As the year comes to a close, there is always an obsession among gamers with deciding once and for all what game was the best of the bunch. That’s why there are so many award shows doing just that, and why there’s so much tribalism trickling through endless Reddit threads.
However, I always find myself at the years close thinking about the games that did the most, and got none of the acclaim. Games that critics adored but never got the sales to back it up. Or worse, the games that just didn’t get any sort of fanfare.
So, in a bid to shine a light on the hidden gems and unfancied but phenomenal underdogs. We have put together a list of ten outstanding games from 2025 that make up our alternative GOTY picks.
10.
Haste: Broken Worlds
Gotta Go Fast!
I remember a time when endless runner games were almost inescapable. A time when apps like Temple Run and Subway Surfers were all the rage and would be the ideal way to fill a commute. But, for a good while now, they have been a little out of vogue.
Turns out that all the genre needed was some smooth traversal mechanics and a Roguelike spine to the action to freshen up the formula, and that’s exactly what Haste provides.
This high-octane runner is a superb and satisfying game that is easy to pick up, but a doozy to master. But thanks to the steady Roguelike progression, you won’t might diving in for another run.
It’s devilishly addictive, and a perfect Steam Deck game if you’re that way inclined. So, pick up this one, and do it with Haste.
9.
Death Howl
Believe In The Heart Of The Cards
It’s a rather late entry to the list, seeing as this one only dropped a few days back at the time of writing, but in the spirit of equal opportunities amongst gaming behemoths, Death Howl more than deserves a mention.
It’s a pretty out there genre splice, offering something for sadistic Souls fans, and deckbuilder fanatics. But with the additional brilliance of a haunting soundtrack, and a surprisingly affecting narrative derived from folklore.
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Plus, just in case the Souls aspect has you running for the hills, it’s not quite as hard as a typical Soulslike. So, even casual deckbuilder fans will find something to love about this one. It’s a dark, gritty, chilling experience, and one that could round off your year nicely.
8.
Is This Seat Taken?
Save A Seat
It’s always nice to include a puzzle game in lists such as this. The only problem is that most puzzle games aren’t in any way unique. Not all puzzle games can be Blue Prince, but I’m not expecting the world here.
Is This Seat Taken is that perfect middle ground between unique and charming without needing to be a galaxy-brain affair. In this one, all you need to do is work out seating arrangements, and within this mundane task lies a truly engaging puzzler.
You’ll need to work out who doesn’t mind sitting next to stinky individuals, who can handle a bit of noise, and who needs a window seat. A basic premise to be sure, but one that’s cozy, calming and clever in equal measure.
7.
South of Midnight
Down By The Bayou
Can you I interest you in a little bit of southern Louisiana charm with all the fixings? With perhaps a hearty helping of gumbo?
South of Midnight is one of the few Xbox exclusive games this year that hasn’t eventually made it’s way over to Sony’s camp, and while it might not be a system seller by any stretch, it is a real sweetener for all those that backed the Microsoft-owned brand.
It’s one of those classic, tightly knit action adventure games that just don’t get greenlit enough anymore. Offering solid gameplay, an amazing, unique art style, and a narrative that captivates without overstaying it’s welcome.
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It doesn’t try to be a blockbuster, and that’s very much to the benefit of this game. It’s a stocking stuffer this holiday period for those who haven’t played yet, down by the bayous.
6.
Promise Mascot Agency
Pinky For President
If you’re someone that loves the Yakuza games, but thinks for some insane reason that they aren’t kooky enough, then boy, do I have the game for you.
Promise Mascot Agency is effectively like a GTA open world clone, allowing you to step into the role of a disgraced Yakuza family member who must reside in a cursed town and run a PR agency for professional, rather unsettling looking, mascots.
It’s as odd as it sounds, and I wouldn’t have it any other way, as the experience is one that is rich in comedy and action, akin to an car crash Japanese gameshow.
You need to be willing to get onboard with the absurdity, but if you’re a sucker for all things weird, then Promise Mascot Agency might just be the game of 2025 you need to play before 2026 rolls around.
5.
Dune: Awakening
Adventure in Arrakis
This might sound a little odd in the context of ‘underrated gems’ as Dune Awakening was a pretty big release, especially if we go by player count alone. However, I’m stunned that we have come to the end of the year and next to no one is talking about this staggering adaption.
Not only is this a game that brings the work of Frank Herbert to life expertly. It’s one of the finest survival games in recent memory, offering progression that is a satisfying grind, PVP and PVE that make the world feel truly alive, and unique mechanics that could only work in Arrakis.
Funcom have built on the success of Conan Exiles and have frankly outdone themselves with this one. It might not be the game in the public eye at the moment, but don’t be surprised to see this one surge in popularity again when it releases in console in 2026.
4.
Sword of the Sea
Basically Journey On A Skateboard
I know it’s damn-near impossible to give every single game it’s moment in the spotlight, but of all the games on this list, I was so shocked to see Sword of the Sea get literally no nominations at the TGAs.
Sword of the Sea is a game that was on my radar for the longest time, not only due to my love of Journey, but also because of my love of skateboarding games in any shape or form.
This one was a triumph on both fronts, offering a treat for the eyes, an awe-inspiring soundtrack and some of the smoothest skating gameplay the medium of gaming has ever seen.
The only slight fumble this game makes is with the silent narrative, as it’s nowhere near as affecting as it’s sister game Journey. But, that aside, it’s a staggeringly good game, and one you need to check out.
3.
Pipistrello & The Cursed Yo-Yo
The World’s First Yo-Yo-Vania
It’s been a big year for Metroidvanias, mainly because there was a new game from one of the games that makes up that namesake. But, you also have Silksong to point at as a marquee moment.
However, I truly think that my favourite Metroidvania, or Yo-Yo-vania, of 2025 was Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-yo. A game that takes the retro children’s toy and crafts a phenomenal world to explore with a mere flick of the wrist.
It’s staggering how the game takes this simple yo-yo mechanic and keeps things feeling so fresh and exciting from start to end. Offering a vast world to explore, and while it won’t challenge you half as much as Silksong, it’s an epic little Metroidvania unlike anything else in the space.
2.
Citizen Sleeper 2
Wake Up Sleeper
It’s honestly staggering how many games simply get forgotten purely because they get released so early in the year that, when December rolls around, the feel like old news. That seems to be what’s happened to the brilliant sequel, Citizen Sleeper 2.
This dice-powered text-based RPG one ups it’s predecessor in every way, offering a tremendous storyline full of impossible decisions tied to colorful characters, and a world that feels much more expensive and fleshed out in comparison to The Eye.
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This time you have a whole damn star system to explore and a ragtag crew to put together for expeditions. But above all, you have an visual novel style adventure that pulls on the heartstrings, written better than most sci-fi novels out there.
It’s a lot of reading, and not a lot of hands-on action. But, if you love tight RPG systems and branching narratives, you can do a lot worse than CS2.
1.
Wanderstop
Slow Down, Stay A While
Clair Obscur, I’m really happy for you. I’mma let you finish, but I’ve thought about it long and hard. Wanderstop is actually my personal game of the year.
The reason why is pretty simple really, and it’s not down to the cozy gameplay, the adorable characters that make up the world, the ASMR-adjacent audio, or the heartfelt story beats. They all helped me come to that revelation, but one thing stood out from the rest.
The game is a typically subversive Davy Wredden game. Completely stripping away what makes a game a game. In Wanderstop you can’t game the system, or min-max to get ahead.
All you can do is make some tea and progress at a slow, steady pace. It’s the first game that forced me to slow down and breathe, and showed me that there’s more to life than working out how to make it go faster.
