It’s hard to believe it’s that time of the year again. Christmas is here, Summer has come for us Down Under, and another year of content has wrapped at The AU Review. But we couldn’t leave without giving props to our favourite games of the year, and boy, were we spoilt for choice.
It was a tough list, but here we have it, our best games of 2025. It’s time to hear from the Games and Tech team on their picks and why they belong on this list.
Feel free to click on each title for our full reviews, where applicable. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Honourable Mention – Jurassic World Evolution 3
The third time’s a charm for this sim. Jurassic World Evolution 3 takes all the best bits of the previous two games and fuses them into the ultimate builder. – Alaisdair
Honourable Mention – Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
A massive roster of characters, a reinvented racing and driving system with next-gen graphics and performance, help this racer stand out in a year where its competitors also get big releases. With more content coming in 2026, it’s the perfect game for single play, online play and couch co-op. – Alaisdair
10. The Outer Worlds 2
Judging from the first game, I was sure that on some level, I would enjoy The Outer Worlds 2. What surprised me was just how much I enjoyed it. This sequel is so much bigger and grander in almost every way, from the rollicking narrative to the satisfying gunplay and unique flaws system. It’s an intense RPG that begs you to stick your claws in, explore its hidden corners, and enjoy the ride. This is a fantastic example of taking a solid concept and making it that much better. – Matt
9. Ninja Gaiden 4
This might just be the biggest surprise of the year for me. I’ve enjoyed most of the previous Ninja Gaiden games to some extent, but this is on another level. I tip my hat to Ninja Gaiden 4 for its blistering pace, over-the-top action and dense progression systems and crown this not only the best action game of the year, but one of the best in recent years. – Matt
8. Split Fiction
I think that Split Fiction is currently one of the best co-op games on the market. With the success of It Takes Two (which I loved so much), I was nervous to see how it could top it, but I had all my worries alleviated as soon as I clicked play. The ability to play in both a fantasy and sci-fi world expands the space in which players can play around and creates more fun gimmicks. An A+ co-op adventure game for anyone and everyone! – Shantelle
7. Ghost of Yotei
It’s been a solid year for sequels, and Ghost of Yotei is undoubtedly deserving of its place in this list. While the first game isn’t required in order to understand this sequel, it simply builds so well upon all of the pre-existing mechanics and tropes laid out by Ghost of Tsushima. It’s a stunning and violent tale of revenge that should not be missed. – Matt
6. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
While the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance might have been a huge surprise to us back in 2018, its sequel goes to show that it was anything but a fluke. Once again expanding on familiar tropes and mechanics, there’s such a large and dense world to interact with and explore, tied together with a story that’s as exciting as it is emotionally engaging. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II deserves its flowers as one of the best RPG experiences of the year. – Matt
5. Donkey Kong Bananza
The Switch 2 launches with a 3D Donkey Kong platformer, which essentially redefines a more traditional platforming experience for a new generation, with beautiful visuals and an open world to completely smash and wreck. Donkey Kong Bananza offers hours of fun and reintroduces this classic character to a new generation. – Alaisdair
4. Hades II
Hades II was actually the last game on my backlog for the year, but boy, am I glad I got around to it. While the first Hades was one of my favourite games in 2020, I must admit, Hades II might actually be better. It’s not to say that a sequel can’t outshine its predecessor, and as you can see, that’s not really the case on this list. It has been an incredible year for sequels, but Hades II once again deepens its roguelike mechanics with more satisfying gameplay and a longer list of upgrades, abilities and supporting characters. – Matt
3. Hollow Knight: Silksong
I was a little bit late to the game with the Aussie indie game Hollow Knight, but when word came about of Hollow Knight: Silksong being released, I knew I had to play catch-up. The game is beautiful, both visually and story-wise, and is especially a great show of the incredible work of the Australian gaming industry. – Shantelle
When this game crashed multiple online game retailers upon release, it also crashed its way into my heart (and if its recent win at The Game Awards was any indication, into the hearts of many others as well). A journey through a fantastical kingdom of bugs, Silksong is a classic Metroidvania with an army of bosses and a suite of platforming challenges, plus tragic quests, gorgeous art and banging music galore. It’s brutal, and not without its flaws, but it’s also the most engaging game I’ve played this year. – Annie
2. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – how do you follow up one of the best games ever? Move it to Australia and make it an open world with many things to do. The story takes the series into mega franchise territory and looks spectacular on the PlayStation 5 Pro. – Alaisdair
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Here it is, our best game of 2025. Yes, we get it, it seems like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has won every game award on the planet at this stage, but it’s for good reason, and I encourage you to take advantage of any of them if it gives you a reason to check this one out. The state and landscape of indie games might be changing as we move forward, but this is an absolute statement and testament to the fact that creativity and originality will ultimately always prevail.
Either way, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is filled with so much quality that it can make your head spin. An unforgettable narrative, with a deep and nuanced character development, and a unique turn-based combat system that feels consistently rewarding, culminates in what can only be described as the best game of 2025. – Matt
Congratulations to all the developers and publishers who brought together every one of these fantastic choices on our list.
And that’s a wrap! We would also love to thank you, the reader, for all your support this year, and we hope you’ve enjoyed our content! We wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a terrific holiday season, and we’ll catch you in 2026!
