TOP-15 Most Anticipated Games on PC and Xbox in 2025

The departing year 2024 was incredibly rich in game releases. We finally got the buggy S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, enjoyed the charming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and laughed through tears at Dragon Age: The Veilguard. But what does the industry have in store for 2025? We decided to prepare a series of top lists of the most anticipated projects for the upcoming year. This one will be about hits for PC and Xbox. It's obvious that most new releases come out on consoles after personal computers and vice versa, so don't be surprised to find multiplatform titles on the list. However, these projects are theoretically expected to provide the most complete experience specifically on the two platforms mentioned above.

First on our list is, of course, the king of meat shooters — Doom: The Dark Ages. Players were thrilled that one of the most famous series got a second wind. However, after the classic Doom of 2016 came Doom Eternal, and the new ideas from the developers weren't to everyone's taste. Although the sequel was successful in terms of sales, it was heavily criticized for the increased importance of platforming, where the Doomguy literally fluttered around the level like a butterfly, as well as the cartoonish colorful fireworks of various ammo and items that burst out of every defeated mob.

In the new installment, which will also be a prequel to the main story (yes, there is a plot), the developers decided to return to the roots and develop not in breadth, but in depth, so to speak. The hero will become much heavier and more massive, making the Doomguy feel more like a tank. Levels will lose their obvious verticality, and the weapons are intended to be diversified with several barrels that can artistically slice through enemies, such as with skull fragments. The main feature is claimed to be a shield with sharp spikes on the edges, which the hero will throw like a true Captain America.

The color palette will also change. The new Doom is darker, gloomier, and grayer. Among the interesting details — the first trailer featured a dragon and a huge robot. Both will be available for control.

There is no exact release date for the game yet, and the recent announcement makes one think about a possible delay. We hope that doesn't happen. We included Doom: The Dark Ages in the top for a very simple reason. The publisher, Bethesda Softworks, is owned by Microsoft, which means the game is likely to be primarily optimized for Xbox and PC.

The first Subnautica received predominantly positive reviews. The underwater survival game stood out from similar projects in the genre and immediately attracted players' attention. Moreover, it had a decent storyline and an end goal. The release of the second part — Subnautica 2 — was only a matter of time.

There are no specific details about the sequel yet. It is known that the vehicle garage will be expanded, and the hero will learn to change DNA to gain additional skills. The main feature is the confirmed co-op mode.

After the lukewarm reception of the DLC Subnautica: Below Zero, the developers promised to fix the mistakes. Players will still have the opportunity to go to the surface of the new planet, but the main gameplay will focus on the core — underwater tasks. From the trailer, it can be inferred that the character will be subject to external influences, for example, getting caught in a whirlpool and ending up in a new unexplored and dangerous location.

We really hope there won't be any delays, and we will be able to see this year how the creators further expand their own lore. Subnautica 2 made it to the top due to the announced platforms. Despite the first part being released on almost everything, the sequel is being developed for Xbox and PC. It is quite possible that this exclusivity is a temporary decision, but there is no official news yet.

Old-timers, gather around. After a series of failures and general oblivion, the Heroes of Might and Magic series is making a comeback. No more strange plots about the children of other heroes' children from the fifth installment. Just a return to the roots, hardcore, classic, and a prequel to everything. The developers promised one massive campaign on an entirely new continent called Jadame, which was previously only mentioned, as well as several PvP modes. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era looks like a heavily upgraded third installment, and the developers deserve respect for that.

Despite the lack of information about the plot, an antagonist has already been announced. It will be the Swarm faction — demonic bugs. The game will initially be released in early access. They promise six factions: humans, elves, dark elves, undead, the Swarm, and one secret faction.

A range of careful changes is to be expected. Units and heroes will have active abilities, as well as so-called faction laws. These rules will affect the playstyle depending on the chosen side. Naturally, new factions will be added in the future. The economy will be slightly adjusted, and the heroes' abilities will be almost completely reworked. The focus will now be on passive buffs from a few skills.

The developers stated that they aimed to bring the game closer to a full-fledged esports discipline. Therefore, there will be ranked battles, seasons, and the ability to watch other players' battles. All this joy is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2025, but there is no exact date yet. We added the game to the top because... because we couldn't not add it. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is truly one of the most anticipated PC games of the coming year.

The first The Outer Worlds strongly resembled Fallout, but there were plenty of differences. The space saga in a world dominated by corporations and the buying and selling of everything captivated many gamers. In 2025, Obsidian Entertainment is preparing several big RPGs, and The Outer Worlds 2 is one of them. There are no details yet. The first somewhat coherent trailer focused on more weapons, improved graphics, and some other nuances. Such advertisement seems strange because the game was loved not for its combat system, but for its characters and humor. We hope the second part won't lose all that.

The new release is published by Xbox Game Studios, which means we can expect that despite being multiplatform, The Outer Worlds 2 will run especially well on the green console and PC. There is no release date yet.

The second game from Obsidian Entertainment, which is definitely set to release in early 2025. Like The Outer Worlds 2, the new release is a first-person RPG, but this time in the fantasy setting of the developers' previous game — Pillars of Eternity.

You'll have to deal with a magical plague, but the plot setup isn't the main focus. Besides the usual non-linearity, humor, and well-developed companions typical for Obsidian Entertainment, the game features an interesting combat system. You can wield any weapon in each hand, creating a huge number of combinations. Want to dual-wield magic wands like a Macedonian? No problem. This alone is enough for happiness. As a bonus, they promise to add physics, so you'll actually be allowed to shatter a frozen enemy into pieces with a sword.

Avowed won't have an open world, but it will feature several large locations. Initially, the developers wanted to create their own version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but eventually decided to scale things down.

The most controversial aspect right now is the graphics. The game looks stunning, but it's being developed on Unreal Engine 5, which still eludes most specialists. As a result, projects at release are riddled with bugs and extremely demanding on hardware, and you can forget about performance on consoles. We hope Obsidian Entertainment knows what they're doing. We'll find out soon enough.

We are already used to fantasy mages and ghosts. They are all based on European images. But what if we change the setting? South of Midnight immerses us in the folklore of the American South with its alligators and Voodoo magic. Little is known about the game, but the gameplay trailer is very intriguing.

The main character is Hazel, whose town was destroyed by a mysterious hurricane, sending her to a local Land of Oz. Now she must navigate through a series of various evil and good heroes from local tales and legends to ultimately gain the magical powers of the spirits. Hazel is a born weaver and is supposed to be responsible for the great tapestry of either life, fate, or something equally important.

Gameplay-wise, the project resembles a standard adventure where we either overcome obstacles or fight opponents. Nothing is known about puzzles yet, but it seems obvious that at least spatial ones will be present. In combat, Hazel uses weapons, but don't expect swords or axes — it's not that kind of setting. To keep things interesting, magic can be added. A wide range of diverse techniques and combinations is promised.

Particularly noteworthy is the stunning visual. Everything is intentionally cartoonish and "choppy," with a reduced frame rate, making the characters move with a slight jerkiness even outside of cutscenes. Let us clarify that these decisions are not annoying and do not strain the eyes (at least not yet).

The game promises to be a new hit for Xbox, and it will also be available on Game Pass from the day of release. We sincerely hope the developers succeed in creating a powerful series, and the project will be remembered not only for its unique appearance but also for its content.

After the success of Atomic Heart, which in turn echoed many plot elements of BioShock, it was obvious that the project would inspire imitators. Atomfall is one of them. The games are so similar that they are easy to confuse, but the newcomer has a number of differences.

Firstly, there's a nuclear disaster, after which an entire zone is cordoned off from the rest of the world. This ties the project to Fallout: New Vegas, which is officially listed by the developers as a source of inspiration. The protagonist will have to uncover the true causes of the events and infiltrate the nuclear power plant.

Secondly, instead of robots, there are rednecks, albeit English rather than American. Robots are present too, but not as advanced as in Atomic Heart. The events unfold in the 1960s, so the weaponry will be appropriate — outdated. However, you'll get to shoot a bow. There are two familiar play styles to choose from — frontal assault and stealth.

The developers emphasize a strong storyline, but it's hard to judge how engaging it will be. Considering that the TV series Doctor Who is listed as an inspiration, there's hope for something memorable. Despite Atomfall being released on all platforms, including the previous generation, the game was showcased at an Xbox presentation. We're confident that on PC, the project will shine in a completely new light, and after a couple of mods, the protagonist might even start talking about pies.

All those who didn't get enough of Baldur's Gate 3, rejoice, as a worthy alternative is on the horizon. The Solasta series is literally "Dungeons & Dragons" on the computer. The first part lacked cinematic presentation and cool graphics, but all the tabletop rules were carefully transferred into the game without any changes.

D&D experts know that Larian Studios made some simplifications, and many elements in "the third Baldur's Gate" don't work as they do in the original tabletop game. Tactical Adventures is against such changes, so in the sequel, you'll have to deal with all the nuances again. However, this time the graphics will definitely be better. As avid D&D fans, we are definitely waiting.

Arguably one of the main series on Xbox is Fable. Unfortunately, it is currently going through tough times, although it once had the power to sell consoles. The unique feature of this project was that you always started the game as a child and ended it as an old person. All your decisions and gameplay nuances were reflected in the character's appearance. Ate a lot to restore health — got fat, performed selfish acts — grew horns.

The next installment, which is also a soft reboot, is expected in 2025. The first news about its development appeared back in 2018, but since then, the project has fallen into production hell. It wasn't until 2024 that a more or less coherent trailer was presented to the world. The situation was further complicated by a scandal regarding the appearance of the main character, whom many gamers considered, to put it mildly, too masculine.

Today, there is still little information about the game, but we know that you will at least be able to choose the protagonist's gender, and the combat system is heavily inspired by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This potential hit remains a dark horse, which is a shame. We already miss Chicken Chaser and other heroes of Albion.

The new installment of the most famous strategy game, Sid Meier's Civilization, doesn't differ much from the previous one, but that's only at first glance. The developers decided to slightly reduce the scale. The game is now divided into three eras — Antiquity, Discovery, and Modernity. After completing one stage, you can choose a different civilization and develop it without considering past decisions. Essentially, we have three campaign options. In theory, this should help solve the problem that most players never finish Sid Meier's Civilization to the end, i.e., to the final stage of development. However, in practice, many will likely be dissatisfied with such changes. Nonetheless, Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is one of the most important games of 2025, which will undoubtedly be profitable, and it will be best played on PC.

Another strategy on our list, but a completely unusual one, is Hollywood Animal. This time, you'll have to manage your own film studio. The unique feature is that you have quite a few means to achieve your goals. Firstly, you can decide which genres you will produce. Secondly, you'll have to navigate various political and governmental obstacles, such as censorship, to keep making films and earning profits. Negotiate with actors, blackmail, frame, and bribe — all means are fair game.

The developers have gone to great lengths to include an incredibly large number of conditions and "levers" that you can and should use. This makes the game one of the most anticipated for us in the coming year.

Attempts to create an answer to The Sims have been ongoing for a long time, but nothing has quite succeeded. In theory, InZOI is supposed to give players everything that the most famous life simulation game on the planet lacks — ultra-realistic graphics and a completely new, mature level of gameplay. From the trailers, the game indeed looks stunning, but as is often the case, there's a catch. The development is on Unreal Engine 5, which means the project may not run smoothly on all PCs. There's no chance to try it out yet, so we're waiting for early access.

If the developers succeed, gamers will have a worthy alternative to The Sims for the first time in four games of this series and numerous DLCs. A truly historic moment.

At the end of January, PC owners will finally get the second part of the revamped adventures of the friendly neighborhood hero — Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Sony continues to eagerly make money by porting all its main exclusives from consoles to personal computers. Given the modest capabilities of the PS5, it's expected that the game will truly shine on PC. A ton of mods are included.

We won't delve into the game's plot, as you probably already know it all. The mind-blowing action featuring Spider-Man will introduce gamers to Venom and Kraven the Hunter. This time, you'll get to control both Peter and Miles Morales. You'll be able to switch between them on the fly, but not during story missions. The city has become even more beautiful, animations more realistic, and finally, reflections of both Spideys and everything else appear in the windows. For those who have been waiting for this project, it's definitely a must-have.

And speaking of Spider-Man, how can we forget about yet another re-release of the most re-released series consisting of just two games — The Last of Us. Yes, the time has come. The most complete and enhanced version, The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered, is coming to PC just in time for the release of the second season of the series. Poor Joel and Ellie are being squeezed dry, but gamers don't mind. Many will surely buy the game on PC, and perhaps even enrich it with interesting mods. If, for some fantastic reasons, you haven't played it and are completely unaware of what all the fuss is about, this project is a must-see. It is now in its best form.

The final release of a Sony PlayStation exclusive on PC, but this time, much more significant. The thing is, the highly anticipated sequel to Final Fantasy VII, which was specifically developed for the PS5, simply didn't run properly on the console. The draw distance and low frame rate were eye-straining, and the performance mode, which was supposed to be just an alternative, became a necessity.

Compared to the first part, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has significantly increased in scale, featuring an open world and tons of dialogues. The capabilities of a good, expensive machine will solve the draw distance and frame rate issues. So, this is one of those cases where console owners might indeed envy PC users, unfortunately.