Every year I have the privilege of creating Game Rant's Top 10 Games of the Year list, and as part of that I create my own personal list. It's something I look forward to every year, because there's something innately appealing about looking back on the year that was and deciding which experiences I valued more than others. In some ways it's completely arbitrary, but in others it feels like the perfect way to put a nice bow on my gaming timeline for that year.
For me, this year was a big year for rogue-lites and experiences that I could have on the go. I traveled a lot this year, from visiting Paris to playing Pokemon Legends ZA celebrating the grand opening of Epic Universe, and having the Switch 2 and Xbox ROG Ally X along helped keep me entertained, but also pushed some games higher on my personal list than they would have otherwise.
My tastes can be eclectic from year to year, but there are usually some consistent lines. For example, I love a good story or a good hook to keep me playing regularly. I try to play as many games as I can, which helps the games that click with me stand out even more. But most importantly, I'm looking for a game that lets me think about it even when I'm not playing. These 10 games consumed me in one way or another this year.
10
The root trees are dead
Playing The root trees are dead with my wife is one of my favorite gaming experiences this year. I heard the first buzz about the game and knew I had to try it. I didn't expect to be so invested in the Roottree lineage that we actively empathized with some of them and lambasted others.
If you've ever wanted a game that feels like the Charlie Day meme with the yarn connecting photos, The root trees are dead is it. It makes you feel like a real explorer, in the way that you might be trying to uncover clues from behind a keyboard and not via caffeine-fueled layoffs. And the best part is that there is a lot of meat in the game. Much more than you might expect at first.
9
Donkey Kong Banana
Whoever asks me what game is a must for Nintendo Switch 2 get Donkey Kong Banana pitch. Nintendo has a knack for taking a concept or character that I think will be good but not great and proving me wrong time and time again. I didn't think smashing would be this much fun, and I didn't think the drive of hearing “Oh Banana” would make me destroy every inch of every layer. And yet, here we are.
The music is catchy as hell, and the Bananza powers are so incredibly fun, I was regularly playing Donkey Kong with a big smile on my face. If you need a reason to buy a Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong Banana is every bit the system-selling platformer you want, even if you expected Mario to take the job first.
8
Dispatch
I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of the actual “game” part of the Dispatch. Sending heroes on quests made me agonize over every choice and worry that I would have a less narrative experience. It is because the story i Dispatch is so good – and my god, these performances are amazing across the board – that I cared so much about how well each member of the Z-Team did. It's a personal hang-up, I know, but I suspect I'm not alone in that feeling.
Putting all that aside, Dispatch could have just been a movie or a TV show, and I would have been just as enthralled. It's mature, genuinely funny and there's no weak link among this amazing cast. I love Telltale Games and this is the next evolution of that concept, made bigger and better.
7
Absolutely
This was a big year for rogue-lites and me, and Absolutely is the first to appear on this list. The idea of a run-based beat-em-up felt novel, but it was the branching paths and side quests that kept me going early on. Then, once I started locking into combat, I regularly flew through runs looking for new upgrades and abilities.
Often rogue-lites run live and die from the first abilities/upgrades you earn, but Absolutely showed me how all sorts of different combinations could turn my chosen character into a ball of destruction. I especially love how this game has a clear objective with a final boss at the end of the journey. It gave me a purpose for each run, and the way you constantly unlock new upgrades even when you fail is what helped Absolutely stealing dozens of hours of my time.
6
Avowed
I was never big Skyrim or Elder scrolls guy, but Avowed strike all the right notes for me. It has a world that feels somewhat expansive but never overwhelming; characters whom I liked to know, and whose opinions of me I was careful to preserve; and a combat system that didn't feel too rigid or restrictive. Avowed was the kind of fantasy “open world” adventure that I enjoy.
I know some would say this is Diet Bethesda, and that's why I liked it so much. Avowed didn't force me into any playstyle, and as a result I spent far more time experimenting than I probably would have in another experience. Obsidian knows how to bring together all the crucial elements of an RPG in a way that makes the world feel alive, but most importantly, they know how to make it fun.
5
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
i loved Death Stranding 1until I didn't. It got to the point where my obsession with delivering packages started to wane, and everything felt boring, but there were still at least a few dozen hours left. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach streamlined everything that I felt was a pain, made those string concepts even more engaging, and when I got to the point where I started to lose power, the end was in sight.
And what an end! Death Stranding 2 is Kojima at his most Kojima. He delivers an epic set of scenarios as only he can. This is what I love about giving developers another crack at their ambitious projects; they get the opportunity to fix what didn't work and make what worked even better. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is the perfect example of that.
4
Ball x Pit
Ball x Pit was a game that I couldn't see the appeal of at first. It's the kind of game that you have to play yourself before it sinks its hooks into you. But boy, once I started unlocking new characters and learning how city building worked, it became a constant obsession.
It helps that the runs are so big, and Ball x Pit regularly handing out new game concepts to learn and then master. Even characters you think might be useless eventually show their utility the further you go. Don't dismiss this as just a breakout clone, though Ball x Pit is not even close to it. It's the one game that you can make almost anyone addicted to.
3
Split Fiction
Hazelight makes games that feel tailored to me. I have a friend who I consistently play these Josef Fares directed games with, and we had a blast Split Fiction. It takes two was my favorite game of 2021, and I think Split Fiction is a more mechanically complex development of the concepts introduced in that game. It's the story that holds this one back, but the final act is enough to let go Split Fiction so much higher than it would have landed otherwise.
The technical wizardry on display in the final “level” of the game is astounding, to the point that even non-players can be impressed by what Hazelight accomplishes. I appreciate the experiences this team delivers every time, and they have yet to disappoint. If Split Fiction is any indication that Hazelight just wants to keep challenging himself, I can't wait to see what happens next.
2
Hades 2
I enjoyed the first one Hadesbut Hades 2 clicked with me on a higher level. I think it's the way the two different “races” interact with each other that makes it that much more addictive for me. Being able to enter the underworld and learn the new mechanics and weapons, then head towards Olympus with confidence was the one-two punch that put Supergiant Games' sequel above all the other rogue-lites I enjoyed this year, and there were quite a few.
I agree the story isn't as strong, but everything else clicked earlier and deeper for me. Hades 2 strikes that chord where “just one more run” always feels satisfying, and that's what made it one of my favorites of the year.
1
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
I know you are probably tired of hearing how good Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, but if you'll allow me to ramble on a little longer. When I previewed this game back in March, I had a feeling, but I couldn't have predicted how much I would fall in love with Sandfall Interactive's RPG. I'm in the mood for a good parry or dodge mechanic, and Clair Obscur has the most satisfying parry I've come across in a long time.
Just that one detail is enough to give it that spark, but the story, visuals, music and performances push it to the upper echelons for me. Some years it can be hard to decide what tops my personal list, but there was no doubt about it Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In fact, the game had the top spot locked up early in 2025 and never budged.
—
Look, I'm just as excited about Grand Theft Auto 6 as much as the next person. But I'm really looking forward to seeing how Resident Evil: Requiem turns out, and if Insomniac can use that Marvel magic to bring Wolverine to the same level as Spider-Man. 2026 is going to be a big year for so many different reasons, and I can't wait to see how the dust settles on my top 10. See you in 12 months!
