2025 has been an anomaly for video games. Usually, we get a handful of great games each year, most of which were announced years before, and then the entire year is fairly predictable, with just a few curveballs here and there. This year, though, is pitching nothing but curveballs, and most of them are quite positive for games and gamers, with a few notable exceptions. From Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘s breakout success to the Switch 2 controversies, it’s been anything but ordinary.
I never thought we would see a year in which we got a AA, lower-budget, high-graphic-fidelity turn-based RPG Game of the Year frontrunner, a new Silent Hill game that isn’t a remake, Battlefield overtake Call of Duty has the first-person shooter to watch in the fall, the release of a new console, and more all in the same year. It’s not been just a great year for games; it’s been one of the most surprising in recent memory.
2025 Has Had A Lot Of Great Games
And They Keep Coming
The year started strong, with Monster Hunter Wilds, Split Fiction, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and more within the first few months of the year. Then, the temperature was raised even higher in April with the release of Blue Prince, Clair Oscur: Expedition 33, DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and more.
Expedition 33, in particular, seemed to come out of nowhere for fans, and quickly became the talk of the town among gamers and the envy of the industry among developers and publishers. The underdog development story, being developed by a team of roughly 30 people, and it being $49.99 in an industry that is largely dominated by expensive live service games, resonated with a lot of fans, becoming the highest-rated user-scored game ever on Metacritic.
It’s near the end of August now, and the great games keep coming. Hollow Knight: Silksong releases September 4, and Cronos: The New Dawn and Silent Hill f will also release in September, making it a very busy month. Followed by Battlefield 6, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Ghost of Yotei, and some, like Metroid Prime 4, that still don’t have release dates other than “2025.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Was A Massive Success
Despite Several Controversies
Beyond just games, we even got a new console this year. The Nintendo Switch 2 has broken many sales records, becoming the fastest-selling console of all time, though it wasn’t without its fair share of criticisms. The higher-than-expected price tag of $449.99 (or $499.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle) and the very first $80 game with the individual release of MKW shocked many fans.
The Game-Key Card controversies soured some fans’ opinions of Nintendo as well, with many fans concerned about game preservation and a potential all-digital future. Despite that, the console has been a roaring success, and with Donkey Kong Bananza as a potential GOTY contender and three more major first-party releases left in 2025: Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Kirby Air Riders, and Metroid Prime 4, the Switch 2 will likely have one of the best launch years of any console.
On top of that, it seems third-party interest in the console is already higher than the Switch 1 ever got. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, and more are coming to the Switch 2. There’s even been interest in bringing Final Fantasy XIV to the console, so the console has a lot of fan and industry attention at the moment, and will probably be one of the two biggest talking points of 2025, the other being Expedition 33.
The Industry Continues To Be Plagued With Layoffs
Plus Numerous Price Increases Due To Tariffs & A Volatile Market
While 2025 has had incredible games and a shiny new console, it hasn’t all been positive for video games this year. In one of the largest mass layoffs in video game history, Microsoft laid off over 9000 employees earlier this year, despite making over $25.8 billion in revenue. That decision also led to numerous game cancellations and the question of Xbox Game Pass as a long-term subscription model, with many concerned about its lasting effects.
Several of the amazing games that have been released this year were day-one Game Pass titles. With the ability to play full-priced games at the cost of a much smaller monthly fee, many gamers might have found themselves playing more games this year but purchasing fewer. Many authority figures in the industry, like former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden, dragged Xbox and its business model for being harmful to the industry and stalling innovation for developers.
The way minors interact with games has also been a hot topic this year, most notably with Roblox. The Attorney General of Louisiana sued Roblox for allegedly ignoring child safety measures on its platform, which also led to a large-scale investigation into Roblox by journalists Chris Hansen and Schelp.
Prices have also been a major talking point this year. PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox have all increased the prices of their consoles and accessories, citing new US tariff policies as the cause for the increase. Unfortunately, the pricing woes may continue, as all three major companies have also indicated they may raise prices again later, as the market remains unstable.
The good, the bad, and the ugly: 2025 has been a surprising year for games. There have been many highs, like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and many lows, like Microsoft’s layoffs, and several mixed bags, like the Switch 2 controversies. We still have several months left in 2025, and no matter how they shake out, 2025 will be an unforgettable year for video games.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Systems
9/10
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
