It’s been a tough year to pick the best game. 2025 has not only seen incredible releases, but as always, we count anything we have played and loved this year. Game of the Year 2025 has been tough, in a good way.
Release date means nothing. A good game is a good game and we recognise that above everything else.
Having said that, the titles that ended up as the ninjarefinery.com top three games, are actually all 2025 releases.
All very different, all absolutely contenders for the title of Game of the Year 2025.
Game of the Year – The top 3
We’ve already talked at length about all of the contenders. So you can read all about that here.
With reviews written for each, and time spent playing, re-visiting and checking. To make sure we’re comfortable with our decisions.
After great deliberation, it’s been whittled-down to a top 3, and then, of course, the Game of the Year 2025.
The three games taking the podium (in no particular order) are as follows.
Ghost of Yotei
The only sequel this year that felt like something new, something better and something that re-defined the series, and the genre.
We did the full 3-part review treatment and you can see why we think it’s such a massive contender, there.
Two Point Museum
Our ultimate cosy game. Management Sim and time hoover. The countless hours spent tweaking prices to get out of debt. The expeditions and lost experts.
As per our review. This is Two Point Studios at their finest.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Likely presumed as a shoe-in this year. Monster Hunter Wilds is everything we wanted it to be. It’s our most-played game this year and one we’ll be back at over an over.
Not without issues, particularly on PC. But another excellent entry into a series we’ve really fallen for over the past 10 years.
The Ninja Refinery Game of the Year 2025
Drumroll……
All three of the aforementioned games were “final decision” GotY at least once during this process.
But the one that came back to the top the most was none other than the incredible Ghost of Yotei.
What an amazing game. Taking the foundations of the excellent Ghost of Tsushima and just blowing it out of the water.
This is a game that we’re actively planning to go back and get the Platinum trophy for. Something that has only ever happened once.
We need to be back in this world. Beautiful visually, audibly and filled with charm and a cast of characters that are well written and wonderfully acted.
The story had us engaged throughout and the way Sucker Punch crafted this cinematic ode to Japanese culture deserves all the praise we can muster.
No game elicited as much emotional attachment and awesome as Ghost of Yotei.
Without a doubt the best game we played this year.
Silver and Bronze?
If we’re doing a podium finish for Game of the Year 2025. Let’s get second and third allocated as well.
Two Point Museum clinches 2nd place. With regular content updates and a well-polished release. Combined with. The fun and engaging gameplay. It feels flawless which is why it topped the game that has come in 3rd.
Monster Hunter Wilds is exceptional. But the performance issues persist. Loads of content and new stuff added post-release. A great game to play, but Capcom have slipped a little here and kept it out of the top two.
Next year
We have no idea what 2026 will look like. As we’ve already talked about, there’s some big changes afoot which may impact the time we have to play and write about games.
It won’t be for lack of trying, that’s a promise.
What do you think of doing 1st, 2nd & 3rd as a Game of the year concept? Do we leave it here in 2025, or is it something we should consider for future considerations?
Game of the year 2025 is done! We’re happy and Ghost of Yotei well and truly deserves the award.
If you haven’t, find a way to play it. You will not regret it.