The cast list for the Elden Ring movie includes Nick Offerman (The Last of Us, Margo’s Got Money Troubles), Ben Whishaw (Peter Hujar’s Day, This is going to Hurt), Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace), and Emma Laird (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, A Haunting in Venice), among others. A24 has also confirmed that the film will hit theaters on March 3rd, 2028.

While these details might be coming out just now, a report from earlier this month has indicated that principal photography on the film may have already started some time ago. An Elden Ring fan managed to discover that some of the filming was happening close to their house, and was able to grab a few videos revealing a set that looks like a ruined Church of Marika. While more precise details about the location haven’t been revealed, another report has indicated that it was taking place in England’s Windsor Great Park, which has been noted as the filming location for projects like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

The Elden Ring movie adaptation was officially confirmed all the way back in May 2025. A24 is producing the project, with Alex Garland – known for his work on projects like 28 Days Later, 28 Years Later, and Dredd – taking the role of director and writer. George R.R. Martin, who had previously worked with FromSoftware to flesh out the world and story of Elden Ring, is also involved with the film as its producer, alongside Vince Geradis, Peter Rice, Andrew Macdonald, and Allon Reich.

No details about the story of the film have been revealed as of yet, including whether or not it will include the in-game protagonist – the Tarnished One – or if it will instead focus on one the game’s many other characters, like Ranni, for example. Garland had revealed that his pitch to Bandai Namco for the film adaptation involved an “epic” 160-page draft, accompanied by 40 pages of images.

He also confirmed that he is a fan of the open-world RPG, and in an interview, discussed the fact that Malenia, Blade of Miquella, was the hardest boss fight in the entire game.

“It’s Malenia who’s the tough one. I’m now on my seventh playthrough of that game,” he said. “I’ve leveled up, I’ve got lots of juice, and a cool sword, and stuff like that, and I just throw myself at them again, and again, and again, and again. That was the technique I learned with Dark Souls,” he said. “It’s not that you get better, it’s more like monkeys and typewriters. You just keep doing it, and eventually, one day they’re dead.”

It will also feature Nick Offerman (The Last of Us, Parks and Recreation) and Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy). Check out the full cast list below. It is worth noting that, while we now know the actors involved with the film project, we still don’t know which characters they will be playing.

The film adaptation of Elden Ring was officially announced in May last year, with A24 handling production work and Alex Garland serving as director and writer. The project will also feature the involvement of A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin as producer alongside Vince Geradis, Peter Rice, Andrew Macdonald, and Allon Reich.

Garland has revealed himself to be a fan of the game and discussed the fact that Malenia, Blade of Miquella, was the hardest boss fight in Elden Ring in an interview.

“It’s Malenia who’s the tough one. I’m now on my seventh playthrough of that game. I’ve leveled up, I’ve got lots of juice, and a cool sword, and stuff like that, and I just throw myself at them again, and again, and again, and again. That was the technique I learned with Dark Souls,” he said. “It’s not that you get better, it’s more like monkeys and typewriters. You just keep doing it, and eventually, one day they’re dead.”

He had also revealed that his main pitch for the Elden Ring film adaptation involved an “epic” 160-page draft, which included 40 pages of images.

Earlier this month, a fan had seemingly figured out one of the filming locations and, since it was close to their home, decided to record a couple of videos. While we didn’t get too many details about the Elden Ring film from these videos, the remains of a Church of Marika were clearly visible.

In the meantime, Elden Ring remains available to play on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch 2 release of the base game and its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is planned, with pre-orders having recently popped up on Amazon for $79.99.

Elden Ring film adaptation full cast:

• Kit Connor (Warfare, Heartstopper)
• Ben Whishaw (Peter Hujar’s Day, This is going to Hurt)
• Cailee Spaeny (Alien: Romulus, Civil War)
• Tom Burke (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Black Bag)
• Havana Rose Liu (Tuner, Bottoms)
• Sonoya Mizuno (Ex Machina)
• Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes, The Crown)
• Ruby Cruz (Bottoms, The Threesome)
• Nick Offerman (The Last of Us, Margo’s Got Money Troubles)
• John Hodgkinson (Dear England, Napoleon)
• Jefferson Hall (House of the Dragon, Oppenheimer)
• Emma Laird (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, A Haunting in Venice)
• Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)

The date (December 31st, 2026) is clearly a placeholder, but the box art appears legitimate. It indicates that the release is on a Game-Key Card, which might be a dealbreaker for physical collectors. Then again, given the sheer size of the title alongside its expansion, a proper cartridge with everything on it would have been far out of reach for Bandai Namco. At least the full game download is only 75 GB, so there’s some silver lining.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was originally slated for 2026. However, after reports emerged of performance troubles, it was delayed. Alongside previous updates, the port includes new weapons, armor sets and mount customization options, which will be available to all platforms in a separate paid DLC. Check out our reviews for more details on the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree.

Besides bringing The Lands Between and The Land of Shadow to Switch 2 players, FromSoftware is also working on The Duskbloods, a PvEvP multiplayer title. It’s allegedly launching in late 2026.

This time, it’s dataminer Lance McDonald, who has uncovered an unused cutscene that showcases the moment Miquella planted the seed of the Haligtree at Elphael. If you need a refresher, Miquella intended for the Haligtree to be the source of a cure for Malenia’s Scarlet Rot, a debilitating condition that she managed to survive for a while before unleashing it upon Caelid in her battle with Radahn during The Shattering. She was returned to its roots, corrupting the tree and lying in wait for her brother, seemingly unaware that he had been abducted by Mohg, the Lord of Blood, who had his own plans for the Elden Throne.

“This is a look at a never-before-seen map file where a cutscene was filmed for Elden Ring, which showed Miquella planting the Haligtree, as well as the process through which, during earlier development and testing, this cutscene was intended to have been played.”

Miquella’s intentions seem pure, although his methods were revealed as rather misguided during our time with Shadow of the Erdtree. It’s still nice to think of a time before The Shattering when the twin prodigies worked to better their own lives as well as the ones of the people around them. It’s also really cool to see the early origins of a tree that served as the backdrop of one of the most iconic boss battles we’ve had over the years.

Elden Ring is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. It’s also coming to Switch 2 with the Tarnished Edition out sometime this year.

The streamer said through messages on Discord that the set was just a few minutes from where they live. They didn’t quite reveal any precise location, but it’s believed that the shooting is taking place somewhere in England. As caught by PC Gamer, a third video was posted on TikTok, revealing that a trap had been placed over the set. “Hahahaha, people think it might be AI. I’m posting another video today. I went back today and got more footage,” they said.

PC Gamer’s report also points to the film’s production taking place near Windsor Great Park, which the publication has referred to as a popular filming location for all sorts of productions. Among other things, the location has seen the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

The live-action movie adaptation of Elden Ring was officially announced back in May 2025. A24 is handling production on the project with Alex Garland—known for his work as director on Civil War and Warfare—serving as its director and writer. George R.R. Martin is also involved, serving as a producer, alongside Vince Geradis, Peter Rice, Andrew Macdonald, and Allon Reich.

Considering the nature of Elden Ring’s main story, the plot of the movie is still shrouded in mystery. However, Garland had revealed in an interview with The New Yorker last year that he had prepared an “epic” 160-page draft, along with 40 pages full of images, which serve as the on-spec script (which Garland used to pitch the movie adaptation to Bandai Namco).

In an interview with IGN, Garland has also revealed that he finds Malenia, Blade of Miquella, to be the hardest boss fight in Elden Ring. “It’s Malenia who’s the tough one. I’m now on my seventh playthrough of that game. I’ve leveled up, I’ve got lots of juice, and a cool sword, and stuff like that, and I just throw myself at them again, and again, and again, and again. That was the technique I learned with Dark Souls,” he continued. “It’s not that you get better, it’s more like monkeys and typewriters. You just keep doing it, and eventually, one day they’re dead.”

Elden Ring was released on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S back in 2022. FromSoftware is also working on bringing the open-world RPG to the Nintendo Switch 2. In the meantime, the other platforms can also check out the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

Nioh 3 is the result of several titles that did very exciting things with the Soulslike concept, and is a culmination of Team Ninja’s journey over two past entries and a couple of other great titles.

They’re both giants in their own right, with very different philosophies that govern how they interpret the combat, exploration, and general vibe of a Soulslike. They represent differing design goals that underline core aspects like how player freedom and agency can be woven into combat in a manner that gives it depth, or how difficulty and a challenge is balanced against fairness, and even in how you express your build and how that carries over to New Game Plus.

There’s no way we’re saying that either one of these masterpieces is better than the other. But we think that it’s fascinating that they both deviate and intersect with one another in important aspects of their gameplay loops. Their design goals merit closer scrutiny, and that’s exactly what we’re setting out to do. Let’s get started!

Clear Visions, Forward-Thinking Directions

While Nioh 3 takes a very clinical approach to the open-world, combat, and its take on the player agency that a Soulslike provides, Elden Ring is focused on being an experience that puts you right at the center of an epic tale.

The story in Nioh 3 is there, but it isn’t where Team Ninja has focused its efforts, existing to give you an excuse to do battle across time periods which almost feel like a logical extension of the Spirit Stones’ utility after the first two games. Team Ninja, however, isn’t trying to tell a good story in Nioh 3, aiming to bring a combat-focused game to a region-based progression system that improves on the mission-based one in its previous Nioh games.

The focus on creating builds that suit you, and unleashing your best moves after a lot of practice, potential min/maxing, and a lot of grinding to gain mastery over your chosen weapons. You could choose to ditch your build entirely, with no costs associated with doing so. Nioh 3 is all about the action, and unabashedly so, and it’s a choice that works well for the experience it is trying to be.

Elden Ring, on the other hand, was targeting a different gameplay loop, with a sense of discovery underlining a player-authored adventure. Yes, it does have a lot of build-freedom and multiple options to suit your playstyle but switching things up midway does come at the cost of a Larval Tear, a fairly rare item with a limited number being present in each playthrough. Its story backs all of that up while giving the game a distinct identity, going for a fantasy-adventure vibe instead of Nioh 3’s mythology-driven approach.

But where both games come together is in their pacing, with an exploration-driven focus on allowing your character to gradually grow more powerful and take on more dangerous regions of their maps. They’re both Souslikes in that regard, but their priorities differ wildly enough to make them very different experiences in terms of their combat and gameplay.

Similar Fights, Different Techniques

As far as combat is concerned, it’s a good idea to see where the two titles intersect in terms of how fights are structured before we examine how they vary. They’re both challenging games in their own right, and you’re going to find that out within an hour in either ancient Japan or The Lands Between.

That’s true for both the grunt enemy and boss designs in both titles, as they come with well-telegraphed, readable animations, and openings that you’re meant to exploit as well as you can after considering the situation in a matter of microseconds. That’s a very specific vibe that Soulslikes bring to the table and is almost a given in any title that now enters the genre.

But then you see the differences in pacing and the tools you’re given to do damage in each game. Nioh 3 frankly brings a whole array of systems to the table to better support its faster pacing and a more aggressive playstyle for your character. Deflections are now a thing for the Samurai style, adding on to Ki pulses, stances, and Onmyo magic that can either summon yokai or use spells.

Couple that with the evasive Ninja style and you see a combat experience that has you constantly on the move, seeking an advantage against foes that hit hard and hit fast. It’s pressure-heavy to the point where every fight feels like you’re freestyling a very complex and nuanced dance, and once you get good enough, the consistency of your wins is a reward in and of itself.

Come over to Elden Ring and things are a tad more slow-paced although you’re always in danger of being summarily dispatched towards the nearest Site of Grace. Enemies, especially bosses, come at you with long combos with delayed strikes that vary their timing, requiring a more methodical approach and solid positional awareness for you to exploit openings that they provide.

The timing of each attack, dodge, and counterattack is more deliberate, and you’re meant to recover stamina the old fashioned way without opportunities to quickly regain it in the heat of battle. While you could argue that stamina isn’t an infinite resource in Nioh 3, and with good reason, it’s a lot more precious in Elden Ring thanks to the fact that you don’t get to pulse back chunks of it right after a combo.

But Elden Ring has its own tricks up its sleeve, with the Ashes of War, spells, a hidden poise system, and a focus on moveset mastery to let your Tarnished take on even the most fearsome of foes. Its combat is about spectacle, and a sort of push and pull in which you’re almost always the underdog until you see more of the world it presents and begin to give your Tarnished a distinct identity. Nioh 3 gives you everything you need to dominate its early game and trusts you to make the most of it, in comparison.

And that brings us to an aspect of the experience that is both crucial, and one in which the intersectionality and divergence between these distinct design philosophies begin to be more prominent. And that’s the open-world and their respective approaches to it.

Encouraging Exploration

From the very outset, Nioh 3’s version of Japan stands out in contrast to The Lands Between. The spaces are tighter, and getting from point A to point B is distinctly faster thanks to the Gale Sprint, and perhaps even the fact that you’re travelling on foot instead of a horse. The semi-open level designs are structured around a density of activities packed tightly in every region, and each of them leads back to combat in some way.

That helps with tying the world neatly to your character’s progression, and the approach to loot helps with that. You’re meant to keep updating your Samurai’s and Ninja’s loadouts, trying new combinations to create synergies between your gear, weapons, and stat investments. You’re meant to try and squeeze out as much damage as you can from your build, and exploring the world to make that happen is the way to go.

It’s more like a build-engineering system that’s backed by the exploration loop, the two of them working in tandem to keep you constantly trying out new builds or ideas, or even changing things up entirely if the situation demands it.

In Elden Ring, it’s more about forming an identity for your build, directing your take on the Tarnished in a way that encourages planning your stat spread early for the type of weapons and gear you’re looking at. Are you going to channel your Strength and deal devastating blows to your enemies while tanking their attacks? Or do you prefer a more agile approach, weaving in and out of enemy combos while dealing damage with quick slashes or stabs, or perhaps staying away and using your spells? All of it is viable, and any approach still results in a potent character.

However, new weapons, spells, Ashes of War, and gear are not dropped all over the place. They’re earned in a design choice that ties in to the game’s exploration loop just like Nioh 3, but diverges from it by encouraging a more calculated approach to the open-world. It helps that a plethora of side quest chains and hidden events constantly underscore The Lands Between, encouraging you to take as much of it in as you can with every session of play.

Elden Ring also has The Shadow of the Erdtree, a DLC that feels like a whole game all on its own. It’s going to be interesting to see what Nioh 3 does on that front. But both games do have an excellent replay value in common, with New Game Plus being almost a requirement for players who want to actually enjoy the characters they’ve invested a lot of time in building. Elden Ring a more sprawling, larger map that encourages you to explore it, yes, but for a set of reasons entirely different from Nioh 3.

Where Elden Ring is about an adventure that is built around a sense of wonder, Nioh 3 is one that’s built around a sense of constant danger, and a need for vigilant responses to threats that come at you. And yet, both their gameplay loops drive you towards a throne.

A Shared Crown

Elden Ring and Nioh 3 are excellent at probably the best titles to represent the distinct ambitions they bring to the table. As an adventure myth, Elden Ring places a spotlight on rewarding discovery, weaving in a sense of awe and adventure into its world that’s reflected in the spectacle of the battles you fight in it.

Nioh 3 takes a more combat focused approach, constantly keeping its players engaged through a more technical approach to combat that can get very addictive, very fast. It’s about taking down anyone getting in the way of your rise to the Shogunate with brutal efficiency and stylish grace.

Nioh 3 is sort of a combat laboratory, where you’re constantly looking for ways to tackle its new world design via experimentation and exploration. Elden Ring, on the other hand, is about an adventure that’s uniquely your’s, discovery-driven rewards and a sense of wonder woven into a story and gameplay loop that can have you thinking about it long after you leave The Lands Between.

And yet, despite their differences, the main thing that they share in common is that they’re both excellent titles, and brilliant showcases of what a good studio can do with the Soulslike formula.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

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. 

Many of these games are so addictive and well-designed, you’re probably going to be thinking about them when you’re not playing them. Let’s get started!

1. Where Winds Meet

This wuxia-based RPG is simply unmatched when it comes to the number of activities it offers you, the quality of each one, and the variety you can find. It’s an open world where exploration without having a specific destination in mind is the best possible way to experience it, with a lot of great side content baked into the game aside from a compelling main campaign.

With online multiplayer and MMO elements integrated into the gameplay loop, and combat and gear systems that are great for creating unique PvP characters, there’s just so much to do in this game, and so much more to come with subsequent updates, that hitting triple figures on your playtime is almost an inevitability.

2. EA Sports FC 26

The football simulator that’s been around forever continues to be a viable option for a game that has you coming back to it every chance you get, for a very long time after you first boot it up. With a very detailed Career mode, regular online events, the option to pit your team against your friend, or perhaps have a buddy join your team instead, there’s a lot to experience.

The gameplay on offer is also quite solid, with a lot of realism baked into the experience to make you feel like you’re on the pitch and not staring at it through a screen. However, its systems and some of its challenges are going to require that you literally put your best foot forward on the pitch. If you decide to dive into this one, the game is on and is going to stay that way for a while.

3. Fortnite

Once again, there’s so much to do in Fortnite, which is more of a platform than a game at this point. With so many modes on offer, regular content being added into the game, social features that make it a blast when it’s enjoyed in company, and a PvP Battle Royale mode that has become quite popular in its own right, this one’s definitely a game where 200 hours might go by before you even notice.

Dive in and you’re going to find a lot of freedom for self-expression, and a lot of fun to be had on the islands. Just be careful not to put too much of a strain on your wallet, as those outfits and goodies can be very tempting indeed.

4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim + Expansions

Step into the shoes of the Dragonborn and begin your journey into Skyrim, and you’re probably not going to look at another video game until you’ve explored every corner of its sprawling map. Anything can happen along the road to your next point of interest, and with some of the finest RPG mechanics to grace the genre, you’re going to spend a lot of time tinkering with your build.

This is an RPG that has more than earned its popularity and ranks high among modern gaming’s finest for a reason. It’s also smart to dive in now and perhaps brush up on the story ahead of the sequel that’s eventually coming our way. The expansions are worth a mention, and can add a significant amount of hours to your total playtime. Every second of them is going to be worth it, though.

5. GTA Online

A thriving community of players, a massive map to explore in San Andreas, and interesting activities to engage with. GTA Online was kind of a no-brainer for this list. With heists to plan and execute, quests to carry out for some of the main story’s characters, and a reputation to build for your silent protagonist, this one’s going to have you avoiding plans and spending your weekends indoors for a while.

It’s GTA at its finest, and if the delay to GTA VI has had you feeling down, perhaps this one can act as a suitable placebo until the real thing gets here.

6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt + Story Expansions

Geralt’s search for Ciri, and all the shenanigans he can get up to in the process, continues to be among the best open-world games we’ve played despite it being a decade old at this point. CDPR’s ability to hide a frankly overwhelming amount of secrets across three vast maps, and a whole lot of quality side content to distract the Witcher from looking for his adoptive daughter, is nothing short of a marvel.

The story expansions are a whole other ball game, bringing some very satisfying arcs full of possibilities to change the narrative’s direction, along with excellent new monsters to hunt and more secrets and lore to uncover. You might not be able to get enough of this one, if we’re being honest.

7. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

The first open-world Metal Gear Solid is a great option for those of you who like a game that takes a while to outstay its welcome. Big Boss’s adventures continue in a main campaign that works very well as a bridge between previous entries, while side ops, Metal Gear Online, and the Forward Operating Base systems are all reasons for this one to have you enjoying many entertaining hours of espionage and skullduggery.

Indeed, a significant part of your playtime is going to be planning the best possible route to your objectives without your enemies being none the wiser to your presence. This is a hunt that takes a satisfyingly long time and is definitely worth considering.

8. Destiny 2

This award-winning online FPS title from Bungie has a staggering amount of content for you to take on in its story-based PvE mode, while your multiplayer options range from cooperative three-player missions to PvP battles. There’s a lot to take in, both in terms of the game’s lore and the amount of gear and potential build options you can find.

With a lot of content to get through, and a lot of fun to be had as you dive into all it has to offer, Destiny 2 is a dream come true if you’re an FPS player who wants a game that can take over their holidays.

9. Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree

FromSoftware’s ambitious open-world and the Tarnished’s incredible journey is nothing short of a masterpiece. The Lands Between are full of places to explore, mysteries to uncover, NPCs with haunting stories, and a lot of weapons, armor, gear, and loot to plunder as you try to become Queen Marika’s consort and impose your will on the world.

It’s easy to forget about all that as you ride your horse through the Lands Between, and that feeling only intensifies when you finally make your way to the Land of Shadow in the game’s DLC. Tracing the steps of Miquella is an adventure worth taking on, and coupled with the base game, this one’s a behemoth.

10. Monster Hunter: World + Expansions

Taking on the role of a representative of the Research Commission and exploring every region and zone of the New World was a fun and engaging experience from start to finish. There are so many monsters to hunt, so much to discover, and a whole lot of activities to engage in at your camp and the main base.

Quests flow from one to another almost as smoothly as the water in some parts of the New World, and you’re going to be helping your fellow companions and NPCs while having tons of fun along the way. It helps that this is a game that’s both charming in its writing and enchanting on the visual front. You can’t go wrong with this one, and it’s going to have you getting very creative in your approach to each distinct monster you’re tasked with bringing down.

11. Dragon’s Dogma 2

This sequel was an excellent new addition to Dragon’s Dogma. It was a pleasure to step into the shoes of the Arisen once again, and each of the playable classes brought something interesting to the table. But it’s when you begin to dive deeper into the world’s mysteries and begin to discover more about it that this one’s true depth shows itself.

You’re going to want to place your teleporting stones quite carefully, as the rest of the world actually has you travelling across it, navigating set pathways via a travel system, while the world’s unpredictability can make those trips quite treacherous indeed. This is an experience that is both memorable and filled with so much content and so little hand-holding that you’re going to be obsessed with discovering more about the world and the people you meet within it.

12. Red Dead Redemption 2

Arthur Morgan is an obvious contender for a place on this list of massive games, and his adventures are so extensive that it can be hard to believe one man lived through them all. From kicking back with mini-games to exploring some truly bizarre stories that can come to you in multiple ways, this is a game that can have you walking and talking like a cowboy from the Wild West every chance you get.

It’s among the finest games in modern gaming, and its world is so full of clever little details to discover that hopping on your horse for a new day of exploring is going to take precedence over your leisure time for a very entertaining and lengthy block of time.

13. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla + Expansions

As the largest one in the franchise, Valhalla’s unique take on living your life as a noble Viking and uncovering the conspiracy across England, is a world worth getting lost in.

The game’s expansions do more to set up a lot of things, while coming with some brilliant new adventures for Eivor to pursue, complete with members of shadowy organizations to hunt down. It’s quite a tale, and a very large one full of fun things to do. Switching the cinematic camera on during a boat ride could have you spending more hours on this one than you’d like to admit.

14. No Man’s Sky

As one of modern gaming’s greatest comeback stories, this is a game that stands in its own class in terms of its shelf life. It’s an almost endless adventure, its narrative justifying multiple playthroughs in a way that makes total sense, while the completely random worlds that you get to explore and engage with are quite hard to leave once you start with them.

No Man’s Sky is a story about enjoying the journey, while also waiting eagerly to see what you’re going to find at its destination. It’s going to have you pushing past your bedtime with a smile on your face, and a sense of wonder compelling you to move forward and see just what you’re about to find.

15. Baldur’s Gate 3

With a stellar cast of actors bringing several NPCs to life, and an expertly narrated Dungeons and Dragons-based tale to have their settings intertwine with yours, Larian Studio’s banger continues to be a game that you can keep replaying, with astounding build variety and stories that never truly take place the same way when you play them.

There’s the Honour Mode, cross-platform modding support, co-op and online multiplayer, and a very dark take on the story to play through. Faerun is a great holiday destination, although the things you might find there can stay in the darkest corners of your mind rent-free.

16. Stardew Valley

We weren’t going to leave out one of the ultimate farming simulations from this one. Stardew Valley belongs here, with a playtime that doesn’t really end. You’re going to keep coming back to the farm that you grew from scratch, a town gradually building out of the effort you sink into, and the relationships with its many NPCs you build along the way.

No two days are the same out in this valley, and bringing in the online component is a great way to make this one as immersive as it can be, thanks to a thriving community of die-hard fans. You’re going to feel very welcome in this one, and you might choose to stay with it for a very long time to come.

17. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

This life sim always has a goal to reach, and things to do to get there. The Nook Miles system is its highlight, while the charming world and its uniquely retro art style make it stand out. Building out your presence in its world is an activity on its own, and you’re going to be quite obsessed with placing your buildings in a layout that’s to your liking, while getting them constructed has you constantly checking back into the game.

This is a game where you come to relax, and do that quite often, thanks to how entertaining it is to play, and how satisfying it is to stay with.

18. Gran Turismo 7

This PlayStation-exclusive racing sim is a great option for those of you who’d like to spend your time behind the wheel of a fast car on some of the world’s most iconic tracks. With PSVR2 support, incredible visuals, a very realistic translation of each car’s real-life track performance, and a lot of options to enjoy races at your disposal, you’re going to rack up a lot of miles on your ODO once you get started with this one.

The astounding visuals work very well with the game’s many systems that work well together to make your time on the track feel truly authentic, and push you to try taking those corners as well as you can. It’s time to let those engines loose and enjoy the results for hours on end.

19. Satisfactory

For a game carrying its title, this one is more than satisfactory, and can have you very immersed in building out your space base in your role as the Pioneer. Your factories are soon going to have you thinking about them while you’re away from your PC, and the potential for self-expression is almost humming with endless possibilities.

While its map is almost overwhelmingly large for most players, the ones who invest the time in hunting down as much to do as they can in this game are going to have a lot of fun building out their factories and playing their part in developing the corporation that put them there. Satisfactory is unique, visually distinct, well-executed, and simply fun to play, plain and simple.

20. Mass Effect Legendary Edition

This is the definitive way to enjoy a trilogy of legendary titles, bringing improved visuals and performance while also bringing in each title’s DLC and expansions into one title with a single character creator and the option to launch any of the three games from a unified menu.

If you’re familiar with the Mass Effect games, you already know that you’re going to be spending inordinate amounts of time with each one. You also know that their replay value is off the charts, and it can be easy to lose yourself in this trilogy’s expansive universe, where spending several hours making memories in it can become an entire holiday on its own.

That wraps up our list of the largest games you can get your hands on. We hope you have as much fun playing them as we did, and that the one you pick gives you many fond memories as you play it.

30. Dynasty Warriors Origins

After the terrible open-world approach of Dynasty Warriors 8, it felt like curtains for the franchise. Fortunately, Dynasty Warriors Origins goes back to basics, focusing more on the large, cinematic battles that have defined the franchise. While the ability to play as multiple iconic heroes (at least for more than a few minutes) is sorely missed, it nails the combat and the sheer wonder of systematically tearing through armies.

29. Atomfall

As much as Fallout lays claim to the post-nuclear apocalyptic crown, Atomfall offered its own unique take on the formula. Set in the aftermath of the Windscale Fire, it’s full of mysteries to pursue, but you’ll need to actually gather the clues – combing the landscape, interacting with (and maybe trusting) untoward characters, and ultimately escaping. Or just kill everyone in your path. Either approach works.

28. Mafia: The Old Country

Family matters, especially in the Mafia series, where it can both unite and destroy. Much like Dynasty Warriors – which isn’t a comparison I would have made in this life, but here we are. The Old Country doesn’t try for a massive open world, nor does it waste your time. It tells a gripping story about family, loyalty and betrayal in early 1900s Sicily, presenting complex characters with excellent performances and more than enough fun gameplay (especially the new knife fights). No more and certainly no less.

27. South of Midnight

Hazel’s journey through the Southern Gothic world of South of Midnight may not be the most memorable among this year’s stories, but it’s certainly unique. Told through stunning stop-motion visuals, its combination of exploration and combat feels solid while keeping the focus squarely on the magical realism of its narrative and characters.

26. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Leenzee’s first action RPG is heavily inspired by the first Dark Souls with its world design, and it shows. But it’s the customization, combat and mechanics – including madness – that set it apart. Wuchang’s late Ming Dynasty setting and lore also offer more than terrifying threats to combat – and more than enough options, both in melee and magic, to fight back. PC performance remains a stickler, but it’s surprisingly substantive for its price.

25. Starfield

So Bethesda’s latest doesn’t offer the best story or the best use of procedural generation or proper interplanetary or the most beloved companions – alright, I’ll stop by. But the gunplay, especially with the addition of zero gravity, is solid and that “just one more” feeling of discovering a new planet, laden with strange creatures and gorgeous vistas, is present. There’s still room for improvement, but it’s a solid base, if nothing else.

24. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

“Suffering builds character” is seemingly Senua’s arc at this point. As she ventures to Iceland to save her people, the Furies return, and the Shadow remains as oppressive as ever, but it’s all par for the course, especially when caught in desperate battles for survival. Hellblade 2 isn’t a massive overhaul of everything its predecessor did well, instead enhancing the cinematic presentation for an even bloodier narrative. And that’s alright.

23. Ninja Gaiden 4

Speaking of bloody, Ninja Gaiden 4. Thank you for coming to my pseudo-review. But in all seriousness, for a series that ended as controversially as it did after the third game, it’s just so good. The exploration, the movement, the combat, the new Bloodraven techniques – even controlling Ryu Hayabusa, limited as his weaponry was, turned out to be a lot of fun. There are plenty of nitpicks, but Ninja Gaiden is officially back, and I couldn’t be happier.

22. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

“Wake up, Sleeper,” you’ll hear when starting. A familiar phrase, carrying far more weight this time as you traverse the Helion System’s asteroid belt. The clock is still ticking on your body, and it’s all you can do to take on jobs, hire companions, roll the dice, and try to survive. Additional mechanics such as Push and Stress offer even more twists and turns, but the series’ sharp writing and characterization remain as incredible as ever.

21. Dying Light: The Beast

I’ve missed Kyle Crane and seeing him move past the righteous but naive courier of the first game into the “My anger is healthy” protagonist in The Beast feels right. Techland wisely offers much more, though, from smarter enemies and a more perilous night with much more dangerous Volatiles to silky-smooth parkour and melee combat that could give Dead Island 2 a run for its money. All this combines for a fulfilling experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

20. Lies of P

NEOWIZ took us by surprise when it revealed Lies of P, a Souls-like take on the classic tale. Perhaps even better is the fact that it went above and beyond expectations, offering incredible combat and parrying mechanics with fun weapon customization and challenging bosses. As dangerous and devious as Krat felt, it was also alive, capturing that ruined beauty that defines so many of FromSoft’s greatest.

19. Cronos: The New Dawn

A new Dead Space may never happen, yet Chronos: The New Dawn is a surprisingly solid substitute. The story of the Traveller, their eventual shift from rigid and robotic to actually feeling emotions in this post-apocalyptic landscape of Cronenbergian horrors, is a compelling one. Throw in some classic limb dismantling and time traveling, and you have one of the more underappreciated horror games of the year.

18. Monster Hunter Wilds

The successor to Monster Hunter World. The mainline Monster Hunter for current-gen consoles that we’ve all waited for. Perhaps the best-selling Monster Hunter to date in terms of controls and actual combat…is also one that’s been perpetually on fire this year when it comes to performance, end-game, lack of “Monster Hunter-ness,” take your pick. Nevertheless, it’s only improved ever since, packing tons of worthwhile challenges and rewards with even more – like its first Elder Dragon, Gogmazios – on the way.

17. The Outer Worlds 2

Taking everything it learnt from the first game, The Outer Worlds 2 is a sleeker, smarter, and arguably more entertaining role-playing game as a result. Factions and companions remain the centrepiece, whether you’re deciding who to stab in the back (and hear complaining about you on the radio) or who to give up. But between all its branching decisions and multiple quest approaches, The Outer Worlds 2 is equally content to let you go on a killing spree.

16. Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is officially in maintenance mode – what’s a fan to do without any campaign DLC? Quite a lot, thankfully, thanks to Forge Mode, new multiplayer maps, Exchange updates, and much more. For all its faults, from the controversial reveal to launch, it still offers some of the best gameplay in the series. Best to appreciate it all now before the player counts plummet for good.

15. DOOM: The Dark Ages

Credit to id Software – even after finding a formula that inspires utter joy and mixed emotions alike, it’s not afraid to create another that somehow, inexplicably, does the same. So yes, The Dark Ages is much slower than Eternal, but the methodical gameplay, punctuated by the incredible Shield Saw and more in-depth melee combat, still feels so good.

14. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

It’s kind of crazy that Shadows turned out to be one of 2025’s most controversial releases. Once you get past all that, its depiction of Japan is actually quite beautiful, while Naoe’s parkour and stealth remain some of the best in the franchise. Sure, there are qualms over the story, voice-acting and pacing, but infiltrating castles and assassinating your target – or breaking down the front door to challenge everyone to a fight – is fun, and backed by tons of other in-depth systems.

13. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

Call it nostalgia that harks back to the days when Bethesda could craft a compelling world, but Oblivion Remastered is just such a breath of fresh air in so many ways. Interesting side quests with multiple outcomes, an intriguing story where you’re decidedly not the chosen one, numerous secrets – there’s so much to take in. Much of the quirkiness and bugs remain (with Virtuos sadly adding some new ones), yet it remains one of this year’s better open-world RPGs.

12. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

What is the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone if not a microcosm of humanity itself, boiled down to our most base instinct? Depending on who you are, it can be a place of wonder, of Anomalies dancing about and causing havoc. It can be a place of community as various factions, friendly and hostile, go about their business without your input. Maybe it’s all of these things, wrapped in an unforgiving veneer, but at least there’s plenty of guns to go around. Whatever your reason for venturing into the Zone, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 promises an experience unlike anything else out there.

11. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Despite all the contemporary movie flops, adventure really does have one name, and it’s still Indiana Jones. The Great Circle, is an original tale through Indy’s eye. And while that first-person perspective may seem like the antithesis to an Uncharted or Tomb Raider, MachineGames pushes stunning locales where observation is as important as platforming and reflexes. Where stealth is optional and going in, fists swinging, is as viable as whipping enemies unconscious. With a lengthy campaign, immersive environments, sharp writing and phenomenal set pieces, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a standout in gaming as a whole.

10. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

From the very first hour, Clair Obscur pulls you into its bold, beautiful world and doesn’t let go. It dazzles with its brutality, enveloping you in a combat system that’s tactical yet active and oh-so-satisfying – especially when nailing every single parry and counter-attacking as a squad. The constant push ahead accompanies phenomenal art direction, an unforgettable soundtrack, and – my favorite – ten or so new mysteries to go with every answer. Sandfall Interactive has crafted more than an ode to the greatest turn-based RPGs of yore. It introduced us to a whole new world, full of possibilities, even if all roads lead to tragedy.

9. Blue Prince

This year saw no shortage of excellent rogue-like experiences, but from out of nowhere, Blue Prince emerged with a gameplay loop that had no business being as fun as it was. The premise is simple: As the heir to a massive estate, you must find the 46th room. Easy enough, right? Except you have to create the actual blueprint to reach it, pulling from a pool of rooms like architectural gacha. Will you put down that Observatory for the sake of something good? How about a coat check to carry over a tool to the next run? With a limited number of steps and a clean slate daily, Blue Prince is wholly addictive while challenging you to ponder every single possibility.

8. ARC Raiders

We’ve said a lot about why ARC Raiders is so good, even if you’re not an extraction shooter fan, but it’s still fascinating. Even after so many runs top-side, you never know what to expect, whether it’s a friendly Raider who could end up stabbing you in the back or a desperate struggle for survival against a Rocketeer. As varied as the experiences can feel, the fact that it’s backed by such great presentation and gunplay is just the cherry on top.

7. Split Fiction

Like many games, Hazelight Studios’ biggest, most expensive title to date was kind of buried beneath all the other great games this year. The curse of launching early, perhaps, but regardless, this is the co-op experience of the year. Between the simply awesome co-op setpieces, spanning futuristic settings with mech suits and fantasy worlds with giants and dragons, is the simply bizarre and borderline concerning. What more do you need?

6. Hollow Knight: Silksong

Even after all the other games that have been released this year, Silksong continues to call to me, its subtle tones belying the sheer humiliation that its toughest bosses wish to inflict. Despite the abundance of two-mask damage sources, the punishing platforming, the surprisingly dangerous enemies, and the runbacks, I still want to keep exploring Pharloom. I want to take in its sights, serenade strangers and friends with the Needolin, find some solace in our shared struggle, and conquer the lands. It’s an unhealthy obsession, sure, but such is the lure of song and silk.

5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Henry’s latest visit was more than customary – it’s also one of the freshest RPG experiences in ages. Everything in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 feels so organic and detailed, right down to identifying plants and cataloguing them or the entire blacksmithing process. There’s plenty to be had in terms of questing and testing your mettle or your sword against all kinds of opponents, but it’s just so refreshing to see a game react so naturally to your choices. The way you dress, how you address people, even whether you’re covered in blood or not – it all matters, and it’s amazing.

4. Forza Horizon 5

Racing games come and go, but only a few truly stick around, much less cement their legacy among tens of millions of players. Forza Horizon 5 is one such title, and if you haven’t journeyed to its version of Mexico, replete with stunning locales and heart-pounding races, you’re missing out. Everything about the Horizon experience feels fresh thanks to the revamped progression and Accolades system. Even if you aren’t chasing the Hall of Fame, however, there are hundreds of cars to collect and customise to your heart’s desire while rocking out to some incredible tunes.

3. Baldur’s Gate 3

The game that introduced – and reminded – millions of the magic of Dungeons and Dragons. However, it’s just so much more in every way, whether you’re seeking a reactive role-playing game where almost every decision can lead down a path of possibilities or an incredible cast of characters, penned to perfection and voiced beyond. Then there’s the turn-based combat, which doesn’t just reward build-crafting but environmental awareness and an urge to experiment. From a paragon of virtue to the truly evil at heart, from blade-singing wizards to a magical archer and everything in between, this is a role-playing title that truly lets you live out your fantasies, and then lets you loose in an unforgettable world.

2. Elden Ring

Almost four years and an expansion later, and we’re still thinking about The Lands Between. The realm where mythical figures collapsed – or did they? An easier task than most, laying claim to the Runes and ruins, but this is FromSoftware’s wheelhouse on a scale unlike anything ever seen before. It’s a journey of strength and madness – of overwhelming bosses and buried secrets. Where a simple jaunt down an elevator can lead to a vast underground city with a roof of stars and a palace devoted to blood. To say that Elden Ring is a Souls-like masterpiece would be selling it short. An experience that supplements the addictive challenge with a thirst for exploration, and an unending burrow of secrets – it’s simply essential for anyone and everyone.

1. Cyberpunk 2077

Future conversations about consumerism and technology overriding humanity to the point of utter dystopia? A typical day in Night City, where gun vending machines are found across from gangs across every corner, Arasaka owns the uptown districts, and a deranged rocker/revolutionary is running around in the player’s head. Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t deviate too much from the action RPG/immersive sim-lite genre so much as drown you in Mike Pondsmith’s vision of a completely hopeless future, and it’s an unbridled success. But even with that pedigree, that attention to detail and the oh-so-invasive advertising that’s looking less like a parody every day, Cyberpunk 2077 is a phenomenal game in its own right, with excellent combat, incredible side quests, extensive build-crafting, and a memorable story. Whether you become a legend or never fade away, the Night City odyssey is a trip and a half.

According to the insider, development for The Duskbloods had been greenlit internally at FromSoftware quite some time ago; even before it started marketing for 2019’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. All of this development time has been utilised to create what is apparently “many innovative elements” in the PvPvE gameplay that the team itself is proud of.

“From what I know, The Duskbloods was greenlit even earlier than the marketing period for Sekiro’s release,” said the insider. “It is the FromSoftware title that has spent the longest time purely on gameplay prototyping and validation among all of their games so far. Although it’s PVE and PVP, it reportedly contains many innovative elements that the team themselves are very proud of.”

As for FromSoftware’s overall silence about the title, the studio has reportedly been waiting until it has released the first planned expansion for Elden Ring: Nightreign – The Forsaken Hollows before it starts the marketing for The Duskbloods. Since the expansion is slated for release on December 4, this would indicate that the upcoming The Game Awards 2025 would be a major enough event for FromSoftware to release a new trailer for The Duskbloods.

The Duskbloods was first unveiled all the way back in April alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. The title will be multiplayer-only, throwing 8 players into a PvPvE zone that encourages them to take on AI-controlled enemies as well as each other. According to the studio’s official description, its combat will largely revolve around melee weapons, though there will be other tools available.

FromSoftware has also confirmed that The Duskbloods will offer more than 12 different playable characters, each equipped with their own preferred style of weapons and unique abilities that change how the game is played in fundamental ways. These include changes to even basic character abilities like sprinting and double jumping, which the studio has noted are complemented by each character’s own weapons and abilities.

“The Bloodsworn possess superhuman abilities thanks to special blood, so their actions are more dramatic than anything seen in our previous titles. Even basic character actions in this game, such as sprinting, super jump, and double jump, are designed to be dynamic and stress-free and are complemented by each character’s unique weapons and abilities, allowing for a wide range of creativity.”

In the meantime, Elden Ring: Nightreign – The Forsaken Hollows is bringing with it two new playable characters, a couple of new boss fights, along with a brand new Shifting Earth effect dubbed The Great Hollow. For more details, check out the gameplay reveal trailer from earlier this month.