Top game releases of Q2 2025

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Q2 2025 was a powerhouse quarter for new game releases, with epic launches lighting up Twitch and YouTube like never before. From blockbuster sequels to fresh indie hits, gamers and streamers alike flocked to the hottest titles, breaking streaming records and setting the stage for an exciting year ahead. Let’s dive into the most-watched game releases that defined the quarter.

#10 Blue Prince (3.95 million HW)

Dogubomb’s adventure-puzzle title Blue Prince earned a well-deserved spot in the ten most-watched games of Q2 2025. With its unconventional gameplay, sleek visual design, and hauntingly mysterious mansion setting, the game quickly became a hit among players and streamers alike. Critics were just as enthusiastic — the PC version boasts a 92/100 on Metacritic and scored 9/10 from outlets like Game Informer, GameSpot, IGN, and Shacknews.

During the first week of its release, Blue Prince racked up over 3.95 million Hours Watched (HW) across livestreaming platforms. The game quickly caught fire on Twitch, with major creators like Ben ‘’CohhCarnage’’ Cassell, Jason ‘’PirateSoftware’’ Thor Hall, and Rafael ‘’Cellbit’’ Lange helping push its visibility. It also resonated with the VTuber community — streams by Koseki Bijou Ch. (hololive-EN) and ironmouse landed in the top three for peak viewership during launch week.

#9 Rematch (4.01 million HW)

Sports games don’t often break into top release charts — but Rematch did just that. Developed by French studio Sloclap, the team behind Sifu and Absolver, Rematch reimagines soccer with a futuristic, high-octane twist. The result is a fast-paced multiplayer experience reminiscent of Rocket League, where small teams face off in adrenaline-fueled matches packed with highlight-reel-worthy goals and non-stop action.

Rematch quickly grabbed the attention of top streamers across Twitch, Kick, YouTube, and other platforms. It resonated particularly well with German-speaking audiences — creators like Elias ‘’eliasn97’’ Nerlich, Daniel ‘’Dhalucard’’ Hagen, and others helped drive viewership in the region.

To mark the launch, Twitch hosted a dedicated Rematch Twitch Rivals tournament, where streamers went head-to-head for a $20,000 prize pool. Altogether, Rematch streams generated just over 4 million Hours Watched in its first week after release.

#8 Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond (4.93 million HW)

Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, the latest collectible card game from Cygames, Inc., officially launched on June 17. While it builds on the success of the original 2016 release, the new title was met with some skepticism from longtime fans. During launch week, most of the livestream coverage originated from Japanese streamers, indicating strong regional interest but raising questions about its global appeal.

Despite some technical hiccups and a region-restricted launch, Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond pulled in an impressive 4.93 million Hours Watched during its first week. The game sparked interest among top Japanese Twitch streamers, such as k4sen and sasatikk, while VTubers also played a key role in boosting its early viewership.

#7 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (6.34 million HW)

One of this summer’s most anticipated releases was Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, the sequel to Hideo Kojima’s polarizing yet iconic 2019 action-adventure title. The game earned glowing reviews, landing a 90 on Metacritic and a 96% rating on OpenCritic. Critics praised the ambitious sequel across the board, and it's already being seen as a strong contender for several major Game of the Year awards.

Brazilian streamer Alan ‘’alanzoka’’ Ferreira led the pack in Death Stranding 2 viewership, racking up over 305,000 Hours Watched. Unlike many titles in our charts, this wasn’t a case of creators simply “dropping in to take a look” — streamers actually played the game. Some hosted full-on marathon sessions, clocking dozens of hours during launch week alone.

That said, despite all the buzz and creator attention, the sequel didn’t quite manage to top the original Death Stranding in terms of overall viewership. Curious how they compare? Check out the Release Stats tab on the game’s profile page.

#6 Dune: Awakening (10.34 million HW)

Dune: Awakening was easily one of the “hottest” game launches of Q2 2025 — in every sense of the word. This long-anticipated MMO returned players to Frank Herbert’s legendary desert world, Arrakis, where survival means more than just staying alive. From battling for scarce resources to building outposts and dodging deadly sandworms, Dune: Awakening delivers an epic, high-stakes sandbox adventure fans have been waiting for.

Dune: Awakening made an impressive livestreaming debut, pulling in over 10.3 million Hours Watched during its first week. A huge part of that momentum came from Canadian streamer Michael ‘’shroud’’ Grzesiek, a well-known MMO enthusiast. He was joined by creators like PirateSoftware and CohhCarnage, who also helped drive early buzz.

Viewers had more than just gameplay to enjoy — they could earn Twitch Drops by watching streams. A couple of hours of viewing unlocked exclusive base-building items, giving fans a little extra incentive to tune in and stay engaged.

#5 DOOM: The Dark Ages (10.53 million HW)

DOOM: The Dark Ages lives up to the legacy of id Software’s iconic franchise with a brutal and refreshing twist. The latest first-person shooter wowed fans with a diverse arsenal of new weapons — from the savage Shield Saw and Skull Crusher to brutal melee tools like a gauntlet, iron mace, and flail.

For the first time in the series, players can also take control of massive vehicles, including a cybernetic dragon and a towering 30-story Atlan mech, making The Dark Ages one of the boldest and most cinematic DOOM games to date.

Streamers of DOOM: The Dark Ages ran active Twitch Drop campaigns, letting viewers unlock a special shield skin simply by tuning into broadcasts. The biggest peak audience went to American streamer Zack ‘’zackrawrr’’ Hoyt, who pulled in 54,046 concurrent viewers. However, Jesse ‘’MOONMOON’’ Rathburn took the lead in total watch time, racking up an impressive 357,081 HW during the game’s first week.

Interestingly, the game also grabbed the attention of Sasha Grey, a well-known adult film star, who topped DOOM category on Twitch in total hours watched in June — making her one of the platform’s most-watched DOOM: The Dark Ages streamers that month.

#4 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (11.92 million HW)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a real treat for gamers everywhere. Developed by the French studio Sandfall, this role-playing game was crafted by a tight-knit team of 30, including many former Ubisoft veterans. They’ve created one of the strongest contenders for “Game of the Year” in 2025. With its immersive atmosphere and breathtaking soundtrack, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 truly shines as a standout release of Q2.

In the week following its launch, streams of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 racked up over 11.9 million Hours Watched. The game caught the eye of numerous top French streamers, including Kamel ‘’Kameto’’ Kebir, who enthusiastically backed this “homegrown” title with a dark fantasy Belle Époque vibe. Praised by critics, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out as a strong contender for major gaming awards this year.

#3 Mario Kart World (14.81 million HW)

Mario Kart World dropped alongside the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, sparking massive hype among fans. This installment brings fresh features like an open-world design and mode, off-roading gameplay, an elimination race mode, and unlockable costumes for racers. Plus, races now support up to 24 players — double the usual count from earlier Mario Kart games.

During its first week, Mario Kart World streams pulled in a total of 14.8 million hours watched. Top contributors included MOONMOON, Rayenne ‘’Etoiles’’ Guendil, and Matthew ‘’Mizkif’’ Rinaudo, each surpassing 400,000 Hours Watched. The most-watched individual stream was by Japanese VTuber Okayu Ch., who peaked at 42,717 concurrent live viewers. The game sparked widespread streamer interest, offering plenty of chances for co-op play and collaborations with fellow popular creators.

#2 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (19.11 million HW)

Nostalgia lovers were definitely excited by the April release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Bethesda revitalized the classic 2006 title by fully rebuilding its graphics using Unreal Engine 5 and added a range of upgrades, from smoother sprinting to revamped menus.

During its release week, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered pulled in over 19.1 million Hours Watched, ranking as the second most-viewed new game of Q2. Leading the pack was American streamer Quintin ‘’Quin69’’ Crawford, whose streams accounted for roughly 770,000 HW.

When it came to peak viewership, Spanish streamer Juan Alberto ‘’IlloJuan’’ García stole the show with a Twitch stream that peaked at 38,857 concurrent viewers. Many top streamers dove into this remastered cult classic, with MMORPG pros drawing in fans through round-the-clock marathons and challenges to beat the game on the hardest difficulty.

#1 Elden Ring: Nightreign (28.92 million HW)

The top-viewed game launch in Q2 2025 was Elden Ring: Nightreign. This spin-off from FromSoftware’s cult classic revived the hardcore gameplay fans love, adding a fresh focus on roguelike elements and cooperative play. Players can now explore the vast Elden Ring world and take on bosses together with friends. Its success is clear: over 3.5 million copies sold in the first week alone — a milestone many games take years to reach.

In its release week, Elden Ring: Nightreign streams racked up an impressive 28.9 million Hours Watched — the highest for any new game in Q2 2025 and the second-best figure in the first half of the year, trailing only Monster Hunter Wilds with 34.05 million HW. Nearly every top Twitch and YouTube streamer jumped onto Nightreign, with Kuzuha Channel leading the way, generating over 600,000 HW.

Japanese streamers were especially active around the launch, reflecting the strong local affection for this “homegrown” franchise. International stars like zackrawrr, Elias ‘’Elajjaz’’ Lönn, Maximilian Miles ‘’Maximilian_DOOD’’ Christiansen, and Rubén ‘’Rubius’’ Doblas also brought in big audiences with their Nightreign streams.

Most watched new game releases of Q2 2025 (by release week Hours Watched)