2025 Gaming Trends: From Christmas Crackers to Secret Hunting and Indie Pokémon-Likes on PC

RPS Holiday Highlights: The Eighth, Seventh, and Sixth Christmas Cracker 2025

Rock Paper Shotgun’s annual RPS Christmas Cracker series returns with the eighth installment, offering a curated collection of standout games from 2025. Additionally, previous years’ selections are revisited in editions featuring Edwin, James, Ollie, and others, showcasing diverse bonus game picks that highlight beloved titles across various genres.

• The eighth RPS Christmas Cracker 2025 — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The RPS Selection Box: Edwin’s bonus games of the year — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The seventh RPS Christmas Cracker 2025 — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The RPS Selection Box: James’ bonus games of the year 2025 — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The sixth RPS Christmas Cracker 2025 — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The Backbone Pro Mobile Gaming Controller Is Back Down to Its Lowest Price Ever — IGN
• The RPS 100: Reader Edition (2025) – your favourite games of all time — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The fifth RPS Christmas Cracker 2025 — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The RPS Selection Box: Ollie’s bonus games of the year 2025 — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The Best Reviewed Movies of 2025 — IGN
• The fourth RPS Christmas Cracker 2025 — Rock Paper Shotgun
• The Testament of Ann Lee Review — IGN

2025’s Best Gaming Handheld PC: A Look at the Top Picks

PC Gamer’s Hardware Awards reveal the top gaming handheld PCs of 2025, highlighting performance, portability, and features that make them ideal for on-the-go gaming.

• PC Gamer Hardware Awards: The best gaming handheld of 2025 — PC Gamer
• PC Gamer Hardware Awards: The best gaming laptop of 2025 — PC Gamer

In 2025, Secret Hunting and Kindness Resonated Through Games

Deltarune reminded Eurogamer of the joy in discovering hidden secrets, while Winter Burrow showcased how small acts of kindness can ripple through a world. Meanwhile, Elden Ring’s Nightreign offered a playground for experimentation.

• In 2025, Deltarune reminded me of the joy and importance of secret hunting — Eurogamer
• In 2025, Winter Burrow showed how a little kindness goes a long way — Eurogamer
• In 2025, Elden Ring Nightreign was my playground for experimentation — Eurogamer

Stranger Things Season 5: A Major Reveal Revealed Before the First Episode

The Duffer Brothers first disclosed Netflix’s big Season 5 reveal to them before the premiere of Stranger Things’ inaugural season.

• Stranger Things’ Duffer Brothers First Told Netflix About the Big Season 5 Reveal Before Season 1 Even Came Out — IGN
• Stranger Things: Season 5, Vol. 2 Spoiler Review — IGN

Steam’s Emergence as the Premier Platform for Video Game Soundtracks

Despite its niche origins, Steam has quietly evolved into the go-to marketplace for purchasing video game soundtracks, including those never released on PC. This trend highlights the platform’s growing influence in the gaming industry and the increasing value placed on audio content within games.

• Steam has quietly become the best place to buy videogame soundtracks—even for games that were never released on PC — PC Gamer

The Best Indie Pokémon-Like on PC is Free on Epic for a Limited Time

PC Gamer reports that the top indie Pokémon-like game has been made free on Epic Games Store for a limited time, making it accessible to more players.

• The best indie Pokémon-like on PC is free on Epic for a limited time — PC Gamer

Weekend Game Deals: December 27-28 Free Gems & Epic Games Scarefest

Discover free games this weekend (Dec 27-28, 2025) with GG.deals roundup and the spine-chilling Epic Games FREEBIE that will send shivers down your spine!

• New FREE games this weekend (December 27-28, 2025): your comprehensive roundup — GG.deals
• Today’s Epic Games FREEBIE will scare the stockings off you! — GG.deals

Tiny Bookshop: The Magic of Instantly Loved Books

A PC Gamer article explores how a tiny bookshop’s ability to recommend the perfect book can create an unforgettable moment for book lovers, as one friend was instantly enchanted by a recommendation and shared their gratitude.

• Tiny Bookshop gave me the moment every book lover lives for: recommending the perfect book to a friend and them instantly loving it — PC Gamer

Obsidian’s Best Game of the Year: An Early Access Survival Romp

Despite Obsidian releasing two RPGs this year, its standout game was the early access survival crafting title that emerged as its best offering.

• In a year where Obsidian released a pair of RPGs, its best game was an early access survival romp — PC Gamer