Video Games in 2025

2025 brought some truly excellent games. I think it’s noteworthy that something like Hades 2 is still in my queue because of how solid these games were. Also, almost all of these games were shared with my daughter in some way, either playing together or just spectating and chatting. It’s a pretty great time to be playing video games.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

I loved Hollow Knight, a modern classic and jewel of the “metroidvania” genre (of which I am a big fan). When the trailer for Silksong dropped 6 years ago, it already looked incredible. And the end result… is outstanding. It’s so good, y’all. It’s visually stunning. The music is wonderful. The character design is inspired. There is so much game to explore. And there are so many varied and challenging boss fights.

This last bit is the controversial one. Are those boss fights tough? Yep. Frustrating? Yep. Do you feel incredible when you finally overcome each one of them? Absolutely yes. I know this aspect of the game will turn away many people, and I’m sad about that. Because this is very clearly one of the best games I’ve ever played.

Compared to the Vessel of the previous game, Hornet controls like a sports car. She can dodge and weave with extreme agility. With that the demands on your performance piloting her have also gone up. But it never feels unfair. And when you’re in the flow… it feels great.

Played on Xbox

Grounded

In short, this game is Honey I Shrunk The Kids as an open world multiplayer-friendly game with crafting and base building. That sounds cool, but what I didn’t anticipate is how deep me and my daughter would get into playing this together.

There’s an incredibly healthy dose of exploration and resource gathering. At times this reminded me of Subnautica, with the fear of something bigger that’s going to eat you, and where you craft and explore and build to expand your range. Although in sharp contrast, Grounded is a game where you fight back. There’s a solid progression of battling bugs to get materials to craft better gear and battle bigger bugs. And the way you can build a home where grass blades are the “planks” and the roof is made of clover and sap… it’s all very charming.

We played Grounded an obscene amount earlier this year. Together. And in that I’ve seen her grow. At this moment, Grounded 2 is in early access, and we held off for 6 months before getting started with that. But now we’re in it, it’s proving to be a great time too.

Played on Xbox GamePass

Blue Prince

Three people recommended this to me in the same week, all insisting it was very much my style of game. They were correct. In this game you explore a mysterious mansion one room at a time, building it as you go, in a way that feels something like a rogue-like deck builder. But more than that, there are secrets and mysteries everywhere. This is a game where you will need a notebook to navigate its many hidden puzzles. Blue Prince fits in the grand tradition of Fez, Tunic, Outer Wilds, Inscryption… games with layers that require out-of-game thought (obsession?) to decipher.

Played on Xbox GamePass

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

This game absolutely nails the classic Indiana Jones vibe. There’s a globe-trotting mystery, memorable set-pieces, and ample archaic puzzle solving by torchlight. And yes, you will punch a lot of nazis in the face. Or you’ll use a whip to disarm and then knock them out with a shovel or candlestick or whatever is lying around. And then get back to your ancient temple puzzles. It all feels pitch perfect, like a lost film that would have fit within the original run.

Played on Xbox GamePass

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

By now it’s clear that this game has been well received, sweeping the various 2025 game awards. It’s a critical darling, and deservedly so. It oozes style, with fantastic environments, truly great music, emotive characters, and a unique premise. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t finished it; I’m probably only a third through it. Look… Silksong came out, and that is my jam. Clair Obscur isn’t not my jam, to be clear. One of my most charming memories from PAX West 2025 was the Clair Obscur cosplay that was everywhere. I’ve enjoyed this game quite a bit (even if the combat block/parry timing is just a smidge too unforgiving for my taste), and there’s no questioning that I’ll be returning to complete it. Just… after I finish getting the good ending from Silksong…

Played on Xbox GamePass

LEGO Voyagers

This is a game exclusively for two players. Each controls a LEGO 1x1 brick, and together you navigate through beautifully lit LEGO environments and solve puzzles. It’s not complicated. You use like two buttons. Nor is it long. But it’s incredibly charming. If you have fondness for LEGO, and someone to partner with on a second controller, I recommend this.

Played on Xbox

Neva

My daughter has a pretty unique name. So when I saw a trailer for a game with her name, we had to play it. And we did so separately, her first. She was pretty proud of herself for beating it all on her own with no help. It’s a 2D platforming and combat game, where you have an animal companion that grows in size and skill as the game progresses. Oh, and it’s really beautiful.

Played on Switch

And the Rest

Somehow I didn’t fully finish any of the games below, and they remain in my active list. But I wanted to mention them nevertheless.

• Animal Well: It’s a puzzly metroidvania, so that’s a smart choice for me. I did play this one until the credits rolled. Okay, so yes I did finish it… but it clearly has many more secrets to uncover. With the stiff competition for play time this year I haven’t been able to give the extra time to delve into those.
• Wildfrost: Digital deck building games can be great, and this one is really creative and stylish. The cute aesthetic helps offset how brutal it can be. But I liked that it existed in the post-_Slay the Spire_ world but is clearly its own thing.
• Celeste: This indie darling parkour platformer has been on my radar for a while, and I finally got to give it some time this year. It’s good.
• Keeper: What a surreal entrancing thing this is. I’m not sure how it is as a game. But it’s a mesmerizing vibe.
• Winter Burrow: I like when this game on you being a mouse knitting in a cozy chair between bouts of journeying into the bitter cold. That vibe is great. I’m not loving the amount of redundant back-tracking.