Dragons, demons and Grand Theft Auto VI: the games to look out for in 2025 | Games

Civilization VII

Explore, expand, exploit, exterminate: the rules of Civilization haven’t changed, but this fiendishly addictive strategy series is long overdue for a rethink. In next year’s edition, you’ll be able to choose between a variety of different leaders and nations to help you achieve world domination, from ancient times and the Age of Exploration to the modern era – peacefully or not.
Released February 11; all platforms

Grand Craft Auto VI

The whole world is holding its breath in anticipation of Rockstar’s new product. The first GTA game to feature a female lead – Lucia and her accomplice. The action takes place in the wild Florida surroundings of Vice City, the series’ version of Miami. Considering GTA V has grossed $8.5 billion over its lifetime, it’s bound to be a megaton of a game.
Release date will be announced later; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

Lost Records: Bloom and Fury

The game is about a group of teenage friends who reunite after 27 years when one of them discovers a secret they shouldn’t know. From the creators of the adult classic Life is Strange, this beautiful narrative game takes you between the magical summer of 1995 and the present day.
Released February 18; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

Wild Monster Hunters

Japanese developer Capcom has made incredible strides this decade, from the excellent new Street Fighter to the Resident Evil revival to this impressively expansive new entry in the dragon-slaying action series. The creatures are impressive, the weapons are gloriously huge and incredible, and the environments are filled with lighting and lush natural diversity.
Release date: February 28; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

Atompad

Fans of The Last of Us and Fallout may perk up at this strangely cozy take on the Lake District post-apocalypse from British developer Rebellion. In this alternate timeline, the 1957 fire on Windscale The nuclear reactor plunged Britain into a new era of desperate survival. There are some pulpy references here, from Doctor Who to Quatermass.
Released March 27; PC, PS4/5, Xbox

DOOM: Dark Ages

Next year, the venerable first-person shooter will get even more metallic, with gothic castles, sci-fi dragons, a shield that doubles as a chainsaw, and, of course, blood flying everywhere from hordes of demons. I’m not sure I can improve on the developer’s description of the game: “YOU ARE A SUPER WEAPON IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELL.”
Release date: TBA; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

Metroid Prime 4

Set for the yet-to-be-announced successor to Nintendo’s wildly successful Switch console, the space adventure has been in development for about 10 years. The first three Metroid Prime games are definitive sci-fi masterpieces, so we’re all hoping for something just as revolutionary this time around from Retro Studios and the iconic character Samus Aran.
Release date: TBA; Nintendo Switch

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

These games about colorful Japanese gangsters usually alternate between grim self-seriousness and downright ridiculousness, but here Sega fully embraces its goofy side, turning flamboyant eyepatch-wearing villain Goro Majima into an amnesiac pirate on the high seas. An extravagant naval action adventure featuring naval combat, stylish swordplay, treasure hunting and a much-needed dose of absurdity.
Release date: February 21; PC, PS4/5, Xbox

Fable

Starring Richard Ayoade and Matt King (Peep Show’s Superhana), this fantasy-adventure comic has the unenviable task of reviving a beloved series that has been dormant for a long time. What we’ve seen so far is encouraging that it retains the sense of humor and British sensibility that has always made Fable unique.
Release date: TBA; Xbox, PC

Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33

A French dark fantasy game with a gripping plot: Every year, a mysterious supernatural artist paints a number on a tower in a ruined version of Paris, and everyone that age turns to ash, Thanos-style. You play as a new team of explorers sent into the twisting wilds to try and stop it. An amazing looking game where the carefully crafted environments are frozen in the middle of destruction.
Release date: TBA; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC