Aaron Bayne, Video Producer

Split Fiction hands down is my Game of the Year so far in 2025. I blew hot and cold with It Takes Two, as I had big issues with the game’s pacing, however, Split Fiction fixed almost every problem and then some. With an impressive variation to gameplay mechanics enabled by a wildly inventive premise, it’s just a blast from start to finish.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Liam Croft, Assistant Editor

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 might be the biggest and best surprise I’ve had during my time in games media so far. I expected the RPG to be good, but not that good. With its bold and daring plot, excellent parry-based combat system, and a wonderful world to explore, I loved every minute of the journey towards the Paintress and beyond. Its quirky French nature only adds to the experience, then the quality cast of characters and excellent soundtrack are the cherries on top.

We’ve still got another six months of fantastic games to go, but so far, nothing tops Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Robert Ramsey, Assistant Editor

If I’m being totally honest, no one game has truly blown me away this year — but if you pushed me to pick a favourite right now, I’d probably go for Monster Hunter Wilds. I’ve found myself going back to Capcom’s action RPG time and time again since its release, and I just never seem to grow tired of the combat loop.

There’s room for improvement, without question — but with Title Update 2 hitting soon and more additions planned for the rest of 2025, I think Wilds has a real shot at being my Game of the Year when all’s said and done.

Split Fiction
Sammy Barker, Editor

As regular readers will know, I’ve become hostage to a veritable array of gacha games available on the PS5, so my playtime of actual new releases thus far has been rendered, shall we say, limited. It’s with a pinch of Stockholm syndrome and no hint of irony, then, that my pick for this article is another ungodly time sink in the form of Wuthering Waves – a title which riffs on Genshin Impact so closely it borders on plagiarism, but rights all of HoYoverse’s wrongs.

This anime open world may punch you around the face with proper nouns, but its vibrant setting is teeming with life – and it’s got more than enough waifus (now in swimsuits, no less) to get the nod from me.

Stephen Tailby, Assistant Editor

I always knew whatever Hazelight would make after It Takes Two would be special, so I was delighted to be proven right by Split Fiction. Building on the kinetic platforming and imaginative gameplay of its predecessor, this co-op experience sets a new bar with extreme levels of polish across an absurd number of puzzles and mechanics. I loved it from the very beginning to its spectacular conclusion, thanks mainly to its relentless onslaught of fresh ideas.

In terms of sheer fun factor, I’m not sure any other 2025 game will top it for me.

That’s all from us, but what about you? Which PS5 games have really stood out over the last six months or so? Vote in our poll, and then have your say in the comments section below.

What are your favourite PS5 games of 2025 so far? (Select up to three games) (1,187 votes)

  1. Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition  0.8%
  2. Age of Mythology: Retold  0.6%
  3. Assassin’s Creed Shadows5%
  4. Atelier Yumia: Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land  0.1%
  5. Atomfall1%
  6. Blades of Fire  0.2%
  7. Blue Prince3%
  8. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector  0.3%
  9. Civilization 7  0.5%
  10. Clair Obscur: Expedition 3330%
  11. Days Gone Remastered3%
  12. DOOM: The Dark Ages4%
  13. Dynasty Warriors Origins  0.7%
  14. Elden Ring Nightreign1%
  15. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist  0.6%
  16. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time2%
  17. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves  0.4%
  18. Forza Horizon 53%
  19. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle6%
  20. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 29%
  21. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii3%
  22. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage1%
  23. Lunar Remastered Collection  0.4%
  24. Lushfoil Photography Sim  0%
  25. MLB The Show 25  0.3%
  26. Monster Hunter Wilds3%
  27. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black  0.5%
  28. Promise Mascot Agency  0.8%
  29. RoadCraft  0.5%
  30. Rusty Rabbit  0%
  31. Sniper Elite: Resistance  0.8%
  32. Split Fiction7%
  33. Splitgate 2  0.3%
  34. Star Trucker  0%
  35. Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster1%
  36. Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter  0.1%
  37. Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon  0.8%
  38. Tales of Graces f Remastered  0.2%
  39. The Alters1%
  40. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered3%
  41. The First Berserker: Khazan1%
  42. The Midnight Walk  0.8%
  43. The Precinct  0.8%
  44. to a T  0.3%
  45. Trails through Daybreak 2  0.7%
  46. Two Point Museum  0.8%
  47. Wanderstop  0.1%
  48. Warriors: Abyss  0.2%
  49. Wuthering Waves  0.4%
  50. WWE 2K25  0.5%