As an Amazon Associate, Modded gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Last year was a big one for gaming, even though AAA releases and long-standing series largely fell short. 2025 promises to be even bigger, with plenty of highly anticipated titles from massive studios and indie darlings alike slated for release throughout the year. Without further ado, here’s a glimpse at the top 10 upcoming games of 2025.
1. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Genre and Setting: A sci-fi shooter in space with a healthy dose of platforming
- Developer: Retro Studios
- Key Features: Exploration-heavy gameplay, atmospheric music and old-school FPS action
- Anticipated Release Date: Sometime in 2025
It’s been nearly 20 years since the last Metroid Prime title released, but the wait is finally over in 2025. Nintendo first announced Metroid Prime 4 back in 2017, but the game went radio silent after Nintendo handed the reigns to Retro Studios to start development from scratch. While some doubted it would ever come after that, fans finally have a trailer and a confirmed 2025 release.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond puts players back into the shoes of bounty hunter Samus Aran as she explores new worlds, fights off enemy aliens and fends off space pirates. It looks like a true return to form for the Prime series, which may be exactly what fans need in 2025.
2. Monster Hunter Wilds
- Genre and Setting: A strategy-heavy, monster-slaying action RPG
- Developer: Capcom
- Key Features: Massive monster battles, extensive character customization and co-op gameplay
- Anticipated Release Date: February 28, 2025
The Monster Hunter series has generated one of gaming’s most devoted fanbases, and Wilds looks like it’ll take the franchise to new heights. Its world seems bigger, its graphics are more detailed and its beasts tougher than ever. The game’s open beta has already gripped fans, so it’s sure to be a huge timesink come its February release.
Dynamic weather and more in-depth interactions between monsters will make the game feel more real and engaging than ever. Be ready for some long nights when this one comes out — it’s all too easy to get sucked into Monster Hunter and lose track of time.
3. Doom: The Dark Ages
- Genre and Setting: A techno-medieval, hyper-violent demon-slaying shooter
- Developer: id Software
- Key Features: A slower but impactful, more melee-focused combat system than previous Doom games, complete with a shield
- Anticipated Release Date: May 14, 2025
Doom is another series with a once-cult following that reached mainstream status with its past few releases. The Dark Ages seeks to follow up on Doom: Eternal by throwing players into the Middle Ages — albeit with guns, rest assured — for a new gothic backsplash for gamers’ ruthless slaughter of waves of demons.
The Doom series is admittedly not for everyone. It’s one of the most violent games of all time, but if you’re into that, look no further than The Dark Ages.
4. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Genre and Setting: A stealth-heavy RPG set in feudal Japan
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Key Features: Stunning graphics and sneaky ninja gameplay
- Anticipated Release Date: February 14, 2025
Fans have been begging Assassin’s Creed to release a Japanese-set title for years, and they’ve finally got their wish. The history-rich, genre-defining stealth RPG is doing the obvious and letting you play as both a ninja and a samurai come this Valentine’s Day.
Ubisoft has garnered a mixed reputation over the years, with some players complaining about bugs and repetitive, uninspired gameplay. Thankfully, Assassin’s Creed Shadows looks like a step in the right direction. Anyone craving more Japanese historical action after binging Shogun should pay attention to this one.
5. Grand Theft Auto VI
- Genre and Setting: A wild crime simulator set in a fictional homage to Miami, Florida
- Developer: Rockstar Games
- Key Features: An in-depth open world and engaging story with plenty of havoc to wreak
- Anticipated Release Date: Fall 2025
Grand Theft Auto V sold a staggering 205 million copies, making it the most profitable entertainment product of all time. Those are some big shoes to fill, and Rockstar knows it full well, so expect the sixth entry to offer unparalleled action and choices.
The story has always been a strong, if overlooked, element in the GTA series, but GTA VI seems to be putting it center-stage, following a Bonnie and Clyde-esque duo. Fear not, though — there’s still plenty of room for goofy criminal gameplay to indulge your wild side and cause chaos throughout the fictional Florida setting.
6. Civilization VII
- Genre and Setting: A massive strategy game spanning the globe and history
- Developer: Firaxis Games
- Key Features: Complex turned-based gameplay split across three distinct historical ages
- Anticipated Release Date: February 11, 2025
For something a little more tame, look no further than the latest in Sid Meier’s Civ series. Civilization is arguably the defining 4X strategy game, and its seventh entry promises to be its best yet.
Unlike previous Civilization titles, you’ll pick a new civilization to lead across each of Civ VII’s three eras. However, you can use the same leader across all of them, and what happens in the early stages will impact later ones. It’s a unique twist on the formula and is sure to offer deeper, more complex gameplay than previous entries.
7. Avowed
- Genre and Setting: A magic-heavy fantasy action RPG with swords, spells and guns
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Key Features: A gorgeous fantasy world and a choice-driven story
- Anticipated Release Date: February 18, 2025
Obsidian’s Avowed is one of the most hotly anticipated games of 2025 that’s not a sequel or prequel. While it does take place in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, it’s largely a stand-alone title. Still, fans can expect plenty of the classic Obsidian RPG features that make its games great.
The choices you make in Avowed will dictate the story and your character’s relationship with NPCs. Spells and swordplay mimic Skyrim’s combat, while the world and interactions resemble The Outer Worlds. That sounds like a match made in heaven.
8. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
- Genre and Setting: A chaotic RPG following — you guessed it — a pirate in Hawaii
- Developer: Sega
- Key Features: Whacky characters, arcade combat and an abundance of sidequests and mini-games
- Anticipated Release Date: February 21, 2025
Like a Dragon — formerly known as Yakuza — is a franchise like no other. The once-semi-serious crime simulator has evolved into a tongue-in-cheek, downright silly RPG. This latest title takes that new image to extremes.
You’ll play as a Yakuza member who loses his memory and decides to become a pirate captain in the water around Hawaii. Yes, you read that correctly. It may not be your cup of tea if you’re looking for a serious, grounded story, but if you want some dumb, goofy fun, this is the game for you.
9. Borderlands 4
- Genre and Setting: A fast-paced looter shooter set across alien worlds and alternate dimensions
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Key Features: Tons and tons of guns and other collectibles and almost-open-world exploration
- Anticipated Release Date: Sometime in 2025
Speaking of “not for everyone,” the fourth mainline Borderlands game is set to release later this year. The series’ abundant toilet humor and over-the-top violence may turn some away, but the combination of RPG-style skill advancement and thrilling first-person shooter combat make for an experience like no other.
Gearbox has confirmed that Borderlands 4 will tone down the humor many found annoying in the last entry. It’s also the biggest game in the series yet, which is saying something. Borderlands 3 was one of the best co-op games for consoles despite its flaws, so the fourth is looking promising.
10. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Genre and Setting: A story-driven RPG in post-apocalyptic America
- Developer: Kojima Productions
- Key Features: A star-studded voice cast and an original, gripping narrative
- Anticipated Release Date: Sometime in 2025
Death Stranding is a bit divisive. Some claim it was one of the best games in recent memory, while others fail to see what all the fuss is about. Still, there’s no denying that its sequel will have a big impact on the gaming community when it launches later in 2025.
The sequel to gaming mastermind Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding will follow many of the same characters through new arcs. Kojima has stated that he reworked the story to reflect the real-world impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which will be interesting to see.
Exciting Games Are About to Come
2025 promises to be a groundbreaking year for the gaming industry, with diverse, innovative and exciting games on the horizon. These upcoming games for 2025 are poised to redefine genres, captivate players, and leave a lasting impact on the gaming community. Certainly, it will be a year to remember for gamers worldwide.
