Rock Paper Shotgun has published a new “Selection Box” entry for its Advent Calendar 2025 series, spotlighting editor Jeremy’s personal bonus picks—games he nominated for the site’s seasonal lineup that didn’t all make the final calendar.

### What Jeremy Nominated (and What Didn’t Make It)
In the write-up, Jeremy says his nominations leaned heavily toward games centered on Japanese assassins, suggesting a clear thematic obsession that he hoped would shape the Advent Calendar’s final roster. Some of those assassin-focused games did ultimately land spots in the official Advent Calendar, but others were left on the cutting-room floor.

Notably, Jeremy also put forward a point-and-click thriller that features a “netherworld” packed with torture devices—an evocative hook that sounds like it could appeal to fans of darker adventure games and horror-tinged mysteries. That title, however, didn’t make the final Advent Calendar selection.

### Why These “Bonus Picks” Matter
RPS’s Advent Calendar format is part celebration, part editorial statement: it’s a curated list designed to surface memorable games and personal favorites beyond the usual year-end award circuit. Posts like this Selection Box are a reminder that the final list isn’t just about quality—it’s also shaped by limited slots, balancing genres, and editorial variety.

For players, these kinds of “almost made it” recommendations can be just as valuable as the official picks, especially when they highlight niche themes—like assassin-centric narratives or old-school point-and-click thrillers—that might be overlooked amid bigger releases.

Source: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-selection-box-jeremys-bonus-games-of-the-year-2025 |