Whew, 2025 was a lot.
But at least it was also a great year for video games, bringing plenty of neat, new and refined ideas to distract from whatever existentially bad news was in the headlines. There was something for everyone, whether you liked tough-as-nail challenges, gripping stories, mindless smash-a-thons or just a goofy way to pal around with friends.
In this edition of The Great Indoors, I’ll break down some of my favorite digital diversions from the year as well as some honorable mentions.
How about you? What games have been getting you through the year?
Battlefield 6
Hooboy, have I played a lot of Battlefield 6 this year. The near-future military shooter packs in just about everything that long-time fans of the franchise love — snappy shooting, tactical large-scale battles and a dash of madcap chaos — while also bringing enough smart tweaks to the formula to feel fresh and inviting for new players. Game modes and maps are balanced in a way that your team is never completely out of the fight, and last-minute down-to-the-wire victories happen all the time. The wide variety of guns and the myriad ways to customize them also bring a ton of nuance and depth to the gameplay, allowing you to find the perfect setup for your playstyle. Even after dozens and dozens of hours with Battlefield 6, my complaints are still minimal: It’d be nice if weapons unlocked a little faster, and it’d be nicer if the showstealer of a new mode, Escalation, is available on every map. I’d also like more maps added to the game, as the existing rotation is getting too familiar. Still, it’s easy to pick up and play, and importantly, it plays nicely with Alaska’s sometimes spotty internet service.
Honorable mentions for shooters: Arc Raiders, Skin Deep
Donkey Kong Bananza
The Nintendo Switch 2 came out this year, delivering a long-overdue upgrade to the long-in-the-tooth Switch. The upgraded processing power and better screen made it my go-to handheld device this year, especially because it can run games that struggled on the Switch with smooth framerates and fast loading times. But the new console really shines with the fabulously colorful and creative “Donkey Kong Bananza.” It puts the new console’s horsepower to work in fully destructive environments, ripping down and tearing apart on your way to collect a load of bananas. You’ll find all the trademark Nintendo charm here, with clever, near-magical level designs that unfold as you progress and smash your way through them. Collect-a-thon-style games may mostly be a thing of the past, but “Donkey Kong Bananza” proves that they still have a place with smart design.
Honorable mentions for Switch games: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Kirby Air Riders
R.E.P.O.
I am and never will be the biggest fan of scary games. As a kid, I remember cowering in a corner in “Doom,” and I practically bounced out of my chair while playing the demo of “Amnesia: The Dark Descent,” but it turns out it’s not quite as bad with friends. “R.E.P.O.” came along in a growing genre of spooky games where you and a group of friends work to extract valuables while dodging a horde of creepy bad guys. But where other games touch on psychological horror or mess with your in-game audio, “R.E.P.O.” does it all with a bit of cartoonish levity. It sets itself apart with a neat physics-based system for picking up loot that makes swiping a glass cup a bit of a feat. Bonk the goods against the wall, and they’ll lose their value. Drop the vase while getting chased, and it’ll shatter. Together, it does a good job at making each excursion with friends unique, and you’ll more likely be laughing than hollering in terror, which is a win for me.
Honorable mentions for multiplayer gamers: PEAK, The Headliners