Each year, I have the privilege of creating Game Rant's Top 10 Games of the Year list, and as part of that, I create my own personal list. It's something I look forward to every year, because there's something inherently fascinating about looking back on the year and deciding which experiences I value more than others. In some ways, it's completely arbitrary, but in others, it feels like the perfect way to put a nice bow on my gaming timeline for the year.
For me, this year was big for the badass-lights and experiences I could get on the trip. I traveled a lot this year, from Paris to play Pokemon Legends ZA Celebrating the grand opening of Epic Universe, and the Switch 2 and Xbox ROG Ally X helped keep me entertained, but a few games shot higher than others on my personal list.
My tastes can be eclectic from year to year, but there are usually some throughlines. I like a good story or a good hook, for example, to keep me playing regularly. I try to play as many games as possible, which helps me get better at the games that click with me. But most importantly, I look for games that leave me thinking about it even when I'm not playing it. These 10 games consumed me in some way this year.
10
The roots are dead
playing The roots are dead One of my favorite gaming experiences this year with my wife. I heard initial guffaws about the game and knew I had to try it. I didn't expect to be so invested in the roottree clan where we were actively empathizing with some of them and lambasting others.
If you've ever wanted a game that feels like a Charlie Day meme with yarn connecting pictures, The roots are dead it is It makes you feel like a real sleuth, that way you can try to find clues behind the keyboard and not through caffeine-fueled stakeouts. And the best part is there is a lot of meat in the game. Much more than you might initially expect.
9
Donkey Kong Banana
Anyone who asks me what the must-play game for the Nintendo Switch 2 gets Donkey Kong Banana Pitch. Nintendo has a knack for taking a concept or character that I think would be great but not great and proving me wrong time and time again. I didn't think that hitting would be so much fun, and the drive to hear “Oh Banana” would push me to destroy every inch of every layer. And yet, here we are.
The music is catchy as heck, and the Bananza powers are incredibly fun, I regularly played Donkey Kong with a huge smile on my face. If you need a reason to pick up the Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong Banana What you want is a system-selling platformer, even if you're expecting Mario to take over first.
8
Dispatch
I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of the actual “game” part Dispatch. Sending the heroes on missions made me ache with every choice and worry that I was going to get less story experience. This is because in the story Dispatch So good — and, my goodness, those performances are stellar across the board — that I cared so much about how well each member of the Z-Team did. It's a personal hang-up, I know, but I suspect I'm not alone in that sentiment.
Apart from all that, Dispatch There could have been just a movie or a TV show, and I would have been just as enthralled. It's mature, genuinely funny, and there isn't a weak link between this fantastic cast. I love Telltale games and this is another evolution of that concept, done bigger and better.
7
Absolute
It was a big year for Rogue-lites and me, and Absolute It is the first to appear on the list. The idea of a run-based beat-em-up felt novel, but it was the branching paths and side quests that quickly kept me going. Then, once I started locking into combat, I was regularly flying through the runes, looking for new upgrades and abilities.
Sometimes, rogue-lite runs live and die by the first few abilities/upgrades you earn, but Absolute Showed me how all sorts of different combinations could turn my chosen character into a wrecking ball. I especially like how this game has a clear goal with the final boss at the end of the journey. It gave me a purpose for each run, and the way you constantly unlock new upgrades even when you fail helps Absolute Stealing dozens of my hours.
6
Accepted
I was never big Skyrim or The Elder Scrolls Boy, but Accepted Hit all the right notes for me. It has a world that feels a bit sprawling but never overwhelming; Characters that I enjoyed knowing, and whose opinions I was careful to protect; And a combat system that doesn't feel too rigid or restrictive. Accepted Fantasy was the type of “open world” adventure that I like.
I know some would say it's Diet Bethesda, and that's why I like it so much. Accepted I wasn't forced into any one playstyle, and as a result, I spent more time experimenting than I might have in a different experience. Obsidian knows how to marry all those important elements of an RPG together in a way that makes the world feel lived-in, but most importantly, they know how to make it fun.
5
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
i loved Death Stranding 1Until I did. It got to the point where my passion for delivering packages started to wane, and the whole thing felt tedious, but there were at least a few dozen hours left. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Streamlined everything I felt, made those strand concepts more compelling, and when I got to the point where I started to lose steam, the end was in sight.
And what an ending! Death Stranding 2 is Kojima at his most Kojima-est. He delivers an epic set of scenarios as simply as possible. I love giving developers another crack at their ambitious projects. They get the opportunity to fix what doesn't work and make what does work better. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach This is a great example.
4
force x beat
force x beat There was one game that I couldn't see the appeal of at first. This is the type of game you have to play for yourself before it sinks its hook into you. But boy, once I started unlocking new characters, and learning how the city building stuff worked, it became an ongoing obsession.
It helps that the runs are so bite-sized, and force x beat Regularly doles out new gameplay concepts to learn and then master. Even characters that may seem useless to you eventually show their usefulness as you progress. Don't dismiss it as a breakout clone, just because force x beat It's not even close. This is a game that you can get almost anyone addicted to.
3
Split Fiction
Hazelight makes games that are tailor-made for me. I have a friend who I constantly play Joseph Fares directed games with, and we have a blast. Split Fiction. It takes two 2021 was my favorite game, and I think so Split Fiction It is a more mechanically complex development of the concepts presented in the game. It's the story that holds it back, but enough to jettison the final act Split Fiction It may land much higher than otherwise.
The technical wizardry on display in the final “level” of the game is astounding, to the point that even non-gamers can be impressed by what Hazlight pulls off. I appreciate the experiences this team delivers every time, and they have yet to disappoint. If Split Fiction Any indication that Hazelight just wants to keep challenging himself, then I can't wait to see what's next.
2
Hades 2
I enjoyed the first one Hadesbut Hades 2 Clicked with me to a great extent. I think it's the way the two different “runs” interact with each other that makes it so addictive for me. Being able to go to the Underworld and learn new mechanics and weapons, and then head confidently towards Olympus was a one-two punch that pushed Supergiant Games' sequel above all the other rogue-lites I've enjoyed this year, and there have been many.
I agree that the story isn't that strong, but everything clicked for me first and foremost. Hades 2 It strikes a chord where “Just One More Race” always feels satisfying, and that's what made it one of my favorites of the year.
1
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
I know you are tired of hearing how great Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Yes, but if you'll allow me to ramble on a little longer. When I previewed this game back in March, I had a feeling, but I couldn't have predicted how much I was going to fall in love with Sandfall Interactive's RPG. I'm a sucker for a good cutie or Dodge mechanic, and Clair Obscur The most satisfying cutie I've encountered in a long time.
Just one description is enough to give that spark, but the story, visuals, music, and performances push it over the top for me. Some years it can be difficult to decide what ends up number one on my personal list, but there was no doubt about it Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In fact, the game had locked the top spot at the beginning of 2025 and never wavered.
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Look, I'm equally excited Grand Theft Auto 6 As much as another person. But I'm really curious to see how Resident Evil: Request Turns out, and if Insomniac can use it to bring the Marvel magic Wolverine at the same level Spider Man. 2026 is going to be huge for a lot of different reasons, and I can't wait to see how the dust settles on my top 10. See you in 12 months!
