Best Video Games of 2025 We Missed
Gaming Highlights of the Year – A Summary
Here’s a breakdown of the games highlighted in the text, summarizing their key features and appeal:
1. Dispatch:
* Genre: Superhero Management/Strategy (similar to This is the Police)
* Premise: You manage a team of flawed, powerful superheroes (“Team Z”) – a sort of Thunderbolts/Suicide Squad equivalent. You decide which heroes to deploy to various crises,balancing their abilities,teamwork,and the importance of the situation (even deciding if rescuing a kitten is worth the resources).
* Strengths: Addictive gameplay, unique superhero management, strong narrative potential, potentially a new leader in serialized gaming (like Telltale).
* Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows
2. Hades II:
* Genre: Roguelite
* Premise: Sequel to the critically acclaimed Hades. Continues the story with expanded gameplay and detail.
* Strengths: Builds upon the excellent foundations of the first game, considered the best in the genre (until Slay the Spire 2). Features well-designed progression, story, characters, gameplay, and music.
* Platforms: Nintendo Switch,Nintendo Switch 2,Windows,macOS
3. Hollow Knight: Silksong:
* Genre: 2D Action-Platformer
* Premise: Standalone sequel to Hollow Knight. Players explore the kingdom of pharloom as a new protagonist.
* Strengths: More complex, spectacular, and challenging than its predecessor. Stunning hand-drawn visuals, lovable characters, and difficult but rewarding gameplay (frequently enough compared to Dark Souls). Planned free DLC (“Sea of Sorrow”) will expand the universe.
* Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, Linux
4. Keeper:
* Genre: Walking Simulator/Adventure/Puzzle
* Premise: A 3-4 hour story-driven experience from Double Fine Productions.
* Strengths: Creative and chaotic, characteristic of Double Fine’s style.
Key Takeaways:
* Nintendo Switch 2: This console is repeatedly mentioned as a platform, suggesting it’s a significant release in the near future.
* High Expectations: Silksong faced immense hype and managed to deliver.
* Genre Leaders: Hades II is positioned as the current king of the roguelite genre, while Dispatch is a potential leader in serialized gaming.
* Double Fine’s Creativity: Keeper highlights Double Fine’s reputation for unique and unconventional game design.