The first semester of 2025 was a real burst for the game industry. In an increasingly dynamic and competitive market, simultaneous launches on multiple platforms and cross-play were present.
From cinematic premieres to viral phenomena, what has been seen in recent months was an impressive diversity in genres, styles and audiences. And these titles were not only the most awaited by fans, but also the most played, commented and sold.
It is noteworthy that all the games mentioned were released in the first half of 2025. Therefore, successful hits were left out, such as “Fortnite”, “League of Legends”, “Minecraft”, “Counter-Strike”, among others.
The 10 most played games in the first half of 2025
Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom has reached a new level with Monster Hunter Wilds. The game sold over 8 million copies in just three days, becoming the fastest release in the company’s history.
With complete cross-play, dynamic settings and colossal creatures that interact with the environment in an unprecedented way, the game has won both old and newborn fans. In addition, multiplayer support was one of the pillars for its success on online platforms, beating high peaks of simultaneous players. “Wilds” dictated the rhythm of the great 2025 game releases.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The Ubisoft saga reinvented itself once again. “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, set in feudal Japan, mixed espionage, combat and narrative ambitiously.
It went from 1 million players on the first day and reached 3 million in the first week. In the United Kingdom, it was the largest physical release of 2025 so far. The solo campaign divided between two protagonists, a ninja and a samurai, generated great buzz on social networks and guaranteed the constant presence of the game among the most played from March to June.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
The sequence of the medieval RPG RPG surprised even the most skeptical. “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II” maintained the proposal of the first game, but significantly expanded the open world and the narrative depth.
With 2 million copies sold in two weeks, the game was among the five most played in the first quarter. Attention to historical details, coupled with a more refined combat system, made the title indispensable for more dense and immersive RPG fans.
Mario Kart World
Nintendo kicked the bucket with “Mario Kart World”. Launched to the new Switch 2, the game brought races with up to 24 players, an open world mode with free exploration and new physics mechanics.
The title dominated June in sales and streamings. Even though it was exclusive to a platform, it was one of the most cited names in the 2025 games lists and became a fever between streamers and content creators.
Clair Obscu: Expedition 33
One of the most beautiful and conceptual games of the year. “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” drew attention with his baroque artistic style, dense soundtrack and strategic gameplay.
Available since launch at Game Pass, it quickly gained traction between players and critics. The reviews were mostly positive, and the title was compared to works such as “Nier: Automata” in terms of thematic depth. Easyly entered the semester’s prominent lists.
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Doom: The Dark Ages
The Doom franchise gave a bold turn with “The Dark Ages.” The new game has kept the frantic DNA of ID Software FPS, but added shield/blade system, medieval setting and cinematic cutscenes.
The community embraced the new format and the game was a constant presence in lives and tournaments. Visceral combat and brutal setting have transformed this chapter into one of the most relevant FPS from 2025 so far.
Split Fiction
From the same mind behind “It Takes Two”, “Split Fiction” is a cooperative game that mixes drama, fantasy and asymmetrical mechanics.
It is difficult to find a list of more played or more creative “2025 games” that does not mention this title. The narrative proposal, which requires two players to make decisions that directly impact the world around, was highly praised. Ideal for playing double, “Split Fiction” has constantly appeared on the top 10 platforms such as Steam and Xbox Live.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins
The new “Dynasty Warriors: Origins” was one of the great surprises of the beginning of the year. Focusing on the first part of the novel of the three kingdoms, the game brought the most consistent narrative and mass combat with technical refinement.
He sold 1 million copies until February and managed to please both nostalgic fans and new players. He received positive criticism for reinventing a style that, until recently, seemed worn out.
The Alters
“The Alterns” may not have burst in sales, but won a solid space among the most talked about games and played by demanding niches. The philosophical narrative, which revolves around multiple versions of the protagonist, each with different skills and personalities, caught the attention of expert critics.
No wonder the game was in discussions of semester “sleeper hits”. For those who like more contemplative and brain experiences, “The Alterns” has become an instant cult.
Grow to Garden (no roblox)
The largest phenomenon of all listed here. Grow to Garden, a seemingly simple game inside Roblox, hit 21.9 million simultaneous users in July, a number that exceeds the historical record of “Fortnite.”
With accessible visual appeal, casual gameplay and strong engagement between children and adolescents, the game became a social virus. It has been played among the most played in almost every week since its release. Proof that by 2025 accessible and viral games still dominate the world.