<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/07/03/8d46975a/_GIShow_BestGamesSoFar.png" width="800" height="450" alt="the best games of 2025 (so far) the game informer show" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> In this week's episode of&nbsp;<em>The Game Informer Show,</em> former editor John Carson joins us to share what we think are the best games of 2025 to date. Heavy hitters like Mario Kart World, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/monster-hunter-wilds/happy-hunting-playground">Monster Hunter Wilds</a> all make the list, but there are several smaller or indie titles mentioned that we love, like Peak, Blade Chimera, and <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/spotlight/2025/05/02/shotgun-cop-man-promise-mascot-agency-and-more-new-games-to-watch">Promise Mascot Agency.</a> We hope you enjoy the podcast and find your next favorite video game!&nbsp;<em>The Game Informer Show</em> is a weekly podcast covering the video game industry. Join us every Thursday for chats about your favorite titles – past and present – alongside <em>Game Informer</em> staff and special guests from around the industry.&nbsp;<strong>Subscribe to Game Informer Magazine:</strong><br><br><a class="subnow button" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/subscribe">Subscribe now</a><h3><strong>Follow our hosts on social media</strong>:</h3><ul><li>Alex Van Aken (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/itsvanaken.games">@itsVanAken</a>)</li><li>Marcus Stewart (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/marcusstewart7.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@MarcusStewart7</a>)</li><li>Kyle Hilliard (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/kylehilliard.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@KyleHilliard</a>)</li><li>John Carson (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/johncarson.bsky.social">@JohnCarsonGames</a>)</li></ul><a class="spreaker-player optanon-category-C0004" href="https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-best-video-games-of-2025-so-far--66856291" data-resource="episode_id=66856291" data-width="100%" data-height="200px" data-theme="light" data-playlist="false" data-playlist-continuous="false" data-chapters-image="true" data-episode-image-position="right" data-hide-logo="true" data-hide-likes="true" data-hide-comments="true" data-hide-sharing="false" data-hide-download="false" data-title="The Best Video Games of 2025 (So Far)" data-color="3c59e0">Listen to "The Best Video Games of 2025 (So Far)" on Spreaker.</a> <strong>Jump to a specific discussion using these timestamps:&nbsp;</strong>00:00 - Introduction05:35 - Promise Mascot Agency08:44 - Blade Chimera11:15 - The Roottrees Are Dead17:30 - Peak24:36 - Mario Kart World31:50 - Avowed37:48 - Split Fiction43:16 - Picnic Penguin47:40 - Pirate Yakuza50:19 - Monster Hunter Wilds55:55 - DOOM: The Dark Ages01:01:00 - Elden Ring Nightreign01:09:25 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 3301:16:20 - Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time01:23:06 - Shotgun Cop Man01:27:05 - The Bazaar01:33:00 - Kyle’s Lightning Round01:34:28 - The First Bezerker Khazan01:36:24 - Marcus’ Lightning Round01:42:19 - Alex’s Lightning Round