After another strong year of video game releases, it’s already clear that 2025 has the potential to meet the expectations gamers have created for launches. From long-awaited sequels to unique stories, the lineup of games for the year certainly holds promise.
To get a glimpse at what’s on the horizon, I have asked members of the OU Esports Media & News team to pitch in some of their most anticipated games for 2025.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
Since the Japanese release of Xenoblade Chroniclesin 2010 and its North American release in 2012, fans worldwide have flocked to the game’s world and the following games in the trilogy. However, one side entry–Xenoblade Chronicles X–was left behind in the transition between the WiiU and the Nintendo Switch.
After ten years since the release of Xenoblade Chronicles X, fans will finally have a chance to play the game on the Nintendo Switch. This updated edition of the game boasts updated visuals, narrative additions, and more.
News Writer Emiliano Cardenas Ramos is thrilled to finally have the chance to play this entry in the series.
“I see people are genuinely excited for this since many, including myself, missed this on the WiiU, and those that did play the original release are excited for more people to play this title,” Cardenas Ramos said. “Also, the description for this game mentions newly added story elements, and who knows what that could mean for the series as a whole since Xenoblade Chronicles X is separate from the trilogy.”
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Editionis slated to release Mar. 20, exclusive to the Nintendo Switch.
Image courtesy of IGDB
Mars Tactics
Image courtesy of IGDB
The first game developed by Tabiki Games is a turn-based tactical game where you drop into a fight between two warring factions on Mars. In a war that spans the planet, you must choose between the Labor revolutionaries or the Capital army to determine the fate of the world’s people. Players not only control the major movements of troops in the game but also the lives of individual soldiers who may have the makings of heroes.
News Writer Drake Kojnik is interested to see how this debut game fares.
“The destructive environments and different factions both seem really cool,” Kojnik said.
Mars Tacticsis set to release in 2025 and can be wishlisted on Steam.
Ghost of Yōtei
Five years ago, Ghost of Tsushimaenraptured the world with its rich story, unique combat, and attention to detail of life in Japan during the first Mongol invasion. Ghost of Yōteipromises to only enhance that experience as a standalone sequel set over 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima.
News Coordinator Will Edmonds is excited for this extension to the world Ghost of Tsushimacreated.
“I loved the first game in the series, Ghost of Tsushima,” Edmonds said. “It was one of the best Playstation 4 exclusives of the time and brought a gorgeous art style and an amazing fantasy of being either a samurai or a ninja to gaming. The sequel looks to be expanding upon these aspects with a brand new location within Japan to explore.”
Ghost of Yōteiis currently slated for release in 2025 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
Image courtesy of IGDB
Death Stranding 2
Image courtesy of IGDB
Regarding narrative-heavy sequels, Death Stranding 2: On the Beachis anticipated to be a headliner of the year. While not much is known yet about the story of this sequel, it has been announced that Death Stranding’s central characters will return alongside new faces to the franchise.
Media Member David Espinoza is cautiously optimistic about the upcoming sequel.
“Hideo Kojima and his nigh-unlimited budget strike again: graphical fidelity is beyond comprehension, and the science fiction vehicles are also the same,” Espinoza said. “But, I worry that Kojima will be unable to cut the weird, crazy fluff that sometimes bogs down his productions, and the game will turn out a bit of a mess at first.”
Death Stranding 2is set to be released in 2025 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
Though Pokemon news has recently been focused on its trading card game and app, Pokemon Legends Z-Ais also in the works. Using the spin-off format from Pokemon Legends Arceusthat fans loved, this new game will return players to the Kalos region and bring back the popular Mega Evolution mechanic. News since the initial game trailer has been sparse, but that hasn’t dulled the excitement around the upcoming title.
Media member Will Goolsby is eagerly awaiting more on this Pokemon spin-off game.
“I love Pokemon and especially Mega Evolution, so seeing the return of both is exciting,” Goolsby said. “The other ‘Legends’ spinoff game was a favorite of mine in recent years, so I bet this one will also be amazing.”
Pokemon Legends Z-Adoes not yet have a specific release date announced, but The Pokemon Company has stated it will release in 2025.
Image courtesy of The Pokemon Company
skate.
Image courtesy of EA
In 2007, skate.first came onto the sports game scene with thrilling skateboarding action. A dedicated fanbase soon flocked to the franchise, culminating in the inclusion of online multiplayer and a host of tools to support the community in Skate 3.For over a decade, though, the franchise has remained relatively quiet, though a new installment was announced in 2020.
Now, the next generation of skate.is ready to launch, and the developers have promised to create the game with a community focus to expand on the success of Skate 3.
Media Lead Kaori Thomas is eagerly awaiting this installment.
“I’m excited to see the online community around the game,” Thomas said. “I think the game can be really fun if it gets updated, and the developers keep listening to the community and supporting the game.”
skate.is set to release in early access in 2025 on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4, and console playtesting is currently underway. There are also plans for a mobile release, though the developers have not confirmed if that will be included in the early access release.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
In 2024, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth transported long-time fans of the Yakuza franchise to an action-filled Hawaii vacation and rounded out the story of the series’s original protagonist. But, the series has one more twist for its original generation of characters: the chaotic, powerful Majima. Usually a wildcard in any fight, Majima finds himself in a pirate’s world where his chaos may be the one thing that allows him to rise to the top.
Media Member Cameron Johnston has only one thing on his mind for this game.
“I want to see Majima as a pirate,” Johnston said.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii releases February 20 on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Image courtesy of SEGA
Silksong
Image courtesy of IGDB
Those who remember our anticipated games article from last year may notice that this game is now listed for the second time. Indeed, it has been another year without a release date set for the long-anticipated sequel to Hollow Knight, but fans speculate that 2025 may be the year.
News Writer Kate Leach is one of those fans holding out hope, though they worry that the long wait may dampen the experience of the game.
“I’m excited for the game because Hollow Knight was really fun and creative, but I’m concerned that the hype has built up too much at this point,” Leach said. “I don’t know if Silksongwill be able to make up for the years we’ve been waiting for it.”
Though a release date has not yet been announced, the developers of Silksongpromised fans that the game is still being made, which gives some hope for a 2025 release.
Mafia: The Old Country
Since the release of Mafiain 2002, scores of gamers have flocked to the series’s world of organized crime and interesting story elements. A new game, however, has not been released since 2016, as the focus shifted to remastering Mafiaand Mafia II.Finally, though, developer Hangar 13 is nearly ready to release Mafia: The Old Country.Following a new protagonist before the events of the first game, Mafia: The Old Countrypromises the strongest story in the franchise and will explore the origins of the mafia.
Media Member Diego Villanueva is excited for another installment in the Mafia series.
“I’ve been a massive fan of the Mafia games for a while,” Villanueva said. “They’re underrated Grand Theft Auto-like games, and I’m ready to see more.”
Mafia: The Old Countryis set to release in Summer 2025.
Image courtesy of 2K
FBC: Firebreak
Image courtesy of Remedy Games
Though Remedy Games has become noted for their single-player narrative games, from Max Payneto Alan Wake 2,they’re stepping into new territory with their upcoming title FBC: Firebreak.Taking place after the events of Control, FBC: Firebreakwill be a three-player co-op title where players will have to tackle familiar and new enemies as the Federal Bureau of Control struggles to retake the Oldest House from dangerous forces.
As the first multiplayer and self-published game by Remedy Games, much is still unknown about what this title will bring to the connected universe the developer has created within its games and how it will impact the narrative of Control 2.
Still, Media and News Coordinator Rae Machado is ready to jump into the chaos of FBC: Firebreak.
“I’m not much of a first-person shooter fan most of the time,” Machado said. “But the world of Controlis enough to draw me in. I’ve wanted to return to the Oldest House for years, and I’m so ready to get a peek at what the world has become inside of the building’s walls after being isolated for so long.”
FBC: Firebreakwill release in 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
This list of ten games is only a fraction of the slate set for 2025, but this sample shows the potential that this year has. Something for every gamer is set to come out in 2025, though gamers across genres must wait for release dates to be set.
That fact does beg the question: how many of us on this list will be disappointed by release delays into 2026?
However, I like to remain on the more hopeful side of things. While we may have some big-name games not released when they are anticipated to, the next Balatroor Hi-Fi Rushmay arrive when we least expect it. Toby Fox could finally drop the next chapter of Deltarune, or the next Kingdom Heartsgame might be announced.
As they say, only time will tell.
