Crazy to think that we’re already a few hours into 2026. For me, 2025 seemed to pass by so incredibly quick. But alas, here we are so let’s talk video games of the past year!
As many of you know I play quite a bit of video games in my spare time. Usually this happens prior to my work shift for the day, but every now and then it happens after work. Days off are spent playing quite a few hours of video games unless I have something planned with the wife.
This past year, 2025, was no different and I figured since I’m doing a bit more blogging than I currently had been, why not showcase some of my favorite video games from 2025.
These games are in no particular order of most favorite to least favorite or vice versa. They are simply some of the games I played during the year that I feel deserve an honorable mention and that I would recommend to anyone else looking for a few good games to play. So let’s dive right in and get started.
Escape From Duckov
Escape from Duckov is a PVE indie survival RPG — in a duck’s world!. Scavenge for resources, build your hideout, and upgrade your gear in the world of Duckov. Start from nothing and rise to the top. Outwit hostile ducks, survive and make it out alive.
What an amazing game this was to play. While I said these wouldn’t be in any particular order, this is likely my Game Of The Year for 2025. It was a game I watched Gladd play on Twitch and enjoyed watching it. Little did I know that once I decided to give it a try would I fall in love with it so much.
The Outer Worlds 2
In this game, The Outer Worlds 2, players assume control of the protagonist, an Earth Directorate Agent, who is tasked with uncovering the source of emerging rifts that threaten to destroy the colony amidst a factional war. In line with its predecessor, The Outer Worlds 2 features a first-person perspective, additionally, the ability to switch to a third-person perspective has been introduced to the series, which was unavailable in the first entry outside of limited sequences.
This game was as much fun as the first one and so much more. And I only played the first one earlier in the year to prepare for this one. Both games are high recommendations in my book and I’m already excited and (im)patiently awaiting The Outer Worlds 3.
Borderlands 4
I mean, who doesn’t like Borderlands games, right? So of course I had to include Borderlands 4 in this post. Borderlands 4 is a mayhem-fueled looter shooter, jam-packed with billions of weapons, deadly enemies, and intense co-op action. Break free from a dangerous hidden planet as one of four new badass Vault Hunters.
I was so excited for this game and so glad Gear Box Games pushed it forward to release it earlier than expected. This game certainly lived up to my expectations and is likely in my top 3 favorite games of the year. Again, I’m so ready for Borderlands 5, though I know it’s going to be a few years before that happens.
Grounded 2
Shrunk again, but the world is much larger in Grounded 2. In this open-world, single-player or co-op survival adventure, craft weapons and armor, build your base, and traverse the playground on your buggy. But something else is out there—and it hasn’t forgotten you.
While I did play the first one when it came out in early access, I didn’t stick with it. It was fun and actually very enjoyable, and quite funny at times, but I was into other games and put it on the back burner and never went back to it. Ground 2 was so much fun that I couldn’t put it down to save my life if I had to. Lots of improvements from the first one but also very similar to the first one which made it as good as it is!
Avowed
Avowed is a first-person fantasy RPG set in the world of Eora, where your choices carve a path through war, intrigue, and ancient mysteries. Navigate a land in turmoil, forge powerful alliances or deadly rivalries, and wield magic and steel to shape the fate of the Living Lands—and your own destiny.
This game was super hyped for quite some time prior and to me, it lived up to that hype and so much more. Honestly, this could be my second favorite game of the year and a very close competitor to the above mentioned Escape From Duckov. Obsidian did Obsidian things and just made a great, fun, amazing, beautiful game when it came to Avowed and I really hope they make a sequel to this one.
I also did a full review of this game that you can read here: Avowed: My Review After Finishing The Game.
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows allows you to experience an epic action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal Shinobi assassin and powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos.
While not as fun as the previous game that was released a couple of years ago, this one was still very fun and difficult to put down. The graphics are absolutely amazing and the game play was super smooth and enjoyable. There’s just so much to do in this game that even after the 100 hours I put into it, I wasn’t even close to 100% percenting this game.
Eternal Strands
A next-generation action experience, Eternal Strands, where the elements obey you, the terrain bends to your will, and every victory is entirely your own.
I’m not even sure how I found this game but however it was, I’m so thankful for it. This was another game that I found very difficult to put down. I’d wake up each morning and just be itching to play more of it. Combat in this game was smooth but often could be tough to fight some of the enemies. Lots of variables would be thrown at you during combat to make it super enjoyable.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Discover a vast, haunted kingdom in Hollow Knight: Silksong! Explore, fight and survive as you ascend to the peak of a land ruled by silk and song.
Ok, I have to be fair and honest here. I’ve not played much of this game, because right when it came out is right when Borderlands 4 came out(8 days later), and I quickly put this game down for it. However, what little I’ve played, which is probably about 10 hours or so, this game is amazingly fun and amazingly beautiful. It’s likely the next game I’ll get into and really try to complete, though I hear the boss battles are super tough once you get past the first one, which I have done.
ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC.
This is the current game I’m playing and have been for a while now. It’s different than most of the other games on this list, so take note of that. It’s a PvE/PvP extraction shooter, very similar to Escape From Tarkov, yet considerably different from it.
This game was tough at first, as learning the ins and outs took a bit and I quickly discovered, if you don’t use a mic with the proximity chat in this game, you’re likely not going to survive nor enjoy this game. It’s seriously as simple as that.
Final Thoughts
While I played many other games, or even tried many other games, these were the ones that really stood out to me and still have me talking about them today as we enter a new year.
This past year really brought us some great games and some great sequels to games and I’m super excited to see what 2026 will bring us. It’s got a lot to live up to as these nine games above are just that, nine games of many that came out in 2025 that likely deserve some kind of mention.
Tell me in the comments below what games you’re looking forward to in 2026, other than the obvious of Grand Theft Auto VI which every game out there is excited about, including myself.
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