Reid Main

The release schedule for 2025 is an interesting one. Other than my most anticipated game there is no guarantee I will play anything else on this list. But there is a ton of potential for sleeper hits this year. Looking over that release schedule I honestly have no idea what will be the game of the year. Grand Theft Auto VI is the easy choice but I don't think it is going to make its Fall 2025 release so who knows what the break-out hit will be. Actually thinking about it a bit more, the Switch 2 is the big unknown for 2025. Does Nintendo have some ground breaking launch title tucked away?

1. Monster Hunter Wilds

It should come as no surprise to anyone that has read this blog that Monster Hunter Wilds is my most anticipated game of 2025. I am guaranteed to play it for at least 100 hours and it is already the frontrunner for my game of the year.

2. Citizen Sleeper 2

Citizen Sleeper was a sleeper (hiyooo!) hit of 2022 so I am really interested to see what they do with a sequel. The developer sounds like they do not want to rest on their laurels so I'm expecting to see big departures from the first game.

3. Grand Theft Auto VI

I truly believe that Grand Theft Auto VI will be delayed into 2026 but if it does get released I'm gonna have to play it.

4. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap

It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a tower defence game and I hope Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap can scratch that itch in 2025. It also features a co-op mode so we'll see if I can get any friends to play with me.

5. Civilization VII

I honestly cannot remember the last time I played a 4X game. I love the concept but they are so daunting that every time I think I want to play one I just can't jump over that hurdle and start a game. Here's hoping that Civilization VII can change that.

6. Ghost of Yōtei

One of my greatest shames is never playing Ghost of Tsushima but I hope to make time for its standalone sequel, Ghost of Yōtei.

7. Pokémon Legends: Z-A

My interest in the Pokémon series is the lowest it has ever been, but Pokémon Legends: Arceus was the most enjoyable game of the last decade so perhaps its sequel, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, will rekindle my interest.

8. Avowed

This is a prime example of what I mean when I say 2025 has a lot of potential. Avowed is being pitched as Skyrim meets The Outer Worlds. So the ceiling for it is pretty damn high but at the same time that means there is a lot of room to fall short of those lofty expectations. I am a tiny bit afraid that Avowed could be like other recent "fantasy" games where all of the characters seem to be from Gen Z and talk like someone would tweet. But I haven't seen enough to know anything for certain so I'll keep my eyes peeled for the reviews.

9. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Hideo Kojima is a horrible game director and his writing will go down in history as some of the industry's worst. However, he has managed put good teams together who have created engaging gameplay even if your ears start bleeding when characters speak. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 so the the story is guaranteed to be complete shit. But I have heard good things about MGS 3's gameplay so perhaps I'll make time to check this out.