Rock Paper Shotgun has published a new “Selection Box” entry from writer Callum, rounding up his personal bonus picks from 2025—an alternative slice of a Game of the Year conversation that doesn’t just orbit around the biggest releases.

### A GOTY List That Skews Small—On Purpose
While 2025 still delivered heavyweight, headline-grabbing launches—including a new Silent Hill and a Doom release—Callum says his own end-of-year shortlist ended up dominated by smaller games. Looking back over his Advent Calendar-style votes, he found that many of the titles that stuck with him weren’t the obvious AAA contenders.

### The Steam Algorithm’s Quiet Influence
A big reason for that tilt, he suggests, is discovery. Callum frames Steam’s recommendation machine as a persistent, persuasive voice—one that nudges players toward lesser-known releases they might not otherwise seek out. It’s a familiar dynamic for PC players: storefront curation can heavily shape what becomes a personal “best of” list, especially when indies are releasing at a relentless pace.

Even in years stacked with major franchises, indie games often win out in day-to-day play because they’re easier to sample, quicker to finish, and more willing to take risks. RPS’s “Selection Box” format also gives writers space to celebrate those weird, wonderful side finds that don’t always fit neatly into a top-10 ranking.

### Why This Matters
Lists like this are a reminder that GOTY discourse isn’t just about the biggest marketing beats—it’s also about discovery pipelines. As Steam (and similar platforms) increasingly dictates what players see, the algorithm can be the difference between an indie staying invisible and becoming someone’s defining game of the year.

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