The gaming landscape of 2025 has witnessed a significant shift as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach claims the crown from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the highest-rated title on PlayStation's digital storefront. This development marks a pivotal moment in what's shaping up to be one of the most competitive years in gaming history.

Sandfall Interactive's debut title, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, emerged as an instant classic when it launched in April 2025. The turn-based RPG captivated players with its innovative combat system and narrative depth, quickly amassing critical acclaim and breaking records. Its Metacritic user score of 9.7 from more than 17,200 reviews stands as the highest ever recorded, while its critic score of 93 made it the highest-rated new release of the year - until recently being surpassed by the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (96).

The PlayStation Store rankings tell a different story, where Death Stranding 2 now leads with a 4.93 rating compared to Expedition 33's 4.91. An impressive 97% of users awarded Kojima's latest masterpiece a perfect five-star rating, demonstrating its overwhelming reception among players. While Clair Obscur maintains its Metacritic advantage (93 vs Death Stranding 2's 90), this marketplace shift highlights the evolving dynamics of the 2025 Game of the Year race.

What began as Clair Obscur's seemingly uncontested march toward Game of the Year recognition has transformed into a thrilling competition. Death Stranding 2's critical and commercial success has positioned it as a formidable contender, joining other anticipated titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds in the conversation.

The second half of 2025 promises even more excitement with potential game-changers like Hollow Knight: Silksong and the full release of Hades 2 on the horizon. AAA heavyweights such as The Outer Worlds 2 and Ghost of Yotei - both from studios with previous Game of the Year nominations - could further complicate the awards landscape.