Sony PlayStation
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PlayStation 5) – An open-world action-adventure where Peter Parker and Miles Morales team up in a sprawling, beautifully rendered New York City gamespot.com. Powered by Insomniac’s signature web-slinging gameplay and dynamic combat, it pits the two Spider-Men against iconic villains like Kraven the Hunter. The game shattered records as the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios title (2.5 million copies Day 1) and sold over 5 million in its first week kotaku.com. Critics praised it (currently ~91 Metacritic) and fans lauded its graphics, story and dual-protagonist gameplay kotaku.com, gamespot.com, cementing it as one of PS5’s defining hits.
- God of War Ragnarök (PlayStation 5) – A Norse myth–themed action RPG continuing Kratos’s saga with cinematic storytelling and visceral combat. Its epic narrative and next-gen visuals kept players hooked (building on 2018’s hit) and it sold exceptionally well – Sony reported ~5.1 million copies in its first week kotaku.com. Its high production values, fluid gameplay, and award-winning narrative (including Game of the Year honors) make Ragnarök a perennial best-seller on PlayStation.
- Astro Bot (PlayStation 5/VR) – A charming platformer starring the little robot from Astro’s Playroom, built as a full-fledged VR sequel. Astro Bot uses the DualSense and PS VR2 hardware to create inventive levels and surprises that “squeeze technical wonder out of the PS5” gamespot.com. It’s been acclaimed as “the best-reviewed game of the year” on PS5, praised for its design and polish gamespot.com. Its blend of creative platforming and technical flair earned it top Game of the Year awards (Best VR/Immersive at The Game Awards 2024) and a devoted fan base.
- Final Fantasy XVI (PlayStation 5) – A single-player action RPG set in a dark fantasy world, emphasizing high-speed swordplay and a mature, Game of Thrones–inspired story kotaku.com. As the first new mainline Final Fantasy in seven years, it drove huge anticipation. Square Enix reported over 3 million copies shipped in its first monthkotaku.com. While its tone and combat style sparked debate, it was widely praised for graphics, music, and story, making it a flagship PS5 title that drew in both JRPG fans and new players.
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (PlayStation 5) – The massive expansion to FromSoftware’s open-world action RPG Elden Ring. This dark fantasy DLC adds new regions, bosses and gear to an already enormous game, keeping Elden Ring deeply engaging in 2025. The base game remains a phenomenon (Game of the Year 2022) and its Shadow of the Erdtree update was a best-seller – ranking as the 8th-best-selling game of 2025 YTD in the US circana.com. Its blend of challenging gameplay, lore depth and online co-op ensures it remains one of PS5’s most-played and acclaimed titles.
Microsoft Xbox
- Alan Wake 2 (Xbox Series X) – A survival-horror action thriller sequel, following writer-protagonist Alan Wake and FBI agent Saga Anderson through a nightmarish double campaign. Combining psychological horror and Twin Peaks–style mystery, it delivers highly cinematic levels and suspenseful combat. GameSpot calls it “13 years in the making” with “truly unforgettable moments” gamespot.com. Its deep story connections (to Control and the Remedy universe) and polished gameplay made it a critical favorite and one of Xbox’s major 2025 hits.
- Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series X|S) – An open-world racing game set in a gorgeous, diverse rendition of Mexico. From open deserts to jungle peaks, the game offers endless races, challenges and hundreds of customizable cars. GameSpot praises it as Playground Games’ best work: “the best game it’s ever made” gamespot.com, thanks to its freedom of play and stunning visuals. It remains one of the most popular driving games of 2025, with a massive player base on Xbox (including Game Pass subscribers) and frequent updates.
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Xbox Series X) – A story-driven action-adventure from MachineGames (the Wolfenstein team), putting players in the fedora of Indy once more. It blends exploration, puzzle-solving and combat in exotic locales, aiming to capture the spirit of the films. GameSpot notes it as “the definitive take on the famous relic hunter” with a rich original story gamespot.com. As a flagship Xbox exclusive (and Game Pass launch title), it’s been widely played and well-received for its cinematic thrills and polished design.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Xbox Series X) – The latest entry in the blockbuster FPS franchise. Set in a 1990s global thriller backdrop, it features campaign missions and a robust multiplayer with new “omni-movement” mechanics and inventive maps. GameSpot calls it “a smart and varied action spectacle” gamespot.com and notes that CoD remains one of the top-selling series. With its massive fan base, online eSports scene, and year-round new content, BO6 is consistently among Xbox’s most-played and highest-grossing games of 2025.
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox Series X) – A compilation of all Halo titles remastered and updated. It spans the original trilogy (Halo 1–3) plus ODST, Reach and 4, with unified matchmaking and 60fps performance. It’s effectively a “living monument” to Xbox’s flagship franchise gamespot.com. The MCC has seen continuous updates and is free on Game Pass, giving it a large, active player base. Its enduring community tournaments and nostalgia factor keep it highly popular on Xbox even years after initial release.
Nintendo Switch
- Mario Kart World (Nintendo Switch 2) – The latest Mario Kart racer, expanding the series into a seamless open world. Players race as Mario characters across a huge connected map (plains, cities, volcanoes, seas etc.), with new modes like Knockout Tour and free-roam exploration nintendo.com. It retains the series’ arcade karting fun while offering more freedom than ever. As a Switch 2 launch title, it quickly became a system seller and fan-favorite, benefitting from Nintendo’s polish, beloved characters and split-screen multiplayer fun nintendo.com.
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) – A 2D platformer starring Donkey Kong and rivals in a competitive/co-op setting. (Often nicknamed Donkey Kong vs. Mario, it features banana battles and classic DK platforming.) Physical sales of DK Bananza placed it 3rd on July 2025’s best-selling chart and it was the top-selling game on Nintendo platforms that month circana.com, reflecting strong fan excitement. Its familiar gameplay, character charm and Switch 2 enhancements made it one of 2025’s breakout Nintendo hits.
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo Switch) – An upcoming open-world Pokémon RPG set in Lumiose City. This new adventure has players exploring an iconic urban area under redevelopment while catching and battling Pokémon in real-time. (It’s been teased as a fresh storyline in the Legends subseries.) With Pokémon being Nintendo’s highest-selling franchise, Legends: Z-A is highly anticipated. Nintendo’s previews describe it as “a new adventure” in Lumiose with a redevelopment theme nintendo.com, and its arrival in late 2025 has captured the fan community.
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (Nintendo Switch) – The next entry in the long-running turn-based strategy series. Players guide a civilization through the Ages, making strategic decisions to shape their empire’s cultural and technological development nintendo.com. Civ VI was already popular on Switch, and VII’s February 2025 release brings enhanced graphics and new leaders. As with past Civilization games, it appeals to both strategy vets and casual fans on Nintendo hardware – the series’ deep gameplay and global scope ensure it will be among Switch’s top strategy titles nintendo.com.
- Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Nintendo Switch) – A remastered version of the expansive sci-fi RPG. Set on an alien world, players explore a massive open environment, customize mechs (“Skells”), and uncover a rich story of survival. The Switch 2 edition adds new content and enhanced visuals nintendo.com. While a port, it revives a beloved game (originally Wii U) for Switch players. Its epic scale, RPG depth and passionate fanbase make it one of 2025’s standout Nintendo releases nintendo.com.
Sources: Official sales data and charts kotaku.com, circana.com; platform store leaderboards blog.playstation.com, circana.com; publisher and media reports kotaku.com, gamespot.com; Metacritic and awards coverage kotaku.com, gamespot.com. Embedded images are official game artwork.
