As 2025 draws to a close, a passionate debate has ignited within the gaming community: has this year been the most exceptional period ever for independent video games? This question forms the heart of the latest Games Inbox discussion, where readers also express concerns over Nintendo's creative direction and the looming shadow of job cuts at Warner Bros. studios following a major corporate acquisition.
A Banner Year for Independent Creativity
One reader, Colin, argues forcefully that 2025 represents a high-water mark for the indie scene. He suggests that after a period where indie titles felt somewhat sidelined, perhaps due to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year has seen an incredible resurgence. He points to a slew of critically acclaimed and diverse releases that have captured the public's imagination.
The standout title for many is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which Colin and others tip as a potential game of the year. However, the list of notable indie successes is long and varied, including Blue Prince, Hades 2, the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, Dispatch, Sword Of The Sea, Monster Train 2, and Absolum. Colin contrasts this vibrant landscape with the AAA sector, which he feels is stuck in a cycle of releasing "constantly the same game, again and again." He highlights the battle between Battlefield 6 and Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 being upstaged by the plucky new indie rival, Arc Raiders.
"If this isn't their best year ever, I don't know what it is," Colin concludes, questioning the relevance of big-budget games when indie titles are often "cheaper, better, and more innovative."
Frustration and Corporate Anxiety
Not all experiences with this year's indie darlings have been positive. A reader using the pseudonym 'big boy bent' detailed a gruelling experience with Hollow Knight: Silksong, eventually abandoning it after an estimated 60 to 100 hours due to relentless difficulty. "Looking back on it now, there's no fondness," they wrote, "just angry memories of frustration and vitriol." They did, however, find solace in Blue Prince and joined the chorus praising Clair Obscur.
Meanwhile, a separate thread of concern runs through the inbox regarding the future of Warner Bros. game developers. Reader David predicts a grim timeline following the completion of a Warner Bros. deal in June or July 2025, expecting lay-offs to begin by August as the new owners seek to cut costs. He questions why regulators allow such mergers when job losses are a predictable outcome. GameCentral's response noted that regulators did try to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and the warned-of negatives have materialised, suggesting the current US administration is less interventionist.
Questioning Nintendo's Magic and Gaming's Future
Nintendo's current trajectory also came under scrutiny. A reader named LeeDappa was troubled by a comment suggesting Nintendo could be "a spent force," pointing to titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza not setting the world alight. He worries about what happens if the next core Mario or Zelda games fail to excite, pondering if Nintendo consoles might become mere 'Pokémon machines'.
GameCentral offered a robust counterpoint, stating that the Switch 2 is the fastest-selling console in history. They also cited review aggregate site Metacritic, noting Donkey Kong Bananza is 2025's fifth-best game (and number one full-price title if discounted re-releases are excluded), with Mario Kart World ranking a respectable 29th, ahead of major titles like Ghost Of Yōtei and Arc Raiders. The response urged gamers to recognise that not every game needs to be either the best or worst thing ever.
The inbox also featured lighter moments, such as Simon's Christmas tradition of playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on his 3DS, and Nick The Greek's delight with a chaotic secret mode in Mario Kart World that limits items to just Kamek's spells. Other readers discussed the ethics of game difficulty and time investment, and shared cautionary tales like Mick McMahon's purchase of a delisted sports game with defunct servers, still being sold at full price on the Nintendo eShop.
The discussion remains open, with GameCentral encouraging readers to email their views to gamecentral@metro.co.uk or submit longer Reader's Features for the holiday period.
