PCGamesN named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as its Game of the Year (GOTY) for 2025, highlighting a vibrant year for PC gaming. The list features a mix of inventive indie titles and blockbuster hits, showing a rich diversity of game development in 2025.
Top Picks and Highlights
As a standout choice, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 innovates with a dynamic turn-based combat system and a compelling narrative intertwined with themes of grief and hope. Its depth in character development and story excellence secured its position as the top game.
Hades 2 captivated players with expanded content in its full 1.0 release, introducing major Olympus bosses and new weaponry. It maintained the franchise's reputation with fast combat and deep progression systems.
The multiplayer hit Battlefield 6 continued to thrill gamers with its large-scale battles and dynamic gameplay experiences, offering both intensity and levity in action-packed matches.
Innovative Mechanics and Narratives
Indie games like Split Fiction and Arc Raiders also made a splash. Split Fiction elevated co-op gaming with inventive puzzles and a heartwarming story. Arc Raiders offered an immersive post-disaster shooter experience with its believable aesthetics and community-driven gameplay.
Other noteworthy titles such as Routine and Dispatch impressed with psychological horror and narrative depth, respectively. Routine excelled in creating tension through atmospheric storytelling without relying on gore.
Diverse Experiences and Impacts
The year's list represents a broad spectrum of styles and genres, signaling a successful year for the industry in embracing diverse player interests. Games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong emphasized immersive storytelling and strategic gameplay, contributing to the year's success.
Overall, 2025 proved to be a significant year for PC gaming, marked by both innovation and engaging storytelling across indie and blockbuster titles alike. The selection by PCGamesN showcases a dynamic and promising direction for gaming enthusiasts.
