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Christian has three years of experience writing in the gaming industry, including guides and reviews, for publications such as Dualshockers, Attack of the Fanboy, and PC Invasion. He has been an avid gamer since he was a kid, viewing it as the best possible art form and medium. Some of his favorite genres include Survival Horror, Soulslikes, and RPGs, but he finds joy in almost any type of game.
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2025 was an incredible year for gamers, with each genre getting its fair share of amazing games. Whether you are a horror, RPG, open world, or action fan, there was a game for you this year. One of the standout genres in 2025 was action, bringing some of the best titles we have seen in quite some time, filled with intense moments, addictive gameplay, and fantastic stories across the board.
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DualShockers’ 2025 Game of the Year Awards: 10 Best Multiplayer Games
From creative co-op concepts to role-playing roguelikes, 2025 was stacked with memorable multiplayer games.
As the year comes to an end, now is the time to discuss the best of the best. With so many amazing options out there, we knew it was going to be a difficult task to pick the Top 10. However, after many votes submitted, the DualShockers staff have chosen their favorite action games this year and which ones truly deserve the recognition.
Without further ado, let's discuss DualShockers' Top 10 best action games of 2025. These games excelled at everything they set out to do, pushed the genre forward, and are simply a great representation as to why this medium is so special.
While each Game of the Year list is written personally by one writer, the games in the lists and their ranking were chosen via a vote among all DualShockers writers. As such, the list below reflects DualShockers as a whole and not necessarily the views of the writer.
10 Monster Hunter Wilds
A Better Hunting Experience
When Monster Hunter Wilds was announced at the 2023 Game Awards as the final reveal, the crowd went absolutely nuts — and for good reason. The game looked fantastic from the get-go, showcasing an entirely new world to explore and promising brand new ferocious beasts to hunt down. Now that it’s been out for a while now, it’s hard to deny how amazing Monster Hunter Wilds turned out to be, featuring the best combat in the series and top-tier monsters that are super addicting to hunt over and over again.
Monster Hunter Wilds is similar to other entries in the Monster Hunter franchise, but is more refined and streamlined, making for a better overall experience. One of the best additions was the wound system, a combat mechanic where players could create scars and then target them for additional damage. It’s a small touch, but it was different enough to make hunting feel fresh and unique.
Additionally, Wilds put more significance on its storytelling and cutscenes, telling a tale that was exciting to follow and made the world of Monster Hunter feel more alive, rather than just a hunting simulation.
9 Split Fiction
Exciting Co-op Action
Hazelight Studios is known for its co-op adventures, offering multiplayer games like nothing else in the industry. It Takes Two was the first mainstream hit by Hazelight Studios, presenting an experience that was so amazing that it ended up winning Game of the Year in 2021.
Four years later, the devs have delivered another incredible experience with Split Fiction, a co-op adventure filled with unique levels that each feel different from one another. There is so much fun to be had in Split Fiction, and the fact that you can enjoy it with a best friend or partner makes it even better.
From snowboarding down a large mountain, skydiving from high heights, and transforming into mythical creatures, Split Fiction constantly surprises with its gameplay. It also surprises with its narrative, offering a heartfelt story that follows two authors who have opposing interests in their writings.
These characters get trapped in worlds they created in their books, where it’s up to the player to help them escape. Expect to go on a journey that is filled with engaging puzzles, beautiful worlds, exciting platforming, and more. So, what are you waiting for? Reach out to a friend and start playing Split Fiction now.
8 Silent Hill f
A Mesmerizing and Horrific Story
Silent Hill fans waited many years for a new entry into the iconic franchise. While the community recently received a fantastic remake of Silent Hill 2 by Bloober Team and a free-to-play entry called Silent Hill: The Short Message, it has been a total of 13 years since the franchise received a full-fledged original title. Developer NeoBards did not disappoint, as Silent Hill f offers an incredibly unique and disturbing story that does the “Silent Hill” name justice. It is truly one of the best action games this year and one that horror fans shouldn’t skip.
Silent Hill f does a superb job at blending psychological horror with beauty in a way that lingers long after you stop playing it. Rather than giving answers outright, the game uses subtle symbolism and carefully crafted moments to nudge the player toward uncovering the deeper meaning of the story as a whole. Not everything is as it seems in Silent Hill f, which is a core part of the franchise’s DNA. Outside of the phenomenal storytelling, the combat is satisfying and exciting throughout.
7 The First Berserker: Khazan
Outstanding Boss Design
The First Berserker: Khazan
The First Berserker: Khazan is one of the most brutal, hardcore, and challenging Soulslike games available on the market. The bosses are so difficult that it could take the average skilled player up to 20 attempts to defeat some of them, and even that is being generous.
Still, even though the game is super hard, The First Berserker: Khazan’s bosses are some of the best the genre has to offer. Each boss is meticulously designed, featuring incredible movesets that can give FromSoftware a run for its money. They really are spectacular.
In addition to the amazing boss fights, The First Berserker: Khazan offers a great amount of build variety, allowing players to create a character that truly feels like their own. With close to 70 weapons, tons of armor sets, and a variety of skills to try out, the game encourages multiple playthroughs to try out different playstyles.
Once you master the combat system, with a build of your own creation, the game shines with fast-paced action that is hard to put down. If you’re a true Soulslike fan, then you owe it to yourself to give this game a try, because it’s truly one of the best action games you’ll play all year.
6 Wuchang: Fallen feathers
The Best Soulslike This Year
Out of all the Soulslikes that have been released in the past 5 years, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers feels the closest to Dark Souls in terms of level design, which is saying a lot. Exploring each level leads to finding secrets, hidden paths, weapons, key items, and even minibosses that are completely missable.
Everything about the exploration and fast-paced combat of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is exciting and simply makes it one of the best action games to release in 2025. It’s a game you don’t want to miss, especially if you’re a Soulslike fan.
While the game doesn’t offer a ton in terms of build variety, the weapons and spells that are available all feel great to use and offer different playstyles. Additionally, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers includes exciting boss fights with incredible design that will challenge even the best Soulslike veterans. On top of all that, the story, characters, and world are filled with interesting lore, giving hardcore fans of the genre a good reason to search far and wide to uncover its secrets and complete side quests.
5 MARVEL Cosmic Invasion
Retro Fun
One of the biggest surprises of 2025 was Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a beat-em-up game where players can choose from a variety of iconic Marvel characters. The game thrives on momentum, constantly pushing the player into intense combat encounters that make them feel powerful, all while remaining fluid and satisfying from beginning to end.
Each character in Marvel Cosmic Invasion feels unique, encouraging players to experiment, changing up the gameplay, and encouraging replayability. Marvel Cosmic Invasion succeeds by embracing fun and proves that action can still feel ambitious, even in a 2D format.
The greatest part of Marvel Cosmic Invasion is that it has a retro look to it, reminiscent of arcade games. This classic look combined with a modern feel is something so rare these days, and as a major video game fan, it's nice to get a glimpse of how far video games have come and how much they have changed over the years. Marvel Cosmic Invasion proves that there is still a market for retro-inspired games, as it's currently sitting at a very positive rating on Steam with over 1,000 reviews.
4 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Bigger and Better Than the Original
The original Death Stranding, released in 2019, had a unique premise that the gaming industry had never really seen before. The gameplay loop of delivering packages in a post-apocalyptic world was a hit or miss for the community, with some absolutely loving it and finding it addictive, while others found it too repetitive and boring.
However, it’s clear that enough people fell into the former category, as there was enough positivity to warrant a sequel. And a big thank you to Kojima Productions for making it happen, as it is absolutely fantastic.
Luckily, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach turned out to be an evolution of the first, improving almost everything and making it a better experience all around. It offered streamlined mechanics, making it more beginner-friendly and accessible, without removing the hardcore delivery simulation that fans have come to know and love. Also, in classic Hideo Kojima fashion, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach offers one of the best stories of 2025, filled with heartfelt moments and surprising twists.
A Remake of a Classic
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid is arguably the most legendary franchise of all time for video games, known for its cinematic storytelling and popularizing the stealth genre. While the series hasn't seen a new entry in over a decade, we were lucky enough to receive a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 this year, and it did not disappoint one bit.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater stands out as one of the best action games this year due to it masterfully blending its classic design with modern polish. It preserves the tactical gameplay that made the original so beloved, while enhancing it with better controls, stunning visuals, and an overall more immersive experience.
The game is a reminder of why the franchise is up there with the all-time greats. It's a reminder that the Metal Gear series was way ahead of its time in terms of storytelling, all thanks to the incredible mind of Hideo Kojima, who had a major role in the original game.
The addictive gameplay loop is designed to create tense moments, allowing the player to discover unique ways to rack up kills through stealth, making them feel like a true mercenary. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is not only one of the best action games of 2025, but it's also one of the best remakes of all time as it not only improved on the original, but also kept its identity fully intact.
2 Ninja Gaiden 4
Exhilarating Combat
It has been 13 years since a new mainline Ninja Gaiden was released, so Ninja Gaiden 4 was long overdue. The hype for the new entry was through the roof, and luckily, the final product did not disappoint. Ninja Gaiden 4 provides the top-notch action that fans have come to know and love, with intense boss fights and an expanded toolkit of attack patterns that allow players to pull off unforgettable combos. PlatinumGames knocked it out of the park with Ninja Gaiden 4, and it’s the perfect way to make the long-awaited return to this iconic franchise.
Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces a new protagonist, Yakumo, alongside the fan favorite character, Ryu Hayabusa. Switching between these two characters throughout the main story is a treat, since each has a unique combat system that offers different playstyles.
While the game is extremely difficult, overcoming the challenge and mastering the combat system feels incredibly satisfying, just like how it did in the older entries. The best part about Ninja Gaiden 4 is the impressive enemy AI, which is smarter than ever before, leading to unpredictable encounters. All this makes the latest Ninja Gaiden one of the best action games of 2025.
1 Hades 2
The Best Action Game of 2025
If you asked anyone what the best roguelike of all time was in 2024, 9 out of 10 times, they would say Hades. However, now that 2025 has come and gone, their answer would change to its sequel. Hades 2 keeps everything that made the original such a masterpiece but improves upon it in every way possible, making it bigger, more refined, more addicting, and just a better game overall.
No one thought it was possible to improve upon Hades, but Supergiant Games found a way to make it happen. It's one of those rare games that is almost impossible to stop playing due to how flawless everything is. Hades 2 is simply the best action game of 2025, and the competition isn't really close.
It's not always true that bigger is better, but Hades 2 proves that sometimes it is. The sequel added more areas to explore that all felt unique to one another, new crafting mechanics for build customization, and more characters that were all interesting to discover with defined personalities.
The biggest change in the sequel, however, was the balancing. This was one of the main issues with the original, where not all Boons were viable, forcing the playerbase to lean towards more "meta" builds. Hades 2 completely fixes this, and now, everything you find is viable to create a strong build, encouraging more experimentation than ever before.
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