As if the anime selection of 2025 wasn’t enough, video games also had a pretty stellar year. The Crunchyroll News team plays a little bit of everything, as seen in our favorites for the year. From indie darlings, JRPGs and something going on on the beach , here are the video games we loved in 2025! RELATED: The 10 Best JRPGs of 2025 Worth Playing OVERVIEW Favorite Video Games of 2025 Favorite Video Game Moments of 2025 More Honorable Mentions Crunchyroll News Favorite Video Games of 2025 Blue Prince “I'm not very good at puzzle games, and I had many difficult moments in the beginning. But as the days passed, and after each loop, I gradually started to understand more about how this game works. It becomes clearer (and somewhat easier, as the game unlocks permanent buffs for you). In a couple of days, I was eagerly opening the game to see how far I would go in order to reach the famous Room 46." – Samir Fraiha , Sr. Portuguese Contributing Writer Honorable Mentions Nicholas Friedman, Publisher, Crunchyroll News Liam Dempsey, Sr. EN Editorial Producer Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 “While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn't necessarily count as a Japanese RPG, its DNA is filled with inspirations from the greats like Final Fantasy, Persona and Xenosaga. With an emotionally impactful story and engaging gameplay, Expedition 33 captured the spirit of JRPGs despite not being from Japan. There's a reason why it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards this year. You could tell the developers were deeply passionate about what they were making, and I felt that too." – George Yang , Contributing Writer " My favorite video game of 2025 is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 . The game is artistry in every aspect, from its music to its presentation to the rhythm of its engaging and colorful combat. Its unique presentation is wholly indicative of Sandfall's honest and earnest wish to deliver everything that a video game has to offer, all while using the best hallmarks of the medium." – Callie Cadorniga , Contributing Writer RELATED: The Best (Fictional) Anime Games of 2025 “ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 , hands down. I barely remember hearing about this game when it first got announced, and when I saw a few streamers play it, I decided to check it out. I didn't expect the game to leave such a lasting impression, to the point where I obsessively started watching a ton of streamers' playthroughs of it to see their thoughts and reactions. The turn-based gameplay is so fun, the world is so unique and beautiful, and the story, THE STORY! I cannot emphasize just how amazing the story is. This game was the lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen’s debut in video games. It's an incredible feat for a newcomer, and I'm so excited for the planned DLC." – Deanna Nguyen , Sr. Contributing Writer " Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 for its immaculate storytelling, character relationships and Franglish vibes." – Tatiana Tacca , Influencer Lead “ Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 is an unexpected, thought-provoking RPG experience from start to finish (and a little beyond, honestly). Plus, the soundtrack has been playing on repeat in my office since April!" – Kelly Knox, Sr. Contributing Writer/Cozy Anime Corner Columnist Honorable Mentions Nicholas Friedman, Publisher, Crunchyroll News Jared Clemons, Contributing Writer Death Stranding 2: On the Beach “I do think the original Death Stranding had some pacing problems and parts of the story were kind of inscrutable, but a lot of that was fixed up in the sequel to make for an incredible experience. There were a lot of quality-of-life fixes that made the act of playing the game even more satisfying, especially when you're out there building up roads. Even after I finished it in the summer, there are still so many ridiculous moments that have stuck in my head as the year progressed. Plus, who doesn't like getting to hang out with Usada Pekora and having Norman Reedus say 'Peko' over and over?" – Jared Clemons , Contributing Writer RELATED: Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding Game Reveals Anime Series “ Death Stranding 2 isn't just the best video game of 2025, but by far the best video game of this generation. I experienced the original Death Stranding during the pandemic, and it helped me survive and heal, and Hideo Kojima's sequel achieved the highest standards not only at the technological peak of current video games, but also by condensing a story that resonates with all of humanity. It’s an absolute masterpiece." – Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News " The story brings you into a world very different from ours, but also with a lot of similarities. The story told is a metaphor about the weight of choices and responsibility, and you feel the urge to connect people divided by a terrible threat. You feel very alone most of the time, so when you meet someone, those words are the most precious treasure in the world. The music is outstanding, and hearing those notes makes you feel like you’re being dipped into that world." – Francesco Ventura , Italian Editor of Crunchyroll News Honorable Mentions George Yang , Contributing Writer Digimon Story Time Stranger RELATED: I'm So Happy Digimon Story Time Stranger Exists “Even if I’m not an RPG guy, I was seduced by Digimon Story Time Stranger . This game was a surprise, given that I've been pretty disappointed by the latest entries in the franchise. It was the perfect blend of nostalgia and novelty with simpler gameplay, nice graphics, and a decent span of life. – Mohamed MIR , French Editor Honorable Mentions Samir Fraiha , Sr. Portuguese Contributing Writer Nicholas Friedman, Publisher , Crunchyroll News Dispatch “ Dispatch may be the best superhero story we've gotten this year, and it's only improved by the fact that you can directly impact the story as a player. The cast is incredible, and the story has enough different choices that players can all get their own experiences. The success story of the game's creation and partnership is also motivating." – Keith Reid-Cleveland , Contributing Writer RELATED: Could You Be a Top Hero in TO BE HERO X? “I jumped into Dispatch after the zeitgeist, somehow completely avoiding spoilers as I dove into Episode 1 the week of Thanksgiving. Things started out slow, colored by my preconceived notion that this would just be "more of the same" from the adult superhero storytelling genre, yet by Episode 2, I couldn't have been more wrong. Dispatch is a smartly written, player-driven experience, an evolution from the halcyon days of Telltale Games, pulling from how interactive narrative has changed in gaming since The Walking Dead. What results is a story about mundanity and interpersonal relationships, the flawed nature of people being people and… a tech bro that is also a giant bat. The cast is stacked, the characters are unique and I can't help but be excited for what's to come for Dispatch and AdHoc Studio next." – Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News Donkey Kong Bananza “ Donkey Kong Bananza was the highlight of the year. There was not a moment of DK and Pauline's journey to the center of the Earth where I was not smiling and enjoying myself. Every single power-up felt like a fun jungle concert. Destroying every level was just so satisfying. There were tears, laughter and smashing. If there weren't so many other games to play I would replay it!" – Daryl Harding , Senior Japan Correspondent Honorable Mentions Mohamed MIR , French Editor Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News Lamar Ramos , Contributing Writer Fantasy Maiden Wars – DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER – RELATED: How Fantasy Maiden Wars Was Translated Into English “An independent strategy RPG that combines Touhou Project characters with mechanics reminiscent of the Super Robot Wars games, Fantasy Maiden Wars is a true labor of love. It may be an even better introduction to the Touhou series lore than the original games themselves, thanks to a story that introduces each character one by one while highlighting their distinct appeal. SRW fans, on the other hand, will appreciate that the developers take their cues from earlier, harder games in the series while keeping quality of life changes from more recent entries." – Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer Hades II “Between my backed-up Steam Library and my preoccupation with too many different forms of entertainment, I only have five valid candidates for my favourite game of 2025: Blue Prince , Split Fiction , Battlefield 6 , Peak or Hades II , and given that I gladly went through doing runs with every Aspect and squeezing every possible line of dialogue out of the literal personification of Doom, I’d be remiss not to recognize Supergiant Games’ latest work of art. When it comes to video games as well as productivity, my brain only functions when it has a clear vision of progression and the time required for a task. A lack of it is what made me drop Blue Prince after completing the central puzzle and only some of the side mysteries, even though I think the game is genuinely brilliant: being purely at the mercy of arbitrary RNG just wasn’t an appealing prospect. Hades II isn’t perfect at this, to be fair — I had to mill runs for a while to get one last NPC interaction — but it almost is, even with everything it has to juggle, and it gets away with being off-balance anyway because the loop never stops feeling so, so good to play. The narrative and character interactions were sadly a step down from the first game for me, even though I really appreciate the mythological figures they added, but I’m still in absolute awe of just how much they fleshed out the gameplay from what was already a phenomenal base." – Liam Dempsey , Sr. EN Editorial Producer RELATED: Year in Review: Our Favorite Video Games, Moments & More From 2024 “When I originally played Hades , I was very late to the party, but I played with friends who talked me through the experience. With Hades II , I played with that same group of friends, but this time I had a pretty decent idea on what I was doing. The way this game approaches its mythology is so intriguing, with unique characters throughout. Much like the first game, I’m in awe of how many times I play this just so I can uncover more of the story. The stakes feel higher this time and yet those same “dysfunctional family who needs to sit down and talk” dynamics are still present. I love everything about this game, particularly the parts where I realize I’m getting better at sections that would obliterate me in seconds. Also? This entire franchise makes me so happy to be bisexual. Eye candy of the gods!" – Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor Hollow Knight: Silksong RELATED: 10 Anime Like Hollow Knight: Silksong to Rest on a Bench With “Yeah yeah, I have two entries because I cannot have two bad (ahems) competing against each other. The fact that Silksong and Hades II came out weeks apart was torturous for me, okay?! Anyway, back to Silksong . Much like Hades , when I first played Hollow Knight , I was late to the party. With Silksong , I was ready, at least I thought I was. There is so, SO much to discover in this game, and it has such a fantastic world to explore. I was (and still am) forever looking for secrets and, like many players, dying in the process. But wow, do I feel so accomplished when I beat a boss or figure out more of the ongoing lore of Pharloom. Bonus? This game has Sherma, and that automatically makes it an A+." – Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor Split Fiction “ Split Fiction outdid what It Takes Two did in every way, which brought back couch co-op. I played this with my wife and had the best time with so many 'whoas' from start to finish. It's innovative, experimental, but so charming and accessible, even to those who don't exactly game. I wish these games would become their own genre as 'couples therapy'." – Lamar Ramos , Contributing Writer Honorable Mentions Liam Dempsey , Sr. EN Editorial Producer Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter “A remake of the first entry in a long-running series, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter brings the early-2000s classic up to modern standards with updated graphics and refined gameplay. The result is a beautiful experience that faithfully recreates the original while thoughtfully expanding key scenes, events and character moments. With a large cast of memorable characters, a steadily growing world, and a story that draws you in from the very beginning, this remake captures everything fans love about the Trails series. Whether you’re new to the franchise or simply looking for a standout JRPG, this title comes highly recommended." – Cary Cruz , Graphic Designer Honorable Mentions George Yang , Contributing Writer Jared Clemons , Contributing Writer Crunchyroll News Favorite Video Game Moments of 2025 Blue Prince "In Blue Prince' s climax, when you finally unlock the door to the famous Room 46, you're very far from there, but all you want to do at that moment, after so many days solving the mysteries of that mansion, is to run as fast as you can to go to that room. The music changes as well to make you feel even more compelled to finally reach that door and reclaim your heritage." – Samir Fraiha , Sr. Portuguese Contributing Writer Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 “In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 , when Expedition 33 disembarks where the Paintress is and that scene plays out. Not only was it shocking to say the least, but it also set the tone for the rest of the game." – Jared Clemons , Contributing Writer " Not to be that person but all of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ." – Deanna Nguyen , Sr. Contributing Writer Death Stranding 2: On the Beach “The ending of Death Stranding 2 … or rather, the entire third act of the game. I think these sequences and narratives can only be told in a video game of this scale (I still have my doubts about how they'll translate this to film), but the way Kojima leads the player by the hand through the electrifying finale is simply breathtaking." – Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News Digimon Story Time Stranger “My favorite moment remains rolling into a Digimon bar in Time Stranger . I never knew I needed a Mos Eisley moment from Digimon , but we got it, and I wrote about it, too ." – Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News Donkey Kong Bananza “ Donkey Kong Bananza 's finale is one of the best I've ever experienced. While I won't go into spoilers, it's absolutely wild and filled with nostalgia, paying homage to previous Donkey Kong games. It even establishes a connection with another beloved non-Donkey Kong Nintendo game. It also ties a nice bow onto Daisy and Donkey Kong's charming camaraderie." – George Yang , Contributing Writer Hollow Knight: Silksong “So once you fulfill certain requirements, it turns out Silksong has a third act that actually shows you the aftermath of the boss battle you had. Seeing the world you spent so much time in destroyed is pretty heartbreaking, but Silksong goes a step further, because you will absolutely find people you’ve spoken to dead in the rubble. However, if you manage to finally win the day, you get such a cool nod back to the original Hollow Knight in the ending." – Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor Lies of P Overture “When you find out who wrote the message in the tree of Lies of P 's City Hall of Krat, after clearing the DLC. I love tragedies." – Francesco Ventura , Italian Editor of Crunchyroll News MARVEL Cosmic Invasion RELATED: MARVEL Cosmic Invasion Developers Discuss Their Love of Beat ‘Em Up Games and Anime “I knew I would love this game because it's the same studio that did Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge . Like that game, this MARVEL beat ‘em up is made to play with friends. A group of us got together to walk the streets and save the world, and it was so much fun, especially since my friends REALLY know their comics, so they were calling out all kinds of nods along the way." – Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor Marvel Rivals “ Marvel Rivals is the first hero shooter I've ever played and the first competitive game in which I wanted to participate in its Ranked mode. I got to play as some of my favorite video game characters and climb to in-game positions higher than I ever thought I could reach in these types of games. Before Rivals , I never thought I'd be able to reach certain ranks in competitive games, but it inadvertently revealed that I have the confidence and the drive to achieve things I never thought I could, and it makes me want to apply that to other aspects of my life." – Callie Cadorniga , Contributing Writer Mega Man: Dual Override NOTE: This game has not been released yet! “I'm not gonna pretend like I didn't scream when this got announced.” – Briana Lawrence , Sr. Features Editor Split Fiction “The epic cyberpunk motorcycle chase where one player drives while the other tries to log into their social media with numerous security verification pop-ups." – Lamar Ramos , Contributing Writer " Having to do CAPTCHAs with a controller while my partner got to drive the cool motorcycle in Split Fiction." – Liam Dempsey , Sr. EN Editorial Producer The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy “The boss battle against [SPOILERS] in The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy , when "RUMBLE" by Paledusk plays for the first time. One of those Nier -like moments where it feels as if the game you are playing is hideously mutating in front of your eyes, in a good way!" – Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer More Honorable Mentions Angeline Era Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer ARC Raiders Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News BALL x PIT Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News Battlefield 6 Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News CloverPit Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News Crescent Tower Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer Fire Emblem: The Hag in White Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer Ghost of Yotei Kelly Knox , Sr. Contributing Writer/Cozy Anime Corner Columnist Keith Reid-Cleveland , Contributing Writer Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer Kabuto Park Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News Lego Party! Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor RELATED: Game Director David Jaumandreu on Wanting a 90s Seinen Anime Aesthetic for NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Lies of P Overture Francesco Ventura , Italian Editor of Crunchyroll News Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Jared Clemons , Contributing Writer Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club TOKIMEKI Roadmap to Future Jared Clemons , Contributing Writer Mario Kart World Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News Daryl Harding , Senior Japan Correspondent Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor MARVEL Cosmic Invasion Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News Ninja Gaiden 4 George Yang , Contributing Writer NINJA GAIDEN Ragebound Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News Peak Deanna Nguyen , Sr. Contributing Writer RELATED: 10 Anime Like Silent Hill to Stir Your Restless Dreams Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nicholas Friedman , Publisher, Crunchyroll News Deanna Nguyen , Sr. Contributing Writer Daryl Harding , Senior Japan Correspondent Powerwash Simulator 2 Jared Clemons , Contributing Writer Saga Frontier 2 Remastered Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News Shinsetsu Mahou Shoujo Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer Silent Hill f George Yang , Contributing Writer Briana Lawrence , Sr. EN Features Editor Julio Velez , Spanish Editor for Crunchyroll News Sonic Racing: Crossworlds Mohamed MIR , French Editor Sonic Rumble Mohamed MIR , French Editor Sword of the Sea Deanna Nguyen , Sr. Contributing Writer Z.A.T.O.//I Love the World and Everything in It Adam Wescott , Contributing Writer Those were the games that some of us here at Crunchyroll News played, and loved, in 2025. We hope you enjoyed reading about the moments that made us laugh, scream, cry and invest another 100+ hours into a title. Have a fantastic new year as we prepare for what 2026 video games have to offer!
