The Biggest Upcoming Games of 2025

2025 will be a blockbuster year for gaming, with a lineup of highly anticipated titles that could redefine their genres. Following the slower pace of 2024, this year promises a flood of major releases, ranging from innovative sequels to bold new IPs.

With development timelines growing longer, these "batch years" are becoming a trend, and 2025 stands out as a year to watch. Here's a look at the most exciting games coming your way.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

• Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Release Date: 20 March
• Genre: Action role-playing
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, iPadOS, Nintendo Switch 2

The new Assassin's Creed title will finally take players to feudal Japan, blending a two-protagonist system with enhanced stealth and combat mechanics. After a delay, expectations are sky-high for this innovative chapter in the franchise, as fans eagerly anticipate exploring the rich cultural and historical backdrop of the Samurai era.

Atomfall

• Developer: Rebellion Developments
• Publisher: Rebellion Developments
• Release Date: 27 March 2025
• Genre: Action, Survival
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

This one from the makers of Sniper Elite, offers a survival game set in a nuclear-devastated Northern England, mixing worldbuilding with storytelling for a BioShock-esque experience. Players will navigate hauntingly atmospheric landscapes, scavenge for resources, and uncover secrets of a fractured society, all while making choices that shape their path to survival.

Avowed

• Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: February 18, 2025
• Genre: Action role-playing
• Platforms: Windows, Xbox Series X/S

Obsidian Entertainment’s latest RPG, combines action-packed real-time combat with deep character-building, set in a classic fantasy world. Players will explore a richly detailed open world, forge alliances, and uncover a sprawling narrative filled with branching choices that define their journey.

Borderlands 4

• Developer: Gearbox Software
• Publisher: 2K
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: First-person shooter, Action role-playing
• Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

The fourth part aims to revive the franchise with lessons learned from Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, promising bigger and bolder gameplay. With an emphasis on explosive action and dynamic storytelling, it looks set to push the boundaries of what fans loved about the series, while introducing fresh elements to keep the experience thrilling.

Civilization 7

• Developer: Firaxis Games
• Publisher: 2K
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Turn-based strategy, 4X
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

New Civ will let players lose themselves in strategy, offering new ways to mix and match historical elements, ensuring sleepless “one more turn” nights. With improved diplomacy systems, advanced city-building mechanics, and innovative combat options, this entry will captivate both seasoned fans and newcomers, providing endless replayability.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

• Developer: Kojima Productions
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Platforms: PlayStation 5

DS2 will expand Hideo Kojima’s eerie post-apocalyptic world with meditations on post-COVID society and a star-studded cast. Building on the foundations of its predecessor, this installment will deepen its philosophical narrative, blending surreal landscapes with cutting-edge gameplay and a hauntingly immersive experience.

Doom: The Dark Ages

• Developer: id Software
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: First-person shooter
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S

The third installment of the modern Doom series takes the FPS franchise into new territory, with Painkiller-inspired gameplay that builds on id Software’s incredible momentum. With fast-paced combat, brutal weaponry, and an evolving narrative, this entry pushes the boundaries of the genre, delivering an adrenaline-fueled experience unlike any other.

Elden Ring Nightreign

• Developer: FromSoftware
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action role-playing
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

A co-op roguelike dungeon crawler with a Dark Souls veteran in the developers' team offers a fresh twist on FromSoftware’s beloved universe with faster gameplay and lowered difficulty. By combining challenging dungeon exploration with cooperative mechanics, creates a more accessible yet still rewarding experience for players seeking both action and teamwork.

Fable

• Developer: Playground Games

• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action role-playing
• Platforms: Windows, Xbox Series X/S

Playground Games reboot Fable and this promises to capture the charm, humor, and whimsy of the original series while elevating its potential. With a vast open world and modernized mechanics, this reboot aims to deliver a visually stunning and immersive fantasy adventure that honors its legacy while introducing exciting new possibilities.

Ghost of Yotei

• Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Platforms: PlayStation 5

This is the standalone sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, which emphasizes vengeance and beauty in a painterly rendition of feudal Japan. With a new protagonist and an expanded world, this sequel promises a deeper exploration of samurai culture, blending breathtaking visuals with a gripping narrative centered on honor and retribution.

Grand Theft Auto 6

• Developer: Rockstar Studios
• Publisher: Rockstar Games
• Release Date: Q4 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

With a sprawling familiar Vice City map that includes bustling cities, rural areas, and dynamic weather systems, players can expect an experience that feels both expansive and deeply personal. This project has the potential to change the industry as it holds the most attention among upcoming games. In the event of a failure, it will be a stunning new favorite that will push GTA to second place, while in the case of expected success, it will set a new standard and serve as a model for trends and game requirements, which will also affect pricing changes, as game production becomes more expensive every year.

inZOI

• Developer: Krafton
• Publisher: Krafton
• Release Date: PC Beta on 28 March 2025; PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S To be announced
• Genre: Life Simulation
• Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

inZOI redefines life simulation with its immersive open-world gameplay, blending generative AI-driven creativity and karma-based management as players shape vibrant communities across diverse environments like Seoul-inspired Dowon and tropical Cahaya. With endless customization options and the ability to influence entire ecosystems, inZOI offers a deeply personalized experience that evolves with each player’s choices.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

• Developer: Warhorse Studios
• Publisher: Deep Silver
• Release Date: 4 February, 2025
• Genre: Action role-playing
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S

Continuation builds on the medieval RPG’s unique legacy with smoother mechanics and lessons learned from the original. This polished version elevates the storytelling, creating an even richer world for players to explore, where every decision carries weight and consequences that shape the unfolding narrative.

Mafia: The Old Country

• Developer: Hangar 13
• Publisher: 2K
• Release Date: Q3 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S

The fourth part of Mafia brings the series back to its Sicilian roots, offering a gripping origin story, the most unique experience because set in the early 1900s with hand-to-hand combats and horse-riding. It promises to captivate both longtime fans and newcomers with its detailed, historically-inspired setting and emotionally charged storyline.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra

• Developer: Skydance New Media
• Publisher: Plaion
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Platforms: To be announced

The New Marvel game takes players to WWII Paris, combining Captain America and Black Panther with thrilling action against Hydra. Expect a fresh take on iconic heroes as they unite to battle a dangerous new Hydra faction, blending rich storytelling with intense, action-packed gameplay.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

• Developer: Konami
• Publisher: Konami
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure, stealth
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S

A remake of the beloved MGS3 has fans cautiously optimistic after the success of Silent Hill 2’s remake. The remake aims to bring the classic MGS3 experience to new generations, offering improved graphics, modernized controls, and the potential for expanded content while staying true to its original narrative and gameplay.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

• Developer: Retro Studios
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch

A long-awaited return to the iconic series may serve as the Nintendo Switch’s swan song, continuing its rich legacy. With new mechanics and improved visuals, this highly anticipated entry promises to elevate the franchise while honoring its roots, leaving fans eager for what’s to come.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

• Developer: The Game Kitchen
• Publisher: Dotemu
• Release Date: Summer 2025
• Genre: Platform Game
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Windows

This one reimagines the series as a 2D sidescroller, blending retro aesthetics with modern intensity for a standout experience. By incorporating fast-paced action and intricate level design, this title offers a fresh yet nostalgic take, captivating both veteran fans and newcomers alike.

The Outer Worlds 2

• Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action role-playing
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S

The Outer Worlds 2 seeks to expand on its predecessor’s sci-fi RPG charm with deeper systems and greater ambition. Building on its unique universe, the sequel promises a more expansive world, offering players even more choices that will shape the narrative and world around them.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

• Developer: Game Freak
• Publisher: JP: The Pokémon Company
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Role-playing
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch

The new Pokemon Game revisits the open-world formula, exploring Pokémon and human cohabitation in a historic era while reintroducing Mega Evolutions. With enhanced exploration mechanics and a rich, story-driven experience, it aims to capture both nostalgic fans and new players while expanding the franchise’s depth.

South of Midnight

• Developer: Compulsion Games
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Platforms: Windows, Xbox Series X/S

A new Microsoft exclusive game set in a dark fantasy Deep South combines folklore and music in a visually stunning action adventure. Players control Hazel, a "Weaver" who uses ancient weaving powers to explore Southern folklore and confront mythical creatures

Split Fiction

• Developer: Hazelight Studios
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Release Date: 2025
• Genre: Action-adventure, Platform
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

This game will push co-op gameplay boundaries with its genre-blending narrative about two writers trapped in their own creations, they must work together to escape through imaginative worlds, offering unique challenges and requiring split-screen gameplay.

Author Comment

2025 has the makings to become the brightest year for the gaming industry in the past five years. With major releases like Mafia and DS2, the fresh combination of Elden Ring: Nightreign, a refined medieval role-playing experience without magic in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the possible launch of the new GTA, and the chance for the new Assassin’s Creed to restore the series’ glory, alongside inZOI potentially sparking an AI revolution in gaming – it’s all clear. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a packed year, and with good reason – it marks a quarter-century of home internet connectivity. And let’s not forget the buzz around the Half-Life series this year…

Expect a growing audience of gamers across all genres and age groups, as the interactive entertainment industry integrates more technology, enhances accessibility, and caters to niche preferences. Buckle up and upgrade your hardware – it’s going to be a thrilling ride.