Q1 2025: A Surprisingly Strong Start for Games

Niklas Borglund

Author

2025-04-13

This is the first post on the blog — short and to the point, while I’m still building out the system. But I didn’t want to let Q1 slip by without sharing a few thoughts on what’s been released so far in 2025.

Turns out: it’s been a great start to the year, especially for smaller and weirder games.

🧪 Schedule I — The surprise indie standout

Schedule I quietly came out of nowhere and ended up one of the most talked-about games of the quarter in certain circles. It's bold, unnerving, and not for everyone — which is exactly why it worked. If you're into slightly surreal, high-conflict experiences, it's worth a look.

🧨 Split Fiction — A smash hit

Can't wait to play this one myself. Hazelight and Josef Fares have (yet again) released a massive hit. Making a co-op only game is a big risk, but they keep proving that if the game is good enough, it’ll sell anyway.

🏰 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II — Highly anticipated and praised

A game that reminded everyone that highly immersive single-player RPGs are still very much alive. It’s praised for its rich story and world, and currently sits at a strong 93% positive rating.

🗡️ Assassin’s Creed Shadows — A mixed return

I haven’t played Assassin’s Creed since the Ezio days, and it seems like the series has evolved quite a bit. The reception is mostly positive (81% at the time of writing), but many players are frustrated by technical issues and the inclusion of microtransactions in a full-price single-player game.

🧪 A rocky start for some AAA releases

We saw a few high-profile launches stumble out of the gate:

• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII — Players cite an unfinished feel and poor UI. I was personally excited about this one, but I’m holding off until it gets patched.

• Monster Hunter Wilds — Selling well, but still only around 58-60% positive. Major issues with performance, even on high-end rigs.

• GTA V: Enhanced Edition — The new version replaced the old one on the store, and users are struggling with migration issues. It’s sitting at just 63% positive at the time of writing.

Combined with rising prices and increasing development costs, it begs the question: Are big-budget releases becoming too risky?

🛠️ Other quick notes

• Exited Early Access: My Summer Car & Dying Light released their 1.0 versions.
• Unusual blends: Games like ENA: Dream BBQ and R.E.P.O. combine style and genre in unexpected ways — which made them stand out.

🔥 Full List: Top Releases from Q1 2025

Here’s the full list pulled from site data — with review metrics, playtime estimates, and more:

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it — or support me on Patreon to help make this site sustainable and unlock exclusive features!