Review
Ghost of Yōtei review: is this still open world?
by Simon Balissat
Here are our games of the year for 2025
19.12.2025
Translation: Natalie McKay
Co-author: Cassie Mammone
The editorial team voted on its favourite games of 2025. Here’s our top 10.
In the header image, from left to right: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Split Fiction and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Another brilliant year of gaming is drawing to a close. Week after week, the editorial team was inundated with fantastic games, which we put through their paces in more than 100(!) game reviews.
Time to take stock.
We chose the best games of the year in an epic vote. First, all members of the editorial team put together their individual lists, then all nominees were rated jointly by everyone. This voting process resulted in a list of the ten best games of the year.
You can read more about the methodology we used in the info box below:
We don’t like to blow our own trumpet, but we’re delighted with our final top 10. The list covers a wide selection of genres and studio sizes. It’s a clear testimony to how diverse the gaming landscape is. And it’s proof that what people remember isn’t automatically titles with the biggest budget behind them, but rather exciting, fresh ideas.
10th place: Despelote
We kick off our list with indie game Despelote. In it, you take on the role of eight-year-old Julián, who’s living in the Ecuadorian capital Quito in 2001. The boy’s world, like that of his peers, revolves around football, as Ecuador comes closer than ever to qualifying for the World Cup.
In the first-person perspective, you experience the world through the eyes of Julián, a semi-autobiographical version of one of the two developers behind Despelote. This is also one of the reasons why this relatively short game is so relatable and why it’s made its way onto the lists of Simon (fourth place) and Kevin (ninth place). Despelote is a real insider tip.
Despelote was released on 1 May for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. It’ll also be available for the Switch from 13 January 2026 onwards.
Source: Panic
9th place: Ghost of Yōtei
Sony’s PS5 exclusive for this year is also fighting for a place in the top 10. Domagoj was particularly captivated by it, putting the Ghost of Yōtei in second place on his list. For samurai fan Simon, it only managed to reach sixth place.
You play as Atsu, a lethal warrior whose family was murdered by a gang of outlaws, the Yōtei Six. You roam Northern Japan on a quest for revenge. The story’s been done before – but it’s very well staged with excellently written dialogue and epic cutscenes.
The highlight of the gameplay is the ultra-fluid combat system, transforming every encounter with a villain into a cinematic samurai showdown. The free-roaming environment has a relatively conservative design with numerous open-world tasks and missions. Still, it never feels like you’re just ticking things off a checklist (I’m looking at you, Ubisoft). This is because you discover the world organically, and missions are constantly interrupted by awesome surprises.
The art design deserves to be singled out for praise. Sure, it’s cheesy and too bright. But it works. Especially when Atsu stops on her horse at a precipice, and a huge game world full of exciting locations and sights typical of the Far East opens up in front of her. It doesn’t get better than that.
Ghost of Yōtei was released on 2 October for the PS5.
Source: Sony
8th place: Mario Kart World
With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo has created the ultimate Mario Kart game. The game now features 96 race tracks and 42 characters. How on earth can you top this package in a sequel?
Well, Nintendo manages to do just that with Mario Kart World on the launch of the Switch 2. Instead of cramming even more content into the follow-up, the Japanese company is tweaking the basic concept. There are no longer any individual tracks – all of the courses are located in a huge open world you can explore freely. And instead of 12 drivers, there are now 24.
This experiment has paid off for the most part. The new KO mode is particularly impressive. It sees 24 drivers race through the game world on six consecutive tracks with six checkpoints. After each checkpoint, the last four drivers are knocked out. Brilliant!
It’s a shame the open game world in Free Roam mode offers little in the way of excitement. The new Cup structure, where boring road sections between the actual tracks take up a lot of space, is also disappointing. Nevertheless, this fun racing games speeds to eighth place in our ranking – mainly because Michelle (third place) and Domagoj (seventh place) enjoyed it so much.
Mario Kart World was released on 5 June for the Switch 2.
Source: Nintendo
7th place: Dispatch
The most striking thing about superhero game Dispatch is its storytelling. You take on the role of Robert Robertson III – what a name. He used to go about as a superhero by the name of Mecha Man. After his robot suit’s destroyed, the ex-hero joins the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN). He works there as a dispatcher, and has to send the right superheroes to the right emergencies so they can save the day.
Dispatch is brought to life by its characters and brilliant dialogue. In the SDN, Robert is confronted with a gang of ex-villains he has to form into a team over the course of the game. Your decisions in conversations and cutscenes have a huge impact on how the story develops.
Dispatch sometimes feels more like an interactive series than a «real» game, but we’re willing to overlook that since this title is so unique. Kim (second place) is a huge fan of this superhero epic, while Phil (eighth place) and Domagoj (ninth place) also like this title.
Dispatch was released on 22 October for the PS5 and PC.
Source: AdHoc Studio
6th place: Blue Prince
Blue Prince impressively turns the roguelike genre on its head. Instead of fast-paced action battles with constantly changing weapons and equipment, this surprising indie hit offers you… Puzzles? Yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you – just puzzles.
In Blue Prince, you inherit a house – on one condition: you have to find the hidden 46th room within a day. In true roguelike style, you explore the house, while the order of the rooms changes with each new playthrough. Instead of upgrades for weapons, you collect clues to help you understand the layout of the house. Although the rooms are constantly shifting, the lore of the house and its connections always remain the same.
There’s so much to discover that tester Simon returned to Mount Holly Mansion again and again, even after completing the game. He did this so often that his Photoshop file with notes on the game grew to a whopping 60 megabytes, and he crowned Blue Prince his game of the year in first place. Phil (tenth place) is also impressed by the concept.
Blue Prince was released on 10 April for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Raw Fury
5th place: Hollow Knight: Silksong
Fans of Hollow Knight have been waiting eight long years for the sequel, which focuses on a secondary character called Hornet. The wait was worth it. Despite initial concerns, Silksong has become a really nice – and hard as nails – example of Metroidvania.
The mix has everything fans of the genre could wish for: Hornet is wonderfully nimble to control, the hand-drawn graphics bring the world of Pharloom to life in all its glory and there are more than enough enemies for you to sink your teeth into.
At least that’s Kevin’s experience of the game. He has somewhat of a love-hate relationship with Hollow Knight: Silksong. Love must have won out, however, as he picks Team Cherry’s latest success for second place, while Phil puts it in sixth.
Hollow Knight: Silksong was released on 4 September for the Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Team Cherry
4th place: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an immersive medieval adventure like no other. In this role-playing game, you control Heinrich, the son of a blacksmith, and immerse yourself completely in the world of medieval Bohemia. You’re sure to be enthralled by the captivating story with its memorable characters and unexpected twists and turns. An extensive game world full of things to do and a beautiful landscape that looks familiar thanks to the numerous European forests do the rest.
This is what made Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 game of the year for Phil. In his review, the medieval fan says that the second instalment was far superior to its popular predecessor: «It makes the game more accessible and extensive without betraying its principles.» Cassie, who’s spent far too many hours playing the dice game, puts this medieval adventure in fourth place.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was released on 4 February for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Deep Silver
3rd place: Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza came out around a month and a half after the launch of the Switch 2, giving gamers their first valid reason to buy Nintendo’s new console. In this 3D platformer, Donkey Kong not only jumps through colourful, smart levels, but can also destroy all of his surroundings. It’s difficult to imagine this concept working – and yet Nintendo has once again hit the mark with this new idea.
The exploration of the different levels is livened up by numerous jump ’n’ run passages and puzzles. The new Bananza transformations, which see Donkey Kong gliding through the air as an ostrich, leaving everyone behind in a cloud of dust as a zebra or sucking up everything – even lava! – are the cherry on top of this fabulous adventure.
This gorilla can simply do it all. At least that’s what Domagoj and Cassie think, as they voted Bananza into first place, making it their game of the year. Phil thought it was good enough for ninth place.
Donkey Kong Bananza was released on 17 July for the Switch 2.
Source: Nintendo
2nd place: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Who would’ve thought one of the best JRPGs of recent years would come from a small French development team? Clair Obscur borrows many elements from games typical of the genre. These include the turn-based combat system, an epic story and the open world, which can be explored with the help of a motley crew of characters. At the same time, Clair Obscur brings something new to this genre: the turn-based battles are given a real-time component thanks to the dodge and counterattack commands.
The story has everything you’d expect from a JRPG epic: an adventurous journey with a clear mission, believable characters and unexpected twists and turns. The realistic graphics bring the fantasy world to life in all its glory. The finishing touch is the sometimes melancholic, sometimes epic orchestral soundtrack, which never fails to deliver.
For Kevin, it’s been clear since his review in April that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would be his game of the year. In the list put together by the entire editorial team, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 narrowly misses out on first place, although it appears on four individual lists – namely those of Rainer (first place), Simon (second place) and Cassie (ninth place) as well.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was released on 24 April for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Kepler Interactive
1st place: Split Fiction
The battle for the top spot was damn close. In the end, the new work by Fuck the Oscars legend Josef Fares and his Hazelight Studios came out on top. This wacky co-op game ranks highly on four lists: first place for Michelle, second place for Phil and third place for Rainer, while Kevin put it in sixth place.
In the game, you and a partner each take on the role of two authors trapped in their own fictional sci-fi and fantasy works. To escape, they have to work together. What’s special about the game is it can only be played in co-op mode – but to enjoy it online with a friend, all you need is a copy of the game.
Phil tested Split Fiction in March and was a huge fan. For him, it’s the best co-op game he’s ever played. Hardly any other title this year offers so many wacky ideas and gameplay concepts presented at breakneck speed. No two levels are the same, you’re constantly surprised with new mechanics. As soon as you get used to one sci-fi scenario, the title throws you into a completely new fantasy world. What’s more, the game looks gorgeous and has a captivating soundtrack.
An all-round success and a well-deserved winner. We can’t wait to see what crazy ideas Fares and his team come up with next.
Split Fiction was released on 6 March for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, and on 5 June for the Switch 2.
Source: EA
These are the top 5 games of the individual members of the editorial team
Want to know what our personal favourite games were? Here you can see an overview of the individual lists of each member of the editorial team, in alphabetical order. The lists have been shortened to the top 5 titles.
If we’ve covered a game in our magazine, I’ve linked the relevant article in the game’s name.
Cassie Mammone
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Look Outside
- Wanderstop
- Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
- Yooka Replaylee
Domagoj Belancic
Kevin Hofer
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
- Digimon Story: Time Stranger
- Wednesdays
Kim Muntinga
- Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream
- Dispatch
- The Darkest Files
- EA Sports College Football 26
- Pro Cycling Manager 25
Michelle Brändle
- Split Fiction
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide
- Mario Kart World
- Lego Party!
- Jurassic World Evolution 3
Philipp Rüegg
- Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
- Arc Raiders
- Split Fiction
- The Drifter
- The King is Watching
Rainer Etzweiler
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Split Fiction
- Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
- Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
Simon Balissat
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hades 2
- Despelote
- Sektori
You can find an overview of all our reviews at opencritic.com.
You can find our GOTY list from last year here:
Now it’s YOUR turn
What do you think of our list(s) – are there any glaring omissions? Which author has the best – or the worst – taste?
And, most importantly: what games were you most excited about in 2025?
Domagoj Belancic
Senior Editor
Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.chMy love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.
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