2025 has seen no shortage of notable fresh meat in the video game stratosphere. From the latest installments of big franchises like Death Stranding 2 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, to humble yet mighty surprises such as Split Fiction and Expedition 33, and of course some… less exciting releases, looking at you, But we’re only just over halfway through the year, and with release cycles set to ramp up towards the conclusion of the year, there’s still plenty to look forward to.e.
But we’re only just over halfway through the year, and with release cycles set to ramp up towards the conclusion of the year, there’s still plenty to look forward to.. I’m Foxdrop with Mobalytics, and here are 12 games you’re gonna want to have on your radar
The Games
Hollow Knight: Silksong
It’s been almost a decade since the release of one of the greatest platformers of the modern era, but Team Cherry’s highly anticipated follow-up to Hollow Knight should finally be seeing the light of day. Silksong fans know EXACTLY why I use the word “should” here, and I do apologise if we’ve jinxed it. Having said that, there’ll be a playable public demo at Gamescom in August, which strongly suggests a release announcement and date may come soon.
In Hollow Knight: Silksong, you play as Hornet, the needle-wielding half sister of the hero of the first game. Like the first, you’ll explore beautiful hand‑drawn worlds, master traversal tools (like grappling), confront countless enemies, and discover deep NPC lore hidden throughout the map.
As a Metroidvania, you can expect fast-paced combat, challenging bosses, and deep exploration into atmospheric environments. Christopher Larkin, the original soundtrack composer for Hollow Knight, returns in this sequel.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is expected to release later this year, with Xbox Game Pass support from day one confirmed and eventual releases on PC, Nintendo Switch / Switch 2, and PlayStation
Borderlands 4
Following the trend of big franchises getting their next installment, the fifth mainline entry in the Borderlands looter‑shooter franchise, Borderlands 4 (yes, Borderlands 4 is the 5th game, I know, I know) is on the horizon.
Developed by Gearbox and published by 2K, in Borderlands 4 lets you explore a brand-new open world planet, Kairos, while continuing Vault Hunter chaos in first‑person combat with billions of weapon permutations.
Most intriguingly, in Borderlands 4, you know we’re absolutely suckers for a good skill tree and build, so keep your eyes peeled on our channels for the best Borderlands 4 coverage when it’s out.
Its release date is confirmed as September 12, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam/Epic), with a Nintendo Switch 2 version arriving shortly after
Hades 2
Early access has been out for over a year at this point for Hades 2. Since then, it has received multiple major updates refining combat, character relationships, and Guardian encounters. Fans have noticed potential “final” updates that may indicate that early access is winding down, which puts the game on this list.
You play as Melinoë, the immortal Princess of the Underworld and sister to the protagonist of the first game, in her quest to defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time. Her journey unfolds across both the Underworld and the Surface realms—including Oceanus, Summit, and Mount Olympus. This split journey, alongside the new magic system, are the two features I’m looking forward to the most in this one.
The game received mixed reviews in early access, but it’s not a complete game yet, so it’s understandable. It also had massive shoes to fill, being that Hades is one of the greatest action roguelikes of all time.
No official full launch date has been announced yet, but developer Supergiant Games appears confident the release is nearing completion. It will most likely be available on the same platforms as its prequel - that’s to say PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and even mobile.
Ghost of Yōtei
Set 300 years after Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is a Samurai-themed action adventure set in feudal Japan. The standalone narrative follows a haunted mercenary named Atsu traversing rural northern Japan in 1603, driven by revenge for her slain family.
The first game, Ghost of Tsushima, was one of my absolute favorites from 2020. The way rolling around in the mud actually made your equipment dirty was awesome, to speak nothing of the entertaining combat and story.
This time around, Ghost of Yōtei promises a less repetitive open world, strong environmental variety, and story‑driven combat experiences. It looks like Sucker Punch, the developers of the series, are staying true to the strengths of the original while still building upon it.
The game will be coming out on October 2, exclusive to PlayStation 5, with a later PC release likely.
Mafia: The Old Country
Mafia: The Old Country returns to the roots of the Mafia series with an origin story set in 1900s Sicily. You play as Enzo Favara, navigating a gritty mob underworld through immersive third‑person storytelling. The game even features full Sicilian voice acting for authenticity and contextual depth.
The first Mafia game, released in 2002 on the PS2 and original Xbox, was a real dark horse during its time. It got a remake in 2020, which I highly recommend if you haven’t played it yet, especially since the story of The Old Country is a prequel to the first title.
I wasn’t a massive fan of Mafia 3, so I remain slightly skeptical about this one, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to seeing how it goes.
Mafia: The Old Country will launch on August 8. It will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox.
The Outer Worlds 2
The Outer Worlds 2, the sequel to many a fan’s favorite off-brand Fallout game, will soon hit shelves and your game library of choice. To be fair, calling The Outer Worlds an off-brand Fallout game is doing it an injustice. It was directed by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, who created Fallout, and developed by Obsidian, who made Fallout: New Vegas.
Taking inspiration from sci-fi heavyweights Futurama, Firefly, and Deadwood, the first game’s success was a welcome surprise.
The second game takes players to a massive colony called Arcadia, under the Protectorate’s authoritarian rule. Gameplay improvements include enhanced gunplay inspired by Halo and Destiny, a revamped perks/flaws dialogue system, broader exploration and parkour movement, new weapon types, and dynamic first-/third-person shifting.
I’m a massive fan of Obsidian anyway, I was one of the few people who thought Avowed was incredible, so yeah. This is definitely going on my wishlist.
It is set for release on October 29, 2025, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S and will also be day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Ninja Gaiden 4
It’s been over a decade since the last mainline Ninja Gaiden game, but rejoice, fans of intense, high-speed action, as Team Ninja has cooked up a fresh serving of one of the most beloved and long-standing hack-and-slash games.
In Ninja Gaiden 4, you once again take control of the legendary Ryu Hayabusa, who now faces a global crisis sparked by a shadowy cult tied to ancient dragonblood rituals. As you might expect from a Ninja Gaiden entry, the gameplay promises fast melee combat and punishing difficulty.
You’ll be able to use returning weapons like the Dragon Sword, Lunar Staff, and Kusari-gama - but this time with a modern combat system featuring parries, executions, and aerial juggles. You’ll also unlock powerful Ninpo spells, new traversal tools, and brutal stealth takedowns as you move through the open levels.
There’ll also be challenge modes designed for speedrunners and hardcore fans alike. Ninja Gaiden 4 will be released on October 21st for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Arc Raiders
PvPvE may sound like a mouthful, and the mixed success of the emerging extraction shooter genre has gamers rightfully concerned when a new one is announced. Escape from Tarkov may have big boots to fill, and Arc Raiders is a game that is looking to do just that after Marathon's blunders.
You enlist as a Raider to try to thrive in a desolate world overrun by machines known as Arcs. Of course, as with any good game in this genre, the real danger comes from other players who will look to shoot you down and steal your loot. Each run is 30 minutes, during which you travel to the surface and grab whatever you can. Your base is underground, where you can sell, craft, and prepare for the next raid.
The game looks to deliver more than fun gunplay and looting, though, with NPC traders to barter with and quests to undertake.
Time will tell, as gunplay will be released on October 30th for PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Slay the Spire 2
My personal most anticipated game for this year has gotta be Slay the Spire 2. I’m not a massive roguelike kinda guy. I’m not even a huge deck builder kinda guy, games like Monster Train, Griftlands, and Across the Obelisk, I could never get into. But there’s just something about Slay the Spire that made me sink an ungodly amount of hours into it.
By all accounts, Slay the Spire 2 should be more of the same. Start at the bottom of the spire, choose your path to the top, acquire cards and relics to build a deck that will help you defeat the enemies and bosses on your way. There’s no guarantee which cards or relics you’ll be offered, so your decks will vary from run to run.
A new cast of characters will accompany some of the existing members, and there’ll be new enemies, new cards, and all that lovely stuff. There are also new mechanics that I’m not too sure about, but we will see when it’s out for real!
There is no solid release date yet, but it’s confirmed that another Early Access is planned for PC later this year. The full release will no doubt populate the same platforms as its predecessor, including Xbox, PS5, Switch, and mobile.
Crimson Desert
Developed and published by Pearl Abyss—the creators of Black Desert Online—Crimson Desert is an ambitious open-world, action-adventure RPG.
The game unfolds on the war-ravaged continent of Pywel, a medieval fantasy realm teetering on the brink of collapse after the King falls into a coma. Players embody Kliff Macduff, leader of the mercenary band known as the Greymanes, tasked with restoring order while confronting past traumas and ongoing betrayals.
Aside from being thrown into the shoes of someone called Kliff Macduff, the game ticks a lot of boxes, at least on the surface, so far. The combat is flashy, fast, pretty much what you’d expect from the makers of BDO, the environments are pretty, there are boss fights, and character customisation. Even the campaign is said to be upwards of 80 hours long.
Ambitious certainly is the word for it. These kinds of games are sometimes overly ambitious, wide, but very narrow. We’ll find out soon if that’s the case with Crimson Desert.
It’s set to release late 2025, potentially in November, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
It’s been over twenty years since the cult hit Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines dropped. Development of the sequel has been tumultuous, to say the least. Development eventually switched hands to The Chinese Room in 2021, by far the company’s biggest job to date.
In Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, you embody Phyre, a customizable elder vampire who awakens in modern-day Seattle during a historic snowstorm, centuries after being dormant. You’re a vampire of great power, but haunted, you must navigate a city on the brink of supernatural war amid warring factions.
It’s an immersive vampire-themed first-person RPG action game. You get to choose from different clans that will affect how you play the game - one focusing on melee strength, one on stealth, one on magic, one on vampire skills, loads of cool stuff there. You can even make hybrid builds by feeding on other vampires to create your own customisable playthrough.
It all seems really cool. I have loved a gritty vampire game ever since Blood Omen 2 on the PS2 back in the early 2000s.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 drops in October this year for PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Dispatch
Lastly, let’s go outside the box with Dispatch, a tell-tale superhero workplace comedy game. I say game, but the developers intend for Dispatch to play a little more like a TV show than just a game.
Developed by Ad Hoc, containing several ex-Telltale members, the real thing that sets this game apart from previous Telltale-style games like The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead is its animation style. Simply put, Dispatch looks gorgeous. Wrap it in a lighthearted, dysfunctional superhero theme, and you have what promises to be a true dark horse of 2025.
The voice acting talent needs to be mentioned too: TV stars Aaron Paul and Jeffrey Wright, voice acting legends Laura Bailey and Mathew Mercer, hell, even some MoistCritikal and Jacksepticeye are in the game
By all accounts, the actual gameplay loop of being a management sim is pretty damn fun too. There’s a demo out already,and the game will release later this year on PC and consoles.
