This year has been stacked with great games. From Expedition 33, Silksong, and The Ivalice Chronicles, all the way to stuff like South of Midnight and Where Winds Meet, there is a lot of great stuff to play. However, as with every year, a few games slip through the cracks here and there. Here are a few hidden gems you might not have seen as the year went by.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger – If you aren’t a huge Digimon fan, this might have slipped past you. However, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is probably the second-best RPG from 2025 (Expedition 33 hits number one). Imagine a Persona game with a time travel story and a bit of Digimon flair. You are an agent whose goal is to protect the world from digital world threats, but you are accidentally thrown back in time and have to change the past to prevent an apocalypse. It’s a great game for any JRPG lover out there.

Cloverpit – This one isn’t all that hidden, since YouTube and Twitch had a pretty wide display of it after it released. However, imagine Balatro but with a slot machine and a gritty story behind it. If you give Cloverpit’s gameplay and story time to simmer, you’ll uncover a deep Rogue-like with some pretty interesting elements. You might even discover a small bit of Inscryption-esque meta play involved.

Demonschool – This one released late in the year, so a lot of folks probably missed it. Demonschool puts you in the role of Faye, a demon hunter from a long family line, who has to join up with her classmates to stop the apocalypse. With 15 playable characters, a wide array of endings, and gameplay that fits a mix between Persona, a grid-based tactics game, and a puzzle game, Demonschool is a treat. Don’t go in expecting Fire Emblem’s tactics, though; you’ll be disappointed. It’s a unique and off-beat game that really is worth trying out.

Strange Antiquities – If you liked developer Bad Viking’s Strange Horticulture, then strap in for another weird and mysterious experience. Strange Antiquities puts you in the role of an apprentice to an Antique shop owner who has to take care of the shop while the owner is away. The shop is full of magical, mystical, and sometimes dangerous items, so taking care of customer needs is important, but requires great care. Strange Antiquities is great with a hot cup of tea or coffee, a cozy blanket, and some chill music in the background.

Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution – If you like the Shantae series, you might be surprised that a GBA release was planned but eventually cancelled. Now, Wayforward has released that title, and it is available across multiple platforms! This metroidvania fills the Shantae vibes perfectly and offers an array of cool transformation dances, mechanics, and puzzles. If you’re looking to complete your Shantae collection, Risky Revolution is a must-buy.

I could list a dozen more games, probably, but we’d be here all day. So, instead of listing more, let’s turn the question to you. What are some of your favorite hidden gems from this year? Let us know in the comments!

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