Gamer Chronicles

Top Games of 2025 (So Far) - The Sh*t You Should Actually Play

• Aden • Episode 15

Share episode

Welcome to Part 1 of the “Holy Sh*t, 2025’s Been Wild” recap. In this episode, I’m breaking down the games that slapped the hardest this year (so far) — from time-bending co-op chaos to samurai assassins, hellish metal murder-fests, and yes, even a gorilla who sings. You’ll get spicy takes, swearing, praise where it’s deserved, and a few roasts along the way.

So if you’ve been wondering what’s worth sinking your time, soul, and sleep schedule into… I’ve got you.

Games covered:
– Split Fiction
– Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
– Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
– Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
– Elden Ring: Nightreign
– Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
– Blue Prince
– Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
– Donkey Kong Bananza
– DOOM: The Dark Ages
– Monster Hunter Wilds

Grab your controller, lower your expectations, and let’s f**ing go.* 🎧

Drop us a Message

Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
X (Formally Twitter)
BlueSky
Discord

Intro


Hey, hey, hey, welcome back to the show, you beautiful digital degenerates. As usual, it's me, Aden, your sarcastic spirit guide through the pixelated chaos of modern gaming. And today we're diving headfirst into the absolute bangers, brain melters of 2025, so far. As we've hit pretty much the halfway mark. So grab your overpriced energy mute your team full of 12-year-olds on Fortnite and COD, and settle in because I've played some good shit. And now I'm here to make sense of it all with just enough profanity to keep it spicy. So let's fucking go. 

gonna go to France by myself with the kids because I kind of fucked up and didn't manage to get the dog in a place. A friend of mine was supposed to look after her and then he decided to set his house on fire with a dishwasher or something. 

Why he didn't set his house on fire? I think his rats chewed through his dishwasher plug and set that on fire. So, yep. So when he pulled it out, he has a gas leak now. So yeah, I have to go alone with the kids. And it's gonna be a fucking nightmare. But never mind. So I thought I would cover this. The top games of 2025 so far. Because there have been some good ones. Despite all the layoffs and everything else. It's not the end of the world. Now obviously this list is quite long. I haven't played all these games. But I've played most of them. And it's not in any particular order. 

 ------ Split Fiction ------  2:16

So we're kicking it off with Split Fiction. The co-op action adventure epic. Which I have played. And this is from Hazel Light Studios. The folks behind It Takes Two. And It Takes Two I'm sure led to a lot of divorces. I know I was swearing when I played it with my mates. And I played this game as well. It's quite fun. Especially when you start to kill each It even scored a rare perfect 10 out of 10. From GameSpot. Not that I would really. Follow GameSpot reviews to be fair. I mean the whole reason. I started podcasting many years ago. Was because of GameSpot's bullshit. Anyway. In Split Fiction. You and a buddy play as two writers. Mio and Zoe. Who get literally sucked into their own stories. The result? A bonkers mashup of sci-fi and fantasy worlds. You have to co-write and co-survive together. It's got this over the top imagination on steroids vibe. Throwing you into 20 wildly Universes full of inventive challenges. One minute you're ninja running through a cyberpunk city. The next you're taming a baby dragon in a fairy tale. Each world feels totally distinct. Yet the game somehow ties it all together. In a way that makes sense. And keeps you and your co-op partner grinning like idiots. Every level is bursting with surprises. And we constantly found ourselves saying. Holy shit. Did that just happen? No exaggeration. Delightful surprises lurk around every corner of this game's multiverse. The gameplay is a masterclass in a co-op design. Hazelite basically said. Why limit ourselves to one genre. And then just went for it. You've got a platforming puzzle solving. Shooter elements. Even riffs on the other classic games. There's a part that feels like Tony Hawk's skate park tribute. And I'm not kidding. And it never gets boring because split fiction keeps introducing new mechanics and gimmicks at breakneck speed. Remarkably, nearly all those mechanics are so fun and polished. That any one of them could have been a core of its own game. The result is an experience that constantly pulls the rug out from under you. And that's in a good way. Because one moment you're working together to solve a clever puzzle. The next you're in a gravity defying sword fight or whipping bad guys in tandem while wall running. It's absolutely nuts but in the best possible way. And through all this chaos the game never forgets to be both hilarious and heartfelt. Mio and Zoe start off as total opposites grumpy sci-fi cynic meets sunshine and rainbows fantasy lover. And watching them bicker and bond is joy. By the end, you genuinely care about these two goofballs. Split Fiction had me laughing out and I wasn't expecting some of the feelings I got from a Pew Pew Co-op game, but here we are. Critics and fans alike have been losing their minds over Split Fiction, and for damn good reasons. GameSpot Reviewer called it one of the most memorable, brilliant, and spectacular games they've ever played, and a new benchmark for co-op experiences. And the praise isn't just lip service. Split Fiction truly feels like a love letter to creativity and companionship. As cheesy as it sounds, it's inventive, polished, and bursting with mind-blowing moments. That just had us pausing the game to yell, you gotta see this, at whoever was nearby, and if you care about scores, it's sitting in the 90s on Metacritic, and essentially every outlet is calling it a Game of the Year contender. In other words, Split Fiction just isn't a co-op done right, it's a co-op done to absolute perfection. 

Better yet, you don't have to buy a game to play with your friend if your friend owns it. You literally have access to the whole game, as long as they're playing it, and they've paid for it. So one of you buys the game, and both of you can play it as much as you like. Which I think is just great. They did it with It Takes Two, so both of you don't have to spend money so you can play it with anyone. I highly recommend this game. It's like I've done a full review on it already. 

you will swear at your teammate. So if you are good friends, be ready to break that friendship. 

 ------ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ------  6:40

Next up is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is an indie RPG out of France, which came out of nowhere, conquered our hearts and our free time. I have no idea what the fucking name is about, so don't let that artsy name fool you. This game is as crowd-pleasing as they come, 

blending classic turn-based JRPG vibes with some modern action twists. In fact, Claire Obscure released to universal acclaim And managed a 93 Metacritic average PlayStation 5, which is incredible. It's making it one of the highest rated RPGs in years. And it sold over 3.3 million copies in its first month. Which, for a brand new IP, from a much smaller studio, is ridiculous. So what is the big deal? Well, picture a dark fantasy world inspired by the Époque era. Belle Époque. World inspired by the, I'm going to try my French accent, Belle All vintage flair elements. The story follows a band of misfits a mission to stop an age-erasing curse. And it will give you feelings. We're talking an emotional rollercoaster with themes of mortality, grief, and finding joy in small moments. Critics praised the narrative and fantastic voice acting that brings these characters to life, and the art direction. The game is beautiful, like stop and stare beautiful. One reviewer described the visuals as dreamily intoxicating. And I top that praising. like a painting, and the whole atmosphere just sucks you into this melancholic, magical world. But the real star of Claire Obscure is the combat system, which somehow makes turn-based battles feel fresh and exciting again. The developers clearly love old-school JRPG combat, like Final Fantasy X-style turns. But they spice it up with real-time elements, which makes it much better, because I didn't like that just hit, step back, hit, wait. So you can dodge and parry enemy attacks during the opponent's turn. That's an example of what you can do. And it sounds crazy, but in practice, it works smooth as hell, pulling off a perfectly well-timed parry in the middle of a turn-based fight. Countering a boss's attack, like a FromSoftware game, is deeply satisfying. Obviously, not quite... As satisfying, because parrying from software fucking bosses is hard in some of their games. Press and play reactions have basically been, why has no one ever done this before? The combat is a hit of adrenaline in an otherwise strategic framework. You have to plan your moves and manage ability points like a normal RPG, but you also stay on your toes and those real time moments, it's the best of both worlds, brains and reflexes. O critic called Claire's Obscure a hyper-stimulating take on a genre once deemed too slow and stale for the HD era. Which in turn makes it a fancy way of saying it reinvigorates JRPG formula with action elements. Which I totally agree. After playing this, other turn-based games feel downright sleepy. Not Baldur's Gate 3 though, that game, still special place. And apparently, I'm not alone. The game achieved the highest Metacritic score of all time as of May 2025. So not only do critics love it, but players are raving about it too. Which is truly a rare alignment of the stars. Between the heartfelt story, gorgeous art and innovative combat, Claire Obscure has cemented itself as a modern RPG classic. It's one of these games where even industry legends took notice. Hideo Kojima, N Drunkman, Ken Levy, they all gave it a shout out. It's not bad for a debut title from a 30-person studio. So if you've been craving a JRPG that feels both comfortably familiar and excitingly new, this game should be at the top of your list. Just be prepared for it to consume your life for a while in the best way. 

 ------ Assassin's Creed Shadows ------  11:08

And next is Assassin's Creed Shadows in feudal Japan. Another game that I've played. I've played a lot of games this year. I just haven't talked about many. This is what fans have been Ubisoft? For years. with Assassin's Creed Shadows, they finally delivered. You play as not one but two protagonists. 

Naoi, a shinobi assassin who's stealthy, parkour, total badass, and weak as fuck. If you don't sneak up on animes, you will get ruined. And Yasuke, who is an African samurai inspired by a real historical figure. He's also a tank. And he hits hard. that's right. Assassin's Creed Shadows went there introducing the series to the first Black Samurai. Which is bold. But also pretty awesome. Together, these two lead you through a gorgeous open world Edo period Japan. Full of warlords, temples, and cherry blossoms. And of course, things to stab and kill. Beautiful looking game. Let me tell you, sprinting across Pagonda rooftops and swan diving into sakura trees feels That's right. Assassin's Creed Shadows went there introducing the series to the first Black Samurai. Which is bold. But also pretty awesome. Together, these two lead you through a gorgeous open world Edo period Japan. Full of warlords, temples, and cherry blossoms. And of course, things to stab and kill. Beautiful looking game. Let me tell you, sprinting across Pagonda rooftops and swan diving into sakura trees feels great. The game absolutely nails the atmosphere. It's all bamboo forest, zen gardens, and moody sunset vistas. Basically, a Japanese woodblock print comes to life. Fans who have wanted to live out their ninja versus samurai fantasies love this. And frankly, so do I. Gameplay wise, Shadows skillfully blends the classic Assassin's Creed formula with some much needed tweaks. You can either like this or hate it. Because what it's done is it's taken the basics of Assassin's and Valhalla and kind of trying to merge them together to try and make both sets of fans happy. Which obviously doesn't work usually. And I don't think it's worked here either. Because I love the mix element. But there are a lot of people who don't like it. But I think it's good. On Naoi's side, it's all about perfecting stealth, crouching through tall grass, kunochi things, using a grappling hook to swing between rooftops. It's taken a lot of inspiration from Ghost of Tsushima, which is good. It hasn't copied it. You can tell where it's taken its inspiration from, though. And the stealth and parkour feel refined and smoother than ever, especially in Naoi's missions. Meanwhile, Yasuke segments let you go ham with swords, spears, and raw strength. Which is great. If you want to play both sides, that's it. You can go in as a tank or as a stealth ninja. The dual protagonist design means you can approach missions from different angles. Literally. Critics have noted that this bold approach. And this gives each character unique skills that complement the other. It's a bit like having two games in one. A silky stealth platformer and a visceral samurai brawler. And you swap between them as the story demands. And the open world isn't just pretty. It's more dynamic than past Assassin's Creed titles. You have season changing, so we finally get winter with snow, and let me say that the footprints look good, and snow acts how snow should. I made sure of this, I tested this. And vantage points now work differently. They don't just magically mark all your map junk. Instead, they just let you scout logically. And you even have to gather clues to locate targets, rather than follow a GPS marker. So you actually have to use your brain in an Assassin's Creed game, and it's a welcome change that adds immersion without going full hardcore. Shadows does feel like a classic Assassin's Creed to Revelations era, in terms of stealth. But with a more modern quality of life, and no tailing missions, which was really good. It's easily the freshest series has felt in a long time. Now the story, because Assassin's Creed stories are hit or miss. I'll be real, Shadows doesn't have the best narrative in the franchise. There are definitely a few ha moments, and the villain isn't exactly an Ezio-caliber antagonist. That the personal arcs of Naio and Yasuke are pretty compelling, especially Yasuke since his inclusion stirred up some controversy among edge lords online. Apparently having a black samurai in fiction was too woke for some trolls. But honestly, Yasuke's present adds a fresh perspective, and the games addresses the cultural outsider angle in a thoughtful way. The devs clearly did their homework on Japanese history, and also on Yasuke's real legend. So, story hiccups aside, still delivers those epic historical moments Assassin's Creed is known for, with a twist. Plus, we can talk about how fun this game is. Stealth is really good, thanks to Naio's new tools. She can even hide in Shadows. Literally. It's in the title. And action fans can get their fill with Yasuke's bombastic combat, and the ability to duel basically anyone who looks at you funny. With millions of players jumping in, it had over 3 million players in the first week. The community buzz was huge. And by April, it was actually the best-selling game of the year. Only behind Monster Hunter Wilds. Which, spoiler, we're going to get to soon. So, if you've ever fantasized about being a ninja or samurai, which everyone has, right? Assassin's Creed Shadows is your wish fulfillment that you've been waiting for. It's not perfect, but it is a thrilling open-world adventure that finally takes the franchise to the long-requested land of katanas and shoguns. And trust me, you'll be too busy doing cool ninja shit to care about a few-story stumbles. 

 ------ Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 ------  17:14

Ah, yes. Coming in next, my personal favorite game of this year. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. Time to swap hidden blades for broadswords. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is the follow-up to the cult-hit medieval RPG from a few years back. Which is called Kingdom Come Deliverance. If you didn't know. And let me cut to the chase. This sequel, I've already done a show on this. So, it improves on the original in every possible way. It's the difference between a well-forged sword and a master-crafted one. And unlike medieval weaponry, this game doesn't miss, because it's sitting around on an 88 metascore, and has fans singing praises from the battlements. And the reason it doesn't have more than 88 is because it is a difficult game. It can be very difficult, and you have to be very patient. If you played the first game, you know it was an ambitious, if slightly janky, attempt to make a realistic medieval life simulator RPG. And the sequel takes that foundation and polishes it to a shine. The open world is bigger and more polished. Quests are more engaging and less buggy, which is great. And is vastly improved, because the original swordplay felt weighty and authentic, but could be clunky. Now it's buttery smooth, and still realistic. The developers managed to streamline the combat controls without losing depth, so every duel feels intense and tactical. Yet more fluid than before. Swords clanging, shields smashing, arrows whizzing by. It's all incredibly immersive. And if you're not into Blade to Blade, they expand the arsenal with more weapons, including blunt weapons, that actually feel different to use. Cracking a bandit's skull with a mace is grimly satisfying. And I love doing it. So what Come Deliverance 2 apart is its commitment to medieval realism combined with play of freedom. It's still that hardcore historical RPG... Where your choices really, really matter. Maybe even more so now. You can approach quests in multiple ways, diplomacy, trickery, stealth, or good old violence, and the game will dynamically react. I drunkenly brawled with some troublemakers in a tavern, as one does, which spiralled into a whole chain of events involving a hangover, a missing sword, and a very angry local lord. None of that was scripted. It was just the sandbox system colliding with my poor life choices. And that's the beauty here. Emergent gameplay, the quest design, now encourages you to get creative. The devs ironed out the frustration points from the first game, so no more save-scumming thanks to its revamped save system. I say that, basically every time you want a save you have to get drunk. Which is incredible. And then you can get addicted to alcohol. That's a whole other thing. So, the game is like real life. One minute you're reading a handwritten letter to glean some clue. And yes, literally, literacy matters if you bother to learn it in-game. The next, you're in a chaotic battlefield that is as confusing and brutal as actual medieval combat. It's not easy. The game will kick your arse if you run in swinging blindly. But it is fair. And when you master the systems, it is rewarding. This sequel also added a bunch of quality life touches, a more intuitive map, better inventory management, and mercifully fewer tedious chores. It's like the devs took a laundry list of player feedback from game one And checked almost every box. 

 ------ Elden Ring Nightreign ------  20:58

Right, onto a game I have not played, I have to talk about it. 

I fucking hate this franchise because... The first... I don't hate it. You know what? That's not true. I don't hate it because I spent a hundred hours playing the first fucking one. Elden When FromSoftware announces a new Elden Ring thing, you bet your ass the game well pays attention. And this is a stand-alone spin-off set in the Elden Ring universe. And it's basically a co-op Souls-like. So it's like they distilled the hardest mode, most intense bits of Elden Ring into a new game, and said, hey, let's... Players suffer together this time. The result? A faster, more aggressive take on the Souls formula. That's tuned for two to four players' co-op. You can finally die together with friends. Dreams do come true. Now, some fans were definitely skeptical. A roguelike-ish co-op Elden Ring sounds almost sacrilegious. But it actually seems to work in its own weird way. It trades the vast open world of its original for a tighter run-based structure. About 30 to 45 minute runs an area. And it cranks the pace up to 11. I'm talking sprint like hell, kill or be killed. The gameplay of Nightreign goes like this. You and your comrades drop into a cursed region. You scramble to gear up and kill as many monstrosities as possible before a literal death storm closes in. It's part boss rush, part battle royale. A wild experiment from FromSoftware. You face waves of familiar enemies and some new monstrosities. All while the timer ticks down and a deadly blue flame circles around you and shrinks. The urgency is constant, unlike regular Souls games, where you're carefully inching forward. Here you're hauling ass at almost all times. They even juiced up the movement to facilitate this. You can run nearly as fast as Torrent the Horse could. And you've got new traversal tricks like wall jumps ethereal eagle that can carry you across gaps. It feels like someone hit fast forward an Elden Ring and shockingly, it pretty good. The combat is still heavy and punishing, but you are encouraged to be wildly aggressive. If you stall too long, the night's tide, which is the storm, will fry you crispy, so you get these chaotic adrenaline pumping runs where teamwork is essential. I watched one of my friends trying it on one of the runs, and they were desperately tag-teaming a giant three-headed wolf boss, while another friend tried to keep an eye on the deadly storm perimeter. They got but this game has gotten a bit more of a mixed reception. It's at an average in the high 70s on Metacritic, which is actually on the low end for FromSoft games. Obviously, the hardcore players find it too far of a departure. And yeah, if you're a lone wolf who loves solitary Souls play, this probably isn't for you But, a lot of people are saying it's good, it could've been better, of course, but it makes the list because it's an Elden Ring game, and it's still pretty good. 

 ------ Death Stranding 2: On The Beach ------  24:38

Right, next one is Death Stranding on the beach. I have played the first one, I will say. When this came I bought it on PC to give it a go, and the first one was a great game. I don't have a Playstation but this definitely makes the list. Hideo Kojima is back to his old tricks, delivering a sequel that somehow is even weirder and more ambitious than the first Death Stranding. Death Stranding 2 on the beach, which will come to PC soon, but it's currently on the Playstation 5 only, Picks up with Sam Porter Bridges saga and cranks it up to a new of what the actual fuck. Now I know the original Death Stranding was divisive, some people bounced off the Amazon Prime Simulator vibe. Others, like me, to be fair, found it strangely meditative and moving. Nice slow walking simulator. Well, Death Stranding 2 seems to have won over everyone who has decided to play it. It's got an average score of about 90 on Metacritic. And even Kojima himself has expressed satisfaction, saying I'm happy with the scores, thank you. Yes, the man who worried the game might be too likable and almost sabotaged his own project is actually pleased. And he should be. Death Stranding 2 is being hailed as a masterpiece of storytelling and designed by many outlets. It takes the unique traversal narrative gameplay of the first and expands on it in a brilliant way. Imagine everything you loved about Death Stranding 1. The haunting landscapes, the connection between players, the crazy sci-fi story, and refine it. Then add a bunch of new mechanics that make delivering packages in the apocalypse even more engaging. From a gameplay standpoint, Death Stranding 2 introduces more flexibility in how you travel and connect. Which was a problem in 1. there are new and refined tools for terrain navigation. Climbing, building infrastructure, and yes, ladder shenanigans are improved. They've also doubled down on giving players choices. Stealth is more viable if you want it. Combat has been tuned up if you really insist on shooting those BTs. And the social strand system, and this is for you who don't know where players used to help each other in the other games, is deeper. But it's still fundamentally a game about delivering cargo, which is unexpectedly fun and meaningful. Although the story, because I've watched playthroughs of this, if you thought the first game was trippy, On the Beach dives into the bigger themes of life, death, and the cosmic beach that connects them. Yet out as landish as it gets. This is Kojima after all. Played all of his games through the years. And Metal Gear Solid 2, I'm still wondering what the fuck happened at the end of Metal Gear Solid 2. And that was how many years ago? I'm looking forward to this coming to PC. I can't wait to play it. It's one of those rare sequels that not only lives up to its predecessor, but surpasses it. 

 ------ Blue Prince ------  27:33

Alright, coming in next was a surprising one, called Blue Prince. So let's shift gears to something completely different. Blue Prince is the indie underdog of this list. A game that came out quietly and then, bam, started pulling 9 out of 10s and 5 star reviews like it was no big deal. This one is for puzzle lovers. Though it's not your typical puzzle game by a long shot Blue Prince is kind of a genre blender. Part escape room, part rogue like, part strategy road all wrapped up in a mysterious, shape-shifting mansion. The premise is a delightfully odd. You're set

Oh, and the mansion reconfigures itself every day because of course, why not? You gotta earn it with your brain power. Each run has you exploring the manor's rooms which actually draft and like tiles as you go. It's a bit like a board game. You're effectively building the level layout from random room pieces, corridors, dead ends, special puzzle rooms, whatever. Trying to create a path upwards to a goal. you have a limited number of steps and various puzzles and obstacles to overcome with certain rooms. The kicker is that every time you run out of time or leave at night, the house resets and changes, presenting a fresh challenge on the next run. It's a bit different than that. Just one more try the way roguelikes are. You learn a little more about the mansion secrets each time and you get a bit further Blue Prince design is mind-bendingly clever. It lays complexity on you gradually like a piece of origami unfolding. Early on you think, I get connect rooms to the top. Well, that's easy. Then it introduces color-coded rooms with special effects, items like keys and gems that persist across runs, secret interactions between room types, and before you know your brain is million miles a minute trying to optimize an ever-changing puzzle box. But, and here's the genius, it never feels overwhelming or unfair, it's challenging as hell. Don't get me wrong, I've definitely yelled at my screen with a misstep, closed off my path to room 46, again. Yet it's also incredibly approachable. The core concept is so clear, and the interface so slick that even when wrinkles appear, you're like,I  can figure this out. and critics have been gushing over Blue Prince, and puzzle fans are basically in love. People praise it's designed for being super deep, without ever becoming convoluted, which is a tough balance to strike, but Blue Prince walks that line beautifully. The game's also dripping with atmosphere. It has a minimalistic story, but it works. It gives you just enough mystery to keep you intrigued about what's behind the next door, or who's really pulling the strings. In this inheritance challenge. And the audio-visual presentation sets the tone perfectly. An eerie, lonesome mansion with subtle music that makes every discovery feel significant. Honestly, I'd call Blue one of the year's biggest surprises. It's proof that small games with a brilliant idea can stand toe-to-toe with AAA giants. So if you enjoy roguelikes, or better yet definitely try Blue Prince. the kind of game that gets in your head, in a good way, even when you're not playing. I caught myself doodling possible room layouts on paper, like a conspiracy theorist at one point. And when a game does that, you know it's something special. 

 ------ Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 ------  31:14

Here' one we've definitely all been waiting for. So kick-flipping into this list. Ha! See what I did there? Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4. A that had me reliving my teenage years. And spraining my thumbs all over again. Obviously, if you played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 a couple of years back, you know that Activision took two of the greatest skateboarding games ever made. Gave them a fresh coat of paint, some modern tweaks, and it was nostalgia heaven. And a damn fine game in its own right. And this time they decided to tackle Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 in one package. And let's be real. I mean, the airport level in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, the casino in 4, beautiful. The remake brings back all those classic levels, skaters and tricks, but now running at silky smooth frame rates with gorgeous updated graphics. We're talking every rail, halfpipe, and secret tape looking better than you remember. Because let's face it looked like shit on the PlayStation 2. The controls have been modernized too, but very subtly. They keep the feel of the originals. And it's still that perfect arcade skating physics where you combo across half the map if you've got the skills and the stats. Simply put, virtual skateboarding has never felt better. That being said, it's definitely not 100% perfect. It's got a few quirks. The big one is some odd decisions in the career mode in their originals. Pro Skater 4 moved away from the two-minute run structure to a more open-ended goal system. The remake does some baffling shuffling around of how goals and progression work. Some goals got merged or changed in ways they had purists scratching their heads. but it is noticeable. If you're intimately familiar with the old games. So basically, someone at 

Vicarious Visions, who were the developers, decided to tinker where tinkering wasn't needed. They rearranged a mixtape track order at a party for no reason. But beyond that, it's Tony Hawk 3 and 4, as you know and love. 

The consensus among reviewers is that aside from those career mode shenanigans, the collection is pure gold for skate fans. The level design holds up beautifully. These levels are like playgrounds for pulling off obscene combos. The multiplayer is also great, especially local multiplayer, it's split screen, and all the classic modes are there to trash talk your friends. And online mode is smooth too, so if you want to flex on global leaderboards, you can if you're feeling brave. Now all I need is Tony Hawk's Underground, that's all I need, and oh, life will be good. 

 ------ Donkey Kong Bonanza ------  34:08

Right, here's a weird one, I haven't played this one, obviously I played the one on the Switch, which was the Donkey Kong one, but this is Donkey Kong Bonanza. So if you've got a Switch 2, which I don't yet, our favourite, tie-wearing gorilla is back, and he's breaking new ground on the Switch 2. It's a brand new Donkey Kong adventure,and  it is being hailed as a system seller for Nintendo's new hardware. So this game takes Donkey Kong in a fresh direction, instead of the usual jungle romps, Bonanza sends Donkey Kong underground. We're talking a vast subterranean world beneath Donkey Kong Island, filled with weird minerals, ancient ruins, and of course tons of bananas. And the big twist is Donkey Kong teams up with Pauline, Mario's all flame-turned-superstar singer from Odyssey. For this journey, it's a Donkey Kong still does what he does best, smashing stuff, he can literally punch through terrain in certain sections, altering levels by creating new paths, or uncovering secrets, essentially weaponizing the environment. Meanwhile, Pauline brings her voice into shades of her musical levels in Mario Odyssey. She's got these powerful singing abilities that can shatter crystal barriers, or hypnotize certain creatures. At one point, she straight up sings a jazz note to stun a charging rhino, while Donkey Kong winds up a punch. 

So, definitely, have a look at some videos of this game. It is great. The vibe of Bonanza is pure joy. And it has that Nintendo magic of being accessible and family-friendly. And I'm really disappointed I don't have a Switch 2 to play it. The fan reception has been Bananas. Nah, see what I did there? People are calling Bonanza one of Donkey Kong's best outings and a breath of fresh air for the franchise. It's sitting on the mid-90s scores of Metacritic at the moment, and the reviews go, basically, if you have a Switch 2, you need to have this game. Donkey Kong Bonanza knocks it out of the park. Shows that even after decades, Nintendo can still find new ways to their franchise feel excited and new. So, if you've got that ape itch, Bonanza will scratch it. And then some. Well, I'm happy that there are some good games on the Switch, too. I was a bit worried that it was just going to be a pile of shit coming up. But Nintendo, to be fair, they always do surprise, don't they? 

 ------ DOOM The Dark Ages ------  36:46

And now we talk about Doom the Dark Ages. Doom the Dark Ages is id Software's bold spin on the Doom franchise. Taking the Demon Slaying action we love. And throwing it back to the 15th century. Think Doom guy in a full suit of armor, rocking a and a shotgun carving through demons in castles and dungeons. Yeah, it's as metal as it sounds. Yeah, it's as metal as it sounds. The soundtrack is still heavy metal now with some badass Gregorian chant vibes mixed in. Fans were a bit nervous for this. A medieval Doom. It's, it is good. go in not thinking that, comparing it to the other Dooms. Then you will enjoy it more. The Dark Ages did turn out to be hit with the community. It does feel both like classic Doom and something new. Even though, I still think if they released a proper Doom game it would have done fine. And the formula here is a harmonious fusion of run and gun gameplay and brutal melee combat. You're still sprinting at breakneck speeds, circle, strafing and shotgun blasting imps in the face. But now when you close the gap, you can also cleave them with a sword or bash them with a medieval mace. It might sound like sacrilege. Doom with melee, but trust me, they nailed it. The flow is intact. You're constantly on the constantly killing and sometimes you're a demon knight with an axe instead of the super shotgun. And boy, is it satisfying to parry a hell's knight sword and then shove a chainsaw in their gut. Chainsaws are timeless, apparently. The medieval theme isn't just a gimmick slapped on. It's woven into the game's DNA. Levels are designed around gothic cathedrals, plague villages, and hellish castles. You'll fight through a demon-infested monastery one moment, then dive into actual hell portals that spear you into twisted versions of medieval battlegrounds. The atmosphere is off the charts. Imagine the bloody halls of Doom 2016 and Eternal, but lit by torches and stained glass windows with demonic banners hanging from stone walls. It's moody and a welcome change of scenery from tech labs and Mars installations. There's even sections where you ride a demonic horse only for couple, though. It's not like a Doom cart or anything. And storm the battlefield 

while jibing demon hordes. It's like Doom meets Braveheart. To be fair, I did enjoy it Gameplay wise, it smartly retained all the movement goodies from modern Doom, mantling, dashing. So you're still dancing around arenas, double-jumping off ramparts, but then they've added the appropriate twists like the melee weapons and some cool new enemy behaviors. Some demons now carry shields or spears, So you might need to break guard with a shotgun, then finish with a sword. For example, the game encourages a rhythm swapping between guns and melee. And once you get it down, it's poetry in motion. Think chainsaw glory kills were fun. Wait till you glory kill a demon with a longsword.it's  gloriously gory. And yes, still color-coded for health and ammo drops. It's as if Id say, what if Doom Guy was a knight and just went full send on that idea? 

 ------ Monster Hunter Wilds ------  40:11

And finally, we are going to talk about Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom's latest entry in their beast-slaying co-op action RPG. Lots of RPGs on this list. It's the way to go this year. The game has been massive among the community, as in 20 million copies sold, which is huge. And a staple of online play in 2025, Wilds takes everything Monster Hunter is known for. Big monsters, addictive gear grind, cooperative hunts, and inject some fresh ideas that have people hooked all over again. The headline feature is a dynamically changing ecosystem. Capcom basically said, if the world itself was the biggest monster? Not literally, but rather they implemented a full-on weather and season system that significantly affects gameplay. The Forbidden Lands region in Wilds has a day-night cycle,seasonal  cycle, and random weathered events. And these aren't just for show. For instance, during the dry Fallow season, resources are scarce and some predators band together in packs to survive. But come the stormy, weathering, weather and season system that significantly affects gameplay, the Forbidden Lands region in Wilds has a day-night cycle, seasonal cycle, and random weathered events, and these aren't just for show. For instance, during the dry fallow season, resources are and inclemency season, monsters get ultra-aggressive and roam further from their lairs. Then in the lush, plenty season, who the fuck came up with the season names? There's an abundance of smaller wildlife and monsters chill out a bit. In practice, this means every hunt is a bit more unpredictable and immersive. You might plan to fight a Rathalos, but then all of a sudden you get a sandstorm and now it's harder to see and a normally docile monster is riled up and crashes the party. Or maybe you're hunting a water creature and an unexpected drought lowers water levels, giv you easier access. It's dynamic and it keeps you on your toes. It really makes the world feel alive, not just like a static backdrop. Capcoms basically turn Monster Hunter into a bit of a nature simulator. 

and the welcome for newcomers has been another big focus in Wilds. Monster Hunter has historically been, let's just say, fuck off to new players and Wild addresses this with much better onboarding experience like a proper tutorial that actually doesn't suck and more flexible gameplay options. You can now tailor hunts to your style, want a chill gathering session without big monsters up your ass? Yeah. There are expedition modes for that. Want to tackle a giant beast on time? There are shorter hunt options with scaled down monsters. It has been pointed out that Wilds is definitely more welcoming to newcomers thanks to these tweaks. But they haven't dumbed it down. The hardcore loop is still there and arguably better than ever. Combat has been polished to a fine sheen. Every weapon has new moves and quality of life improvements. Co-op play is still at the heart of it and remains great. The game even introduces seamless drop in co-op so your buddy can hop into your ongoing hunt mid-fight if you need help scaling the difficulty on the fly. So reception-wise... It's sitting in the high 80s, around the 88 mark, and player reviews are amazing, people love it, and are enjoying this game, they've praised the gameplay tweaks, the polished combat, and the new systems, so to sum it up, Mo Hunter Wilds is a roaring success, the co-op multiplayer RPG of the year, we've still got four months left, with the big releases coming in October, November, yeah, this year is looking great for games, again, hopefully Battlefield 6 will be good, check out the trailer of if you haven't. 

 ------ Outro ------  43:48

So there you have it, a rundown of some of 2025's top games so and we've had everything from co-op masterpieces, that redefine genres to indie games that came out of nowhere to steal our hearts. been a hell of a gaming year, and the best part, each of these games offers a totally different flavour, whether you want to laugh, or cry on the couch with a friend, slay beast with buddies online, or skate, puzzl, sneak, slash, and shoot your way to if this is the level of quality we're getting in 2025, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year has. until the next episode, everyone, happy gaming, don't forget to take a occasionally. And also, don't forget to subscribe to the give us that five star because that's important. And yeah, till then, have a great week, ever.