Game of the Year-2025
As the year comes to a close, it’s time for us to muse the stand-out games who could claim the title of Game of the Year-2025 . Overall though, I gotta say 2025 has not lit the world on fire. What I mean is if I can sit down to try and render down “a top 3” for the whole year, and only five games come to my mind, it is a bit of an indictment on the year as a whole.
The amazing gaming years like 2007 and 2010, where Game of the Year titles where thick on the ground and all made by large established publishing houses, seem to be a distant memory. My Game of the Year-2025 discussions only point to how large developers are at risk of falling into obscurity as they continue to fail be brave, bold and innovative.
Thankfully however, the ever increasing crop of Indie and “AA” type developers are here to save the day- if not the enitre year.
Browncoats GOTY list for 2025.
#1- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Expedition 33 is a AAA level game, from a small “AA” studio in France. It was their first game and they created a masterpiece, all for just $10 million. I just love this story to bits. There’s just something wonderful about a modest Indie studio coming from nowhere and shown the big boys how it’s done!
It had everything! Gorgeous graphics, amaaaaaazing music, brilliant voice acting, a wonderfully complex and well-delivered narrative and a delightfully innovative take on the well-trodden JRPG turn-based-combat systems that have been around for decades. In other words, it was brave, bold and innovative.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a must, must, MUST play! It is not just the best game of 2025, but probably one of the best games in the last 10+ years.
#2- Arc Raiders
A PvPvE Extraction Shooter in my top 3!?! I’m as surpised as you are. But in all seriousness, I love this game. Once again, a small-ish independant studio has shown the big boys how it is done. Granted, Embark studios are all ex-EA executives and devs, so they have serious “chops” in the game development space. But still, Arc Raiders is the perfect example of what experienced developers can do when free of the big Publisher designed-by-committee-corporate-space bullshit.
The other magic element to Arc Raiders is the community. It has organically created unwritten rules of play facilitated through proximity-chat. The rules are: if players load in as a Duo or Trio, its an extraction shooter of old. Go in, loot, attack other players and plead for your life if you get downed. But in Solos, the rule is: leave people alone, be kind, and if you want, cooperate and communicate…. and “Don’t be a Rat!”.This grass-roots movement, adopted by the masses to revolt against the sweaty PvP culture this genre is known for, elevated the game to a GOTY contender for me.
I have loved meeting stangers, helping them and being helped, chatting and trading loot. It is the truest form of modern online co-op I have played in many, many years. Don’t get me wrong though, I still dislike the hardcore extraction Duos and Trios modes though. That shit is not my jam.
#3- The Alters
The Alters has been less successful than I had hoped, and I’m surprised it hasn’t featured in more end of the GOTY discussions. In my review, I touched on its unique design choices and the merging of multiple genres into one title, which I loved. But perhaps this mixing of genres has alienated some players.
It is a complex title with a very “uncomfortable” under-tone; kind of a simmering narrative on life choices, mental health and how relationships are often painful. But I thought it was great. And like Expedition 33, this fresh take on well-trodden genres is so appealing to me.
Honroable Mentions
There are two honourable mentions I want to pop in. Ghost of Yotei; the stellar Samuri epic from Playstation Studios, was very close to being in the top 3. It’s a gorgeous game, from the world design to the menus and UI. It is a wonderful refinment to the Ghost franchise.
And finally, Battlefield 6. Bombastic multiplayer fun and a long overdue return to form for Battlefield. DICE finally learnt their lesson. By channelling Bad Company 2 and BF4 vibes, they have remembered what Battlefield players want….all out war! The audio design is amazing too btw. #WarTapes
Both these honourable mentions, if they were fresh new titles to the gaming landscape rather than sequels, would likely occupy a best-in-2025 slot for me. But instead, both are the manifestation of minor refinements to past titles from their publishers’ game stables. Don’t get me wrong, they’re stunning games for sure. But they’re nothing “new” in the strictest sense.
Now, with my two cents out of the way, the rest of the KC crew have let me know their tops games of 2025 too!
Game of the Year-2025 : for the other Koru-Cottage.com, lads!
Richard– The boss, editor and chief, man of the past and the one‘n’only Captain Xmas:
Barrie– Wizard of many coasts and grower of Tusocks:
Gerard– Steam Deck aficionado and master of the Legos:
So overall, a few common trends amongst the KC crew with a general leaning towards indie, unique, older and generally inovative titles. So, Big Publishers… you would appear to have been put on notice by the gaming community in 2025. We need you and your money to be brave, to support your passionate developers and to listen to your audience. We know what we like, and it hasn’t been what you’ve been putting out. Even though, some still like Fortnite too (only god knows why!!!)
See you all in 2026!
