By Robert Glashuttner
2025 is not the big year for a new “GTA”. Nor does that of formerly brilliant giant publishers such as Ubisoft and EA, which are increasingly stumbling: the former group has long had major financial and reputational problems, the other was recently sold to a Saudi holding company. Xbox and Playstation also didn’t shine in 2025. Only Nintendo had a good run with the successful launch of their Switch 2 game console.
But that is the old world of the games industry. The new one is: Indie games of all sizes can potentially attract an audience of millions – be they large projects like “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” or much more simply developed so-called friendslop games like “Peak”. In addition, the business of live service games and platforms (Fortnite, Roblox) continues to thrive, as does the highly lucrative world of smartphone games, which is often ignored by the press and industry events.
Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive
“Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” has already won numerous awards.
Games of the Year
But this is not intended to be a specialist analysis, but rather a celebration of our personal highlights of the year. The FM4 Game Podcast with Rainer Sigl and me as hosts asked the editorial team who particularly enjoyed playing what and a lot in the past few months. Some answers have been received and the selection was diverse!
Christoph Sepin (FM4 Musikpodcast): „Hollow Knight: Silksong“
“I’m very surprised that ‘Silksong’ is my game of the year, and how long I’ve been playing it. I recently checked: I’ve been playing in this wonderful hand-drawn world on my Switch for 80 hours. Even though the game is so incredibly frustrating!”
Team Cherry
„Hollow Knight: Silksong“
Conny Lee (FM4 Morning Show): „Neva“
“‘Neva’ actually came out in 2024. It’s incredibly beautiful! In it you play a young woman who has a white wolf as a companion. Together they move through a world that is increasingly being taken over by darkness.”
Nomada Studios
„Neva“
Daniel Grabner (Hello FM4): “ARC Raiders”
“‘ARC Raiders’ has given me back my faith in online multiplayer shooters. I’ve rarely had so much fun with completely unknown players. You have no idea how these encounters will turn out. Do you team up spontaneously or does the other person turn out to be an enemy?”
Embark Studios
„ARC Raiders“
Michi Pichler (FM4 music editor): “Little Witch in the Woods”
“I can recommend this game to all people who are ‘Stardew Valley’ fans. In this game we are a little witch who is likeable, bright and curious. She resists the things she should actually do. Instead of going to boarding school, she prefers to go to the enchanted forest.”
Sunny Side Up
„Little Witch in the Woods“
René Froschmayer (FM4 editorial team): “Fortnite”
“I was able to convince even my most critical friends to download ‘Fortnite’. My highlight in the game was the Simpsons mini-season. For about a month, ‘Fortnite’ went yellow: the familiar island was replaced with a playful, detailed replica of Springfield.”
Epic
„Fortnite“
Favorites from the FM4 Game Podcast
Rainer Sigl: „ARC Raiders“
“I was also most excited about ‘ARC Raiders’ this year. I enjoyed playing this game a lot, but now I just DON’T play on the weekends because the tone gets rougher and rougher. I’m more of a person who collects things on the sidelines. It’s a peaceful life!”
Runner-ups: „Split Fiction“, „Baby Steps“, „Cronos – The New Dawn“
Hazelight
„Split Fiction“
Robert Glashüttner: „Blue Prince“
“You’re looking for the hidden 46th room in a huge villa. Every day in the game, we freshly design all the rooms in the mysterious house. Every time there are new possibilities, new puzzles and amazing surprises. A bit of luck and coincidence are always part of it!”
Runner-ups: „Ambrosia Sky: Act One“, „Unbeatable“, „Citizen Sleeper 2“
Dogubomb / Raw Fury
„Blue Prince“
