When we put together our top 20 games of last year, we specifically called this out Civilization 7, Granted, Doom: the Dark AgesAnd Grand Theft Auto6 as big franchise games that we were already looking forward to for 2025. Although one of those games has been postponed to 2026, the three others were as expected on the list of Ars' favorite games of this year. They join a handful of other highly anticipated sequels, ranging from big-budget blockbusters to long-running indies, on the “expected” side of this year's list.
But the games that really stood out for me in 2025 were the ones that seemed to come out of nowhere. Which range from hard-to-categorize roguelike puzzle games to a gonzo, punishing mountain hiking simulation, the best Geometry wars clone in years, and a moving look at the difficulties of adolescence through the surprisingly effective lens of mini-games.
Looking to 2026, there are many other big-budget projects that the industry is busy preparing for (the postponed Grand Theft Auto VI most important among them). However, if next year is anything like this year, we can look forward to many more games that no one saw suddenly coming into view as new classics.
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Ubisoft Quebec; Windows, MaxOS, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, iPad
When I was younger, I wanted (and expected) pretty much every game I played to blow me away with something I hadn't seen before. It was easier to reach that bar in the '90s, when both game design and technology were developing at an incredible pace.
Now, as someone who is still gaming in his 40s, I'm excited to see that when it happens, but I don't expect it. Now I'm increasingly appreciating games that serve as a kind of comfort food, and I appreciate some games as much for their familiarity as for their originality.
That's what Assassin's Creed Shadows what it's all about (as I wrote when it first came out). It follows a well-worn formula, but it's a beautifully polished version of that formula. The world is vast and escapist, the audio and graphic presentation is immersive and accommodates many different play styles and skill levels.
