Next year is set to be another massive year for gaming fanatics. While certain games might command more impressions on social media and excitement amongst the gaming fraternity, there’s no shortage of games set to come out in the next twelve months that are set to get the gaming juices flowing. We will explore four of the most highly-anticipated titles and see which one could potentially take the crown for the best game of 2025.
#1 - F1 25
Racing games find themselves in a niche area of the video gaming world. Many experts thought they’d offer enormous appeal as potential eSports markets. However, they don’t command the same appeal as other games.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s classic circuits like Silverstone or some of the newer tracks like Abu Dhabi; the popularity stretches right into the global pool of sporting fandom, which trickles into the popularity of F1 video gaming.
With such a strong fanbase, sports game designers capitalize and churn out F1 games with different themes yearly. Like other sports games, notably FIFA and Madden, the market is so dependable and vast that gaming companies can roll out new titles every 12 months and generate a decent profit.
However, 2025 is an intriguing year for F1, considering how tepid the reviews were for F1 2024. Many game analysts, reviewers, and experts were critical of the AI integration within the game, and others leveled criticism at speed traction issues, which is why the anticipation is high for the next installment, to ensure that the same mistakes aren’t made.
#2 - Grand Theft Auto VI
Undoubtedly, the big game of 2025 will be Rockstar’s return to their landmark title. The trailer from December 2023 has amassed over 200 million views in less than a year. If GTA 6 can generate near the same level of critical praise as its predecessor, we could see the release of the decade’s best game, not just 2025.
Rockstar has set the bar higher than any other game design company. Perhaps the most impressive element of their iconic brand is not just the fact they meet these expectations so often but continue to exceed them. Red Dead Redemption 2 exemplified this; despite two award-winning titles, the third in the trilogy was by far the most ambitious and highly decorated.
Rockstar has developed a reputation for its delays, though, which has some fans doubtful about whether we will see a new GTA in 2025. Although the GTA 6 trailer stated the game would be released in mid to late 2025, this is rather vague for a game of such magnitude, and for many experts, it’s a case of “watch this space”—we’d expect they wouldn’t have released the first trailer without having a nailed-on timeline for the 2025 release, though.
While we appreciate it’s arguably the most targeted game, with cybercriminals keen to leak any gameplay or trailer information, you’d think there’d be more certainty around the actual release date, given that it is less than 12 months away.
#3 - Mafia: The Old Country
Crime-based video gaming epics are always in fashion, especially for those designers who know how to get it right. We’d put GTA in this category as the one leading the way, but Mafia: The Old Country is set to cause a stir in 2025, too. Given that the game is set back in the old Italian country, exciting possibilities lie ahead. You only have to take a look at the excitement it’s generating online to get a grasp of the potential.
Combine that with the expansive new advances in both graphics and map design that have been ushered in because of Sony’s November 2024 release of the PS5 Pro, and there’s real potential for Mafia: The Old Country to become one of the most underrated hits of the year.
#4 - Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
If GTA fans thought they’ve had to wait a long time for a new chapter, try telling that to Metroid Prime fans. The third chapter of this franchise first hit stores in 2007, and Metroid Prime 4 first went into production in 2017.
However, 2025 will be the year we see one of the most anticipated Nintendo games in recent memory. While it might be a slightly different gaming offer than some of the games we’ve touched on today, Nintendo enthusiasts have been counting down the days to this release for nearly 8 years, and hopefully, it is worth the wait!
Final Thoughts
Although it feels like GTA 6 is the only 2025 release anybody talks about, all the games we’ve touched on today will find an audience next year. Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2, and Fable have been entering this discussion, too, despite the recent controversy surrounding Ghost Of Yotei and their cold approach with their fanbase, telling them to “not buy the game” if they don’t like the idea of it - the trailer still looks impressive. It’s another game to keep an eye out for over the next 12 months.
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