2025 is already being dubbed “the year of tough choices” – there are so many releases that you’ll either have to quit your job or decide what to play and what to skip. This isn’t just another year with new games – it’s a feast for those who’ve waited years for sequels to their favorite series. GTA is returning to Vice City, Gothic is rising from the dead, and Kojima… well, he’s doing something so crazy that even the fans are scratching their heads.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (February 4)
The first part in 2018 hit like nobody expected – who would have thought that a game about medieval Bohemia without dragons and magic could be so captivating? The main character Henry isn’t the green rookie we remember – though he’s still dead-set on avenging his family.
Warhorse Studios kept insisting they wouldn’t make a sequel until they were sure it would be better than the original. And from what we’ve seen – they weren’t joking. The world is twice as big, the combat finally doesn’t feel like dancing with a tambourine (though it’s still challenging), and they’ve added firearms and crossbows to the swords. Plus they promise a deeper story – though how much deeper can it get? The first part already had dozens of hours of content.
Civilization VII (February 11)
“Just one more turn” – the phrase that’s been destroying sleep schedules worldwide for 30 years. The seventh installment is finally launching simultaneously on all platforms – no more “console ports a year later.”
Firaxis is keeping gameplay details under wraps, but rumors are circulating about a serious visual upgrade. Though Civ fans have always cared less about graphics and more about rock-solid mechanics. The game will feature full localization with voice acting, interface, and subtitles in multiple languages.
Avowed (February 18)
Obsidian Entertainment is finally doing what everyone has been waiting for – a proper first-person RPG in the Pillars of Eternity universe. The main character arrives at an island called the Living Lands (already sounds ominous), where locals are dying from a mysterious disease.
The most interesting part here is the combat system. You can swing a sword, shoot a musket, or cast spells – or better yet, do all three by combining weapons and magic for maximum damage. While there won’t be an open world, they promise plenty of meticulously crafted locations and companions with actual personality, not just cardboard cutouts for dialogue.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20)
Ubisoft has finally done what fans have been begging for a decade – an assassin game in feudal Japan. But just ninjas weren’t enough for them, so they’ve got two main characters: a female assassin Naoe and a Black samurai Yasuke (based on a real historical figure – Google it, you’ll be amazed).
The game has already been delayed twice, but it looks like March is finally the real deal. Gameplay for each character will be radically different: Naoe is all about classic stealth and quick kills, while Yasuke focuses on open confrontations and epic duels. You can switch between characters mid-mission, opening up all sorts of tactical possibilities.
Judas (March)
Ken Levine, the creator of BioShock, has been cooking something in his lab for seven years, and we’ll finally get to taste the results. The game takes place on the spaceship “Mayflower,” carrying humanity to a new planet. Spoiler alert: something goes wrong.
The main feature is the storytelling system, which Levine calls “narrative LEGO.” Every player decision will change not just the story, but the game world itself. Sounds ambitious, but if anyone can pull this off, it’s the creator of BioShock.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era (Second Quarter)
The eighth Heroes is being developed by Russian studio Unfrozen, and it’s looking promising. Events return to the planet Enroth, familiar from the first three parts of the series. There will be six factions: humans, elves, dark elves, undead, insect-like beings, and one more still kept secret.
The main villain will be the Hive (that insect faction), controlled by a demon from Inferno. Everyone else will have to unite to fight back. They promise improved AI (finally, will the computer stop being dumb at economy?), new hero mechanics, and a map editor. No English voice acting though – just subtitles.
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 (First Half of the Year)
The development history of the second Bloodlines could be its own TV series. The game was announced back in 2019, then the entire development team was replaced, then there was a long silence… And now The Chinese Room studio has taken over, and it seems like something is finally coming together.
The plot throws us into modern-day Seattle, where an ancient vampire awakens. Put yourself in their shoes – fell asleep in the Middle Ages, woke up in a world of smartphones and social media. You’ll have to adapt quickly, join one of the vampire clans, and figure out what’s actually going on in this new world.
Mafia: The Old Country (Summer)
A prequel to the entire Mafia series, this game tells the story of how it all began. Set in early 20th century Sicily, former miner Enzo Favara becomes embroiled with the Torrizi family. We might even encounter a young Salieri, the same boss from the first game. The developers are dedicated to authenticity, incorporating voice acting in Sicilian dialect, which differs from standard Italian. Following the successful remake of the first game, Hangar 13’s ambitions have clearly expanded. Let’s see if they can capture the atmosphere of old Sicily as brilliantly as they did with Lost Heaven, much like how 9 nine casino immerses players in its engaging environments.
Grand Theft Auto VI (Fall)
The biggest bombshell of the year. The first new GTA in ten years, and with the series’ first female protagonist to boot. Lucia and Jameson are the local Bonnie and Clyde who, judging by the trailer, will fall in love and then spectacularly fall out.
The action returns to Vice City, and the city has become absolutely massive. They’ve added tons of new vehicles – jet skis, hovercrafts, and even a giant container ship. Plus there’s going to be a TikTok parody, and it’s scary to imagine what Rockstar has cooked up there. The trailer hit 234 million views in a couple of months – looks like another sales record is guaranteed.
Doom: The Dark Ages (Date TBA)
id Software decided to tell the Doom Slayer’s origin story, and do it… in a medieval setting. Yes, Doom now comes with swords, axes, and castles. But don’t roll your eyes just yet – they’ve managed to squeeze in a chainsaw shield, a mechanical dragon, and even a huge mech.
If anyone else was doing this, we’d be worried. But this is id Software – they turned the original 1993 Doom into gold in 2016, so we’re keeping the faith.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Date TBA)
Kojima’s up to something again, and nobody knows what. Sam Bridges (Norman Reedus) will embark on a worldwide journey to save humanity. He’ll be joined by familiar faces Fragile (Léa Seydoux) and Higgs (Troy Baker), plus newcomer Elle Fanning in an unknown role.
We know approximately nothing about the gameplay, but this is Kojima – even if he told us, we probably wouldn’t understand until release anyway.
Ghost of Yōtei (Date TBA)
300 years after Ghost of Tsushima, the story continues in Hokkaido. The protagonist is a female assassin named Atsu, who wields not just swords but firearms too. The action revolves around Mount Yōtei, and judging by what they’ve shown, the views are going to be absolutely stunning.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra (Date TBA)
Script and design by Amy Hennig, creator of Uncharted – interesting already! A story about Captain America and Black Panther (King Azzuri of Wakanda) beating up Nazi HYDRA in occupied Paris circa 1943. You’ll also get to play as elite soldier Gabriel Jones and Wakandan spy Nanali.
Cronos: The New Dawn (Date TBA)
After successfully remaking Silent Hill 2, Bloober Team has tackled their own horror game. And what a game – the action takes place in both 1980s communist Poland and a post-apocalyptic future. The main character works for the mysterious “Union” and tries to find people in the past who can save the remnants of humanity.
The game draws inspiration from the TV series Dark and the Dead Space series – quite an unusual combination. Gameplay promises to be similar to Silent Hill 2 – the same intense monster battles and intricate puzzles.
Gothic Remake (Date TBA)
The cult RPG from 2001 is coming back. The story remains the same – a nameless criminal is sent to the mines in the Valley, surrounded by a magical barrier. When the barrier falls, the real adventure begins.
The developers promise to preserve the spirit of the original while expanding the world with new locations and quests. The main thing is not to mess up the legendary combat system – it was difficult in the original, but incredibly engaging.
And these aren’t even all the 2025 releases – we’ve only picked the biggest ones. Looks like we won’t be getting much sleep next year. Just remember to warn your family that you’ll be a bit busy.