The best games to play in 2025, so far

Even this early into the year, we're struck by how easy it's been to assemble some of the best games of 2025 into a list already. So far, we've seen a mixture of great and ambitious new entries in long-running series like Assassin's Creed and Dynasty Warriors, and some fresh games, too. There's still plenty more to come as we look ahead at the new games for 2025 as well – it's set to be an incredible year for gaming.

In this ranked list, you'll find our favorites from the year so far that have really stuck with us. That means we've given them all a 4-star ranking or above in their respective reviews (and you can find our criteria for that by taking a look at how we score on GamesRadar+). From there, we've fine-tuned the ranking using the age-old method of arguing with one another loudly and throwing things. This may change throughout the year as grudges resurface, and strong words are had – but mostly when new games release and we reconsider everything in a new context.

But, it's safe to say that when it comes to Game of the Year discussions, these entries below will be in the mix as our standout favorites. Not sure why something isn't included below? You can take a look at all our recommendations for what to play more fully by perusing our full list of game reviews. But if you're looking for something in particular, we curate some more specific lists as well, including best single-player games, best RPG games, best FPS games, and more! Let's stay here for now, though, and rundown the best games of 2025 so far!

The best games of 2025, ranked

Sure, there are some problems with WWE 2K25 – as there are in plenty of sports games of the modern era. WWE's high-octane glitziness may justify some of that in MyFaction, but you still can't get around that this entry can sometimes feel less 'money in the bank' than it is 'virtual currency right outta your wallet'. But what's this? By gawd, that's Gameplay's entrance music! And it's rushing the ring!

This is the best feeling simulated wrestling has ever felt, combining the immediacy of the classic Smackdown vs Raw era with some truly sublime animations that sell every impact in the ring alongside the personality of every wrestler in it. And there's a lot of wrestlers – this roster is stacked. The ways they grapple are just as exciting, new Bloodline Rules giving new ways to play, and a thrilling showcase mode that allows for clashes across history and for you to play with the very events that shaped WWE over the years. A return to form.

Move over, Kiryu-chan! Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii ditches both recent series protagonists, Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga, to spotlight fan favorite Goro Majima is his only solo game to date. It feels like a long time coming, too, as Yakuza 0, in which he co-stars, is still one of the best Yakuza games ever released.

Many years have passed, and he might start the game with shipwreck-induced amnesia, but he's still the Majima fans have loved over the years. Teaming up with the young boy who saved his life, he sets out on a pirate quest to uncover a mysterious treasure. And wouldn't you believe it? It turns out to be in the midst of a crime caper conspiracy that spans Hawaii and the many islands nearby. This means small new areas in this spin-off, such as pirate haven Madlantis, are joined by the return of the Honolulu map from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Refreshed with loads of new activities as well as the return of favorites, this side-story is still mega-sized with loads to do. That's just Yakuza through and through.

What's better than action and stealth individually? As Sniper Elite: Resistance answers, how about doing both at the same time? Better than that? Doing it to hundreds of Nazis. Like its predecessors, this mixes tense cat-and-mouse mechanics with ludicrous amounts of X-ray cam gore to really allow you to revel in your WW2 mission of liberation with extreme prejudice.

Plonked into occupied France, 1944, this feels like more of an addendum to the "brilliant and brutal" Sniper Elite 5 than full-on sequel, shifting the narrative from Karl Fairburne to the formerly supporting hero Harry Hawker. Some may dislike that this feels more like a continuation than a complete reinvention, but considering the quality of the fifth adventure, building on what worked there results in a smart and considered sniping game here. Honing in on what works means the action does feel more fleshed out here, at times reaching Hitman 3 levels of deviousness in what you're able to pull off. To top it off, a devilish invasion multiplayer mode adds plenty of replay value, too.

After a very rough attempt to reinvent the franchise with Dynasty Warriors 9, it's great to see Dynasty Warriors Origins take the larger-than-life "one versus one hundred" battler back to the drawing board. What results is a game that feels like it plays to the series' strengths while also feeling very fresh. Here, rather than loads of heroes to pick from, you have just one new character – Ziliuan – and this focuses on how you weave through the Romance of the Three Kingdoms epic historical tale.

Able to read the "winds" of battle, any force you lend your blade (or many other weapon types) to has a huge advantage in conflicts, meaning you'll quickly need to make decisions around which of the three kingdoms to back. Mixing light and heavy attacks together as usual, combat feels more tactile than ever, with quick counters and clashes making battles feel high impact yet still fluid. Each battlefield feels huge in scope, too, with mounted cavalry charges feeling like they shake the earth as soldiers all around shout out as one.

In recent years, the cozy game genre has been flooded with titles that mainly stick to the Stardew Valley-styled box. However, Wanderstop flips the trope on its head by following the champion fighter Alta, who is struggling to adapt to the new slow pace she finds herself in while running a tea shop. In fact, Alta is pretty much trapped in her new cozy reality, despite her wish to find a new master so that she may redeem herself after suffering a recent string of defeats that weigh heavy on her mind.

Wanderstop is full of whimsy on its surface, letting you discover charmingly named plants, grow resources, and unlock new recipes. Farm plants, grow hybrids, and gather what you need from the world around you while also discovering stories from your customers. But this game, at its core, has a deep story all about change and Alta's journey through her trauma. Get ready to be shocked by unexpected feelings and witness one of the most effective stories of the year.

Civilization 7 is the best that Civ has ever looked, period. And that's high praise when you consider that we are talking about a franchise with some of the best 4X games in existence. Developed by Firaxis Games, Civilization 7 takes the tried and tested formula that we all love: exploration, expansion, exploitation, and extermination, and adds a stunning map and less intimidating campaigns for us to enjoy. In this outing, your chosen leader will stay with you from start to finish. It'll be your civilization that will be changing throughout different points of your playthrough, flipping Civ on its head.

However, as every great ruler knows, change is sometimes necessary, and all of Civ 7's new features work in its favor. The new mechanics keep things fresh as you play lengthy campaigns with friends, and that, paired with less information to absorb on your screen, makes every session feel snappy and fun. It's a great evolution for one of the best strategy series around, and the ideal place for newcomers to the genre to dive into.

Obsidian Entertainment gives us one of the best Xbox Exclusives of the year with the fantasy RPG Avowed. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, Avowed follows the story of a Godlike Envoy from the Aedyr Empire who is set on a mission to uncover and stop a mysterious plague that's threatening the Living Lands called the "Dream Scourge." However, immersive story aside, what really sets Avowed out from the pack is how rewarding exploration is here.

With every new area you discover, there will be a chest or some form of loot to find. If he didn't stumble upon anything, chances are you simply missed it. You'll find yourself going off the path, searching for side quests that meaningfully impact your story and character, and soon, you'll realize that hours have gone by. Combat in Avowed is also a blast, with each character build being customizable to fit your perfect playstyle. While the companion combat system isn't perfect, and some story beats lack a certain punch, you won't regret giving this one a try.

The writing for the sci-fi world of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, in which the nature of corporate ownership of synthetic bodies is explored, is as sharp here as it was in its predecessor. But this sequel has the ambition to go so much further. Last time around, we were stuck on one space station, whereas the multi-location tale that's spun this time around is much more sweeping. For the most part, this really plays into the strengths of the tabletop RPG-inspired system, to give so many more varied storytelling opportunities.

Where some friction is removed in how you maintain your 'sleeper' body, a new system for destructible die adds tension to many more key moments, making this ultimately more consistently thrilling, decisions always feeling like they have plenty of weight. This mostly comes across in missions you set out on, selecting party members to join you. This makes Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector feel much more social in design, a slight tonal shift that we think makes this incredible sequel better than ever, and one of the best game stories we've played to date.

Assassin's Creed Shadows kicks off Assassin's Creed Mirage's shift in direction to return to the modern era of the series' open-world RPG style like Assassin's Creed Valhalla – but this is more than 'another one of those.' The scale of this Sengoku-era-set Japan is enormous, and more realistic than ever before, and it's a huge and dense world full of discoveries around every corner.

Split between two heroes, Naoe and Yasuke, the former is a stealthy shinobi while the latter is a combat-specialist samurai. This means you're always risking something in play, forcing you to lean into each characters' strength as a trade-off. Almost every mission after the opening hours can be played as either. We love both, but Naoe's additions to the series' stealth are truly exceptional. She's fluid to play as, able to go prone in long grass or flip off ledges. Detailed castle designs mean each area feels like a fresh challenge, mixing interiors and exteriors to create maze-like spaces to master.

Who would have thought that a medieval RPG would be one of the top gaming experiences of the year? Well, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a sadistic gift that will have peasants spitting in your face, guards kicking you while you are down, and will keep you coming back for more torture. This is a direct sequel to the last KCD game and sees Henry of Skalitz return. However, you find yourself back at square one after some unfortunate events, meaning you'll have to work up the historical ladder of influence once again.

While the grind may be slow at first, as you skill up and embark on thoroughly well-written quests, you'll soon be hooked on that feeling of accomplishment as you work to overpower every person who did you wrong at the start of your adventure. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's open world is also a marvel and is a genuine joy to track through. While this game does require patience, it'll be your new obsession if given the chance.

For years, we've enjoyed building up hospitals and university campuses across strange biomes and unlocking even stranger contraptions along the way. However, the newest Two Point series entry, Two Point Museum, is the best game yet. Here you'll be managing a series of museums (or using sandbox mode to create your dream one from scratch). Complete objectives, send experts out on dangerous expeditions to find more exhibits, and work to keep your museum profitable!

Two Point Museum is packed with all the fun and whimsy from previous Two Point outings while also introducing some exciting new features to spice up the gameplay. Expeditions have consequences that can result in some untimely staff deaths. You can build exhibits such as aquariums and ghost rooms, and guided tours are a great new way to earn some cash. If you love sim games and find the concept of seeing a floppy disk as part of a prehistoric exhibit hilarious, then Two Point Museum is a must-play.

The creators of Life is Strange may not be tied to that brand anymore, but they still bring plenty of that same vibe to Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1. This is another teen girl coming-of-age story that balances its charming, heartwarming '90s setting with something sinister and strange beneath the surface, and is one hella good time!

Importantly, this isn't just Life is Strange with the numbers filed off. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage revives what we loved about that series but brings plenty new to the table – while still being a narrative-first game in which you make plenty of dialogue choices and explore a lot of environments. A dual timeline, one in which the girls meet in the present day to discuss the strange events of their fateful summer, and one the events themselves, adds a neat story twist. So too does Swann's camcorder, which you can use to seamlessly record what's around you, expertly blending the nosiness that's core to Don't Nod's prior games with a mechanical hook we couldn't put down.

Split Fiction is the best co-op game that you'll play in 2025, trust us. From the minds that bought us the go-to title for couples in 2021 (It Takes Two), Hazelight Studios delivers another two-player masterpiece here. Following the story of two writers (one specializing in sci-fi, the other in fantasy) trying to escape a machine that's extracting all their ideas, Split Fiction will throw you into several beautiful worlds along with uniquely crafted levels.

As you and your player two search for glitches that can stop the machine, you'll experience a ton of different styles of gameplay along with Hazelight's signature platforming focus. Shoot targets and create portals, engage in some Snake-style gameplay, or fly dragons while avoiding rockslides, every second of Split Fiction is exciting and is packed with obvious love and nods to classic video games. While the plot is straightforward, and you will be dying to return to some gameplay sections, Split Fiction is a marvel and already a strong contender for Game of the Year.

Busywork begone! Monster Hunter Wilds is a game that understands the appeal of the series' core loop – of teaming up to fell big beasties to craft better, stronger gear – and zeroes in on making sure that's the bulk of the experience. While some vets may miss the slower rituals of older game's hunts, like tracking and paintballs, the immediacy of your clashes with massive foes using almost-as-large weapons is electric in this new entry.

While the endgame challenge we crave is still to come, build creation is smarter than ever, thanks to the ability to take multiple weapons on hunts and a revised skill system. But other standout additions are more obvious to players of all levels, all revolving around the detailed maps that feel like living, breathing environments. Base camps are now located within those maps directly, so you always feel like a part of the ecosystem, and new Seikrets – raptor-like mounts – can steer you all around each zone with automated ease. This means you only need to worry about the next hunt on the horizon.