Most Anticipated Game Releases in 2025

Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist

• Release Date — January 22, 2025
• Publisher — Binary Haze Interactive
• Developer — Adglobe, Live Wire
• Genre — Metroidvania
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S

The indie scene continues to churn out Metroidvania titles at a rate that would indicate we’re in the midst of a golden age for the genre. One of the best in recent years was Live Wire and Adglobe’s Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. The developers surprise-released a sequel into Early Access this year, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist. Surprisingly, the full release is arriving sooner than expected, launching simultaneously on PC and consoles in January 2025. As someone who has already played the game in Early Access, I can attest to Ender Magnolia already showing signs of being a best-in-class Metroidvania. It’s living up to every expectation fans might have had following the phenomenal Ender Lilies. And at 3 times the length of its predecessor, players are going to be getting plenty of bang for their buck with Ender Magnolia.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

• Release Date — January 30, 2025
• Publisher — Rebellion
• Developer — Rebellion
• Genre — Tactical Shooter, Stealth
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Rebellion’s Sniper Elite games are always a fun time, offering up some beautiful and varied stealth playgrounds in a variety of World War II-era settings along with some very satisfying shooting mechanics. Sniper Elite: Resistance looks to scale things back to focus specifically on a rag-tag group of resistance fighters in occupied France, while still delivering the classic Sniper Elite gameplay fans have come to expect from the series. After the recent franchise highs of Sniper Elite 4 and 5, it will be interesting to see how Sniper Elite: Resistance changes up the formula enough to add something new while sticking to what players love about the World War II-era stealth action series. Ultimately, though, a chance to sneak around a painstakingly recreated, historically accurate World War II-era France seems worth the price of admission.

Civilization VII

• Release Date — February 11, 2025
• Publisher — 2K
• Developer — Firaxis Games
• Genre — Turn-based Strategy, 4X Strategy
• Platforms — PC/Mac/Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

When Civilization VII launches next February, it will mark 9 years since the launch of the last game in the series. As such, the wait for Civ VII will be the longest in the franchise. And, to be fair, Civilization VI was such a marked improvement over Civilization V. Civ VI‘s continued success makes the case for Firaxis to take their time with a follow-up. From everything that’s been shown of the game so far, that time spent in production is shaping up to pay off in the most visually impressive and feature-rich Civilization game to date, with Civilization VII already sitting on Steam as the 7th-most wish-listed game despite having only been officially revealed 2 months ago. Fans of 4X strategy are likely already gearing up to spend hundreds of hours in Civilization VII.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

• Release Date — February 11, 2025
• Publisher — Deep Silver
• Developer — Warhorse Studios
• Genre — RPG
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

The original Kingdom Come: Deliverance was practically destined to become a modern-day cult classic, taking the open-world role-playing of the Elder Scrolls series and adapting it into a historically accurate medieval life simulator where players go from being a lowly serf to a major force in medieval Europe. It was a game that, despite its few flaws, drew in millions of players who have been eagerly anticipating a sequel. That follow-up is now set to arrive next February, and it brings with it a distinctive change in tone to the Kingdom Come series. Rather than the more realistic and serious tone of the original, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is looking to shake things up by injecting a hefty dose of wit and dry humor into its story, character interactions, and world, and it looks to expand the already impressive open-world sandbox in significant ways.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

• Release Date — February 14, 2025
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Developer — Ubisoft Quebec
• Genre — Action-adventure, Stealth, Open World
• Platforms — PC/Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

While last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage may have opted for a more scaled-back approach to the franchise akin to the original trilogy of games, the next massively open-world entry in the series is transporting players to feudal Japan following Origins‘ Egypt, Odyssey‘s Greece, and Valhalla‘s Scandinavia and England. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the long-awaited series entry with a Japanese setting, having just been beaten to the punch by Sony and Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima. In a post-Ghost of Tsushima world, it remains to be seen what another Japan-set action RPG with stealth sequences has to offer players. Still, chances are Assassin’s Creed Shadows will expand on the series’ lore and deliver potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Avowed

• Release Date — February 18, 2025
• Publisher — Xbox Game Studios
• Developer — Obsidian Entertainment
• Genre — RPG
• Platforms — PC, Xbox Series X/S

Obsidian Entertainment’s highly-anticipated next game in the Pillars of Eternity universe is finally set to arrive in February, having suffered a 25th-hour delay into next year following an initial release date set for November 2024. Avowed switches up the isometric perspective and CRPG gameplay of the previous Pillars of Eternity games for a first-person action RPG experience not dissimilar from the Elder Scrolls games. But with Obsidian’s incredibly talented writers and quest designers at the helm, chances are that Avowed will offer one of the more enjoyable and feature-rich RPG experiences of 2025, complete with what’s looking to be some very tactile and satisfying first-person melee combat.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

• Release Date — February 21, 2025
• Publisher — Sega
• Developer — Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
• Genre — Action-adventure
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Almost exactly a year after the last mainline entry in the series, a new Like a Dragon/Yakuza game is set to arrive in February. Focusing on fan-favorite character and Kiryu’s “frienemy” Goro Majima, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a hilariously offbeat spin-off where players get to live out the pirate’s life in a modern-day setting. Following the events of 2024’s Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Majima is stranded on an island off the coast of Hawaii with a case of amnesia. So what does he do? Why, he puts together his own pirate crew and sets off in search of buried treasure, of course.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks to retain the same humor and action of the other Like a Dragon/Yakuza games while also incorporating a fairly robust naval combat system that gives Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag a run for its money.

Monster Hunter Wilds

• Release Date — February 28, 2025
• Publisher — Capcom
• Developer — Capcom
• Genre — ARPG
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Perhaps the most anticipated game for the first half of 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds is the proper follow-up to the incredibly successful mainstream crossover for the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter World. For the first time, Monster Hunter is going fully open-world in Wilds, complete with dynamic weather events and creature density that are sure to push modern console and PC hardware to their limits. The title recently had an open beta ahead of its February release, with Capcom utilizing the preview event as an opportunity to collect valuable feedback and make adjustments before the game going gold and releasing. Early reports indicate that, despite some minor issues with weapon handling, Wilds is the next great entry in the legendary Monster Hunter franchise.

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster

• Release Date — March 6, 2025
• Publisher — Konami
• Developer — Konami
• Genre — JRPG
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Konami continues to farm its back catalog of releases for remasters and remakes on modern hardware, and one of the more surprising series to get this treatment is the Suikoden franchise. Despite being a fan-favorite among JRPG enthusiasts, Suikoden never received the same kind of crossover success as Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, which is a shame considering how pivotal both the first and second games in the series are to the evolution of the genre. Thankfully, Konami recognized it was sitting on a goldmine and has decided to remaster and release Suikoden and Suikoden II as one remastered package that brings these two classic JRPGs to modern consoles and PC.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

• Release Date — March 20, 2025
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Developer — Monolith Soft
• Genre — ARPG, Open World
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch

In a surprising move, Nintendo is finally bringing Xenoblade Chronicles X to the Nintendo Switch. As one of the last Wii U exclusive games to make its way to Nintendo’s hybrid console, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition feels like a proper send-off to both the Wii U and the Switch ahead of the Switch 2’s launch. Regardless of its place in the Switch library, though, Xenoblade Chronicles X is a phenomenal game that fans have been requesting to come to the console for years. Now freed from its prison of Wii U exclusivity, a whole new audience of players is gearing up to experience what is arguably one of the greatest games in the Xenoblade series and just an excellent open-world action RPG in general.

Hyper Light Breaker

• Release Date — Q1/Q2 2025 (Early Access)
• Publisher — Arc Games
• Developer — Heart Machine
• Genre — Action Roguelike
• Platforms — PC

By the time Hyper Light Breaker releases into Early Access next year, it will have been almost 10 years since the launch of its predecessor, Hyper Light Drifter. Unlike that game, though, Hyper Light Breaker is an incredibly ambitious full-3D action roguelike that takes place in the Hyper Light universe. Early impressions from backers during an open beta indicated that the game was in a good state, but Heart Machine opted to delay the title into 2025 to provide more polish and deliver the best possible experience at launch. While no exact release date is set, reports indicate that players can expect Hyper Light Breaker to launch into Early Access toward the end of Q1 or the beginning of Q2.

Dragon Quest I & II HD Remake

• Release Date — Q2/Q3 2025
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Developer — Artdink, Square Enix
• Genre — JRPG
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S

Square Enix surprised Dragon Quest fans around the globe earlier this year by delivering the one-two punch of revealing Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake‘s release date alongside the fact that the company was also remaking the first and second Dragon Quest games in the same style. While the games don’t have a firm release date yet, they’re likely to release in Northern Spring/Summer next year, meaning players can experience the definitive version of Dragon Quest‘s Erdrick Trilogy in one go. With a brand-new visual style akin to Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler games and some quality-of-life improvements to bring these classic JRPGs into the modern era, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake could potentially be one of the year’s greatest role-playing experiences.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

• Release Date — Confirmed 2025 (Release Date TBD)
• Publisher — Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Developer — Kojima Productions
• Genre — Action, Stealth
• Platforms — PlayStation 5

Despite the original Death Stranding‘s polarizing response, fans seem to be incredibly hyped about the sequel. Death Stranding 2 is shaping up to be one of the more promising first-party Sony exclusives in 2025. And with most of the core cast of the original returning, all bets are off for how the next game in the series will evolve the already complex and mysterious sci-fi story at the heart of the original Death Stranding. We haven’t gotten much footage in terms of gameplay, but with Kojima at the helm, chances are Death Stranding will offer one of the more genre-defying and boundary-pushing experiences of the year. Kojima takes his time with his projects, making any year he releases a game a monumental occasion worth celebrating.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

• Release Date — Confirmed 2025 (Release Date TBD)
• Publisher — Konami
• Developer — Konami, Virtuous
• Genre — Action, Stealth
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Following the release of the Silent Hill 2 remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta is likely the most anticipated reimagining of a classic game. Delta takes the 2004 classic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and reinvents it for modern consoles and PC. Reportedly, the team behind MGS Delta is committed to retaining the core experience of the original despite the vastly improved visuals. Everything that we’ve seen of the game so far seems to indicate that the timeless gameplay of MGS 3 remains intact. It will be interesting to see what the title offers that entice both new and returning players to revisit the saga of Naked Snake and The Boss. MGS 3 is arguably the masterpiece of the Metal Gear Solid series, so here’s hoping MGS Delta lives up to that legacy.

Grand Theft Auto VI

• Release Date — Confirmed 2025 (Anticipated Q3/Q4)
• Publisher — Rockstar Games
• Developer — Rockstar Games
• Genre — Action, Open World
• Platforms — PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Though it currently has no official release date, what we know about GTA VI is that it’s confirmed for a 2025 launch. Rockstar itself has said as much. However, everything else we know about GTA VI could fit into a single page. We know that players will control a pair of protagonists. It’s also known the game is returning to a Florida-inspired setting for the first time since GTA: Vice City. Finally, we know that the game will feature a robust single-player campaign and an online multiplayer mode. Honestly, though, the mystery surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI is part of what makes it so exciting. The launch of a new GTA is typically an industry-changing event. Accordingly, GTA VI stands to shake the pillars of the medium in a way that its predecessor did years before.

Metroid Prime 4

• Release Date — Confirmed 2025 (Release Date TBD)
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Developer — Retro Studios
• Genre — Action-adventure, Metroidvania, FPS
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch

As a dyed-in-the-wool Metroid fan, I’ve been waiting for Metroid Prime 4 since the launch of the Switch in 2017. That Nintendo chose to finally reveal the first footage of the title this late in the console’s life cycle is interesting. Though the release trailer indicates the game is coming to Switch, the timing is certainly suggestive. The existence of the Switch 2 is one of the worst-kept secrets in the industry. And, with the Switch’s successor slated to release sometime in 2025, it lines up perfectly with the projected launch of Metroid Prime 4 for the game to be a cross-gen release for Nintendo. Whatever the case, more Metroid is never a bad thing. Getting a new Metroid alongside the launch of new Nintendo hardware would be even better.

Doom: The Dark Ages

• Release Date — Confirmed 2025 (Release Date TBD)
• Publisher — Bethesda Softworks
• Developer — id Software
• Genre — FPS
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Another highly-anticipated sequel, Doom: The Dark Ages looks absolutely insane. Taking the frantic “push-forward” FPS gameplay of the 2016 Doom reboot and Doom Eternal into a medieval-inspired setting bursting with heavy metal flair seems like a perfect fit for the franchise, and Doom: The Dark Ages‘ arrival couldn’t be better timed. 2025 doesn’t currently have that many FPS titles on the calendar. As such, Doom: The Dark Ages has plenty of room to take center stage as the year’s premier FPS experience. That it’s launching as a cross-platform title despite Microsoft’s ownership of Bethesda is a boon for both PC and PlayStation owners. With any luck, players won’t have to wait long before they can “rip and tear until it is done” all over again.