Now that 2024 is in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start looking ahead at all of the juicy upcoming game releases in the year to come. Without a doubt, 2025 is one of the most packed years for video games in recent memory, with some of the most anticipated titles of the generation just around the corner. Sequels aplenty fill out the calendar with exciting, big-budget games in almost every conceivable genre, from first-person shooters to RPGs and beyond. Though many official release dates have yet to be announced, the calendar year is shaping up to be a doozy, so we’ve whipped up a list of games that should definitely be on your radar. Listed in alphabetical order, these are the most anticipated games of 2025!
1. Assassin's Creed: Shadows
After being delayed multiple times last year, Ubisoft’s latest entry in their longstanding open-world, action-stealth franchise will finally hit shelves soon. Assassin’s Creed: Shadows finally takes the series to feudal Japan, a historical period that fans have long been clamoring for. Like Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, the game features two playable protagonists, a shinobi and a samurai, offering two distinct styles of gameplay. Hopefully ,the delays have shaped Assassin’s Creed: Shadows up into a stellar product, but we’ll find out when the game releases on February 14 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
2. Borderlands 4
At this point, beyond what was shown in the brief teaser trailer, not much is known about Borderlands 4, but the hype for this co-op FPS sequel is still high. According to interviews, developer Gearbox will be stepping away from the comedic tone of the previous Borderlands 3 in favor of a darker and more serious atmosphere, but still ripe with the series’ signature weirdness. At the very least, we can’t wait to destroy huge bosses, level up, and collect loads of loot with our friends when Borderlands 4 releases some time in 2025.
3. Civilization VII
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (or just Civ 7, for short), is a sequel in the genre-defining 4X strategy franchise, which always delivers an engrossing experience. Starting in the “antiquity era”, you must establish and foster your own civilization, surviving the centuries through exploration, conquering your foes, or technological progress. Civ 7 changes up the pace with a new era system, more leaders to pick from, and new crisis events to manage. With endless replayability and high polish, fans can look forward to a masterpiece of a strategy game when Civilization VII hits all major platforms on February 11.
4. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Kojima Productions and its founder, Hideo Kojima, are known for their weird and eccentric games, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach might just be the oddest of them all. A sequel to the 2019 open-world adventure title, the game once again sees protagonist Sam Bridges living in a post-apocalyptic world, delivering packages and trying to survive the fierce environment. Like most Kojima games, Death Stranding 2 has been shrouded in secrecy, only further fueling the hype. No matter what, this sequel is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience when it releases on PlayStation 5 sometime this year.
5. DOOM: The Dark Ages
The modern DOOM games have done a hell of a job delivering incredibly fast-paced and gory FPS action, and DOOM: The Dark Ages looks to put a fantasy medieval spin on the formula. In short, this is the DOOM you know and love, but now with a throwable shield, tons of new weapons, and a fresh roster of demons to slay, all set in a knightly world of primordial chaos. DOOM: The Dark Ages seems to strike a balance between DOOM (2016) and DOOM: Eternal, with equal parts hellish horror and ridiculously fast shooting. There’s no solid release date yet, but DOOM: The Dark Ages will surely be a standout FPS whenever we get to play it in 2025.
6. Elden Ring: Nightreign
Just when you thought Elden Ring was completely done, FromSoftware returns with a multiplayer spin-off that no one saw coming. Instead of a full-on sequel, Elden Ring: Nightreign is a cooperative, run-based game that sees you and your pals tackling an alternate version of the fantasy kingdom known as the Lands Between, hunting down bosses as time ticks down. New mechanics, weapons, and enemies are all on display, but honestly, everyone seems simply excited to play more Elden Ring content. No word on an official release date yet, but the game seems close to completion, making it a likely candidate for Spring or Summer 2025.
7. Grand Theft Auto VI
Out of every game on this list, Grand Theft Auto VI is absolutely the most anticipated of the bunch. It makes sense, the previous game, GTA V, is the best-selling piece of entertainment media ever made. Based on just a few trailers, this sequel is looking absolutely incredible, as it whisks us back to the glamorous Vice City for more tropical mayhem. With a tale of crime inspired by the likes of Bonnie and Clyde and another massive city to explore, Grand Theft Auto VI will likely be one of the most popular games of the generation, whenever it launches in 2025 on Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC.
8. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
The next Nintendo game console, rumored to be a beefed up Switch, is likely going to release this year, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a prime candidate for a major launch title. Since 2007, fans have been begging for a sequel in this immersive first-person, sci-fi adventure franchise, and after nearly two decades, it seems like 2025 will be the year they receive it. While the development history of this much-awaited sequel has been rocky to say the least, we’re confident that Retro Studios will deliver a killer game that does the series justice. With any luck, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will finally see the light of day in 2025.
What games are you looking forward to? With so many releases packed in the calendar, there are countless more titles to get excited for, and that list will only grow as the year continues. For now, the future looks bright, and barring any delays, we can’t wait to play every single game on this list!
