Welcome to my personal Game-of-the-Year list 2025. I list my Top-3 games in the categories Best Game of the Year, Best Immersion, Best Story, Best Graphics, Best Artdesign, Best Sound and Best Music. In addition the Top-3 games per Genre are listed further below. I took into account all games I played in 2025, so you will also see games released in previous years. For those I added the release-year in brackets.

Best Game of the Year 2025

The best games overall in 2025 from my perspective

Game of the Year (1st)
Played on PS5

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33




















Game of the Year (2nd)
Played on PS5









Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
(2024)
























Game of the Year (3rd)
Played on PS5









Indiana Jones and the Great Circle



















Best Immersion





Here are the top 3 games that were drawing me in most into their world in 2025.















Best Immersion (1st)
Played on PS5









Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
























Best Immersion (2nd)
Played on iOS









Before Your Eyes
(2022)
























Best Immersion (3rd)
Played on PS5









Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
(2024)



















Best Story





The games that impressed me most in 2025 in terms of their narrative, emotional story and credible characters.















Best Story (1st)
Played on PS5









Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
























Best Story (2nd)
Played on XBox Series X









Indika
(2024)
























Best Story (3rd)
Played on PS5









Indiana Jones and the Great Circle



















Best Graphics





The three games with the most stunning visuals pushing forward for next generation graphics.















Best Graphics (1st)
Played on PS5









Split Fiction
























Best Graphics (2nd)
Played on Nintendo Switch 2









Donkey Kong Bananza
























Best Graphics (3rd)
Played on PS5









Clair Obscur: Expedition 33



















Best Artdesign





My top 3 games of 2025 having the most unique, special and visually attracting art style .















Best Artdesign (1st)
Played on PS5









Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
























Best Artdesign (2nd)
Played on PS5









The Midnight Walk
























Best Artdesign (3rd)
Played on PS5









Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
(2024)



















Best Sound





The best games of 2025 in terms of audio quality, sound effects and voice acting.















Best Sound (1st)
Played on PS5









Split Fiction
























Best Sound (2nd)
Played on PS5









Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
























Best Sound (3rd)
Played on PS5









Doom: The Dark Ages



















Best Music





Here are the top 3 games with the best soundtrack in 2025.















Best Music (1st)
Played on PS5









Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
























Best Music (2nd)
Played on PS5









Anno 117: Pax Romana
























Best Music (3rd)
Played on Nintendo Switch 2









Donkey Kong Bananza



















Best Arcade Game















Best Arcade Game
Played on Nintendo Switch 2









Ball x Pit 














2. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
3. 20 Minutes Till Dawn (2022)










Best Action Adventure Game















Best Action Adventure
Played on PS5









Indiana Jones and the Great Circle














2. Mafia: The Old Country
3. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (2024)










Best Adventure Game















Best Adventure Game
Played on X Box Series X









Indika
(2024)














2. Before your Eyes
3. The Midnight Walk










Best Roleplay Game















Best Role Play Game
Played on PS5









Clair Obscur: Expedition 33














2. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (2024)
3. –










Best Strategy Game















Best Strategy Game
Played on PS5









1. Anno 117: Pax Romana














2. Civilization 7
3. –










Best Shooter Game















Best Shooter Game
Played on PS5









Doom: The Dark Ages



















Best Racing Game















Best Racing Game
Played on PS5









F1 25














2. Mario Kart World
3. –










Best Platformer















Best Platformer
Played on Nintendo Switch 2









Donkey Kong Bananza



















Best Simulation Game















Best Simulation Game
Played on PS5









Lushfoil Photography Sim 
























References:
Image material linked from IGN (www.ign.com)