The first half of 2025 has been nothing short of legendary for gamers. From bold new IPs to genre-defining sequels and long-awaited remakes, the gaming industry has delivered a steady stream of hits. Here are our Top 10 Game of the Year contenders so far, ranked by impact, innovation, and just pure fun.
🥇 1. Split Fiction
A genre-bending narrative adventure, Split Fiction lets players navigate two parallel realities — one grounded in gritty crime noir, the other in surrealist fantasy. Every choice echoes across both timelines, shaping an intricate story that constantly reinvents itself. It’s a triumph of interactive storytelling with masterclass writing and jaw-dropping presentation.
🥈 2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
In a world where humanity is wiped out one number at a time, you lead the 33rd expedition to end the Painter’s deadly countdown. With turn-based combat inspired by classic JRPGs and surreal, painterly visuals, Expedition 33 blends dark fantasy with emotional storytelling in a way that feels both tragic and hopeful. One of the most artistically ambitious games in recent memory.
🥉 3. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Bohemia comes alive once again in this gritty, historically grounded RPG sequel. Deliverance 2 expands on its predecessor with improved combat, richer world-building, and a story that puts you at the heart of medieval intrigue. No dragons, no magic — just hard-hitting realism and immersive roleplaying.
4. Blue Prince
A roguelike puzzlebox wrapped in a mystery, Blue Prince tasks players with designing the layout of a cursed castle in real-time. Each room you add might unlock secrets… or unleash horrors. With an ever-shifting narrative and elegantly bizarre mechanics, it’s a mesmerizing mix of logic, lore, and latent terror.
5. Elden Ring: Nightreign
FromSoftware returns to the Lands Between with a dark new chapter. Nightreign expands the open world with a gothic, rain-drenched region haunted by shadows — both literal and figurative. Brutal new bosses, deeper lore, and refined combat make this DLC feel like a full sequel. Prepare to die all over again… beautifully.
6. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
The classic 2006 RPG is reborn with modern graphics, UI enhancements, and smart quality-of-life tweaks — all while preserving its charming weirdness. Oblivion Remastered is a glorious return to Cyrodiil for veterans and a perfect entry point for newcomers. Who knew potato faces could look this good?
7. Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom’s latest evolution of the Monster Hunter formula brings dynamic ecosystems, intelligent prey-predator interactions, and a seamless open world. Wilds reinvents the hunt with new mounts, weather-based tactics, and jaw-dropping creatures that fight as smart as they look. It’s the wildest hunt yet.
8. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Feudal Japan finally gets its due in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, delivering dual protagonists — a shinobi and a samurai — with distinct playstyles. Ubisoft blends stealth, swordplay, and storytelling in a beautifully realized historical world. It’s the best AC has felt in years.
9. DOOM: The Dark Ages
Hell goes medieval in this prequel to 2016’s DOOM. Trading plasma rifles for a demon-slaying mace and a jet-powered shield, The Dark Ages reimagines id Software’s signature brutality with a grim fantasy aesthetic. It’s still fast, frantic, and ferocious — just with more blood and chainmail.
10. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
Strategy fans rejoice — Civ VII shakes up the formula with asymmetrical civs, dynamic eras, and a fresh diplomacy system. Whether you’re rewriting history as the Zulu or racing to space as futuristic Scandinavians, the possibilities feel endless. One more turn? Always.
More to Come This Year
While these are our top picks, 2025 is far from over. With more big releases coming later this year — including Metroid Prime 4, Death Stranding 2, Mario Kart World, and Metal Gear Solid Delta Remake. — the second half of the year promises even fiercer competition.
What’s Your Game of the Year (So Far)?
Did your favorite make the list? Or do you have a hidden gem we missed? Let us know in the comments — and stay tuned for our year-end roundup this December!
BigCrits 