There have been plenty of emerging stories in 2025 amongst global investing. Many investors were fortunate to cash in on individual stocks of ASX ETFs that had exposure to these markets.
For example, hot topics this year have been the boom in ASX gold and silver shares.
Similarly, global defence emerged as a stock market winner.
These sectors have been hotly covered – and rightly so.
But there have been other niche themes that have brought investors strong returns.
While many ASX ETFs are designed to track broad markets, this year more and more funds have joined the ASX targeting more niche themes.
This kind of investing is called thematic investing.
Here are some ASX ETFs that fit into that category that have enjoyed big gains this year on the back of targeting niche sectors or themes.
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Betashares Video Games and Esports ETF (ASX: GAME)
Put simply, this fund provides a portfolio of leading global video gaming and esports companies.
According to Betashares, the video games and esports industry has been growing strongly, with industry revenue, profit margins, and the number of global players all forecast to increase in the coming years.
Video games and Esports now generate more revenue than the movie and North American sports industries combined.
At the time of writing, it is made up of 37 holdings.
Three countries dominate the weighting of this fund:
- Japan (35.1%)
- United States (32.6%)
- China (21.0%)
In 2025, the fund has risen by an impressive 26.72%.
VanEck Vectors Video Gaming And eSports ETF (ASX: ESPO)
This fund focussed on the Esports and Gaming industry has also had success in 2025.
The VanEck fund gives investors exposure to a diversified portfolio of the largest and most liquid companies involved in video game development, esports as well as related hardware and software globally.
At the time of writing it is made up of 25 holdings, with a similar geographic profile to the previous fund:
- Japan (29.0%)
- United States (28.3%)
- China (21.1%)
In 2025, the fund has risen by almost 12%.
Global X S&P Biotech ETF (ASX: CURE)
This ASX ETF invests in companies that potentially stand to benefit from further advances in the field of genomic science, such as companies involved in gene editing, genomic sequencing, genetic medicine/therapy, computational genomics, and biotechnology.
Essentially, this niche fund provides global exposure to emerging areas within the health care sector, at the intersection of science and technology.
It has more than 125 holdings, with no individual company representing more than 1.45% of the total fund.
This theme has brought strong returns in 2025, with this fund rising almost 28%.
