Single player games continue to dominate the gaming landscape despite the multiplayer craze that has swept the industry. While online battle royales and co-op adventures certainly have their place, nothing quite matches the immersive storytelling and personal journey that the best single player games deliver.
Looking ahead to 2025, an impressive lineup of solo adventures awaits eager gamers. From highly anticipated sequels like Death Stranding 2 and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree to fresh IPs such as The Alters and Blue Prince, developers are doubling down on crafting meaningful single player experiences.
Whether you prefer action-packed adventures, thought-provoking narratives, or sprawling RPGs, this curated list of 17 must-play single player games will help you plan your gaming calendar for the coming year. Each title offers something unique – from the atmospheric horror of Still Wakes the Deep to the fantastical worlds of Metaphor: ReFantazio and Avowed.
Let's dive into the most promising solo gaming experiences that deserve your attention in 2025.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Hideo Kojima's highly anticipated sequel pushes boundaries of gaming innovation with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Launching June 26, 2025, this title promises to elevate the unique delivery-focused gameplay that defined its predecessor.
Death Stranding 2 gameplay overview
Sam Porter Bridges returns with enhanced traversal mechanics featuring a comprehensive weight system that requires players to balance their character during journeys. The sequel significantly improves combat with creative new weapons and a freeform approach reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid V. Furthermore, the iconic Social Strand System returns, encouraging asynchronous connection across the globe as players collaborate by sharing resources and infrastructure.
Death Stranding 2 story and setting
Set 11 months after the original, the narrative follows Sam on a mission to connect Australia to the Chiral Network. Players navigate diverse environments including deserts, forests, and rocky coastlines – a welcome departure from the first game's monotonous landscapes.
Death Stranding 2 visuals and design
Built on Guerrilla Games' Decima Engine, the game showcases cutting-edge visual technology with impressive global illumination, realistic cloud formations, and advanced fluid simulation. Players experience dynamic weather events including sandstorms, earthquakes, and forest fires.
Death Stranding 2 platform availability
Currently announced exclusively for PlayStation 5, though a PC port may follow approximately six months after launch based on the pattern established by the original game.
The Alters
11 Bit Studios delivers a fascinating sci-fi survival experience with The Alters, where creating different versions of yourself becomes your key to survival.
The Alters gameplay overview
The Alters blends survival mechanics with profound existential questions. Players manage a mobile wheel-shaped base while gathering resources to outrun the deadly sun radiation. The game requires balancing resource collection, base expansion, and the emotional needs of your crew of "alters" – alternative versions of protagonist Jan Dolski. Each gameplay segment operates on a timed cycle, with one second of real-time equaling one in-game minute.
The Alters story and setting
Following a catastrophic crash landing, space miner Jan Dolski finds himself the sole survivor on a hostile alien planet. Using a mysterious substance called Rapidium, Jan creates alternative versions of himself shaped by different life choices. These aren't mere clones but rather versions of Jan who made different decisions at pivotal moments. The narrative explores identity, regret, and the nature of choice.
The Alters visuals and design
The game features a striking hot pink and black color scheme that creates a sleek, cyberpunk-inspired esthetic. The planet's environment includes bizarre anomalies like levitating rocks and spatial distortions. The base resembles a giant wheel that rolls away from danger, with modular rooms that can be arranged similarly to games like Fallout Shelter.
The Alters platform availability
Released on June 13, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game is available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Priced at £28.99/USD 34.99 with a deluxe edition available for £39.99/USD 49.49.
Blue Prince
Dogubomb's ingenious puzzle adventure Blue Prince combines roguelike elements with strategic room-drafting in one of the most innovative single player games of 2025.
Blue Prince gameplay overview
The game centers around drafting rooms in Mt. Holly, a mansion with ever-changing architecture. Each day, players navigate through shifting corridors and chambers by selecting from randomized floor plans. Every door reveals new options, with higher-tier rooms offering more complex puzzles and valuable rewards. The mansion resets daily, erasing collected items but preserving knowledge and permanent upgrades. Players maintain resources including steps, keys, and gems while solving standalone and interconnected puzzles to progress deeper.
Blue Prince story and setting
Players assume the role of Simon P. Jones, who inherits Mt. Holly Estate from his deceased great-uncle Herbert S. Sinclair. To secure his inheritance, Simon must locate the elusive Room 46 in a mansion with only 45 rooms. As exploration deepens, additional mysteries unfold, including the disappearance of children's author Marion Marigold and political intrigue involving the realm of Fenn Aries.
Blue Prince visuals and design
The game showcases a distinctive cel-shaded art style with a "bold, stylized sketchy world of imperfect lines and floorplan sketches". This hand-drawn esthetic creates an immersive atmosphere, resembling illustrations from a graphic novel. The mansion itself features a facade of "layered symphony of disparate architectural styles", reflecting how it evolved over generations.
Blue Prince platform availability
Released on April 10, 2025, Blue Prince is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game received "critical acclaim" on PC and Xbox versions according to Metacritic, while the PlayStation 5 version earned "generally favorable" reviews. Additionally, it's included in both PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
RGG Studio serves up swashbuckling mayhem in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, where series favorite Goro Majima transforms from feared yakuza to high-seas adventurer.
Pirate Yakuza gameplay overview
The game delivers exhilarating real-time combat with two distinct fighting styles. Players can dynamically switch between "Mad Dog" style, utilizing speed and precision, and the dual-wielding "Sea Dog" style that employs short swords and pirate tools. Naval combat offers an innovative twist, allowing players to maneuver ships, fire cannons, and board enemy vessels in all-out crew battles. The progression system includes upgrading your ship, recruiting crew members with unique abilities, and collecting stat-boosting rings that physically appear on Majima's fingers.
Pirate Yakuza story and setting
After washing ashore with amnesia, Goro Majima reinvents himself as a pirate captain. Alongside a boy named Noah who saved his life, he embarks on a treasure hunt while searching for his lost memories. The adventure spans across Hawaii, featuring locations from Honolulu to the fictional ship graveyard casino district called Madlantis. Modern-day pirates, cutthroat criminals, and the yakuza all clash over a legendary Spanish shipwreck treasure.
Pirate Yakuza visuals and design
The game features a stylized visual approach that resembles an arcade shooter, complementing its over-the-top gameplay. While not hyper-realistic, this art direction enhances the chaotic energy. Some players may notice lighting issues, particularly during daytime scenes, which can be fixed by switching from HDR to SDR.
Pirate Yakuza platform availability
Released on February 20, 2025, the game is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam exclusively. The game requires 56 GB of storage space and supports various upscaling technologies including DLSS, FSR, and XeSS. Additionally, it features full ultrawide monitor support for PC players.
Avowed
Obsidian Entertainment's RPG mastery comes to life in Avowed, a fantasy adventure set in the world of Eora that balances action-packed combat with meaningful player choice.
Avowed gameplay overview
As an action RPG playable in both first and third-person perspectives, Avowed offers remarkable combat flexibility. Players can freely mix and match weapons including swords, shields, pistols, and magical grimoires. Instead of restricting players to traditional class builds, the game allows instant switching between combat setups—from dual-wielding pistols to wielding two-handed axes. Moreover, the environment plays a crucial role in combat strategy, with opportunities for stealth through tall grass or creative use of explosives.
Avowed story and setting
Set in the Living Lands region of Eora (the same universe as Pillars of Eternity), players assume the role of an envoy from the Aedyr Empire investigating a mysterious plague called the "Dream Scourge". After arriving in the port city of Paradis, players are murdered and mysteriously revived by a deity, launching a quest that explores colonial tensions between the Empire, rebels, and the militant Steel Garrote order. The narrative branches based on player choices, affecting both storyline and companion relationships.
Avowed visuals and design
Avowed effectively leverages Unreal Engine 5, earning praise as "one of the best showcases of a modern Unreal Engine 5 title". Unlike many open-world games, Avowed features several large, explorable zones rather than one continuous world. This design choice has apparently paid off with solid performance across 30fps and 40fps modes on both Xbox Series X and Series S. The Living Lands environment includes diverse landscapes from lush forests and arid deserts to sprawling caves.
Avowed platform availability
Released on February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S and PC (via Windows, Steam, and Battle.net), Avowed is available day one with Xbox Game Pass. A Premium Edition offered five days early access beginning February 13 and included two skin packs plus a digital artbook and soundtrack. The game requires an SSD with 75GB storage space and supports various accessibility features including fully remappable controls and subtitle customization.
Astro Bot
Team Asobi creates pure gaming joy with Astro Bot, a PlayStation 5 platformer that celebrates the medium's history while showcasing cutting-edge controller technology.
Astro Bot gameplay overview
The game delivers precise platforming mechanics with tightened controls that make every jump, punch, and hover feel responsive. Consequently, the difficulty ramps up organically as players progress through nearly 80 unique levels. What truly distinguishes Astro Bot is its masterful implementation of the DualSense controller—haptic feedback makes every footstep, raindrop, and interaction tactilely perceivable.
Astro Bot story and setting
Following an alien attack that destroys their PS5-shaped mothership, Astro embarks on a mission to rescue 300 scattered crew members and rebuild the vessel. Throughout this adventure, players explore over 50 planets across six galaxies, encountering themed worlds based on iconic PlayStation franchises.
Astro Bot visuals and design
Notably, the game runs at a consistent 60fps with dynamic resolution scaling between 1440p and 2160p. Physics-driven elements like deformable snow, destructible environments, and fluid simulations create an immersive world.
Astro Bot platform availability
Released exclusively for PlayStation 5, Astro Bot is now available in console bundles alongside the standard PS5. The game comes pre-installed on all PS5 consoles.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
MachineGames brings the iconic archeologist to life in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, balancing authentic exploration with thrilling action in a globetrotting adventure worthy of the fedora-wearing hero.
Indiana Jones gameplay overview
Primarily a first-person experience with occasional third-person segments during traversal sequences, the game puts players directly in Indy's shoes. Combat offers multiple approaches—players can stealthily avoid enemies, use disguises to infiltrate restricted areas, or engage directly with makeshift weapons and Indy's signature whip. Essentially, the whip functions as both weapon and traversal tool, allowing players to disarm enemies, create distractions, and swing across obstacles. The game cleverly balances linear story-driven segments with larger open areas for exploration.
Indiana Jones story and setting
Set in 1937 between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the narrative follows Indy investigating the theft of an artifact by a mysterious colossal man. Subsequently, he uncovers ancient sites forming a perfect circle around the globe—the Great Circle. The journey spans multiple locations including Marshall College, Vatican City, Egyptian pyramids, Sukhothai temples, and the Himalayas. Throughout this expedition, Indy faces opposition from Nazis and encounters both familiar faces and new allies.
Indiana Jones visuals and design
The game features immersive environments with historical accuracy, allowing players to explore 1930s versions of iconic locations. Puzzles range from straightforward main-story challenges to more complex optional brain-teasers requiring Indy's journal, camera, and other tools. MachineGames created nearly four hours of cinematic cutscenes, approximately equivalent to two Indiana Jones films.
Indiana Jones platform availability
Released December 9, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Game Pass inclusion, with a PlayStation 5 version arriving in Spring 2025. The Premium Edition offered three days early access starting December 6, plus additional content including The Order of Giants story DLC.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
GSC Game World's post-apocalyptic masterpiece Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl immerses players in a haunting world where survival hinges on understanding the deadly rules of The Zone.
Stalker 2 gameplay overview
Players navigate through the treacherous Exclusion Zone while managing critical survival metrics including hunger, sleep, and physical health. The game demands strategic resource management with limited inventory space and equipment maintenance—weapons wear down over time, requiring regular repairs. In contrast to power fantasies, Stalker 2 offers an "anti-power" experience where careful planning precedes every excursion. The game features 35 unique customizable weapons with various attachments like scopes, stocks, and lasers. Additionally, anomalies—dangerous spatial distortions—populate the landscape, simultaneously threatening players and housing valuable artifacts that grant special abilities.
Stalker 2 story and setting
Set in a fictional version of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone following a second catastrophic event, players assume the role of Skif, a stalker who assists scientists early in the narrative. The sprawling open world spans 60 square kilometers—nearly comparable to GTA V's San Andreas. Throughout the journey, player choices influence the storyline, leading to four possible endings. A-Life 2.0, the game's AI system, creates dynamic faction interactions and creature behaviors that evolve independently of player actions.
Stalker 2 visuals and design
Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game showcases handcrafted environments ranging from abandoned structures to radioactive swamps. Each location tells its own story through environmental details. Although visually impressive, the graphics were somewhat toned down from initial trailers for performance reasons. Nevertheless, modders have already created enhancements that improve lighting, shadows, and vegetation draw distance.
Stalker 2 platform availability
Released on November 20, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, the game is included with Xbox Game Pass. A PlayStation 5 version is scheduled for Q4 2025. The delayed release followed development challenges including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which forced the Ukrainian development team to relocate to Prague. A multiplayer mode will be added as a free post-launch update.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Studio Zero crafts a politically charged fantasy adventure in Metaphor: ReFantazio, blending social commentary with traditional JRPG elements.
Metaphor gameplay overview
Initially appearing similar to Persona, the game features turn-based battles with real-time action elements including attacking, dodging, and dashing. The "Archetype" system functions as a versatile job mechanic, allowing characters to transform into heroic figures with unique abilities. Players can inherit skills across multiple archetypes and perform powerful synthesis skills when compatible types are present. Yet equally important is the time management system—players must balance dungeon exploration, bounty hunting, and relationship building within a structured calendar.
Metaphor story and setting
Set in the United Kingdom of Euchronia after the king's assassination, a magical election begins to determine the next ruler. Players control a discriminated-against Elda tribesman seeking to lift a curse on his childhood friend, the prince. Throughout this journey, players encounter various tribes including horned Clemars, pointed-eared Roussaintes, and jewel-eyed Nidias, examining themes of racism and inequality.
Metaphor visuals and design
The game showcases a distinctive watercolor esthetic with translucent brush strokes. Monster designs draw heavy inspiration from 16th-century Dutch painter Hieronymous Bosch's surrealist works, especially "The Garden of Earthly Delights". Primarily, the UI features bombastic gothic-inspired elements that enhance the fantasy atmosphere.
Metaphor platform availability
Released October 11, 2024, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game requires 93GB storage space with minimum specs including an Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD FX-6300 processor.
Still Wakes the Deep
The Chinese Room delivers atmospheric terror with Still Wakes the Deep, a first-person horror experience that trades combat for pure survival amid cosmic horrors on a sinking oil platform.
Still Wakes the Deep gameplay overview
Unlike many horror titles, Still Wakes the Deep offers no combat options whatsoever—players must rely on stealth, distraction, and frantic escape to survive. Gameplay primarily consists of walking, solving light environmental puzzles, and managing terrifying encounters with transformed crew members. Yellow markings guide players through the otherwise confusing layout, specifically during intense chase sequences where orientation becomes difficult. The game can be experienced in Story Mode for those who find stealth-action sequences too stressful.
Still Wakes the Deep story and setting
Set in December 1975 on the Beira D oil rig in the North Sea, players control Cameron "Caz" McLeary, a Scottish electrician hiding from police after an assault charge. After drilling disturbs something ancient beneath the ocean floor, the rig transforms into a nightmare of twisted metal and monstrous entities. Throughout this roughly six-hour journey, Caz desperately searches for survivors while seeking escape from the collapsing structure.
Still Wakes the Deep visuals and design
Built in Unreal Engine 5, the game excels through exceptional audio design that creates genuine terror. The monsters—former colleagues transformed into contorted masses of flesh—remain partially obscured, enhancing their horrific impact. Water serves as both environment and enemy, with the developers creating a 2D shallow water simulation that generates waves and ripples.
Still Wakes the Deep platform availability
Released June 18, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC. The game was developed by The Chinese Room, creators of Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs and Dear Esther.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Intelligent Systems revives a beloved classic with Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, bringing the GameCube RPG masterpiece to modern audiences with enhanced features.
Paper Mario gameplay overview
Combat unfolds on a theatrical stage where audience reactions directly impact gameplay—helpful items appear when Mario performs well, meanwhile poor performance causes spectators to leave or even damage him. The innovative turn-based system employs timing-based "action commands" that increase attack effectiveness. Players customize abilities through collectable badges that modify stats and provide new moves.
Paper Mario story and setting
The adventure primarily takes place in and around Rogueport, where Mario discovers a locked portal supposedly leading to an ancient kingdom's treasures. After Princess Peach's kidnapping by the mysterious X-Nauts, Mario must collect seven Crystal Stars to find both the treasure and the princess. Throughout his journey, Mario acquires "curses" that actually grant helpful abilities like transforming into a paper airplane or boat.
Paper Mario visuals and design
The remake maintains the charming arts and crafts visual style established in previous entries yet offers remastered HD graphics. Indeed, the distinct paper-thin character designs create a uniquely appealing esthetic.
Paper Mario platform availability
Originally released in 2004, the remake launched exclusively for Nintendo Switch on May 23, 2024, featuring enhanced quick-travel options and a Partner Ring for faster character swapping.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
FromSoftware expands its groundbreaking fantasy RPG with Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, taking players into a mysterious realm where darkness prevails and new challenges await.
Elden Ring gameplay overview
Shadow of the Erdtree introduces the crucial Scadutree Fragment system—collectible items that boost player stats exclusively within the Land of Shadow. To even access this realm, players must first defeat two major bosses: Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. Combat options expand dramatically with over 100 new weapons, including innovative types such as light greatswords, thrusting shields, and perfume bottles. In response to player feedback about the extreme difficulty, a calibration update was implemented to increase attack power and damage negation for early blessing enhancements.
Elden Ring story and setting
The narrative unfolds in the Land of Shadow, a twisted realm obscured by the Erdtree where the goddess Marika first set foot. Players follow Miquella, who left his flesh behind to seek what he called a "Promised Lord". Throughout the journey, players encounter Miquella's unusually content followers at Three-Path Crosses, representing his footprints. The story culminates in a shocking final confrontation with both Radahn and Miquella.
Elden Ring visuals and design
Visual highlights include enhanced lighting effects, ray tracing technology, and detailed environments ranging from grassy plains to massive castle settlements. Performance occasionally dips in visually complex areas, sometimes dropping to 30-40 fps even on high-end systems.
Elden Ring platform availability
Released on June 21, 2024, the expansion is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The modest 16GB file size requires the base game, bringing total installation to approximately 60GB.
Hades
Supergiant Games delivers gaming perfection with Hades, a roguelike masterpiece that earned "Game of the Year" from more than 50 publications.
Hades gameplay overview
As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, players control Zagreus in his attempts to escape his father's domain. Each death returns you to the House of Hades, where permanent upgrades purchased with "Darkness" resources increase your chances on subsequent runs. Combat features six distinct weapons with unique playstyles—from the Stygian Blade to the Twin Fists—further enhanced by randomized power-ups called Boons granted by various Greek gods.
Hades story and setting
Based on Greek mythology, the narrative unfolds through thousands of unique, fully-voiced character interactions that develop as you repeatedly attempt escape. Not only does the game feature major Olympians like Zeus and Athena, but also lesser-known figures such as Nyx and Thanatos. In fact, the family drama surrounding Zagreus' attempts to flee creates a captivating storyline that deepens with each run.
Hades visuals and design
Art director Jen Zee created a striking pen-and-ink visual style inspired by comic artist Mike Mignola. Character designs showcase diverse ethnic representations reflecting the cosmopolitan Greek empire.
Hades platform availability
First released in 2020, Hades is now available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Switch, and iOS through Netflix Games.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
CD Projekt Red's spy-thriller expansion Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty transforms the original game with substantial new content and system overhauls, providing one of 2025's most compelling single-player experiences.
Cyberpunk gameplay overview
The expansion introduces a versatile Relic skill tree with powerful new abilities accessible through story progression or hidden data terminals. Vehicle combat adds a fresh dimension as players can fire weapons while driving and utilize vehicles equipped with mounted weaponry. Furthermore, endless dynamic events including vehicle missions and airdrops offer continual engagement beyond the main storyline.
Cyberpunk story and setting
Players return as V, now working as a government secret agent tasked with rescuing President Rosalind Myers of the New United States of America. The narrative unfolds in Dogtown, a lawless district ruled by trigger-happy militia. Idris Elba joins the cast as Solomon Reed, a Federal Intelligence Agency operative who becomes a key ally.
Cyberpunk visuals and design
Arriving alongside the 2.0 update, Phantom Liberty showcases enhanced graphics with ray tracing technology that creates stunning global illumination. Accordingly, the expansion introduces 100+ new items including weapons, cyberware, and vehicles.
Cyberpunk platform availability
Released September 26, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC at $30, with Nintendo Switch 2 and macOS versions arriving in 2025.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Square Enix's reimagined classic Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth stands as the ambitious second chapter in a trilogy that both honors and reinvents the beloved RPG.
FF7 Rebirth gameplay overview
The game features a sophisticated real-time battle system blending action with strategic elements. Players build ATB (Active Time Battle) gages through normal attacks, then expend charges to use abilities, items, and spells. At the core of combat lies the innovative synergy system—team-up attacks involving two party members that don't cost ATB charges yet increase it for both characters involved. This mechanic encourages frequent character switching for optimal strategy. Players can choose between Active combat for full control or Classic mode where AI handles basic actions.
FF7 Rebirth story and setting
Following their escape from Midgar, Cloud and his companions venture across a vast world in pursuit of the fallen hero Sephiroth. The narrative unfolds across multiple unique regions, ultimately leading to the Forgotten Capital from the original game. Throughout this standalone adventure, player choices influence character relationships via a hidden affinity system.
FF7 Rebirth visuals and design
Built specifically for PS5, the game showcases impressive graphical fidelity with optional "sharp" and "soft" visual filters in Performance Mode. Post-launch patches have improved frame rates and lighting effects, particularly on character faces.
FF7 Rebirth platform availability
Initially released exclusively for PlayStation 5 in February 2024, the game arrived on PC via Steam and Epic Games in January 2025.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian Studios resurrects a legendary RPG franchise with Baldur's Gate 3, a masterpiece that swept gaming awards and redefined what players expect from modern role-playing games.
Baldur's Gate 3 gameplay overview
Drawing directly from Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition ruleset, the game features turn-based combat where dice rolls determine success of actions. Players can control a party of up to four characters, either pre-made companions or custom-created heroes, each with distinct abilities and backstories. The gameplay encourages experimentation through multiple approaches to quests—diplomatic solutions, stealthy infiltrations, or direct combat.
Baldur's Gate 3 story and setting
Set approximately 100 years after previous entries, the narrative begins with characters infected by mind flayer parasites. The sprawling adventure unfolds across iconic Forgotten Realms locations including Baldur's Gate city itself. Player choices profoundly impact the storyline, leading to remarkably different outcomes across multiple playthroughs.
Baldur's Gate 3 visuals and design
Built on a custom engine, the game presents stunningly detailed environments from lush forests to decrepit dungeons. Character models feature expressive facial animations during dialog sequences, enhancing emotional storytelling.
Baldur's Gate 3 platform availability
Initially released for PC in August 2023, the game subsequently launched on PlayStation 5 and eventually Xbox Series X|S after overcoming technical limitations. Mac users received access in 2024.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo expands the boundaries of open-world adventure with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, a remarkable follow-up that builds upon its predecessor's foundation while reaching new heights.
Zelda gameplay overview
Tears of the Kingdom retains the open-world exploration of Breath of the Wild yet introduces five innovative abilities that fundamentally transform gameplay. Ultrahand allows players to move objects and build vehicles, whereas Fuse combines materials with weapons or shields to create powerful new tools. Moreover, Ascend enables vertical movement through solid surfaces, Recall rewinds object movements, and Autobuild instantly recreates previously crafted devices. The game's world spans three distinct layers - sky islands floating above Hyrule, the familiar surface world, and the mysterious underground Depths.
Zelda story and setting
Set years after Breath of the Wild, the narrative follows Link investigating a mysterious substance called "gloom" seeping from beneath Hyrule Castle. After discovering murals depicting an ancient conflict known as the Imprisoning War, Link encounters Ganondorf, who destroys the Master Sword and damages Link's arm. Throughout this journey, Link reunites with allies including Sidon, Tulin, Yunobo, and Riju, appointed as successors to ancient sages.
Zelda visuals and design
The game utilizes a stylized cell-shaded art direction that prioritizes artistic expression over technical spectacle. Despite hardware limitations, it features improved lighting effects, volumetric fog, and enhanced water reflections. Dynamic light sources now cast proper shadows across environments, whereas cloud rendering has seen substantial improvements.
Zelda platform availability
Originally released exclusively for Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023, an enhanced Nintendo Switch 2 edition now offers improved resolution, framerate, and HDR support. This version features smoother framerates, faster load times, and enhanced textures.
Conclusion
Single player games certainly continue to thrive in 2025, offering experiences that multiplayer titles simply cannot match. From the cosmic horror of Still Wakes the Deep to the swashbuckling adventures in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, developers clearly remain committed to crafting meaningful solo journeys. These seventeen titles showcase remarkable diversity across genres - whether you prefer the challenging combat of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree or the creative puzzles of Blue Prince.
Accordingly, technological advancement stands at the forefront of many releases. Games like Death Stranding 2 push the boundaries with enhanced traversal mechanics, while Stalker 2 creates a dynamic world through its A-Life 2.0 AI system. Nevertheless, technology serves storytelling rather than overshadowing it, as evidenced by the narrative depth found in titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Accessibility across platforms has likewise improved, with many games available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and sometimes Nintendo Switch. Though some titles remain exclusive to certain platforms, the overall trend points toward wider availability.
Undoubtedly, the passion developers pour into these experiences demonstrates why single player games remain essential. Each title on this list offers something unique - whether through innovative gameplay mechanics, captivating narratives, or stunning visual design. These games provide personal journeys that allow players to immerse themselves fully without the pressures or distractions of multiplayer environments.
Therefore, as you plan your gaming calendar for 2025, consider which of these remarkable single player adventures might speak to your interests. Whether exploring the Land of Shadow in Elden Ring or building fantastic contraptions in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, unforgettable solo experiences await.