Sony had a couple of outstanding games in 2025, namely Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei. But a mixed slate meant it struggled to really make any kind of impact on Metacritic’s latest publisher rankings.
Despite awkward naming conventions, the aggregator is looking at the Metascores of all titles released last year to create a leaderboard. The PlayStation maker ranked fourth overall in 2024, but slipped all the way to 21st this time with an average Metascore of just 74.
Now there are some caveats to keep in mind here: the website is including a couple of Destiny 2 expansions in its aggregate, which are massively pulling down the publisher’s overall grade. Technically PlayStation does own Bungie, so we suppose that makes sense.
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The long-awaited Lost Soul Aside also had a huge impact on Sony’s ranking here, as it managed a meagre 62 rating overall, which again brings down its average.
It’s worth noting that despite PlayStation’s position here, both the aforementioned Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei were nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards, so the highs were very high for Sony in 2025. But there were clearly some low points, too.
Square Enix took the overall crown with an average Metascore of 84, including ports of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and new releases like Octopath Traveler 0. It’s the first time the publisher has taken the accolade.
Capcom finished up in third on the back of hype for Monster Hunter Wilds – we wonder if that would be rated differently if it received a batch of new reviews today? – while Microsoft’s many, many releases earned it a strong spot in fifth. The PS5 port of Forza Horizon 5 was its best-reviewed game with a 92.
You can view the full rankings, alongside Metacritic’s scientific grading criteria, through the link.
Who was your favourite publisher in 2025 and why? Let us know whether you agree with the rankings in the comments section below.