GameMinr's Top 5 Games of 2025

2025 was a banner year for gaming: Switch 2's launch exceeded all expectations and redefined what we can expect from portable gaming, indies like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 swept The Game Awards, and we were able to get our hands on long-awaited sequels like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Metroid Prime 4. 2025 was also a year where indie creativity and gameplay triumphed over the annual franchise entries that tend to dominate the sales charts.

Today, to celebrate the end of this awesome year, we present the GameMinr Top 5 Games of 2025. Join us as we count down the games that we felt had the biggest impact to gaming this year, and that captured out imagination in 2025. Here we go!

#5: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Sandfall Interactive's debut turn-based RPG stunned with its melancholy narrative and active turn-based combat, earning IGN's Best Game of 2025 and nine TGA wins, including GOTY. It was a game that brought in new players to the 'JRPG' fold, and had fans talking up its merits non-stop for most of the year.

While it is a wonderful game, for me it felt like a story heavy experience, with gameplay that didn't excite me as much as it did other players. For that reason, while it is definitely worth your time, it only makes #5 in our list for 2025.

#4: SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

Lizardcube's hand-drawn 2D platformer resurrected SEGA's ninja icon with precise katana combos, ninjutsu, and high octane action gameplay. Nominated for TGA Best Action Game, it excelled in nearly every aspect with flashy combat, great level design, excellent visuals and a standout soundtrack. We loved it, and declared it the '2D Ninja Doom Eternal' that we didn't know we needed.

#3: Ball x Pit

Kenny Sun's roguelite brick-breaker stole my heart in 2025. In much the same way that Balatro consumed my gaming time in 2024, Ball x Pit sunk its talons into me early and never let go. The gameplay loop of diving into a run though the pit, which unlocks new buildings in the overworld, which improves your abilities in the pit just can't be beat.

It's the perfect game for Switch 2 or Steam Deck, and with 3 new content updates planned for 2026, I know it's a game I'll be playing for a long time to come. You can see our previous coverage here.

#2: Donkey Kong Bananza

Donkey Kong made a triumphant return in this Switch 2 exclusive. It combined the joyful platforming of Super Mario Odyssey with amazing destruction physics that never got old. It also helps that no one knows how to build gameplay over the course of a game like Nintendo.

There is always something new coming DK's way as you delve deeper and deeper into the underworld. Pauline as the cute sidekick is just icing on the cake, and one more reason this is a must play. Check out our review here.

#1: Hollow Knight: Silksong

Team Cherry's long-awaited sequel had crushing expectations to meet, and it could have been enough to doom this game before it was ever given a chance to shine. When your game release simultaneously crashes every digital storefront, you know expectations are running high. The fact that Silksong not only met the expectations heaped on it, but actually exceeded them, is a testament to the ability of Team Cherry.

Hollow Knight: Silksong was the best game of 2025, it tested us with difficult platforming and combat that gave no quarter, and made us better for it. If you made it to the end of Hornet's journey you will be a better game player, there is just no other way to accomplish the feat. Its art style and soundtrack are stellar, its world drips atmosphere from every area and enemy. It's a near-perfect game, with a world and story that you won't want to leave behind. Hollow Knight: Silksong cements Team Cherry as one of the greats, and we can't wait to see what comes next. Our coverage.

There you have it, 2025's Top Games. Indies dominated our list this year, and it's great to see smaller developers taking chances and delivering so many incredible games. Thank you to all the developers who contributed to our industry this year, it's been a blast.

Happy New Year GameMinr family! We'll see you in 2026!