With 2024 now firmly in the rear view mirror, we run through all the AAA games we're most looking forward to throughout the year ahead.
Looking ahead to the new year at all the exciting upcoming AAA releases we can’t wait to play on all major platforms.
Despite a relatively slow start, it’s impossible to deny that 2024 was a year that lacked blockbuster must-play titles. From Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown way back in January all the way up to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in December, the entire year didn’t leave people without anything to play regardless of if they play on console or PC. As one year ends another one begins, however, and it’s to this seemingly bright future that we want to look ahead at all the most exciting games we can’t wait to play on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo in 2025.
2025 has the potentially to be a very big year for the house of Mario in particular, since it’s highly though that the Nintendo Switch 2 might make an appearance very soon. Hardware aside, in this article we’ll be running through the 10 upcoming 2025 video games we're most excited for coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo and PC. Not all are guaranteed to release, of course, but for now all the following titles have a tentative, if not hard release window of next year. Let’s take a look…
Assassin‘s Creed Shadows
Originally scheduled to release on November 15, 2024, the latest entry into Ubisoft’s longstanding Assassin’s Creed series suffered a delay last minute and is now scheduled to launch on February 14, 2025 – Valentine’s Day itself. When it inevitably does release, players will be treated to a beautiful version of 16th-century Japan to explore as one of two protagonists: Naoe is the traditional silent assassin type, while Yasuke promises to be a lot more forthcoming, based upon the historical African samurai figure of the same name. Assassin’s Creed Shadows promises to be the type of entry that should appease fans of the franchise’s old and new period, so let’s hoping Ubisoft can pull it off.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
A ground up remake of the original 2004 PS2 masterpiece of a similar name, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater certainly looks gorgeous. The question we’re still left wondering, however, is whether developer Konami can live up to the tall task of taking one of the stealth-action series’ most beloved entries and making it relevant for a new generation. So far all we’ve seen from Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a rather nice facelift and some small changes to the controls and camera. Built on Unreal Engine 5 we’d expect nothing less, but we’re curious as to whether the lack of Kojima’s involvement can see Snake’s Cold War mission achieve the same impact it did the first time around.
Grand Theft Auto 6
Arguably one of the most anticipated AAA titles of all time, it’s now been well over a year since developer Rockstar Games gave us our first look at Grand Theft Auto 6 with its debut trailer. The new take on Vice City certain looks varied and entertaining – now all we’re left waiting to see is how the game actually plays . Sure, there’s guaranteed to be the same GTA rigamarole of performing heists, jacking cars, and poking fun at tech billionaires, but if Rockstar truly does intend to release GTA 6 sometime in 2025 it shouldn’t be long until we see more. GTA 6 is the game other AAA games are wildly scared of, so don’t expect a lot of hard release dates until Rockstar nails down one of its own.
Borderlands 4
Despite the movie version of Borderlands falling flat on its face with long-time fans as well as at the box office, Gearbox is hoping to bring back some cachet with the launch of Borderlands 4 in 2025. Sporting four new vault hunters to play as, a new central villain to take down, and even more types of creative weaponry, Borderlands 4 looks to scratch the same chaotic FPS itch the series is known for, albeit in a way that takes full advantage of current-gen hardware. No loading screens between areas should make for a seamless experience, one that is promised to allow for different traversal techniques thanks to new vehicles and the addition of a grappling hook. If you’re seeking a fun time shooting in co-op with friends, Borderlands 4 is one to watch in 2025.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Originally announced for the Nintendo Switch as we know it, there’s now a high chance that the fourth instalment in Retro’s beloved Metroid: Prime series could be exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. The truth is we won’t know for sure until the nature of Nintendo’s next console is fully unveiled. For now, however, our most recent look at Samus’ space-faring adventure was incredibly atmospheric and otherworldly, surely making it one of the 2025 games worth keeping an eye on the most. Its ‘Beyond’ subtitle suggest that the ambition here is bigger than any Metroid Prime game before it.
Monster Hunter Wilds
After garnering great success with the release of both Monster Hunter World and then Monster Hunter Rise, Capcom’s beast-slaying series has now taken full hold in the West and promises to reach its full potential on February 28, 2025, with the release of Monster Hunter Wilds. This time around players can ride on their Seikret mount to gain a better sense of the area, performing crucial acts such as weapon sharpening and healing without having to pause the action. Alongside the same satisfying gameplay loop from before, Wilds places a greater emphasis on story and will support four-player online co-op to take on some of the biggest monsters ever to appear on the series. Combined with impressive weather effects and multiple biomes based on a different theme, this is one ambitious instalment Monster Hunter fans won’t want to miss.
Atomfall
Described by some as a British take on Bethesda’s wildly popular Fallout series, Atomfall is an open-world survival game with RPG elements where the world is left stuck in the 1960s following a nuclear disaster. Primarily set in the North of England, it’s your job to explore the quarantine zone in search of answers, bumping into various bandit camps and mutated beings along the way. Ammunition in scarce in the world of Atomfall, meaning you’ll need to get to grips using melee weapons such as spades and truncheons. We really enjoyed the hour or so we got to play at this year’s Gamescom, finding it a good excuse to cause a bit of chaos within a barren take on the British countryside on March 27, 2025.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
After previewing the first few hours of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 earlier this year, we came away impressed with the number of options and freedom of choice this medieval first-person RPG provides while doing away with the jank of the original. It’s another ambitious AAA release set to launch next year that’s been delayed multiple times, a fact that should hopefully see it release in a highly polished state. You once again take on the role of Henry from Skalitz fighting his way through 15th century Bohemia, this time digging into the turmoil of a civil war across two large maps as opposed to one. The addition of crossbows brings additional depth to enemy encounters in what is easily a promising action RPG set to launch on February 4, 2025.
Doom: The Dark Ages
After all but perfecting the fast-paced FPS with 2020’s brilliant Doom Eternal, developer Id Software is taking no prisoners with the franchise’s next instalment, which serves as a prequel set to explore the origins of the Doom Slayer. In real terms, this gives Doom: The Dark Ages the ability to serve as a clean slate for newcomers while staying true to the series’ incredibly metal and hellish iconography in a cool new way. Currently, Doom: The Dark Ages doesn’t have a specific release date outside of a plain ‘2025’, but you can be assured that when it does launch on PC and console ripping and tearing will be given a whole new meaning thanks to the addition of a Shield Saw weapon and various other ways to slaughter.
Fable
Though still without an official release date, the handful of times Fable has broken cover at the odd Xbox Showcase with a new trailer has stoked up our excitement immensely. Developed by Playground Games, the same studio known for creating attractive and absorbing worlds in its Forza Horizon series, the sky is the limit with what it could potentially achieve when creating a witty and wry fantasy setting for a new generation of RPG fans. Hopefully 2025 is the year where players on Xbox, PC, and potentially even PS5 will be able to visit a revitalised version of Albion to become the hero it so sorely needs.
