10 games I must play from 2025

This is the list that I tend to feel most eager and excited to write, but I also find the most difficult, simply as I haven’t played the games to really be able to comment on them. All I have are vibes and the hype around them.

For these 10 games, the vibes and hype were so strong that they all shot straight into the highest ranks of my wishlist.

2027 is the year that I hope to be able to play more newer releases as they come. Until then, I will sleep soundly knowing that I have some phenomenal experiences awaiting when I get a chance to catch up.

Which games would you prioritise? Let me know!

This list is in release order, from the beginning of the year to the end!

The Roottrees are Dead

Developer: Evil Trout Inc.

Release Date: 15 January 2025

A genealogical mystery straight out of 1998. Scour the early Internet for clues, uncover hidden connections, and piece together the family tree behind the secretive Roottree Corporation.

It has been a while since I’ve played detective game. The Roottrees are Dead is a game I have heard floating around as a recommendation for people who enjoyed Return of the Obra Dinn. Since Obra Dinn is my favourite game of all time, I feel like I need this one injected straight into my veins right now!

You can buy The Roottrees are Dead here.

Split Fiction

Developer: Hazelight Studios

Release Date: 6 March 2025

Embrace mind-blowing moments as you’re pulled deep into the many worlds of Split Fiction, a boundary-pushing co-op adventure.

Despite its intolerable characters, me and a good friend had a ton of fun streaming It Takes Two on Twitch. Based on that, I am absolutely certain Split Fiction will be worth playing. Whether or not the story will hit better for me remains to be seen but the sci-fi vs fantasy aspect is a neat idea that has me sold.

You can buy Split Fiction here.
You can view our full playthrough of It Takes Two here.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Developer: Sandfall Interactive

Release Date: 24 April 2025

Lead the members of Expedition 33 on their quest to destroy the Paintress so that she can never paint death again. Explore a world of wonders inspired by Belle Époque France and battle unique enemies in this turn-based RPG with real-time mechanics.

I mean.. I don’t know what there is to say. Clair Obscur..

I heard from a lot of folk that this game had them crying within the first 30 minutes with an incredible intro, and from then on I avoided hearing anything more like the plague. The hype came out of nowhere for me but the universal praise has got to mean something and I have got to know!

Thankfully, Clair Obscure this was one of my Christmas gifts, so it is on the cards for this year. I cannot wait to see what makes this game so special.

You can buy Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 here.

The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-

Developer: Too Kyo Games, Media.Vision Inc.

Release Date: 24 Apr 2025

Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi join forces for the first time to deliver the ULTIMATE adventure game! 15 students are tasked with defending a school from grotesque monsters for 100 days. Can they make it to the end? And will they survive long enough to uncover the truth?

From the makers of Danganronpa and Zero Escape? That is all I know, and that is all I need to know.

When I am in need of something wild, weird and unexpected, this is where I will turn.

You can buy The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- here.
You can watch my playthrough of Virtues Last Reward here.

Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall

Developer: Brave At Night

Release Date: 8 May 2025

Rule your crumbling kingdom as you try to satisfy the petty needs of your people in this cinematic kingdom management RPG. Balance your resources, collect taxes, hire agents and make difficult decisions to see your kingdom prosper or fail.

I enjoyed the original Yes, Your Grace immensely and bugs aside, I think it is an underrated gem of a game. I look forward to see where the story goes and how the mechanics are expanded on, or not. I also look forward to seeing whether I can even survive another season of being a ruler because after the last time, I am not even slightly confident that I can…

You can buy Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall here.
You can read my demo impressions of Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall here.

The Drifter

Developer: Powerhoof, Dave Lloyd

Release Date: 17 July 2025

A Pulp Adventure Thriller – A murdered drifter awakens. Alive again, seconds before his death. Hunted and haunted, help him untangle a mad web of conspiracy in this fast-paced point ‘n click thrill-ride.

The Drifter is a game that has been on my radar for YEARS and I am so glad to see that it has finally released to fantastic reviews. The demo was full of intrigue and the atmosphere promised a gritty good time.

You can buy The Drifter here.
You can read my demo impressions of The Drifter here.

Hades II

Developer: Supergiant Games

Release Date: 25 September 2025

Battle beyond the Underworld using dark sorcery to take on the Titan of Time in this bewitching sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon crawler.

Hades is a classic. I streamed up until my first win and the entire process was such an entertaining experience. It was sweaty, stressy, trolly, and I enjoyed every second of it. I haven’t heard much about Hades 2, but from the snippets I have picked up here and there, I have reason to believe I might enjoy this one even more.

You can buy Hades II here.
You can watch my journey through Hades here.

Little Nightmares III

Developer: Supermassive Games

Release Date: 9 October 2025

Little Nightmares III is an atmospheric adventure game in which you follow the journey of Low and Alone, two best friends in search of a way out of the Nowhere. In 2 players online cooperation or solo with an A.I., work together to solve puzzles and survive in this nightmarish world.

I loved Little Nightmares 1 & 2. I played both on stream which generally tends to dilute horror, but the second game in particular still made me regret every moment of my life that lead me to playing that game. In a loving way.

Little Nightmares 3 being co-op was like music to my ears, knowing that I never would have to go through an experience like that alone again. I also love Supermassive Games. This felt like an incredibly exciting match, until the game released to a reception that I would describe as underwhelm at best.

Still.. I would like to try it for myself and make my own judgement as a fan of the series.

You can buy Little Nightmares III here.
You can watch my playthroughs of Little Nightmares here and Little Nightmares 2 here.

PowerWash Simulator 2

Developer: FuturLab

Release Date: 23 October 2025

PowerWash Simulator is back, bubbling with fresh locations, soap-erior equipment and splashy features. Effortlessly transform soiled surroundings into clean, serene scenes, solo or with pals. Satisfaction is a spray away!

PowerWash Simulator 1 genuinely helped me through a difficult period of my life. I have talked before about the need for games that occupy your hands and half of your brain. This is the epitome of that kind of game for me, allowing consumption of podcasts, tv shows, movies, or in my case, an online learning course, while mindlessly cleaning on the side.

I am so glad that PowerWash Simulator 2 exists as I know there is sure to be another time where I need this kind of soothing, satisfying gameplay, and it will be there waiting.

You can buy PowerWash Simulator 2 here.
You can read my review of PowerWash Simulator here.

The Séance of Blake Manor

Developer: Spooky Doorway

Release Date: 27 October 2025

The Séance of Blake Manor is a supernatural detective mystery, set in 1897 Ireland, where you investigate the disappearance of Evelyn Deane in a remote hotel full of secrets and other-worldly occurrences.

The demo for The Séance of Blake Manor was fun, and got me intrigued in the full game. The positive reviews got me even more intrigued and confident that I will enjoy the journey of this game beyond what the demo showcased.

How long to beat has this one at 15-21 hours which is beefier than I ever expected and it is another one recommended to Obra Dinn fans. Sign me up!

You can buy The Séance of Blake Manor here.
You can watch my full experience with the demo here.

That is 10 games that I am desperate to play from 2025, but that isn’t even close to all of the game that I want to play from 2025. Here is a list of the rest of the games that I had to narrow this list down from.
Spoiler Alert: It was a good year for games.