Square Enix Surprises as Metacritic's Top Game Publisher for 2025
In a stunning turn of events, Square Enix has been named the best video game publisher of 2025 according to Metacritic's annual rankings. The Japanese gaming giant achieved this milestone for the first time ever, securing the top spot with an impressive score of 330.5 points.
How Metacritic Calculates Publisher Success
Metacritic's publisher rankings are determined through a meticulous four-factor scoring system. This includes the average Metascore for all games released during the year, the percentage of titles receiving positive reviews (scoring 75 or higher), the percentage with negative reviews (below 49), and the number of games achieving elite status with ratings of 90 or above.
Square Enix's victory came through remarkable consistency rather than blockbuster hits. The publisher released nine games in 2025, with every single title classified as 'good' according to Metacritic's metrics. While only the PC version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth reached the coveted 90+ category, the complete absence of poorly reviewed games propelled Square Enix to the top position.
Notable Releases and Surprising Results
The publisher's 2025 lineup consisted primarily of remakes and ports, including Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles, Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Remake, and Octopath Traveler 0. Other significant releases were Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster for the Switch 2 and Final Fantasy 16 on Xbox Series X/S.
The rankings delivered several unexpected placements throughout the list. Chinese indie company Gamirror Games secured second place with 322.4 points, credited as co-publisher on Absolum and releasing five positively reviewed titles. Capcom followed closely in third with 322.2 points, despite the PC version of Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny falling below the 'good' threshold with a 70 rating.
Major Publishers Experience Significant Shifts
Microsoft climbed impressively to fifth place, largely thanks to PlayStation 5 ports of Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones And The Great Circle. Meanwhile, last year's winner Sega tumbled to seventh position, with misfires like Football Manager 26 offsetting critical successes such as Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance.
Nintendo's performance proved particularly surprising, ranking only 12th despite launching the Switch 2 console. Disappointing titles like Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and Drag x Drive dragged down stronger releases including Donkey Kong Bananza and Switch 2 editions of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom.
Dramatic Declines and Future Prospects
Sony experienced one of the most dramatic falls, plummeting from fourth to 21st place with 268.5 points. While the publisher released acclaimed titles like Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Ghost of Yōtei, third-party title Lost Soul Aside and Destiny 2 DLC negatively impacted their overall score.
Arc System Works found themselves at the bottom of the list in 27th position, with middling performances from Double Dragon Revive and Hunter x Hunter: Nen X Impact.
Looking ahead to 2026, Square Enix appears well-positioned for another strong showing with anticipated releases including Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on Switch 2, The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, and Life Is Strange: Reunion.
