Clair Obscur Tops 2025 Video Game Rankings
- Despite industry layoffs and growing pressure to adopt artificial intelligence, 2025 delivered standout video games that captured audiences worldwide.
- Nintendo’s Switch 2 made headlines, but it was the unexpected arrival of Clair Obscur:
- Expedition 33 that stole the spotlight. The Associated Press ranked it as the year’s best release, leading a diverse list of titles across genres and platforms.
Game of the Year: Clair Obscur
French studio Sandfall Interactive debuted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based role-playing adventure reminiscent of classic Final Fantasy titles. Players lead a team of fighters against a world-threatening entity, with the narrative offering frequent twists that surprise and unsettle. Stunning visuals, immersive music, and strong voice acting elevate the experience, making each character memorable. The game has been widely praised as a landmark in interactive storytelling.
Other Notable Releases
Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds 2 delivered a satirical space adventure, blending combat with commentary on politics and philosophy. Konami returned to its horror roots with Silent Hill f, set in 1960s Japan, where teenage protagonist Hinako Shimizu faces both personal trauma and monstrous threats. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduced dual protagonists — ninja Naoe and samurai Yasuke — offering players a choice between stealth and brute force. Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza became the standout title for the Switch 2, combining destructible environments with puzzles and minigames.
Expanding Genres and Global Influence
Ireland’s Spooky Doorway released The Séance of Blake Manor, a point-and-click mystery steeped in folklore and class conflict. Obsidian’s second major release, Avowed, explored medieval politics and plague in the Living Lands. Sony’s Sucker Punch Productions offered Ghost of Yōtei, a revenge tale set in 17th-century Japan, complete with a cinematic “Kurosawa mode.” Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight drew on Deep South mythology with striking stop-motion-inspired visuals, while Poland’s 11 Bit Studios presented The Alters, a survival game built around cloning and identity.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 was one of the year’s biggest hardware stories, though analysts noted it still lacks a defining “killer app.” According to Counterpoint Research, foldable smartphones are expected to remain niche, but gaming consoles continue to drive innovation in interactive entertainment. Industry observers highlight that while AI is reshaping development processes, the year’s most acclaimed titles relied on human creativity and storytelling. The AP’s list underscores how diverse global studios — from France to Japan to Poland — are shaping the future of gaming with distinctive cultural and narrative approaches.
