Branching Path: Mikhail Madnani's Top 10 Games of 2025

by Mikhail Madnani on 31 December, 2025

Looking back at how I felt in the beginning of the year, I didn't expect some of these games to make it into my top 10. I also didn't expect some of the honorable mentions to not be higher on my personal game of the year list but here we are. 2025 has been a surprising and busy year for games. I found myself enjoying a few games I dropped before through new ports, rediscovered some classics, and also ended up spending a lot of time with two new (for me) consoles this year. If you read my Branching Path article for my top games of 2024 and thought there were too many games, I apologize for including even more in this year's feature. I played a lot and loved a lot despite being disappointed by a few games in 2025.

Honorable Mentions

This section has games I either didn't finish yet and still enjoyed a lot, or just games that narrowly missed my top 10. To be clear, I recommend every game here right now and 2025 managed to surpass 2024 for me with the sheer number of games I found myself invested in for many reasons.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road - I kept putting off playing this for a week or two because of how often it was getting major updates and finally put some time into it before we recorded our last Tetracast of the year. I adore Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road and this would've been in my top 10 had I finished it in time.
Baby Steps, Skate Story, and Ball X Pit - I'm cheating by including three games together here, but I'm doing it for a reason. Many years ago, Devolver Digital released Hotline Miami. Since then, I've been playing just about every game from the publisher but none managed to hit the highs of when I first discovered Devolver until I played the trio of Baby Steps, Ball x Pit, and Skate Story. They are all worth playing for different reasons and games I adore, but Baby Steps is the one that stuck with me the most so far.
Elden Ring Nightreign - I didn't play much of Elden Ring itself in multiplayer, but Nightreign took the Elden Ring formula and adapted it into a game I love after its recent updates and DLC. I hope it keeps getting more updates and new bosses for a long time.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - As someone who thought Age of Calamity was a good game held back by the worst visuals and performance I had seen on Switch, I'm glad to see Koei Tecmo's AAA Studio deliver in spades with the gameplay, visuals, and performance in Age of Imprisonment on Switch 2. While I don't care about the story at all, Age of Imprisonment is a fantastic Warriors game and one of the titles that defined the first year on Switch 2.
Mario Kart World - Speaking of the Switch 2, they finally released a Mario Kart game I actually enjoyed playing for more than a few hours. I dropped Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch in less than a dozen hours, but I spent multiple dozens of hours with Mario Kart World in its release month. It has an incredible soundtrack, lovely gameplay additions, and I only wish there was more to the open world.
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound and Shinobi Art of Vengeance - I'm cheating again here with two games, but it is my list so I can do whatever I want. After enjoying Ninja Gaiden II Black, I was curious to see how I'd find Ninja Gaiden Ragebound. I ended up loving it, and while I think more played Shinobi Art of Vengeance, the former made a bigger impression on me. Both of them are worth playing even if you have no history with the original franchises, but if you had to pick just one, go with Ninja Gaiden Ragebound. They are also perfect Steam Deck games.
Cyberpunk 2077 Utlimate Edition - I thought Cyberpunk 2077 itself was great around the time the PS5 version finally released, but it reached a whole other level with Phantom Liberty. Just like with The Witcher 3 on Switch, CD Projekt Red pushed the Switch 2 with a fantastic (but not perfect) port of its incredible open-world RPG. I played this a ton on Switch 2 and enjoyed being able to sync my save across PS5 and Steam Deck as well. While The Witcher 3 on Switch was impressive for just being playable on Nintendo's hybrid console, Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition is just a great way to play the game on the go.
Cast n Chill - Cast n Chill is a late addition to this feature. I love fishing mini-games and pixel art so Cast n Chill felt like it was made for me. The game itself is an interesting blend of both an idle and active fishing game.It released less than two weeks ago and I've already played (including idle time) over 40 hours of it.
Like a Dragon: PIrate Yakuza in Hawaii - Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii feels like a great standalone expansion to the incredible Infinite Wealth. While it has some issues with its pacing, I adored my time with it on the seas and interacting with the many returning and new characters in the main story. It also has my favorite finale section of any Yakuza game thanks to the song. I also liked it enough to buy the Japanese limited edition for the pop-up pirate toy as you can see in the photo.
Kirby Air Riders - I love when games shut me up and that's exactly what Kirby Air Riders did. Why is Nintendo doing two Directs for this random spin-off Kirby game I thought. Then I played and loved it. This is easily my favorite game by Masahiro Sakurai in many years, and I'm glad it exists. Hopefully it leads to more Nintendo games getting good accessibility and audio settings as well.

Earthion - Yuzo Koshiro's Ancient released a Mega Drive shoot 'em up this year with Earthion. It is gorgeous and sounds amaziing in addition to being a ton of fun to play. I'm glad this was finally released and delivered despite a few issues.
Donkey Kong Bananza - Donkey Kong Bananza is gorgeous and also the most fun Nintendo game I played this year. It is also the only game from 2025 that made me think of Limp Bizkit's Break Stuff. Give me somethin' to break. Just give me somethin' to break.
Birdcage - POLYGON BIRD Games' vertical shoot 'em up BIRDCAGE blended in elements of games in the genre I loved while delivering an incredible experience that is only a few steps away from perfection.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter - I almost didn't have a Falcom game in my end of year feature because the two games I enjoyed the most aren't actually out in the West yet. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is an incredible remake of a good but not great Trails game. I'm mostly glad to finally have another great entry point to recommend when newcomers ask about getting into Trails. It definitely has me more excited for Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter that potentially will be an incredible remake of an incredible game.
Is This Seat Taken? - 2025 was a great year for puzzle games like LOK Digital and Spooky Express, but Is This Seat Taken? stuck with me the most looking back. The logic puzzler about placing people based on their needs in a specific location was good enough for me to get on every platform. It also has one of my favorite soundtracks of the year.
Time Flies - Time Flies is a game where you play as a fly and have a limited amount of time to do what you want to before you die. It will make you think about choices, life, dying, and accomplishing what you want before it is too late.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II - Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a massive step up over the original and a fantastic crunchy RPG with its immersive world, incredibly dense gameplay, and characters. This would've been in my top 10 had I actually finished it and not spent so much time just exploring and doing as much as I can outside the main story.
Dear Me, I was... - Dear Me, I was... from Arc System Works is a short interactive and emotional story that aims to help you realize that it is never too late to follow your dreams. It has impeccable art and I hope more people play it whenever it does come to more platforms. It is easily one of my favorite Nintendo Switch 2 experiences of 2025.
Root Bear - This year, I got a Playdate console for writing about the RPGs on it. I've been using it daily to dip my toes into the RPGs and also plethora of other creative exclusives on the handheld. The two that managed to stick with me for daily play are Root Bear and A Balanced Brew. Root Bear has you using the Playdate crank to pour drinks with the aim of matching the required level the customer wants. It is simple and has lovely animation work. I'm going to crank one out right now.
A Balanced Brew - A Balanced Brew reminds me of the early days of iOS gaming. You control a person on a unicycle trying to get good coffee at the end of each level. The levels keep getting harder and it is one of the better implementations I've seen so far of the crank for gameplay on Playdate.

The Top 10

I wasted too much time wondering how I'd order my top 10 beyond the top three games. I gave up and just settled on a specific order for 10 to 4 on this list. I likely will order them differently if you ask me tomorrow. It is funny looking at this top 10 with so many unexpected games, but that's what makes me love 2025 more than other years. Being surprised and proved wrong with games is always the best.

10. Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines and Overtime

Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines released back in 2023 on PC, but it saw a big expansion and Switch port arrive earlier this year with Overtime. I loved the story and how it covered different aspects of corporate work and procrastination, but it was the first of its kind since VA 11 Hall-A to hook me as much with its characters. Replaying Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines hit even harder as 2025 has been a really hectic work year where I managed to accomplish a lot despite procrastinating. It also got me to want to grab a burger and coffee quite a few times and I can't imagine wanting more out of a game.

9. Promise Mascot Agency

Kaizen Game Works' follow-up to Paradise Killer was Promise Mascot Agency blending in mascot collection, open-world exploration, card battles, and a story that would fit in with a Yakuza game. All of this was accompanied by an incredible aesthetic and one of the most eclectic soundtracks I've heard in years. If the Showa-era heavily post-processed aesthetic and crime drama aren't enough, the music featuring traditional Japanese instruments, vintage synths, electric guitars, and more cemented Promise Mascot Agency as one of my favorite games of 2025.

8. Simogo Legacy Collection

Simogo Legacy Collection brings together one of my favorite developer's iOS games and many extras into an elegant package on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and Steam. Device-6 blew my mind years ago on iOS and I'm glad to experience it once again alongside many classic games from a bygone era of mobile gaming. This collection oozes creativity and it is also one of the most-interesting ways to release a retro collection that feels like a fictional new phone operating system with its own bespoke apps to represent the games and extras.

7. Blippo+

Blippo+ debuted as a part of Season Two on the Playdate console, but it made its way in color to Steam and Switch a few months ago. Blippo+ blends in elements of channel surfing from what feels like the 80s and early 90s. This is one of those releases that some will say is not a game, but I'd argue that Blippo+ is exactly the experience only games can deliver with its unique storytelling accompanied by brilliant writing. Blippo+ on Playdate streams on the device's screen, but the Steam and Switch versions have it all downloaded offline for your viewing pleasure. I'm not sure which one I like more, but I enjoyed using the crank to change channels. Blippo+ is one of the most unique gaming experiences you can have right now on any platform and I'm glad I got to experience both versions of it.

6. Monster Hunter Wilds

Since getting into the series on 3DS with Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, every base game release has annoyed me until multiple updates later where it got to a point where I could enjoy and recommend. Monster Hunter Wilds is a weird one where it felt like a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs pre-release, but it has only gotten better with each update including the best collaboration done so far with the Omega one. An expansion has a lot to do to reach the highs of Iceborne and Sunbreak, but I can safely say I enjoyed this a lot more than both World and especially Rise's base game. There's potential here and I hope Capcom doesn't falter with it in 2026. This is also the only Monster Hunter game where I put time into completing every single achievement including farming crowns and spending too much time on the fishing trophy.

5. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Having played it around launch and then dipped my toes into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on and off since to try out updates and patches, I still love the gameplay, music, and being in the world as I keep finding more foes to take on and challenges I left incomplete when I first played it. While not every character ended up resonating with me, I don't think I'll forget Monoco and Lune anytime soon. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would've been higher up on my list if I wasn't still annoyed by two specific locations that soured the experience a bit. That aside, I can't wait to see what Sandfall does next and I hope this isn't the last time we are in the world of Expedition 33. I promise I didn't just include it to have a baguette in my photo.

4. Dynasty Warriors: Origins

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the first time Omega Force managed to release a game that delivered on its promise of 1 vs 1000 at that scale. The massive scale, amazing visuals, great music, and enhanced gameplay elevated Dynasty Warriors: Origins to be my favorite game in the series. I also appreciate how much care went into the storytelling and game's structure. Dynasty Warriors: Origins also is a technically impressive Warriors game, something I don't say too often. While I usually replay Fire Emblem Warriors or Samurai Warriors games more, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the first time a mainline game had its hooks in me and I can't wait to play the expansion and Switch 2 port in the coming weeks.

3. Hades II

The original Hades was magnificent, and Supergiant Games managed to surpass it with Hades II. Hades II is a more confident, polished, mechanically enhanced, and ambitious sequel that feels like two sequels in one. Hades II built on the first game’s foundations in just about every way and even surpassed it when it comes to music. I keep thinking Supergiant peaked with game music until it releases a new game. Transistor was my favorite game by the developer until I finished Hades II. I can't wait to keep playing it for years to come and it is also one of the Switch 2's best games right now.

2. The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

I didn't finish The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- when I was testing it on Steam Deck and Switch earlier in the year. Since November, I've put in nearly 120 hours into it and I absolutely adore it. Looking back, I probably wouldn't have thought so fondly about it had I played it without the quality of life improvements though. That aside, I've always been a fan of Kodaka's work since I first played Danganronpa, and I'm glad he (and everyone else who worked on this) managed to surpass the high I got from V3 with the superb narrative and tactical RPG experience of The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-. I haven't seen all 100 endings yet, but this might be my favorite forever game as I chip away at it over time. I got what I wanted out of the game and another amazing Kodaka character to join Miu and Ibuki with Darumi.

1. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

Over half a year later, I still think about and play Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time almost daily. It does not feel like a game that is real or should exist. I'm going to wait to see how I feel about it in a year with more DLC, but it is safe to say that Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is one of my favorite games of the last decade. It surprises and delights me each time I launch the game.

In a lot of ways, Fantasy Life i feels like meeting a friend after a decade and experiencing firsthand how they've grown and flourished in life after some ups and downs. I also want to commend Level-5 for implementing full cross platform progression and multiplayer letting me play it on anything and with anyone without restrictions. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time didn't just live up to my nostalgia from the original. It delivered a game that surpassed it while being dangerous for my free time. Fantasy Life i stole a lot of my time in 2025 and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

As for 2026, there's a lot I'm looking forward to including catching up to games I didn't finish like Octopath Traveler 0 and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake among others mentioned here.