The year 2025 has been a landmark for the gaming industry, with several new titles making waves across both PC and console platforms. According to GameDiscoverCo’s latest analysis, games such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Dune: Awakening have captivated audiences, boasting impressive median playtimes exceeding 45 hours.
This surge in gaming popularity comes amid a broader trend of increased game releases and evolving consumer preferences. The Game Awards highlighted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a standout, sweeping nine out of ten categories, including Game of the Year. Meanwhile, Donkey Kong Bananza won the family game award, and Arc Raiders was named best multiplayer game.
Trends and Highlights from 2025
As the gaming landscape continues to expand, certain trends have emerged. The rise of cooperative and social gaming experiences, dubbed ‘friendslop’, has propelled titles like R.E.P.O, Peak, and RV There Yet? into the spotlight. These games have tapped into the desire for shared experiences, securing spots in the top 10 by units sold.
The enduring appeal of action RPGs remains strong, with players willing to invest in high-budget epics such as Elden Ring Nightreign and Oblivion Remastered. Unique titles like Split Fiction and Dispatch have also found success, demonstrating the diversity of genres that resonate with gamers.
All games in the top chart, except one, sold over 2 million units on Steam, with seven exceeding 5 million units.
Revenue and Sales Insights
When examining revenue, games with premium pricing or additional in-app purchases, such as Battlefield 6 and Monster Hunter, dominated the charts. These titles not only led in sales but also in revenue, reflecting their broad appeal and monetization strategies.
On PlayStation, sports games have seen significant traction, aligning with the platform’s casual TV-playing audience. Titles like Ghost Of Yotei and Death Stranding 2 highlight the platform’s exclusive offerings, while crossover hits from Steam continue to perform well.
On PlayStation, 14 out of the top 20 games sold over 2 million copies, with the top four exceeding 5 million.
Platform-Specific Developments
Xbox has seen a notable presence of sports and shooter games, with titles like Ready Or Not and ARC Raiders appealing to core players. Despite a sales gap compared to PlayStation, the top Xbox games still achieved significant sales milestones.
Xbox Game Pass continues to be a major draw, with Clair Obscur leading third-party downloads. First-party titles like Grounded 2 and DOOM: The Dark Ages also feature prominently, showcasing the service’s diverse library.
Switch and Steam Releases
The Nintendo Switch eShop has been bustling with activity, with eight Nintendo-published titles in the top 20. Third-party successes include Silksong and Hades II, appealing to the console’s broad user base.
Steam saw a record number of new releases in 2025, with nearly 20,000 titles hitting the platform. However, the competitive landscape remains challenging, with many games struggling to garner significant reviews.
Steam’s release cadence saw a 2% year-over-year increase, with over 19,000 new games in 2025.
Looking Ahead
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the trends observed in 2025 offer insights into future developments. The increasing emphasis on cooperative play, diverse genres, and premium pricing strategies will likely shape the market in the coming years.
With platforms like Xbox de-emphasizing dedicated hardware and focusing on services, and PlayStation leveraging its exclusive titles, the competition remains fierce. Meanwhile, the growth in game releases underscores the industry’s dynamism and the challenges developers face in standing out.
The year 2025 has set a high bar for innovation and success in the gaming world, and as we look to the future, the potential for further growth and change remains vast.
