2025 is almost behind us. Contrary to last year’s article, our GOTY has gone live earlier. The reason we’ve decided to publish it earlier is so we can have enough time for the rest of our yearly articles. Because I know that a lot of you are waiting for our Top 10 Optimized PC Games list. Until then, you can find below the games that pirovashMX, Spencer, Nick, and John enjoyed the most this year.

Nick McCaskey – The First Berserker: Khazan

There are precious few games that I instantly purchase after playing the demo. Such was the case for Khazan. The demo made it obvious that this was a very high-quality mix of Nioh-Souls-like and Devil May Cry. After 60+ hours and finishing the game multiple times, I stand by my first impression. As for the game itself, it has rock-solid, weighty combat, smart design, and great pacing. Add in excellent character customization, varied loot with set bonuses, and a good-enough plot. Special mention to the combination of fight-die-try-again and persistent character boosts, which sets Khazan apart in the genre (not to mention the gorgeous art style).

Basically, as a lover of both spectacle brawlers like Devil May Cry and Souls games (and Nioh 1 & 2, specifically), this is a game tailor-made for me. Mad respect to the developers for putting out such a polished product at release, and kudos to them for adding many quality-of-life features in post-launch patches.

If you enjoy action games, give Khazan a chance. And don’t be afraid to pick Beginner difficulty if you want to avoid the crazy-hard challenges of precise combat games.

Spencer – Ninja Gaiden 4

This year, my game of the year came down to Absolum, the excellent beat ’em up from Guard Crush, and PlatinumGames/Team Ninja’s Ninja Gaiden 4. I eventually settled on Ninja Gaiden 4, for which I also wrote a review that you can read here. Why? Well, because Ninja Gaiden 4 is the best action game since 2019’s Devil May Cry 5, and I feel it has some of the slickest boss fights the genre has seen since Metal Gear Rising – which came out all the way back in 2013.

The game also feels like a statement that Platinum can still deliver without Kamiya present. On top of that, the game took risks introducing a new protagonist and accompanying playstyles in Yakumo and his weapon selection, evolving its level design, and was well optimized. A fitting successor to a storied action franchise that was completely revived this year across HD remasters and two sequels in the excellent Ragebound and Ninja Gaiden 4.

pirovashMX – The Outer Worlds 2

The Outer Worlds 2 truly earns its spot as Game of the Year with its sharp, darkly funny take on corporations and our obsession with material things. Its universe is controlled by over-the-top mega-corporations that hide real problems behind cheerful branding, and the result is both hilarious and uncomfortably relatable. The game constantly pokes at profit-first culture, brand loyalty, and the idea that everything—even people—can be treated like a product. Paired with great writing and engaging gameplay, that satire gives The Outer Worlds 2 a thoughtful edge that makes it stand out from the pack.

John Papadopoulos – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

To be honest, I was struggling to pick my GOTY 2025. Ninja Gaiden 4 is one of the best action games of 2025. WUCHANG and The First Berserker: Khazan are the best Souls-like games of 2025. Cronos: The New Dawn is an amazing horror game that I loved. Where Winds Meet is the best free-to-play game you can play on PC right now. Silent Hill f is another amazing horror game (though it does not feel like a Silent Hill game). I also enjoyed Hell Is Us and Mafia: The Old Country, though neither of them is as good as the games I mentioned before.

Overall, 2025 was a great year. But my GOTY 2025 goes to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This is easily the best game I played in 2025. It’s not the most optimized, and it’s not the best-looking PC game. But man, it’s a truly amazing game.

The reason I picked Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is mainly because of its story. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a story-driven gamer—you can clearly see that from my previous GOTY picks. So it should come as no surprise that my choice this year is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

I loved every part of its story. It has major twists and cliffhangers. The soundtrack is top-notch, and the voice acting is some of the best we’ve heard in 2025. But, as I said, it’s all about the story. Sandfall Interactive did an incredible job. Plus, the turn-based combat system with its QTEs is actually very solid.

I know that many people have picked Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for their GOTY, so you might think that my choice is a bit cliché. However, it deserves every bit of its praise. It’s truly one of the best games of 2025.