The most interesting new games of January 2025

The first month of the new year, just like the last one, is not rich in major original releases. However, you can prepare for the busy period in the gaming industry that will begin in February in the company of projects of different moods: from a calm urban planning simulator of the era of ancient Egypt to eventful re-releases of AAA projects and nostalgic echoes from a galaxy far, far away. We invite you to learn about the most interesting games to be released in January in our traditional monthly selection.

Sea Fantasy

Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG
Date: January 7
Platforms: PC

Save the world by fishing. Fishing in the world of this pixelated movie — is not just a choice of profession, but the only way to prevent the destruction of the human world, where 70% of the continent has gone underwater due to war. The main characters are Rod and Alex, two young men from small islands who are ready to embark on an unforgettable fishing adventure. During the adventure they meet a wounded shining dragon who agrees to help them stop the resurrection of the Black Dragon, a biological weapon from the war.

Sea Fantasy will tell the story in a fantasy world filled with more than a hundred species of mysterious sea creatures that the player will catch with lures and fishing rods both from land and from the ship. Developers from the independent studio METASLA offer an open world in a pleasant pixel art that resembles the meditative classic Stardew Valley.

Builders of Egypt

Genre: Simulation, Strategy
Date: January 8
Platforms: PC

The city-planning simulation genre has seen many historical epochs and settings in recent years, but what about the idea of building Egypt in the so-called Proto-Dynastic period? The player’s goal is to develop Egyptian civilization from a small village to a center of world culture and trade.

Gameplay-wise, the project is very similar to a typical representative of the genre: build cities, engage in trade, extract resources, and make strategic decisions that will ensure the prosperity of your nation. The game will be available in campaign and open sandbox modes.

Assetto Corsa EVO

Genre: Racing, Simulation, Sports
Date: January 16
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

The third iteration of the hyper-realistic racing series aims to make a serious push in this already popular franchise and become a worthy competitor to Gran Turismo 7. The latter is still a PlayStation exclusive. As before, the main focus is on the realistic behavior of cars of different classes and decades on faithfully recreated tracks.

While Nintendo games are not for everyone, it would be a mistake to ignore the (third) remaster of the popular 2010 Wii U platformer. With the help of joysticks, players will control the legendary Donkey Kong and his slightly lesser-known nephew Diddy Kong. The simple goal of the game is to collect all the bananas in 80 levels that will test the skills of even experienced fans of the genre.

The updated version of Donkey Kong Country Returns will feature improved graphics and all the exclusive levels from the first Nintendo 3DS re-release. By the way, the Switch version has already been released, but back in 2018 for the first version of the latest generation handheld. Now, Donkey Kong will return in HD resolution.

Things Too Ugly

Genre: Adventure, Simulation
Date: January 16
Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

We invite you to work at TEREBRO INC. on the night shift in 1986. Your responsibilities will be to protect the company’s developments as a risk assessment data processor. We will provide you with the latest technology innovations of the era, because your position is responsible — you predict the future of the company!

The story-driven game by the American studio Professor Space Games, which consists of a single developer, should appeal to fans of the intense Papers, Please, which has not lost its relevance.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG
Date: January 23
Platforms: PC

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second part of the planned trilogy of remakes of the original Final Fantasy VII since PlayStation 1. It will continue the storyline of Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) after the main characters escape from the metropolis of Midgar a fictional city in the FF universe controlled by the megacorporation Shinra Electric Power Company and powered by reactors.

The PC version of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will be released almost a year after the game’s release on PlayStation 5, and will offer improved lighting, textures and models, as well as DLSS and VRR support.

Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles

Genre: Action-Adventure, Casual
Date: January 23
Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

The next remaster of the month will return players to the vicissitudes of a galaxy far, far away from the times of «The Hidden Threat». The task of the Jedi is to retake the Royal Palace of Theed, filled with enemy droids and assassins from the first episode of «Star Wars».

There are no significant improvements in graphics compared to the original release in 2000, but textures and resolution have been improved. If you want, you can play with a friend in local multiplayer by connecting a gamepad.

Synduality Echo of Ada

Genre: Action, Third-person shooter
Date: January 23
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

The futuristic action game Synduality Echo of Ada will take you to the year 2222 (numerological perfectionism), when most of humanity was destroyed by a poisonous rain of unknown origin. Those who survived, dressed in armored mechs, have to withstand constant attacks from creatures that have undergone mutations after the rain. The player will be assisted by a humanoid AI that will be engaged in reconnaissance, resource gathering, and will become an assistant in battle.

The game has nice graphics and an interesting universe. Players will be able to try on an armored suit both in the storyline campaign and in multiplayer.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Genre: Action-Adventure
Date: January 30
Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S

The sixth full-fledged installment of the tactical shooter series, which has sold more than 30 million copies, will shift the focus from the franchise’s main protagonist Carl Fairbairn to special operative Harry Hawker. He will take over the work of his predecessor in the confrontation with the Third Reich.

Apart from the change of the main character, Resistance — is a typical representative of the series. It will take place in a French province.

Spider-Man 2

Genre: Action-Adventure
Date: January 30
Platforms: PC

The second installment of the modern game series about a friendly neighbor from New York will arrive on PC 15 months after its release on PlayStation 5. The port is the responsibility of the German studio Nixxes Software, which has developed PC versions of all major Sony exclusives in recent years. They promise improved ray tracing, advanced graphics settings, support for ultra-wide monitors, and all the content that was released for PS5.

You can read our impressions of Spider-Man 2 inreview of the PS5 version.