10 Best Video Game Sleeper Hits of 2025

Not every great game explodes on day one. In fact, some games manage to sneak in quietly, avoid the hype, and still win over players. And truly, that was a big part of 2025. While the spotlight stayed on the usual heavy hitters, a bunch of smaller, overlooked games were busy doing something special. They surprised us, hooked us fast, and even refused to be forgotten. If you love discovering games before everyone else catches on, get ready to hop in. Here are the 10 best video game sleeper hits of 2025.

10. Echos of the End: Enhanced Edition

Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition takes the 2025 action-adventure genre and, as a result, makes it even better. First, combat feels way smoother now, with sharper hits and snappier animations. At the same time, you can unlock 13 outfits and mix them with relics to try out all kinds of crazy builds. Meanwhile, the new difficulty and new game modes keep things fresh. Additionally, the early game is faster and easier to get into. On top of that, Ryn moves better than ever, the controls feel tight, and overall, the world just looks amazing.

9. Hell Is Us

War’s tearing a country apart, and monsters are everywhere, while secrets lurk around every corner in Hell is Us. You’ll swing your sword and rely on your drone as you face some seriously creepy chimeras along the way. There’s no map, no quest markers, so just follow your instincts and stay alert. You’ll experiment with powerful weapons while uncovering pieces of your past and slowly understand what human violence really means. It’s tense, messy, and overall, completely gripping, offering an action-adventure experience unlike anything else this year.

8. Keeper

Double Fine dropped Keeper in October 2025 on Game Pass, and it’s one of those games that sneaks up on you. First, a long-forgotten lighthouse suddenly wakes, and then a cheeky seabird tags along for the ride. As you go, you wander through weird, surreal landscapes, solve puzzles, and stumble onto mysteries, all without anyone holding your hand. Honestly, the island feels alive, the visuals are gorgeous, and overall, the story hits surprisingly hard. By the end, you’ve got a heartwarming, slightly strange adventure full of friendship, weird transformations, and tiny magical moments everywhere.

7. Promise Mascot Agency

Disasters, chaos, and mascots that do whatever they want, that’s just a normal day in Promise Mascot Agency by Kaizen Game Works. First, you wander a cursed Japanese town, recruit mascots, and then try not to lose your mind as they cause mayhem. Meanwhile, drive cars, like a rusty Kei truck, fling Pinky, and unlock Hero Cards to get help from locals. Trororo is obsessed with adult videos, while To-Fu won’t stop crying. Additionally, you are expected to manage an agency amidst all this chaos. Overall, it’s messy, hilarious, strange, and somehow totally addictive.

6. Despelote

Roam the streets and parks of Quito in Despelote, a charming first-person adventure game from May 2025. In this game, soccer feels alive like never before. First, play as eight-year-old Julián, dribbling, passing, and kicking your ball around town. Then, explore a lively city full of characters, funny conversations, and small mischiefs. At the same time, enjoy a semi-autobiographical tale of youth, with bittersweet and dreamy moments. Additionally, photos and audio from Ecuador make the city feel alive, and every interaction is wonderfully authentic.

5. Demonschool

Things get strange at school in Demonschool, a tactics RPG where every move really matters. First of all, join Faye and her quirky companions to face bizarre creatures lurking between the human and demon worlds. Next, rewind any action during planning to chain combos and outsmart your enemies. Meanwhile, juggle classes, level up your skills, and also explore side quests. Additionally, a light horror story plays out through huge avatars. At the same time, friendships with 15 unique characters add strategy and heart to every decision.

4. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

In Ender Magnolia, the Land of Fumes is full of toxic magic. This magic has turned Homunculi, these weird artificial life forms, into total nightmares. Meanwhile, you play as Lilac, an Attuner with the power to save them, but of course, good luck; it’s messy down here. Along the way, explore creepy labs, abandoned cities, and massive factories while also uncovering secrets of a kingdom long gone. Then, fight scary enemies, purify the Homunculi, and team up with companions using 30 unique skills. At the same time, enjoy stunning 2D art, haunting music, and cutscenes that hit hard. Finally, who will you save at the end?

3. Wanderstop

Running a tea shop has never been this relaxing or this weird. In Wanderstop, you grow ingredients and brew tea in a quirky contraption. Meanwhile, you chat with travelers while finding the right cup for each. Meanwhile, occasionally, you tidy the shop, decorate, or even just sit and sip, letting the world drift by. However, not everyone fits this calm life like Alta, a fierce fighter who can’t be tamed. With work from Ivy Road, plus Wreden, Zimonja, and C418 behind it, every corner feels alive, cozy, and a little magical.

2. Blue Prince

2025 had some hidden gems, and Blue Prince quietly became one of the best sleeper hits. At the same time, Mt Holly is a strange manor where rooms shift every day, so yesterday’s discoveries might vanish by morning. As you explore, you open doors, solve tricky puzzles, and also mess around with items in ways you didn’t expect. Meanwhile, the manor’s secrets creep up on you. Ultimately, Room 46 is the ultimate goal, but honestly, often some of the weirdest surprises are the ones you stumble into just by exploring.

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Among 2025’s sleeper hits, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has taken the crown. First, you take on the role of Gustave, Maelle, and their team as they embark on a desperate mission to stop the Paintress from painting death. Meanwhile, the world is full of surreal enemies, hidden quests, and spots that make you want to explore twice. In battles, turn-based RPG combat is enhanced with real-time dodges and combos, letting you experiment with builds and skills. Every step feels alive along the way thanks to past expeditions, quirky companions, and small surprises. Honestly, it’s impossible not to get hooked.