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Gender-Swapped Lady Loki Skin Comes To Marvel Rivals For The Month Of January
Marvel Rivals has been getting increasingly creative with its skins, but today's reveal pushes the game to a new level. Lady Loki, a female version of the god of mischief, is coming to the in-game shop later this week, complete with a new voice lines from a (presumably) new voice actor. You can see the skin in action below.
🐍 Lurking and ready to strike!
"The fates do have their little surprises, do they not? No less so for me than you, as my appearance gives stark testimony."
Be reborn as a reckoning force and show the battlefield what true power is with the striking Lady Loki costume, first… pic.twitter.com/qkJtJ6jd3j— Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) December 30, 2025
Loki's magically fluid nature has been a fascinating part of his character, especially since he introduced the concept of variants was through his MCU TV series, but no version is as popular as Lady Loki. While the TV series' Sylvie is a popular take on the character in her own right, Lady Loki is typically depicted as a woman with long black hair, like we see in NetEase's shooter.
Lady Loki in Marvel Rivals
While past cosmetics have put filters on voice lines or included alternate sound/visual effects, this is the most transformative skin Marvel Rivals has seen to date, and raises the question of other potential character variants that could be included as cosmetic overhauls. That said, as far as I know, no one else on the roster has an alternate version as popular as Lady Loki that would require re-recorded voice lines. And I'd prefer characters who have taken up existing heroes' mantles (like Miles Morales, Shuri, or Kate Bishop) to get their own spot on the roster, rather than a reskin.
Future speculation aside, Lady Loki is real, but will only be available from January 2 to January 30, so if you're interested, make sure to pick her up while you can. For more Marvel Rivals, check out our review from earlier this year.
What other cosmetic overhauls do you hope to see in Marvel Rivals? Let us know in the comments!
The Best New Music Releases of 2025, According to Game Informer Editors
It's been an incredible year for music enthusiasts. Some of the space's best songwriters and producers returned with something to share, including Dijon's sample-heavy Baby, Bon Iver's contrasting Sable, Fable record, and Turnstile's Never Enough album. Newcomer Joshua Slone's debut record, Thinking Too Much, quickly established the young musician as a songwriting force, while Lorde's Virgin delivered a gut punch to listeners.
For as many hours as Game Informer editors spent covering new video games in 2025, we spent as much or more listening to music. Below are our picks for the year's best new music releases.
I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!
It’s a rare gift to listen to an album that feels programmed to your tastes, and I’ve been so grateful to experience singer-songwriter Jensen McRae’s sophomore release, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, in such a way. From the record label Dead Oceans (Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast), the album features sharp lyrical passages that highlight the throes of intimacy and the defiant act of excising the bitterness we can be left with—McRae’s gorgeous melodies drape over acoustic instrumentation, with saturated guitars and drums emphasizing her affecting storylines. “Savannah,” “Massachusetts,” and “Novelty” are personal standouts, but there’s not a single skip on this impressive record. - Alex Van Aken
Beautiful Chaos
As someone who cannot dance, still loves to dance, and especially loves watching professional dancers, I’ve observed K-pop from a distance for years, never knowing where to start with this genre. On a whim last Fall, I watched Netflix’s Pop Star Academy: Katseye, a documentary series created in collaboration with international record labels Hybe and Geffen Records that follows the creation of a global girl pop group in the style of K-pop. Through this documentary, I came to appreciate the rigorous (at times, too rigorous, given these were teenagers and young women being treated with questionable standards) and perfectionist artistry embedded in K-pop. It’s incredible to see how much thought and detail go into every aspect of a performance, from faces to vocals to even the ways one’s fingers are positioned in specific dance moves. Throughout the series, you watch more than 100 girls be whittled down to a selection of finalists, with the final six coming together to create Katseye.
Katseye’s first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), was good, great even, but it felt distinctly Hybe and Geffen, failing to capitalize on the potential of the group’s six members, who are of differing ages and cultural backgrounds. Songs like “Touch” and “Debut” are bops, to be sure, but it’s clear the girls of Katseye’s weren’t necessarily vibing with its more sanitized, ubiquitous, mainstream sound. But then Katseye released their debut EP, Beautiful Chaos, and the fog cleared on what the girls of Katseye want to do and be.
Katseye - "Gameboy" Official Music Video:
Beautiful Chaos is a thrashy, loud, and unique album. It’s more brat than anything else, but even that diminishes how varied its songs are, which range from sonic melodies about womanhood (“Mean Girls”) to confident and powerful club heaters (“M.I.A.”) to ironic underground romps (“Gnarly”) befitting their Y2K fashion tastes. And just when you think you’ve found a description for Katseye’s sound on Beautiful Chaos, you listen to “Gabriela”, a telenuovo-inspired Spanish song of seduction, love, and heartbreak, and all musical parameters around this girl group fade away. “Gameboy,” with its Nintendo samples and catchy chorus, is one I’d especially recommend checking out if you’re reading this.
Beautiful Chaos is not for everyone, but neither is Katseye – they aren’t k-pop; they aren’t pop; they are Katseye. - Wesley LeBlanc
Syndicate
Great synthwave hits like a time machine trip back to the 80s, and The Midnight are masters of the art form. This lengthy album offers plenty to enjoy, but never stops feeling like you’re making your way through one of those great melodramatic teen action movies from 40 years ago, albeit with a more modern production, strong house music influence, and a never-ending driving pace that will keep you nodding along in satisfaction. Bonnie McKee’s guest vocals on “Runaways” feels like the kind of thing you’d want to have hit as the romantic heroes of your film make their daring escape from dystopia, and “Chariot” could slot happily slot in as the best-case-scenario boss music in that epic sci-fi action game you’re playing right now. Seriously, if you came up on video games and synth-driven beats, and you’re not listening to The Midnight, you’re missing out. - Matt Miller
Box of Magic
Many people discovered Foxy Shazam in 2025 thanks to their prominent placement in Peacemaker Season 2, but I’ve been a huge fan since 2012, when they released their incredible album The Church of Rock and Roll. In the time since, they’ve released several albums that I have enjoyed to varying degrees, but nothing has really hit for me the way Church had. Thankfully, 2025’s Box of Magic finally gave me the successor I’ve been waiting for. It’s not as rock-edged as that album, but the songwriting, instrumentation, and production are on par with it. The signature weird fun that Foxy always brings to the table is perfectly complemented by infectious pop melodies, keeping things from either coming across as too subdued or going off the rails in ways I would argue they had in other recent releases. Box of Magic is my favorite Foxy Shazam album in nearly a decade and a half, and when you combine it with their newfound mainstream success, it’s a great time to be a fan of Foxy Shazam. - Brian Shea
The Blue Nowhere
I am an old man whose musical taste is pretty stagnant (though I do love this year’s “Born Again” from Lisa featuring Doja Cat and RAYE). I played drums in a metal band in high school and college, but it’s safe to say those days are behind me. I don’t really keep up with the genre. However, the band Between the Buried and Me is the one exception, and I always check out their new releases. I particularly like their latest album, specifically the song “Things We Tell Ourselves In The Dark.” They’ve always been an experimental group that is not exclusively metal, and I like that this album gets into the more melodic and experimental side of things. - Kyle Hilliard
CD Projekt Co-founder, Michał Kiciński, Acquires GOG.com
CD Projekt and GOG.com co-founder, Michał Kiciński now has full ownership of GOG.com. Kiciński founded CD Projekt alongside his brother Marcin in 1994 and co-founded GOG.com, the classic PC game digital distribution platform, in 2008.
Michał Kiciński resigned from his position at CD Projekt in 2010, but has remained involved in the company. CD Projekt has maintained ownership over GOG.com since its inception, but it announced today that Michał Kiciński now retains full ownership of GOG.com after acquiring 100% of its shares.
It was an amazing journey! Good luck, friends. Can’t wait to see you conquering new heights! https://t.co/wr0jddtRic
— CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) December 29, 2025
In a blog announcing Kiciński's acquisition, CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski wrote, “With our focus now fully on an ambitious development roadmap and expanding our franchises with new high-quality products, we felt this was the right time for this move.”
In the same blog, Kiciński reiterated the original intention of GOG.com, writing, “From the very beginning, GOG has always been built on strong values and clear principles. When Marcin Iwiński and I came up with the idea for GOG, the vision was simple: bring classic games back to players and ensure that once you buy a game, it truly belongs to you — forever.”
How and if this affects GOG.com's user experience and library remains to be seen, but hopefully the core idea – make classic games playable on contemporary machines without DRM restrictions – remains true under this direction.
[Source: CDProjekt.com]
Game Informer's Top Scoring Reviews Of 2025
At Game Informer, writing game reviews is one of our primary functions. As such, we cover hundreds of titles each and every year, hoping to turn you on to your next favorite game. However, within that field, a select few rise to the top as the games we most highly recommend. While you're always welcome to peruse our reviews page for the latest and greatest (and sometimes worst) games on the market, we've gathered our highest-scoring reviews of 2025 right here.
When Game Informer was re-launched in March of this year, we made it a point to review many of the games we missed, but we couldn't cover them all. As such, some critically acclaimed games, such as Split Fiction, aren't on this list, as we were unable to review them while playing catch-up. However, we have reviews for most of the biggest games of 2025, and you can see the ones we think are the most worthwhile below.
Be sure to bookmark this page and check back frequently, as we'll continue to update it as more titles earn review scores on the top end of our review scale.
10
Hades II
Hades II is the pinnacle of the roguelike genre, a position I previously granted its predecessor, but one that its sequel has handily earned. Read review
Platforms: Switch 2, Switch, PC
Release Date:
September 25, 2025
1000xResist
Despite minor flaws, 1000xResist has firmly established itself as one of the most groundbreaking stories in video game history. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Release Date:
May 9, 2024 (Switch, PC), November 4, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)
Blue Prince
Blue Prince harnesses the innate, burning curiosity one feels when seeing a closed door at the end of a hallway and crafts it into an unforgettable experience. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac
Release Date:
April 10, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), December 15, 2025 (Mac)
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Buoyed by the excellent returning dice gameplay, incredible sci-fi writing, and a fantastic score, Citizen Sleeper 2 is a worthy sequel, even if its UI and finale didn’t quite match the heights of the rest of the package. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Release Date:
January 31, 2025
Doom: The Dark Ages
With the Shield Saw and other great additions, id Software gives us something we didn’t know we wanted, proving once again that this legendary series can still evolve in ways we haven’t even dreamed of. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
May 15, 2025
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
KCD2 is challenging, demanding, and often unforgiving. But, like the sharp blades I smithed in-game, through fire, it forges an exciting, surprising, and unforgettable fable. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
February 4, 2025
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Across its 12-hour runtime, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound seamlessly blends gorgeous pixel art, inventive level design, and sublime gameplay to create one of the best retro throwbacks I’ve ever played. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
July 31, 2025
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
Final Fantasy Tactics is back to prove the grandfather of so many tactics titles hasn't lost a single step. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
September 30, 2025
Ghost of Yōtei
Ghost of Yōtei impresses. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Release Date:
October 2, 2025
Is This Seat Taken?
Is This Seat Taken takes a beautifully simple premise – sitting people in chairs – and iterates on it in consistently creative and exciting ways. Read review
Platforms: Switch, PC, iOS, Android
Release Date:
August 7, 2025
Monster Train 2
The realm of indie roguelikes is competitive and crowded, but despite years of tough competition, Monster Train 2 has strongly reasserted its series as one of the leaders of the pack. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Release Date:
May 21, 2025
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance should serve as a blueprint for delivering a retro-facing experience of an absentee franchise while still leveraging modern technology and game design conventions. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
August 29, 2025
The Roottrees Are Dead
Find every blood relative in a mysterious family tree in this engrossing puzzle game. Read review
Platforms: PC
Release Date:
January 15, 2025
Absolum
Combining classic fantasy brawler mechanics, top-notch art and music, and a roguelite progression loop add up to an incredibly fun cooperative adventure. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC
Release Date:
October 9, 2025
Arc Raiders
In most ways, Embark Studios’ new extraction shooter is a high mark for the growing subgenre. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
October 30, 2025
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
I was eager to see the expedition's conclusion, but I did not want it to end. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
April 24, 2025
Dispatch
Dispatch delivers one of the most compelling interactive dramas in years, an adult animated superhero story with the emotional punch of prestige television and a script that truly shines. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, PC
Release Date:
October 22, 2025 (PlayStation 5, PC), January 28, 2026 (Switch 2, Switch)
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong and Pauline’s adventure is a showpiece for Nintendo’s new console, and it meets the incredibly high standard the developer has been setting for itself since the ’80s. Read review
Platforms: Switch 2
Release Date:
July 17, 2025
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake rounds out the Erdrick Trilogy, giving this classic turn-based RPG franchise the opening chapters it deserves. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC
Release Date:
October 30, 2025
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong is beautiful, nuanced, and deeply rewarding, but it’s also tuned to be grueling in ways that aren’t always fun in the traditional sense. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
September 4, 2025
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
The Great Circle reminds me of why I fell in love with Indy in the first place and should be a template for how to craft new interactive stories in this legendary series. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Release Date:
December 8, 2024 (Xbox Series X/S, PC), April 17, 2025 (PlayStation 5), 2026 (Switch 2)
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3 didn’t necessarily need a remake, but now that it’s here, I’m not sure I will ever be able to go back to the original versions. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
August 28, 2025
Peak
A brilliant climbing adventure that stands out as a delight in a year of self-serious major game releases. Read review
Platforms: PC
Release Date:
June 16, 2025
Ball x Pit
Familiar arcade formulas take on new life in this roguelite twist on breaking bricks with a bouncing ball. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC
Release Date:
October 15, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC), October 28, 2025 (Switch 2)
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Death Stranding 2 is a game with faults and annoyances, but it also makes big, expensive swings and is trying to establish its own unique genre, often successfully. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Release Date:
June 26, 2025
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fantastic reminder that the franchise that began on the Super Nintendo in 1994 is a real competitor for Nintendo’s best 2D platforming series, an extremely competitive landscape. Read review
Platforms: Switch
Release Date:
January 16, 2025
Lumines Arise
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, PC
Release Date:
November 11, 2025
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
The wait for a new Metroid Prime has been long, but it only takes a few minutes in Beyond to remember why we have been so eager to re-enter this universe for the past 18 years. Read review
Platforms: Switch 2, Switch
Release Date:
December 4, 2025
Monster Hunter Wilds
The Forbidden Lands are an enticing new playground for the series, and I look forward to spending dozens more hours uncovering Monster Hunter Wilds' secrets. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
February 28, 2025
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Getting excellent versions of these games in one cohesive package is great, but the true highlight is the in-depth interactive documentary and all the fun relics that exist therein. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC
Release Date:
October 30, 2025
Ninja Gaiden 4
This comeback finally washes away the bad taste left by the reviled Ninja Gaiden 3, and I hope to see Yakumo’s legend grow over a new series of stylish action adventures. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
October 20, 2025
Silent Hill 2
Despite the difficult revelations Silent Hill 2 unveils along the way and how uncomfortable the experience made me (by design) I was eager to immediately start the journey again after seeing the credits. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
October 8, 2024 (PlayStation 5, PC), November 21, 2025 (Xbox Series X/S)
The Outer Worlds 2
Though its main narrative is anticlimactic, I’m amazed by how much Obsidian was able to cram into this 30-hour odyssey. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
October 29, 2025
And Roger
While I wouldn’t wish the plight of And Roger's protagonist on my worst enemy, I would happily recommend this experience as another strong example of video games' strength as a storytelling medium Read review
Platforms: Switch, PC
Release Date:
July 23, 2025
Assassin's Creed Shadows
In Assassin's Creed Shadows, playing as Yasuke and Naoe is as powerful as the Shoguns that ruled during this era of Japan, even if the story doesn't match the gameplay's towering heights. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC, Mac
Release Date:
March 20, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac), December 2, 2025 (Switch 2)
Battlefield 6
Battlefield 6 hits the ground running with a 64-player multiplayer suite full of dazzling sandboxes just waiting to be leveled, but not every part of the package is as effective. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
October 10, 2025
Borderlands 4
Though many of the series’ core elements remain intact, Gearbox has refined and reconfigured them in such ways that Borderlands 4 rises beyond anything the series has accomplished to this point. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Release Date:
September 12, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), TBA (Switch 2)
Dying Light: The Beast
Dying Light: The Beast can feel a touch safe at times with a serviceable story, but the high-flying parkour and gorgeous graphics are top-notch. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
September 19, 2025
EA Sports College Football 26
Like a standout freshman bursting onto the scene, College Football 25 was a pleasant surprise, but College Football 26 aptly demonstrates it wasn’t just beginner’s luck, delivering an equally impressive sophomore effort. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Release Date:
July 10, 2025
Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders overflows with Sakurai’s signature style, making bold creative choices even if it limits the game’s appeal to a slightly narrower audience. Read review
Platforms: Switch 2
Release Date:
November 20, 2025
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
An absurd tone with surprising pockets of earnest pathos, fun characters, and bombastic action are all present and accounted for here. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
February 21, 2025
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Fun tag-team gameplay, polished fisticuffs, and a loving reverence for Marvel lore make for a superpowered retro throwback. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
December 1, 2025
Marvel Rivals
With a huge roster of free playable characters , a satisfying gameplay loop, and the fast matchmaking, Marvel Rivals executes a simple concept with skill and finesse. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date:
December 5, 2024 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), September 12, 2025 (PlayStation 4)
MLB The Show 25
MLB The Show 25 delivers perhaps the most well-rounded package of any of the mainstream sports video games, making for a title I first fired up during Spring Training and could very well still be playing when the World Series rolls around. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Release Date:
March 18, 2025
NBA 2K26
The absolute glut of content is impressive and intimidating all at once, and NBA 2K26’s on-the-court performance is so good that it’s worth the annoyances that come with the franchise. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
September 5, 2025
Revenge of the Savage Planet
The first game was a fun one-off experience, but its sequel is a far more complete and rewarding package that left me hungry for more savage planets to explore. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
May 8, 2025
Routine
Routine is a sublime and highly tactile puzzle adventure that kept me glued to my mouse and keyboard. Read review
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
December 4, 2025
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Though there’s substantially less content and replayability than its primary contemporary, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is concise and effective in its mission, offering the most well-rounded kart racer of the year. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
September 25, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC), December 4, 2025 (Switch 2)
Sonic X Shadow Generations
The potent combination of Sonic and Shadow Generations makes a strong case for being the best package of 3D Sonic content we’ve ever seen. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
October 25, 2024 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC), June 5, 2025 (Switch 2)
South of Midnight
South of Midnight's decent combat and platforming are elevated to great heights by stellar visual and musical presentation, resulting in a game I can't stop smiling about. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Release Date:
April 8, 2025 (Xbox Series X/S, PC), 2026 (PlayStation 5, Switch 2)
Star Wars Outlaws
Moving between planets and wandering Outlaws’ dense cities is where the adventure shines, but shooting your way through your current gig so you can make it to the next is also compelling, if sometimes a little simple. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Release Date:
August 30, 2024 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), September 4, 2025 (Switch 2)
Sword of the Sea
Sword of the Sea moves at the pace of a magical swordsperson speeding across sand dunes on a floating blade at 170 miles per hour, and it never gives you a reason to look away. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
Release Date:
August 19, 2025
For more of our top reviews from recent years, head to the links below.
Why You Should Play: Trails In The Sky 1st Chapter
A lot of games have arrived in the latter half of 2025, but one RPG has remained a steady undercurrent. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the story I keep going back to and gradually picking away at, and it's the revival that finally made me understand why Nihon Falcom's series has garnered such a fervent following.
As the year comes to a close, we're highlighting some personal favorite games from our team that we feel you shouldn't miss. If you're still looking for the right game to carry you into 2026, and you've already hit up our Top 10 Best, we're hoping one of these recommendations will hit the mark.
Few series look as intimidating as Trails does from the outside, as the games have gradually rolled out over the years under different arcs. While there are a few options for starting points, Trails in the Sky does appear to be the best by fan consensus. It's the first in terms of launch order, but that also usually meant Trails in the Sky carried some baggage of appearing dated next to the likes of later Trails games.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter tunes it all up, without losing elements that made the original so well-remembered in the first place. The characters run around in full 3D and combat incorporates some of the real-time action elements seen in more recent Trails entries (or the likes of Metaphor: ReFantazio), and the overall look of Trails in the Sky received a massive overhaul from its original look.
The story of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a slow, steady burn. It follows Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua, in the midst of their training and initiation as Bracers, a guild of mercenaries, monster hunters, and investigators that form a neutral third party from state military or other forces. Estelle is naive and headstrong, while Joshua is reserved and brooding; the pair make for excellent leads as their travels soon start to leave their hometown and expand out to the wider world.
It's the wider world that really makes Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter come together for me, though. The continent of Zemuria has a rich history that feels reinforced wherever you go. Characters remark on past events, sure, but towns also carry the scars of former conflict. Regions are defined by their access to resources and border lines. One of my favorite collectibles are readable issues of Liberl News, the paper for the Liberl region your characters hail from, which comments and adds texture to everything happening around the party.
For such a massive series that's garnered deep attachment from those who have dug into it, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a well-crafted update to Trails' starting line. Nihon Falcom has made it even easier to see why Trails games are worth diving into, and considering how playable this 1st Chapter is on platforms like Switch 2 and Steam Deck, this makes for a wonderful winter game to chip away at as the nights get longer and colder. If you've ever considered seeing what all the hubbub is about, now's the time.