Look, I’ll level with you: 2025 was a bad year.

Maybe there were some good games, but I’m not just going to justify the year being good with “at least the games were good“. The world is rapidly destabilising at the behest of petty would-be tyrants, the Palestinian genocide continues practically unabated, and the widespread use of algorithmically generated “content” masquerading as Artificial Intelligence has made every creative field defensive and forced us all to be even more cynical. Things are a mess. (And this draft was written before the Iran situation kicked off…)

Even just looking at the games industry itself, you can see the signs of a bad year. Constant layoffs and talent drains continue across the board, which even extends to games media. AI slop erodes the quality of games and their development, while executives and leadership alike scramble to find a use to justify the massive resource costs. The AAA scene continues its race to the bottom as Sony and Microsoft take turns shooting themselves in the foot while Nintendo just stays its increasingly downwards course (but Nintendo and Sony don’t actively profit from a genocide, so they win over Microsoft by default).

Amidst all of this, though? Sure. There are creative people making artwork that is both entertaining and evocative, so there’s still some games to pick out amidst a year of societal decline that are worth acknowledging. And hey, Skybox formed, giving me and many others a platform amidst a media industry in total freefall. If there’s something good about the year, it’s that, and I’m glad to be a part of this website, podcasts, and community. 

But I’m not going to just sugarcoat it. It’s a bad time out there in the world, and it’d be irresponsible of me not to address that in part. Do spare a thought for all that, and if you can at all go help a good cause fighting these fights, consider doing so. When that all gets too much, though? Here’s some good games to unwind with.

Honorable Mentions

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

An excellent RPG I deeply loved practically from top to bottom. It’s not in the top ten because of its GenAI use, no matter how minor (or removed). A zero tolerance policy means not even our favourites get a pass, but I have to at least give it flowers here.

Anbennar

A total conversion mod for Europa Universalis 4 that goes above and beyond the scope and quality of nearly every modding project in existence. It’s here because it was my most played game in 2025 by an order of magnitude, and I’ll be going back to it for the foreseeable future. Credit to the entire team; Surael is the one true god, and Jadd is his prophet.

Abiotic Factor

A co-op survival game where you play as a scientist in a Black Mesa-esque facility that is experiencing a crossover with alien dimensions. Bizarre and goofy, with a solid vibe, it didn’t quite make the top ten. That didn’t stop me and some friends playing through it to completion and having a blast, though.

And now, the main event.

10. Tempest Rising

This is the Command and Conquer 4 we never got; it’s certainly way more engaging and faithful to that notion than the EA released one, anyway. Tempest Rising does a great job of scratching the Westwood RTS itch, but it’s likewise not afraid to modernise or experiment in some areas. It plays really well, looks great, has an enjoyable pair of campaigns, and there’s plenty of potential for further expansion of the game or the setting alike. It does raise the question, though: is it enough to simply be a solid throwback to a classic idea, or does it need to be something more and push that concept further? For me at least, playing a new well-playing real-time strategy in 2025 is, in fact, enough to make my top 10 list.

9. Ooo

Ooo is a short, focused puzzle game that takes a singular game mechanic and then plays with every conceivable permutation of that mechanic possible. You play as a bomb caterpillar that has the ability to drop bombs. It’s then up to you to navigate a map, using the bombs to clear paths or propel you across hazards or interact with physics in just the right way. It’s a simple concept that gets deviously complex with how it uses these simple systems. Better still: it presents a seemingly insurmountable challenge to you at the start of each section, but then by going through the rest of that section, it will loop you back there after a series of puzzles that organically teach you how to clear it. The only real hurdle is learning how to use your toolkit, but time and again I found myself impressed by how Ooo managed to spin off a cool puzzle from that simple concept. Short, sweet, and painstakingly designed, not to mention cute. Ooo is a neat little game that’s impressed me greatly.

8. Dispatch

This might be “White Guy Twilight”, but it managed to get its hooks in me (clearly I’m the demographic). Dispatch is a well crafted experience that feels more like watching a season of an animated TV show, that then has occasional sections of interactive gameplay and decision-making in the mix. This is a double-edged sword; I respect how it gives players choices in shaping the narrative, but the gameplay itself often gets in the way of just experiencing the story and characters. It’s not bad, and I could see a full blown management game building up these mechanics somewhat. Dispatch isn’t quite there yet though, and so to me it was at its strongest when I was watching, rather than playing. A great experience that I recommend, but probably not the highlight of games as a medium. Definitely keen to see this team do more, though.

7. Monster Hunter Wilds

I’m a relative newcomer to the Monster Hunter franchise, as I dabbled in earlier games but only getting invested once I played World. When I got invested, though? I got real invested. That’s why Monster Hunter Wilds is such a mixed bag to me. At its heart, the weapons and movesets play more compellingly than ever, and it remains fun to fight Wilds’ batch of huntable monsters. Capcom took a more direct swing at a story than they usually do in Monster Hunter, and that’s once again a mixed bag; I think it’s okay, but it does get in the way for the first half of the game. Only after the story is concluded and High Rank begins did I really start feeling like the game had opened up and I was playing Monster Hunter properly. I enjoyed my time with it and fully intend to go back once the inevitable Master Rank expansion rolls around, but Wilds simply didn’t pull me in like World or Rise did. Both only really hit their strides with their expansions too, though, so we’ll see where it lands in the future.

6. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

Continuing the trend of sequels that don’t quite hit the mark as well as their predecessors, the second Citizen Sleeper game didn’t grab me as much as I’d hoped. That might just be because the original set such a high bar, though. Citizen Sleeper 2 has you take command of a ship and travel around a collection of different hubs, interacting with different characters and completing a number of stories and vignettes that eventually wrap back into the main plot. All the while, you’re juggling resources and trying to keep ahead of being destitute and barely functioning. Something about the balance of this act felt a lot easier in Starward Vector than the original, though, and I rarely felt like I was struggling or didn’t have the resources I needed. Likewise, I preferred the original game’s approach to locations, as everything there was contained to a single larger space station. Separating everything increases the scope, but decreases the focus and continuity of your adventures, and so it just didn’t resonate as strongly in the sequel. Still, at the end of the day, Citizen Sleeper 2 does still hit more often than not, and some of the characters and story beats will absolutely stick with me. It just had a very hard act to follow.

5. Hades 2

We’re now three for three on sequels not quite hitting the benchmark of the original game. In my mind, Hades 2 is the worst of Supergiant’s five game roster; that still places it above many of the most beloved and acclaimed games in history. I played it at a time before the ending was reworked based on feedback, so the actual experience I had is quite different from what you’ll have now, but my experience was of disappointment and confusion. That sentiment was strengthened by the fact that it’s more accurate to call this game both Hades 2 and Hades 3, such is the scope. Unfortunately, this just leads to a sense of spreading out its best ideas across too much space. There’s too many characters and too many plot threads that just lack the impact or failed to resonate with me in the same way that the cast of Zagreus and friends did in the original. Hell, this even is true of the weapons, as I didn’t really click with Melinoe’s arsenal until I unlocked the sixth and final armament. Where Hades 2 does excel is in the gameplay, as the expansion of systems and addition of charge moves add a lot more flexibility and variety to builds than its predecessor. It still has all the presentational panache of its Supergiant pedigree; Hades 2 just ends up being the game I’m least likely to ruminate on compared to the rest of their legendary output.

4. StarVaders

I reviewed StarVaders for Skybox earlier this year, which you can read here for more in-depth thoughts. Since that time, I’ve regularly returned to StarVaders for “just one more run”. It’s even received further post-release updates from developer Pengonauts with added pilots and a true end boss fight. Something about the game really condenses my feelings on indie games as a whole. StarVaders is a neat little title with a cool gimmick, marrying two disparate games (Space Invaders and Slay the Spire) into something uniquely itself. But it’s flown very under the radar, garnering maybe a fifth of the Steam reviews of Mewgenics; whatever your feelings about either game are, I’m positive that StarVaders deserves to be seen and played by more people. There’s a lot of heart to the game, and I never have a bad time when I boot it up and give it another run. I highly encourage more people to do the same.

3. The Seance of Blake Manor

How much do you know about Irish folklore? I knew a little bit, but apparently I was only scratching the surface; The Seance of Blake Manor was quick to immerse me in the cultures, customs, and history of Ireland, while serving up arguably the most satisfying detective-style game I can recall playing. There’s a varied and compelling cast of characters that you’ll have to investigate and interrogate, all with their own individual stories that play into the larger mystery you’re attempting to solve. It’s an elaborate whodunit, and piecing everything together was a satisfying undertaking that still managed to surprise with some creative twists. This is the gold standard I hope detective games can aspire towards, and a fascinating lens into a less commonly utilised location and culture in the medium.

2. Rhythm Doctor

Press a single button on the 7th beat. How hard could it be?

Excruciatingly.

Rhythm Doctor gave me the greatest rush of combined relief and satisfaction in my hard-fought victories than any other game I played in 2025. You would not think that the core premise would prove so taxing, but even beating Rhythm Doctor on easy felt like an impossibility at times. But it’s not just the challenge that ties Rhythm Doctor all together, nor the banging soundtrack. What really sells the experience are the ensemble cast of goofy characters and the stories they tell, as well as how they’re interwoven both with the music and each other. There’s a remarkably emotional plot underlying Rhythm Doctor that’s both relatable and over the top, all backed up by incredible presentation. It’s also the only game of this entire batch that does something I have never seen done in the medium of games, the likes of which have to be played and experienced to be believed.

Rhythm Doctor was easily one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had for a while, despite how much I struggled to overcome it. Still, if you’d have told me that an indie rhythm game released in December was going to top all comers during the year, I might have believed you… but I definitely wouldn’t have believed it would happen twice.

1. UNBEATABLE

The aptly named UNBEATABLE stands out among the rest of the crowd to me, and there was little question that it would be my Game of the Year. I’ve been doing this song and dance for long enough that it’s rare to feel that spark of something special, yet I felt that the moment I first played the demo. The final release did not disappoint. It’s hard to call UNBEATABLE anything else than a vibe; the visuals, tone, sound and general mood of the game had me in its thrall from start to finish.

It’s not without issues, mind you. The earlier sections of the story can slog, and I had to constantly remind myself that left/right didn’t matter in the rhythm sections; just high/low, despite how it frequently appears. But despite those warts, there are moments in UNBEATABLE that have lingered ever since I experienced them. This is a game made by people who personally understand the struggles of being creative, and how much the process and practice can drive you utterly mad. Likewise, UNBEATABLE understands the drive and the need to create no matter the cost or hurdles, striking a personal chord that hit me harder than I could have imagined in multiple scenes. It’s loud, it’s bombastic, it’s gorgeous, and oh my god what a soundtrack. UNBEATABLE was unquestionably my personal favourite gaming experience of the year, and I can’t recommend it enough.

So here we are, after a long time coming. Beyond all the headaches and misery-inducing turns of 2025, here’s ten experiences and change that stuck with me and made it all that little bit more bearable. But escapism only carries one so far. Fight for a better world and a future you believe in, because we’re all in it together and we’re all gonna need it.

And for heaven’s sake, fellow games media outlets: stop publishing your GOTY lists before the year ends! Most of you published your picks before Rhythm Doctor and UNBEATABLE were even released! Absolutely maidenless behaviour.

Thanks for reading! Check out our official Skybox Game of the Year 2025 podcast for our full breakdown on everything, and stay tuned here at Skybox (and use the GOTY 2025 tag!) to keep up with our written companion pieces!