2025 is shaping up to be an even bigger year than 2024 in regards to games. Nintendo is gearing up to launch the Switch 2 soon with many yet-to-be-announced titles expected and several major publishers preparing to release their biggest games. Of course, the hallmark GTA VI comes out this year – one of the most hyped-up games in history. But there are a few other titles that deserve some spotlight, and a few hidden gems too. Here’s a list of what I’m most looking forward to this year.

The interest in Chinese games in the West has had a massive boost since last year, all thanks to the success of Black Myth: Wukong. Where Winds Meet is another game by a Chinese developer, with the trailers showing off a fantasy world inspired by Chinese mythology, accompanied by slick animations and stylish gameplay. The game has a heavy focus on high-octane boss battles with careful parry and dodge mechanics with tons of spectacle. For fans of action games, especially Souls games, Where Winds Meet is shaping up to be a must-play for this year. Where Winds Meet releases sometime in 2025.

The name is a bit of a mouthful, but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a fresh take on the turn-based RPG – a genre of game that has declined in popularity as the years have gone by. The game sprinkles in some real-time combat in turn-based battles, with what seems to be heavy inspiration from the Persona games with its flashy presentation and rhythmic combat. The most interesting part, however, is the story. The setup is as follows: there is a paintress that inscribes a number on a monolith every year, and all people aged of that number turn to ash. Gustave, aged 32 and left with a year to live, leads the charge on Expedition 33, the last ditch effort to stop the paintress as she prepares to paint the number 33 on the monolith. The game features an impressive cast as well, with the likes of Ben Starr, Charlie Cox and Andy Serkis voicing lead roles. Expedition 33 releases on April 24th, 2025.

The long-awaited sequel to 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, a fan favorite in the last decade for open-world action-adventure games. Ghost of Tsushima, set in feudal Japan, had an emphasis on realistic blade combat as well as very Akira Kurosawa-inspired visuals and themes. Ghost of Yotei continues this tradition, but now follows a different protagonist, Atsu, as she tackles the early Edo period of Japan in 1603 as another iteration of the concept of the ‘Ghost’. And just like last game, there’s an animal companion that follows you throughout your journey but instead of a horse – it’s now a wolf, which reflects Atsu’s personality as an underdog in the story. The details of the game's combat are still scarce, but we can expect it to follow in a similar fashion as the last game. The trailer reveals stunning landscapes and picturesque horizons that almost seem painted, too. Ghost of Yotei releases sometime in 2025. 

This one holds a special place in my heart, the long-awaited follow-up to Doom: Eternal, one of the most well-designed and fun FPS games ever made. While Eternal had a focus on extremely fast-paced combat with dashes, quick weapon swaps and acrobatics, The Dark Ages is taking a complete left turn by restricting your movement heavily. Instead of being a flexible Doom Slayer, you’re now completely grounded and armed with a heavy shield to make up for it. The game wants you to become a complete tank – an immovable force and gives you a wide arsenal of heavy weapons to do that too, all while the heavy metal music booms in the background. And you can do that in immense style too, since the Doom Slayer now sports a slick black cape to add to the aesthetic. Doom: The Dark Ages releases on May 15th, 2025.

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