"2025 was a year for the indies. From breakout hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince, to long-awaited sequels like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, small teams frequently outperformed established studios, as the wider industry lurched from massive strikes to landmark labor deals to deep layoffs. Despite the tumult, major companies still notched some significant wins. Nintendo finally released the Switch 2 console and blockbuster exclusives like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza."
"PlayStation published acclaimed cinematic epics like Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei. Microsoft, which faced fan wrath over cancellations and price hikes, still brought an unprecedented number of new titles to their Game Pass subscription service. NPR staff members and contributors have explored the breadth of this gaming year, from multiplayer sensations like Arc Raiders and Elden Ring: Nightreign to narrative-driven experiences like Dispatch and Consume Me to inventive tabletop games like Molly House and The Old King's Crown."
2025 saw indie developers achieve major success with breakout titles such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince. Long-awaited sequels including Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong also performed strongly, often outperforming larger studios. The games industry endured strikes, landmark labor deals, and deep layoffs, producing significant turbulence. Nintendo launched the Switch 2 alongside exclusives Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. PlayStation released cinematic epics like Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei. Microsoft increased the quantity of new additions to Game Pass despite cancellations and price hikes. Offerings ranged from multiplayer sensations (Arc Raiders, Elden Ring: Nightreign) to narrative-driven games (Dispatch, Consume Me) and inventive tabletop-style titles (Molly House, The Old King's Crown), providing options from short diversions to 50-hour adventures.
Read at www.npr.org
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