2025 is finally upon us and if the current game release calendar is anything to go by, there’s a lot to look forward to. Today, I wanted to share the games that I’m most excited about that (as of writing) are planned to release this year. Let’s get into it!
Unbeatable
There’s no game I’m more excited about this year than Unbeatable. Developed by D-Cell Games, I’ve been excited about this music-centric, adventure/rhythm game from the moment it appeared on my screen during Day of the Devs in 2021, and its energetic re-reveal trailer last year blew me away. Everything from its premise of a world where music’s illegal to its art style that’s clearly inspired by the anime team Studio Trigger speaks to me as a big fan of both fields. The songs that have been teased are also total earworms and have me thirsty for the rest of the soundtrack. If you weren’t aware of Unbeatable before, it should absolutely be a game that you keep on your radar.
Grand Theft Auto VI
Yes, there’s a very good chance that Grand Theft Auto VI slips in 2026. Regardless, it’s currently slated for release this fall and will be a cultural event unlike any other. Records will be broken and minds will be blown over how intricately detailed Rockstar’s new version of Vice City is. Rockstar is in a class of its own when it comes to making immersive open worlds, so I can’t wait to see how the team builds on GTA V and Red Dead Redemption II to continue innovating and pushing the industry forward.
South of Midnight
Of the first-party Xbox titles on this list, South of Midnight is the one that I’m looking forward to the most. First announced in 2023, its distinct art style makes it stand out from the crowd, and I’ve only become more interested in it as we’ve seen gameplay and learned more about it. One such exciting element is how Compulsion Games is taking inspiration from the Deep South for its world and story. It’s a region and culture that I can’t recall seeing in many games, setting the stage for South of Midnight to be a wholly unique experience. With the announcement that it’ll be appearing in this month’s Xbox Developer Direct on January 23, I’m hoping that we get a release date for this promising new IP.
Ghost of Yōtei
Ghost of Tsushima is one of my favorite games from PlayStation Studios, and if the announcement trailer for Ghost of Yōtei is anything to go by, Sucker Punch is poised to impress once again. A new region and time period free it from the shackles of its predecessor, making way for a brand new protagonist in Atsu as well as a fresh story and cast of characters to get attached to. New weapons look to spice up combat and beautiful visuals make this new environment just as picturesque as Tsushima. Assuming it doesn’t slip to 2026, Ghost of Yōtei could easily be one of the best games of this year.
Split Fiction
Ever since Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was released in 2013, I’ve always been drawn to any new project from Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight since their emphasis on one-of-a-kind cooperative experiences is something that I admire. I haven’t been able to partake in the team’s earlier projects A Way Out and It Takes Two due to my lack of a co-op partner, but I’m still very excited about their next game, Split Fiction, which looks like it’ll be their most imaginative one yet. Traveling between sci-fi and fantasy worlds and using abilities that evolve throughout each level sounds like something one would get from the best platformers on the market. There’s loads of creative potential on offer here, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to experience it for myself at some point this year.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
What instantly caught my eye about Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was its battle system. Merging turn-based combat with real-time elements such as parrying, blocking, and countering isn’t a completely new idea for an RPG, but its presentation here makes combat more dynamic and exciting. There’s also the stylish UI that’s reminiscent of what you’d get from Atlus games like Persona and Metaphor ReFantazio. Combine that with an intriguing story about stopping a deity who wipes out everyone of a certain age each year, and you have a game that I’m 1,000% here for.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
The first Death Stranding is a game that I found intriguing, but for some reason, didn’t feel compelled to play. That’s all changed with the sequel Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. My tastes have evolved and everything about it from the weird stop-motion puppet character to Troy Baker’s character fighting with a weaponized guitar is screaming at me to dive into this bizarre universe. Of course, my jumping onto this new installment in Hideo Kojima’s fascinating franchise is contingent on my enjoyment of the first game, but Death Stranding 2 is one that I’ll be keeping a close eye on as we march closer to its release later this year.
Fable
Playground Games has been hard at work on Fable for some time now. First announced in 2020, we’ve seen a lot that shows the series’ trademark humor is still intact, but very little of actual gameplay. While that fact is keeping my excitement from being greater than it is, I’m still pretty hyped for this franchise’s return at some point this year solely because of who’s making it. Playground has made some great games with the Forza Horizon series and from the little we’ve seen of Fable, I trust that it’ll live up to their pedigree. Hopefully the final product doesn’t turn out to be a disappointment.
Tron Catalyst
Tron Legacy is one of my favorite movies of all time, so I’m always excited to return to that world in whatever form that takes. Developed by Bithell Games, Tron Catalyst puts an isometric action adventure spin on the franchise, and it looks phenomenal! The neon-soaked visuals of The Grid are beautiful and the gameplay looks like a lot of fun, so I couldn’t be more excited to play this game. And with the latest movie, Tron Ares, set for release in October, this will be the perfect companion piece for the franchise’s return to the big screen.
Nintendo Switch 2
This is a bit of a cheat answer since the Switch 2 is a console and not a game, but I’m including it anyway because along with GTA VI, it’s arguably the biggest gaming release of the year. The console’s been highly anticipated for years, and even though I don’t play my Switch much, that hasn’t kept me from being excited for Nintendo’s next-generation take on their revolutionary hybrid console. Recent pictures that allege to be renders of the hardware reveal a system that doesn’t appear to break from the mold of the original Switch, but what’ll be most important are the games. If rumors are to be believed, we can expect to see some great first-party and third-party games coming to the Switch 2 once it’s finally in our hands. The official reveal should be happening any day now, so we won’t have to wait long to get all our answers including its price and release date.
TheComfySpot 