Carolyn Petit’s Top 5 Games of 2025 — Risk & Vision
- Key Takeaways
- Carolyn Petit’s 2025 list prizes games that take creative risks over frictionless, mass-appeal design.
- Shadow Labyrinth (Bandai Namco) tops the list for its strange, discovery-driven Metroidvania world.
- Other highlights: Blippo+ and Despelote for narrative invention; Terminator 2D: No Fate and Absolum for mechanical excellence.
Why these games stood out
Petit opens with a Hideo Kojima anecdote (via Woodkid): “If everyone likes it, it means it's mainstream.” That idea shaped her picks — she rewarded games that felt original, sometimes rough around the edges, rather than over-calibrated for mass approval.
Honorable mentions
Death Stranding 2 (Hideo Kojima)
Petit found the sequel frustratingly safe compared with the original, noting stronger conventional combat and disappointing narrative choices. Still, she praised moments of audacity and memorable world-building.
Avowed (Obsidian)
Obsidian’s first-person RPG is praised for its distinctive world and meaningful choices. Petit highlighted how Avowed punches above its budget, offering a mid-size fantasy adventure with real narrative weight.
The Top Five
#5 — Absolum (Guard Crush/DotEmu)
A fantasy beat ’em up with roguelike elements, Absolum channels classic arcade sensibilities and strong art direction. Petit enjoyed its boss encounters, replay value, and lush, retro-inspired visuals.
#4 — Despelote (Panic)
Despelote is a slice-of-life portrait of Ecuadorian soccer culture that feels both specific and universally resonant. Petit praised its blend of realism and surrealism and how a climactic moment made her cheer despite not being a soccer fan.
#3 — Terminator 2D: No Fate (Bitmap Bureau)
A tight, arcade-style run-and-gun, No Fate captures the film’s pulse with impeccably designed stages, pixel art, and precision controls. Petit accepted its brevity as a virtue, comparing it favorably to classic short-form arcade experiences.
#2 — Blippo+ (Panic)
Blippo+ recreates the channel-surfing TV experience with eclectic programs and a cohesive aesthetic. Petit found its variety and cultural commentary compelling, calling it an immersive narrative experiment.
#1 — Shadow Labyrinth (Bandai Namco)
Petit's top pick for 2025, Shadow Labyrinth, is celebrated for reawakening the imaginative, unsettling side of games. Bandai Namco’s Metroidvania trades polish for mystery, encouraging exploration, discovery, and moments of genuine surprise.
Final note
Across her list, Petit privileges distinctive vision and risk — games that favor discovery over being “pre-digested.” That preference is the throughline connecting these picks and frames her view of 2025’s best work.
