16 most anticipated games of 2025

The first month of the new year is coming to an end, which means that the period of rest from major game releases is also coming to an end. We have an exciting year of high-profile premieres ahead of us, and it was not easy to choose 16 of the most interesting ones. Grand Theft Auto VI is undoubtedly the mastodon of this list, and if it is released by December 31, the year 2025 will already be a history. But even if the sixth «car thief» is postponed, there will definitely be something to play this year. We invite you to familiarize yourself with these and other interesting releases that we expect in 2025.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG
Date: February 14
Platforms: PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series S|X

After the overwhelming success and open-ended ending of the first KCD installment, it was only a matter of time before the sequel was released. Nevertheless, the announcement of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II on April 18, 2024, came as a pleasant surprise due to the lack of serious information leaks the day before. During the pompous premiere of that day, many people were also surprised by the fact that the game would be released by the end of the year, but closer to the end of 2024, the release date was postponed to early 2025.

The sequel to one of the best video games in the history of video games promises to take everything that made the first part so beloved, improve and multiply it, and add some nice features. The story of KCD II will begin right after the epilogue of the original and will throw the player into the midst of the civil war in Bohemia in the fifteenth century. The main character will be the same simple but determined Henry of Skalice.

The game world is about twice as large as in the first part, and the duration of cutscenes is five hours (in the predecessor it was two hours). As before, the player’s decisions will have an impact on the plot development and the attitude of other characters. The Ukrainian text localization will be officially available from the day of release, and that’s great.

Avowed

Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG
Date: February 18
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S|X

Another representative of the role-playing genre will be released by Xbox Game Studios and developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the creators of the Pillars of Eternity dilogy. Avowed will take place in the same universe, but the game will be different in terms of perception, as it will offer first- and third-person views. For the California-based studio, Avowed is the first AAA game, the development of which began after the acquisition of «T-shirts» in 2018.

In the story, the player will travel to the remote lands of the world of Eora to find out the origin of a mysterious epidemic and find a way to overcome it. The game does not provide for a clear link of the character to the class, but instead encourages the player to combine skills as they like. As you progress through the story, the protagonist will meet many characters who will help him or her during missions. However, everything will be limited to friendship, as the game will not offer the opportunity to develop romantic relationships with them.

Split Fiction

Genre: Action-Adventure, Platform, Co-op
Date: March 6
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG
Date: March 20
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Mac OS

The long-suffering Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which has already been postponed twice, will become the fourteenth (Fast and Furious, keep up) full-fledged part of the series, but the first within the framework of Assassin’s Creed: Infinity. The game is being developed by Ubisoft Quebec, which was not actively involved in the creation of the last AC: Mirage.

The game is set in Japan at the end of the Sengoku period, and the main characters will be the stealthy Naoe and the African samurai Yasuke, who prefers to go straight to the point. Despite the imminent release, very little is known about the game’s plot, but we can confidently say that we will at least find an interesting and beautiful open world of 16th century Japan, with a dynamic change of seasons. Fans of the series have been dreaming about this setting for a long time, but there are still many unanswered questions about the overall quality of the game.

According to the developers, the main story of the game will take from 30 to 60 hours to complete, which is roughly equal to the completion of Origins, Odyssey, or Valhalla.

The Alters

Genre: Survival
When: 1st quarter of 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

The largest project by 11 Bit Studios, the Polish studio known for This War of Mine and Frostpunk, will offer players to immerse themselves in the oppressive space atmosphere. We’ll be playing as Jan Dolski, a space engineer who, after crash-landing on a desert planet, is forced to create his own alternative versions to survive.

Each «Alter» — is a clone of Jan with different life choices and skills, which allows him to overcome challenges more effectively. Gameplay-wise, The Alters combines elements of survival, resource management, and base building while avoiding the deadly solar radiation.
The visual style of the game beckons with the contrast of an almost monochrome world with bright flashes of color, creating an atmosphere of beauty and danger at the same time.

Doom: The Dark Ages

Genre: FPS
Date: May 15
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

The game is a prequel to 2016’s Doom, which tells the story of the series’ protagonist’s growth as he becomes the last hope of a kingdom fighting against the forces of evil in a techno-medieval setting. The Dark Ages promises to bring the player back to the classic gameplay with an emphasis on simpler controls and intense combat. To fight especially large enemies, you can use a dragon and a mech.

The sixth full-fledged part of the series will be available from the first day of release in the Game Pass subscription.

Mafia: The Old Country

Genre: Action-Adventure
When: summer 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

Another high-profile announcement of TGA 2024, the fourth iteration of the series, although it did not reveal details after the premiere, is included in this list «machine». The popular franchise, which has sold more than 35 million copies, will return to the very beginning.

«That’s been done before!», you might say, and you’d be right, but this time, players will be taken back to the events of the Mafia: Definitive Edition, namely in the early 1900s in Sicily. The developers are trying to convey the authenticity of the era by introducing horseback riding and the use of vintage vehicles with manual start.

Hopefully, the exploration of Sicilian history and the origins of the mafia will restore confidence in the series after the unsuccessful third installment. The game is being developed by Hangar 13, which is a restructured version of 2K Czech, the creators of the series.

Grand Theft Auto VI

Genre: Action-Adventure
When: fall 2025
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

Even if the article was called «The Most Anticipated Games of the 21st Century», this industry monster would still be included here. Rockstar, in its usual manner, without revealing the details of the game, stirred up a stir with a 90-second trailer. On YouTube itself, the video collected 235 million views (the GTA V trailer has 116 million views in 13 years) just 13 hours after its release, the trailer broke the record for views on YouTube in the first 24 hours after publication (excluding music videos). Another interesting record was set on December 17, 2024: the longest time between the publication of the first and second trailers among all Rockstar Games games.

The game will be set in Vice City (analogous to Miami) and its surroundings. According to rumors, the main characters will be an adventurous girl Lucia and her unnamed partner. This couple in love is a kind of prototype of Bonnie and Clyde.

Based on preliminary calculations, the map of the game world will be 125 km² (GTA V’s area is 76 km²). GTA VI promises to be one of the most ambitious games in the industry, with a huge open world and an incredible level of detail, offering stunning graphics and freedom of action. Players’ expectations are sky-high, but should rockstars get used to it?

Ghost of Yōtei

Genre: Action-Adventure
When: 2025
Platforms: PlayStation 5

Announced in September, the sequel to the best game of 2020, Ghost of Tsushima, takes place in 1603 on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, 329 years after the events of the first part. The story will be told from the perspective of the female warrior Atsu, and this time the developers promise to give the player more control over the story and character choices compared to the first part.

The locations were inspired by the development team’s numerous visits to northern Japan, in particular the beauty of Mount Yotei. Keeping in mind that the atmosphere of Ghost of Tsushima had a key influence on the player, it is not surprising that this time the development team from Sucker Punch Productions took this moment seriously. For example, they recorded the sounds of nature in Shiretoko National Park. Creative director Nate Fox aims to preserve the main elements of the first game, transporting the player to a romantic and beautiful feudal Japan.

Currently, the game is announced as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, but it is likely to appear on PC in some time.

Crimson Desert

Genre: Action-Adventure
When: 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, Mac OS

The game was originally planned as a prequel to the popular MMORPG Black Desert Online, but during development, the project evolved into a single-player action game set in the same universe.

It takes place on the medieval fantasy continent of Pivel. We’ll play as Macduff, who leads a small band of mercenaries fighting for survival during the war. Players will be able to break through the siege of the castle with the help of a dragon, change the world around them and become part of everyday life in the city. They can even grow wings to fly over the plains and mountains.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Genre: Action-Adventure
When: 2025
Platforms: PlayStation 5

Announced back at TGA 2022, the game will continue the story of Sam Porter Bridges, played again by Norman Reedus, and Fragile, played by Lea Seydoux. Elle Fanning also joined the cast.

The developers promise to expand the game world by adding new biomes and dynamic weather effects that will affect the gameplay An improved combat system and new world exploration mechanics will provide players with even more freedom of action. The new features also include a truly revolutionary photo mode and in-game dance events.

Hideo Kojima wrote the script for the sequel before the coronavirus pandemic began in 2019. However, he later decided to completely rewrite it because «no longer wanted to predict the future of».

Fable

Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG
Date: 2025
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S|X

The relaunch of the Fable series, set in the fictional country of Albion (an allusion to medieval Britain), has had a long and thorny development history, but, judging by the trailer released last June, it is set to be released this year.

Little is known about the game so far, but it seems to retain the series’ signature British humor, as evidenced by the trailer featuring comedian Richard Ayoade as a giant named Dave. The combat system is expected to be similar to The Witcher 3, thanks to the involvement of former CD Projekt Red developers.

Playground Games studio (Forza Horizon arcade racing series) is responsible for the project, and Eidos-Montréal, known for the Deus Ex series, is helping them.

The Outer Worlds 2

Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG
When: 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

It looks like 2025 will be the year of second chances, and Obsidian is getting one with The Outer Worlds 2, the sequel to the successful 2019 space action RPG. The story takes place in the remote star system of Arcadia, where megacorporations have completely seized power. The second part aims to fill in the gaps of the first by offering a more complex story about an interplanetary war between corporations and fanatics, as well as creating a world that is more responsive to the player’s actions.

From the trailer shown at TGA 2024, it is obvious that the game will receive better graphics and will be even more focused on the action component.

Dune: Awakening

Genre: MMO
When: 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

Given the popularity of the «Dune» universe in recent years, it was only a matter of time before a large-scale representative of the franchise was released in game form. Dune: Awakening is being developed in the survivalist MMO genre. Players will create their own character, choose their backstory, and try to survive in the harsh open world of the Arrakis Desert, avoiding heatstroke and giant sandworms.

The combat system offers a variety of strategies: from melee combat using blades to remote attacks with firearms and drones. Players will be able to build and develop their own bases, explore the world with ‘toppers, interact with other players, and join large houses such as the Harkonnens.

The key element of the game is the collection of spices (melange) — a precious resource for which fierce battles between different factions will be fought. The release is scheduled for PC first, and then for current-generation consoles.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Genre: Action-Adventure, Stealth
Date: 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

High-quality remakes of legendary but technically outdated games are definitely a good idea. We hope that this year Metal Gear Solid Delta will join the cohort of such projects: Snake Eater, a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), which was chronologically the beginning of the franchise.

The game will completely repeat the plot of the original, but with modern graphics and improved gameplay, which will make it more similar to modern stealth simulators. Players will once again take on the role of Naked Snake, completing missions in tropical and industrial locations, avoiding enemies and traps.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is the first major project in the series after the release of the online Metal Gear Survive in 2018.

Borderlands 4

Genre: FPS, Action-Adventure, RPG, Co-op
When: 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

After the failure of the film adaptation at the global box office (the movie with a budget of $115 million grossed only $20 million), Gearbox Software developers will try to whitewash the franchise’s reputation with Borderlands 4, which will be a direct sequel to Borderlands 3 and the fifth installment of the series.

A new team of treasure hunters is heading to an uncharted planet engulfed in a war between robots and humans. Players will find a seamless world, and they can play either independently or in cooperative mode with three other players. Borderlands 4 also features new vehicles and gadgets, including a boarding hook.