Video Games You Probably Missed in 2025 | games

PlayStation 5, Xbox, Switch, PC
Have you ever wanted romance with your record player? Join everything! Offers players the opportunity to develop relationships with everyday objects found in your home, in a sound-filled sandbox featuring over 100 action figures. Meta is wonderful. You can put the transactions in the text box, or even “transact Michael” (microtransaction – get it?) himself. Megan Ellis

Sorry we are closed

PlayStation 4/5, Xbox, Switch, PC
The buzzy debut from the indie studio in the style of gaming, Sorry We’re Closed, is a survival horror where the monster is love and the dungeon is a seedy London neighborhood. Fight demons, fend off unwanted admirers, and pull off shifts in this bizarre, neon-colored take on 90s PlayStation-era horror. I

Clues by Sam

Web browser
The trick to this everyday logic puzzle is that you can’t guess or give wrong answers. Given a grid of characters, you must determine who is “innocent” and “criminal” based on the clues revealed with each correct answer. But the game will only accept the answer if you are sure that you know it as fact. An idealized vision of the criminal justice system. Duncan Fife

Blippo+

Switch, playback history, computer
Blippo+ is a channel-surfing simulator that straddles the line between video games and a silly cable subscription service. Enjoying the full experience through the virtual TV Guide interface, you can listen to intergalactic music videos, curious cooking demos, and psychological weather reports, and learn about alien culture through charming live skits evoking the sketch comedies of Tim and Eric. Sarah Thwaites

Stray children

Switch, PC
A sequel in all but name to the 1997 Love-de-Lic satirical role-playing game Moon, Stray Children is a monster-taming adventure in which you whisper the fears of the troubled “elders” who have come to dominate the inhabitants of an unfinished video game. Featuring a crunchy pixel art style and an Undertale-inspired combat system, this nostalgic saga will tug at your heartstrings while testing your reflexes at the same time. street

Ball x hole

PlayStation 5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, PC
A devilish, almost brutally addictive, mix of Vampire Survivors-esque crowd control and Breakout-style ball bouncing. Descend into a pit filled with demons and fire a constant stream of rich, burning, poisonous and deadly balls at them until the screen is nothing more than a brain-melting confusion of visual effects. Kiza MacDonald

To T

PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
You’re a cheerful boy with a unique problem: Your arms stick out in a T position. How do you navigate school, family, friendships, and brushing your teeth when you can’t bend your arms? A sweet, family-friendly comedy with an unexpectedly poignant message and excellent songs sung by a delicious giraffe. how much

PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
Just a quiet bike racing game where your ride has the old spirit of speed. Cruise around a simple island of cycling geeks, pick up new interchangeable bike parts and take on gangs of local racers on downhill trails. Uncomplicated, good-looking and thoughtful. how much

The wanderer

computer
The excellent point-and-click Powerhoof teases its dystopian plot throughout, mixing influences such as The Thing, Michael Crichton’s Coma, and Total Recall. It’s an interesting combination: combined with an honest story full of painful human emotions and some great soundtracks, it’s a tense and warm story, sure to tug at your heartstrings. Graeme Mason

Xbox, PC
Although the combat mechanics are familiar, it’s South of Midnight’s evocative backdrop that sets it apart. Set in the murky, overgrown Deep South of America, the film stars Hazel, a young woman thrust into the aftermath of a hurricane and forced to battle the sinister manifestations of deep-seated grief. Beautiful and engaging, the soundtrack is great too, perfectly complementing the eerie setting. GM

computer
Your mission is simple in the brilliantly silly game Skin Deep: save a group of talking cats from invading space pirates. Executions can only be carried out while you’re sitting in the hatches, pulling glass by your feet, and spreading sneezing powder and slippery bars of soap to incapacitate your enemies. Like Metal Gear Solid meets the Looney Tunes cartoon, the fun here is in pushing the game’s miniature sandboxes to their slapstick extremes. Lewis Gordon

PS5, PC
Casting you as a knight with a hoverboard, Sword of the Sea is a mystical journey through a desert that roars like the ocean. You’re pulling tricks and enjoying the fresh air on the sand dunes, but the greatest fun comes from just enjoying the game’s stunning, nature-filled landscapes at high speed. A dreamy and brilliant new era take on extreme sports. LG

The root trees died

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If Ancestry.com still hasn’t revealed your hidden royal lineage, try searching the Roottree clan instead. Armed with a 1998 web browser, you have to deduce the loves, losses and lies of a sprawling candy dynasty (no relation to Rowntree). A compelling combination of her story and who you think you are? Matthew Castle

Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles

PS4/5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, PC
Shakespearean dialogue, heart-wrenching boss battles, and a tale steeped in class struggle make this a very different Final Fantasy. As you lead a group of society’s most downtrodden groups, excellent voice acting breathes new life into a previously silent PlayStation 1 game. Although playing is as rewarding as it is poignant, in the year 2025, Yasumi Matsuno’s story of inequality and division has never been more relevant. Tom Regan

absolute

PS4/5, Switch, PC
Combining the best parts of Hades with the immediacy of Streets of Rage, this colorful co-op game is endless fun. As you roam the fantasy world of Talamh, this roguelike rewards you with satisfying new powers and tricky side quests. With precise combat and diverse move sets, Absolum adds some much-needed depth to an often superficial genre. Classic cooperative. Tr

mascot promise agency

PlayStation 5, Xbox, Switch, PC
If the prospect of a disgraced gangster roaming around a small town in Japan with a giant rotten thumb doesn’t interest you, keep moving. But give Promise Mascot Agency some time and you’ll discover that this compact open-world adventure is full of chaotic charm. At its core, it’s a story of redemption, as you manage a gang of eccentric characters and restore a crumbling community, all while driving the best pickup truck in any video game. Christian Donlan

Eternal threads

PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
Here’s a fantasy role-playing game that embraces elemental powers, even if it leads to chaos. In a world where fire attacks can spread uncontrollably and ice can cause giant dragons to fall from the sky when their wings freeze, this colorful, whimsical piece offers fun that truly lives up to your imagination. CD

Lushfoil photography sim

PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
Matt Newell’s Hymn to Photography is also a fascinating investigation into the creative power of solitude and paying attention to your surroundings. Learn how to use a beautifully simulated digital camera, and also explore the visual possibilities of a range of beautifully designed 3D landscapes. There are no puzzles and not much in the way of scoring, just you and your ever-evolving eye. CD

PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
A soccer game closer to the likes of Rocket League than Fifa, Rematch makes you feel as if you’re playing a real five-player match: developer Sloclap has completely mastered the feel and speed of charging up the pitch and passing between teammates before slotting the ball into the net. Daniella Lucas

PS5, PC
Proof that love and hate can be two sides of the same coin, this silly adventure puts you in control of a tiny-dressed grown man trying to remember how to walk. You have to separately control each of your legs through a series of obstacles that lead to some ridiculously funny moments, but equally leave you on your knees in despair when, once again, you fall off a plank while trying to get a stupid hat. Worth it though. DL

While waiting

Switch, PC
The game is about slowing down life, and While Waiting takes ordinary situations – from your car breaking down to waiting for a late train – and gives you multiple options on how to deal with them. Because of the way it rewards experimentation, and extracts joy from everyday moments, “While Waiting” taught me how to be more patient — and that wasting time tinkering with things is the key to a healthy life balance. Thomas Hobbes

Strange effects

Switch, PC
One for Halloween-loving girls and ghouls, this companion to Strange Horticulture has you dealing with mysterious objects instead of plants. Explore the Gothic regions of Cumbria to find artefacts, identify mysterious tomes, solve puzzles, and sometimes twist the plot by giving the customer something other than what they want. Jordan Erica Weber

Old sky

Switch, PC
Developer Wadjet Eye keeps the point-and-click adventure genre alive in a story fit for time travel tourism. While gamblers pay to visit lost loves and settle scores, it’s your job to protect the timeline. From a time farce to an urgent visit to pre-9/11 New York, Old Heavens unfolds like an anthology of short stories. A surprise on every page. MC

Is this seat taken?

Switch, PC, iOS, Android
Sudoku meets speed dating. This charming puzzle game sees you play matchmaker through seating plans, where cute little characters are seated together based on their funny pet peeves and preferences in a range of fun settings. Its puzzles are relaxing, relaxing and never frustrating. Pix April May

Look outside

computer
What if your friendly neighborhood turned into a waking nightmare? That’s the idea of ​​an RPG-style survival horror game set in an apartment complex where unspeakable atrocities are happening right outside your window – but whatever you do, you mustn’t look at them, or you risk turning out like your poor, revolting neighbors. Best enjoyed with the curtains drawn. Bam

Deltarune

PS4/5, Switch, Switch 2, PC
From its satirical writing to its silly creatures, Toby Fox’s episodic role-playing game is charming and clever. Like Undertale before it, Deltarune turns the genre on its head with humor and heart, leaving you eager for more. (The game’s next chapter won’t be released until the second half of 2026 at the earliest.) We dare you not to smile at this chapter. Vic hood

Lotto

PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
This psychological horror immediately tells you what to expect: “This is a story about death.” As Sam, you try to escape your home, an increasingly twisted maze of puzzles and memories. Channeling the disturbing vibe of Hideo Kojima’s PT, Luto delivers a powerful message about grief and life after loss. VH

PS5, Switch, PC
You play as a fly in Time Flies, wandering around different environments – a house or a museum, for example – and doing flying things, like tickling people’s feet or avoiding light bulbs. The time you have to complete your fly set list depends on your physical location, leaving only minutes or seconds to get everything done. Who knew the life of a speedrunning fly could be so much fun? Nicole Carpenter

And Roger

Switch, PC
Roger is a confusing, devastating game and one of the most emotional games to be released this year. From developer TeryHand Studio, Roger’s evocative story and simple, yet distinct art are reminiscent of 2018’s Mountains release in Florence. In three chapters, the mystery is revealed: Who is this man in the house? Where is my father? The answers reveal a tragic and beautiful story of love and family. North Carolina

Soul Swap: Beat Lofi to match 3

Xbox, PC
Soft Not Weak’s Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To is a visual novel, dating simulator, and match-three game in one. Although it’s based on classic puzzle gameplay, it’s a master class in characters and character design: every individual you meet is just as interesting and well-developed as the last. It’s a must-have game for both puzzle enthusiasts and visual novel fans. North Carolina