All right, we are cruising along. It’s the second half of 2025. Time waits for none of us. Let’s get going and talk about some of the new games we’re releasing in the second half of this year. Some things to look forward to. Keep in mind, video games get delayed all the time, so all this is subject to change, but as of right now, here’s what we got. We got 25 games, so let’s get started off with number 25.
25. Dying Light: The Beast
“Dying Light: The Beast” is really more of a follow up to “Dying Light 1” than “Dying Light 2.” What originally seemingly started as “Dying Light 2 DLC” has morphed into its own standalone experience, centering around the later exploits of Kyle Crane, the dude who starred in the first “Dying Light.” He’s super charged with seemingly animalistic, creature-like abilities and that looks like that’s gonna shake things up. Coupled that with like the paired down, more simplified nature, you know, quality over quantity and I think it’s shaping up to be something pretty potentially cool. I like the first game a lot more and for them to kind of run with some of the stuff from the first game, I think that has potential. “Dying Light: The Beast” is releasing August 22nd.
24. Hell Is Us
Looks like an incredibly unique game. What initially kind of looked like a “Souls” like game, but in the kind of future, dystopian universe with “Death Stranding” vibes, “Hell Is Us,” seems to be its own kind of third-person action, adventure game with challenging combat, lots of cool and interesting NPC interactions and decision-making, varied questing and just really, really cool environments and enemy types. It does look incredibly challenging but also just really, really unique and we gotta give them credit for that. This game is being headed up by veterans of game development from different studios coming together to make this and I think this just has a lot of potential. Since this was announced, we’ve kept our eye on it. And it seems like we’re not gonna have to keep our eye on it too much longer ’cause it’s releasing September 4th.
23. Kingmakers
Speaking of one I’ve been keeping my eye on for a long time, it’s “Kingmakers.” This game initially went viral with its first reveal because essentially it was big, medieval battles, but you’re just a guy with a gun and a pickup truck in the middle of it. It’s definitely morphed into a much bigger project. It’s picked up a publisher. It seems incredibly ambitious with not only large-scale battles involving a bunch of fun, you know, modern-world creativity, but also actual strategic planning, building and a bunch of stuff. So kind of like the best of both worlds for people who want all out action and people who like, you know, medieval dad simulator games. They’ve been working on this one for quite some time and honestly it’s been at the top of our list since it was first revealed and we now know finally it’s at least coming to early access this year on PC.
22. Borderlands 4
It’s back with like a whole new vibe and setting and I think they might be onto something with this one. “Borderlands 3,” while you know, generally liked I think by “Borderlands” fans wasn’t the massive shakeup it could have been and “Borderlands 4” looks to be that like with like I said, the setting change but also seemingly tons of new movement options and just way more flexibility and apparently a kind of revamped sense of humor and writing that might go a long way. Either way, if it’s more borderlands and the loop is good and addictive and satisfying, I think people are gonna go for it. I’m curious to see how Gearbox really shakes things up this time around. And thankfully this is another one, we don’t have to wait too much longer. It’s releasing September 12th.
21. Arc Raiders
This PVPVE extraction shooter, yes, you’ve heard of a lot of those, but this one seems to just be really catching on with people. First of all, it’s third person, which is something I just love. That’s a good perspective. But along with that, it brings some incredible environment design, art design, character design, technology design, enemy design. All of it just looks incredibly unique and like I said, it seems like they’re really onto something with this one, with just how it’s been done, how they kind of revamped it. You know, they spent a lot of time on it. They haven’t really been rushing it and so far, response to alphas and betas have been really, really positive, especially considering now, you know, the other big extraction shooter “Thing” isn’t coming out this year in terms of Bungie’s “Marathon,” I think “Arc Raiders” can really swoop in and steal the show.
20. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
This is a “Souls” like style game based around Chinese mythology and it looks incredibly challenging but also a ton of fun. Early preview impressions from this have come across very, very positive. Even if it’s something that you kind of see it and you know what to expect, it seems like a really damn good one. It’s being published by 505 Games and I think in this one the character and like her abilities seem really unique and there might actually be some cool story that unfolds from this because like I said, it is set like in the Ming Dynasty, she has amnesia and also you’re fighting some really, really gross, weird creatures. I think a “Souls” like game with some mystery and intrigue and some gross, weird creatures is really all you really need. So I’m excited to see how this one goes down. It’s releasing July 24th.
19. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
This has been long in the works, delayed many times, revamped, different development studio took it on. I don’t really know what to make of it now in its current state, but it has so much potential, man. The original “Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines” was so cool. Really like a defining RPG for pc sweaties out there and vampire fans of which I am both. So I’m still holding out hope that this game finally makes it to the finish line and is cool and lives up to the name. As of right now, it seems like it’s releasing finally in fall of 2025.
18. Terminator 2D: No Fate
Simply because this looks like the game of my dreams. If I was a kid growing up, this is like what I imagined a “Terminator 2” game to really be like. You’re running around as Sarah Connor, the terminator himself, John Connor in the future and all of it is done in a really cool retro style with beautiful art, but also modern sensibilities. It’s taking a hybrid approach, you know, cribbing from a bunch of different games like “Metal Slug” and beat ’em ups and I think if they nail it, they could be onto something really, really special.
17. The Outer Worlds 2
Obsidian is essentially making a bigger “Outer Worlds” really taking advantage of what they built with the first game in terms of just universe and lore and really doubling down on action, playability and depth. Again, early impressions for this one seem to be very positive and I still think like this style of game specifically, this feel is really their bread and butter. So I hope they run with it. It’s releasing October 29th, 2025.
16. Subnautica 2
The aquatic survival game that took the world by storm is finally back. It’s been so long dude, but as of right now, still shrouded in some mystery. It’s been officially announced. We got some small looks at it, a little trailer, but it doesn’t tell us too much. Still there’s so much potential because like I said, the original game was great, but also all the post-launch support and just the way the community took to it was even better. So all that can happen again with the second game, it could be a match made in like, you know, ocean survival heaven. As of right now, where you know it’s releasing an early access sometime in 2025.
15. Silent Hill F
Finally, can you believe this? A brand new, completely unique “Silent Hill” game in 2025. I’m glad we’re finally here. It looks really, really different for a “Silent Hill” game. Yes, it’s foggy, but that’s about it. It takes place in Japan in the the past. So there’s a lot going on. You’re a younger character, a stressed out character, so it seems, but thankfully we’re getting simple survival horror combat from what we’ve seen. Also incredibly grotesque and unsettling monster designs. Much has been made about this one in terms of like Konami and the developers behind this “Silent Hill” really wanting to do something different while honoring the horror that they have created of course, but also celebrating and introducing more Japanese elements to it. I think that could be really, really cool. But also “Silent Hill,” like you know before the remake of “Silent Hill 2” we recently got, there were quite a few swings and misses. Hopefully “Silent Hill F” really ends that streak in terms of new “Silent Hill” games kicking ass. We’ll know for sure when we get our hands on it September 25th.
14. Hollow Knight: Silksong
It’s the endless meme “Hollow Knight: Silksong.” Yes, it seems like “Hollow Knight: Silksong” is releasing in 2025. At least that’s kind of what we got when it was at an Xbox event thing and it showed that it was coming to Game Pass in 2025. Not much to go on and that could change. This game has still, other than that, been pretty radio silent, but it is the follow up to the incredible 2D intense challenging Metroidvania game “Hollow Knight.” So there’s still time if you haven’t played that, you definitely should, but hopefully we actually see “Silksong” this year.
13. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
They’re going nuts with this one. “Sonic Racing” is good, but it seems like they’re going way harder here. You’re in the air, you’re in the water, you’re flying high through the sky, there’s a bunch of new characters. The visuals look pretty great and I think honestly Sonic is best when they’re just having a ton of fun with it and they’re not taking it too seriously. There’s gonna be 24 tracks you’re gonna warp to 15 cross worlds and there are 23 Sonic characters from throughout Sonic’s legacy.
12. Painkiller
The PC first-person shooter classic that I enjoyed quite a bit is back with a bigger emphasis on cooperative action. I didn’t totally expect that, but what we got here looks pretty cool. Aesthetically different but crazy over-the-top monsters, wild environments. But most importantly, fast, chaotic, first-person shooting. 3D Realms is publishing this. They have a legacy of like classic game development and of course old school pc, first-person shooters. So I really hope this is good. This could be like a fun co-op kind of alternative to “Doom: The Dark Ages,” “DOOM Eternal” if you’re looking for something like that. And you’re just mowing down hoards of enemies with some really interesting weapon types. I don’t know, man, the jury’s still out on this one. I’m not like a thousand percent convinced, but I’m looking forward to seeing what’s up. It’s releasing October 9th.
11. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
This is a revival of the classic style “Ninja Gaiden” games from the old days, incredibly challenging, incredibly tight. Think “Cuphead,” but you’re playing as a ninja. The old school graphics here are absolutely beautiful. The gameplay, tight and responsive and the music with some of the original composers returning is absolutely kick-ass. So they really understand that old school retro style and challenging gameplay. I got to play a preview version of this and I came away impressed. So I’m hoping that the final version of the game just completely kicks ass. For old school “Ninja Gaiden” fans and new school fans as well. As of right now, “Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound” is releasing July 31st.
10. Ninja Gaiden 4
Sticking with “Ninja Gaiden,” but now with the modern 3D ones. I can’t believe we’re getting a new “Ninja Gaiden” game. I don’t know why, I just didn’t expect it. But here we are, not only that, it’s Team Ninja but also Platinum. So hopefully that’s a match made in heaven in terms of you know, chaotic combat action. We’ve also got a new main character, which I’m not completely convinced of yet, but I’m willing to let them give it a shot because thankfully Ryu is still in the game and that’s important ’cause he’s awesome. If you’ve never played one of these “Ninja Gaiden” games, expect some really, really challenging but fun, action and just rewarding over-the-top boss battles, I hope they can really honor those original “Ninja Gaiden” games. The original “Ninja Gaiden” and “Ninja Gaiden Black” technically are like is still like one of the best games ever made. Anyway, “Ninja Gaiden 4” is releasing October 21st.
9. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
This is the remake of the classic “Metal Gear Solid 3” seemingly retaining a lot of the gameplay and animations and just style of that game but slapping it with a new coat of paint and a couple of tweaks and things to make the game a little easier to play. From what I’ve seen though, it does seem like it’s like really retaining the gameplay of the original down to its little quirks and I think that’s good. This is definitely one of the best games ever, but I’m of course completely biased as a diehard “Metal Gear Solid” fan. I’m also really picky though, so if this releases and I don’t like it, I’m gonna let you know in the “Before You Buy.” Still, I think there’s a lot of potential for new people to get exposed to “Metal Gear Solid” who haven’t yet through this. I just really hope Konami doesn’t screw it up. The trailers do look nice though, so this is releasing August 28th.
8. Mafia: The Old Country
This is a new “Mafia” game set in the past, early 1900s and it’s in Sicily, dealing with crime families there. This looks like this could be absolutely awesome. They’re once again focusing on more of a story-based adventure with car chases, potentially like horses and tight third-person shooting and set pieces and I think this could be potentially awesome. The remake of “Mafia 1” from a few years back was great. It was a little short but still it was so much fun to play through and if they do that again here with this and they’re also charging like a lower price, the game’s gonna be like 50 bucks, I just think that’s the right move. “Mafia: The Old Country” is releasing August 8th, 2025.
7. Lost Soul Aside
This is finally releasing after years and years of being teased. What started out originally as a one-developer project, it’s morphed into a whole big old action, adventure combat game. Think of something like a mix between a “Bayonetta” or a “Devil May Cry” and some of the aesthetics and characters and magic of a “Final Fantasy” game. We’ve had our eye on this for years and we’re so happy it’s finally gonna be a full-fledged game. PlayStation’s publishing this one, they’ve definitely had their eye on it for a while so they maybe hopefully really saw something special with this one.
6. Little Nightmares 3
Same publisher, different developer this time around, but I think if they can continue the feel and vibes and just creepy character and monster designs of the original two games, we have a hit here because “Little Nightmares 3” also introduces co-op gameplay. While the second game focused on you bringing someone around on your adventure. It wasn’t really a co-op game. So here, “Little Nightmares 3” being full co-op, there’s a lot of potential for really cool co-op antics and just creativity in terms of puzzle and design here. But honestly I’m just excited for like the environments and the scares and the weird stuff that’s gonna go down. I love these games for this type of stuff and it’s the perfect game for spooky season because it finally got a release date and it’s releasing October 10th.
5. Jurassic World Evolution 3
You know, I’m glad they keep making these games ’cause they’re fun park builders set in the world of “Jurassic World” or really “Jurassic Park” if you want to be real. “Evolution 3” is bringing bigger parks, way more variety to those parks and just kind of like the biomes that they are in. Also, tons more danger, multiple game modes, more customization. This has the potential to just be the definitive “Jurassic World Evolution” game. They’ve been really building on this formula and thankfully we’ll get to play it October 21st.
4. Gears of War: Reloaded
This is another remaster, re-release of the original “Gears of War.” Yes, but this time it’s really the mac daddy. 4K resolution, high frame rates. You can crank this thing up to 11 and it’s probably gonna look pretty damn good. Along with that, they’re bringing back all the multiplayer and it’s gonna be cross-platform and I just think that’s great because the old days of the original “Gears of War” multiplayer were a ton of fun. Along with that, “Gears of War” is coming to PlayStation officially, so you’re gonna be able to do like an actual like Lancer chainsaw attack with a dual-sense controller. It’s gonna feel weird, but hey, times are changing. So if you’re looking to get back into “Gears of War,” this is releasing August 26th.
3. Ghost of Yotei
This is the follow up to “Ghost of Tsushima.” I’m really looking forward to this one because ever since “Ghost of Tsushima” released and I 100% of that game, I’ve just been looking forward to more. This takes place in a different time period, years and years and years after the events of the original game, you got a new character, you got a new invading force and you’re on the actual like mainland Japan this time you’re not isolated to an island. Along with that, they’ve been pretty good about like showing us a little bit about the game but not spoiling everything new like ’cause honestly it’s like “Ghost of Tsushima” too, you know what you’re gonna get kind of in terms of open world and combat and stuff like that. I’m already on board, but I am excited to see what they really cooked up with this one. Like what is this story, why they have moved on from Jin and like what they can really do with the gameplay, how they can bring it forward, especially with it being based on PlayStation 5. We’ll know for sure when we get our hands on it October 2nd of this year.
2. Donkey Kong Bananza
This game looks crazy. It’s you as Donkey Kong with Pauline on your shoulder, running around smashing stuff. The game has kind of like a really interesting land deformation technology where you’re just punching your way through everything, up, down left and right, every direction. And if this is kind of like a “Donkey Kong” meets “Super Mario Odyssey,” that just could be a winning formula. I did get to play this a little bit behind the scenes, a preview version of it and I think it’s pretty cool. It’s mindless fun, but sometimes you need that and Donkey Kong punching stuff and it’s getting bananas is cool. Sometimes, honestly it doesn’t have to be that complicated, folks. “Donkey Kong Bananza” is releasing pretty soon, July 17th.
1. Crimson Desert
This one people have been fiending for for a while because this is just a incredibly ambitious, good-looking, open world, RPG with basically everything, I think that’s the best way to explain it. Tons of loot, side quests, decision making, giant battles, flying, magic abilities that you can combo, a lot of combat and and battle elements that kind of rival something like a “Dragon’s Dogma II,” while also tacking on elements of things like “The Witcher 3” and also some of the magic hand powers of “Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.” This game is going big, it is trying a lot of stuff, whether or not they nail it remains to be seen, but you can’t help but be in awe of the ambition. Not only the fact, like it also just looks like the world is really big and the graphic’s pretty damn good. A potentially good blend of like, you know, medieval fantasy and a weird video game magic stuff. Pearl Abyss, the developers behind this had previously done “Black Desert Online.” They’ve been cooking on this game for a long time. No solid release date yet, but they have officially said late 2025.
Conclusion
But those are 25 new games releasing in the second half of 2025. Some things to really keep your eye on. Of course you get the typical things that are announced every year like a “Call of Duty.” We now have “Black Ops 7” and there’s gonna be some surprises that we haven’t accounted for. Things that we don’t know are coming out this year, but for now, these 25 on this list are some that we’re excited about. But as always, thanks for reading and we’ll see you guys next time.