The best games of 2025 that likely flew under your radar
There’s one thing we love doing here at GameSpew, and that’s highlighting games that you might not otherwise have heard of. We always try to cover a good range of indie games, often titles that aren’t being covered anywhere else. Sometimes those games end up picking up traction, becoming popular. Other times, they go under the radar, remaining a shame that so many people miss out on them. As 2025 rolls to a close, we’re looking back on our favourite games that might have flown under your radar.
There’s a wide range of games on this list, covering all sorts of different genres. If you’re looking for something new to play over the festive season and into the new year, consider picking one or more them up . We’ve played and loved everything on here, and each and every title absolutely deserves more love.
Achilles: Survivor
- Available on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC
Survivors-like games don’t begin and end with Vampire Survivors, you know. It might be the game that started the trend, but in the last few years there have been some excellent entries to the genre. One of our favourites is Achilles: Survivor, which released on PC and consoles earlier this year. Not only does it look sublime, but it mixes up the genre by adding in missions to complete and a touch of tower defence. Once you start playing, it’s hard to put it down — let’s put it that way.
Read more about Achilles: Survivor
Battle Train
- Available on PC and Nintendo Switch
It’s surprising that Battle Train didn’t make more of a splash when it released back in June, particularly considering that it’s published by Bandai Namco. It’s technically a deckbuilding roguelike, but thanks to its focus on trains and building tracks, it’s unlike anything you’ll have played in the genre before. On each turn, you’ll need to place a piece of track with the goal of leading your train towards your opponent’s station before they can reach yours. It’s easier said than done: you’ll need to have a strategic mind to succeed, but it’s great fun trying.
Bionic Bay
- Available on PS5 and PC
For fans of atmospheric platforming games like Limbo, Bionic Bay is a real treat. Not only does it look sublime, but it’s thoroughly enjoyable to play, too. You’ll be constantly questioning yourself about the world you find yourself in; it’s a stunning wasteland that combines natural matter and machinery in a clever, mysterious way. You’ll gain new skills as you play, and to succeed in Bionic Bay you’ll need to be quick and nimble in order to avoid obstacles and to navigate the landscape. You’ll probably die a lot, but with generous checkpointing, it’s rarely an issue.
Birdigo
- Available on PC
Balatro, but a word game — that’s how we described the delightful Birdigo when it released back in July. This card-based game is, initially at least, spelling the longest word you can out of a series of letters presented to you. But over time you’ll unlock special tiles that give you bonus points for meeting certain criteria — like using a specific letter, or having a word of a certain length. It’s not always about spelling the best word, then. Like Balatro, your goal in Birdigo is to amass the most points possible. Keeping up the momentum can be tricky, but even if you fail, you’ll be keen to jump in time and again.
Dawnfolk
- Available on PC
A city builder for people who don’t necessarily like city builders, we absolutely love Dawnfolk. It’s simple, easy to get to grips with, but requires enough strategy that it remains challenging throughout. You’ll need to carefully plan the placement of buildings and resources to adequately grow your city — and seeing it thrive is a real joy. For a budget price, there’s a huge amount of content in Dawnfolk, too, with lots of new modes and challenges to unlock as you progress.
Dead Letter Dept.
- Available on PC
“A typing game like no other,” is how we described Dead Letter Dept. when we wrote about it way back in January. Mavis Beacon Typing Tutor this is not; it’s not the type of game where you can simply measure your typing speed. No, instead, it mixes horror in with the genre, creating an unsettling game where you’re working an office data entry job. At first, you’re simply typing addresses of lost mail to try and get them to the correct recipient. But it doesn’t take long to realise that things aren’t… quite right. There’s something very wrong with the job you’re doing. Very wrong indeed.
Read more about Dead Letter Dept.
Death by Scrolling
- Available on PC
Believe it or not, Death by Scrolling comes from Ron Gilbert, the man behind the original Monkey Island games. This isn’t a point-and-click adventure, though: instead it’s a fast-paced auto-attacking roguelike game about trying to earn as much money as possible in order to pay the ferryman to escape the hellish loop you appear to be stuck in. It looks great, it’s absolutely moreish to play, and it’s very easy to get to grips with. You’ll collect items and power-ups as you run, forever trying to escape the burning apocalypse that’s moving up the screen. With regular safe points, you can catch your breath — but only for a short while before you need to get running again. We genuinely cannot get enough of it.
Read more about Death by Scrolling
Earthion
- Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC
Love old-fashioned side-scrolling shooters with a retro aesthetic? Don’t let Earthion pass you by. Developed by Ancient and featuring a soundtrack created by the legendary Yuzo Koshiro, this shooter looks and plays like a blast from the past. There’s a good reason for it, too; it’s been designed with SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis hardware in mind, and is actually set to hit the format in 2026. While there’s nothing really out of the ordinary here, it’s a masterfully designed shoot ’em up that will have you grinning from ear to ear while you’re playing it.
Hello Stranger
- Available on PC
If you’re a fan of FMV games, you definitely need Hello Stranger on your radar. It’s the work of Paul Raschid, who has previous worked on titles like Five Dates and The Complex. While those previous games have been published by Wales Interactive, Hello Stranger has been self-published, but it hasn’t affected the quality one bit. This is a fairly short game, taking around 40 minutes to complete – but you’ll certainly want to play more than once. A cautionary tale about technology and AI, it’s gripping, intriguing and entertaining to play — certainly don’t miss out on this one.
Read more about Hello Stranger
Into the Restless Ruins
- Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC
The best way to describe Into the Restless Ruins? Vampire Survivors meets Blue Prince. It’s a card-based roguelike game where you’ll explore a dungeon — but first you need to build the dungeon. The cards you collect can be placed down to build new rooms and corridors, and once you’re done placing new areas, it’s down to you to explore them. With key areas you need to try and reach, you’ll need to be strategic about where you place your cards. It’s a very clever idea, and one that’s an absolute blast to play.
Read more about Into the Restless Ruins
Katanaut
- Available on PC
A sci-fi metroidvania-inspired roguelike, Katanaut is painstakingly tough. You’ll need to be very determined to progress through this challenging action game. But if you’ve got the chops for it, you’re in for a fantastic time. This is a stunning game, and one that isn’t afraid to be gory. Environments look sublime, but it’s only when blood, guts and viscera litter the walls that it really comes to life. Yeah, it might not be one for the squeamish, but if you like your games to get messy, you’re going to love this.
Morgan: Metal Detective
- Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC
Morgan: Metal Detective is quintessentially British in the most delightful way. This story-driven metal detecting adventure is set on a fictional island off the coast of Cornwall, and sees you assume the role of teenage Morgan. Upon hearing about hidden treasure, Morgan sets about on a metal-detecting adventure in order to find something. It’s a game filled with heart, and it’s clear a lot of love has been poured into every aspect of it.
Read more about Morgan: Metal Detective
Neon Inferno
- Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC
Developed by Zenovia Interactive and published by Retroware, Neon Inferno is a must-play if you’re a fan of run and gun shooters such as Contra. With a choice of two playable characters, which also allows for co-op, Neon Inferno finds you working for The Family, a crime syndicate that’s had enough of corrupt cops and troublesome Yakuza. Across a variety of stages you’ll need to slash and shoot at enemies, but there are two tricks here that keep things feeling fresh. First is your ability to return certain projectiles back at your attackers with a well-timed swing of your blade. The other is being able to plant your feet and shoot at enemies in the background. Put it all together, along with glorious 2D visuals, and you have a gem that you might have overlooked.
Radiolight
- Available on PC
Radiolight has a lot in common with Firewatch. You’re alone in the woods, something has happened, and the only line of communiation is your trusty walkie-talkie. But unlike Firewatch, Radiolight leans more into horror. It isn’t too scary, so if you’re a bit of a scaredy-cat, you’ll still be able to enjoy this. But it does a great job of creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere. It gives the impression that anything could be waiting for you around any corner, and that’s one of the reasons we love it. There are some puzzles thrown in, too, to keep you using your brain, and an intriguing narrative to unravel.
Reignbreaker
- Available on PC
We still can’t believe that Reignbreaker didn’t get more love. Polished and highly stylish, this hack-and-slash roguelike gives Hades a run for its money, albeit with an eye-catching Medieval-punk style. If you’re a fan of fast-paced roguelike games, it’s absolutely well worth your time: not only is the combat seriously satisfying, but it throws in enjoyable storytelling, and a range of choices – be it the path you take or the weapon you pick up – makes every run meaningful. We’re still hopeful that Reignbreaker will make waves whenever it finally arrives on console.
Sektori
- Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
We love Returnal, and are seriously looking forward to the release of Saros next year. Those who miss Housemarque’s old output, though (and let’s face it, that’s pretty much all of us), should check out Sektori. Developed by Kimmo Lahtinen, who previously spent 13 years working at Housemarque, Sektori is a brilliant but challenging twin-stick shooter that will have you returning time and time again. Visually it’s crisp and clean, and the action is accompanied by a techno soundtrack that will almost certainly get your blood pumping. It’s the gameplay here that really impresses, though, challenging players to shoot enemies while collecting power-ups and navigating an ever-changing battlefield. Even better, there’s a wealth of additional game modes to unlock for even more fun.
Wyrmhall
- Available on PC
If you like cleaning and repairing stuff, you’re going to love Wyrmhall. In an age where PowerWash Simulator is all the rage, it’s a sin that Wyrmhall has managed to slip so far under the radar. In this curious little game, you’re in charge of running a stall where you’ll accept an array of curious, magical items to clean. With three different tools to use, you’ll need to remove bugs, wipe away dirt and more in order to make these items good as new again. Be careful, though: some of these magical items are dangerous…
