My Top 20 New Old Games of 2025 (20–16)

The corpses of capitalism, a big hole, and some very cool guys and gals doing action hero antics.

I simply did not play all the games I aimed to this year, but the trade off has been more than worthwhile. But as I mentioned in the first entry to my year end lists for 2025, my upcoming living situation should be getting better. On top of that, a setup where my PC doesn’t loom over my bed and a cozy couch to lay upon while playing on the big screen in the living room are going to do me wonders. Those degrees of separation between spaces of work, play, and rest will be invaluable. Even more so, I’ve never been so fired up to get all sorts of stuff done. I know this confidence heading into a new year is not a unique experience, but on a personal note, 2025 was a good year for me. One that has left me primed for a great 2026. With a sense of comfort and support in life I’ve not had in quite some time, I’m hoping that not only means more time to engage with what I love across all art forms, but more writing and videos to be published.

But for now I’m here to blather on about my favorite New Old games of 2025. Games that were released prior to the year 2025 that I’ve not spent meaningful time with before. For the next four days I’ll run down five entries from my top 20 as I reflect upon my year in gaming. You can read the previous day here.

20. A Mortician’s Tale (2017)

A short story about the industry surrounding death from the perspective of a young mortician. Turns out capitalism has no boundaries; truly shocking. What we have here is an effective perspective on death and the unfortunate ways money and corporations have wormed their ways into the pockets of the deceased and grieving. How well intentioned folks genuinely want to make some of the hardest days of our lives a little easier, but are fighting an uphill battle against the interests of those who’d rather squeeze us for all we’re worth.

19. Air Combat 22 (1995)

Sadly, this is not the arcade release, but thankfully it is the Arcade Archive release. Someday I will track down the hefty cockpit reproductions that Air Combat 22 and its predecessor Air Combat are. Seriously, if you have a lead on either I would be immensely grateful.

That said, it’s nice to finally get my hands on one of the titles that led to the Ace series before it made the jump to home consoles. Air Combat 22 is firmly in the cool guy 80’s Top Gun ripoff group. Certainly, the series has carried that forward, but never quite like this. A simple and pure fun first experience that highlights that Namco/Project Aces has long had the juice when it comes to getting those vibes just right.

18. Rogue Flight (2024)

I’m a simple guy. Give me an on rails flight combat shooter in the vein of Star Fox, and I’ll be happy. Rogue Flight melds a 90’s anime influence with a rapid pace and rogue-lite structure into that formula to boot. I’m not sure any of it quite comes together as I or the developers imagined, but it does work effectively in its limited runtime.

That aesthetic, with its pulsating beats and high octane guitar riffs accompanied by a bullet hell sensibility towards flashing lights, gunfire, and explosions is most certainly reason enough for it to warrant more attention then it currently has over on Steam with a meager 200 customer reviews.

17. Donut County (2018)

The inspiration is clear. Who am I to fault such? Afterall, I do love me some Katamari. Instead of rolling up the cosmos in a big ol’ ball though, Donut County has you swallowing a town in a big hole. Katamari is by no means a complex series, but this is even less so. It feels as if phones or handheld consoles such as the Switch were central to the design ethos, where levels could be scrolled across in less than five seconds are key. This is by no means derogatory, as I find its bite size endeavors a pure tonal joy that don’t overstay their welcome.

As for the writing, it’s humor is very west coast millennial cringe. Again, not derogatory…okay maybe a little. Getting past its too online sensibilities doesn’t take much though thanks to the endearing vibes of the OST and poppy, lo-fi polygonal visuals.

16. Vanquish (2010)

There’s a button to light up a cigarette and look like a cool 80’s sci-fi action hero while doing so.

You want more? Fine. This is a nearly non-stop over-the-top action fare by the fine folks at Platinum just prior to their magnum opus of Bayonetta.

More? Okay…

Vanquish often feels like its fighting against the core design ethos of the seventh generation. Make a cover shooter you say? No, we will make a cover shooter where you can constantly slide around on your knees guns blazing while propelled by a rocket powered exo-suit. It’s got tohave a lot of muted grays in the color palette? Okay, but we’re doing constant explosions. Everything explodes all the time. Gruff and serious men have to take the lead? Sure, but what if we cranked up the gruffness dial to 100 for comical effect?