Top 5 AAA Games of 2025 (So Far): What to Play Right Now
2025 is already delivering some serious heat in the AAA gaming space. Whether you're grinding for loot, surviving a sci-fi nightmare, or getting lost in jaw-dropping open worlds, there’s no shortage of elite experiences. We’re spotlighting the top 5 AAA games that have dropped this year—complete with platform info, bite-sized reviews, and honest ratings.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Score: 9.8/10
FromSoftware's long-awaited expansion to 2022’s game-of-the-year juggernaut doesn't play it safe. Shadow of the Erdtree is bigger, darker, and more brutal, blending eerie lore with unmatched boss design. It adds 30+ hours of new content, fresh gear, and a sprawling region as twisted as anything in the Lands Between. Hardcore fans and new players alike will find this a must-play.
Why It Wins: FromSoftware proves expansions can hit harder than full games.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Platform: PS5 (timed exclusive)
Score: 9.4/10
Square Enix goes all-in on emotional storytelling and world-building in the second chapter of its ambitious remake trilogy. Rebirth expands the world beyond Midgar, giving players semi-open zones, deep character arcs, and a reimagined combat system that fuses turn-based strategy with fast action. It's nostalgic, but not afraid to take bold turns.
Why It Wins: It respects the legacy—but rewrites the rules.
Dragon’s Dogma
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Score: 8.9/10
Capcom revives its cult classic with stunning visuals, smarter AI companions (Pawns), and dynamic combat that outshines most fantasy RPGs. Dragon’s Dogma 2 embraces experimentation—letting players climb cyclopes, chain spell effects, and explore a dense world where choices actually matter. It’s not perfect (hello, frame rate), but it’s wildly ambitious.
Why It Wins: Deep systems + creative freedom = replay gold.
Stellar Blade
Platform: PS5
Score: 8.5/10
Part Nier: Automata, part Devil May Cry, Stellar Blade delivers fast-paced combat and slick visuals with a story about humanity’s last stand on a ruined Earth. Combat is tight, cinematic, and surprisingly challenging. The narrative tries a little too hard at times, but for pure action, it’s a PS5 showpiece.
Why It Wins: The gameplay loop hits that perfect just-one-more-fight rhythm.
Helldivers 2
Platform: PS5, PC
Score: 8.3/10
A surprise hit and a masterclass in co-op chaos, Helldivers 2 swaps top-down tactics for third-person mayhem. It leans into satire and spectacle, with missions that feel like Starship Troopers meets Warhammer. Friendly fire is on, strategy is a must, and every drop-in feels like a desperate last stand.
Why It Wins: Pure co-op adrenaline with a sense of humor.
Final Thoughts
This year’s AAA lineup is already stacked—and we’re barely halfway through 2025. Whether you're chasing high fantasy, sci-fi grit, or stylish slashes, there's a flagship game with your name on it. Expect the list to shift as the year progresses, but for now? These five are setting the pace.
Stay sharp, stay playing.
