2025 has been a really outstanding 12 months for video video games, delivering landmark titles throughout each conceivable style.
But, as we glance again on the final twelve months, a compelling narrative emerges. While the Xbox ecosystem definitely had its share of hits, among the 12 months’s most talked-about, critically-acclaimed, and culturally vital experiences shared one widespread trait: they weren’t accessible on an Xbox console, a minimum of not till the ROG Ally X popped as much as mix our gaming libraries like by no means earlier than.
What are the most effective video games of the 2025 – NOT accessible on Xbox?
From the staggering cinematic achievements on the PlayStation 5 to the masterful new adventures that christened Nintendo’s new {hardware}, and the unmissable, barely bizarre, little indies which are dominating the PC (severely, have you ever seen the sheer variety of video games which are launched on Steam?), 2025 was a 12 months that powerfully rewarded these taking part in elsewhere.
That is our celebration of these important titles – the video games that outlined the 12 months, all with out ever gracing the Xbox platform.
In fact, in case you are a type of who solely performs on Xbox, you’d do nicely to take a look at our ‘Elite Eleven: Our Xbox Video games of the Yr 2025’ article.
Roulette Hero
Roulette Hero
(PC)
Mixing the addictive loop of Luck Be A Landlord with the tactical depth of Slay the Spire, Roulette Hero is a strategic roguelike deckbuilder that replaces playing cards with animals.
Your activity is to assemble a dream staff of companions on a roulette wheel to take down huge mechanical beasts. With 13 animal sorts and over 100 power-up cartridges, the synergies are infinite; and which means a sport that may draw away the hours.
Each pull of the lever seems like a high-stakes gamble; one spin may set off a devastating chain response that wipes the board, whereas the subsequent may depart you desperately scrambling for a comeback.
With numerous issue ranges to beat, Roulette Hero is a “only one extra spin” expertise that continues to be a painful omission from the Xbox library.
Birdigo
Birdigo
(PC)
Created by John August and Corey Martin, Birdigo is a beautiful mashup of Wordle and Balatro.
This deckbuilder duties you with guiding a flock of lovable birds on a worldwide migration. You aren’t simply spelling phrases; you’re constructing a deck of letters to generate ‘flaps’ – the vitality required to achieve the subsequent vacation spot.
Longer phrases naturally rating greater, however the true magic lies in utilizing enchanted feathers and mysterious songs to set off huge combos that flip easy three-letter phrases into powerhouses.
As the gap will increase every spherical, the roguelike stress builds, making each letter performed a significant step towards security. It’s a sensible, trendy, and extremely polished phrase sport.
We’d like to play Birdigo on Xbox.
Phrase Play
Phrase Play
(PC)
We practically skipped Phrase Play as a result of it shares a department with the superb Birdigo, however this brain-busting spelling sport earned its spot by means of sheer selection – and the actual fact we wasted hours on it over the summer season months.
It’s a roguelike the place you get to vary the foundations of the language as you go. By clearing rounds, you unlock over perks; modifiers that add extra tile areas and extra, all as you look to skyrocket your rating.
You must handle your whole variety of “Performs” fastidiously, as working out means beginning your run from scratch. With customized dictionary assist and a Marathon mode for the really devoted, it gives a deeper, extra mechanical tackle the style that retains us glued to our displays.
And Phrase Play is from Recreation Maker’s Toolkit, they behind Thoughts Over Magnet – and which means they know precisely what the Xbox viewers is after.
The King is Watching
The King is Watching
(PC)
In The King is Watching, your literal gaze is probably the most useful useful resource within the kingdom.
This roguelite builder operates on a novel premise: your peasants, miners, and knights solely work if you find yourself taking a look at them. Flip your again, and so they’ll instantly begin slacking.
This forces a frantic, strategic balancing act as you determine whether or not to give attention to the fields for meals, the mines for silver, or the barracks for protection. Each run gives new trials, from cursed cemeteries to infernal depths, and everlasting upgrades make sure you evolve with each defeat.
It’s a intelligent, humorous twist on the technique style that makes being an all-seeing ruler really feel each highly effective and delightfully demanding.
Solid n Chill
Solid n chill
(PC)
Solid n Chill is the final word “second monitor” sport, a comfy fishing expertise that balances lively play with idle development.
You discover 16 serene spots, from lazy lakes to salty oceans, accompanied by a loyal four-legged buddy who helps you notice the massive ones. Whether or not you’re manually reeling in one of many numerous species or letting the sport run in Passive Mode whilst you deal with different duties, the loop is extremely stress-free.
Catching one of many 16 legendary fish – the sort they inform tales about at ol’ Rusty’s bait store – is a real thrill.
It’s a laid-back, stunning title that we love on PC by way of Steam, even when we’re nonetheless debating whether or not its idle nature would translate to a standard console setup. We’d definitely be up for giving it a go. You by no means know, it might have sufficient about it to discover a spot in our greatest fishing video games article.
Hades II
Hades II
(PC)
Supergiant Video games’ first-ever sequel builds on a masterpiece, and by some means, Hades II is even higher.
In Hades II you should grasp darkish sorcery to tackle the Titan of Time. Once we reviewed the unique Hades on Xbox, we gave it a 5/5, calling it a “thrilling achievement” that we’d return to for years.
Hades II takes that god-like basis and expands it with a deeper witchcraft system, gorgeous hand-painted environments, and an electrifying new rating.
Exploring the floor and the deepest reaches of the Underworld feels smoother than ever, and the brand new forged gives practically limitless methods to construct your skills.
It’s the benchmark for the style and the one sport any unique Xbox participant is little doubt eyeing with envy.
MegaBonk
MegaBonk
(PC)
May we now have this checklist with out together with MegaBonk?
For those who’ve ever needed to really feel absurdly highly effective, MegaBonk is the reply.
This roguelike survival sport pits you towards infinite waves of creatures in a combat to see how lengthy you possibly can final. Choosing up XP drops means that you can stage up and select random upgrades, every run changing into distinctive based mostly on the rarity of your loot.
With 20 characters that includes distinct skills and over 70 gadgets with advanced synergies, the construct potential is staggering. It’s quick, frantic, and crammed with 240 in-game quests that maintain the overpowered dopamine hits coming.
It’s a pure arcade-style riot that we desperately want we may play from the consolation of the couch. Certainly that want will come true quickly?
Skate Story
Skate Story
(PS5, Swap, PC)
A late entry, however Skate Story is a sport we’ve fallen for. BIG TIME!
In Skate Story, you’re a demon fabricated from glass and ache, and your solely hope for freedom is to skate to the Moon and swallow it. Easy, huh!?
This trendy journey takes you thru the layers of the Underworld, the place you should destroy vicious demons by performing good kickflips and grinds. With over 70 tips to grasp and a psychedelic soundtrack by Blood Cultures, the sport is a hypnotic, sensory feast.
It’s simply one of the crucial visually placing video games of the 12 months, making it a large win for PlayStation, Swap and PC gamers. And a loss for us on Xbox.
Ghost of Yōtei
Ghost of Yotei
(PS5)
Set 300 years after the occasions of the beloved Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is a wide ranging standalone epic.
You play as Atsu, a lone mercenary within the 1600s looking a gang of six outlaws throughout the rugged, snowy ridges and wildflower fields of northern Japan.
The facility of the PS5 shines right here, with lightning-fast masses and gorgeous 3D spatial audio that immerses you within the Ezo wilderness. Fight feels visceral due to the DualSense’s haptic suggestions, making each katana strike and arrow launch really feel tactile.
It’s a daring new story of revenge and redemption that proves Sucker Punch are the masters of the fashionable open-world samurai (and shinobi) journey.
Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore
Demise Stranding 2
(PS5)
Hideo Kojima returns to his distinctive world of “connection” with Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore.
Set eleven months after the primary sport, Sam Porter Bridges embarks on a brand new mission to avoid wasting humanity from extinction in an unknown wilderness.
Once we reviewed the Director’s Reduce of the unique Demise Stranding on Xbox, we gave it a 4.5/5, noting that whereas it isn’t for everybody, it’s a “really distinctive deal with.”
The sequel evolves the motion with extra versatile traversal and actions that ripple into different gamers’ worlds. It’s a haunting, cinematic journey that asks a troublesome query: Ought to we now have linked?
It’s precisely the sort of off-the-walls storytelling that solely Kojima can ship.
Child Steps
Child Steps
(PS5, PC)
We needed to be talked into together with Child Steps, for – personally – we’re not completely bought. However different members of the TXH staff are.
Child Steps is the world’s first literal strolling simulator, and it’s as hilarious as it’s irritating.
You play as a hapless “failson” who should be taught the easy act of placing one foot in entrance of the opposite. The sport options totally simulated physics-based strolling the place you management every leg individually, resulting in numerous wobbly tumbles as you try to hike up a mist-shrouded mountain.
Accompanied by a dynamic soundtrack that reacts to your each misstep, it’s a rib-tickling journey, however a bizarre, physics-driven delight.
Everyone’s Golf: Scorching Photographs
Everyone’s Golf Scorching Photographs
(PC, PS5)
We LOVE golf video games and the beloved golf sequence has returned to the golf green with Everyone’s Golf: Scorching Photographs on each PC and PlayStation.
It brings again the basic three-click management system that’s easy, intuitive, and dangerously addictive.
Whether or not you’re climbing the ranks in Problem Mode or taking part in a spherical with mates, the attraction is plain. It incorporates a host of vibrant characters and exquisite programs that look implausible on trendy {hardware}.
With native multiplayer for as much as 4 gamers and a sturdy on-line mode, it’s the proper social sport. It’s a reminder that typically, easy and enjoyable is all you want.
We simply want we may “par-tee” on Xbox as nicely!
A Yr Past Xbox
Whereas our Xbox consoles have been working time beyond regulation this 12 months, there’s no denying that the broader gaming panorama has been extremely fertile.
These video games symbolize the variety and artistic spirit of 2025. Whether or not it’s the cinematic grandeur of Ghost of Yōtei or the quirky, wordy brilliance of Birdigo, these are the necessities that outlined the 12 months for us, as we – often – ventured exterior Microsoft’s system. And that’s with out even mentioning the fun discovered within the VR house.
Right here’s hoping that by this time subsequent 12 months, a few of these needs may simply discover their option to an Xbox dashboard! We obtained a couple of proper at the beginning of the 12 months…
Tell us your ideas within the feedback. Have we missed some must-players from different methods?
