Josh West has been covering the video gaming industry for more than 15 years as Editor-In-Chief of GR+ and as a freelance contributor for 3D Artist, Edge Magazine, iCreate and Metal Hammer.
Hello Games is back with yet another ambitious title: Light No Fire is a co-op survival and exploration game set on an expansive fantasy planet resembling Earth.
1. Borderlands 4
Borderlands games have long been celebrated for their dynamic shooting action, unique loot drops, and impressive sound design; Gearbox has upped each element even further with this latest installment – both pros and cons can be seen.
Play as Amon, an armored hero raised in a Vault monster-worshiping cult. Rafa, on the other hand, is an exo-soldier from Tediore corp who uses cybernetic implants to Digistruct weapons for her company Tediore corp.
Borderlands 4 will feature 4-player online co-op in its core campaign and 2-player split screen couch co-op on the couch. Its “Buddy System” allows fast travel between characters while dynamic level scaling and instanced loot will increase difficulty depending on which character players pick.
2. Skate 4
Skate 4 marks the return of this beloved skateboarding series and will launch into Early Access on September 16, 2025 for PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X|S and other platforms.
Black Box has altered some aspects of gameplay for those familiar with previous installments in this series, such as random people appearing in challenges becoming a more frequent source of resistance than was once the case.
One major concern among fans could be yearly updates, which might compromise the original release with small improvements rather than major pillars for the title to rest upon. But overall, this looks like a good skateboarding game.
3. Subnautica 2
Survival game series Avast! is back with an all-new sequel! As teased by its explosive trailer, players will discover far beyond Planet 4546B on this open sea adventure!
Robin Ayou is a scientist seeking answers about her sister Sam’s mysterious death on Planet 4546B. You must descend to an isolated area on this frozen world where shelter, food and more must be found as you uncover Alterra and the alien race known as The Architects.
Subnautica 2 was initially set for release in 2025 but was postponed due to significant shake-ups within publisher Krafton and their replacement of original creators Ted Gill and Charlie Cleveland with Callisto Protocol studio CEO Steve Papoutsis – this will result in more in-depth story, biomes and creatures to discover, as well as an expanded base building system.
4. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
After SNK was acquired by a Saudi Arabian gaming company in 2022, fans expressed worry over how this change might impact its fighting game productions. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves strives to alleviate those worries with an immersive fighting game offering both accessibility and hardcore playability.
After 10 years since Garou: Mark of the Wolves was released on 2D platforms, this reboot of Fatal Fury takes place in South Town with Geese Howard’s son Rock Howard as its protagonist. Additionally, many familiar characters from previous Fatal Fury installments as well as Mai Shiranui return.
Playground Fighting Game features both Arcade Style with traditional fighting game controls and Smart Control which streamlines gameplay by offering auto-combos and one-button presses for flashy techniques.
5. Mafia: The Old Country
Mafia: The Old Country brings back to life its roots by taking place in early 1900s Sicily and following Enzo as he rises through local crime family ranks, with an emphasis on narrative and grounded combat. While its open world may feel less engaging than modern games, this lack of stuff to do is more than compensated by an engaging story and outstanding performances by its cast.
Hangar 13 recreated early 1900s Sicily through breathtaking performances and thoughtful writing, crafting an engaging mob saga set against its beautiful backdrop. The story touches all the standard mafia beats: kind mentor, brutal rival bosses and forbidden love – but is elevated by remarkable performances and smart writing.
6. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
Here comes the swashbuckling game you never knew you needed!
This narrative-driven adventure pits Captain America against the villainous Hydra squad during World War II-era events. Set in Occupied Paris of 1940, Steve Rogers teams up with Azzuri (T’Challa’s Black Panther at this time), Gabriel Jones from Howling Commandos, and Nanali of Wakandan spy network to stop a sinister plot against Occupied Paris.
Amy Hennig, previously employed with Naughty Dog to develop The Last of Us, has taken over development of this game. With previous credits including Jak and Daxter and Uncharted games under her belt, you should expect big things from this endeavor.
7. Pokemon Legends: Z-A
2025 is already full of incredible games to look forward to, from Hollow Knight Silksong and Borderlands 4 to others – there is more than enough excitement and variety in store for gamers throughout this year!
Pokemon Legends: Z-A will launch for both Nintendo Switch 1 and Nintendo Switch 2 systems on October 16, including a DLC campaign called Mega Dimension that includes two new Mega Evolutions for Raichu as well as additional story content.
Combat will take place in real-time rather than turn-based style, requiring players to pay close attention to type matchups and the exact timing of switching out Pokemon during battles. Furthermore, the game will introduce unique gameplay mechanics like length of moves, areas of effect and execution timers for moves.
8. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Fans of the franchise will find this glossy Unreal Engine remake to be an enjoyable return, featuring Kojima’s trademark melodrama and absurdity, Cold War-era historical fiction, and over-the-top characters.
Third-person aiming and slow crouch walk control options help modernize the experience, but its core design remains very much from 2004. Snake moves through set corridors through predefined screens; enemy bases such as Groznyj Grad often feature four distinct sections that require loading between. Boss fights still feature some concessions to modernise them; yet, these remain some of the best moments from all four games in this franchise.
