I play a lot of games. In fact, in 2025 alone, I rolled credits on over two dozen games. It could have been more, but putting over 100 hours into games like Arc Raiders affected that! My tastes and interests in gaming are quite varied, and the games I finished range from ‘90s classics to the latest and greatest new releases.
The final tally comes out to 29 for me in 2025, but it’s actually more than that. There are about a half dozen or so more that I can’t mention due to NDAs for games I consulted on or did mock reviews for—some of which aren’t even out yet!
Instead of trying to rank them or list them in any sort of meaningful order, I’m just listing them in the order I beat them. Sort of. The last third might be mixed up a little bit.
I’d really like to publish on my Substack more in 2026. What sort of content would you be interested in seeing? Recaps and links to my professionally published, paid writing on sites like Forbes, GamesBeat, etc? More blogging? Retro collecting? Something else?
Anyway, here is my gaming recap for 2025!
(Sega Genesis, November 1994)
This game has quite an infamous reputation. It’s regarded as one of the hardest games ever made, and having grown up with the game, I can certainly say it earned that reputation. The developers famously admitted that they made it so hard because they wanted people to have to rent it more than once in order to actually beat it.
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At the start of the year, I livestreamed myself beating it entirely from start to finish on original hardware without any cheats, save states, or emulating. That was a big moment for me, and this game remains one of my absolute favorites of all time. I wrote a review here and made a video version up above.
(Sega Genesis, October 1993)
Did you know this game is the fourth best-selling Sega Genesis game of all time, with over 4 million copies sold? It outranks Sonic the Hedgehog 3 + Sonic & Knuckles, Jurassic Park, NBA Jam, and more. That’s wild, but well-deserved.
Some people prefer the SNES version, but they’re wrong. The Genesis version features artwork contributed by actual Disney animators, a better soundtrack, more gameplay variety since Aladdin has a sword, and better levels overall. I appreciate the platforming precision of the SNES game, but Aladdin on Genesis is just better. Fight me.
(PlayStation 5, February 2024)
I feel like a crazy person for admitting this, but I’ve never loved Final Fantasy VII like most RPG fans. I vastly prefer FF4 and FF10, and also think FF6 is a better game. That being said, Sephiroth, Tifa, and Aerith are fantastic characters, and I’ve grown to appreciate Cloud’s tragic past more as time goes on.
In that regard, the Remake series has felt very targeted towards me. I never really vibed well with the original’s art style or steampunk aesthetic, but ramping things up with a more modern look, incredible voice acting, and even better music has been wonderful. Tifa is still best girl, and this entry did, in fact, make me cry, even though the middle third is incredibly bloated and full of content padding.
(Steam Deck / PC, 1989/2013)
I’ve never actually finished an Ys game, so this was an entirely new experience for me. I’d dabbled in a few over the years, but never took the time to actually finish one. I’m glad I finally did, and I want to play more of the series this year.
What always put me off about the Ys games is the “bump” combat in that you literally just collide with enemies to attack them—there is no attack button like in old Zelda games. It feels weird, and I never really got used to it, but the music and artwork are exquisite in the remake version of the game. Plays great on Steam Deck as well, and it’s very short.
(Sega Dreamcast, September 1999)
Near the start of the year, I made this post and video about wanting to collect, play, and review every single Sega Dreamcast game released in North America. I do still want to do this, but I didn’t really keep up with the playing and reviewing part in 2025. I kept collecting, though! I’ve now got well over 100 Dreamcast games in my collection and am nearly halfway to a full NA set.
I’m playing and reviewing them in release order, so the first game out of the launch lineup was Aerowings. It’s fine. I don’t like flight sim type games, and this one doesn’t even have any combat, but it’s still a neat relic and an impressive game for its era. Written review here, video review here.
(Sega Genesis, June 1995)
I’ve never been particularly good at fighting games, but I do enjoy a nice punch and kick from time to time. Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur, and Super Smash Bros. are the only fighting series that I’ve ever had any particular adoration for or skill at, so obscure fighting games like this one have a steep learning curve for me.
The premise here is pretty simple: the members of the Justice League are under mind control, so you have to fight them all and save the world. Each hero feels relatively distinct, with some nice, big character sprites and great stage designs. It’s a decent game! Written review here, video review here.
(Sega Dreamcast, September 1999)
I was on a bit of a roll here, clearly, knocking out my second Dreamcast game of the year, complete with a written and video review. Surely that means I’ll get through a big chunk of the library in 2025…right?
That didn’t happen. However, I can say that at least I enjoyed this game more than Aerowings. This game is much more like Ace Combat with lots of aerial dogfights and mission variety. Visually, it’s muddier and doesn’t look as sharp, even after using an upscaler, but it’s got a very Top Gun feel that absolutely works for me. Written review here, video review here.
(Sega Genesis, December 1992)
I absolutely love a good, short, fun retro beat ‘em up. Games like Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe, Knights of the Round, and D&D Shadow Over Mystara are some of my favorite games, so this was right up my alley.
It’s a bit of a quirky little relic of the past, considering this game was released decades before the MCU existed or the Avengers were as big as they are now. Choosing Hawkeye and Vision over characters like Thor and The Hulk feels silly now, but it’s still a good time. Video review here; I never did a written version.
(PS5, April 2025, Originally on PS1 in May 1999)
Fitting that the first game I finished last year, which was actually released in 2025, is actually just a remaster of a decades-old JRPG. I remember playing this game back in the day, and I’d always wanted to finally finish it and thankfully it was absolutely worth the wait.
This game pioneered so many things for its era, including anime-style FMV sequences and cutscenes, voice acting, and an incredible art style that absolutely stands the test of time. It’s a beautiful game and I standby calling it a must-play for any JRPG fan now that it’s fully accessible on modern platforms. Written review for Forbes here, video review here.
(PS5, April 2025)
My streak of making review videos for games I beat had to finally come to an end, so it’s ironic that it happened with the best game I played all year. Words can’t really express just how impactful this game was for me. It deserves every award. The amazing story focused on grief, it’s multi-layered worldbuilding, incredible characters, superb soundtrack, and deep, tactical turn-based combat were all huge factors.
That being said, I don’t think this is a game I can recommend universally without caveats. Even though the turn-based combat is far more active and skill-based than most turn-based RPGs, it’s still very much a turn-based game, and that will be off-putting to some. But if you’re into that kind of thing, I can’t recommend Clair Obscure enough. This may be in my top 10 games of all time, and it was easily my favorite of 2025. I talked about it in this Short a little bit.
(Switch 2, June 2025)
I don’t regret getting a Switch 2, but the actual Switch 2 library wasn’t the main draw for me. I’ve mostly enjoyed playing my existing Switch games I never got around to much from the poor performance and visuals. In that regard, the Switch 2 has been fantastic. That being said, I think Mario Kart World was a good launch game.
I’ve never been the biggest Mario Kart (or racing game, in general) fan, but there’s a ton of content packed into this game. I love the new take on courses with huge player counts and the Knockout Tour mode is tons of fun online with friends. Overall, I’d say it’s a very good game and probably the second-best Mario Kart behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but it’s not even my favorite arcade racer from 2025. That one’s coming up soon, though, in this list. I did a quick video review here.
(PC / Steam Deck, July 2025)
The sidescrolling 2D Ninja Gaiden games are severely underrated, extremely challenging, and insanely fun. They don’t get the credit they deserve, and that original trilogy of NES games totally holds up to this day. You can imagine my excitement, then, when I heard about Ninja Gaiden Ragebound.
Instead of only focusing on the modern 3D action series, Tecmo was actually returning the franchise to its roots for the first time in what felt like a billion years. The end result is an exquisite pixel art action platformer that’s better than I could have imagined. Written review for Forbes here, video review here.
(PS5, August 2025)
Despite how much I love a good scrolling shoot ‘em up, I’ve never been amazing at them. The bullet hell genre feels really overwhelming to me, but the intensity is also what makes me love them.
Gradius is one of the original games that helped put the genre on the map, so getting to experience iconic releases from that series in one big collection was a real treat. Written review here, and producer interview here.
(Switch 2, August 2025)
This is a unique game in that it shouldn’t really exist. It was canceled back in the day when it was basically finished because WayForward couldn’t secure a publisher, but now it’s been completed. You can even get it on a GBA cartridge, but I just played it on Switch 2.
Shantae is one of those game characters that has a very vocal and adoring fanbase, but for whatever reason, she just isn’t as popular as you’d think she should be. All of her games are at least very solid, the pixel art is excellent, and the music is always top-notch. Written review here, and I did a Short quick video review here.
(PS5, August 2025)
Just like Ninja Gaiden got a 2D revival this year, so did Shinobi. Growing up, I loved playing Shadow Dancer and Shinobi 3 on Sega Genesis, so returning to this world felt amazing. Visually, this game is absolutely gorgeous, and it looks like a moving painting at all times.
And just like Ragebound, I fear this game ended up getting overlooked and overshadowed by the sheer volume of amazing games we had releasing in 2025. Please check it out! Written review here and developer interview here.
(PS5, September 2025)
Remember how I said Mario Kart World was just, sort of, fine? Well, part of that reaction is because Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds came out shortly after and was far better (to me) in every conceivable way. I love Sega IP more; the crossovers are fantastic, and the amazing cross-world mechanic makes every race feel fresh and exciting.
I would enjoy seeing more Sega IP represented across the DLC and collab characters, as Racing Transformed did, but that’s a small gripe. Overall, this is the best Sonic racing game ever and one of my favorite racers as well. Written review here, video preview here, and above.
(PS5, September 2025)
As a (relative) newcomer to the franchise who only just played the original on PlayStation 1 and the new remake of SH2 on PlayStation 5 last year, I’m eager to dive into the rest of the series sometime soon to see what I’ve been missing out on. This game floored me and left me speechless with its story and visuals.
Silent Hill f is the first new entry in the series in over a decade. By leaning on the power of the brand, which has a new lease on life thanks to the Silent Hill 2 remake last year, Konami’s big bet on its staple horror franchise is paying off. That’s the power of a great revival. Written review here.
(Switch 2, September 2025)
I love a good 3D platformer, but I really, really love a great 3D platformer, and that’s what Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is. The original has a good reputation, but lots of subtle enhancements, improvements, and new features really elevates the whole package here.
This one feels like it flew under the radar a bit in 2025, but if you like 3D platformers at all, whatsoever, you should really check this game out. Written review here.
(Xbox Series X, October 2025)
I think Ragebound is a better game than Ninja Gaiden 4, but it’s admittedly hard to compare them. One is a sidescrolling linear 2D action game, while this one is an epic-scale 3D action-adventure with explorable levels and fast-paced combo-driven combat.
That being said, if you like this type of game, then Ninja Gaiden 4 is a ton of fun. It’s super fast-paced, does a great job of layering on new mechanics as you play, and feels amazing. Super violent too, so hopefully you like seeing fountains of blood. Written review here.
(PS5, October 2025)
As I mentioned earlier, Mortal Kombat is one of the only fighting game franchises I’ve ever really clicked with, so this was a real treat for me. This collection does a wonderful job of bringing together virtually every single classic 2D version of Mortal Kombat into one single game, but it’s a lot more than that.
More importantly, similar to the Atari 50th game, Digital Eclipse went above and beyond here by including hours and hours of documentary footage, interviews, archived documents, and so much more that chronicles the creation and evolution of the series. It’s a must-buy for fans of game history alone. Written review here.
(PS5 and Switch 2, September 2023)
Cyberpunk 2077 is, without a doubt, one of my top 5 favorite games ever made. The world feels so authentic and immersive, and all of the characters are extremely memorable. I love the aesthetic, the storyline, and the gameplay feels amazing. Katana with lots of acrobatic-style upgrades, plus shotguns, was my preferred playstyle, but I’d love to eventually do a range hacker type too.
The expansion is, somehow, just as good as the base game (if not better), and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I was absolutely in love with all of the new characters and content. Just like the base game, it made me cry. No full review, but I did a quick summary about the Switch 2 edition here.
(PS5, October 2025)
People absolutely had their doubts about whether or not Battlefield 6 could stick the landing after the terrible launch of Battlefield 2042, but EA pulled it off. The campaign is fine—it could have been a lot better—but the multiplayer is where the game really shines.
The destructible buildings are amazing and add so much complexity and emergent gameplay to every match. I don’t typically stick with these kinds of games for very long, but I do intend on keeping it installed and checking in from time to time. Written review here.
(PS5, October 2025)
I’ve played and enjoyed lots of battle royale games, but I’d never really found an extraction shooter to vibe with. Something about the insanely competitive and sweaty playerbase was always off-putting to me, and they’re usually so unapproachable for newcomers, especially games like Escape from Tarkov.
Arc Raiders is special, though. They’ve nailed that perfect balance between incredible depth and complexity that reveals itself the deeper you go, but it’s far more accessible for a general gaming audience. I’ve got around 100 hours into this game so far, and most of those hours have come after I finished my review. That’s very, very rare for me. Written review here and tips guide here.
(Steam Deck / PC, November 2025)
Neon Inferno came out of nowhere and really surprised me. It feels like an amalgamation of games like Contra and Sunset Riders, mixed with a gorgeous cyberpunk pixel art aesthetic.
One of the coolest features is how you can shoot enemies both on the level with you, and also in the background behind you, which makes taking cover and using the environment very important. Written review here.
(Steam Deck / PC, November 2025)
I was absolutely obsessed with this game. I got the chance to play some episodes early to review them and even chat with the voice cast (I was so nervous interviewing Laura Bailey!!! Link at the end of the next paragraph) and it was just such a wonderful game.
It’s more like an interactive animated series with eight hour-long episodes and limited gameplay segments, but it works so well. I can’t stop thinking about it. Written review here and voice cast interviews here.
(Steam Deck / PC, December 2025)
This was one of my most anticipated games of 2025, and it totally delivered. The roster is full of so much variety, and all of the stages look amazing. I love this style of pixel art and I really would love to see Sonic, Nintendo, and Dragon Ball games in this same exact style.
It’s even more fun in co-op, despite the crazy action happening that can make it tough to discern who is who. Honestly, this is probably one of the best retro beat ‘em up games ever made. Written review here.
(Switch 2, May 2020)
It took me years to finally beat this game, and it was, mostly, worth the slog. There is a lot of bloat here that I didn’t love, and the final story beats were so incredibly cliche and cringey that it made it tough to push through for me, but I loved the characters and combat enough to keep going.
I own the rest of the series already (Xenoblade 2, 3, and X), so when I get the urge to play a Xenoblade again, I’ve got options. I liked the game a lot, but I don’t love it as much as a lot of folks.
(Game Boy Color / Chromatic, 2025, Originally 2000)
I remember playing and loving this game as a kid, so it was a real treat to re-experience it on the ModRetro Chromatic with this re-release. It’s a great platformer with some insane difficulty spikes, but is so much fun.
This re-release is basically the same game at a higher price, which is weird, but it does have much better music and audio. Worth it if you’re after the best version of this game! The GBC version is basically a truncated and abbreviated version of the Jaguar / Saturn / PS1 original.
(Sega Genesis, November 2025)
We’ve reached the end. I started it off with a Sega Genesis game, and then I ended it with a Sega Genesis game. Pretty fitting!
This is a really cool, brand-new Sega Genesis game that was released in 2025, and it features some of the best pixel art and music on the platform. They ran a Kickstarter to fund this game, and it’s finally out physically with a digital version on Steam coming soon this year. Written review here.
There you go, it was a pretty crazy year for me.
One of my main gaming goals for 2026 is to finish at least one game for each and every platform I own. When you add in new games, I’ll be aiming to play even more games than I did in 2025. Time will tell if I can accomplish that!
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