When we compiled our top 20 games from last year, we specifically highlighted Civilization 7, Avowed, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Grand Theft Auto 6 as major franchise entries we were already anticipating for 2025. While one of those titles has been pushed into 2026, the other three appeared on this year’s list of Ars favorites as expected. They sit alongside a handful of other eagerly awaited sequels, from big-budget blockbusters to long-gestating indies, on the “expected” side of this year’s roundup.
But the releases that truly caught my attention in 2025 were the ones that felt like surprises. Those included hard-to-categorize roguelike puzzle games, a gonzo, punishing mountain-walking simulator, the best Geometry Wars clone in years, and a moving portrayal of adolescent hardship delivered through unexpectedly effective mini-games.
Looking toward 2026, the industry has plenty of large-scale projects in the works (the delayed Grand Theft Auto VI being the most prominent). If next year resembles this one, though, we can expect more unexpected titles to suddenly vault into view and become new classics.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Ubisoft Quebec; Windows, MaxOS, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, iPad
When I was younger I both wanted and expected nearly every game to astonish me with something I hadn’t seen before. That was an easier bar to clear in the ’90s, when design and technology in games were advancing at a furious pace.
Now, gaming in my 40s, I still get excited when a title surprises me, but I don’t take that for granted. I increasingly value games that serve as comfort food, appreciating them as much for their familiarity as for any innovation.
That’s exactly what Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers (as I wrote when it first launched). It follows a familiar formula but does so with remarkable polish. Its world is expansive and escapist, the audio and visual presentation is immersive, and it accommodates a variety of playstyles and skill levels.
