20 Video Games We’re Thankful For In 2025

The Holiday Season is here, a time for reflection, family, and gratitude. And for gamers, 2025 turned out to be a surprisingly great year, with several potential Game of the Year contenders and lots of fantastic, lesser-known titles.

We’re not picking a Game of the Year today – we’ll do that later. Instead, we’re having a more relaxed discussion about the games that really stood out to us this year. Think of it like a group sharing session! Several of our TopMob writers will each talk about a game they especially enjoyed in 2025.

Whether you’re still working on the Thanksgiving turkey or enjoying leftovers, we want to share some exciting video games we’ve been loving lately. We hope you enjoy this roundup and have a happy holiday season, however you celebrate!

Because everyone has different tastes, I’ve included some recent games, ongoing series, and titles released within the last year—even some from December 2024. Also, each entry is written by the person who loves that particular game. We hope you like the list!

20. As Long As You’re Here

Ethan Krieger

The holidays always make me think about family, especially those we’ve lost. I have so many great memories of growing up – every Thanksgiving and Christmas was at my grandparents’ house, and it was always packed! We’d all gather, eat a ton of food, share stories, and just enjoy being together. Those were really special times.

Now that my grandparents have passed away and my family has moved on, I’ve been thinking about my grandmother’s struggle with dementia. This led me to discover ‘As Long As You’re Here,’ an indie game that uniquely puts you in the shoes of an elderly woman experiencing the challenges of worsening Alzheimer’s.

Playing As Long As You’re Here was unlike anything I’ve ever felt in a video game, especially while thinking about my own memories. Even after just an hour, I felt deeply moved and grateful for the experience. The game does an amazing job of portraying Alzheimer’s with real emotion and sensitivity, and I’m truly glad it was made.

Playing this game brought back a lot of happy memories of my grandma and my childhood, and I’m really grateful for that. Sometimes video games just feel special, and this one definitely does. It’s more than just entertainment – it’s truly meaningful.

19. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Steve Hannley

Wow, it’s crazy to think Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is over 21 years old! Even back then, it was seriously advanced and had a really powerful story. And honestly, it’s even more surprising when you consider that, until Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater came out, the series hadn’t had a big new game since 2018 – and let’s just say Metal Gear Survive wasn’t exactly a fan favorite.

Delta doesn’t reinvent the wheel – it’s the fourth iteration of this game – but it successfully delivers on its core goal: recreating the Metal Gear Solid 3 experience many remember from 2004. It includes several helpful improvements, offers a choice between two game versions, and brings back fan-favorite extras like “Snake vs. Monkey,” now styled after Bomberman.

2025 brought a lot of great new games, but it’s especially exciting to see a true classic updated and remastered, ensuring it remains popular for a long time.

18. Trails In The Sky 1st Chapter

Murillo Zerbinatto

I always try to approach sequels or remakes of JRPGs with an open mind. Developers often want to experiment, and I’m willing to see what they’ve done. But honestly, what I’d really love is a remake that completely rebuilds a game from the ground up – keeping all the original charm while adding updated graphics and fresh ideas. That would be the perfect way to revisit a classic.

So, I finally checked out Trails in the Sky: First Chapter, and honestly, I wasn’t a huge Trails fan going in. I’ve been playing JRPGs forever, but this series always seemed a little intimidating. I started with the original two Trails in the Sky games on Steam, and then I jumped right into the remake. Seriously, it was the best thing I could have done! It let me really appreciate everything they added to this new version, and how much love Falcom put into staying true to the original game.

Trails in the Sky: First Chapter feels like the perfect remake. The story remains unchanged – it couldn’t be, as it’s part of a larger, ongoing narrative – but it’s fun to experience familiar scenes and dialogue now in fully 3D with voice acting. The developers clearly wanted to satisfy existing fans by keeping the core turn-based combat, while also adding some fresh elements. They also included real-time gameplay to appeal to newer players and modern tastes.

A common mistake in game marketing is promising a title will appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers – usually, trying to please everyone results in pleasing no one. However, Trails in the Sky: First Chapter came remarkably close to achieving this balance, especially for JRPG enthusiasts. It proved that JRPGs can fully embrace their traditional elements and still be incredibly engaging.

17. Infinity Nikki

Jaime Tugayev

I like to play a variety of games – sometimes to explore new types, see what’s trending, or just for simple entertainment. But this year, Infinity Nikki really stood out. It surprised me with unexpectedly strong emotional impact, hiding surprisingly dark and complex themes beneath its charming dress-up gameplay, including difficult subjects like loss and even philosophical debates.

I discovered Infinity Nikki during a difficult time, when I needed a relaxing game to play on my PS5. I was immediately blown away by how much the game offered – a deep story, constant updates, lots of collecting and customization, surprising plot twists, and a really unique community. It completely captivated me, and I found myself constantly wondering what would happen next and what Giovanni was up to.

I started playing Infinity Nikki as a bit of fun, but it quickly became a year-long passion. Even with all the online chatter, I still play every day – it’s become a comforting habit. I don’t often talk about it, but the game reminds me that it’s perfectly fine to indulge in something you enjoy, just for yourself.

16. Hades II

Bruce Makki

I’ve always enjoyed action games with roots in mythology, such as Darksiders and God of War. From the moment I started playing Hades, I was captivated by the game’s take on the relationships between the gods and the main character, Zagreus, and how their personalities were creatively reimagined.

I bought Hades 2 as soon as it was available in early access and played it constantly until the official release. I was so hooked that I finished the main story in just three days when it finally came out, and I’m really proud of that accomplishment!

It’s clear this game was made with a lot of passion and attention to detail. I really appreciate how committed the developers are to creating such a fantastic experience for players like us.

15. Super Mario

Elena Chapella

I love all sorts of video games, but if I had to choose one that truly makes me happy, it would be Mario. It reminds me to focus on the good times and be grateful for the experience, rather than be sad when something ends – like remembering to smile about what happened instead of crying that it’s over.

Silent Hill holds a special place in my heart, but some of my most cherished memories involve playing Mario and Minecraft with my siblings. Even now that we’re all grown up, playing Mario together is just as joyful and funny as it was when we were kids. It really brought my immigrant family together, and we still make time to play as a family whenever possible – it means the world to us.

It’s amazing to think about how many other brothers, sisters, and families shared the same love for Mario. That feeling of nostalgia truly stays with you. I hope that even when I’m old and my memory isn’t what it used to be, I’ll still remember playing Mario with my siblings – more than any other game, even Silent Hill.

14. Cross Blitz

Joshua Speer

I’ve enjoyed many games over the years, but I’m particularly grateful for Cross Blitz in 2025. I’ve been playing it on and off during its early access phase for several years – something I don’t usually do. I even went the extra mile to collect all the Steam achievements during early access, which is unusual for me. Now, just in time for Thanksgiving, the complete version of the game is finally here!

This deckbuilding game is more than just visually appealing and inventive—it’s genuinely one of the best I’ve ever experienced. As a huge fan of the genre, that’s high praise!

Cross Blitz offers a variety of ways to play, including a story mode with multiple characters, a challenging Roguelike mode, and another mode added with the full release. What really stands out is its fantastic humor and beautiful retro aesthetic – it feels like a classic SNES game come to life. The game is surprisingly deep, letting you create and refine unique decks with each character. You can experiment with different strategies, like launching cannonballs, using poison, freezing enemies, or even crafting powerful meals!

If you enjoy complex, strategic card games like Yu-Gi-Oh! or Magic: The Gathering, you’ll probably love Cross Blitz as well. It offers a similar level of adventure and depth in a digital format.

13. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Daniel Trock

It’s probably no surprise that I’m choosing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I went into it with no expectations and was completely amazed. It really showcases what makes gaming such a powerful art form, with stunning visuals and a deeply moving story.

The ending was surprisingly emotional for me. It wasn’t that it was poorly done, but the game had built such strong connections with the characters that I genuinely hoped for a happier outcome for them.

A truly memorable story needs a powerful ending – one that stays with you and keeps people talking and thinking long after they’ve finished reading.

12. World of Warcraft: Mists Of Pandaria Classic

Jake Valentine

It might seem strange to be so grateful for a game that came out in 2025 but started over ten years ago. But for those of us who played Classic World of Warcraft, it wasn’t just about the game itself – it was the people we played with, especially our guild and raid team. That community is what really mattered.

We’re more than just a gaming group revisiting old favorites – we’ve become a close-knit family. We’ve already met in person once, and we’re planning another get-together next year. We share personal stories, celebrate each other’s successes, offer support during tough times, and are always there for one another.

Even though things can feel a bit slow when we’re waiting for new content, like the next raid, the best part of this game is always the people I play with. I’m so grateful for the 24 friends I raid with every week – we’ve been playing together for almost five years, and I wouldn’t trade our Monday and Tuesday nights for anything.

11. Jurassic World Evolution 3

Maddie Fisher

Jurassic World Evolution 3 really hits home for me, because I’ve been a fan of this series since seeing the original movies with my dad. Ever since then, I’ve been completely hooked on games where you build and manage dinosaur parks.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is the ultimate dinosaur theme park builder, building on the foundations of classic games like Operation Genesis. Frontier Developments has consistently improved the series, and this installment is their most impressive work to date.

2025-11-27 16:42