Here are the best upcoming video games of 2025

2024 was a spectacular year for video game releases.

From the unforgettable Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to Tekken‘s triumphant 30th-anniversary return, big titles dominated the scene. But hidden gems and surprises like Sony’s Astro Bot (Game of the Year winner) and the incredibly addictive card game Balatro, also stole the spotlight.

Looking ahead to 2025, the gaming industry shows no signs of slowing. With countless exciting releases on the way, here are some of the best upcoming games you should definitely be aware of:

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Which are cooler – ninjas or samurai? Assassin’s Creed may just give you the answer. The franchise is back with a bang, this time taking players to 16th-century Japan during the epic Sengoku period. Players will control two protagonists: Naoe, a stealthy shinobi, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai based on the real historical figure. With refined combat mechanics and more of a focus on player choice, Shadows seems set to be a strong return to form for the action-adventure series.

Release date: 11 February 2025.

Platforms: PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Developed by Capcom using their powerful RE Engine, Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest entry in the iconic media franchise which began in 2004. Set in the mysterious Forbidden Lands, players control a custom Hunter on a mission to find a lost expedition and battle fierce, gigantic monsters. New features include the Seikret, a feathery, emu-like rideable companion, as well a huge, dynamic world, fresh weapons, and epic combat. Wilds is looking like it will be most exciting, fun and visually spectacular Monster Hunter yet.

Release date: 28 February 2025.

Platforms: PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S.

Split Fiction

Hazelight Studios, the masterminds behind the smash-hit It Takes Two, is set to release its next co-op adventure game. Split Fiction will have you and a companion of your choice hopping between wildly contrasting sci-fi and fantasy realms. Together, you’ll be faced with challenges like escaping a sun on the verge of going supernova, dance-offs with monkeys, riding gravity-defying hoverboards and facing off against one rather evil kitty. Sounds like a blast!

Release date: 6 March 2025.

Platforms: PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S.

Wanderstop

What might initially present itself as a soothing, cosy escape – a game that invites you to retreat into the calm of a quaint woodland tea shop, where you can tend gardens, research perfect tea blends, and fulfil the quiet demands of customers -Ivy Road’s Wanderstop is a game that quietly subverts the very genre it inhabits. With its origins in game designer Davey Wreden’s personal experience with escapism and trauma, the game looks to challenge the increasingly cosy gaming genre by confronting players with the uncomfortable truth that sometimes healing isn’t as simple as just sipping tea in pastoral woods.

Release date: 11 March 2025.

Platforms: PC, Playstation 5.

Tales of the Shire

Tales of the Shire looks like the perfect game for anyone who’s ever dreamed of a laid-back life in Middle-earth, minus the looming threat of Sauron and epic battles. Picture this: Animal Crossing vibes mixed with the charm of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world, where you can live out your hobbit fantasy in Bywater, a quaint little village in the Shire. While previous Lord of the Ring’s video game adaptations have had a mixed reception, this one looks to take a different approach, focusing on the simple joys of hobbit life – gardening, fishing, cooking, and decorating your very own cosy Hobbit Hole.

Release date: 25 March 2025.

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X/S.

Wheel World

Another one for the cosy gamers! Developed by Messhof Games, the brains behind Nidhogg, Wheel World is a delightful open-world cycling game where players set off on a mission to save the world by collecting Legendary bike parts. While you’re at it, you’ll race through stunning landscapes and take in some chill exploration. The gorgeous art style alone should be enough to have you sold.

Release date: Early 2025.

Platforms: PC, Playstation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X/S.

Mafia: The Old Country

Mafia: The Old Country is taking gamers back to the roots of organised crime in its gripping prequel to the original Mafia trilogy. Set in early 1900s Sicily, players follow Enzo Favara’s journey from a childhood in the sulphur mines to his rise within the Torrisi crime family. Developed by Hangar 13, it looks like the studio is ditching the open-world approach of Mafia III, focusing instead on a more linear, narrative-driven experience. It looks like it’ll be one hell of a cinematic rollercoaster.

Release date: Mid 2025.

Platforms: PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S.

Grand Theft Auto VI

Arguably the most anticipated game of the decade, Rockstar’s GTA VI needs no introduction. The real question on everyone’s mind is whether it will meet its promised 2025 release. Only time will tell…

Release date: Autumn 2025.

Platforms: Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S.

Ghost of Yotei

Ghost of Yōtei is ready to clash with Assassin’s Creed Shadow, taking Sucker Punch’s samurai saga to bold new heights. Set 300 years after the first game Ghost of Tsushima, the sequel introduces Atsu, a dual-wielding Onna-musha, battling through Hokkaido’s wild beauty. Sprawling grasslands, icy tundras, and Mount Yōtei’s towering peak. A PS5 exclusive, expect dazzling auroras, sprawling grasslands, icy tundras, new weapons, and gameplay upgrades that make the world feel more alive than ever.

Release date: TBC.

Platforms: Playstation 5.

Fable

Spellcasting, epic combat, bag fulls of charm and moral choices – Fable is back, bringing the magic, mayhem, and memorable characters that made the franchise iconic. Developed by Playground Games, this new next-gen entry in the beloved series is taking players back to the enchanting world of Albion. While details on the story remain under wraps, the game seems to revolve around Humphry, a retired hero dragged back into action when a mysterious figure from his past threatens Albion. Expect a tasty mix of melee combat, archery, magic and British humour!

Release date: TBC.

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S

Subnautica 2

If the idea of being dragged into the depths of the ocean by a vortex, only to come face-to-face with a towering leviathan, sends shivers down your spine (and maybe a thrill of excitement), then brace yourself – Subnautica 2 is on the horizon! Building on the success of one of the most beloved survival games of all time, the sequel promises to pull fans back into its alien oceans for an even deeper dive into the unknown. But this time, you don’t have to face the terror alone! With multiplayer now on the menu, up to four explorers can band together and venture into the abyss.

Release date: TBC.

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S.

Reanimal

Any horror game fans reading? Reanimal is the latest spine-chilling adventure from Tarsier Studios, the creative force behind the highly-praised Little Nightmares series. The co-op game is said follow a brother and sister as they navigate a harrowing journey through a nightmarish world teeming with monsters. Their mission? To rescue their friends and find a way to escape. It’s being touted as the indie studio’s darkest and most unsettling title yet!

Release date: TBC.

Platforms: PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S.

Death Stranding 2

Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima is inviting players back into the eerie and unpredictable world of Death Stranding with its highly anticipated sequel. Sam Porter Bridges is back, braving uncharted territory beyond the UCA to reconnect a broken world. Featuring a star-studded voice acting lineup – Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux, Elle Fanning, Troy Baker, and yes, George freaking Miller – this promises to be an unforgettably cinematic thrill ride.

Release date: TBC.

Platforms: PlayStation 5.

Which ones are you most looking forward to? Let us know – and check out our Cultural Look Aheads with the Most Anticipated Books, TV Shows, Fashion, Albums, Exhibtions and Movies of 2025.