COGconnected GOTY 2025 – Best Surprise
Sometimes this beautifully packaged box surprises you by hiding donated slippers. But every now and then the surprise is simply amazing. Or at least positive. Here are the 10 best gaming surprises of 2025 that we didn't see coming. You know, like that beat-up box with the brand new Nintendo Switch 2. What was your best surprise this year?
10. Dota 2 X Monster Hunter Event
Collaborations continue. One of the latest and most amazing is a limited-time Dota 2 event that uses elements like Palicoes and monsters from the popular Capcom franchise. It might not be as exciting as the Simpsons crossover into Fortnite, but it's a welcome idea nonetheless.
9. Donkey Kong Bananza
With new mechanics, a more than decent narrative and colorful art, Donkey Kong Banaza managed to turn the heads of fans who were a little wary of another mediocre Donkey Kong remake.
8. Announcement of the virtual boy Nintendo Switch
Okay, file this under “What the Real Hell.” Just what we needed, a Nintendo Switch version of the already weird and niche 1995 console add-on that allowed players to enjoy games in stereoscopic 3D.
7. Digimon Story: Stranger in Time
Of course, everyone has heard of Digimon. Pokemon is more common, but Digimon also has legions of fans. Digimon Story: Stranger in Time It's arguably a game that takes the spotlight away from Pokémon with a more mature story and characters, as well as great turn-based combat.
6. Announcement of the film “Super Mario Galaxy”
Not that anyone was really Surprisingly, the Super Mario Galaxy Movie was announced this year and is scheduled for release in April 2026. The new film, a direct sequel to Super Mario Bros., features most of the actors from the first film reprising their roles. The only question is whether the Super Mario Galaxy Movie will be something more substantial than the first film.
5. Hollow Knight: Silksong Was Actually Released
Waiting for the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong has become a favorite (if disappointing) pastime for fans of the original. Well, it did arrive in 2025 and was an excellent, if exceptionally difficult, successor to the original.
4. Battlefield 6 beats the odds
Battlefield games have a checkered history, and no one expected Battlefield 6 to be anything other than mediocre. While the game's campaign is a bit bland, the multiplayer modes have really taken off. Battlefield 6 is one of the best and least technically flawed games in the series.
3. Blue Prince – Fire
Coming out of nowhere to grab the attention of puzzle fans is amazing in itself. Blue Prince combines puzzles, narrative depth, and roguelike replayability into a truly unique indie game.
2. Silent Hill f – different but amazing
Silent Hill f did many new and surprising things, from the setting to the emphasis on mysterious Japanese folklore. Some disturbing themes leave behind the gore and horror, replacing them with psychological tension and horror.
1. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a great indie (not indie) game
Have you noticed that there is a theme behind many of our surprises? Games that could have gone wrong, but didn't. There have been many Indiana Jones games, but none have captured the cinematic excitement and charisma of Indy quite like The Great Circle.
