Best Games of 2025 (So Far)

As we move into June, it’s hard to believe that we’re already halfway through 2025. However, halfway through the year does feel like a pretty good point to stop and reflect on what 2025 has had to offer so far. In gaming lingo, think of this as our checkpoint for the year – a time to look back on what 2025 has given us up until this point, especially in light of Summer Game Fest laying out the roadmap for the rest of the year to come.

Today, we’re listing our best games of 2025 so far, as of June. We’re covering all bases – from action-oriented adventures titles, to cozy life simulation games. Looking at our list, it’s been a year for underdogs thus far, and we think that there’s a good chance that you’ll find some new games to play this year from our selection. With that being said, let’s dive right into our list of the best games of 2025 so far!

---

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Image by SEGA

If there’s one thing that the gaming industry can count on, it’s a constant flow of games releasing under the Yakuza franchise. In a gaming world that can be often held back by an unwillingness to take risks, the Yakuza games have always appealed to gamers by leaning into the magic of the bizarre – and with this 2025 release, the series may have reached peak zaniness. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a game about…well, exactly what the title implies. You are in Hawaii, you are a yakuza boss, and you face off against old-timey pirates – why are there old-timey pirates in Hawaii? The game never explains that, but hey, that’s really a trivial matter in the grand scheme of things.

The gameplay follows a similar structure to that of other Yakuza games, but with, of course, a pirate twist. If you’ve never played any games from the series, this gameplay style involves beat ‘em up combat, a variety of quirky minigames, and in this specific game, you get to steer your own pirate ship. There’s a certain whimsy to the Yakuza games, and in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the series prioritises fun over all else. If you’re not on-board for the absurdity, then this may not be the game for you, but if you’re willing to let yourself be taken in by this game’s nuttiness, then I think it’ll easily be one of the best games of 2025 for you.

---

Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered

Image by Aspyr

After the successful release of Tomb Raider I–III Remastered in 2024, fans were waiting with bated breath to see if Aspyr Media would actually do it. Would any development team be willing to take on the task of remastering the low point of Lara Croft’s gaming legacy and, of course, of trying to find a way to make Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness a playable game? Well, fast-forward to 2025, and against all the odds, Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered hit the scene, and if you’re a fan of the franchise, I cannot recommend this collection enough.

Upon their original release throughout the late 90’s and early 2000’s, the fourth to sixth entries in the Tomb Raider franchise were critically panned, so it’s important to note that this collection is not exactly remastering the best games in the first place. However, as far as remasters go, Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered is very solid, introducing new control schemes, graphical toggles, and some major changes to The Angel of Darkness, including the restoration of cut content, lost gameplay areas, and missing cutscenes. While these tough puzzle games are not for everyone, and this collection certainly dives headfirst into Lara’s darker years, Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered is an excellent re-introduction of the Tomb Raider franchises more underrated games, and an easy choice for one of our best games of 2025 so far.

---

Split Fiction

Image by Electronic Arts

It really is starting to feel like the team at Hazelight Studios, the minds behind A Way Out and It Takes Two, can do no wrong when it comes to crafting an innovative and fun-filled co-op experience. Everytime that we think they’re surely going to struggle to throw something new at us, they manage to pull something incredible out of the bag, and 2025’s Split Fiction only continues that trend for them. The game follows two authors who become trapped in the worlds of their stories, and must work together in order to escape. This is a story set-up with a lot of gameplay potential, and Hazelight Studios goes all-in with the premise.

Don’t get me wrong, I love story-driven games, but what Hazelight Studios is bringing to the industry these days is very refreshing. Split Fiction is a non-stop flow of fun from start to finish, with very little downtime. It’s amazing to see how many ideas have come into play here, with players constantly changing abilities between levels, and having to find ways to work together with these newfound abilities in order to overcome the world’s puzzles. If you loved the team’s previous games, then you’ll fall in love with Split Fiction. Hazelight Studios have set the bar incredibly high for themselves, and yet they manage to meet it every single time – one of the best games of 2025 for sure, and a real contender for Game of the Year.

---

Mario Kart World

Image by Nintendo

With the Switch 2 releasing early in June of this year, Nintendo’s choice for a launch title had to be a game that would pull the attention of all sorts of potential buyers – so, there really was no better choice than a new addition to the Mario Kart franchise! This game has certainly been met with some controversy – the price tag is, quite frankly, egregious, and a lot of fans are unhappy with the game’s more experimental approach to Mario Kart’s long established formula. However, for a Mario Kart game that had to follow the absolute giant that was Mario Kart 8, I think that Mario Kart World does a very respectable job.

Nintendo have taken a very interesting approach with this game. Not only has the racer count been upped to a whopping 24 racers on a track at once, but the game has also opted to take advantage of an open-world system, with players being able to explore the world at their leisure, or play in structured races through the courses which are all connected by this open-world format. In some ways, the series has also returned to its roots, by removing the anti-gravity features of Mario Kart 8, and focusing more on creating thrilling experiences on the ground. Since its recent release, this hasn’t been the most celebrated game in Nintendo’s history. However, we finally got our hands on a new Mario Kart game, and I have to commend the game’s willingness to try new things in the wake of such a successful previous entry. Though it’ll cost you an arm and a leg to experience, Mario Kart World remains one of the best games of 2025 for us.

---

Blue Prince

Image by Raw Fury

Blue Prince is a game that I cannot wait to see more people experience. Fair warning that for those of you who don’t enjoy puzzles, this game can be overwhelming – you are thrown into a constantly-changing mansion and tasked with finding a hidden 46th room. If you don’t enjoy playing the detective role in a game that refuses to offer you any substantial guidance, then Blue Prince is not for you. However, if you enjoy the thrill of a good puzzle, and the freedom to solve said puzzles in your own unique fashion, then I cannot recommend this game enough.

Finding the hidden 46th room is the main goal of the game, but the game also offers a number of other, smaller mysteries that can be solved alongside this main objective. There are also some really interesting game mechanics at play here, including the ability to map out rooms as you journey throughout each day, a limited number of daily steps to explore the mansion before it resets, and a tier-system which ranks the difficulty of rooms, and in turn, the value of the rewards able to be earned from them. Blue Prince is a masterclass in the puzzle game genre, and though it may not be for everyone, it is easily one of the best games of 2025 so far for us.

---

South of Midnight

Image by Xbox Game Studios

We’ve been looking at some fairly unique titles for a lot of this list, and though this game might not be the most unique from a gameplay perspective, it brings its own distinctive flair that lets it stand out from the crowd this year. South of Midnight was an absolute joy to play through, an action-adventure game that combines combat with platforming in a fairly common formula, but enhances this gameplay with a thrilling story, beautiful graphics, and an ingenious interpolation of Southern American folklore into its world.

The combat and platforming elements aren’t exactly groundbreaking, but they’re exceptionally well-done, to the point that you don’t feel the need for the game to experiment with its gameplay mechanics – if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it! In contrast to what I’ve said about a lot of the other games on this list, I actually think that South of Midnight is a game for everyone, and I hope that more people will pick up a copy and dive into this world for themselves. Though it is, regrettably, not available on PlayStation, it’s one of the best gaming experiences of recent times, and easily one of the best games of 2025 so far.

---

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Image by Sunblink

Technically, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a 2023 mobile game. However, 2025 saw the game ported to console and PC, and since then, the world of cozy gaming has been rocked by its presence. Let’s cut to the chase here – if you’re looking for action, violence, and a groundbreaking story in your games, then this entry on our list is not for you. However, for our cozy gaming fans out there, who love spending their time with games like Animal Crossing and Disney Dreamlight Valley, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a very strong entry in that realm of gaming.

It should be noted that this game is a lot more ‘video-gamey’ than the titles I just mentioned. There is a lot of island to explore, and the game actually uses a fairly similar mission system to action-adventure games. However, the missions bring no stress or real risk of failure, so fear not! Your cozy experience will not be hindered by a game over screen that implies heartbreaking failure on your character’s part. If you’re looking for a relaxing game to put a lot of time into, we cannot recommend this title enough. When it comes to cozy gaming, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is easily one of the best games of 2025 so far.

---

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Image by Deep Silver

The original Kingdom Come: Deliverance released in 2018, and over the years, gradually built up a fan base that anticipated the release of this sequel. Now, in 2025, the wait is finally over, and I’m happy to report that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II brings its A-game in just about every way that fans could have hoped for. For those unfamiliar with this franchise, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an action-adventure role-playing game, where player choice is central to determining how your character experiences the world around them – think the Fable franchise, but a little more serious, and honestly, a little better.

Admittedly, this game can be daunting for new players. I would definitely recommend playing the first game before diving in here, as Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a direct sequel through and through, in that they naturally assume you have played the first game, from both a story and gameplay perspective. Though it can be intimidating, this game is a real masterclass in role-playing games, with a beautiful open-world, and plenty of story paths you can choose to follow as you build your own adventure. A definite recommendation for RPG gamers, and one of the best games of 2025 for sure.

See also: Best Cozy Games on Steam

---

Conclusion

The year is only halfway through, and we’ve already gotten some great additions to the gaming industry. These are our choices for the best games of 2025 so far, but what are yours? What games have caught your attention throughout the first half of the year? Be sure to let us know in the comment section, and thanks for reading!

• ShareCopied to clipboard
• X
• Facebook