Every year requires gaming media and fans alike to spend hours upon hours on the latest and greatest, and rightly so, when there are as many quality releases as 2025 has had.
However, aside from all the great games that came out this year, what do we have? in fact played this year?
Still, enjoying video games isn't always about the biggest releases each year, even though the cycle of those releases dominates the Zeitgeist; It's often preferable – and a lot of fun – to return to a classic or favorite from the past, catch up on an important game from recent years, or simply continue playing your favorite live service game.
Below, the TechRadar Gaming team sheds light on what we've actually been playing, focusing on games that aren't just the latest and greatest of 2025.
Diving again in the wasteland
Whenever I wasn't playing a game to review this year, I've been busy re-exploring the world of Fall 76. PlayStation's recent roundup confirmed that it was comfortably one of my most played titles in the last 12 months and, given everything that's happened in the game, it's not hard to see why. With the second season of the Fallout television show on the way, I've been wanting to learn more about the series' universe, and this installment of the live service is perfect to satisfy that.
Sure, it wasn't the best in the series when it arrived in 2018, but it's steadily grown into an expansive MMO experience that's well worth your time. The year began with the massive Ghoul Within update, which introduced some interesting new quests that allow you to transform your playable character into a Ghoul. Ghouls play very differently than humans, with unique perks and a unique Feral meter to manage instead of the usual hunger and thirst.
Getting acquainted with my new virtual undead life was a lovely little challenge, and this was just the beginning. The Gone Fission update arrived a few months later and added fishing, with plenty of aquatic creatures to collect, and I still haven't managed to find them all. This latest major content addition, Burning Springs, also launched in early December, featuring a whole new area, plenty of quests, and even the show's iconic Ghoul.
It's been a brilliant time and I know I'll continue to take advantage of everything it has to offer in the coming months.
Dashiell Wood, game editor
Following the dawn
Yes, as expected for me, it is Final Fantasy 14 online. Dawntrail, the MMORPG's current expansion, may not be the best when it comes to the main scenario questline (although you have to remember that it takes on the generational combo of Shadowbringers and Endwalker on that front). But it's hard to argue that Warriors of Light hasn't been eating very well when it comes to the expansion's list of features and quality of life updates.
Large-scale content like Occult Crescent and Cosmic Exploration (this expansion's long-form modes for relic weapons and crafting/gathering, respectively) have kept me engaged day after day. Meanwhile, the Arcadion raid series has been perhaps my favorite of any expansion, and it's ready to explode in Patch 7.4 with an ending with a song written by Beartooth and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello.
I haven't been this excited about the game in a while. When it arrives on December 16, Patch 7.4 will also (finally!) remove most Glamor restrictions, meaning you can don the appearance of any armor piece (besides the starting career gear) without job or level limitations.
We're on the cusp of Dawntrail's twilight and the next expansion is looming with an announcement expected in April 2026 at Final Fantasy 14 North American Fan Fest Event. And I can't wait for what's next.
Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor
A year of demon slaying, witchcraft and hiking.
I've played a ton of the best 2025 games this year, but I've somehow managed to squeeze some amazing experiences around them, from indie revisits to Actual Indy, from bombastic shooters to DLC add-ons, as well as some multiplayer fun. This is where I spend most of my time when I'm not in the 2025 launch mines.
First of all, a big shout out to the complete and unadulterated games of Condemn (2016) and eternal damnation. Anyway, I had put these two off for a long time, but after attending a preview for Doom: The Middle Ages In March in Germany, it was finally time to queue the top two in an attempt to complete a straight triumvirate match, which I did. It also gave me great new benchmarks to compare this year's results. The dark ages a, which was interesting.
In short, Condemn (2016) is comfortably my favorite of the three, but I prefer The dark ages and its excellent shield combat in the Mario-style platform fest that is Eternal.
I spent a lot of time in Death Stranding: Director's Cut After my Doom-athon too, and I had to abandon an entire game because life got in the way: annoying life. It's still a standout game of the year outside of 2025 for me, though, and I can easily see myself sinking back into it and then meandering toward Death Stranding 2: On the beach later too.
Even in a matter of weeks, I've racked up some incredible hours on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt this month (December) with a new and highly anticipated game, basically the first since it came out in 2015, as my Christmas/holiday game. I have absolutely embraced this majestic, genre- and generation-defining game once again and have no regrets about finally recommitting to it, a 10-year-old game even against the best of 2025.
Lastly, to scratch the multiplayer itch, my friends and I have been exclusively playing older games (although we often do, to be honest) and finally sinking hours into finishing them. Ghost Recon: Breakpointthen crushing thousands of insects in Alien Elite Teambefore spending a ton of hours most recently on Payday 3. Add some co-op Diablo 4 and dying light 2 time too, and it's a great combination of non-2025 multiplayer.
Rob Dwiar, Editor-in-Chief
Hello darkness, my old friend.
As Evergreen Editor at TechRadar Gaming, my job is to stay on top of the biggest and best AAA and live service games all year long. Unfortunately, I actually spent hundreds of hours on no man's sky one more time and you know what? I don't regret anything.
no man's sky received its most transformative update earlier this year, adding Corvette boats, which can be heavily customized and shared with a group of friends. You even sit in your ship and can get up and walk around whenever you want, opening up the possibility of going out into space and floating in glorious existential darkness. Skydiving can now also be activated by jumping off the dock of your Corvette, and there's even an onboard terminal where you and your friends can take on group missions.
I say it every year, but no man's sky It's a great game. Thanks to constant updates, I always start over and 2025 was no different. It even made its way to Switch 2, allowing me to enjoy the full experience on the go. Add to that the fact that I bought a PSVR 2 on Black Friday and, well, I've spent a lot of time on no man's sky lately. I'm betting 2026 will be a big year for the game, and with trailers for Hello Games' next project, Light No Fire, starting to arrive, I can't wait to see what's next from one of the best indie studios out there.
Jake Green, Evergreen Editor
The best game consoles.
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