This is a complicated time for the gaming industry. With mass layoffs, studio closures, rising development costs and times, the threat of generative artificial intelligence, and major acquisitions and takeovers, the gaming press appears to be in a precarious position. Yet somehow, 2025 is a landmark year, with studios big and small, AAA and indie alike releasing some of the best games of this generation.
We discuss some of these games in our guide to the best games to play in 2025. But we also wanted to take a look at the best games we’re reviewing in 2025. Here at technology shout, we’ve reviewed a dozen games on PlayStation, PC, and mobile devices this year – and we hope to test many more in 2026. But which one is the best?
The two best-rated games on the technology shout website this year are Death Stranding 2: Beach and Dispatch – the only two games in 2025 to receive a 9/10 rating in our review. But if we had to pick one, Death Stranding 2 would be the best-reviewed game on our site this year.
There’s more combat in Death Stranding 2, but only if you want to get involved
Image source: Sony/Kojima Productions
Death Stranding was a divisive game when it launched in 2019, but the game’s quiet, contemplative themes have always complemented its minimalist delivery gameplay. DS 1 resonated with me even before the game was revisited during the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the world to distance itself from social experiences and live sheltered lives. In Death Stranding 2 (review), director Hideo Kojima went back to the drawing board when he saw his ideas for the first game reflected in real life.
DS 2 therefore attempts to unlock today’s new reality. This pandemic feels like it was a decade ago, and the world seems more divided and agitated now than it did a decade ago. The first game explored the value of human connection in a post-apocalyptic world; Death Stranding 2 questions the value of those connections in a world that seems obsessed with its own demise.
At its core, DS 2 is still a delivery game, but with sharper ideas and systems for its gameplay. There is an emotional through-line connecting your actions in the game. Where Death Stranding relied on a convoluted story and confusing lore, Death Stranding 2 peels back the layers to present a simpler, more effective story. It also includes wider gameplay changes. DS 2 expands upon the action and combat of its predecessor, making it more recognizable and understandable. But combat remains an optional feature. If you just want to walk around a desolate and dangerous landscape delivering deliveries, you can do whatever you want.
A compelling story, world-class visuals, and a beautiful soundtrack make Death Stranding 2 one of the best games of the year. But the larger idea behind the game makes it a completely unique experience that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Arc Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter game
Image source: Embark Studios
Arc Raiders is the best multiplayer experience of 2025
We also wanted to mention an honorable mention in passing. While we don’t have a full review of Arc Raiders – we can only playtest impressions of the game ahead of its release – it’s the best multiplayer experience of the year. I recently purchased Arc Raiders on PS5 and have now put over 20 hours into the game. It’s safe to say I’m addicted. This is the most fun I’ve had playing a multiplayer game in a long time.
The PvPvE extraction shooter creates a compelling and atmospheric post-apocalypse, letting you hunt for loot amid the threat of Arc bots and other online players. But the most striking thing here is the largely friendly player community you’ll find online. Fellow raiders are more likely to band together to help you out than to kill you and take all your loot. This makes Arc Raiders a unique communal experience that makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger.
