#balatro

hello gamers. i know it is literally august. however i just remembered i had this as a draft and never posted it. so, please enjoy - VERY belatedly - my favorite games i played last year, out of the few that i played/beat/experienced for the first time. (full list at the bottom!)

amazingly, this time, a few of the games i chose did indeed come out in 2025! however, this is not a "top games of the year" list, because i do not keep up with current releases enough for that.

Deltarune Chapters 3&4 (2025)

a game about some kids on an adventure into the darkness.

deltarune isn't even finished yet and it's already probably one of the best games ever made. these new chapters not only experimented wildly with gameplay mechanics, introduced complex and lovable characters, and made me feel so many goddamn things - they also have done things that i've just never seen done before like this in a video game. it was so fun to dive back into this world.

2. Animal Well (2024)

a game about exploring a dense, spooky cavern filled with secrets.

very much one of those games that feels like it was handcrafted for me specifically. puzzle platformer metroidvania! with a surreal, unique atmosphere! and a cool visual style! not only are there secrets, but multiple layers of them! animal well takes everything i love about fez (another fav) and dials it up a couple notches. it's fun, frustrating, satisfying, surprising, sooo beautiful. none of my friends seem to be as crazy about this as i am. that's fine. this game isn't for them. it's for me <3

3. Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025)

a game about ascending into a haunted kingdom of bugs.

hollow knight is my favorite game. silksong improves on it in almost every way except newness + nostalgia factor. i haven't beaten the true ending yet - it's a difficult and exhausting game, and no matter how much i'm praising it here i'm also intimidated by the prospect of picking it up again. but i will get there! i love hornet, i love the endlessly intriguing world, i love and hate the super-polished bosses, and i think that the platforming in this is some of the slickest Ever.

4. A Hat in Time (2017)

a game about platforming through a goofy world of mafia goons, movie directors, spooky spirits, and more!

i picked this up on a whim and surprised myself with how much i loved it. this is a game where you can feel the passion poured into it. every level is short and sweet and absolutely crammed with detail. the platforming is smooth and fun, the story is consistently charming and hilarious, and the gameplay and narrative complement each other in unique and satisfying ways. plus, probably one of my favorite game soundtracks! highly recommend!!

5. Balatro (2024)

a poker-ish game about using weird jokers to make really big numbers.

i definitely spent more hours playing balatro than any other game in 2025, and while i think i'm a bit burnt out on it by now, i do have to applaud its genius design. there are just so many options! so many new ways to spin it! it very much scratches that "strategy game" itch for me. anyway, never let me play a roguelike deckbuilder again

honorable mentions:

clickholding - short, weird, unique. loved it

tunic - another very cool "fezlike" with some great gameplay twists

silent hill 2 remake - i didn't finish this because i burnt out on it really hard but it was good overall, i think!

under the cut, i've put a full list of games i played/experienced in 2025. unlike 2024, i've included games that i haven't beaten (yet...) but nevertheless did more than dip my toes in.