10 Best Games Of 2025 Nobody Talks About

2025 was a fantastic year for gaming, with amazing titles released both from small independent developers and major studios. Unfortunately, some of these excellent games didn’t get the attention they deserved. We want to highlight a few of the best games from 2025 that you might have missed.

We put together this list by considering a few things: how much critics and players liked the games, how much our team enjoyed them, and whether any great games seemed to have flown under the radar, regardless of the developer. We aimed for a mix of well-known and hidden gems – games you might have forgotten about or never even heard of. Ultimately, we hope you have as much fun playing these games as we did putting the list together.

10. Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Even if you’re not familiar with the world of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, it’s a game worth trying, despite its unusual premise. You play as horse girls racing against each other, and it’s surprisingly enjoyable! The game is packed with detail, including accurate recreations of real racetracks and racehorses.

Many people missed the English release of Umamusume: Pretty Derby this year, which is a shame because it’s a really unique game. Those at ScreenRant who tried it were immediately captivated. If you enjoy simulation and social networking games, especially with an anime style, this game is perfect for you. But even if those aren’t usually your thing, Umamusume: Pretty Derby is worth checking out.

9. Grounded 2

We completely forgot that Grounded 2 was released this year – it came out during a packed summer and didn’t get much attention. It’s a really great game and deserves to be recognized, so we’re making up for overlooking it by including it on our list of favorites. We admit we were part of the problem by initially forgetting about it!

We highly recommend Grounded 2! It’s a fantastic game to play with friends, especially during the holidays, but it’s also enjoyable on your own. Plus, it’s available to play with Xbox Game Pass, depending on your subscription. Give it a try – you won’t be disappointed!

8. Urban Myth Dissolution Center

In Urban Myth Dissolution Center, you investigate supernatural cases alongside a psychic director. Expect to uncover secrets about other dimensions, haunted objects, and meet a quirky group of characters. The game’s appealing pixel art initially caught our eye, but it’s the engaging gameplay that really kept us playing.

Urban Myth Dissolution Center feels like a classic murder mystery game from the NES, but with its own fresh take. The game is broken into episodes, making it perfect for short play sessions. It hasn’t gotten much attention this year, which is a shame, because it’s really worth checking out – and it’s currently on sale on Steam!

7. Time Flies

Houseflies live only for a single day, and the game Time Flies puts you in that position, challenging you to make the most of your limited time. In a surprisingly thoughtful way, Time Flies lets you experience a lifetime of moments before time runs out. Despite being a short game, it’s very replayable thanks to its clever level design and numerous surprises – which we won’t reveal! – and hidden puzzles that will encourage you to play again and again.

Even though Time Flies received good reviews and many fans loved it, it didn’t really gain much popularity this year. That’s unfortunate, because this short, independent game is well worth checking out. If you’re looking for a quick and enjoyable experience, give Time Flies a try—but be prepared for it to be surprisingly moving.

6. The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

The idea of protecting a school for 100 days from attacking students doesn’t immediately sound exciting, but The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy was a standout game for us in 2025. While the gameplay feels similar to tactical RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem, the game also includes a story-driven visual novel element that really draws you in.

While the game did well in Japan, it didn’t make much of a splash in the US, despite getting good reviews. Players will enjoy the characters, gameplay, and art style, and many found the story particularly captivating. If you’re searching for a narrative-focused game, we recommend The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. It successfully combines the experience of reading a fantasy novel with the interactivity of an RPG.

5. Lumines Arise

Despite being a fantastic game – think Tetris with a more stylish feel and a truly excellent soundtrack – Lumines Arise surprisingly didn’t become a big hit this year. It seems the developer’s previous success, Tetris Effect, which was already well-known, overshadowed it. Lumines Arise offered improved challenges and mesmerizing graphics, but it just didn’t quite catch on.

We were big fans of Lumines Arise – we even named it one of the best PlayStation games of 2025! Both players and reviewers enjoyed it, and it’s a great choice if you want a game that’s simple to learn and play.

4. The Alters

This year, The Alters really raised the bar for survival games. If you enjoy sci-fi stories like The Martian or Interstellar, you’ll likely love being stranded on a harsh planet and fighting to survive. The game is immediately engaging and keeps you constantly challenged.

Earlier this year, our reviewer loved The Alters, calling it a deeply thought-provoking game – almost like an existential crisis in video game form. Even though it’s received a lot of positive attention from both critics (including us) and players, The Alters hasn’t gotten the widespread recognition it deserves in 2025.

3. Promise Mascot Agency

Developer Kaizen Game Works calls Promise Mascot Agency “the world’s first (and best) Open World Mascot Management Crime Drama,” and surprisingly, that description fits! It’s a hard game to categorize, and that’s one of its biggest strengths. Promise Mascot Agency is a stylish, quirky game filled with unexpected twists and plenty of humor to keep you entertained.

We really enjoyed this game and are surprised it hasn’t gotten more attention. We highly recommend giving it a try – you won’t regret it!

2. Look Outside

Look Outside, also known as (Don’t) Look Outside, is a smart and spooky survival horror RPG. You play as someone trying to survive for 15 days by avoiding looking outside – and it’s surprisingly doable! Things get interesting, though, because strange events are happening inside your apartment building. The game features solid puzzles and RPG elements, but what really stands out is its incredibly immersive atmosphere.

Once you start playing Look Outside, you’ll find it hard to stop. While the game has gained a dedicated following, it didn’t receive the widespread recognition it deserved in 2025. It’s a truly captivating experience that might even make you hesitant to look out the window again.

1. Despelote

During a conversation about our favorite games of 2025, one game kept being mentioned: Despelote. It quickly became clear that more people should play it! Despelote is a life simulation game set in Quito, Ecuador, in 2002, and it really captivated us. We especially loved its unique art style, immersive sound design, and the way it told a genuinely human story.

Despelote is a truly unique soccer game. While it received a lot of positive attention in 2025, it remains surprisingly unknown. If you have time for just one game on this list, make it Despelote.

2025-12-22 21:32