Favorite Original Games of 2025:
Date Everything!
I had intriguing interactions with over 100 fully-voiced objects-turned-characters (called “dateables”) in the Date Everything! house. This unique gaming experience featured the most epic Avengers: Endgame-level lineup of voice talent I have ever seen in a video game. Every voice actor who’s anyone was in Date Everything! and they all gave valedictorian-level performances. My favorite character was Shelley the shelf (voiced by Abby Trott). Who’s yours?
Quartet
Quartet‘s excellent ensemble cast of eight heroes may not be as epic as Date Everything!‘s cast of dateables, but it includes some of my favorite characters of 2025, such as Juna the talking hippo and Ben the hard luck-chef. Outside of the wonderful cast, Quartet excels in all other areas, making it one of the most fulfilling RPGs I played in 2025.
Dispatch
I’d been disillusioned by superhero stuff lately, but Dispatch emphatically “brought the sexy back” in all the best ways. It’s smart, salacious, violent, irreverent, emotionally charged, absurdly fun, wonderfully written, has memorable characters, and exemplifies why I love comic book/costumed hero multimedia. The comic book/artwork DLC expanding on the lore is totally worth it!
Oh, and the music! Andrew Arcadi and Skyler Barto’s original compositions are incredible, and the soundtrack DLC is worth getting. In addition, Dispatch’s use of licensed music (which can be turned off in favor of alternate tunes so content creators can avoid copyright strikes) is beautifully thought out.
One emotionally-charged scene is made truly iconic by Bershy’s song “Radio,” which I’ve listened to more times than I care to admit (I’m listening to it right now as I write this). Apparently, Bershy was on the verge of quitting music for good until Dispatch gave her amazing song new life. Ergo, Dispatch proves that superheroes are real. (ASIDE: I would love to see Bershy, Earth to Cheska, and Honey Revenge on a concert bill.)
Dispatch is my favorite game of 2025, hands down. My body is ready for season 2! My hypothetical review score would be a 91/100 with an Editor’s Choice stamp.
Favorite Remake/Remaster of 2025:
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
When I originally played Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner – Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army back in 2006, I did not get past the first episode. I loved that game’s music and atmospheric setting, but loathed its awful combat. I am happy to say that the extensively retooled combat in RAIDOU Remastered makes this game exceptionally enjoyable. More than just a freshening up, RAIDOU Remastered goes above and beyond with beautifully redone graphics, improved play mechanics, useful added features, and slick content not in the original game.
I would score RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army an 87/100 because it is a prime example of how a remaster/remake should be done and is a far better game than I ever expected it to be. A similarly remastered Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2 – Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon would top my must-play list.
Favorite game I played in 2025 that was NOT from 2025:
Soul Hackers 2
A lot of people weren’t keen on 2022’s Soul Hackers 2 because it’s a “Shin Megami Tensei-lite,” but that is exactly why I loved it. I also loved that it’s a Shin Megami Tensei game without a silent/mute lead. I generally dislike silent/mute protagonists, and Ringo, Soul Hackers 2‘s leading lady, has a vibrant personality with plenty to say. I also liked that Soul Hackers 2‘s cast were all adults (I’ve badly wanted an adult cast since Persona 2: Eternal Punishment), and the cutscenes showing the characters drinking together at the bar (akin to the party eating meals together in Grandia games) were delightful.
As an added bonus, the soundtrack is fantastic. The music that plays in Tatara’s COMP shop has become one of my all-time favorite merchant/shopkeeper themes. Soul Hackers 2 is a very underrated game (I’d score it 86/100), and I would LOVE another Shin Megami Tensei game like it in the future.
