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Even though the 2020s still have a ways to go, the decade has already produced several fantastic games. As the years fly by and studios become more familiar with the limits of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the industry will test what Sony and Microsoft’s systems can do. In the meantime, the Nintendo Switch will enter the last stretch of its existence, and the console could go out with a bang.
There is still plenty of gaming to be done this decade, and it could very well be that thebest games of the 2020sare still many years away. That being said, things have gotten off to an exciting start. What are the greatest titles to come out in the decade so far?
Only games that debuted in the 2020s will be considered, so re-releases or expanded editions will be omitted. Games are also listed in reverse chronological order. Furthermore, noearly access titles(Palworld,Hades 2, orPath of Exile 2) since those are still works in progress.
Also, games are listed by release date, not quality. The goal is to provide is too highlight a few of the decade’s best releases.
Updated on July 24, 2025 by Mark Sammut:2025 is developing nicely, and the year is not even halfway done by this point. Three more titles have been added as they are among thebest games of the 2020s.
Debuting directly on Game Pass and PS Plus,Blue Princeis as accessible as it could be, and it is comfortably among thebest games of the 2020sso far. Now, puzzle roguelikes are a relatively niche genre, so this release might not instantly appeal to everyone since it offers such a specific type of experience. Conversely,Blue Princeis also a one-of-a-kind package that successfully combines familiar pieces to create what is overall a fantastic experience.
As the heir to a mansion, players have to plan the floor layout, all in the hopes of reaching room 46 within a set number of steps. The layout resets every day, and there areplenty of different roomsand combinations to consider.Blue Princeexecutes a simple concept perfectly.
Hazelight is undoubtedly the standard-setter when it comes toco-op games, andSplit Fictionmight just be the developer’s crowning achievement. Building on quite a few of the ideas explored inIt Takes Two, the 2025 title once again revolves around two protagonists who go on a world-hopping adventure. This time around, the leads are two writers who specialize in sci-fi and fantasy, respectively, and they end up visiting realms inspired by their stories.
The story is quite good and benefits from having likable main characters, butSplit Fictionshines the brightest in its gameplay. The campaign constantly shakes up the status quo, introducing mechanics tailor-made for the current world. It goes beyond just the main levels, as the game also has plenty of shorter side missions that try something new.
Capcom’sMonster Hunterhas been on a roll for, well, pretty much its entire existence, but the franchise’s popularity has exploded in the last few years.Wildswas probably the biggest release yet, building on the success ofWorldand, to a lesser extent,Rise.
Now, the game has garnered its share of criticism, to the point that it cannot be described as a 100% success; however,MH Wildsis still overall an impressive achievement that will almost certainly remain active for most of the 2020s. Probably the most accessible entry in the series yet,Wildsdelivers deep combat, varied build possibilities (by the standards of action RPGs), and addictive online co-op.
Warhorse created something special with 2018’sKingdom Come: Deliverance, but the open-world medieval game is very much an acquired taste. For the sequel, the developer had the tough task of trying to create a more accessible experience without watering down the core sim-like appeal of the original project; somehow, against all odds, Warhorse struck the perfect balance. While still catering to a niche,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2is far easier to recommendto people on the fence due to its improved (and, frankly, easier) combat, superior storytelling, crafting mechanics, and gorgeous visuals.
The 2025 release continues directly from its predecessor, extending and completing Henry’s story in the process. Set in the Kingdom of Bohemia,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2goes out of its way to fully immerse players in the day-to-day grind of medieval life, demanding that they experience the highs and lows of this era. Consequently, the campaign can be quite slow at times, but its pacing is a virtue rather than a curse.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circleled a weird pre-release life. Despite having a pretty great track record for crafting memorable first-person games set in a similar era, MachineGames' teasers and trailers for its Indy project garnered a surprisingly muted response. Fortunately, that reaction did not foreshadow the game’s launch reception, which ended up being all-around positive.Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis simply outstanding, delivering a globe-trotting epic that captures the original movies' wit, style of action, and brain-teasers.
While not devoid of action, the game emphasizes puzzles and stealth, which makes sense since Indy is a professor with a taste for adventure and notWolfenstein’s Blazkowicz. The story moves at a good pace and features a top-notch presentation for both the gameplay and cutscenes, with the latter doing an impressive job of replicating Harrison Ford’s look and voice. Even more so than the modern movies,The Great Circlecomes the closest to delivering a new Indy masterpiece that can stand alongsideRaiders of the Lost Ark.
For some odd reason, December 2024’s first week was defined by free-to-play games.Marvel Rivalslaunched to widespread success, quickly finding an audience in the process. Anybody craving a hero shooter alternative toOverwatch 2has probably already checked out NetEase’s release.Delta Forcedid not enjoy the same level of exposure, but it is an easy recommendation for FPS fans who want to try something new. EvenUFLhas its positives.
Finally, there wasInfinity Nikki, an open-world gacha game that focuses on exploration, NPC interaction, and wardrobe building over combat. The IP previously enjoyed success on mobile devices, but the 2024 entry marked its biggest push to find an international audience. For the most part, it worked, withInfinity Nikkidelivering stunning visuals, an endearing vibe, and an addictive outfit system. While free-to-play games can be hard to sell since the business model has a negative reputation,Infinity Nikkiis too impressive to ignore.
After the disappointingSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the last thingArkhamfans expected or wanted to hear was that the next entry would be a Meta Quest 3 exclusive. While its reveal garnered widespread criticism,Batman: Arkham Shadowended up proving most of its doubters wrong, delivering not only one of The Dark Knight’s better gaming adventures but also just one of the best VR projects on the market. Even with all the necessary changes implemented to adapt to virtual reality, Camouflaj succeeded in crafting agame that 100% fits into Rocksteady’s legendary franchise.
Arkham Shadowis a prequel set afterOriginsthat finds Batman investigating a new criminal organization built around the Rat King. Avoiding spoilers, let’s just say that the story goes in a fresh and exciting direction that emphasizes VR’s immersive abilities. The combat system retainsArkham’s traditional loop of combos, blocks, crowd control, and gadgets.Arkham Shadowmight not be quite as expansive as, say,Arkham CityandArkham Knight, but it drops players into a fully realized universe that still feels larger than life.
At this point, Atlus producing a JRPG that is one of the best games of the year is hardly surprising. An argument could be made that the publisher has two 2024 games that qualify, withShin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeancebeing amazing in its own right. Still,Metaphor: ReFantaziois extra special and stands out among the publisher’s illustrious releases, especially due to its fantasy rather than an urban setting.
The premise, lore, and story are too complicated to adequately summarize, but they involve political upheaval, a race for the throne, and ideological battles. While most of its themes are presented through on-the-nose dialogue, the writing is generally mature. Beyond that,Metaphor: ReFantazio’s turn-based combat shows Atlus (and Studio Zero)’s expertise with the gameplay style, and the same can be said for the well-implementedarchetype systemand social elements. This October 2024 release is Atlus at its peak.
To say the reveal of Bloober Team’sSilent Hill 2remake garnered a poor reception would be an understatement. The project was mocked years before its debut, and many seemed ready to write it off as a cash grab that would have very little in the way of redeeming factors. However, as its release approached and more footage came out,Silent Hill 2started to look kind of good. Then, the game debuted and the unthinkable happened:Silent Hill 2was great. More than that, it was one of the best horror games of the last few years.
As Konami’s 2001 masterpiece cannot be surpassed in terms of influence, the remake respectfully modernizes the same core ideas and themes, allowing it to sit comfortably alongside the original.SH2is genuinely intense and horrifying, so much so that a single playthrough will likely be enough for most people. Silent Hill, the town, has never looked better and, arguably, scarier.
Of course, a new mainlineZeldagame is brilliant. AfterTears of the Kingdom, Nintendo wisely opted to return to the franchise’s classic isometric formula to provide a more streamlined but still ambitious adventure. Excitingly, Princess Zelda takes center stage inEchoes of Wisdom, going on her first solo adventure in decades; more importantly, this is by far her best playable role, and she is not a carbon copy of Link.
Armed with the Tri Rod and ahelpful sidekick, Zelda has to clear her name and save Hyrule from more than just Ganon. The story is decent enough forZelda, butEchoes of Wisdomis primarily about its gameplay and exploration. While not as open-ended asBOTWorTOTK, the 2024 release still has a sandbox feel that encourages players to get creative and go beyond the beaten path. The main gameplay hook revolves around Zelda’s ability to create copies of enemies and items, the former of which are used for battles while the latter are crucial for world traversal.
