Game of the Year 2025 Number 1 - 5

This was a hefty year for me and video games. Probably because everything around us is crumbling and terrible and video games were one of the easier disassociation techniques. 

Now the "as always disclaimer" is that these are not games that came out in 2025, just games I played in 2025. I don't have the time to stay up to date on all the newest games. (God damned adult job)

Here's what we've looked at so far

• Games 28-18
• Games 17-6

5. Star Wars Outlaws

• Hardware: PlayStation 5
• Release Year: 2024

I think this is the only one of two games I played on the PlayStation 5 this year. That's some sort of condemnation of console game. I can't believe they are talking about a PlayStation 6, when it feels like the PlayStation 5 hasn't gotten much love. But anyway, that's not why you are here. 

Star Wars Outlaws is the game I've wanted for decades. Instead of redoing the, "down on your luck, lost, aimless, citizen to Jedi pipeline," you're just a dirtbag with a heart of gold. No lightsaber needed. This is the Han Solo game, although much less charismatic. But that's good. That makes all the trouble feel believable. 

You get to travel at high speeds across planets on speeder bikes. You get to infiltrate Imperial Star Destroyers. You get to make business deals in shady cantinas. You get to play one of three gangs off of each other, each giving you a benefit or punishment. 

This was an Ubisoft checklist game, but it didn't feel bogged down like some of the more recent Assassin's Creeds have. Many of the checkmarks were behind puzzles or stealth instead of simply climbing a thing. 

Onimusha: Warlords Remastered

I consumed everything about the PS1, but once the PS2 dropped, I knew I wouldn't be able to afford it for a while. I got my first job, saved up a few paychecks, and the day the Resident Evil DVD dropped, I went to Babbages and bought both Resident Evil and a PS2. 

Two years of games had come out at the point and I was completely out of the magazine game by then. So I really had no idea what was out, what was good, what was not. 

Dishonored

I'm a sucker for a stealth game, specifically in the style of a Metal Gear Solid or Mark of the Ninja. Dishonored should have hit so hard for me. 

I apparently started a game years ago. I barely remember it, but I had a save at like the 40 minute mark. Definitely not enough to really get a good idea of the game. 

After I found Death Loop to be so surprisingly enjoyable, I wanted to give Dishonored another chance. 

I beat it this time. It was a weirdly paced game. 

Oblivion Remastered

Platform: Steamdeck

Release Year: 2025

Note: There will be many Oblivion spoilers below. 

Oblivion was THE launch window game for the Xbox 360. Maybe the commercials for Halo 3, Dead Rising, or Gears of War got you intrigued, but if you got that original 20 GB Xbox 360, this was the game to show off the "next gen." I remember a roommate of mine telling me I was wasting time playing the game and I looked them in the eye and said, "Why would I go outside, when this world looks and feels better than the real world?"

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

I'm starting to see the cracks of not having central games oriented sites as prevalent. I'm off Reddit. I'm off X. I till occasionally go to IGN and GiantBomb (Viva la independence!). I knew almost nothing about the new Dragon Age coming out. I barely knew it was coming. And this is coming from someone that loved the majority of past Dragon Age games. 

I started seeing complaints about the art direction first. I take gamer forums, especially regarding previews, with a huge grain of salt since the "Cellda" days killed any chance of us getting another Wind Waker style game in a long time. I looked at some screenshots, maybe not my favorite art direction, but I certainly didn't think it looked "child like" or whatever the complaints were. In action, it looks fine. 

Top Games of 2023

It's been another incredible year of games. I haven't had time to play everything I've wanted to. There's been a few games that likely have made my top 10 of all time. There's a few I haven't played, that will likely make that list as well. 

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom have changed the sandbox game. No longer can Rockstar or Bethesda phone in their open worlds.  

Balders Gate 3 has moved the line of what a Dungeons and Dragons based RPG should be. 

And Resident Evil 4 Remake is a masterclass in pacing. 

I played many games this year. I'll rank them all. Remember, these are games that I played this year, not necessarily games that came out in 2023.