‘Close to perfect': readers' favourite games of 2025 so far
Its real joy is the flexibility to spend your time doing whatever tickles your fancy. I'll spend a few hours growing crops to make a cake or smelting metals for better armour, then knock off a few quests to unlock new materials and weapons. But mainly my goal is to complete the ludicrously large plans I have for a castle or village perched on top of a mountain. Most of all, though, the visuals are glorious. From the deep forests, to the deserts to snow-capped mountains, just a feast for the eyes. When the sun sets and the light hits the shroud just right it's one of the most stunning things I've seen in gaming. Paul, Southend
There are no other games like the Stalker series. Stalker 2 is utterly immersive, a survival epic with a riveting backdrop loosely based on the Stalker film (another riveting experience) and the Chornobyl incident. This is a complete rebuild in a modern game engine of the first Stalker game, with updated graphics and interactivity, but the same familiar places. There's a new story too. Not only does it have the same feel as the original Stalker, it also has many familiar bugs. I've been playing computer games since Labyrinth in 1978 and Stalker is the most charismatic of them all. Purchasing it also gives a small boost to the Ukrainian game studio. James, Spain
This is my highlight from 2025 so far. I love the art style and music. But it is the three-dimensional characters who make it my favourite. They pull you into the story; I really felt an emotional connection to them, although you get to spend more time with some than others. They left me wanting to know more. I can't wait to see what Space Colony Studios does next. Miranda, Cardiff
Stray comes a close second, and Atomfall was a lot of fun, but Indiana Jones was about as close to perfect as I could ask for. Not too long – with two kids and a busy job, I don't have time for sprawling open-world RPGs any more, but there was enough of an open-world flavour to keep me satisfied. The missions were fun, and very Indiana Jones in terms of style and problem solving. Having the boulder scene from Raiders as the prologue was a touch of genius. And let's be honest, with the excellent sound effects, you could never tire of punching Nazis. Rob, Edinburgh
I have been enjoying Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. It is a great mix of open-world exploration, with so much to do and often the game encourages you to explore different lives to get better equipment for exploration. Coupled with a charming art style and a great multiplayer community, I can see myself only further extending my 80 hours in the game. Jonathan, Edenbridge, Kent
I loved the remastered Oblivion, it's rare that a less-than-beautiful game from your childhood gets re-released as a beautiful remaster. The gameplay holds up, and all of the quirks that made me love the original game remain. During these quite difficult political times it's nice to escape into a Lord of the Rings-esque world full of dungeons and lighthearted characters. Even the sequel to Oblivion, Skyrim, feels slightly too serious for these serious times. The biggest reason it was my favourite wasn't because of the gameplay or even the gorgeous new graphics. I got my partner Emily into gaming a few years back – watching her discover the world of Oblivion brought me back to when I first played it, and I enjoyed watching her discover the fantasy world more than I enjoyed it myself. Jack, Bath
I loved Avowed. It came out of nowhere for me, I hadn't seen any of the publicity leading up to it, but it was just so brilliant to play a mid-sized RPG. Much as I love the enormous sandbox genre, it feels like so many games now want to be the next Skyrim. Avowed took the opposite route, it set you on rails and it focused on the systems it wanted to do really well rather than trying to do everything. The combat, the exploration and the writing were all top-notch. Isobel, London
This one is easy for me. It's all about story, story, story. I have a rule about buying games these days: I wait one month before I consider the purchase. I let everyone else play test the game then make a decision. With all its quirks, KCD2's story overrides any small bugs or oddities you may experience. I didn't experience any issues, I was immersed in the story of my Henry and being lost in a world where all my emotional buttons were being pushed. With all that going on, moving through the story was exciting and more so when the big quests finished or act changes occurred. It's a game that kept revealing itself right up to the last point where you are on a hill talking to your departed parents. It is here that you now realise that you were truly playing and guiding the story of Henry. The choices you made mattered. It's not until after playing that you can ultimately decide if it was all worth it, good or bad. One of the best RPG video games I have ever played. Andrew, Australia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
26 minutes ago
- Times
Properly posh prom dresses your teen will love
For a teenager, what to wear to prom can feel like one of the most defining choices of the year — often unhelpfully coming just as exams have drained their mental energy. Sure, GCSEs and A-Levels are important, but it's hard to underplay the sheer joy of swanning out onto the dance floor in the perfect dress. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue In the past, the aim was to channel princess vibes in layers of tulle, ballerina-style skirts and sickly pink colours. However, intel from the teenage daughters of our trusted editors reveals things are a lot more slinky in 2025. Those winning the title of Best Dressed at any event this summer are likely to be wearing 1990s-inspired bias-cut slip dresses undoubtedly influenced by the Olsen twins' The Row and the quiet luxury trend. For mothers who cherish tradition, however, the Regency revival continues thanks to the influence of Bridgerton. Elegant gowns, sequin embellishments and voluminous ruffles courtesy of Zimmermann, Carolina Herrera and Emilia Wickstead will never look out of place at prom. Make no mistake, the pressure on prom is perpetual but to make things easier we've rounded up the best luxury prom dresses below — guaranteed to please even the most discerning of teens. Blame the Olsen twins and their quiet luxury brand The Row, but Gen Z are far more likely to be found in a bias-cut satin gown than a princess skirt this prom season. Luckily Galvan is the king of the minimalist silhouette. The brand's Sienna style is defined by a full length hemline, elegant high neckline and sophisticated scarf detail to the back, and available in light blue, burnt orange and bronze satin. £1,495, Galvan at Net-a-Porter Another bias cut beauty, Australian designer Rebecca Vallance's electric blue slip dress features an elegant cowl neck but is still school soirée appropriate thanks to the delicate lace underlay which acts like a little camisole beneath. £770, Rebecca Vallance at Net-a-Porter Norma Kamali's red satin gown turns to reveal a delicately draped, low cowl back. While it looks fiddly, a near invisible strap sits along the very top of the back keeping everything in place. The fishtail hemline adds beautiful movement too. £445, Norma Kamali at Net-a-Porter Although a less is more approach seems to be popular with teens of late, if you're going to wear a pearl-adorned dress at any time in your life it should really be to prom. Inspired by the La Peregrina pearl, worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Rebecca Vallance's gown features a studded halterneck bodice, fitted waist and full length skirt. £1,170, Rebecca Vallance at Harrods A black prom dress is a timeless choice – one your teen is unlikely to regret when they look back on photographs decades later. The perfect combination of cool and classic, this Giambattista Valli romantic dress is crafted from a weighty cotton poplin and has a tulle skirt underlay to create a flared shape. The floral-appliques all around the neckline and corset-style bodice are a pretty touch too. £1,914, Giambattista Valli at Mytheresa The epitome of prom, this Carolina Herrera strapless gown is perfect for those with a penchant for princess silhouettes. It has been carefully crafted using twenty layers of striking red tulle and features subtle crystal embellishments across the bodice. The drop waist and cropped hem keep things feeling modern. £3,969, Carolina Herrera at Mytheresa Costarellos knows how to make tulle cool. The Athens-based brand takes inspiration from ancient Greek mythology and culture to create its unique evening wear. Crafted from alternating tiers of French tulle and Chantilly lace, this Trissa style was made to be worn to a ball. £1,704, Costarellos at Mytheresa Royal-approved brand Emilia Wickstead's Abella embellished dress demonstrates the contemporary appeal of sequins in 2025. In the place of the standard sparkly stuff there's clever constructed floral appliques in clusters framing the neckline. Crafted from bonded satin this structured prom dress has a classic fit and flare shape that alludes to vintage 1950s styles while feeling distinctly modern £2,400, Emilia Wickstead at Mytheresa Featuring a corseted, shirred bodice and pretty flower petal details on the adjustable, tie-bow straps, Zimmermann's lilac dress is perfect for the hotter, summer months. While some prom dresses cut from satin tend to cling in the heat, this lightweight silk linen organza is both structured and flowing. £1,120, Zimmermann at Mytheresa This Valentino Garavani prom dress — which has been cut using a weighty silk gazar to emphasize its beautiful structure — looks like it's been taken straight from a scene in Bridgerton. Opt for a sleek updo to showcase the ruffled one-shoulder neckline. £2,402, Valentino Garavani at The Outnet The Times Luxury is brought to you by the award-winning team behind the Times Luxx magazine. For nearly 20 years the Times Luxx experts have been curating an unrivalled selection of the best in fashion, jewellery, travel, tech, cars, design, food, drink and more. The same rigour and insider industry knowledge underpins The Times Luxury. All the products and experiences recommended are thoroughly researched and vetted by our team. If we love it, we know you will too.
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Oasis reunion: A high-five and a hug - the gestures were there, but ultimately it was all about the music
Oasis have reunited on stage for the first time in almost 16 years - with brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher sharing a high five and the briefest of hugs as they closed a performance that for fans was more than worth the wait. After the split in 2009, for many years Noel said he would never go back - and for a long time, as the brothers exchanged insults through separate interviews (and on social media, for Liam), it seemed pretty unlikely to ever happen. But now, here they are. As they walked out on stage at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, all eyes were on the Gallaghers for a sense of their relationship - dare we say it, friendship? - now after all these years. There was no reference to their fall-out or making up, but the gestures were there - lifting hands together as they walked out for the first time. Headlines and tweets of speculation and then confirmation of the reunion filled the screens as the show started. "This is happening," said one, repeatedly. In the end, it was all about the music. Liam has received criticism in the past for his voice not being what it once was, but back on stage with his brother tonight he delivered exactly what fans would have hoped for - a raw, steely-eyed performance, snarling vocals, and the swagger that makes him arguably the greatest frontman of his day. This was Oasis sounding almost as good as they ever have. 2:56 They opened with Hello, because of course, "it's good to be back". And then Acquiesce, and those lyrics: "Because we need each other/ We believe in one another." The song is said to be about friendship in the wider sense, rather than their brotherly bond and sibling rivalry, but you can't help but feel like it means something here. Over two hours, they played favourite after favourite - including Morning Glory, Some Might Say, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Supersonic and Roll With It. In the mid-section, Liam takes his break for Noel to sing Talk Tonight, Half The World Away and Little By Little; the tempo slows but there is by no means a lull, with the fans singing all his words back to him. Liam returns for hits including Stand By Me, Slide Away, Whatever and Live Forever, before sending the crowd wild (or even wilder) with Rock And Roll Star. When the reunion announcement was made last summer, it quickly became overshadowed by the controversy of dynamic pricing causing prices to rocket. As he has done on X before, Liam addressed the issue on stage with a joke. "Was it worth the £4,000 you paid for the ticket?" he shouted at one point. "Yeah," the crowd shouts back; seemingly all is forgiven. After Rock And Roll Star, the dream that very quickly became a reality for this band, Noel introduced the rest of the group, calling Bonehead a "legend". Then he acknowledges all their young fans, some who maybe weren't even born when they split. "This one is for all the people in their 20s who've never seen us before, who've kept this shit going," he says before the encore starts with The Masterplan. Noel follows with Don't Look Back In Anger, and the screens fill with Manchester bees in reference to the arena bombing and how the song became the sound of hope and defiance for the city afterwards. 1:31 During Wonderwall, there's a nice touch as Liam sings to the crowd: "There are many things I would like to say to you, but I don't speak Welsh." It is at the end of Champagne Supernova, which closes the set, that it happens; Noel puts down his guitar, and they come together for a high-five and a back-slap, a blink-and-you'd miss it hug. 0:26 "Right then, beautiful people, this is it," Liam had told the crowd as he introduced the song just a few minutes earlier. "Nice one for putting up with us over the years." From the roar of the audience, it's safe to say most people here would agree it's been worth it.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Oasis review – a shameless trip back to the 90s for Britpop's loudest, greatest songs
The noise from the audience when Oasis arrive on stage for their first reunion gig is deafening. You might have expected a loud response. This is, after all, a crowd so partisan that, in between the support acts, they cheer the promotional videos – the tour's accompanying brand deals seem to involve not just the obviously Oasis-adjacent sportswear brand Adidas, but the more imponderable Land Rover Defender. Even so, the noise the fans make as the reconstituted Oasis launch into Hello takes you aback slightly, and not just because Hello is a fairly bold choice of opener: this is, after all, a song that borrows heavily from Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again by Gary Glitter. But no one in Cardiff's Principality Stadium seems to care about the song's genesis: the noise is such that you struggle to think of another artist that's received such a vociferous reception. So, the success of the show seems more or less like a foregone conclusion. Anyone who saw them in the 00s will tell you that the old Oasis were a hugely variable proposition live: you never knew what mood Liam Gallagher would show up in, or how the current state of familial relations might affect their performance. But evidently as little as possible has been left to chance at these reunion gigs. No one – including, to their immense credit, Liam and Noel Gallagher – seems interested in pretending this tour is anything other than a hugely lucrative cash-grab, and clearly, you only grab the maximum possible cash if the tour doesn't descend into the kind of bedlam to which Oasis tours were once prone. Liam is on his best behaviour – 'thanks for putting up with us,' he offers at one juncture, 'I know we're hard work', a noticeable shift from the days when he was wont to rain abuse on the audience – and Liam and Noel have rhythm guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs stood squarely between them on stage, creating distance. You could say that removes combustibility, the hint of potential chaos that was at least part of Oasis's appeal, but you might as well save your breath: no one would be able to hear you over the sound of people singing along en masse to a set that plays to the strengths of Oasis's back catalogue. Few bands' reputations have been better served by the rise of streaming, both in its favouring of curated playlists over albums – all the highlights and none of the rubbish, of which there was a great deal in Oasis's later years – and in the way it decontextualises music, denuding it of its accompanying story or contemporary critical responses. The much-vaunted Oasis fans too young to remember the band first-hand definitely exist – you can see them in the audience – but you do wonder how many of them believe Oasis split up in 1998, rather than grimly trudging on for another decade, to declining artistic returns. The show seeks to maintain this myth. It's very much playlist Oasis, big on the first two albums and B-sides from the years when Noel Gallagher's songwriting talent seemed so abundant he could afford to blithely confine stuff as good as Acquiesce or The Masterplan to an extra track on a CD single, and low on anything at all from their later years. Only the presence of 2002's Little By Little indicates that Oasis existed into the 21st century. You can still sense inspiration declining – 1997's D'You Know What I Mean? sounds like a trudge regardless of how many people are singing along – but far more often, the show serves as a reminder of how fantastic purple patch Oasis were. Against a ferocious wall of distorted guitars, there's a weird disconnect between the tone of Noel's songs – wistful, noticeably melancholy – and the way Liam sings them like a man seething with frustration, on the verge of offering someone a fight. Even discounting half their career, they have classics in abundance: Cigarettes & Alcohol, Slide Away, Rock 'n' Roll Star, Morning Glory. Enough, in fact, that a section where Liam cedes the stage and Noel takes over vocals doesn't occasion a dip in the audience's enthusiasm: during Half the World Away, the audience's vocals threaten to drown the song's author out entirely. It ends with precisely the encore you might have expected – Don't Look Back in Anger, Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova – which understandably occasions precisely the response you might have expected. A very perfunctory clap on the back – the only time the Gallaghers interact beyond playing the same songs – and Liam vanishes: a car is waiting by the side of the stage to whisk him away before the final notes die away, a triumph in the bag.
