The 2025 video games marked a defining moment for the industry. 2025 in video games wasn’t just about scale or graphics; it was about performance, narrative confidence, and creative risk.
At Voice123, we work with studios to craft the future of interactive storytelling through the power of voice. For developers building new video games, planning upcoming video games, or researching the video games coming out in 2025, this guide breaks down the best video games 2025 with industry insights to inspire your next project.
The best 2025 video games
Best PS5 Games 2025
One of the most celebrated 2025 game releases, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth earned its place among the best PS5 games 2025 through emotional storytelling, cinematic pacing, and elite voice performances.
Insight: Video game voice acting isn’t post-production polish—it’s narrative architecture. Performances must be planned alongside gameplay systems for maximum audience impact.
Among the most experimental 2025 games, Death Stranding 2 reinforced the power of restraint. Minimalist dialogue and deliberate pacing made every vocal moment count.
Insight: Dialogue placement can elevate immersion in different video game genres without overwhelming players. The best 2025 video games draw players into the story with strategic voice overs and visuals.
A standout among video games 2025, Ghost of Yōtei refined tone and atmosphere into a cohesive emotional experience, becoming one of the most popular video games 2025 on PlayStation and earning seven nominations at the Game Awards.
Insight: An addictive combat style combined with meaningful progression and a strong protagonist is key to an award-winning action-adventure game.
Best Xbox Games
One of the most talked-about 2025 video games, this brutal reinvention fused fast gameplay with raw vocal performances. It balances innovation with nostalgic elements that cater to both veteran and new players.
Insight: Physicality sells combat. Reactive voice over effects like grunts, callouts, and exertion add realism and depth.
A commercial and cultural force among games coming out in 2025, Black Ops 7 blended blockbuster pacing with character-focused storytelling.
Insight: Even FSP video games benefit from emotionally grounded dialogue. Human moments create video game characters that players will root for.
As one of the best-selling video games 2025, Battlefield 6 thrived on large-scale immersion supported by layered, dynamic voice systems and a popular free-to-play Battle Royale mode that attracts a wide range of players.
Insight: Smart marketing strategies and player-focused development are the key to best-selling video games.
Best Nintendo Games
This title reminded developers that personality still sells by reinventing the traditional 3D platformer with satisfying gameplay and innovative mechanics.
Insight: Striking a balance between innovation and legacy is what keeps players invested in the story while also attracting newcomers to the franchise.
Among the most anticipated video games coming out in 2025, Silksong delivered mood, restraint, and powerful audio storytelling, winning Best Action/Adventure at the Game Awards.
Insight: Minimal dialogue paired with expressive sound design is a defining feature of the new games.
The best video games that redefined the industry
A legacy remake that respected history while modernizing performance, MGS Delta stood out because modern players expect innovative performances—even in classic narratives.
A breakout hit among new video games 2025, this title blended theatrical voice acting with powerful world-building, winning Game Of The Year at the 2025 Game Awards. Casting talented voice actors can dramatically elevate dialogue, rhythm, and tone.
Already one of the most popular video games 2025, Hades 2 expanded its cast with even richer performances and character depth. Powerful voice acting can shape character evolution while collaboration boosts replayability.
A defining entry among games, Monster Hunter: Wilds balanced environmental storytelling with subtle voice overs. The lesson? Voice over works best when it supports the world and adds to the storytelling.
The best-selling video games 2025
The best-selling video games 2025 reveal where commercial success and design alignment met. The top sellers so far include:
- Battlefield 6: Over 20 million copies sold.
- NBA 2K26: The fifth best-selling video game 2025.
- Monster Hunter: Wilds: Capcom’s fastest-selling game ever with 10.7 million copies sold.
- Borderlands 4: Over one million copies sold on Steam, marking the biggest launch for the franchise in the US.
- EA Sports College Football 26: The third best-selling video games 2025, with over one million copies sold.
The best video game adaptations of 2025
Strong narratives travel well across media—when voice and performance remain authentic.
The Last of Us – Season 2: The next installment in this series reinforced why this remains the benchmark adaptation. Emotional continuity, faithful vocal tone, and character-first storytelling drove its success.
Fallout – Season 2: With sharp delivery and dark humor, Fallout showed how voice identity defines tone—even more than visuals.
The Minecraft Movie: Despite minimal dialogue in the source material, iconic performances from Jack Black and Jason Momoa anchored the film’s emotional beats.
New video games 2026
While video games coming out in 2025 dominated headlines, announcements for video games 2026 revealed where the industry is heading next.
Major 2026 video games to watch
Newly announced upcoming video games 2026
- Control: Resonant
- Divinity
- Mega Man: Dual Override
- Tomb Raider: Catalyst
- Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic
The transition to 2026 video games points to deeper performance systems, longer narrative arcs, and voice acting designed for franchise potential.
How did voice acting redefine the 2025 video games?
Across the video games 2025, voice acting became a core design pillar. Jennifer English’s Best Voice Performance win for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at the Game Awards highlighted a year where vocal delivery shaped player memory as much as mechanics. Studios started to cast earlier, wrote dialogue systems with flexibility, and treated voice actors as creative partners.
Voice acting is gameplay, and when studios cast early, write flexible dialogue systems, and treat voice actors as creative partners, new video games become even more powerful. At Voice123, we see this shift daily as developers prioritize professional voice casting at the concept stage.
Final Thoughts
2025 video games set a new creative baseline. From the best PS5 games 2025 to Nintendo’s innovation, this year proved that storytelling, sound, and performance are inseparable from gameplay.
As you build new video games, plan upcoming video games, or look toward video games 2026, remember that when you’re ready to bring characters to life, Voice123 is the trusted voice over network that developers use to turn great games into unforgettable experiences. Hire a professional voice actor or use Voice123 Enterprise for an A-Z project management solution.
FAQs
Major 2025 game releases include Death Stranding 2, Hades 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Some of the best video games include Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Monster Hunter: Wilds, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Hollow Knight: Silksong and GTA VI were some of the most anticipated video games coming out in 2025, but GTA VI’s release was pushed forward to 2026.
Confirmed and expected 2026 video games include Marvel’s Wolverine, Resident Evil: Requiem, 007: First Light, and several newly announced franchises and continuations like Star Wars: Fate of The Old Republic and Divinity.