Jim Norman, Employees Author
Most performed video games of 2025:
Okay, I used to be anticipating to see two of those, however how the hell did I spend 34 hours within the NSO Sport Boy library? I performed numerous Mario’s Picross final yr (what can I say? It makes me joyful!), however certainly not that a lot. Hey ho, welcome to the rostrum, little man.
68 hours in Mario Kart World does not utterly shock me, given how lengthy I spent looking for these rattling P-Switches, Peach Medallions and ? Panels. Perhaps sooner or later I will have the ability to come again to it with an open thoughts and an open coronary heart… however I will go away it one other couple of months.
And eventually, the least stunning of all of them: Donkey Kong Bananza. It seems that reviewing and guiding a recreation like this one takes fairly a little bit of time, and I poured 112 hours into this dangerous boy to guarantee that it was 100% wrapped up. A completely elegant reintroduction into the 3D platforming house for the prized primate.
All in all, a considerably meatier yr — although one the place I nonetheless racked up triple figures on my PS5 with some tasty releases that have not come our manner but. I put 456 hours into 51 video games, with Silksong and Pokémon Legends: Z-A simply lacking out on a top-three rating. Carry on 2026 and one other ~500 hours of gaming!
Ollie Reynolds, Employees Author
Most performed video games of 2025:
Is it actually any shock that my most performed recreation of 2025 is Metroid Prime 4: Past? Having written our evaluation for Retro Studios’ newest, together with a 100% completion information marketing campaign, sure, Past managed to utterly dominate my life for a very good few weeks there.
The Hundred Line – Final Protection Academy is not too far behind, thoughts you. That is nonetheless my favorite recreation of 2025, and to be trustworthy, even with all the time I put into Prime 4, I am kinda shocked The Hundred Line did not bag the highest spot. I am actually tempted to play via it once more from scratch in 2026, so we’ll need to see if it winds up on my prime three once more this time subsequent yr.
Lastly, I have been dipping out and in of Road Fighter 6 so typically in 2025 that it is nearly managed to nab third place. I have been testing and reviewing an entire bunch of arcade controllers for the Change 2 just lately, and SF6 is the go-to recreation to essentially put them via their paces. Extra of the identical this yr, please!
I additionally really feel compelled to say that none apart from Resident Evil 6 simply missed out on the highest three. Look, I like this recreation, and I spent a lot time in The Mercenaries No Hope mode. I simply can’t get sufficient.
Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor
Most performed video games of 2025:
…effectively, considered one of these is not just like the others, eh? I am undecided what occurred at first of the yr, however I apparently could not put down Hi there Kitty and mates, which I performed for *gulp* 173 hours. Was I okay for the primary half of 2025? I believe so?
In any other case, my different two video games I truly predicted would pop in my 2024 write-up — unsurprising on condition that Xenoblade Chronicles X is completely huge, and I rolled credit on the 112-hour mark. And between reviewing, the DLC, and guiding it, Pokémon Legends: Z-A clocked in at 94 hours. Woof. A few of that’s donut farming, idling, and taking screenshots, after all.
Hole Knight: Silksong was near the highest three at 83 hours, whereas Fantasy Life i is nipping at Hornet’s ankles at over 70 hours. In any other case, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons are throughout 50 hours.
Total, a darn good yr! 2025 was a a lot busier yr for my Nintendo consoles than 2024 was — I’ve clocked in 1029 hours between the Change 1 and Change 2. I’ve a sense that’ll slip a bit in 2026 for all times causes, however we’ll see!
Gavin Lane, Editor
Most performed video games of 2025:
I used to be primarily channelling the ‘Oh crap, I want to complete that earlier than the sequel drops’ power in 2025.
I would escaped Hades a number of instances earlier than, naturally, I simply hadn’t gotten to the floor the ten instances wanted to get the correct ending. One factor led to a different, and yep, one other 28 hours on the clock. As for Hole Knight, I purchased it on sale years in the past however by no means obtained to it. I am now sitting on 86% completion with 35 hours on the clock, and I think about the NS2 Version will encourage me to push that larger.
And sandwiched between these two, there’s Bananza, a recreation I like a little much less each time I return, however I’ve nonetheless managed 32 hours and counting. Most likely time to name it a day, until the children badger me for extra “Ooo, banana!” and the Zebra Bananza music.
Effervescent beneath that, it was a bitty yr – 272 hours throughout 61 video games, together with a first-play of Steel Gear Stable and an enormous ol’ chunk of time with each Mario Kart World and that sizzling new 2025 launch, Katamari Damacy REROLL. Give the children what they need, I say. Naaa na-na na-na-na na-na…
Mai Ladyman, Video Producer
Most performed video games of 2025:
In all honesty, I didn’t do an excessive amount of gaming in 2025 as a result of that age-old excuse of life (and work) getting in the way in which. Oh… and taking part in on different platforms, primarily PC (sorry!). 2025 started with me beginning yet one more Stardew save in an try to achieve Perfection, and regardless that I’m nowhere close to that milestone, it was a pleasant routine of mine earlier than and after work.
Saying that, getting my palms on the Change 2 gave me a kick up the bum to lastly get some video games from my backlog accomplished. I principally sank my enamel into indies, cosy video games and customarily video games with shorter runtimes. I typically obtained misplaced in Evening Metropolis (or discovered myself recklessly dashing within the outskirts) and creating a brand new ACNH island only for kicks, while abandoning my OG island on my outdated Change. Though I’m over 850 hours on ACNH, I’m itching to up them much more now that the replace is right here.
Contemplating I performed a little bit of catch-up in December with Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Persona 5 Royal, I actually thought they’d make the reduce! I suppose they will need to have been a wee bit behind, so right here’s hope for subsequent yr’s evaluation. I’m hoping now that I’ve joined the Nintendo Life workforce, I can get my hours again up and at last have time for video games!
PJ O’Reilly, Employees Author
Most performed video games of 2025:
I am surprisingly pleased with how my prime three has ended up this yr, because it just about displays my precise faves total for 2025. Nearly.
Often there’s a bit little bit of evaluation time cross-contamination (and XCX is defo there because of this), however these are all worthy of prime three spots by way of how a lot I like ’em, too. Hades 2, though I do not adore it fairly as a lot because the OG, remains to be a masterclass and head and shoulders above most examples of its style by way of total high quality of gameplay and narrative.
XCX, I’ve ranted and raved sufficient about by now, you’ll be able to take a look at my 10/10 evaluation in the event you do not consider me, and The Ivalice Chronicles, effectively, moreover being to this point up my road it is moved into my home, it is a splendidly well-realised and endlessly endearing factor.
What else was up prime for me by way of playtime? Bananza, Mario Kart World and Silksong are all in there, clearly, however so is Quick Fusion, Axiom Verge 2 (again on that replay vibe) and Divinity Unique Sin 2, which is simply a type of video games that I am perpetually and at all times mucking about in!
These are our Years in Evaluate most-played video games, however what about yours? Vote in our ballot beneath and tell us your favorite stats within the feedback.
