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2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best RPG

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/19/2025

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RPG can range from Western open world RPGs to turn based JRPGs. This year was great for the genre. It saw some refreshing new titles that didn’t continue to rely on old tropes or just felt fresh. JRPGs usually dominate this genre, but we had a few surprise Western games that weren’t open world slop.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur isn’t just a French JRPG. Many have contended if the game can be even be called that because it is not “anime” based or have Japanese origins. Over the years, JRPG has been referred to as a style of gameplay rather than an aesthetic. Clair Obscur can be considered our modern day Final Fantasy VII, but some would argue it doesn’t revolutionize the genre like that title did, but can anything at this point in time. The amazing story, great characters and voice acting, and the gorgeous world that the team has built isn’t really done in this genre anymore, and we need to appreciate that.

Runner-Ups

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Reissue

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/17/2025

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Reissues have been an ongoing trend since the 16-bit era. However there was a boom during the HD era of consoles and while the quality varied the full on remakes have only been getting better. There’s a lot of passion that goes into large budget remakes and this year was no different. Not only are we getting games remade in new engines, but with new content and issues that were present in the original game fixed or tweaked for modern gaming audiences. While the quality was still waxing and waning this year there some truly stand out titles.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

While the series has seen many remasters and HD ports, this is the first true remake. Picking the third game in the series is a great choice as it was the peak of the series. Some define Snake Eater as the best game in the entire franchise. Not only is the game remade with fantastic visuals, but the new camera angle and various gameplay tweaks make the game more playable than it ever was. This game renders the previous ports and HD remasters obsolete. If you prefer the original camera and controls of the original game it’s here as well. It’s games like this that can even make the original game obsolete outside of historical and curious reference. Snake Eater is at the top of the remakes list for me.

Runner-Ups

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Horror Game

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/16/2025

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Horror games have really made a comeback over the last few years. The indie scene crawled out from underneath the ashes of bigger AAA horror titles as it was considered once a long dead genre full of terrible and clunky games. The indie scene helped push the genre forward by going back to what made this genre great. Interesting stories, characters, and focus on psychological aspects of humanity.

Silent Hill f

The king of the horror genre has returned. While Silent Hill 2 (2024) was a fantastic remake fans were nervous about a new entry. The last couple of games came out over a decade ago and they seemed to have put the final nail in Silent Hill’s coffin. The indie scene has been chasing the nostalgia feeling of this series. From the fog laden PS1 style horror titles and the intense fear that the series’ monsters and music invoked. The series is back better than ever and feels modern while still capturing what made the series great so long ago.

Runner-Ups

Cronos: The New Dawn

Necrophosis

Tormented Souls II

Routine

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Platformer

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/15/2025

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Is it too early to say that the platformer genre has finally made a comeback? There was a year or two in which I had to exclude this category due to the lack of good platformers. The genre was mostly spearheaded by indie developers, but the AAA scene has come back outside of Nintendo.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Bananza isn’t just a good platformer. It’s a good experience. Bananza is a full on experience that every Switch 2 owner must experience. I haven’t had this much joy playing a video game in a very long time. Bananza will bring every gamer a smile and laugh. The game is colorful, addictive, charming, and great to look at. While the final levels might drag a bit, the game is never boring. This is a once in a generation type of game and you shouldn’t miss it.

Runner-Ups

The Rogue Prince of Persia

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

Hollow Knight: Silksong

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Driving Game

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/14/2025

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This was Nintendo’s year to dominate the arcade racing scene. This is another genre that’s kind of dying off. Need for Speed hasn’t been what it was for over a decade and the other franchises like Burnout are long gone. What’s left is the occasional AAA racing sim and that’s pretty much it. Sega went head to head with Nintendo and the release of Kirby Air Riders was a little questionable after just released another kart racer. Still, if you love arcade racing games then the Switch 2 was your console this year.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds

It’s probably blasphemous, but I had more fun with Sega’s racer this year than Nintendo’s. Mario Kart just really blew it with the bland open-world, and while the connected tracks were fun they kept changing them and that pissed off gamers. CrossWorlds is a blast to play. While not quite as smooth as Mario Kart it went big and bold and had characters that everyone can recognize. There’s lots of content here too. When it comes to arcade racers it’s all about having fun. I just had more of it with Sega.

Runner-Ups

Mario Kart World

Kirby Air Riders

Fast Fusion

F1 25

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Souls-Like Game

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/13/2025

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Souls-Like games are probably my least favorite, but I respect them a lot. They offer serious challenges to gamers that many other franchises don’t offer. After FromSoftware coined the term with Demon’s Souls (2009) the genre has exploded over the last ten years. From full 3D action games to 2D platformers the genre is continuing to see successful entries to rival the giant and breath new ideas into the genre.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Silksong isn’t just Hollow Knight. It was a whole event. After being delayed for many years and seemingly no news coming out for such a long time. Team Cherry shadow drops the release date causing a huge shake up in the indie scene. Silksong didn’t disappoint. With beautiful visuals, pixel perfect combat, and wonderful art, Silksong is a game to treasure. It was released for $25 as well which has set a new standard for indie releases.

Runner-Ups

The First Berserker: Khazan

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Elden Ring: Nightreign

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Multiplayer Game

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/12/2025

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Having great multiplayer is about pitting people against each other or having them team up to create memories. Either co-op or on a war torn battlefield trying to help your team win. Multiplayer games have transcended time themselves and is the one single genre that has never change or faded. Whether it’s a core component of the game or the sole focus. There’s

Split Fiction

Hazelight has done it again. They created more magic with Split Fiction. A co-op dream with nothing but fun and genius gameplay ideas that keep you hooked all the way until the end just this time without an annoying talking book. The game is more serious and feels better to play in every aspect. You will be laughing and shouting with your co-op partner all the way through. This is the type of magic that is only possible in the video game sector.

Runner-Ups

Arc Raiders

Peak

Battlefield 6

Mario Kart World

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Strategy Game

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/09/2025

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The strategy series has been slowing dying along with the fighting genre. There just aren’t many games in this space like there were 10 or even 20 years ago. The PC was dominated by fantastic strategy games and turn-based strategy was popular on consoles. While this genre isn’t quite dead yet, there were still some great games that showed you could sit in front of a screen for hours at time and plan your attacks. While most strategy games have never been known for deep stories there is one thing you usually want out of this genre: Great world-building.

Europa Universalis V

For what would seem to be to most a game that feels like a fancy Excel spreadsheet is pure ecstasy for others. Europa has always been in the upper echelon of strategy games. While not focusing on being pretty the fifth game in the long-running series has great menu designs and focuses on things that matter in this genre. You want to be able to manage everything at a glance and know exactly where to go without being buried in sub-menus. The constant tug-of-war of RTS games is present here and that “one more turn” feeling never goes away. Europa V is the essence of great strategy games boiled down and served on a tray.

Runner-Ups

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles

Two Point Museum

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition

Cataclismo

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Adventure Game

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/08/2025

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Adventure games have made a comeback over the last few years and have evolved past the frustrating and obtuse point-and-click games of the past. While those still have their appeal the genre has evolved into more gameplay innovations and ideas for the genre. Rich stories, great characters, fun gameplay loops, and puzzles that test your knowledge. This year was one of the best in both quality and design. We saw some truly great titles this year and it’s just so wonderful to see a once dead genre come back to life.

Dispatch

Dispatch may seem like a generic super hero strategy game at first glance. But this is a nuanced and fun adventure title that breaks free of the constraints of licensed superheroes. This allows true creation and innovation to flow freely from the developers and it shows here. With a fantastic story, fun gameplay, and so many interesting characters there’s not much here that you can’t like. If you love super heroes this is a must play this year. Don’t let the lack of a license deter you.

Runner-Ups

The Seance of Blake Manor

Luto

Blue Prince

s.p.l.i.t.

2025 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Action-Adventure Game

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/07/2025

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Action-adventure games are my all time favorite. These have been a test to what console and gaming tech can achieve. This is one of the few genres that evolves with technology. New tech brings more gameplay innovation and ideas. This year saw some pretty big heavy hitters, but the open-world fatigue trend that has been an issue for the last decade is still a problem. There are fewer games every year trying to push the genre ahead and create fun and interesting gameplay loops, stories, characters, and worlds we actually want to explore.

Ghost of Yotei

Yotei isn’t just a sequel to Tsushima. It’s a PlayStation game through and through. From the gorgeous open world that is a blast to explore and find all of its secrets to the fascinating tale of revenge and the ever growing character Atsu. Yotei captures the modern PlayStation DNA perfectly that we have been growing to love since the early PS4 days. The game pushes the console’s hardware like few others do while also running incredibly smoothly. There weren’t many open world games worth playing this year, but this was one of the few I spent dozens of hours in.