Despite plenty of setbacks, the last five years have been nothing short of incredible for the medium of gaming. As live-service trends and multiplayer dominance continue to shape the industry, so many developers across the world have doubled down on creating worlds that are worth exploring at your own pace and experiences that stay with you long after the credits roll.
From grand open-world adventures and haunting psychological thrillers to emotionally layered narrative journeys and tightly crafted action, these games prove that single player games are thriving. These are the games that immerse us, challenge us, surprise us, and remind us why we fell in love with gaming in the first place. With this feature, we are running down 15 of the greatest single-player experiences from 2021 to 2025.
Clair Obscur Expedition (2025)
Clair Obscur: Expedition transports players into a dreamlike world where reality is painted, reshaped, and wiped clean every year by a mysterious celestial artist. It’s combat system blends turn-based mechanics with real-time inputs, which helps it stand out from the crowd. Every encounter feels like a stage performance of sorts, and its unique setting wraps everything in a surreal, painterly aesthetic. Expedition succeeds because it fully commits to its artistic identity; story, visuals, and music all speak the same emotional language.
