Most anticipated games of 2025
FromKingdom Come: Deliverance 2toClair Obscur: Expedition 33andDeath Stranding 2, 2025 has already been a strong year, but there are so many more games to look forward to.
These are the most exciting games that you should be putting on your wishlists for the rest of the year. However, there is science behind our excitement! To compile this list, we teamed up withMindGAME Data, who use search volume, social impressions, video, and live stream views to predict how big a game will likely be.
These games are leading the pack on cumulative mindSHARE score, the platform’s key metric for measuring which games are dominating the conversation and building the biggest hype trains ahead of their launch. The bigger the score, the bigger the hype.
Top games releasing in 2025
Above, you may see a graph showing the most anticipated games for the rest of the year, but read on to discover why you should be looking forward to them.
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
What it’s about:Set in 2035, the latest Call of Duty sees David Mason return to fight a new threat while the world is on the brink of collapse. It brings another blockbuster campaign, classic multiplayer, and round-based Zombies.
Why we’re excited:Black Ops 2 is one of the best Call of Duty games ever, andBlack Ops 7looks to lean into our fond nostalgic memories of the 2012 FPS, which is no bad thing.
With what looks to be a mind-bending co-op campaign (a series first), fast-paced multiplayer with evolution of BO6’s Omnimovement, andround-based Zombiescarrying on the Dark Aether storyline, there’s something here for everyone.
Throw in some brand-new multiplayer maps and atease that we’ll see some from Black Ops 2 return, and it looks like another great Call of Duty entry.
2025 video game release calendar: All new games coming out this year
Everything we know about Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 after Gamescom reveal
Call of Duty 2027 set to be first new COD franchise in several years
Words by Liam Mackay
7. EA Sports FC 26
What it’s about:EA Sports FC 26brings everything you’d expect from EA’s long-running football franchise, including Career Mode, clubs, and Ultimate Team, but with new additions such as Manager Live and Archetypes.
Why we’re excited:EA FC 26 has put community feedback at the front of its marketing, promising more fluid and responsive movement, better AI, and smarter keepers.
The new features have also caught our eye, including the new Manager Live Challenges with real-world scenarios and alternative storylines, as well as Archetypes that give you more control over your player.
It all makes the soccer game sound like a big step forward and the upgrade we wanted FC 25 to be.
6. Silent Hill f
What it’s about:A standalone prequel to the acclaimed horror franchise,Silent Hill fleaves the titular American town behind as we explore new horrors in 1960s Japan. After Shimizu Hinako’s town has been consumed by a familiar fog that harbors grotesque monsters, she’ll have to fight and solve puzzles to survive.
Why we’re excited:We don’t know much about Silent Hill f yet, the devs are staying very tight-lipped, but everything we’ve seen looks terrifying. The long-running franchise has always put horror at the forefront, and this looks no different.
With the foggy rural Japanese setting as creepy as it is beautiful, nightmarish body horror enemies, and more puzzles to solve, it looks like the game we’ve been waiting for since Silent Hill 2.
5. Mafia: The Old Country
What it’s about:Set in 1900s Sicily,Mafia: The Old Countrygoes back to where it all began and explores the origins of organized crime. New protagonist Enzo Favara escapes a life of poverty by joining the brutal Torrisi crime family, ruled by its enigmatic leader.
Why we’re excited:After Mafia 3 went a little too far in jumping on the open-world bandwagon, The Old Country is going back to what the series does best: polished, focused storytelling. By trimming the excess fat, this prequel to the original game looks set to double down on the cinematic qualities that made the first two titles so special.
This time, we’re going all the way back to Sicily to explore how and why organized crime spread across the Italian island before breaking into the US. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the franchise or a Sopranos fan just looking for more mob stories, ‘Mafia 4’ is making an offer you can’t refuse.
Words by Nathan Warby
4. Ghost of Yotei
What it’s about:Ghost of Yoteitakes place in 1603, more than 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima. As the name suggests, Yotei leaves Jin and the war-raged lands of Tsushima in the past and sets its sights on Atsu – a new protagonist who finds herself roaming through the beautiful vistas of the Hokkaido region.
Why we’re excited:We’re leaving the tiny island of Tsushima behind and heading to Hokkaido – a vast area known for its outstanding beauty. This prospect alone has the armchair adventurer in us incredibly excited. I can’t wait to grab the nearest horse and gallop through the countryside, searching for wandering Ronin to take down.
Also, what’s cooler than a katana? Well, how about two katanas? Yes, Atsu has adouble-bladed combat styleechoing that of Miyamoto Musashi – a legendary swordsman renowned for his undefeated duels. If that wasn’t cool enough, there are also new weapons like the Tanegashima (Matchlock Rifles), which add extra firepower to ranged engagements.
We’ve only seen a little bit of gameplay so far, but still, I can’t wait to see if Sucker Punch has landed another critical hit with Yotei.
Words by James Busby
3. Pokemon Legends: Z-A
What it’s about:In the second Pokemon Legends game, you explore Kalos and its vast capital, Lumiose City.
Why we’re excited:Legends: Arceus is one of the bestPokemongames in recent memory, so the Legends name alone is enough to get us excited.
This innovative title gave the franchise new life, allowing trainers to finally fulfill their dream of freely exploring the Pokemon world. It also had a compelling gameplay loop and provided insight into Sinnoh’s fascinating past.Legends: Z-Awill aim to do the same for Kalos, and we can’t wait to play what has the potential to be the greatest Pokemon game ever made.
Words by Kurt Perry
2. Borderlands 4
What it’s about:The newest entry in the beloved Borderlands series, following four new Vault Hunters hunting for wealth and glory on the planet of Kairos. You’ll come up against the Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses, and it’s the Vault Hunter’s job to ignite a resistance.
Why we’re excited:TheBorderlands gamesare as fun as they are chaotic. The villains of 3 may not have lived up to the tyrannical Handsome Jack of Borderlands 2, but the action-packed gameplay has only continued to improve with each instalment.
The wacky world of Borderlands has truly carved out a unique space for itself in the looter shooter genre. With new Vault Hunters taking center stage, thousands of crazy weapons to wield, and endless loot to collect on a brand-new planet, this promises to be another epic sci-fi adventure.
Words by Tyler Constable
1. ARC Raiders
What it’s about:In a post-apocalyptic future where deadly machines known as ARCs have ravaged the planet, you play as a Raider whose job is to scavenge the surface. You’ll be fighting against machines and other players while completing quests and bringing back loot to trade for gear and upgrades.
Why we’re excited:What setsARC Raidersapart from other games on this list is that thousands have already played it andknowit’s good. The developers have run several playtests to get the community’s feedback, and it’s been overwhelmingly positive.
With a tense and exciting gameplay loop, this feels premium, boasting top-tier gunplay, graphics, atmosphere, and sound design. Even if you’re not typically a fan of extraction shooters, you should try ARC Raiders when it releases on PC and consoles in October.
As these games release and our reviews arrive, depending on our scores, they may make it into ourbest games of 2025 list, so check back in.
Now you’re caught up with the most anticipated games of 2025, while you wait for them to release, you may check out thebest horror gamesand thebiggest Soulslikes to look out for this year.
