26 November 2025

I’m Glad Grand Theft Auto 6 Didn’t Release This Year, Because 2025 Was An Amazing Year for Games

By newsgame

When Rockstar Games announced that Grand Theft Auto 6 would be delayed until November 2026, fans were understandably disappointed, but very few were surprised. Still, it’s funny to think that at one point, Grand Theft Auto 6 was supposed to release this fall, and likely many gamers would be either waiting for its imminent release or tens of hours deep in their open-world crime adventure. While I can’t wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 like the rest of the population, I’m glad that it didn’t end up releasing this year.

2025 has been a banner year for video games. The sheer variety of excellent experiences available during this year has been incredible. From triple-A titles that take big swings with their narrative and gameplay to games that seem so simple on paper but become incredibly complex the deeper you get, there is no shortage of unique and compelling releases to find.

You could say it all starts with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which made a clean sweep at the Joystick Awards this week. Sandfall Interactive’s RPG is the clear favorite to have a strong showing during awards season, whether it is best of lists from gaming outlets or next month’s The Game Awards. There is something truly special about the experience Clair Obscur offers, and it, like many of the excellent games released this year, has been able to ride the wave of success throughout the year. Would it still be in the conversation right now if Grand Theft Auto 6 were also around? Maybe, but the biggest game release of all time will certainly cast a massive shadow.

Gustave looking right in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

I could list every excellent video game that I played in 2025, and that would still only represent a small fraction of the diversity of titles released. We saw big PlayStation exclusive sequels like Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei release to strong critical and fan reception. Indie sequels like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong proved that their respective developers can evolve each game’s experience in new and inventive ways. Dispatch showed that the spirit of Telltale Games lives on with some incredible performances from the stellar cast. Blue Prince had puzzle fans jotting copious notes like they were conspiracy theorists. And I have been obsessed with Ball x Pit since it came out, a game whose concept seems so simple on the surface but becomes addictive after just one run.

Nintendo launched a brand new console, released in 2025, and two fantastic, but completely different, first-party titles released for it. The Nintendo Switch 2 is arguably the thing that, if there was a video game product to steal everyone’s attention away from other releases, would be the most likely to garner that attention. Even then, games like ARC Raiders, Split Fiction, and Battlefield 6 still found time to shine.

That isn’t to say 2025 is any better than previous years, but I think that this year stands out because it’s harder for people to pick a favorite. Yes, Clair Obscur is poised to clean up at awards shows, but any of the Game of the Year nominees at The Game Awards 2025 feels deserving and wouldn’t be surprising if it did win. I know that Game of the Year nominees should all be deserving, but let’s be honest, some years you feel like if one or two games don’t win, then it’s a crime.

To give a picture of just how stellar 2025 has been, if you only look at games that scored 85 or above on Metacritic, there is a list long enough to keep you occupied until Grand Theft Auto 6 releases in November.

every 2025 game release with an opencritic score of 85 or higher

That list doesn’t take into account excellent DLCs for many of those releases and 2024 releases, games that were re-released or made their way to new platforms in 2025, like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and the Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade Editions. It is an embarrassment of riches and a great problem to have.

I know that many might be thinking that most of these games released before the old fall Grand Theft Auto 6 release date would have found their audience, but I’m not so sure. Think about it this way: Clair Obscur or Doom or Ghost of Yotei or any game on the above list can go on sale for Black Friday and without GTA 6 they have a genuine shot at getting someone’s attention. Many people only buy 1 or 2 games a year, and it’s safe to assume Grand Theft Auto 6 would have been an automatic qualifier.

If you have played more than 10 of the games on the above list, then you are in the minority; you will seek out good games whenever possible. The majority, though, look for that one game that they can sink their teeth into and get maximum value out of. Grand Theft Auto 6 would be all they are focused on.

Perhaps this is merely a plea: play more games. But I think next year we will see Grand Theft Auto 6 dominate the conversation in a way that pushes other worthwhile titles into the periphery. It’s early enough that we don’t need to worry about delays, but there is little doubt that publishers are looking to release before GTA 6 or well after, likely 2027. But even then, if GTA 5 is any indication, Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to be popular for the next few years, not months.

For now, I encourage everyone to check out some of the amazing 2025 games and see the diverse experiences available. Then you can save up the piggy bank for next November.