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2025’s Breakout Year for Games Sets the Stage for a Crowded 2026

Critics credit a wave of acclaimed indies alongside polished sequels across platforms.

Overview

  • Year-end lists consistently single out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for top honors and awards.
  • Nintendo’s Switch 2 launched in June with new exclusives, with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza drawing strong notice.
  • Major releases such as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei earned broadly positive reviews for their ambition and execution.
  • Outlets highlight surprise indie standouts that “came out of nowhere,” underscoring the year’s creative breadth beyond expected sequels.
  • Attention now pivots to 2026, with reporting pointing to Rockstar targeting November 19, 2026 for Grand Theft Auto VI, while projects like Ken Levine’s Judas remain without a firm date.