Given the potential release of the GTA VI and the possibilities presented by Nintendo’s Switch 2 release lineup, 2025 could be down in the most memorable year for the game. Without these Juggernauts, games like Monster Hunter Wild and Assassin’s Creed Shadow have already set the tone that should be another great year for the new game.
Throughout the first quarter of this year, 18 games have won spots on this list. It compiles all games and extensions released in 2025 and receives a review score of 8 or higher from Passthecontroller. These are Passthecontroller’s best video games of 2025.
This list is updated when a new release receives eligible review scores.
Review score: 8 (“Great”)
These games leave us with amazing things for novel gameplay ideas for single-player and multiplayer, smart characters and writing, notable graphics and sounds, or a combination of them. If you have any major complaints, there are good qualities enough to cancel them.
Shadow of the assassin’s beliefs
From our review: Assassin’s Creed Shadow has blades that flash on the established norms of the series, trimming them into a more accurate shape instead of cutting them down completely. Combat is aggressive and requires more intentional fellowship and skill management than in the past. Exploring Japan’s gorgeous states is also encouraged thanks to improved maps that highlight collection icons and check-off lists. Nae and Yasuke are well-realized, memorable protagonists, despite most of the stories they drive along fairly predictable paths. Both have unique playstyles that strengthen each other’s weaknesses, but they are ultimately disproportionately by the fact that they can utilize far more ninja stealth and exploration skills than ninja’s superhuman strength. This is not a mind-changing assassin belief in people who have never been associated with the series before, but for many people who are logged in to Animus, Shadows total offers a refreshing reorganization of the series you shouldn’t skip. – Jarrett Green
Atomic Power
From our review: Atomfall is an enchanting survival action adventure that shoots some of the best elements of Fallout and Elden Ring and integrates them into their own fresh mutations. It presents picturesque country painting chunks of glamorous structures scattered with fascinating structures to reward your curiosity and curiosity, absorbing the mysteries that unleash, and using classic iconography from British science fiction and horror. Despite enemy actions that are less stable than meltdown reactors, Atomfall is a compelling apocalyptic survival story that bends in your choices and discoveries no matter which direction. – Tristan Ogilby
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
From our review: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector isn’t too far from what made the first one a cult hit, but it’s not necessary. It tells a rich and heart-pounding story about the complex nature of control of one’s own self when it is a machine that can reboot and hack, find and enrich the community in the face of overwhelming odds, and express one’s personality to both herself and others. While visual novel-like presentations don’t pulsate precisely because they are heavy on reading and dice rolling, retooled character classes and statistics, new crew missions, and stress mechanisms provide ample feedback and create a precursor experience to keep them attractive. – Jarrett Green
Donkey Kong Country returns HD
From our review: Somehow, Donkey Kong Country was returned (again). However, this third full release of Nintendo’s 2010 Wii Platforter is almost as fresh and fun as it was 15 years ago. DK’s satisfying, heavy movements pave the way for a challenging, momentum-based platformer that requires more skill and accuracy than the average Nintendo game. But thanks to an incredibly impressive level of design that explores the greatest amount of hidden collectibles with every clever idea worth tracking, it remains fun rather than frustrating. Especially as a remaster, it’s just a decent update. The graphics are actually something that can only be described as “good enough”, an outdated element that allowed them to use a more modern touch, like the lack of checkpoints in boss fights and some unpleasant sections full of one hit kill obstacle. But Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a capable update and the best way to play one of the best 2D platformers Nintendo has released this century. – Logan Factory
Like a Dragon: Hawaiian Pirate Yakuza
From our review: Like a dragon, it is driven by a refreshing and completely banana treasure hunting story. Majima’s Sea Dog Stance is at least one of the most fun and flexible fighting styles I’ve ever enjoyed in the series – at least in its classic and combo-based form – I’ve welcomed the challenge of carefully balancing the crew lineup to survive many intense naval battles. Its overworld map feels a bit padded out in a recycled island setting, but Honolulu itself is packed with unpredictable material and overhauled activity. Like a dragon, you’ll be absolutely thrilled with buried treasures and diverse delights: Hawaiian pirate yakuza is a consistently seductive voyage that keeps my wood trembling, whether on land or at sea. – Tristan Ogilby
Monster Hunter Wild
From our review: Monster Hunter Wiles keeps the series’ traditionally rough edges smooth in a smart way, grabs a very fun weapon and reduces the friction that can prevent them from planting them firmly in the monster skin. However, in that quest to make Monster Hunter more accessible, Wild got a little too close to the bone in some places and cut back on that challenge so much that he rarely needed to dig into its deep instrumental system to become a pinnacle predator this time. More flexible combat is some of the most enjoyable things in the series, but it burns brightly, but for a short time, until Capcom unleashes some real Endgame beasts to challenge us, like a storm of intense lighting in a gorgeous desert. – Tom Marks
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
From our review: Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is neither Ninja Gaiden 2 nor Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, but it’s the third secret that mixes both versions together to create what is the most beautiful version of this great action game. I struggle to call it a definitive release because I prefer the original “more aggressive but more men who die faster than they die”, but the Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a clear improvement over the Sigma 2 release, fixing some long-standing issues, and unlike the original, it’s not trapped in the Xbox 360. If this is really that for the Ninja Gaiden 2, it will at least be high-pitched. A trip during this time reminded me that you won’t be able to go home again and that there would really be nothing like that. The Ninja Gaiden 2 is worth noting even for its flaws. It’s good to finally turn it back to black. – Wilborger
PGA Tour 2K25
From our review: The PGA Tour 2K25 has been significantly changed in appearance and play, making it feel like a different game than its predecessor. The new swing mechanics, combined with significantly improved graphics, provide a much more realistic feel, even with lethargic performances by the launch team. The highly customizable MyCareer campaign mode shines as one of the most fun parts despite its tack-on personality system, occasionally unnecessary connectivity issues, and of course microtransactions. The PGA Tour 2K25 has several strokes behind the EA Sports PGA Tour, and some strokes as the best golf simulator, but if you continue to improve this way with each new iteration, you can close that gap relatively quickly. – Andrew McMahon
Necro dancer cleft
From our review: I pounded the arrow keys on my keyboard, bumped into the sheets, lifted the Necrodancer’s excellent soundtrack, eagerly following the perfect song run for hours. Whether I’m fighting a stifling doll master and rhythmically remove the monster world, or just wobble in a ridiculous mole costume, it offers many great flavors of arcade-style rhythmic action. This “Greatest Hits” anthology doesn’t focus as much or hide the Earth as Brace Yourself Games’ genre-bending debut album, but it surprises and delights me by providing a clever twist to the planned mechanism. -Charlie Wacholt
Tokyo Xtreme Racer (Early Access)
From our review: Tokyo Xtreme Racer is an infectiously addictive time capsule of a racing game that requires a little refinement of the menu, injected into its sound and makes it a real soup, and even more classic Japanese cars prepare to race. In fact, early access offering prices is already well worth it. The range is narrow, but the highway battle hooks make it difficult to put in and the lack of modern luggage, such as microtransactions and tack-on multiplayer, is totally refreshing. – Luke Riley
WWE 2K25
From our review: Aside from some microtransaction fuel missteps, the WWE 2K25 is truly the best wrestling game… The WWE 2K24 was also pretty amazing. It looks great and still feels good. There are also many things, including small, welcome updates such as intergender matches, and big updates such as new Myrise and Showcase modes. If you do, it’s a luxury wrestling buffet: it’s pretty amazing, there’s a wide selection on the table, and you can spend so much time in a square circle without being careful. Speaking of that, I need to go back to it. I have some showcases to unlock, the universe calls my name, and…well, you get the idea. – Wilborger
Review score: 9 (“Surprising”)
We are enthusiastically encouraged to add these games to your To-Play list. Calling the game amazing means that something impressed us about it, whether it’s an inspired new idea or an exceptional take on an old idea. We hope to look back at it as one of the highlights of the era and genre.
Dynasty Warrior: Origin
From our review: If Dynasty Warrior: Origins is meant to be a new beginning, it becomes a stunning start. Not only does the series have the biggest enemies thrown onto the screen at once, it also deepens combat, improves storytelling without getting in the way of the action, providing healthy amounts of replayability and post-match content. Your amnesia hero sometimes has a bit too much blank slate, but the impressive ensemble cast made me sing this story to care about how I’d made the characters around him big and small. Origins is a great entry point for newcomers, and a winning return for veterans like me who felt the last few entries had gone out of date or missed the mark. It feels like the series I once loved is finally back. – Jada Griffin
Kingdom Come: Rescue 2
From our review: In many ways, the Kingdom Comes: Rescue 2 feels like Bethesda is running, pursuing a larger audience, several years ago, picking up by a reactive first-person RPG torch lying in the mud. And it has excellent melee combat, even at its peak, the elder scroll never approached. It’s not clear if a certain guy goes on a particular adventure about a truly dynamic open world sandbox filled with interesting and diverse side quests, whether it wants to be a cinematic story, whether it leads to some immersive shattering conflicts, sometimes it wants to be a cinematic story. However, in most cases, leaning against one side does not get in the way of the other, and you can freely go to one of its many optional adventures along the excitement of the main plot, arousing thoughts and thrilling finale. I am happy to be lost in that world and it will take a long time before I forget that exceptional story. – Lina Heffer
MLB Show 25
From our review: MLB The Show is one of the best sports series. The new upgrade system and the amateur part of the player’s journey have reinvigorated the path to the show, but the set and transition from the season have corrected the biggest mistake of the Diamond Dynasty. It’s a bit disappointing that the storyline features haven’t made the most of its potential, but it remains a valuable inclusion worthy of reaching beyond the game of baseball. All the small touches, including updated infielder responses and new quick-time events like swim movements, also have the action on the field in a great place. It’s not always easy for an annual franchise to justify a move to a new entry, but with the MLB The Show 25 we’re pleased that it’s arrived. – Justin Collet
Divided fiction
From our review: Split-fiction, a skilled absorber cooperative adventure that acquires pinball from one genre’s extreme to another, is a roller coaster of gameplay ideas and styles that are usually discarded as quickly as they are featured. This keeps you very fresh for a full 14-hour period. It’s a victory for imagination and restraint, as you can’t stick to long enough to get old before you make the next method. Hazelight may have been rewriting the cooperative rules book for ten years, but split fiction is a new chapter that you (and your partner) can’t overlook. – Luke Riley
2 Point Museum
From our review: Two Point Museum is a rewarding, deep, challenging, and very entertaining Tycoon game that shows two points studios really hit the groove in the third iteration of this idea. A variety of exhibits that unlock and level up, the thrill of discovering new expedition maps, and an array of clever and easy-to-use management tools make the museum fun and consistently rewarding to design and run. I had already submerged and submerged for over 40 hours so I could easily see it doubled without exhausting anything to do. Please call the curator. They really want to see this. – Lina Heffer
Wonderstop
From our review: Every inch of Wonderstop pushes the conventions that are expected of an equally healthy game. Its vibrant colors, quirky characters and seductive music are used to tell a compelling story that forces you to tackle both the main character’s anxiety and your own anxiety. It’s not just a burnout, but a powerful adventure about how deeply painful it is to free ourselves from the coping mechanisms that may have kept us safe before. At the same time, WonderStop’s simple but satisfying tea brewing experiment serves as a safe and fun space for deep excavations. There aren’t many games like Wonderstop right now, but for all the succulents, I hope they’ll be there soon. – Shailyn Cotten
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
From our review: Xenoblade Chronicles X is already one of the best games on the Wii U, and this decisive edition settled on the Switch well, escaping the destruction of old houses like the White Whale. The improvement in quality of life here is enough to justify another trip to Mira alone for the veteran athlete, and is a great opportunity for newcomers to explore that beautiful landscape for themselves. Its combat system was deeply appealing, and the enormous open world never ran, jumped, or flew off. Its main storyline may not be full of the series’ standards, but the characters’ likable cast and many of the fascinating side missions make Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition adventurous that is still worth writing back to the house. – George Yang
Jordan has covered games, shows and films as a freelance writer for Passthecontroller.
