Every year I have the honor of creating Game Rant's Top 10 Games of the Year list, and as part of that, I create my own personal list. It's something I look forward to every year because there's something inherently appealing about looking back on the year that was and deciding which experiences I treasured more than others. In some ways it's completely arbitrary, but in others it feels like the perfect way to give a nice bow to my gaming timeline for the year.
For me, this year has been big for rogue-lites and the experiences I've been able to have on the go. I've been traveling a lot this year, from visiting Paris to playing Pokemon Legends ZA to celebrate Epic Universe's grand opening, and having a Switch 2 and Xbox ROG Ally X with me helped keep me entertained, but also shot a few games higher on my personal list than they might have otherwise.
My tastes can be eclectic from year to year, but there are usually some through lines. I like a good story or a good hook to keep me playing regularly, for example. I try to play as many games as possible, which helps the games that click with me stand out even more. But most importantly, I'm looking for a game to think about even when I'm not playing. These 10 games have gotten me in one way or another this year.
10
Rootrees are dead
Playing Roottrees are dead with my wife is one of my favorite gaming experiences this year. I heard the initial hype about the game and knew I had to try it. I didn't expect to get so involved with the Roottree line that we actively empathize with some of them and criticize others.
If you've ever wanted a game that looks like a Charlie Day meme with yarn-connecting photos, Rootrees are dead is it This will make you feel like a true detective, so you can try to uncover the clues behind the keyboard and not by caffeinated staking. And the best part is that there is a lot of meat in the game. Much more than you would initially expect.
9
Donkey Kong Banana
Anyone who asks me what game you must play for the Nintendo Switch 2 will get it Donkey Kong Banana field. Nintendo has a knack for taking a concept or character that I think will be good but not great and proving me wrong time and time again. I didn't think breaking it would be so much fun, and I didn't think the desire to hear “Oh Banana” would make me destroy every inch of every layer. And yet here we are.
The music is catchy and the Bananza powers are so incredibly fun that I regularly played Donkey Kong with a big smile on my face. If you need a reason to pick up a Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong Banana is every bit the platformer selling system you want, even if you expected Mario to take the job first.
8
Send
I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of the actual “game” part Send. Sending heroes on missions made me agonize over every choice and worry that I would have less of a narrative experience. This is because the story in Send he's so good – and my god, the performances are all stellar – that I cared so much about how well each member of the Z-Team did. It's a personal hang-up, I know, but I suspect I'm not alone.
Putting all that aside, Send it could just be a movie or a tv show and I'd be just as excited. It's mature, really funny, and there's not a weak link among this fabulous cast. I love Telltale Games and this is the next evolution of that concept, bigger and better.
7
Absolutely
It's been a big year for rogue-lites and me Absolutely is the first to appear on this list. The idea of a running beat-em-up seemed novel, but it was the branching paths and side quests that kept me going from the start. Then when I started to focus on combat, I regularly flew through the runs looking for new upgrades and abilities.
It's often the case that rogue-lites run live and die on the first few abilities/upgrades you get, but Absolutely showed me how all sorts of different combinations could turn my chosen character into a wrecking ball. I especially like how this game has a clear goal with a final boss at the end of the path. It gave me meaning for every run and the way you keep unlocking new upgrades even if you fail is what helped Absolutely steal dozens of hours of my time.
6
Open
I was never big Skyrim or The Elder Scrolls man but Open hit all the right notes for me. It has a world that feels somewhat expansive but never overwhelming; characters whom I loved to know, and whose opinions of me I carefully preserved; and a combat system that didn't feel too stiff or restrictive. Open was the type of “open world” fantasy adventure that I enjoy.
I know some would say this is Diet Bethesda and that's why I liked it so much. Open it didn't force me into any one playstyle, and as a result I spent a lot more time experimenting than I probably would have in another experience. Obsidian knows how to tie all those essential RPG elements together to make the world feel real, but most importantly, they know how to make it fun.
5
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
i loved Death Stranding 1until I did. It was getting to the point where my obsession with delivering packages was starting to wane and everything was getting tedious, but there were still at least a few dozen hours left. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach simplified everything that I felt was a chore, made these spring concepts even more engaging, and when I got to the point where I started losing my breath, the end was in sight.
And what an end! Death Stranding 2 is Kojima at his most Kojima-est. He brings a formidable set of scenarios as only he can. That's what I love about giving developers another crack at their ambitious projects; they get a chance to fix what didn't work and make what did work even better. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a perfect example of that.
4
Ball x Pit
Ball x Pit was a game I didn't see the appeal of at first. It's the kind of game you have to play for yourself before you get hooked. But boy, once I started unlocking new characters and learning how the city building stuff worked, it became a constant obsession.
It helps that the runs are so biting, and Ball x Pit regularly gives out new game concepts to learn and then master. Even characters you think might be worthless eventually prove useful as you progress. Don't dismiss it as a mere clone because Ball x Pit it doesn't even come close. It is the one game that you can get almost anyone addicted to.
3
Split Fiction
Hazelight makes games that are tailor-made for me. I have a friend with whom I regularly play games directed by Josef Fares, and we had a good time with him Split Fiction. It takes two was my favorite game of 2021 and I think Split Fiction is a mechanically more complex evolution of the concepts introduced in this game. It's the story that holds it back, but the final act is enough to throw it off Split Fiction much higher than it would otherwise land.
The technical wizardry displayed in the final “level” of the game is astounding to the point that even non-players can be amazed at what Hazelight can do. I appreciate the experience this team brings every time and they have yet to let me down. If Split Fiction there's any indication that Hazelight wants to keep fighting back then I can't wait to see what happens next.
2
Hades 2
I enjoyed the first one Hadesbut Hades 2 they clicked with me on a higher level. I think the way these two different “runs” interact is much more addictive to me. The ability to go into the underworld and learn new mechanics and weapons and then confidently set out for Olympus was the blow that pushed Supergiant Games' sequel above all the other rogue-lites I've enjoyed this year, and there have been a lot.
I agree that the story isn't that strong, but everything else clicked earlier and deeper for me. Hades 2 it strikes a chord where “one more run” is always satisfying, which is why it's become one of my favorites of the year.
1
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
I know you're probably sick of hearing it, how great Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 it is, but if you will allow me to gush a little longer. When I previewed this game back in March, I had a feeling but couldn't have predicted how much I would fall in love with Sandfall Interactive's RPG. I'm crazy about a good bumper or dodge mechanic, and Clair Obscuro has the most satisfying parry I've come across in a long time.
Just that one detail is enough to give it that spark, but the story, visuals, music and acting take it to the next level for me. Some years it can be hard to decide what ends up at the top of my personal list, but there was no doubt about it Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In fact, the game held first place at the start of 2025 and never wavered.
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Look, I'm excited Grand Theft Auto 6 as well as another person. But I'm really looking forward to seeing how Resident Evil: Requiem will be shown, and if Insomniac can use the magic of Marvel to bring Wolverine to the same level as Spider-Man. 2026 will be big for many different reasons and I can't wait to see the dust settle on my top 10. See you in 12 months!
