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It’s time for our annual countdown to recognize the best games of the year. Over the next 10 days, we’ll be counting down the top 10 games of 2025.
As always, the votes of each member of the Press Start team were collated, weighted from 10th to 1st place, to compile the best results of the year. A game worthy of the top spot will be awarded a maximum of 10 points, and its value will go down to the 10th selection, which will be awarded 1 point.
The first Hades is seen by many to be the catalyst for a seismic shift in the industry toward roguelikes, as everyone and their dog applied the procedural, random nature of this subgenre to nearly every situation imaginable. Of course, it’s no secret that this isn’t the first roguelike, but it’s definitely one of the most prolific and successful, even convincing developer Supergiant to create a direct sequel to the game, something they hadn’t thought of before.
Like the original Hades, which finished midway through that year’s Game of the Year rankings, this dungeon-crawling sequel also entered early access, at which point Harry declared it “painted a promising picture of an ambitious, content-rich sequel that surpasses the original in every way.”
Of course, the game will eventually release 1.0 on PC and Nintendo Switch 2, and it still enjoys console exclusivity. It boasts crisper writing, a deeper combat system, and a level of replayability that its contemporaries could only dream of. Even if Supergiant refused to make a third visit to the underworld, the Hades diptych was a special game that, like many great modern texts, recontextualized Greek gods and their mythology for a whole new audience.
Ewan says
“Stylish art, a powerful soundtrack, and an addictive roguelike game design combine to create the triumphant Hades II. Having inspired countless others, Supergiant has somehow outdone themselves and delivered a true sequel that improves on the original without losing what makes it special.
As well as near-perfect combat, the game is packed with charismatic characters, extensive world-building, and challenging progression. ”
In our review, James gave Hades II a 9.5 out of 10 and said:
“Hades II is bigger and bolder than the original Hades. It’s another adventure that players will no doubt be happy to welcome Melinoe and her unique moveset to the Hades family with open arms. It’s ambitious, but we’ve managed to double the content on offer without sacrificing any of the quality we’ve come to know from Supergiant.”
And while it’s a different beast than the original Hades, Hades II has built a very strong identity for itself, rivaling its predecessor in unexpected ways. ”
On review aggregation site Metacritic, Hades 2 rests with an average score of 95.
Congratulations to Supergiant on making it to the top 10 of 2025!
2025 Game of the Year
#10 – Ghost of Yotei
#9 – Ball x Pit
#8 – Dispatch
#7 – silent hill f
#6 – Donkey Kong Bananza
#5 – Hades 2
