The weekly GameCentral letters page has sparked a lively debate about the standout video games of 2025, with readers attempting to crown a runner-up behind the widely acclaimed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Alongside this, correspondents have voiced concerns over the sheer volume of new releases and specific disappointments with major titles.
The Race for the Silver Medal
One reader, Cranston, kicked off the discussion by acknowledging that Clair Obscur is likely to sweep award ceremonies. However, they noted its sales, while strong, haven't reached the ubiquitous levels of a franchise like Call of Duty. This led to the central question: what is the second-best game of the year?
The frontrunners proposed were Donkey Kong Bananza, Split Fiction, Hades 2, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Cranston personally awarded the silver medal to Silksong, but suggested its vote might be split with the equally beloved Hades 2. The consensus in the inbox was that while Clair Obscur sits comfortably in first place, the battle for second is fiercely contested.
An Overwhelming Tide of New Releases
Another pressing topic for readers was the staggering number of games now released annually. Taylor Moon highlighted the 19,000 new titles launched on Steam in 2025 alone, equating to over 1,500 per month. This figure prompted reflection on how the industry has changed from the 1990s, when a quiet month might see only a dozen new releases.
The correspondent expressed sympathy for developers, describing game development as an "unreliable and risky job" marked by mass layoffs and the immense challenge of standing out in a saturated market. The sentiment underscores a growing anxiety about sustainability and visibility in the modern gaming landscape.
Critical Voices on Fallout, AI, and Sequel Disappointments
The inbox also featured pointed criticism on several other industry issues. Tungston questioned recent interviews with Bethesda's Todd Howard regarding the Fallout TV show and Fallout 5, expressing scepticism over promises about development timelines based on past experiences with Starfield.
Meanwhile, TGN Professor challenged the excuses of some developers who claim to have accidentally left AI-generated "placeholder" assets in finished games. The reader argued that traditional placeholders are designed to be obvious and temporary, making such explanations seem dubious.
Specific game critiques were also prominent. Gyros lamented the state of Metroid Prime 4, criticising a design flaw that prevents players from returning to complete content after reaching the game's finale. The reader echoed theories that the troubled project was a "bodge" of half-finished concepts rather than a coherent, restarted development, and worried the negative reception could jeopardise a sequel to the acclaimed Metroid Dread.
Quickfire Inbox Highlights
Other snippets from the letters page included:
- Darryl expressing surprise that no new Sonic game was announced at The Game Awards, given the success of Sonic Frontiers three years prior.
- A reader named goldbricks23 inquiring about performance improvements for The Sexy Brutale on the new Switch 2 hardware.
- Alucard praising both The Game Awards and The Streamer Awards, despite noting the latter's technical hiccups.
- Brief comments on Fallout skins in Call of Duty feeling like cost-cutting and the traditional festive play of Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams.
The GameCentral inbox continues to serve as a vibrant forum for UK gamers, blending awards season debate with critical analysis of the industry's broader challenges. Readers are encouraged to contribute their own 500-word features, especially during the holiday period.
