper is so much more than that.
This game is devastatingly beautiful, with the most intense, impactful, and imaginative art direction I've seen all year. It's also riveting, weaving an epic tale of history, purpose, and family that will keep you engaged from the opening cinematic to hours after the closing credits roll. — Zachary Boddy
Silent Hill 2
Here's another honorable mention specifically for its Xbox version. Silent Hill 2 launched a while ago on PlayStation and PC, but with the Xbox version finally here, I felt it deserved a mention. It is without a doubt one of, if not the best, Xbox games that launched in 2025 in my view. Bloober Team absolutely killed it here.
Silent Hill 2 is a legendary survival horror franchise that emphasises claustrophobic, exhausting atmospherics atop stressful gameplay and clever puzzling. Its mysterious story, uncanny dialogue delivery, and legendary soundtrack made Silent Hill 2 a timeless and iconic game that has few peers even today. Bloober Team did the franchise and its legacy incredibly proud with this remake, and it's up on Xbox now. — Jez Corden
Dispatch
Hailing from veterans of Telltale Games' first iteration, AdHoc Studio has made a noteworthy first impression with its debut game, Dispatch.
Merging corporate office banality with the quirks of free-spirited antiheroes, Dispatch easily banishes notions of superhero fatigue through awesome character work and some genuinely funny scenes. Tying it altogether is the incredible voice cast, which includes Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) and a large chunk of Critical Role.
Dispatch earns its place alongside The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us as an icon of narrative adventure games, and I already can't wait for a second season. — Samuel Tolbert
Cronos: The New Dawn
I wanted to give another overlooked banger this year a shoutout, and it's a double whammy for Bloober Team. Bloober Team's first home-grown survival horror title is Cronos: The New Dawn, combining gameplay similar to the likes of classics among Resident Evil, The Evil Within, and Dead Space, wrapped in a uniquely Polish sci-fi setting.
In a bleak and lonely apocalypse, you're the mysterious Traveller, exploring past timelines to figure out just what ended the world. The twists and turns are strong, the combat is stressful, and the environmental design is top-shelf. Bloober Team delivered a banger here, and hopefully, we'll see more from this universe in the future. — Jez Corden
WH40K: Rogue Trader — Lex Imperialis DLC
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader hits a special place in my heart as it's not only the first CRPG I've played and completed, but also loved it so much that it became my favorite WH40K game.
The Lex Imperialis DLC managed to take what I already loved about the game and dial it up to 11 with new character Archetypes to experiment with, new weapons to discover throughout the entire game, massive balance changes to every class, more replay value as there's lots of new cutscenes and story-decisions throughout the whole game to discover, and of course, cool new adventures where we get to purge the enemies of the Imperium with the the new Judge Dredd-inspired Arbites companion and Character origin. — Alex Cope
Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2
I played the original Monster Hunter Stories back on the Nintendo 3DS in 2021, and I loved every minute of it as it perfectly captures the mainline Monster Hunter game's mechanics in a turn-based environment without being a Pokémon copycat.
Fast forward a few years, and I now get to replay it on the big screen through an HD Remaster (along with the Xbox version of Monster Hunter Stories 2), and it's just as fun as I remember it (while including some extra post-game fun the 3DS version didn't have).
It rekindled my love for Monster Hunter after it was briefly snuffed out by how disappointing Monster Hunter Wilds was, and I can't wait to see where this spin-off series will go next when Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection comes out on March 13, 2026. — Alex Cope
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
In an age where games are becoming too scared to drive away audiences if they're even remotely challenging, I'm pleased to see the Ninja Gaiden series stick to its roots of old-school difficulty with Ninja Gaiden Ragebound.
It's brutal from start to finish (to the point where it even injured my wrist with how fast I had to parry incomings), but the levels of satisfaction I gained from understanding the complex level design, mastering the varied combat mechanics, unlocking secret levels, and conquering the tough-as-nails bosses were SO worth the effort.
This game was so much fun and gorgeous to look at, it made me a Ninja Gaiden fan after avoiding the series for decades, and I'm now interested in going back to play previous games to see what I missed out on all these years. — Alex Cope
Happy Holidays from the Windows Central Gaming Team!
That's a wrap on our favorite games for 2025.
This year was a bumper year for game releases, with everything delayed out of the pandemic launching almost back to back at a breakneck pace over the past couple of years. By all accounts, 2026 is set to be absolutely no different, with high-profile games like Fable, Halo Campaign Evolved, Gears E-Day, and much more emerging from Xbox Game Studios. The headline act is, of course, Grand Theft Auto 6, which is slated to drop just shy of a year from now (if it isn't delayed again, that is.).
What games did you love the most in 2025? What games are you most excited for in 2026? Hit the comments, and if you're celebrating, have a Merry Christmas!
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