CraigPlaysGames Top 10 Games of 2025
There's 11 games on here I hadn't even got around to playing yet. Whoops!
Another year of Games has passed and to me, it’s been an alright one. People are lauding it as one of the best in recent memory but I just can’t agree. That’s not to say I didn’t have fun with the games I did play, because I absolutely did enjoy what I got around to this year.
There’s still plenty I didn’t get around to like Doom: The Dark Ages or Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was just okay and I didn’t massively vibe with Clair Obscur Expedition 33.
Regardless, here is Craig Plays Games’ Top 10 Games of the Year!
Honorable Mention: Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 (Nintendo)
Super Mario Galaxy and it’s sequels are amongst some of my favourite games of all time and having them both on a modern console in a convenient duo pack is great. I had a blast playing them again but in terms of a new release, it didn’t seem very fair to take a spot from a new release on the list.
Runners Up
15) Mafia: The Old Country (Hangar 13)
14) Ratshaker (Sunscorched Studios)
13) Henry Halfhead (Lululu Entertainment)
12) Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Machine Games)
11) Fly Knight (Wabbaboy)
And now, the top 10!
10) The Midnight Walk (MoonHood)
While I wish there was a little more to it gameplay wise, I can’t deny that the atmosphere of the game from visuals to audio to overall presentation is something else. A must try, at least on sale.
9) Sorry We’re Closed (A La Mode Games)
Gay Resident Evil was a surprise to be sure but I enjoyed every minute of it. The London(?) setting mixed with the Angels and Demons theme and of course the LGBTQ+ script all come together in a nice little package.
8) RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business (Teyon)
You're not getting anything world class from Teyon but after Terminator: Resistance and the original Rogue City, you can guarantee you're going to get a solid no frills FPS shooter that doesn't overstay it's welcome. Sometimes that’s all you need.
7) Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 (Strange Scaffold)
As stupid as the title suggests and twice as fun, never thought I'd find myself playing a Match-3 game but between the context it's provided (the titular Redneck Dinosaur Mansion) and the visual novel elements made for a very addictive time.
6) Pokemon Legends Z-A (Gamefreak)
It's Pokémon man what can I even say? The new combat style is an interesting evolution and everything else is how I expect it to be for better or for worse. I'm just happy the Legends subseries exists to explore new ideas and specifically Z-A for wrapping up the story presented in X/Y, 12 years ago.
5) Promise Mascot Agency (Kaizen Game Works)
Come for the wacky premise, stay for a charming adventure filled with intrigue, goofiness and drama all in equal measures, all wrapped up in an open sandbox that feels like a long lost PS2 title in the best way possible.
4) Elden Ring: Nightreign (FromSoftware)
While a Soulsborne game outside of the top 3 is unheard of for this site (and TheNerdRock before it), Nightreign is still a great game, offering a lot of the same highs that the normal games offer but in faster bite sized sessions. I sort of wish it was just more Elden Ring DLC though.
3) Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios)
Co-op games from Hazelight are always a blast and while this one took a little bit to get started, once it picked up, it really picked up. Me and Jade had a great time, shouting and laughing at the TV by the time the credits rolled around.
2) Silent Hill F (Neobards Entertainment)
Bringing Silent Hill back in such a radically different setting was a massive gamble for Konami and although not everyone did, I personally think it was a great success. There’s so much nuance and detail to be found in the story and the town of Ebisugaoka is beautiful too. I strongly suggest people give it a try.
1) Donkey Kong: Bananza (Nintendo)
I'll just say it to get it out of the way - Donkey Kong Bananza is a little too similar to it's spiritual predecessor, Super Mario Odyssey and I wish it was a touch more unique than it is.
That being said, what an absolutely phenomenal game Donkey Kong Bananza actually is - Donkey Kong may be a Nintendo old timer but his last 3D outing was Donkey Kong 64, a collectathon nightmare. This time around, he's front and centre in the only game I think has ever done destructible environments properly.
Every level slaps, every tune is a banger and the final sequence is amongst my favourites in Video Games. Perhaps an unconventional Game of the Year choice given the obvious frontrunners but it was the only game for me.
