Support NeoGAF

[balls of snow]

Good on ya Sandfall. That 2nd game is gonna get some big money backing it.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is GameSpot's Game Of The Year 2025

Here's why Sandfall Interactive's debut title is deserving of our highest accolade

www.gamespot.com

Also the top 10 games according to Gamespot. Shocking list tbh. No nintendo representation has to be a first. And Silent Hill f over Death Stranding 2, Doom Dark Ages and Ghost of Yotei what in the delulu. Not in order:

* Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
* Hollow Knight Silksong
* Elden Ring: Nightreign
* Keeper
* Absolum
* Blue Prince
* Dispatch
* The Seance of Black Manor
* Silent Hill f
* Hades 2

GameSpot's 10 Best Games Of 2025

We've tallied the votes, debated the games' merits, and chosen our top 10 games of the year.

www.gamespot.com

 

[Senua]

KCD2 just didn't exist in these journos eyes

 

[Zacfoldor]

KCD2 just didn't exist in these journos eyes

It was divisive. I hated the banality of doing ordinary things in the game, so I get it. That said some elements were near perfect too so it's a more niche game but perfect for that niche. Man, the voice acting and story are perfect. The combat gimped the game.

 

[adamsapple]

 

[Senua]

It was divisive. I hated the banality of doing ordinary things in the game, so I get it. That said some elements were near perfect too so it's a more niche game but perfect for that niche. Man, the voice acting and story are perfect. The combat gimped the game.

Yea the combat was the worst aspect, but as you say other ares, especially RPG elements are world class. I can't believe it didn't even get in their top 10

 

[Lokaum D+]

KCD2 just didn't exist in these journos eyes

Vavra ll kill every minority in his next game.

 

[Kacho]

Vrava ll kill every minority in his next game.

Anything but make good combat for his video game

 

[Lokaum D+]

Anything but make good combat for his video game

I really like KCD combat, not everything needs to be light attack, heavy attack, parry, roll

 

[yogaflame]

Bandwagon continues. But its still better than overrated last of us 2

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

They are trying to tell you how exclusives are bad...that's why there isn't any of them in the list.

ThE MeSsAgE ver. 2025-2027

 

[proandrad]

I really like KCD combat, not everything needs to be light attack, heavy attack, parry, roll

I tried the first one, just wasn't for me. Didn't like the combat.

 

[Balducci30]

KCD2 just didn't exist in these journos eyes

It's bullshit. Best game I've played in years

 

[Danjin44]

Bandwagon continues. But its still better than overrated last of us 2

Easily! E33 might not be my personal GOTY but I'm more than happy to replay that game again but with Last of Us 2 even one playthrough was too much.

 

[Raven117]

It was divisive. I hated the banality of doing ordinary things in the game, so I get it. That said some elements were near perfect too so it's a more niche game but perfect for that niche. Man, the voice acting and story are perfect. The combat gimped the game.

This was my experience as well. The highs were sky high, but damn most of the time it was just a slog.

 

[phant0m]

It's bullshit. Best game I've played in years

It's the 2nd best RPG I've ever played after BG3.

The depth of its systems and player agency are a stratosphere ahead of E33 (speaking to RPG specifically). E33 is a really great game but it's not a better RPG. At all.

 

[kpopSuperstar]

Getting awarded by gamespot is like getting a cake baked by a 4-year-old.

 

[TwinB242]

Neither Death Stranding 2 or KCD2 being on a top 10 list is insane.

 

[Balducci30]

It's the 2nd best RPG I've ever played after BG3.

The depth of its systems and player agency are a stratosphere ahead of E33 (speaking to RPG specifically). E33 is a really great game but it's not a better RPG. At all.

I didn't play E33 cus I don't like turn based. I liked BG3 but also didn't finish it for that reason (however it was the closest to a real D&D game in video game form I've ever played) - KCD2's combat is weird but it actually is quite fun once you level up and get used to it, more fun than simply clicking a button - makes you feel like you're actually fighting. It reminded me of a more grounded, evolved version of an old school Bethesda game. I think what hurt it is that it takes a sec to get into it.

 

[calico]

Blue Prince and Seance over KCD2, DS2, Yotei, Shadows, Donkey Kong & Doom is unfathomably based.

 

[vodka-bull]

 

[Phobos Base]

I'm still playing my way through E33, I love the looks, characters, soundtrack and I'm a fan of turn based combat as well. My issue is I absolutely suck at parrying, so normal mode is too hard but story is too easy because you barely take damage.

 

[calico]

I'm still playing my way through E33, I love the looks, characters, soundtrack and I'm a fan of turn based combat as well. My issue is I absolutely suck at parrying, so normal mode is too hard but story is too easy because you barely take damage.

Not to derail the thread, but don't feel like you have to always use parry. Dodge has more forgiving timing and is a perfectly viable option much of the time. If you start getting perfect dodges, that's the parry window.

If you suck even at dodge, my only advice is to trust your ears instead of your eyes. A lot of enemies have visual fakeouts, but the audio rarely lies.

 

[Hector Hall]

Game spot, they sure love indies and MS published things.

 

[Hector Hall]

Not to derail the thread, but don't feel like you have to always use parry. Dodge has more forgiving timing and is a perfectly viable option much of the time. If you start getting perfect dodges, that's the parry window.

If you suck even at dodge, my only advice is to trust your ears instead of your eyes. A lot of enemies have visual fakeouts, but the audio rarely lies.

Game is very heavily focused on the parry/dodge system, If you don't block dodge most attacks you die and you have to memorize the pattern of each enemy type to know the exact frame to push the button. I sincerely hope nobody copies this for future turn based games.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

KCD2 just didn't exist in these journos eyes

More proof that KCD is something special.

 

[calico]

Game is very heavily focused on the parry/dodge system, If you don't block dodge most attacks you die and you have to memorize the pattern of each enemy type to know the exact frame to push the button. I sincerely hope nobody copies this for future turn based games.

I'm just saying dodge is more forgiving than parry (and certainly more forgiving than 'exact frame'). Some have the impression they have to use parry exclusively, which is not the case.

I can see why some would prefer pure turn-based ofc.

 

[Gilgalaad]

 

[Shifty1897]

Wow, no Nintendo in the top 10. A smarter company would be worried.

 

[The Wheel of Fortune]

LMAO what the fuck is that list. No Bananza? No ARC Raiders?

 

[Mortisfacio]

A list without Death Stranding or Yotei is a list I can get behind.