Supermassive Games’ Dark Pictures Anthology is back with another immersive horror experience this year. Directive 8020 is the studios’ first foray into full on sci-fi horror, both for the Dark Pictures series and for the studio at large. House of Ashes toed the line between the genres with ancient vampiric aliens as the main source of scares, but the game was very much still grounded on Earth. Directive 8020 follows the crew of the Cassiopeia as they find themselves hunted by an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey – very much like The Thing, but actually in space. With Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel) as the games’ star, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is going to be an epic and terrifying adventure to play through.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Love it or hate it (opinions only seem to go one way or the other), Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding remains one of the most fascinating games of the last five years. The first significant project of Kojima’s post-Konami era featured all the eerily accurate social commentary, divisive gameplay, and bombastic storytelling we’ve come to expected from one of gaming’s few true auteurs, and the second installment promises to dive even deeper into the weirdness of this post-apocalyptic world.
Though we know relatively little about Death Stranding 2, the game’s star-studded cast, Kojima’s creative presence, and the original title’s fascinating concepts are enough reasons to consider this one of 2025’s most highly-anticipated new releases. It’s doubtful this sequel will make many efforts to appease those turned off by the original’s methodical gameplay, but Death Stranding 2’s confirmed meditations on the impact of post-COVID society should certainly cause a stir.
Dune: Awakening
Platforms: Windows PC
Set on Arrakis, the most dangerous planet in the universe, Dune: Awakening is an open world survival MMO where you begin as a prisoner on the planet and must do what you can to survive the harsh, unforgiving landscape. Whether you band together with other players or go at it alone, your path is yours to choose, with a variety of skill specialties to choose from including Swordmaster, Bene Gesserit, Trooper, Mentat, and Planetologist. Dune: Awakening looks to be an exciting expansion of this universe, for both fans and newcomers alike. What we saw of the game last year’s Summer Game Fest certainly left us wanting more.
Dying Light: The Beast
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
After over a decade in captivity, Dying Light hero Kyle Crane escapes into a changed world, though not necessarily for the better. Using not only the survival skills honed in the previous games, but also some new abilities that come from being experimented on, in Dying Light: The Beast, you’ll once again play as Crane as he tries to help the survivors of Castor Woods and keep the ever increasing population of zombies at bay. This survival horror game also has a 4-player co-op feature if you want a little help to make it through the violent, zombie-filled nights.
Elden Ring Nightreign
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One
Few expected FromSoftware to return to Elden Ring so quickly, and nobody expected them to deliver something like Nightreign. This spin-off of the Elden Ring series is essentially a co-op roguelike dungeon crawler with several Elden Ring-flavored twists. Picture Dark Alliance with more Elden Ring-like gameplay and…well, that still doesn’t quite paint the picture.
Yet, between Nightreign’s pre-set characters, generally lowered difficulty level, and much faster gameplay, it’s hard not to be intrigued by what FromSoftware is cooking. Are they testing the waters for a big new concept, or is this simply a standalone passion project?
Fable
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
The Fable franchise is one of gaming’s oddest beasts. It has historically fallen short of expectations, in large part due to the outrageous promises that have come to define the series’ creator, Peter Molyneux. Yet, those original games also offered a rather unique genre experience that many crave due to a lack of proper alternatives.
With their reboot of the franchise (sans Molyneux), developer Playground Games looks to recapture the series’ unique charms while inching Fable closer to its full potential. It’s a tall task, but the Fable footage released so far demonstrates Playground’s understanding of the humor and whimsy that have long made Fable one of the most enjoyable fantasy franchises to lose yourself in.
Ghost of Yotei
Platforms: PlayStation 5
With 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, developer Sucker Punch Productions delivered the rare modern open-world title that felt both comfortably familiar and creatively inventive. Ghost of Tsushima didn’t break the genre mold so much as it used its historical setting as the basis of one of the most stunning and engaging open-world experiences this side of a Rockstar Games production. It is also arguably the best samurai title ever made.
As the standalone sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei obviously won’t be able to ride the wave of surprising delights that helped elevate Tsushima among those who went into it with modest expectations. Yet, the Yotei team’s promise to emphasize an “underdog of vengeance” story and “the romance and beauty of feudal Japan” should be more than enough to get you excited about the opportunity to dive back into this world where every pixel is a painting.
Grand Theft Auto 6
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Grand Theft Auto 6 may be the most anticipated release in video game history. It’s not just the 10+ years since the release of GTA 5, the absurdly high standards of this series, and the ways GTA has reached even the most casual modern gamers. There’s a strong argument to be made that the success or failure of GTA 6 could alter the fate of an industry that is increasingly dependent on its biggest blockbusters. Well, there is no blockbuster bigger than GTA 6.
Mind you, we still know relatively little about the game itself. With only one official trailer—and quite a few leaks—to go on, we can tell you that the next Grand Theft Auto will take us to a fictional version of Florida and focus on two lovers on the run from the law. Everything else will be a surprise, it seems. That’s actually kind of nice. Of course, it’d be a lot nicer if we could just finally play the damn game.
Judas
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
From the creator of BioShock, Judas is a single player narrative FPS set on a disintegrating starship. Playing as the “mysterious and troubled” Judas, you must navigate alliances, fight against foes, and do whatever it takes to escape. Whether you’re a fan of BioShock or just looking for a new and intriguing sci-fi game, Judas is definitely one to keep your eye on this year.
Killing Floor 3
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
The co-op action horror FPS franchise that’s fun for your entire squad of friends is back this year with Killing Floor 3. Made with Unreal Engine 5, this next-gen sequel looks to be full of the blood, gore, and heart-pounding action that fans have come to love. Playing as a member of the rebel group Nightfall, you and up to five teammates must fight against waves of zeds (bioengineered zombies) in order to save humanity.
Mafia: The Old Country
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
Developer Hangar 13 gets to continue what they started in the underrated Mafia III with the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country. As the name suggests, this game will take the franchise back to its relative roots (early 1900s Sicily) and serve as a kind of origin story for the series.
The setting is unique relative to other crime games, and Hangar 13 has already shown that they can maintain and elevate this series’ standard for excellent storytelling, characters, and environments. It’s not ideal that this game is coming out the same year as GTA 6, but Old Country’s likely release date head start and distinct style should help it distinguish itself as a worthwhile alternative.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
The relative lack of Marvel games during the MCU era of entertainment was always a shock. Conventional corporate wisdom tells us that we should be swimming in games that adapt and go beyond MCU movies and shows. Yet, we’ve been left with slim pickings so far. Thankfully, Marvel 1943 looks to help fill that considerable void.
Set in Paris during World War II, this action/adventure game will follow Captain America, Black Panther, and their military allies as they battle Hydra and the Axis forces. On paper, that’s the exact kind of “familiar, yet distinct” approach to Marvel gaming that helped make Insomniac’s Spider-Man titles such a success.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
That siren you’ve been hearing is the warning sound that accompanied the announcement of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and has been trailing the game throughout its development. Simply put, the prospect of Konami approving a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater following their infamous split with creator Hideo Kojima felt perilous at best and insulting at worst.
But the success of 2024’s Silent Hill 2 remake has a lot of people feeling much more excited about this next remake. Granted, they are different games being developed by different studios, but suddenly the prospect of a remake of a beloved Konami game delivering a worthwhile experience without the help of their original creators doesn’t seem quite so far-fetched.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Given that it was revealed around the time that the Nintendo Switch was released, we once thought that Metroid Prime 4 was going to be one of the titles that Nintendo used to sell people on their strange new hardware. Now, Metroid Prime 4 is poised to be the swan song for one of the most successful gaming devices ever made. Hey, no pressure.
Yes, it’s surprising that we’ve still seen so little of Metroid Prime 4. After all this time, though, the promise of more Metroid Prime is still enough to leave us impossibly excited about this project. At a time when the Metroidvania genre dominates the indie scene and is the DNA of many modern games, Metroid Prime 4 seems primed to finally earn this series the undeniable sales success it always deserved.
Ninja Gaiden 4
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
After over a decade since the last mainline game, the Ninja Gaiden series is back this year with Ninja Gaiden 4 currently in active development with Team Ninja. Set in a dark, gritty dystopian Tokyo, Ninja Gaiden 4 follows new protagonist Yakumo, a young ninja prodigy connected to the formidable Master Ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, who is also a playable character in the game. As Yakumo navigates this world and tries to put a stop to the Dark Dragon’s rise, he must also face off against his foes, and Hayabusa to become the ninja the world needs him to be. During the Xbox developer direct showcase, Team Ninja was adamant that this game isn’t just for longtime fans of the series and that they hope it can be an entry point for newcomers as well.
The Outer Worlds 2
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
As the spiritual sequel to Fallout: New Vegas, 2019’s The Outer Worlds was essentially a dream Obsidian Entertainment RPG. Along with fulfilling quite a few Fallout fantasies, The Outer Worlds proved to be a compelling, enjoyable, genuinely funny, and surprisingly deep sci-fi role-playing experience in its own right.
With The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian has made it clear that they intend to pick up where they left off and simply go bigger with everything. On paper, it’s not the most ambitious goal for a sequel. However, given that you can attribute many of The Outer Worlds’ biggest flaws to its first-draft nature, the team doesn’t have to go too far out of its way to make this one of 2025’s most essential role-playing experiences.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
The Pokémon series has been on a surprisingly rough run in recent years. While they’re as successful as ever, the recent mainline Pokémon games have rightly been criticized for their relative lack of ambition and various technical issues. One of the franchise’s highlights during that era—2022’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus—garnered acclaim for taking the series in a relatively fresh open-world direction.
Based on what we know, Pokémon Legends: Z-A looks to retain most of Arceus’ core concepts while exploring an era when Pokémon and humans were first learning to co-exist in shared environments. It’s a fantastic setup that also seemingly features the return of the largely beloved Mega Evolutions concept.
Revenge of the Savage Planet
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
In this upbeat, satirical sci-fi adventure game, you play as a space explorer fired and abandoned by your corporate employer – because even in space, the cruel hand of capitalism knows no bounds. With few resources and no safety net, you must explore every inch of the planets you visit to collect resources that will help you level up, return to Earth, and get revenge on your greedy corporate overlords. With single player, online co-op, crossplay, and split screen modes at your disposal, you can go at it alone, or team up with a friend to scan as many planets, capture as many creatures, and explore as many terrains as you can. Revenge of the Savage Planet looks like it’ll be a zany, fun time, and we can’t wait to check it out.
