This year promises to be one of the biggest years ever in video game development, whether that means testing out PlayStation’s DualSense or making difficult choices in adopt me pets.
1. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Rebirth stands out among open-world games as an impressive, comprehensive experience that could take players 100 hours or more to explore its entirety, featuring numerous fun minigames along the way.
Characters range from humorous to deadly serious in each mission, and this game avoids the clutter that plagued Remake in favor of a more focused approach.
2. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight has become an immensely popular Metroidvania title since its introduction. At every reveal event for this year’s genre staple, stream chats were filled with calls for Hollow Knight: Silksong to join his friends.
Hornet: Resurrection has evolved into an ambitious sequel featuring that game’s antagonist/ally Hornet. The debut trailer shows off an extensive feature set.
3. Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 was recently revealed at Gamescom video game convention and can already be wishlisted.
Developers promise new ways for players to build and customize their characters, as well as improved animations that make the world seem more alive and interactive.
The story continues where the previous game left off, with new villains threatening Pandora’s safety.
4. Hades 2
Hades 2 is an early access version of Supergiant’s award-winning first game that feels finished already.
Each run, players enter the world and collect upgrades while clearing rooms full of enemies until reaching that run’s boss fight. It is an enjoyable, familiar experience.
It also features numerous improvements. Be it new weapons, pathways, tools or regions being added into the game – every little improvement helps make the experience that much richer.
5. Civilization 7
Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 promises to draw players deeper into its world than any previous game in this genre. Since Civ 6, historical 4X games have seen increased competition but 2K and Firaxis have ensured gameplay remains their priority.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard will also be worth keeping an eye out for, with fans having patiently been waiting over 10 years for this action RPG sequel from Obsidian Entertainment to deliver more fast-paced combat while maintaining Obsidian’s well-known RPG systems.
6. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Last year’s Assassin’s Creed Origins by Ubisoft Montreal proved their mastery of the franchise with its beautiful Egyptian setting and hidden Cleopatra and Julius easter eggs.
Shadows brings its series to feudal Japan with an immersive narrative centered around Yasuke and Naoe’s unique backgrounds. Ubisoft promises an in-depth non-linear campaign focused on tracking down and eliminating targets.
This game also brings back Syndicate’s grappling hook system for an added twist.
7. Assassin’s Creed Origins
Origins is a welcome change to the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Ubisoft rebuilt it from the ground up to add RPG elements and an innovative combat system that emphasizes stat damage over button mashing.
Bayek, an Egypt Medjay, embarks on an arduous mission to dismantle corrupt and powerful secret societies in Ptolemaic Egypt. This game boasts some of the finest parkour of any previous installment of this series.
8. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Ubisoft’s flagship Assassin’s Creed series, following some rough spots – Rogue and Unity being notable examples – is back with a bang with Syndicate, featuring Jacob and Evie Frye fighting for social justice as part of an underground street gang in Victorian London.
Assassin’s Creed games have long been known for their world-building, and Syndicate is no different. London boasts an intriguing variety of architectural structures for the twins to climb while an all-new grappling hook brings roof-jumping to a whole new level.
9. Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
Fans of Indy should anticipate lots of platforming, combat with fists or weapons such as his trusty whip or even just his fists alone and plenty of Nazi punching action! From what we’ve seen so far it also looks to feature exploration and puzzle solving elements.
MachineGames’ brand of immersive action and Nazi-slapping skills from Wolfenstein will bring new depth and excitement to this legendary franchise. Xbox Series X|S, PC and PS5 users can look forward to this journey beginning Spring 2025!
10. Soul Calibur 6
Soul Calibur VI looks set to revive this series’ weapon-based fighting game roots and reignite its excitement.
With its new character, carefully-selected roster, two distinct story modes and numerous gameplay tweaks and improvements – this iteration of the series stands as one of its finest moments since its initial launch. However, not without faults: some elements may feel unfinished.
