I feel like I might have done my game of the year proper justice here, so I’m not sure there’s a lot I need to add to that.
I played a lot of games this year, but honestly, nothing was better than “Shadow of the Colossus,” a game I think of as being a must-play in the same category of games like Tetris and Donkey Kong.
Yes, you may play this game and not find it to be the game for you.
Yes, you should play it anyway, because the game is foundational to understanding the medium at large.
Beyond that landmark title, however, there was a lot of good stuff on the docket in 2025 (you can read through my thoughts recorded in real time right here on social media).
Below, I list everything I played through to some level of completion over the past year, and at the end, you’ll see a ranking of the best games I finished for the first time this year. It’s a fun list – hopefully with some decent insight included.
I’m excited for next year, too. Santa delivered a Switch 2 to the family, with all sorts of goodies to dive into.
Anyhow, read on to see how I rank the games I completed this calendar year.
Give it a miss (5 or below)
54. Mega Man: Dr. Wiley’s Revenge – An annoying and difficult game.
53. Mega Man II (Game Boy) – An annoying and simple game.
52. Streets of Rage 3 – Maybe I’ll soften my stance over time, but it did literally nothing better than its direct predecessor and it is offensively difficult as well, meaning I can’t recommend the thing at all.
51. Mega Man III (Game Boy) – It hints at maybe beginning to figure this formula out, but it still comes up short.
Tepid thumbs up (6 or 7)
50. Mega Man IV (Game Boy) – They did alright with this one, the first of the Game Boy Mega Men to get a lukewarm recommendation from me.
49. X-Men: Children of the Atom – It’s the simplest and easiest game in the MvC collection to term disposable, though I would say that it’s still a decent fighter at its core, which is really all it needed to be (hence the passing grade).
48. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – I was kind of bored with it if we’re being honest, though I do appreciate the work that went into it and I had a good chuckle or two.
47. Mega Man V (Game Boy) – Original bosses and weaponry along with good level design make this a better experience than the other Game Boy Mega Man titles.
46. Warriors of Fate – I’ve a fondness for this silly arcade brawler, since my kids like it.
45. Super Mario Party (Switch) – The Mario Party games all sort of bleed into one another and they WILL make your kids irrationally angry, but I have still had a good time here.
44. Space Harrier (Turbografx-16) – I don’t really have a problem with this port of the arcade classic; indeed it might be improved with the addition of turbo switches.
43. Journey to Silius – It’s 100% a competent platformer and simultaneously 100% likely to make modern gamers pull their hair out in frustration due to the difficulty.
42. Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 – I like it okay, but it didn’t really innovate over the original in any significant way, so you can see why the series petered out.
41. Sparkster – Thankfully, this SNES offering wasn’t a mere port, and I ultimately found it to be slightly more enjoyable than its Genesis cousin.
40. X-Men vs. Street Fighter – If you have the MvC collection, it’s worth a spin or two to see where the tagging dynamic got its start, but it’s certainly made less essential by all of the games that came along afterward.
39. Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter – Slightly better than its predecessor thanks to its more inclusive roster.
38. Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-sparked – Perhaps a little too barebones as collections go, I nevertheless endorse it for the opportunity to play some overlooked classics.
37. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons – It’s a fine Zelda adventure with some fun Easter eggs for longtime fans … though I wouldn’t call it a series highpoint, either.
36. Super Darius – The Darius games are ridiculously, prohibitively punitive when you die, essentially forcing the liberal usage of save points (for all but the most stubborn of us), but I do like the general look/sound/vibe.
35. Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos – You pretty much get the idea if you play the first game, so this gets dinged a little for a lack of originality.
34. Donkey Kong ‘94 – Listen, you can’t quibble with either the concept or execution here, which is marvelous all around; I just think there’s a ceiling on the amount of enjoyment to be had in a puzzle platformer, and that the game is significantly less essential than the original (though I still really like it).
33. Secret of Mana – The promise of a unique battle system doesn’t pay off as well as you’d hope, and while it’s undeniably gorgeous and sounds wonderful, the end game devolves into typical overbearing Square tropes that irk.
32. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Well, it’s got an argument for being the best Star Wars game ever released thanks to its pretty awesome story and characterization, but I just can’t get over some of its flaws (including its general jank/ugliness and high barrier to enjoyment in the early going).
31. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES) – I always enjoy revisiting all three of the mainline turtles games on the NES, while also acknowledging that each is flawed in its own way.
Endorsed without reservation (8)
30. Marvel Super Heroes – Another one-on-one Marvel-themed fighter, this one features the infinity gems as collectible items that can swing matches wildly, and that characteristic sets it apart.
29. The Punisher – Over-the-top violence and tight gameplay propel this strong brawler.
28. Windjammers – Among the more important documents of NeoGeo/SNK’s impact on the industry, this competitive disc-throwing simulator is way more fun than that description implies.
27. Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Superheroes – Justifiably overshadowed by its direct sequel, this is nevertheless a historically noteworthy step forward for the series and a dang fine game in its own right.
26. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages – Better dungeons, world map, play mechanics, items, plot … yeah, I like this one better than Oracles of Seasons.
25. Devil May Cry – Not without its faults (including an annoying save system and uneven difficulty curve), it ultimately has solid combat, a cool power-up structure, and a goofy sensibility about it that I enjoy.
24. Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics – This collection of Marvel-themed fighters is a banger and an absolute steal when it goes on (regular) sale.
23. Castlevania – It established the template for later entries brilliantly and thus it still holds up as a worthwhile play today.
22. Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams – A classic arcade cute ‘em-up that allows easy access with its unlimited continues, yet also a significant challenge for purists who would want to “one-coin” it.
21. Tekken 5 – It’s a really great fighter, among the best in the Tekken series.
20. Valis III – It’s got a few issues, but if you enjoy Castlevania-style adventures with vivid storytelling and earworm musical stylings, this sucker is a GREAT call.
19. Rocket Knight Adventures – The original Konami mascot adventure for the Genesis that deserves more of a lasting legacy than it has received.
18. Metal Slug – A bit of a buried treasure situation going on here with it being a NeoGeo/SNK release, the madcap Metal Slug is 100% a game everyone should check out.
17. R-Type – It’s a rock-solid shooter, worthy of your time … just be aware that it will kick you in the balls.
As good as it gets (9 or 10)
16. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Game Boy) – Its setting and point of view differ from other Zelda titles, and it’s an impressive technical marvel as an early Game Boy release, meaning it’s an easy call to give it a whirl.
15. Lords of Thunder – Featuring metal AF guitar licks and bizarre gods doing battle, this shoot ‘em-up is unique and all the better for it.
14. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – I’ll always be biased toward loving this game after getting to play it alongside my youngest daughter, but it’s also just a really dang great 2D platformer.
13. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – This is hands-down the best RPG I played this year, deserving of its strong reputation due especially to its clever writing and entertaining story.
12. Gradius II (PC Engine) – Gradius is an essential series for retro gamers, and this game in particular is Gradius done super well.
11. Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes – If you’ve never dabbled, believe me, you should start dabbling: MVC2 is a truly fantastic experience, rivalling (if not surpassing) the Smash Bros series.
10. Half-Life 2 – It manages to break the mold and create an entire new one, and it does that by brilliantly telling its story through the gameplay itself.
9. Crazy Taxi – This is the sort of mirthful, chaotic game that justifies the entire medium.
8. Star Parodier – “Merely” my second favorite cute ‘em-up, this sucker is nevertheless wonderful.
7. Shadow of the Colossus – A more mournful and thoughtful game than you’ll find most anywhere else, it also manages to delight and thrill in equal measure … it’s a true experience.
6. Tekken 3 – I’ve got it second among all fighters I’ve ever played (behind Street Fighter II: Turbo), and it deserves that standing as an outstanding game that continues to hold up.
5. Soldier Blade – The Goldilocks of shoot ‘em ups, basically juuuuuust right in every respect.
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time – It’s the best brawler ever; change my mind.
3. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood – I was finally able to 100% it this year, which feels like a genuine accomplishment but also makes me a little sad since there’s nothing new for me to discover in this all-time great.
2. Mega Man 2 – Delving deeper into some Mega Man on other platforms has only reinforced my adoration for this NES classic above the rest.
1. Air Zonk – Bright, colorful, goofy, and fun: What more could you want?
Top 5 games I finished for the first time:
- Shadow of the Colossus
- Crazy Taxi
- Half-Life 2
- Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Honorable Mention: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Metal Slug, Rocket Knight Adventures