Summary
- 2025 boasts unforgettable game releases that immerse players in captivating worlds for hours on end.
- Grounded 2 offers a frightening yet comedic survival experience with new story elements and giant bugs.
- Elden Ring Nightreign revitalizes the franchise with fast-paced gameplay, challenging bosses, and endless build possibilities.
2025 is just over halfway done, and there have already been so many incredible game releases, with many more on the way. From long-awaited sequels to entirely new IPs that have redefined entire genres, the quality of gaming has never been higher, and many of the best new games have the ability to suck players into their worlds, immersing them in the beauty of fiction unlike anything else.
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Regardless of whether it's a survival game that players can grind in as a group or an open-world epic with adventure around every corner, 2025 has delivered an insane number of unforgettable titles that have kept players invested for hours on end, turning short play sessions into all-nighters and passing interests into new obsessions.
Grounded 2
Shrinking Down Once More
Grounded 2
- Released
- July 29, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Violence, Blood
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
Grounded 2 takes the already unique "shrunken kids in a backyard" concept from the original and builds on it with a new story to follow and just as many giant bugs to avoid. The game thrives in a co-op environment, where survival is blended perfectly with horror, delivering a frightening and comedic experience that doesn't exist anywhere else in the genre.
Grounded 2 may still be in Early Access, but it's filled with plenty of content to enjoy and discover, more than enough to take up a few long nights with a group of friends. It stands out against the crowd of other 2025 hits for its charm and childish flair, yet still delivers a gripping and challenging survival gameplay loop to test even veterans to their limits.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Just As Mind-Bending And Psychedelic As The Original
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
- June 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
Death Stranding 2 continues the narrative of the critically acclaimed first installment, expanding the world, cast, and narrative in ways that no one could have seen coming (except for Kojima himself, of course). The environments are simply gorgeous, and players can spend hours just walking around taking everything in, even if they aren't delivering packages in the process.
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What makes the game so compelling is the deep world-building that transcends the video game world into a far more impressive art form, thanks to the genius of the game's director, Hideo Kojima. Every moment is filled with emotion and meaning, and even smaller missions can hold serious weight in a world that demands so much but gives so little.
Deltarune
The Long Wait Is Over
Deltarune
- Released
- October 31, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen // Language, Suggestive Themes, Mild Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Toby Fox
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The remaining chapters of Deltarune have finally been released, and fans of Undertale are leaping back in, hungry for more of the humor and insanity that Toby Fox's universe holds within it. Decisions are everything, as one choice early on can have dire consequences later for individual characters or entire groups, meaning that players need to pay close attention to each and every move they make.
Additionally, one playthrough is never enough, and with options like a genocide route or a pacifist run, players can restart the story and experience it all over again with different dialogue options and outcomes that make the playthrough feel distinct from the first. It's a wild and crazy ride, and one that players can get stuck on long after the credits roll.
Abiotic Factor
A Unique Twist On Co-Op Survival
Abiotic Factor
- Released
- July 22, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Deep Field Games
Abiotic Factor has, after all this time, been given its 1.0 release, and few survival games offer as much depth and variety in terms of gameplay and progression. Players can run, swim, fly, and glide across a huge range of biomes and environments, discovering enemies and resources to help them survive in the harshness of the facility.
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The game does have a story tying everything together, but the open-world aspect feels more like a sandbox where players can truly explore down any path they like, whether they're aiming for a sustainable base or sophisticated weaponry to take on the ever-growing threats that exist in the dark corners of the realms.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A Contender For Game Of The Decade
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
It is hard to describe Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 without falling down a rabbit hole of praise, as it is one of the most impressive and genre-breaking titles released in the past decade. Blending Sekiro-style parries with turn-based RPG mechanics, the game pushes every boundary possible, all while delivering a truly remarkable narrative in an equally remarkable world.
The story itself takes well over 20 hours to complete, but there is easily close to 100 hours of side content to be explored, ranging from side and companion quests to world bosses and mini-games. The world is simply begging to be explored, and with so much variety both in the setting and the combat, there is never a dull moment in this awe-inspiring journey of artistry and beauty.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
Returning To An All-Time Classic
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Released
- April 22, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion really needs no introduction. It is one of the most widely recognized RPGs of all time, so when a remaster was revealed, the whole gaming world leaped with excitement at the chance to re-experience such a well-loved and respected game all over again.
"Remaster" doesn't even do it justice, as it is far more than just a graphical overhaul. Many systems were modernized, and entire stretches of land were remade from the ground up. It is hard even to begin to progress through the story when every path has another quest to take on or another cave to plunder. This game is truly a love letter to RPG fans of all generations.
Elden Ring Nightreign
Putting A Spin On An Already Exceptional Title
Elden Ring Nightreign
- Released
- May 30, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite
Everyone thought that after the DLC, Elden Ring was going to be a thing of the past, one to be remembered for its greatness and perfection. Then FromSoftware pulled the rug out and unleashed Nightreign onto the world, a fast-paced, replayable version of their open-world masterpiece, set in a whole new environment full of returning bosses and new faces as well.
Nightreign may only contain a handful of main bosses to take down, but with harder versions being added regularly and a practically endless number of builds to discover, players have been given a candy shop full of action and difficulty like never before, bringing a second-wind to a game that could have very easily ridden off into the sunset, but chose to stick around for one last dance.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Redefining What A Racing Game Can Be
Umamusume: Pretty Derby
- Released
- June 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Cygames
- Genre(s)
- Sports, Management, Gacha
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is the horse girl tycoon that no one knew they needed, but now everyone is playing. The basic gameplay loop revolves around acquiring new racers and training them to take on the fastest and best in intense races, often leading to photo-finishes to decide the winner.
The concept may be simple, but the rush of a close victory is hard to match, except maybe for a good pull from the gacha system. It boasts a level of addiction that is hard to describe, but with nothing else out there like it, Umamusume has carved out a niche spot in the market that has drawn in players from across the globe, all with the same goal of winning on their mind.
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