Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake was released earlier this month on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2. As its name might imply, it is a remake of the 2002 PS2 horror game, complete with updated visuals, high-resolution textures, and upgraded lighting and shadow contrast. Changes were also made to gameplay to make it more appealing to modern gaming audiences.

The title revolves around the sisters following a mysterious crimson butterfly and entering the long-abandoned Minakami Village. Trapped in what appears to be a never-ending night, Mio gets separated from her sister and must set forth to reunite with her. Along the way, she’ll run into many spirits, with her only real form of defense being the Camera Obscura—a strange camera that seems capable of sealing away hostile spirits.

Publisher Koei Tecmo has described the remake’s take on the Camera Obscura as being reworked to “offer a more intense and rich experience during combat and exploration.” Alongside dealing with spirits by taking photos, players will also be able to use tools like focus, zoom and filters, as well as special shots that can deal extra damage in combat.

In an interview back in February, directors Makoto Shibata and Hidehiko Nakajima revealed that the decision to remake Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly came about thanks to the demands of fans. “When we released recent remasters, we received many requests from fans asking specifically for Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly,” when asked about remaking the game, referring to 2008 Japan-exclusive Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse and 2014 Wii U title Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water. “Responding to those voices was the main reason behind this project,” they continued.

They also spoke about the designs of Mio and Mayu, noting that it was important for the studio to capture the original’s balance of color and overall image while ensuring that their outfits wouldn’t feel out of place in modern fashion.

“We designed the costumes with reference to the original color balance and overall image, while aiming for clothing that would not feel out of place if worn by someone today,” they explained. “Players can closely examine these details in Photo Mode, and we paid particular attention to textures and material quality.”

Shibata had revealed more details about the development of Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake in an interview with us, where he discussed new technologies like PSSR, as well as some of the gameplay changes that players should expect from the remake.

In the meantime, players who are curious about Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake can check out a free demo available on all platforms. You can also check out our review – we gave it a seven out of ten, praising the story and visuals while criticizing the combat and performance on PS5.

“With the latest PSSR update, Silent Hill f now delivers an even smoother gameplay experience than before,” said Konami’s production team. “Fine details – from swaying blades of grass to shadows cast across the ground – are rendered with greater clarity, deepening immersion in the fog-shrouded Japan of the 1960s.” A short new trailer highlights the difference between the current PSSR and its upgraded version with the latter pretty much eliminating any flickering.

Ninja Theory head, Dom Matthews, noted the team’s excitement to collaborate with Sony while also being impressed by “the quality of particle effects with this latest update, helping to bring key gameplay moments to life through enhanced visuals.” Remedy’s graphical technical director, Tatu Aalto, also noted how the improved image upscaling resulted in “efficient stochastic sampling without sacrificing image stability” and how it “responds quickly to visibility changes in games, keeping motion clear while improving temporal stability.” The result is even “better, more stable image quality” in Control and Alan Wake 2.

Those worried that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on consoles would never fully depict the beauty of its characters’ hairstyles should also rejoice. Director Naoki Hamaguchi notes how “fine details such as character’s hair are naturally restored.” Of course, “less flickering and afterimage feeling” is also a bonus. You can also expect sharper edges for wildlife scenery in Nioh 3, whether it’s foliage or various flowers.

And while Capcom didn’t provide any additional comments on the technology, it will be available for Monster Hunter Wilds and Dragon’s Dogma 2. Resident Evil Requiem was the first title that leveraged Upgraded PSSR, and the results have been quite stunning thus far. Stay tuned for more details on other titles that will implement it in the coming weeks.

That is, unless you’re a game developer with a reasonably successful title that launched many years – or even just a few. You can then go back and remake it, as so many studios have done over the past decade or more. But it didn’t always used to be like this.

In the past, some games would premiere in arcades before hitting consoles, and when they did, some would have extensively retooled graphics. From Space Invaders in the late 1970s to Ultima 1: Age of Darkness, even Super Mario All-Stars can be considered a remake, since it updated the NES titles with new visuals. As technology improved across all platforms, you would have titles like Resident Evil HD in 2002 with far higher budgets.

Despite its success – to say nothing of everything that came before and after – the trend only really became so dominant after the success of 2019’s Resident Evil 2. And for good reason – it’s generally considered one of the very best ever made, and has sold millions of copies. Its changes were well-received by fans at large, and in a way, you could argue that it drew in a whole new generation to the Resident Evil franchise. This was perfect for the developer , which was in the midst of a renaissance of sorts thanks to Resident Evil 7: biohazard.

The trend has ballooned well past simply revisiting what worked and reinventing it for a new generation. Remakes are big business – 2025 alone saw the launch of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, Yooka-Replaylee, and so on. That’s not even getting into games that had Definitive Editions or remasters like Suikoden I and II HD Remaster, Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered, and so on, or titles like Silent Hill 2 remake, which was finally released on Xbox Series X/S.

However, it highlights a more noticeable quirk about the industry thus far, one that was also observable in a different way: Sequels. Think back to some of the most well-received and/or financially successful games of last year. Ghost of Yōtei, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Battlefield 6, Mario Kart World, Silent Hill f – it’s a pretty extensive range of sequels, but they’re also some of the most hyped games of this generation.

Heck, even on a smaller scale, there are the likes of Ender Magnolia, Wizard of Legend 2, Citizen Sleeper 2, etc. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance may be considered soft reboots in a way, though they’re heavily based on their predecessors (and fit within the established canon). But either way, they’re part of established IPs. And let’s not forget that the most anticipated title of the year is Grand Theft Auto 6 – yet another entry in an established IP. Don’t even get me started on sequels like Code Vein 2, Nioh 3, Mario Tennis Fever, Resident Evil Requiem, and so on.

This isn’t to say we haven’t seen new ideas and stories. Clair Obscur is the most obvious choice, but you also have Blue Prince, Avowed, ARC Raiders, StarVaders, and Dispatch, among so many others. But the number of risks taken by the big players, the triple-A publishers, is relatively lower. Microsoft may have offered up South of Midnight and Keeper, but it gave far more attention – and marketing budgets – to games like The Outer Worlds 2. Halo: Campaign Evolved is out this year, and it got far more media attention.

Sony is an even wilder case with a treasure trove of beloved IPs that it’s yet to revisit. So while they would technically be sequels, a new Sly Cooper, Resistance or Jak and Daxter might as well be exempt from the rule. And there’s no guarantee that they’ll put in the numbers that The Last of Us Part 3, Uncharted 5, and other theoretical sequels would.

Now, I’m not saying that all sequels and remakes or even reboots are bad, or that they can’t push innovation. Donkey Kong Bananza may technically be part of an established IP, but its combination of destruction and platforming is something we haven’t seen before, even with Mario. Hades 2 follows the same formula as its predecessor, but makes sweeping changes and additions to its combat system to feel significantly – but not too heavily – different. The same could apply to Ghost of Yōtei and Death Stranding 2, and they’re absolutely pushing their respective gameplay formula – and genres as a whole – forward.

However, seeing brand new ideas on such a massive scale is becoming less common. Perhaps the most notable is Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic, and based on rumors, it’s looking at games like Elden Ring – a new IP but one that draws on FromSoftware’s extensive history with Dark Souls and Bloodborne – for its world design. At times, you have to wonder if the balance has tipped too far to the other side, to the extent that new IPs struggle for visibility. For every Clair Obscur, Dispatch and ARC Raiders that becomes massively successful, there are acclaimed titles like The Drifter, which sold 13,617 units in its first week.

But it’s clear to see why so many studios are focusing on remakes and sequels, besides the fact that they’re part of familiar brands, which means guaranteed audiences and less risk. Development costs only continue to rise, and publishers, the ones with the money, don’t just want the best return on their investments – they want games that drive growth.

There’s a reason franchises like Dead Space, Titanfall and Dragon Age are on ice – the return on their investments didn’t fulfil any of the conditions that Electronic Arts sought. Despite several Assassin’s Creed titles in development, there’s a reason why the developer has games like Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, Splinter Cell Remake and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake in the works. They’re safe bets, and if they blow up as Resident Evil 2 remake did, then they might drive renewed interest in dormant IPs, thus spurring even more remakes (and potential sequels).

Of course, the biggest reason we’ll continue to see sequels, remakes, reboots, remasters, and whatnot is because of those who buy them: Gamers. Time is limited, and the sheer number of choices in the triple-A, indie and free-to-play spaces is immense. Why not spend it on something familiar that’s also fun? It’s not the most unreasonable expectation, but the knock-on effect could result in huge shifts down the line. Would games like Keeper receive any attention if Double Fine weren’t part of Microsoft, or if it weren’t on Game Pass? Would developers even still be around if they weren’t acquired in the first place? What happens when their titles fail to perform well?

Whatever the case may be, the fixation isn’t going to end anytime soon, especially if it pays dividends. The only thing we can hope for is that innovation eventually breaks through, regardless of audience, brand name and studio size, as we’ve seen so many times this year.

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.

Silent Hill has also seen a rise in sales, totalling up to 14 million units. This marks a growth in sales by a million, since Konami had previously confirmed 13 million units sold for the franchise back in October. These sales were likely helped by the critical acclaim seen by Silent Hill f, alongside anticipation for future games in the horror series.

Other console game franchises listed by Konami include Pawafuru Puroyakyu, which has sold 26.3 million, Yu-Gi-Oh!, which has sold 32.5 million, and Momotaru Dentetsu, which sits at 19.9 million. Free-to-play mobile games Jikkyu Pawafuru Puroyakyu and Professional Baseball Spirits A (Ace) have been downloaded 53 million and 66 million times, respectively. Titles available on consoles and mobiles have also been listed; eFootball sits at 950 million downloads, while Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel has been downloaded 90 million times.

The latest entry in the Metal Gear franchise has been a remake – Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Having launched in August 2025 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the title has seen critical acclaim by veterans of the series and a new generation of gamers. You can check out more details about it in our review.

In December, series producer Noriaki Okamura spoke about this being the ideal time to have remade the seminal Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and how much respect he and director Yuji Korekado have for the original creators.

“Because the series has been around for a long time, we have a wide variety of fans,” said Korekado. “And we are conscious of being respectful to the previous games in the series. With this remake, we thought about how it would be best to bring the game to modern players, while respecting the thoughts and concepts of the original creator. However, if you reproduce the original work exactly as it is, some aspects can be difficult to play [for today’s gamers], so we adapted them.”

As for Silent Hill, the title has seen continuous support through the release of free updates. One of these, released in November, brought with it a new difficulty mode and the ability to skip more things during a New Game+ run. Writer Ryukishi07 also spoke earlier this month about why it made sense to use the fictional town of Ebisugaoka as the main setting for the game rather than its traditional setting of the eponymous Silent Hill.

“I discussed a lot of things with series producer Okamoto in a meeting after I received the request [to write Silent Hill f]” said Ryukishi07. “Like ‘Why is it set in Japan?’ and ‘What exactly is Silent Hill?’ In the end, we came to the conclusion that Silent Hill is not just the name of a place; it is a phenomenon. Looking back, I think I was able to create a pretty satisfying base for the story and world from this.”

For more on Silent Hill f, check out our review. It is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Along with the demo, the companies have also announced that Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake will feature a collaboration with Konami’s most recent horror title Silent Hill f. This collaboration will include new costumes for the twin sister protagonists in Fatal Frame 2—Mio and Mayu Amakura—to make their appearances similar to that of Silent Hill f protagonist Hinako Shimizu.

The trailer includes a gameplay rundown with players controlling Mio and exploring a haunted village armed with little more than the Camera Obscura. Using this, players can identify and take on ghosts. Throughout their time in Minakami village, players will take photos using special film that seals vengeful spirits. Filters can be applied to these photos to exploit spirits with glaring weaknesses.

An example of one of these Special Shots is “Blinding”, which temporarily blinds the hostile spirit, giving Mio some time to plan out either her next attack or a means of escape. The “Purging” Special Shot, on the other hand, allows Mio to use some of her own willpower to deal more damage to strong spirits.

Capping things off, the trailer also features a brand new ending theme song—”Utsushi” by Tsuki Amano— and some new side stories and locations that players will get to encounter.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake is coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 on March 12. The release date was announced back in November with a trailer showcasing how the haunted village and the vengeful spirits have been remade for new hardware and an entirely new generation of players.

Along with the brand new visuals and audio, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake will feature modernised gameplay over the 2003 PS2-era horror classic. Among the new gameplay mechanics introduced with the remake is “Holding Hands With Mayu”, which allows players to experience the sisterly bond between them with a brand new perspective. As the more recent trailer shows, using the new feature allows Mio to recover from damage she might have taken in previous encounters with spirits.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake was announced all the way back in September. While little was revealed about the title aside from the Holding Hands mechanic and an “early 2026” release window, more information about its improved gameplay would eventually be released with another trailer featuring director Makoto Shibata.

“I discussed a lot of things with series producer Okamoto in a meeting after I received the request [to write Silent Hill f,]” said Ryukishi07. “Like ‘Why is it set in Japan?’ and ‘What exactly is Silent Hill?’ In the end, we came to the conclusion that Silent Hill is not just the name of a place; it is a phenomenon. Looking back, I think I was able to create a pretty satisfying base for the story and world from this.”

It is worth noting that, while older Silent Hill games are largely supposed to be set in the same American town, there have been exceptions. Silent Hill 4: The Room, for instance, has players spend quite a bit of time in the titular room that isn’t in the town. Similarly, Silent Hill: Homecoming and Silent Hill: Downpour were both also set in separate locations that only had tenuous connections to the eponymous town.

Interestingly, among the more recent releases, Silent Hill: The Short Message is the first one to truly address the idea that, rather than the geographical location of the titular town, Silent Hill is instead more of a phenomenon. As you can check out in our review of the title, we discussed how it opens up the door to have games in the Silent Hill franchise that don’t really take place in the town, but instead focus more on the series’ overarching themes and style of horror.

The latest entry, Silent Hill f, takes place in the fictional Japanese town of Ebisugaoka, and revolves around the trials and tribulations of Shimizu Hinako. It is set in the 1960s and explores themes related to the expectations surrounding women in that era, especially regarding family members and friends.

Director Al Yang spoke about how the town was created thanks to discussions taking place between Konami and Ryukishi07, and how developer NeoBards Entertainment’s pitch to Konami included assurances that “the story would undoubtedly feel like a ‘Ryukishi07 work’”.

Lead level designer Kaiyu Chang also spoke about working on the script and how the story resonated strongly with her, thanks to its overarching themes. “I first read the initial draft of the script a few years ago,” she said. “At the time, I was pregnant, which made the story’s depiction of the expectations and constraints placed on women by traditional society resonate with me even more deeply. Many scenes struck a strong emotional chord.”

Silent Hill f is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Check out our review for more details.

While he didn’t go into too many details about what we can expect going forward, Okamoto noted that Konami wants to release a new game—both announced and unannounced—every year.

“Following the release of Silent Hill 2 in October 2024, we were able to deliver Silent Hill f ​​in September 2025, and the Silent Hill series is now back on track,” said Okamoto (via Google Translate). “We aim to release about one title per year, including both announced and unannounced titles. We’re not sure how far we can achieve this, but we’ll do our best as the producer of the Silent Hill series. Ideally, we’d like to keep the buzz around Silent Hill constant.”

Konami kickstarted this just a few years ago when it announced three new titles in the series—Silent Hill 2’s remake, Silent Hill f, and Silent Hill: Townfall. While the first two launched to wide critical acclaim, the third has received little by way of marketing so far. However, a recent leak had indicated that Silent Hill: Townfall will be coming out on March 26, 2026, which would further fall in line with Konami’s plans for a new Silent Hill game every year.

Back in October, Okamoto had noted that the three titles were announced at around the same time in 2022, so that Konami could affirm its commitment to bringing the classic horror franchise back. He said that the company wanted fans to “feel how serious we were about reviving the series.”

“Three years ago, in 2022, we announced three titles: Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill f, and Silent Hill: Townfall,” wrote Okamoto. “We didn’t want to just announce a single remake to ‘test the waters.’ We wanted people to feel how serious we were about reviving the series. Developing a remake and a new title simultaneously naturally involves risks, but we wanted to convey our commitment first and foremost.”

With Silent Hill: Townfall‘s rumoured release happening in just a few months, the future of the series is also being further expanded with developer Bloober Team once again taking on its past, this time around with a remake of the original Silent Hill. The studio, having previously worked on the Silent Hill 2 remake, confirmed that development on a remake of the original had begun all the way back in October.

In the meantime, check out our review of Silent Hill f. The title is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

So it’s all the more impressive that the video game industry, be it triple-A developers, independent studios (even with the backing of major publishers) and smaller creators, can craft such a wide range of terrifying games, year in and year out. While that also means a heaping helping of shovelware – awful releases that wouldn’t even muster a simple yawn – a select few rise above the rabble to dominate.

Here are our nominees for the best horror game of 2025, starting with…

Routine

Between development troubles and even stopping development, only to restart in 2020, it’s almost impressive that Lunar Software’s first game was released at all, much less received such positive praise. Nevertheless, it’s pretty much what we expected – a slow, methodical trip down the retro futuristic rabbit hole in a station filled with killer robots. Even if the story doesn’t quite stick the landing, being immersed in this surreal world and awkwardly feeling your way through is more than worth the price of admission.

Tormented Souls 2

Old-school survival horror with its save rooms, fixed camera angles, and tank controls – you really couldn’t ask more from Dual Effect, especially after the surprising success of Tormented Souls. However, the sequel actually improves a lot, from more intricate puzzles and exploration to far better lighting that adds the oh-so creepy mood. Caroline Walker may never really catch a break, but her escapades make for some tense gameplay, if nothing else.

The Midnight Walk

If there’s one medium that’s adept at portraying adorably terrifying creatures, it’s claymation, and MoonHood uses it to full effect here. There’s an almost Tim Burton-like vibe to this tale of The Burnt One struggling to protect Potboy, who houses an alluring flame, from the various horrors of this mysterious world. The Midnight Walk straddles a fine line between beauty and terror while remaining engaging throughout.

Silent Hill f

Of course, it’s not just about balancing beauty and terror – sometimes, you can find each in the other, as Konami’s latest mainline Silent Hill showcases. Venturing outside the US for the first time, taking place in the fictitious Ebisugaoka in the 1960s, it’s a rural horror unlike anything the franchise has seen thus far. Deeply disturbing and unrelenting with its gore, yet never descending into senseless brutality, it’s a psychological trip that’s worth taking.

Total Chaos

A Doom 2 total conversion turned full-fledged horror by Sam Prebble of Turbo Overkill fame, this essentially captures all the reality-bending horror the former strived for. Between fighting grotesque horrors across Fort Oasis and trying to discover the truth of yourself, you’re crafting rudimentary weapons to fight back – all the while diving even deeper into this surprisingly meaty nightmare.

Hell is Us

While much of the emphasis remained on dungeon diving and getting by without any hand holding, Remi’s journey through the war-torn remains of Hadea isn’t without some disturbing sights. War crimes abound, but even discovering mountains of corpses and gruesome murders all in the name of ancient practices, which all connect back to the country’s bloody history, can get heavy. You won’t have to worry about jump scares or such, but it’s a stressful experience throughout.

Little Nightmares 3

It’s a shame that Supermassive didn’t innovate much on the gameplay because, in terms of the atmosphere and aesthetic, the spiral of Low and Alone through Nowhere is delightfully dreadful. Witness the Carnevale, with its sentient puppets that won’t stop attacking until you crush their heads. Flee the Supervisor, whose smile is almost as frightening as her Candy Factory. The frights may not be as out-and-out, but the sights remain as disturbing as ever.

Sleep Awake

Imagine if sleep were the enemy – the domain of an entity known as The Hush, who spirits away those that can’t resist nap time. Now imagine being one of the last few people on Earth trying to maintain their sanity. It’s an unconventional premise, sure, and Blumhouse Games further reinforces the surreality by mixing full-motion video with some gameplay sequences. Despite the iffy stealth sections and walking sim-like nature, its narrative stands strong.

Dying Light: The Beast

What’s there to be afraid of when my boy Kyle Crane, making his return after years in exile, can now rip apart zombies with his bare hands? As it turns out, when the sun goes down, everything. Volatiles are more ruthless, intelligent and brutal than ever, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s finally an achievement to survive the nighttime, which now looks properly foreboding and oppressive (the makeup of Castor Woods helps as well).

Cronos: The New Dawn

If Bloober Team was under immense pressure to deliver with Silent Hill 2 remake, then you have to wonder how much higher expectations were afterwards. Lo and behold, Cronos is another compelling survival horror – different, sure, especially with its post-apocalyptic body horror, sci-fi leanings, and unique premise, but still unrelentingly, stressfully frightening.

And the winner of the Best Horror Game of 2025 goes to…

Silent Hill f

Much like when Bloober Team was announced to remake Silent Hill 2, many were skeptical that NeoBards Entertainment could deliver a new mainline Silent Hill. Going back to the past is one thing, but forging a new experience forward, especially for a studio known for flops like RE:Verse and Resident Evil: Resistance? It seemed like Konami had lost its mind.

But it also announced that Higurashi no Naku Koro ni writer Ryukishi07 was penning the narrative while the brilliant kera handled the characters and creatures. Slowly and surely, despite skepticism surrounding its combat, Silent Hill f morphed into a compelling product. None of this could prepare anyone, even fans of the series, for what they would expect when stepping into the shoes of Shimizu Hinako. Heck, even Konatsu Kato, her Japanese voice actor, continues to be traumatized in her playthrough (to the entertainment of thousands, of course).

Suffice it to say, this is a masterclass in terror and pacing with grotesquely beautiful creatures that you couldn’t tear your eyes from. It offers a strong narrative with even stronger characterization (and a surprising number of layers thanks to its multiple endings). Did we mention the fantastic sound design and soundtrack? And as noted before, everything that you see, regardless of how brutal and cruel it can be, serves a purpose. It’s not unlike the symbolism seen in the series’s best games – just tackling new and undeniably uncomfortable themes.

I could go on, but the result is a powerful horror experience that makes you almost forget about the above-average combat. As a result, Silent Hill f is our pick for the top horror game of 2025. Walk in with as few spoilers as possible – you won’t regret it (maybe).

But which is the absolute crème of the crop? Let’s dive into our nominees for the best graphics of 2025, starting with…

Ghost of Yōtei

Everything about Sucker Punch’s sequel is a massive improvement over Ghost of Tsushima, and that especially applies to the visuals. Much greater draw distance with almost no noticeable pop-in, more details, higher quality textures and materials, improved effects – there’s even seamlessly implemented ray-traced global illuminations. All in all, whether you’re in the throes of combat with swords clashing and mud splashing or speeding through fields of flowers, Ghost of Yōtei doesn’t disappoint.

Silent Hill f

Between the expressive facial animations and grotesque environments, Silent Hill f is a nightmarishly stunning experience. Its environments are packed with incredible texture work and backed by realistic lighting and shadows that accentuate every gruesome reveal. Then there are the monsters, designed by kera, which strike a nauseating fine line between beauty and dread.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

After pushing the limits of the Decima Engine in the original, Kojima Productions somehow goes even further beyond in Death Stranding 2. Gazing upon mountain ranges with nary a hint of slowdown or pop-in, the phenomenal character models with realistic skin textures – it’s a feast for the eyes, and only gets better as you progress further in. For instance, the entire first encounter against Neal and his soldiers? Simply amazing.

DOOM: The Dark Ages

Count on id Software to take technology like ray-traced global illumination and make it a core part of its game while still delivering incredible optimization. Like its predecessors, DOOM: The Dark Ages focuses on brutally fast, though definitely more methodical, combat, but it still packs some fantastic sights like projectiles reflecting off glossy surfaces, more realistic environmental destruction and stellar atmospherics. All of this results in easily one of the best-looking shooters of all time.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Another excellent showcase of RTGI, Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings late Sengoku-era Japan to life in surprisingly stunning ways. However, it’s all the other details that help the experience come together so well, from the physics-based weather and realistic wind to the environmental destruction (especially when destroying a stand and watching dozens of fruit tumble onto the street). The depiction of various cities and castles is also incredible, making this feel like a lived-in world.

Clair Obscur: Expedition

No, Sandfall Interactive’s debut role-playing game isn’t the result of only 32 people and a dog, but you have to admit: Its visuals stretch the definition of “double-A” to an obscene degree. While balancing its fantastical painterly art direction with realism, it delivers some truly surreal environments and moments, packed with detailed shadows and lighting. Even the world map with its diorama-like layout looks incredible.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

If you played the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance, then the sequel’s outstanding visuals shouldn’t be a surprise. However, the universal leap in quality is mind-boggling, especially considering the increased scale. The composition of the cutscenes and facial expressions of its cast are only the start as you’re treated to realistic fire, rainfall, and excruciatingly detailed foliage. And it all runs like a dream.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Having more detailed and realistic character models and environments than the original is only the start. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater goes to extensive lengths to look drop-dead amazing – extensively complex skin meshes, a physically based material system for the clothing, Lumen GI for realistic lighting and shadows, the list goes on. Of course, even with the improved facial expressions, Konami retained every single element of the original’s quirky presentation, and we couldn’t be happier.

F1 25

Say what you will about its improvements over previous games, F1 25 still highlights the sheer beauty of the racing sim series. LIDAR technology results in more realistic tracks, but the implementation of path tracing, which enhances lighting, reflections and sheer detail, especially during various weather conditions, is excellent. Of course, Codemasters’ penchant for painstakingly crafting its F1 vehicles remains as praise-worthy as ever.

Battlefield 6

With the amount of time and resources invested in Battlefield 6’s development, it’s somewhat surprising that it looks this good despite the lack of ray tracing and other advanced features. Nevertheless, the presentation is off the charts, whether you’re running through an active battle with jets screaming overhead or watching buildings torn apart, their debris realistically scattering. The fact that it achieves all this while still offering buttery smooth performance is yet another win.

Dying Light: The Beast

Speaking of not offering ray tracing and still looking incredibly good is Techland’s Dying Light: The Beast. Lighting is a core element of the franchise, and its implementation is especially impressive here, as is the extensive range of parkour animations (which play out seamlessly) and revamped damage model. Striking enemies with melee weapons creates realistic cuts and deformations to a gruesome degree, giving melee combat that extra bit of edge.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

Virtuos opted for an intriguing dual-engine approach here, retaining the original code base and core while overhauling the visuals in Unreal Engine 5. Sure, it’s resulted in some problems, but Cyrodiil comes to life like never before. Emperor Uriel, with his realistic wrinkles and excruciatingly fine cloth textures, is only the start as the environments and NPCs are brimming with details.

ARC Raiders

Several Unreal Engine 5 titles come under fire for their poor optimization and performance issues. Then you have ARC Raiders, which offers exceptionally peak performance. Achieving this meant opting away from the likes of Lumen and Nanite, but the fidelity is still surprisingly strong. Reflective surfaces on ARC, realistic-looking weather, detailed destruction – it’s almost enough to make you forget that this is a multiplayer shooter.

Borderlands 4

Once you surmount the various technical problems on PC, there’s no denying that Borderlands 4 is a great-looking game. Gearbox’s signature cel-shading style looks more nuanced than ever, and it’s impressive given the scale of its environments, the seamless exploration, and the surprisingly complex character designs (especially the enemies).

Hell is Us

There’s an eerie atmosphere to Hell is Us, made all the more tangible with the presence of Time Rifts and otherworldly creatures in otherwise realistic, war-torn environments. While it required further optimization at launch, discovering Lake Cynon’s lush field of blue flowers or exploring the sleek interiors of Auriga Museum still made for some startling moments, further bolstered by the excellent texture quality, lighting and reflections.

And the title with the Best Graphics of 2025 is…

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Let’s be real – this generation hasn’t exactly been brimming with titles that push the graphical envelope. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is, of course, the exception and it becomes apparent in the opening minutes. Quick cuts of Mexico, the first location, look almost identical to real life. The skin tone on the characters, alongside details like realistic sweat and retinas, also makes them feel that much more alive. And mind you, this is before Australia, where the sheer breadth of the world is unveiled, from the different biomes to the real-time weather effects (including dust storms).

We mentioned the battle against Neal and the impressive use of lighting, reflective puddles and effects, but it’s even more incredible how this is achieved with screen-space reflections rather than ray-tracing. If all of this wasn’t enough, seamlessly going from the main menu right into the game underscores just how ahead of the curve Death Stranding 2 is of the competition. For that reason and many more, it’s our pick for the best graphics of 2025.

Electronic Arts would also announce that it’s shutting down servers for Anthem, which is the first reminder in a while that it still exists. Microsoft’s Halo Infinite recently entered maintenance mode – a far cry from plans to become the initially promised “start of the next ten years of Halo.” Of course, even newer titles weren’t safe. Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak debuted disappointingly, resulting in heavy losses and the studio’s CEO stepping down.

Even on a smaller scale, games like Wildgate and Jump Space, despite launching with some positive buzz, have since fallen by the wayside in player counts. Granted, games like ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6 remain standouts; the former offered an excellent extraction shooter experience in a pretty barren market. Meanwhile, the latter marked the first mainline Battlefield title in years that fans actually enjoyed, despite its many warts (including a single-player campaign).

Titles like PEAK and R.E.P.O. went on to become massive co-op successes. There’s also Split Fiction, which showcased Hazelight’s talent in once again delivering a compelling co-op story with fun gameplay.

However, the past year, perhaps more than others, has reinforced the importance of single-player games.

Despite selling PS5 consoles by the tens of millions, Sony outright promised a major triple-A single-player title each year because – surprise – it’s a major selling point for the console. Thankfully, it delivered with not one but two incredible titles: Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding 2 and Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yōtei. Both games were building off already established titans, and yet, they managed to exceed expectations.

Death Stranding 2 confirmed that Hideo Kojima’s signature brand of quirkiness/madness when it comes to storytelling was still intact. However, it also improved on so many other fundamental aspects from the original, including the world design, gunplay, stealth, and pacing. Meanwhile, Ghost of Yōtei, while retaining the same combat fundamentals, spiced it up with new additions like multiple weapon types, disarming, and throwing weapons. Its open world also received excessive praise, as activities were naturally laid out and seamlessly connected in ways that made it feel alive.

Then again, it wasn’t just Sony that realized it had to return to what brought it to the dance. Konami released not one but two well-received and successful titles in its long-running franchises – Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Silent Hill f. It also reaffirmed its commitment to the long-term future of both series, whether it’s the desire to remake more Metal Gear Solid games or its announcement of a Silent Hill 1 remake from Bloober Team.

Of course, some of the other highly rated games of the year have been single-player titles. Clair Obscur took the industry by storm, and even if there are arguments about how “indie” it really is, it’s received universal praise for its combat, storytelling and world. The fact that it received the most nominations in The Game Awards history and won more than its fair share is just the cherry on top.

However, it’s not alone when it comes to other nominees, which are also predominantly single-player, like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which is packed with memorable quests, personable characters, and tons of ways to role-play your version of Henry. It’s still unbelievable how the development team effectively beat Bethesda at its own game in terms of attention to detail, reactivity and fidelity with fewer resources. Of course, for those who wanted something more light-hearted, there’s Donkey Kong Bananza, a magical 3D platforming experience from the Super Mario Odyssey team, which mixes the traditional collect-a-thon gameplay loop with the absolute freedom to destroy everything.

And the crazy thing is that these don’t even represent a fraction of the best single-player games this year. You have indie efforts like Blue Prince, which is unlike anything seen before – a rogue-like puzzler where you arrange the layout of a house from a selection of rooms to reach the mythical 46th room. Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived more than six years after its initial announcement and blew away expectations. It was so highly anticipated that almost every digital storefront crashed as soon as it was available to purchase.

That’s not even accounting for the likes of Hades 2, Sektori, Keep Driving, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, StarVaders, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Sword of the Sea, Ender Magnolia, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, Absolum, the Drifter, Ball x Pit, Bionic Bay, Look Outside – the list goes on. Even if you sat down and only tried to play through all the incredible titles released this year, you would have more than enough to sustain you through 2026.

However, that won’t be necessary. In a twist that no one saw coming, the most anticipated games of next year are – you guessed it – single-player titles. Grand Theft Auto 6 is leading the charge, and that’s all because of its story mode, since we know nothing about how it will handle GTA Online. Resident Evil Requiem crossed one million wishlists just weeks after its announcement, and looks poised to be the biggest game in the franchise by far. Marvel’s Wolverine is, well, a Wolverine title in every sense of the word. Based on Insomniac’s success with Spider-Man and immaculate track record, you can bet it’s going to be another huge success. You also can’t forget Saros, Housemarque’s follow-up to Returnal, which looks to expand upon it in all the right ways while maintaining its creepy environmental and enemy designs.

Heck, even Microsoft’s single-player offerings in 2026 look good with Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and Forza Horizon 6 to look forward to. We’ll wait and see how Halo: Campaign Evolved fares, but if nothing else, it looks very good.

Compare this to future live-service multiplayer offerings like, say, Fairgame$, which has no buzz or intrigue. Heck, rumors claim that it may even be cancelled before launch. Sony hasn’t outright backed out of such titles, but it’s definitely much more careful after sustaining heavy losses.

It’s not like the business model has no future whatsoever. Where Winds Meet is technically a live-service game, but it offers a massive single-player component that’s only going to get bigger. Ananta has generated buzz for essentially being “Anime GTA”.

However, while publishers still seek to delve into the live-service space for that sweet recurring revenue from microtransactions, it’s single-player games that continue to drive the industry forward in terms of storytelling, immersion and gameplay. And customers are responding in kind – a recent survey by Ampere Analysis revealed that the majority of players in Japan, the UK and the United States preferred single-player games over multiplayer (though younger players skewed more towards the latter).

Personally, I could be the least bothered to remember anything noteworthy that happened in Destiny 2 this year, but meeting Monoco and traveling to confront the Paintress at her Monolith? Trekking across the mountains of Mexico and taking in the sights? Whatever the heck was going on with Hinako in the OtherWorld? All these moments will probably stay with me forever, and deservedly so.

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.