I usually don't play games right when they release. Except for series that are my absolute favorites (Metroid, Bayonetta, Doom, etc.), I tend to wait for prices to go down, which they do unless it's a first-party Nintendo game. Early in 2025 though, I knew this year would be different. There were so many highly anticipated games released this year, and even a new Nintendo console! Between 2 jobs and 3 kids, my gaming time is limited, but I still managed to play 11 games released this year, so I decided I would rank them as a special edition, end-of-year GIPL. Let's dive in.
11. Mario Kart World (Switch 2)
Released June 5
Against all expectations, I nabbed a Switch 2 at launch without a preorder. Once the hype of getting the new system died down, I have to admit that Mario Kart World was honestly a bit of a let down. Some of the tracks were really cool, but you don't get to spend a whole lot of time with them since many laps during a GP or Knockout Tour simply took you from track A to track B. The free roam mode also felt very empty and honestly kind of boring. I really feel like there needed to be more variety in objectives and rewards, and maybe the game could have benefited from a story a la Crash Team Racing. I really enjoyed the plethora of unlockable costumes, but you unlock them in the weirdest way possible. I also feel like the single-player vs CPU racing experience screwed you over more than previous games, which might be a function of so many racers-per-race. Overall not a bad game, but kind of disappointing and not nearly worth the elevated price tag.
My GIPL Rating: C+
10. Pokemon Legends: ZA (Switch 2)
Released October 16
Pokemon Legends: Arceus had the benefit of no expectations, and was a surprise hit when it dropped. PLZA didn't have that luxury, and I feel like the (relatively) high expectations worked against this game. The real-time combat simply didn't do it for me, although I do applaud them making changes to the battle formula, no matter how small. Unfortunately, I just found myself trying to spam moves as fast as I could as opposed to positioning or trying to dodge. Lumoise City was kind of same-y and I wasn't very motivated to explore. A very meh experience overall, and I really doubt I'll go back to it.
My GIPL Rating: C+
9. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution (Switch)
Released August 19
It's really cool that something that is essentially a GBA game was released in 2025. The classic Shantae charm (music, writing, art, etc) was present. The level design was mid; not as bad as Risky's Revenge but nowhere near as well-done as the newer games. I'm always happy to play a new Shantae game, but this one is more interesting as a previously-lost gaming artifact than it is on it's own merits. Definitely skippable for all but the most devoted Shantae fans.
My GIPL Rating: B-
8. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 (PS5)
Released July 11
I don't have much to say about this one, it was exactly what I expected and, for the most part, exactly what it needed to be: a faithful remake with good gamefeel and a great soundtrack. I don't mind that they didn't include the exact track list of the original, because the vibes were still right and it let this game stand a bit on its own legs. Similarly, I didn't mind that they changed the structure of 4; converting the career mode of that game to the standard 2-minute run matches featured in the other 3 games that have been remade. The new levels that were added for the remake are honestly the best in the series in my opinion. As a final note, I'm a little disappointed that some of the cheeky humor has been removed. Guys no longer pee off of cliffs, Ollie the Magic Bum's drunk ass is missing, and food trucks no longer advertise “pork balls, stuffed sausages, and meaty breasts.” I know these are small and often immature details, but they sterilize a big part of what gave these games such charm in the PS1/2 era.
My GIPL Rating: B+
7. Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (Switch)
Released July 31
A welcome part of the Ninja Gaiden franchise's incredible 2025. This classic-inspired game featured everything you would expect from a 2D entry in the series, including tight controls and great art style. Boss fights were tough but the difficulty balance was good overall. I enjoyed the minor strategy components regarding how/when to charge/use power-up attacks. The upgrades were mostly sub-par. I imagine the replay value will be good, with plenty of secret items or new ranks to achieve. I enjoyed it.
My GIPL Rating: B+
6. Avowed (Xbox Series S)
Released Feb 18
Avowed was my personal surprise hit of the year. After reading a decent amount of content about this game, I decided to try it out, despite it being generally out of my usual range of genres. Ultimately, I loved the game, and I feel like Avowed is the perfect Western RPG for me. Featuring a streamlined story with all sorts of quality-of-life features, Avowed cuts out all the crap I usually hate about RPGs and focuses on the excellent combat system and equally strong story and worldbuilding. I was able to lose myself in this game, the same way I was able to lose myself in KOTOR or Mass Effect. One complaint I have, however, is it feels like some content was cut, or at least undercooked. Only 2 of the 4 party members had their own quests, and only 1 of them could be romanced. If all of the party members were equally fleshed out, this one would be right up there with Mass Effect for me. As it is, this was one of my most pleasant surprise experiences in an already-packed 2025.
My GIPL Rating: A
5. Hades 2 (Switch 2)
Released September 25
This highly-anticipated sequel to the one of the only Roguelites I've ever enjoyed took a while to get going, but I ultimately think this one rises above the highs of the first. The characters and art were phenomenal once again, with a pantheon (literally) of incredibly attractive designs (thanks for Nemesis, Supergiant!). Having 2 separate paths was a game-changer, and provided even more variety to the gameplay loop. The weapons and abilities were just as good as the first, and the combat let you get into a great flow.The story kept me around all the way to the end this time, which is more than I can say for Hades 1.
My GIPL Rating: A
Note: I immensely enjoyed all four of the remaining games on this list, and had a horrible time putting them in order. Their rankings as you are about to read them are based solely on my current whims while writing this, but each of the four has a solid argument in my brain for any of the four remaining slots. Anyway...
4. Ninja Gaiden 4 (PS5)
Released October 24
The flagship Ninja Gaiden release of 2025 developed by one of my favorite studios, I had a ton of fun with this game. The combat was interesting and there was a nice learning curve to it. I got my ass kicked in the early levels, but once I figured some basics I became unstoppable. I was fine with a new protagonist being introduced, but it definitely hit different when I was finally able to play as Ryu. However, his levels got the DMC 4 treatment, as they were just re-hashes of earlier Yakumo levels. I'm a little disappointed there are no unlockables to go along with all of the post-game content- all the new skins are locked behind a paywall (this is a problem it shares with Doom: The Dark Ages; modern gaming sucks sometimes). But this game was definitely good enough to make me want to revisit the original trilogy.
My GIPL Rating: A
3. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch 2)
Released December 4
This one is so hard for me to assess. Ignoring the weird online discourse about this game, here's my own take. First, the vibes were generally right, meaning the graphics, environments, sound effects, and music combined to make it feel like a Metroid Prime game, which was important. The side characters were bland and kind of insulting (“If you get a new ability, it's always best to go back to places you've already been!”), and as cool as the motorcycle was, the open area was bland and boring. I put this game somewhere around Prime 3 quality, maybe a bit below. For a Metroid game, that's not great, but a Metroid game is like sex: even a sub-par experience is still awesome. It's worth a play for those who have enjoyed other games in the series, but Beyond certainly didn't reach the admittedly impressive bar set by Dread.
My GIPL Rating: A-
(Yes I know it is ranked above other games with a better rating- my GIPL Rating is mostly how strongly I recommend others try the game, while the games in this post are ranked by my personal preference. A Metroid game will always receive positive bias from me!)
2. Doom: The Dark Ages (PS5)
Released May 15
Already one of my most anticipated games of a loaded 2025, the wait was even more agonizing since life circumstances mandated that I wait an additional 2 weeks after release to finally play it. The medieval aesthetic was a welcome change to the series, but resulted in the environments being kind of bland and unmemorable compared to Eternal. The demon design was excellent, with fresh twists on many of the classics and even some new mini-bosses. The weapons were creative, but unfortunately the balance of the combat did not require that you use your entire arsenal; just like with Doom 2016, you could pick your favorite weapon and never switch it out, as most weapons were effective against all enemy types and ammo wasn't exactly scarce. This entry brought slower movement speed, a shield, and melee weapons, which changed the combat quite a bit. Personally, I don't think it comes close to topping the perfect combat loop and frenetic speed of Eternal, but I'm pleased they tried something different (if I want to play Eternal, I can go play Eternal). The music was just as good as you would expect and the story was there. Overall, I quite enjoyed my experience, but The Dark Ages doesn't ascend to the heights of Eternal in my personal rankings. But that's quite a lofty standard.
My GIPL Rating: A+
1. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Switch)
Released August 29
Man, this one came out of nowhere! Sega brought back a 2D version of their classic ninja series, maybe trying to compete with all of Ninja Gaiden releases. Art of Vengeance was excellent, and outclasses Ninja Gaiden Ragebound in almost every way. The art direction was superb. The level design (mostly linear with light metroidvania backtracking in each level) was very good. The platforming and combat challenge was just right. The combat itself was great, with a really good drip feed of more advanced techniques. Enemy design was awesome and appropriately varied, each requiring a unique approach, and the boss fights were fun. There were a bounty of collectibles that were fun to track down and worthwhile overall. What really pushes this game to the top of my list is what it represents: not a high-budget AAA experience, but rather a focused, 2D experience of one of gaming's long-dormant IPs. Just like the meme, I want shorter games with "worse" graphics made by people who are paid more to work less and I'm not kidding. I don't know how much the devs made, but this game is proof that such a concept works in modern gaming. Just a completely enjoyable experience from top to bottom, and my favorite game released in 2025.
My GIPL Rating: A+
No outro, thank you for reading and have a great 2026!
