RPS Annual Christmas Crackers 2025 Roundup: From Beloved Saga to Free Indie Gems and Unforgettable Experiences

RPS Annual Christmas Crackers and Bonus Games Roundup 2025

Rock Paper Shotgun presents a comprehensive collection of its annual RPS Christmas Cracker articles from the past five years, highlighting bonus games of the year selected by key editors. The series includes reviews, lists, and roundups covering everything from indie gems to classic titles, providing readers with curated recommendations for the best games of 2025.

• 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

The Best Gaming Handheld of 2025: PC Gamer Hardware Awards

PC Gamer has named the best gaming handheld for 2025, highlighting top contenders and evaluating key features such as performance, portability, and battery life.

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

Stranger Things Season 5 Vol. 2: A Bittersweet Conclusion to a Beloved Saga

The Duffer Brothers reveal key details about Stranger Things’ highly anticipated fifth season, including the return of Eleven and a climactic final battle against Vecna in this spoiler-filled recap.

• 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

AU Boxing Day Deals: Top Game Picks for Your Holiday Shopping

IGN highlights the best Xbox and PlayStation game deals available on Boxing Day, focusing on titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Battlefield 6, Final Fantasy XVI, Halo Infinite: Glass Pane Edition, Hitman 3, Marvel Rivals, and more. Includes discounts of up to 75% off, ensuring a lucrative holiday shopping experience.

• AU Deals: Big Games, Boxing Day Sales, Bad Financial Decisions, But Zero Regrets (Probably) — IGN
• AU Deals: Boxing Day Game Deals I’d Actually Spend My Own Money On This Year — IGN

Graphics Card Launches of 2025: A Disastrous Year

PC Gamer’s coverage highlights the chaotic and disappointing nature of this year’s graphics card launches, emphasizing the widespread dissatisfaction among consumers and industry experts.

• Well, this year’s graphics card launches were a right shitshow, eh? — PC Gamer

Steam’s Quiet Rise as the Premier Platform for Game Soundtrack Purchases, Including Unreleased Titles

PC Gamer reports that Steam has unexpectedly become the top destination for buying video game soundtracks, even for games that were never officially released on PC. The platform’s convenient digital store and extensive library have made it a go-to source for collectors and fans seeking rare audio scores.

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

Marvel and DC: Anticipating Their 2026 Strategies

A brief overview of what readers can expect from Marvel and DC in 2026, highlighting potential trends and developments.

• What to Expect From Marvel and DC in 2026 — IGN
• What we’ve been playing, Christmas Day edition – “hope I don’t disgrace myself” — Eurogamer

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

PC Gamer reports that the top indie Pokémon-like RPG has arrived free on Epic Games Store, available only until December 27. The game offers an immersive experience with engaging gameplay and charming graphics reminiscent of classic Pokémon titles.

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

In 2025, Deltarune and Winter Burrow Highlight the Joy of Secret Hunting and the Power of Kindness

Eurogamer’s articles from December 2025 explore how secret hunting in Deltarune evokes nostalgic joy reminiscent of childhood exploration, while Winter Burrow showcases the profound impact of a single act of kindness. Both pieces underscore meaningful themes that resonate with gamers and highlight the enduring appeal of heartfelt storytelling.

• 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

Tiny Bookshop Delivers the Ultimate Reader’s Dream: A Perfect Recommendation

A PC Gamer article shares a heartwarming moment where a tiny bookshop gifted a life-changing reading experience, with an instant recommendation that instantly delighted the friend. The piece celebrates the power of books and personal connections in creating unforgettable literary moments.

• 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 This Year: An Early Access Survival Romp

Despite Obsidian releasing multiple RPGs this year, its standout title was the early access survival crafting game ‘Project Clean Slate.’

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