I am Glad Grand Theft Auto 6 Did not Launch This 12 months, As a result of 2025 Was An Superb 12 months for Video games

When Rockstar Video games introduced that Grand Theft Auto 6 would be delayed till November 2026, followers had been understandably dissatisfied, however only a few had been stunned. Nonetheless, it’s humorous to suppose that at one level, Grand Theft Auto 6 was presupposed to launch this fall, and certain many avid gamers can be both ready for its imminent launch or tens of hours deep of their open-world crime journey. Whereas I can’t watch for Grand Theft Auto 6 like the remainder of the inhabitants, I’m glad that it didn’t find yourself releasing this 12 months.

2025 has been a banner 12 months for video video games. The sheer number of glorious experiences obtainable throughout this 12 months has been unbelievable. From triple-A titles that take huge swings with their narrative and gameplay to video games that appear so easy on paper however turn out to be extremely complicated the deeper you get, there’s no scarcity of distinctive and compelling releases to search out.

You would say all of it begins with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which made a clear sweep on the Joystick Awards this week. Sandfall Interactive’s RPG is the clear favourite to have a powerful displaying throughout awards season, whether or not it’s best of lists from gaming shops or subsequent month’s The Recreation Awards. There’s something really particular in regards to the expertise Clair Obscur affords, and it, like lots of the glorious video games launched this 12 months, has been capable of trip the wave of success all year long. Wouldn’t it nonetheless be within the dialog proper now if Grand Theft Auto 6 had been additionally round? Perhaps, however the largest recreation launch of all time will definitely solid a large shadow.

Gustave looking right in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

I might checklist each glorious online game that I performed in 2025, and that might nonetheless solely symbolize a small fraction of the variety of titles launched. We noticed huge PlayStation unique sequels like Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei launch to sturdy essential and fan reception. Indie sequels like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong proved that their respective builders can evolve every recreation’s expertise in new and creative methods. Dispatch confirmed that the spirit of Telltale Video games lives on with some unbelievable performances from the stellar solid. Blue Prince had puzzle followers jotting copious notes like they had been conspiracy theorists. And I have been obsessed with Ball x Pit because it got here out, a recreation whose idea appears so easy on the floor however turns into addictive after only one run.

Nintendo launched a brand new console, launched in 2025, and two incredible, however utterly completely different, first-party titles launched for it. The Nintendo Swap 2 is arguably the factor that, if there was a online game product to steal everybody’s consideration away from different releases, can be the almost certainly to garner that focus. Even then, video games like ARC Raiders, Split Fiction, and Battlefield 6 nonetheless discovered time to shine.

That isn’t to say 2025 is any higher than earlier years, however I believe that this 12 months stands out as a result of it’s more durable for individuals to choose a favourite. Sure, Clair Obscur is poised to wash up at awards reveals, however any of the Game of the Year nominees at The Game Awards 2025 feels deserving and wouldn’t be stunning if it did win. I do know that Recreation of the 12 months nominees ought to all be deserving, however let’s be sincere, some years you’re feeling like if one or two video games don’t win, then it is a crime.

To provide an image of simply how stellar 2025 has been, when you solely take a look at video games that scored 85 or above on Metacritic, there’s a checklist lengthy sufficient to maintain you occupied till Grand Theft Auto 6 releases in November.

every 2025 game with opencritic above 85 infographic game rant

That checklist doesn’t keep in mind glorious DLCs for a lot of of these releases and 2024 releases, video games that had been re-released or made their solution to new platforms in 2025, like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and the Nintendo Swap 2 Improve Editions. It is a humiliation of riches and a terrific drawback to have.

I do know that many is perhaps considering that the majority of those video games launched earlier than the previous fall Grand Theft Auto 6 launch date would have discovered their viewers, however I am not so positive. Give it some thought this manner: Clair Obscur or Doom or Ghost of Yotei or any recreation on the above checklist can go on sale for Black Friday and with out GTA 6 they’ve a real shot at getting somebody’s consideration. Many individuals solely purchase 1 or 2 video games a 12 months, and it is secure to imagine Grand Theft Auto 6 would have been an automated qualifier.

If in case you have performed greater than 10 of the video games on the above checklist, then you might be within the minority; you’ll hunt down good video games at any time when doable. The bulk, although, search for that one recreation that they will sink their enamel into and get most worth out of. Grand Theft Auto 6 can be all they’re centered on.

Maybe that is merely a plea: play extra video games. However I believe subsequent 12 months we’ll see Grand Theft Auto 6 dominate the dialog in a manner that pushes different worthwhile titles into the periphery. It’s early sufficient that we don’t want to fret about delays, however there’s little doubt that publishers need to launch earlier than GTA 6 or nicely after, doubtless 2027. However even then, if GTA 5 is any indication, Grand Theft Auto 6 goes to be fashionable for the following few years, not months.

For now, I encourage everybody to take a look at a few of the superb 2025 video games and see the varied experiences obtainable. Then it can save you up the piggy financial institution for subsequent November.