2024 was a spectacular year in gaming. And no doubt, you're busy battling your way through a back catalogue of epic adventures released over the past 12 months. But with a new year comes new releases to look forward to.
The gaming industry is not one to rest on its laurels. And already hundreds of amazing titles are already slated for release, vying for your time and attention. Expect plenty of surprise announcements in the coming weeks and months to keep the excitement going.
From action and adventure to cooperative puzzlers and first-person shooters to real-time strategy, here are ten stand-out releases that should please gamers across all interests.
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Fans of action-adventure were in limbo when it was announced that Assassin's Creed Shadows would be delayed. But 2024's loss is next year's gain, as the game is finally set to launch on February 14th. Get those smoke bombs ready.
In Shadows, you play as two characters; Naoe, an adept shinobi assassin, and also Yasuke, a powerful African samurai of historical legend. Set during the later Sengoku period, gamers can expect a sleuth of gripping combat and sleuth work as they herald a new era for Japan.
Split Fiction
Despite just being announced at the Game Awards, Split Fiction has already become one of the main talking points for 2025. If it's anything like its predecessor, It Takes Two, expect this game to redefine cooperative gaming.
You and a friend play as Zoe and Mio, aspiring writers looking for a big break. They put their trust in a simulation company that promises to bring their creations to life (and definitely isn't stealing their ideas!).
But the pair accidentally fall into each other's worlds and must escape by any means necessary. As each writer specialises in different stories, you'll be faced with unique levels that contain high fantasy and gritty sci-fi elements. Expect Split Fiction to unite the gaming world when it launches on March 6th.
Grand Theft Auto VI
With over 93 million views in just 24 hours, it's safe to say that the GTA VI trailer broke the internet when it debuted. And since then, it's become one of the most anticipated games of the decade. Teased to release sometime in the next 12 months, the advice for gamers is clear - have your annual leave ready.
The story of GTA VI is still kept under lock and key right now. But from the trailer, we've learned that the game takes place in Vice City, and you play as Lucia, the series' first female protagonist in 20 years. Lucia is also joined by an unnamed male partner-in-crime, so players can expect endless Bonnie-and-Clyde antics (with guns galore).
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Death Stranding is one of the most chilling and atmospheric experiences in gaming. And it's no surprise that a film adaptation is currently in development. In the game, you played as Sam Bridges, a porter tasked with delivering cargo to isolated cities in an apocalyptic United States. All the while, horrifying creatures stalk your every move.
In On the Beach, Sam is back with a mission to save humanity. Players can expect to battle otherworldly enemies, face challenging obstacles and address the overarching question from the first game – should the world have connected? With the legendary Hideo Kojima at the helm, expect this sequel to become another gaming masterpiece.
Dispatch
From the people who brought us The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead, Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy of epic proportions. Players manage a dysfunctional team of heroes, deploying them around the city to do some good.
Aside from strategising missions, players must also balance office politics, relationships, and their own character's desire to return to life as a hero. Featuring an all-star cast, including Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul and Ireland's own JackSepticEye, expect this choice-based game to provide all the comedy you need when it drops in 2025.
Ghost of Yōtei
Since 2020, Ghost of Tsushima has remained one of the quintessential PlayStation experiences. And while fans may have wanted to see a continuation of the story of samurai Jin Sakai, developers Sucker Punch have chosen a new ghost to guide players through feudal Japan.
Set in Hokkaido some 329 years after the first game, players take control of a new female warrior, Atsu. Adopting the persona of 'The Ghost' again, gamers can expect visceral combat, with choices to make that shape the narrative to your liking. If Ghost of Yōtei enjoys even a hint of success like its predecessor, expect this to become a major moment in the gaming calendar.
Judas
From the creator of Bioshock comes Judas, a first-person narrative-driven shooter game that fans have eagerly awaited since its announcement in 2022. Hopefully, they're still on track for a 2025 release.
In the game, you play as the mysterious and troubled Judas aboard the generation ship Mayflower. Your only hope for survival is to make or break alliances with your worst enemies. Described as having a 'narrative-LEGO' storyline, your choices will have an enormous impact on the game's events. As such, no two playthroughs may feel quite the same. So, will you work together to fix what you broke – or leave it to burn?
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
The Civilization series is one of the most acclaimed turn-based series in gaming. And good news for strategists – you don't have to wait that long for the next epic entry, as CIV VII releases as early as February 11th.
The new release challenges players to build the greatest empire the world has ever seen. But do you follow in the footsteps of history, or chart your own unique way forward? Players have an immense choice in shaping their empire to their liking and can test their greatness in cross-play multiplayer modes. And with various win conditions, whether you go for peace and prosperity or all-out war is totally up to you.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Despite being announced back in 2015, plans for a new Metroid Prime have been complicated, to say the least. Thankfully, 2025 will finally see the rightful return of Samus Aran to our Switch screens in a brand-new galactic adventure.
From the released trailer, fans can expect high-octane gunslinging set in a haunting, isolated world with an enchanting soundtrack to boot. And a new story will continue to cement Samus as one of gaming's legendary protagonists. The only question avid fans might have now is – will this be the first big release on the fabled Switch 2? Time will tell.
Borderlands 4
With its signature humour and loot-based gameplay, Borderlands is one of entertainment's greatest franchises. And despite the lukewarm film adaptation in 2024, die-hard fans have a lot to look forward to as a brand new game enters the fray in 2025.
From the trailer alone, Borderlands 4 promises endless mayhem to enjoy as players journey across the new planet, Kairos. Whether you tackle the game solo or with friends, you can expect to uncover billions of new weapons and meet an endless cast of outrageous characters throughout.
