I'm generally a laid-back gamer, preferring to relax with farming and a good romance. However, some of my top picks this year surprised me. I'll do almost anything for a good adventure or solid mystery, and there were a number of powerful stories across a range of genres that grabbed my attention this year.
This is just one of a series of Game of the Year lists picked by the team at TheGamer, so check back in a few weeks for our final combined list. Or take it as my gospel. your choice
10
InZoi
When Inzoi was released, I was excited to have another game that could essentially play Dollhouse, especially when the driving mechanics were added as a beta-feature. Throughout the year, there are constant updates to keep me coming back for seasonal holidays and free DLC.
I love the level of customization and story direction within each Zoi's life. After discovering that I could accidentally take someone else's child home to pursue my dreams of becoming a kpop star, I'm forever grateful to have such a vibrant competitor in The Sims.
9
Oblivion Remastered
Despite my obvious love for The Elder Scrolls and my assumption that it would top my game of the year chart, it sadly sits low on the totem pole. My hopes for the remake were met with a shallow, re-skinned re-release with all the same issues as the original game.
Don't get me wrong, it's still a fantastic addition to any gaming library and I've spent dozens of hours returning to the world of Tamriel. But there were other titles that impressed me more without relying on oldies to carry them.
8
All dates!
My partner and I set up date nights where we'd try to find all the romance candidates in the house, my brother sent me texts about how he found men instead of women on his run, and my friends reveled in the absolute chaos of your furniture dating with all the abstract concepts.
With such a vibrant and diverse voice cast, there is literally something for everyone. Dorian still holds a special place in my ace heart, but man if I haven't fallen head over heels for xxXShadowl0rd420Xxx.
7
Slim Rancher 2
I didn't expect to fall in love with it so quickly. Sadly, I never played the predecessor, but I enjoyed corralling slimes and merging them into adorable monsters.
To be fair, I spent most of my time collecting bat slime and watching them eat fruit and smile at me, but I managed to make enough progress to realize there was a conspiracy. The gray maze still baffles me, but at least I found lots of colorful slimes to take home.
6
Story of the Season: Grand Bazaar
The classic Harvest Moon games are where I really developed my love for video games. I'm always looking for a title to give the same nostalgic feel of playing those gems but with the comfort and convenience of modern design conventions.
Running a busy market stall every weekend gave me a new lease of life, throwing all my crops on the table and ringing the bell to attract the attention of passers-by. Forget nature sprites; I want to ruin the economy with flowers and honey alone.
5
Ark Raiders
Multiplayer games are not my forte, and I try to avoid PvP encounters whenever possible. Thankfully, Ark Riders managed to create a better friendly environment in solo games. However, the biggest appeal to me was the rubber duck.
I'll take down as many Rocketeers and Leapers as possible to collect as many Rubber Ducks as possible. As of now, I am 16 years old, but I want to reach 100. Oh, and there's a rooster named Scrappy, and he's my son.
4
Where the wind meets
In today's world of expensive video games, there's nothing better than a free, open-world RPG, heavy on role-playing. Not only can you embrace your role in 10th-century China, but you can convince a local farmer that you're from the future or have completed a long-running quest that you most certainly haven't.
Mostly, though, I'm here for the aesthetics. The only monetization is in cosmetic banners, and I'd be crying if I didn't want to be the most beautiful warrior doctor in Jianghu. I can't even stop stealing horses.
3
The Lost Record: Bloom and Fury
Earlier in the year, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage grabbed me with rapturous passion. As someone who grew up with a chubby ginger friend and moved away from home as a teenager, I immediately resonated with Swan Holloway. Going back to the 90s was like a fever dream, and I fully embraced it.
For weeks, I just played 90s hits and vibed in my old tees while sitting in my chair to win Nora's heart. This coming of age story brought me back to a place where anything was possible, and added an extraordinary feeling on top of that.
2
Dispatch
There's no way Dispatch isn't on my list, with such a star-studded cast and a well-written story from Telltale and Critical Role alums to back it up. Robert Robertson III and the chaos surrounding him became the only joke my friend and I would make back to each other throughout the day.
We fought over which one of us made the better choice (me, obviously) and Robert Robertson is the Invigil or the Blonde Blazer (agree to disagree). At the end of the day, we both agree that Joel Haver as Waterboy is a gift to humanity.
1
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
After hearing about this game just a few days before its release, I immediately knew it was something special. Arthurian legends in an open world felt like taking something old and giving it new life. I spent hours exploring the forest and was determined to help Arthur Pendragon, no matter what the plot told me.
I'm also a sucker for a good romance, and having an entire questline dedicated to saving a new blacksmith and building a weapon together to demonstrate your devotion to each other really melted my heart. I will kill countless trolls just to see Beor smile at me again.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
- issued
-
May 23, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and gore, intense violence, language, drug use
- developer(s)
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Questline
- Publisher(s)
-
Awakened Zones
