Square Enix is the top publisher of 2025 in terms of Metacritic scores for the first time since the review aggregator started posting its rankings.
Since 2011, Metacritic has been compiling a ranking of game publishers, the likes of Take-Two, Capcom, and Microsoft picking up two wins over the years, while Sega is the only company to win three times for its 2015, 2020, and 2024 lineups. However, no one is matching Sega's record this year, as, for the first time since Metacritic began tracking rankings, Square Enix has taken the gold.
Square Enix averaged a Metascore of 84 in 2025, with its highest-rated release being the PC port of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, at 90. And that somewhat sets the tone as Square Enix's 2025 was composed almost entirely of Remakes, re-releases, and ports. Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles and the Xbox port of Final Fantasy 16 both averaged a score of 88, while its worst rated release was SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered – which still had a positive score of 76 Dragon Quest 1+2 HD2D Remake, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Romancing Saga 2, and its only original title of 2025 – albeit, technically an expanded remake of a mobile game – Octopath Traveler 0 all nabbed positive scores too.
Chinese indie publisher Gamirror Games came in second place with Dotemu's Absolum as its top scorer, while Capcom took the bronze thanks to Monster Hunter Wilds and Nintendo Switch 2 ports of games like Street Fighter 6 and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, as well as classic rereleases like Onimusha 2 and Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Sega, on the other hand, came in 7th, with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Master Crafted Edition and Football Manager 26 preventing a fourth win.
Speaking of Switch 2, Nintendo failed to crack the top 10 in the console's debut year. Despite Donkey Kong Bananza being 2025's game of the year for many, Mario Kart World receiving very good reviews, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition being the top-rated game of 2025, it was let down by Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and Drag x Drive.
