In 2025, the gaming industry is expected to be vibrant with anticipated releases and established favorites. It is gaining much hype due to the combination of major game releases, shifts in consumer behavior, and evolving technology. The upcoming games are driving both consumer excitement and business confidence. Also, AI is being used to create more immersive and dynamic gaming experiences, along with advanced NPCs and procedurally generated content.
Features like cloud gaming and cross-platform play are expanding, providing players with access to games on multiple devices and enabling them to play with friends across different platforms. Many games are most played in 2025, and this article will further discuss which ones they are. So, keep reading to learn more.
Most popular games in July 2025
| Game Title | Genre/Type | Platform(s) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | MOBA | PC | 5v5 battles, strategic gameplay, champion roles |
| Grand Theft Auto V | Action-Adventure / Open World | PC, Console | Multiple protagonists, open world, missions, story-driven |
| VALORANT | FPS / Tactical Shooter | PC | 5v5, agents with abilities, high precision shooting |
| Counter-Strike | FPS / Tactical Shooter | PC | Terrorists vs. Counter-Terrorists, objective-based rounds |
| Fortnite | Battle Royale / Creative | Multi-platform | Building mechanics, 100-player matches, creative and save-the-world modes |
| Dota 2 | MOBA | PC | 5v5 hero-based gameplay, complex mechanics, free-to-play |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | FPS / Battle Royale | Multi-platform | Large-scale battles, up to 150 players, multiple game modes |
| Minecraft | Sandbox / Survival | Multi-platform | Procedurally generated worlds, creative freedom, crafting |
| Peak | Co-op / Survival / Platformer | PC (assumed) | Daily changing maps, co-op gameplay, procedural generation |
| Mario Kart World | Racing / Adventure | Nintendo Switch 2 | Open world map, new gameplay modes like Knockout Tour and Free Roam |
| Rust | Multiplayer Survival | PC | Base-building, resource gathering, PvP, harsh survival elements |
| Dune: Awakening | MMO Survival | PC, Console (assumed) | Open world Arrakis, crafting, building, multiplayer environment |
| Marvel Rivals | Hero Shooter / Team-based | PC, Console (assumed) | Marvel heroes/villains, 6v6 matches, destructible environments, team-up abilities |
| PUBG: Battlegrounds | Battle Royale | Multi-platform | 100-player survival matches, realistic gunplay |
| Apex Legends | Battle Royale / Hero Shooter | Multi-platform | Unique character abilities, fast-paced squad gameplay |
| Dead by Daylight | Horror / Survival | Multi-platform | 4v1 asymmetrical multiplayer, horror setting |
| Stardew Valley | Farming Sim / RPG | Multi-platform | Farming, relationships, exploration, pixel art style |
| War Thunder | Vehicle Combat Sim | PC, Console | Realistic land, sea, and air battles |
| Destiny 2 | MMOFPS / Sci-fi Shooter | Multi-platform | Story-driven missions, co-op, PvP, live service model |
| Backroom | Horror / Exploration | PC (assumed) | Maze-like horror environment, puzzle-solving |
| Path of Exile | Action RPG | PC, Console | Deep customization, skill gems, loot-based progression |
| Banana | Casual / Meme-based Game | Likely Web or Mobile | Viral popularity, likely simple mechanics |
| Bongo Cat | Casual / Meme-based Game | Web/Mobile (assumed) | Music-based, animated cat tapping virtual instruments |
League of Legends
League of Legends is a free-to-play, team-based strategy game, which is about two teams of five players battling to destroy the enemy’s base, Nexus. Players can choose from a roster of unique champions, each with special abilities, and compete on a map called Summoner’s Rift. The game involves earning gold and experience to level up and purchase items. Coordination, effective teamwork, and strategic decision-making are crucial in the game to make it a success.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V is an action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It happens to be the seventh main installment in the Grand Theft Auto series. The game is popular for its vast, open world environment, diverse gameplay, and compelling storyline. Talking about the game, it is set in a fictional state of San Andreas. There will be missions to complete, and players can control protagonists throughout single-player and also switch among them.
VALORANT
VALORANT is a free-to-play, team-based, first-person tactical shooter game developed by Riot Games. Players take on the role of unique ‘Agents’ with distinct abilities, and the game is about engaging in 5v5 matches where they either attack or defend bomb sites. It is mainly focused on sharp-shooting skills, effective teamwork, and strategic use of agent abilities.
Also Read: Valorant Live Player Count and Statistics (2025)
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike is a team-based, objective-oriented first-person shooter game. It is about two teams, Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, competing in various game modes. The gameplay revolves around completing objectives like defusing or planting a bomb, eliminating the opposite team, or rescuing or guarding hostages. Players can earn in-game currency based on their performance to purchase weapons and equipment for subsequent rounds.
Fortnite
Fortnite is a free-to-play online video game that is known for its Battle Royale mode, where over 100 players can compete to be the last one standing. The game also features a ‘Save the World’ mode and creative mode, where players can customize and build their own experiences. It is popular for its wide variety of cosmetic items, building mechanics, and cartoonish graphics.
Dota 2
Dota 2 is a free-to-play, online multiplayer, team-based competitive game. Players get to control unique heroes with special abilities, aiming to destroy the opposing team’s Ancient, a structure within their base, while defending their own. The game features two teams of five players, where each player can select a hero and work together to achieve victory.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Call of Duty: Warzone is a standalone, free-to-play battle royale and sandbox game within the Call of Duty franchise. The game allows players to compete in large-scale multiplayer matches against up to 150 opponents. There are several modes featured in the game, including the popular Battle Royale and Plunder. The best part is that the Warzone is accessible to everyone without requiring the purchase of other Call of Duty titles.
Minecraft
Minecraft is a sandbox video game where players can explore, build with blocks, and survive in a procedurally generated world. Players get to explore vast worlds, build structures, battle creatures, and craft items, all while having the freedom to define their own goals and play style. The game is popular for its pixelated aesthetics, its creative potential, and open-ended gameplay.
Peak
Peak is a co-op climbing game where even the slightest mistake can spell your doom. It can be played either solo or as a group of lost nature scouts. To escape, players must ascend a mountain on a mysterious island. The game features procedurally generated maps that change daily. This requires players to adapt to new environments and challenges. Mistakes weigh too much, as any error can cause you to fail. This makes teamwork and careful planning crucial to succeed in the game.
Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World is the latest installment in the Mario Kart franchise. It is a flagship title for the Nintendo Switch 2, introducing a unique interconnected world map and new gameplay modes. The game is about players racing across a vast, seamless world, where they can explore various terrains and utilize new movement mechanics. It has new modes like Knockout Tour and Free Roam, alongside traditional Grand Prix and Battle modes.
Rust
Rust is a multiplayer-only survival game, where players must overcome harsh environmental conditions, thirst, hunger, and other players, too. The gameplay revolves around gathering resources, building bases to defend against threats, and crafting tools and shelter. At the beginning of the game, players spawn naked with only a rock and a torch, and must immediately begin scavenging for resources to survive.
Dune: Awakening
Dune: Awakening is a massively multiplayer online survival game set on the harsh desert planet Arrakis, drawing inspiration from Frank Herbert’s Dune universe. Players can build, craft, and fight to survive in a persistent, open-world environment shared with hundreds of other players. The game features a unique storyline, which makes it highly engaging.
Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play, 6v6, team-based hero shooter game set in the Marvel Universe. Players can compete in objective-based matches using iconic Marvel heroes and villains. The game emphasizes strategic gameplay, unique hero abilities, and teamwork. Also, it features destructible and dynamic environments, team-up abilities, and a variety of game modes.
Also Read: Marvel Rivals Player Count on All Platforms
Other popular game titles include:
- PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
- Apex Legends
- Dead by Daylight
- Stardew Valley
- War Thunder
- Destiny 2
- Backroom
- Path of Exile
- Banana
- Bongo Cat
Conclusion
Online single player and multiplayer games are popular in 2025 due to a variety of factors, including the social aspect of connecting with others, the rise of esports and competitive gaming, and the social aspect of connecting with others. In 2025, the gaming industry continues to be dominated by a mix of established favorites and exciting new releases. Some of the popular and most played games in July 2025 are Just Chatting, League of Legends, Grand Theft Auto V, VALORANT, Counter-Strike, Fortnite, and Dota 2. Other games include Call of Duty: Warzone, Minecraft, Peak, Mario Kart World, Rust, Dune: Awakening, and Marvel Rivals.