The first half of 2025 delivered some unforgettable game releases from blockbuster hits to standout indie gems. We’ve compiled review scores from critics around the globe to officially rank the best games of 2025 to date. These rankings are based on Metacritic critic averages as of June 2025.
The final list features 20 outstanding titles that have earned the highest praise. From massive console blockbusters to must-play PC hits, this is the definitive look at the first half of the year’s top-tier gaming. Let’s see who claimed the top spots.
The 20 Best Games of 2025 Released So Far (January–June)
It was a competitive six months, but a clear winner emerged. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on PS5 stands alone at the top, earning an incredible 93% average score. It was followed closely by a handful of other titles that also crossed the prestigious 90% threshold.
Here is the complete official countdown of the best games of 2025 for the first half of the year.
- #20: ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist (PC) – 84%
- #19: Keep Driving (PC) – 84%
- #18: The Alters (PC) – 84%
- #17: Two Point Museum (PC) – 84%
- #16: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy (Switch) – 85%
- #15: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (PC) – 86%
- #14: Mario Kart World (Switch 2) – 86%
- #13: Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo (PC) – 86%
- #11 (tie): Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (PC) – 87%
- #11 (tie): StarVaders (PC) – 87%
- #10: The Roottrees are Dead (PC) – 87%
- #9: Monster Train 2 (PC) – 88%
- #8: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (PC) – 88%
- #7: Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5) – 88%
- #6: The Talos Principle: Reawakened (PC) – 89%
- #5: Despelote (PC) – 89%
- #4: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PS5) – 90%
- #3: Split Fiction (PS5) – 91%
- #2: Blue Prince (PC) – 92%
- #1: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) – 93%
What the Rankings Tell Us
Looking at the full list, a few trends are impossible to ignore. The PC platform had an absolutely dominant showing, representing a massive 14 out of the 20 titles. You can find more information on many of these acclaimed titles on their official store pages.
However, while PC had the numbers, the PlayStation 5 claimed the highest spots on the podium. With three of the top four games, including the #1 title, the PS5 has had a stellar year for critically acclaimed exclusives. It was also great to see Nintendo represented with high scores for both the Switch and the new Switch 2.
The first half of the year has certainly set a high bar. Which of these games have you played? Let us know your favorites in the comments, and stay tuned for our full-year roundup of the Best Games of 2025 this December.
For more news on the best games of 2025, keep it locked on GamingNewsHQ.com and check out our GamingNewsHQ.com Reviews section.
