What Gamers Spent Their Holiday Break Playing in 2025

The end of the year is usually packed with celebrations, downtime, and a much-needed break from everyday responsibilities. For gamers, that combination often means one thing: more time to play. With the holiday season opening up extra hours, players took advantage of the moment to jump into some of the biggest and most talked-about games of 2025.

To get a better sense of what dominated screens over the holidays, a community poll was conducted asking which games players were spending the most time with. The results offered a mix of expected favorites and a few unexpected trends.

🎮 Holiday Gaming Trends in 2025

The poll featured several standout releases from 2025, along with an open-ended option for players whose holiday pick wasn’t listed. Here’s how the results shook out:

Other (a 2025 game not listed): 40%
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: 20%
ARC Raiders: 18%
Battlefield 6: 10%
None (no time to play this year): 5%
Hades 2: 5%
Blue Prince: 3%

The biggest takeaway? A massive portion of players gravitated toward games outside the predefined list, showing just how stacked 2025 was with high-quality releases across multiple genres.

🏆 Clair Obscur’s Strong Showing—But Not the Top Spot

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continued its impressive run late into the year, maintaining strong interest well beyond its award-season momentum. While it didn’t claim the overall top spot, it still led the pack among the named options, reinforcing its status as one of the year’s standout experiences.

That said, the competition was tighter than expected.

🔫 ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6 Keep Players Locked In

One of the more surprising results was how close ARC Raiders came to overtaking Clair Obscur among listed titles. Continued updates and strong player engagement helped the extraction shooter stay relevant well into the holiday stretch.

Battlefield 6 also held its ground, drawing players back with large-scale action and its status as one of the year’s best-selling releases. For many, the holidays were the perfect time to jump back into competitive multiplayer.

⚔️ Genre Variety Rounds Out the List

Beyond shooters and RPGs, the poll reflected a healthy mix of genres:

Hades 2 attracted players looking for fast-paced, skill-driven action.
Blue Prince continued to shine as a celebrated indie title, earning attention despite its smaller footprint.
A notable portion of players simply didn’t have time to play at all—a relatable reality during a busy holiday season.

🎯 Looking Ahead to 2026

As 2025 fades into the rearview mirror, attention is already shifting toward what’s next. With another packed lineup of upcoming releases on the horizon, anticipation is building for what 2026 will bring to the gaming world.

Whether players spent their holidays grinding competitive matches, exploring massive story-driven worlds, or waiting patiently for the next big release, one thing is clear: gaming momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season once again proved to be a prime time for gaming, showcasing just how diverse player interests have become. From blockbuster releases to under-the-radar hits, 2025 delivered something for everyone—and set the stage for an even bigger year ahead.