Branching Path: Josh Torres’ Top 10 Games of 2025

I was surprised by my favorite games of 2025. Several releases I expected to enjoy didn’t quite live up to my expectations. A prime example is Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – I was a big fan of the original on Wii U, but I was disappointed with this updated version after spending over 120 hours playing it. I also didn’t enjoy Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Monster Hunter Wilds as much as I’d hoped.

In 2025, I discovered a lot of great new games that weren’t part of any well-known franchise. I really enjoy going into a game knowing nothing about it, without any expectations or outside opinions, and then being pleasantly surprised. That’s why I usually avoid reading reviews before playing something new. I’m not sure if this is the right place to mention that, though.

I realize these year-end summaries tend to focus a lot on me, but I want to quickly acknowledge some noteworthy things before I share my top 10. These are just honorable mentions, and I haven’t ranked them in any particular order.

Honorable Mentions

Dear me, I was… – Taisuke Kanasaki’s newest game is a short, but meaningful experience that tells an emotional tale with no voicelines. It’s able to convey a message on a universal scale through the life of a woman and her relation to art.
Earthion – Yuzo Koshiro passionately talked about the development of this game for a long time, and I felt like I’d be betraying that man if I didn’t get it. Thankfully, Ancient’s newest shmup is wonderful, responsive, and beautiful.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter – I’m a bit wary of Nihon Falcom’s prior remake efforts with the Trails series via the Evolution remakes years ago. 1st Chapter is a much, much better remake relatively, though the subpar localization compared to its original version does damage the legacy of its initial English release a bit. Still, I can’t wait to see how Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter will depict many scenes and crossing my fingers that Trails in the Sky the 3rd gets a full remake as well.
Fate/hollow ataraxia Remastered – Absolutely thrilled that one of my favorite Type-Moon visual novels finally got an official English release. I even prefer it over Fate/stay night, but fully finishing that title is required to appreciate what Fate/hollow ataraxia does as a sequel. This was so cool to see this year.
Super Robot Wars Y – While I continue to not be the biggest fan of the overall visual direction of the modern Super Robot Wars games, the animation updates to Wing Gundam Zero (Endless Waltz version) to celebrate Gundam Wing’s 30th anniversary were absolutely stellar in this title. There were a lot of other factors I appreciated that made SRW Y a solid entry overall.
Duet Night Abyss – This launched at the end of October and I’m pretty sure I almost have 300 hours sunk into it. I hope this eventually becomes a better game; I can’t recommend it in good faith unless your brain is wired in a very specific way. I might write about this game eventually, but I’m still wondering how mean I want to be in it.
Kara no Shoujo / The Shell trilogy (consists of The Shell Part I: Inferno, The Shell Part II: Purgatorio, & The Shell Part III: Paradiso) – This visual novel trilogy by Innocent Grey has been recommended to me for many, many years. I finally started them at the beginning of December, and am currently reading Part III. I can see why people call it a masterpiece, though I will warn you with extensive content warnings that these games are filled with extreme content because you investigate gruesome, graphic crime scenes often and many sequences that eloquently detail how the murderer carried out their deed to the victim. It’s purposeful and doesn’t lavish in the extremity of its content; I eventually want to do a detailed write-up of my experience because there’s so much I want to talk about.

10) Road to Empress I

I really enjoy a good FMV game, and Road to Empress I didn’t disappoint, especially when playing with friends. I was immediately drawn in by how many different ways things could go wrong – there were a lot of unexpected dead ends! What I particularly appreciated was the game’s tone; the actors struck a great balance between seriousness and humor. Unlike some FMV games that feel overly self-aware, Road to Empress I kept my friends and me fully engaged. Plus, the game looked fantastic – the costumes and sets were incredibly well-made, and I’m excited to see what the sequel brings in a few months.

9) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Honestly, it feels like everyone’s already talked about all the good and bad things with this game in 2025. I don’t really have a ton to add to that conversation, but I wanted to share why I’m actually hopeful about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I get why some people who are new to turn-based RPGs are saying this game is a game-changer for them, and while it can be a little annoying to see that when you’re a longtime fan, I think it’s a really positive thing overall.

I really hope Expedition 33 encourages people to try other turn-based RPGs. Everyone will have different opinions about the game – some things they’ll love, and some they won’t. But I’m confident that after playing Expedition 33, even if they don’t finish it, players will be more open to exploring other games in the genre. If someone tells you about their experience with Expedition 33, take the time to listen and suggest another game you think they might enjoy.

8) Digimon Story: Time Stranger

I really rediscovered my love for Digimon in 2025 with the release of Digimon Story: Time Stranger. It took a while to develop, but it was definitely worth the wait! The game has a lot of the same charm as classic JRPGs from the PlayStation 2 era. While it’s not perfect, the engaging Digivolution system and the beautifully realized Digital World: Iliad made it a really fun experience.

I rediscovered my love for Digimon, which led me to start watching the new anime, Digimon Beatbreak. I’ve been really enjoying it every week, and a friend who’s completely new to Digimon is loving it too! It’s safe to say Digimon was the standout series of 2025.

7) Sektori

Sektori is the one game in my most anticipated 2025 lineup that immediately grabs my attention and doesn’t let go. It’s a game that requires complete focus – even a brief distraction can lead to failure. People often compare it to Geometry Wars, but with a power-up system similar to that of Gradius.

I didn’t fully understand why I enjoyed this game until I found out it was created by Kimmo Lahtinen, a former developer at Housemarque. I was a huge fan of Super Stardust HD, and Lahtinen was the lead programmer on its PSP version, Super Stardust Portable. They also worked on the fantastic Resogun. Knowing this history helped me realize why Sektori resonated with me so strongly.

6) Absolum

As long-time followers know, I really prioritize how games feel – specifically, how responsive the controls are, no matter the type of game. This year, Absolum stood out as a fantastic beat ‘em up, and a big reason why I enjoyed it so much was how incredibly smooth and satisfying it was to play. The impactful sound effects during fights and the flexible combo system also contributed to my positive experience. And on top of that, each of the characters is really fun to play around with.

The animation is fantastic, with beautiful backgrounds and a lovely soundtrack, and there are so many little details that really stand out. My biggest issue is that the game felt a bit short, but thankfully, more content is planned! I’m excited to jump back in when the update arrives.

5) Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road

I wrote a pretty detailed piece before about how tough it was making this game, and honestly, it was totally worth the wait! I knew about the Inazuma Eleven series, but Victory Road was actually my first time playing one. The Story Mode is seriously one of the highlights of the year for me when it comes to video games. And if you’re a fan of the series, the Chronicle Mode is amazing – it basically lets you replay all the past games and anime, and it’s huge. You could easily spend dozens of hours in it!

The developers, Level-5, are still working on the game, adding content and releasing tons of updates to fix bugs and improve things based on what players like me have been saying. Honestly, looking at everything they’ve done over the whole time they’ve been working on Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, it feels like the biggest, most ambitious project on this list. I bet there were a ton of challenges and lucky breaks behind the scenes to get it to where it is today.

4) Ball x Pit

Ball x Pit is a surprisingly fun mix of classic brick-breaking gameplay, like Breakout, and the constant upgrades and survival elements of Vampire Survivors. It sounds strange in theory, but it actually works really well. It’s fascinating to see how the developers built this game, going through lots of different ideas and prototypes – game development is a truly amazing process.

It took a little while to get into Ball x Pit, but once I did, I was completely addicted. The game stays interesting thanks to all the characters and power-ups you can unlock. There was even a character that changed the game to a turn-based style, which wasn’t my favorite, but I still thought it was a cool addition. I really like how unique and confident Ball x Pit is.

3) Popucom

My friend and I love finding new games we can play together, and last year we tried a few co-op titles like Split Fiction and Lego Voyagers. But then we discovered Popucom, and wow, it totally blew us away! It’s made by Hypergryph, the team behind Arknights, and honestly, I’m surprised it didn’t get more attention. It’s easily one of the most engaging and original co-op games I’ve ever played.

The game is played with two players who move through a series of levels. Each player has two colors they can instantly change between. Enemies and obstacles in each level are often linked to a specific color, meaning only the player currently showing that color can attack or interact with them. For example, a spinning pillar shooting yellow lasers can only be stopped by a player using their yellow shield.

Okay, so Popucom looks super cute and colorful, but don’t let that fool you! The way you and another player have to work together is really well done – it’s not just tacked on, it’s a core part of the game. And the bosses? Seriously awesome. They’re designed around the Puzzle Bobble match-3 system, which is so clever. They actually look like balloon creations, and watching them deflate as you and your partner attack is really satisfying. Honestly, you guys need to check this game out ASAP – I’m really hooked!

2) Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

I also did a lot of writing about another Level-5 game. While it didn’t take as long to develop as Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, it still had its difficulties. Like with Victory Road, I was familiar with the Fantasy Life series, but hadn’t actually played any of the games before starting work on Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time.

I picked up Fantasy Life when I was feeling overwhelmed and needed something relaxing. It’s easy to learn but has enough depth to keep you playing for hours without really thinking about it. Be warned though – if you have other things to do, this game can easily consume your time! I especially love the way you can level up and master lots of different professions, and it really hit the spot for me. Plus, they just released a big free update that I’m excited to try.

1) Dynasty Warriors: Origins

I’ve been a huge fan of the Dynasty Warriors series ever since I first played the demo for Dynasty Warriors 3 on the PlayStation 2. While the series has had its ups and downs, things looked really bad after the poor reception of Dynasty Warriors 9. Many fans, myself included, thought the series might be over. Since then, Omega Force and Koei Tecmo have been quiet about new Dynasty Warriors games, focusing instead on creating similar action games based on other popular franchises.

Omega Force surprised and delighted me, and many Dynasty Warriors fans, with a fresh take on the series. Dynasty Warriors: Origins rebuilds the game to focus on a more personal and story-driven experience. I can see why some players are disappointed, particularly with the smaller number of playable characters and the removal of Free Mode, features that made previous games easy to jump into and enjoy.

I view Dynasty Warriors Origins as a fresh start for the series, built specifically with modern hardware in mind. The sheer number of characters displayed on screen is incredibly impressive, and the updated combat moves for each weapon type make them all feel unique and useful. I believe this game was crucial for the series’ survival, and I’m really glad it succeeded.

The Dynasty Warriors series is gaining exciting traction heading into 2026! The upcoming expansion for Origins will add campaign scenarios exploring alternate historical outcomes with factions beyond the core Wei, Wu, and Shu. And, a remastered version of the fan-favorite Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition is on the way – I’m really hoping they do it justice! It’s a great time to be a fan, and I’m happy to celebrate when the series is doing well.

2025-12-27 03:29