With 2025 ending and awards season recognizing games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hades 2, it’s easy to forget all the great games that didn’t receive as much attention. There’s only so much focus during discussions for Game of the Year, after all.
Despite a year full of great gaming moments, some fantastic titles didn’t get the attention they deserved. While it’s tough to be an overlooked gem, there’s a special satisfaction in being discovered by those who appreciate it.
These games might not have won any major awards or received a lot of public attention, but they still resonated with players. Despite all the hype surrounding the biggest games of the year, some truly interesting titles quietly emerged as hidden gems.
These lesser-known games are all wonderfully unique and deserve to be played, even if they aren’t the most popular titles.
Although each ‘Game of the Year’ list is written by an individual TopMob writer, the games included and their order were decided by a vote of all TopMob writers. Therefore, the list represents the collective opinion of TopMob, and may not perfectly match the views of the specific writer who compiled it.
10. Luto
First-Person Frights
The cancellation of the highly anticipated game Silent Hills in 2015 was a huge disappointment for many gamers. Despite this, it left behind one lasting legacy: a playable teaser called PT.
This brief, terrifying game sparked the imaginations of many game developers, leading them to create larger, more extensive games. One example of this influence is the new game, Luto.
Luto is a fascinating game where the environment subtly changes as you play. Every action you take has an impact on the world around you.
As you move through Luto, the corridors feel increasingly claustrophobic, quickly pushing you into tight, oppressive spaces. The game masterfully builds a constant sense of fear, impending doom, and paranoia, making it one of the most memorable horror games of 2025.
9. Pipistrello And The Cursed Yoyo
The Rise Of Zelda-Likes
People often say that copying someone is the greatest compliment. That’s why playing Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is so enjoyable – it’s clearly inspired by the classic Zelda games.
As a huge fan of Zelda-like games, I’ve seen a lot of attempts to capture that magic, and Pipistrello really nails it. It just gets what makes those games fun and how everything should work together. It feels like the developers truly understood the core of the genre.
Okay, so the combat in this game feels really good. Swinging the yoyo just feels solid and responsive – there’s a nice weight to it. They use these quick flashes on impact, which makes every hit feel powerful and keeps the whole flow of fighting super satisfying. It’s a small thing, but it makes a huge difference!
Pipistrello stands out with its clever puzzles, charming soundtrack, and carefully crafted levels. It’s easily one of the year’s top action-adventure games.
8. Without a Dawn
Minimalist Visual Novel
| Release Date | May 19, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Jesse Makkonen |
| Platform | PC |
If you played video games in the past, you might remember simple text-based adventures. Though those games aren’t as popular now, “Without a Dawn” feels like a throwback to that classic style.
Without a Dawn is a striking game with visuals created using ASCII art. It bravely tackles difficult topics like mental health and self-harm, exploring them in a way few games do. The result is a deeply atmospheric and emotional experience.
Honestly, the game isn’t flashy – the graphics are dark and kind of gritty, and the sound isn’t over the top. But that actually adds to the experience. It doesn’t scream for your attention like some of the bigger games this year, but trust me, it’s totally worth checking out if you’re looking for something different.
7. Metal Eden
The Revival Of The Doom Clone
New shooting games are released constantly, and with so many options already available, it’s incredibly difficult for any one game to really make a splash.
Metal Eden really stands out as something special. It’s particularly impressive when you consider how difficult it is to make a shooting game that plays as well as the most popular titles.
Metal Eden is right up there with the top bands, delivering intense, unrestrained energy and mayhem.
Beyond its exciting combat, the game captures the thrill of classic movement shooters. The grappling hook feels fantastic, and the fast-paced action is visually stunning – Metal Eden truly excels at showing speed and impact.
6. Blue Prince
Goodnight, You Blue Princes Of Maine
Man, 2025 was packed with awesome puzzle games. Seriously, so many good ones came out. But if I had to pick one that didn’t get nearly enough attention, it would be Blue Prince. It was a real gem that flew under the radar, which is a shame!
Blue Prince is the impressive first game from solo developer Tonda Ros. Players take on the role of Simon, who inherits his great uncle’s property and discovers strange and changing realities within it.
Blue Prince brilliantly combines roguelike and deck-building elements to create clever puzzles. Each room color introduces a new challenge, and figuring out how to utilize the game’s tools to overcome them is incredibly rewarding.
5. Demonschool
Back To School
With the Persona series moving away from its classic gameplay style, indie games are now filling the void. Demonschool, in particular, captures the nostalgic appeal of older Persona games while also offering a fresh, unique experience.
This engaging strategy-RPG blends familiar elements of classic games with a fresh, contemporary style. The setting is particularly interesting, and the developers at Necrosoft Games really made the most of it.
The combat is also really well done. It’s fast-paced and smooth, and requires thoughtful strategy, which results in exciting and impressive fights.
Okay, so everyone’s calling Demonschool a ‘Persona clone,’ but honestly, that really doesn’t do it justice. It’s way more than that! It feels like a super-charged, incredibly fast-paced teen drama, and I genuinely think it’s going to be one of the most original games we see all year in 2025.
4. Bionic Bay
Die, Die Again
We’re seeing a resurgence of cinematic platformer games, and that’s great news! Mureena Oy and Psychoflow Studio are the latest developers joining the scene with a new title.
Bionic Bay offers a fresh take on a type of game that’s been stuck in a rut. While many cinematic platformers focus on frustratingly difficult challenges and repeated deaths, Bionic Bay emphasizes giving players helpful abilities that make overcoming obstacles feel truly satisfying.
Honestly, the game looks incredible. You can really tell the artists put a ton of love and effort into how everything looks. It’s just beautiful and really stands out – it’s visually stunning!
3. The Alters
Send In The Clones
Science fiction frequently explores meaningful and thought-provoking ideas. It’s a genre particularly known for tackling important social issues through storytelling.
11 Bit Studios’ new game, The Alters, tells a captivating story where science meets deep, philosophical questions. It truly feels like experiencing a classic science fiction book firsthand.
Keeping track of duplicates, managing limited supplies, and defending against dangers on a fragile space station creates a never-ending list of tasks. It’s the type of game where you plan to play for just an hour, but suddenly it’s 3 AM and you’ve lost all track of time.
2. Sword Of The Sea
Journey Meets Tony Hawk
Sword of the Sea continues a tradition of stunning, immersive games that began with the critically acclaimed Journey in 2012. Many of the original developers from Journey have now joined Giant Squid, and are building on their history of creating beautiful and atmospheric experiences.
Sword of the Sea showcases this team truly hitting their stride, developing a distinct and impressive style. The game’s growing scope is remarkable, but it’s the stunning visuals that really stand out.
Sword of the Sea is a rare game that truly excels in both emotional impact and how well it plays. It’s beautifully polished, with incredible attention to detail and artistic flair.
1. Fretless: The Wrath Of Riffson
Let’s Rock, Baby
If you’re looking for excellent role-playing games, the independent game scene is a fantastic place to start. It’s given us some truly outstanding titles, like Undertale and Disco Elysium.
Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson continues a tradition of great games by combining a unique story about fighting for musical freedom with exciting, quick action. The game’s creators clearly understood how impactful music can be, and it shows throughout the experience.
This year saw a fantastic lineup of indie RPGs, and Fretless truly stands out as one of the best. Its pixel art is beautifully done, and the way it incorporates music is remarkably creative – easily one of the most innovative uses of music in a game this year.
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2025-12-16 05:11