What to Play in 2025: Games Worth Checking Out

14 hours ago 1

This year, game developers are delighting us with both high-profile sequels to famous franchises and completely new projects that are sure to top the charts in the coming years.

We’ve compiled a list of games worth playing in 2025, including those already available for purchase and those scheduled for release before the end of the year. And if you’re into gambling as much as video games, our Wanted Win Casino review will guide you through a platform where slots, bonuses, and real-money play take centre stage.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Platforms: PC, PS, Xbox
Developer: Warhorse Studios

The sequel to the acclaimed Kingdom Come: Deliverance tops the list of games worth playing in 2025. It continues the story of Henry, the son of a blacksmith, who is drawn into political and military conflicts in medieval Bohemia. The events unfold immediately after the finale of the first part—Henry must unravel a conspiracy and avenge the death of his parents. The story remains intimate, focused on the hero’s personal motives, yet set against the backdrop of large-scale events in Czech history.

The gameplay is still grounded in realism: you need to keep an eye on hunger, sleep, and the condition of your clothes. The combat system is complex—you’ll have to memorise patterns, block, parry, and attack from different directions. However, it’s a bit easier than in the first game.

The sequel introduces expansive new regions populated by NPCs with daily routines and numerous quests, often offering multiple solutions. You can persuade, intimidate, bribe, or fight—the game rewards a flexible approach. New features include crossbows, firearms, and a reputation system.

The slow pace and intricate mechanics may put off some players, but for fans of deep, historically authentic RPGs, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a true gem.

Civilization 7

Platforms: PC, PS, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Developer: Firaxis Games

Civilization 7 is not a radical reboot, but it noticeably refreshes the formula of turn-based global strategy in the “one more turn” subgenre. The map is now divided into biomes with unique resources, climates, and conditions, and cities develop not according to a template but depending on their surroundings. This adds variety and complicates planning: players need to consider terrain, neighbours, and global events such as droughts or migrations. City-states are also back, now with a more active role—they participate in conflicts and can influence the diplomatic balance.

Each playthrough feels less predictable thanks to a revamped victory system, more dynamic diplomacy, and new ways for civilisations to interact. Instead of a single “winning” strategy, flexibility is encouraged. Visually, the game is softer and brighter, yet retains the style of the previous two instalments in the series.

Avowed

Platforms: PC, Xbox
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Avowed is a must-play in 2025 for fans of the Pillars of Eternity series, as the action takes place in the same universe. At the centre of the plot is a strange magical plague spreading across the world. Players take on the role of an emissary from distant lands, sent to investigate what is happening and decide who to protect and who to sacrifice. The story is divided into chapters, giving freedom to make decisions that affect reputation, factions, and the ending.

You control a god-like character—the race is familiar from the two PoE games. The gameplay is now in first-person view, with a focus on a hybrid of magic and weapons. You can set enemies on fire, block attacks with a shield, or blast them with powerful firearms.

The combat system is reminiscent of Skyrim, but with greater tactical depth and a skill system. As expected from Obsidian, the dialogue is detailed: almost every quest can be completed in multiple ways. Companions are not just decorative, but full-fledged characters with their own perspectives and reactions to the player’s actions.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Platforms: PC, PS, Xbox
Developer: Capcom

Monster Hunter Wilds focuses on scale, spectacle, and a slightly more coherent storyline. The player once again takes up a giant weapon and sets off to explore a wild, unexplored area full of monsters and natural disasters. This time, the world feels more alive: animals behave naturally, migrate, hunt each other, or flee if the battle does not go according to plan.

Fighting remains difficult but thrilling. Each weapon has its own rhythm and characteristics, from heavy axes to fast blades and exotic crossbows. Players must learn on the fly: watch the monster, wait for the right moment, dodge, and strike with precision.

The battles are spectacular, requiring both reaction and planning, especially when facing new predators with unique behavioural traits. Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t change the formula but develops it in the right directions: the game has become more beginner-friendly without being simplified for veterans.

The result is the same hardcore hunting marathon, only a little prettier, louder, and more cinematic.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Platforms: PC, PS, Xbox
Developer: Ubisoft

The latest instalment in the Assassin’s Creed series tells the story of two heroes whose fates are intertwined in 16th-century Japan. Naoé is a female ninja who strikes from the shadows, a master of parkour, espionage, and stealth attacks. Yasuke is a former African slave who became a samurai in the court of Oda Nobunaga. Together, they hunt corrupt officials and military leaders to change the course of history and bring stability to a country torn apart by conflict. As expected from the series, the world is vast and picturesque, with castles, villages, and forests. Life is bustling and changes depending on the time of day and season.

Players can control both heroes: Naoé acts stealthily, using a grappling hook, smoke bombs, time slowdown, and high jumps. Yasuke prefers direct combat, wielding heavy weapons, powerful blows, and shields. You can study enemies from watchtowers using observation mode, hire scouts, open new areas, and influence the level of alertness in regions. The combat system has become deeper: the environment helps you hide, enemies react to sounds and lights, and your approach depends on your preferred playstyle.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Platforms: PC, PS, Xbox
Developer: Sandfall Interactive

A dark JRPG with a Belle Époque aesthetic, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 presents a world with a sinister tradition: every year, people of a certain age mysteriously disappear. Now it is the turn of those who are 33 years old, and the player must embark on an expedition to uncover the secret and prevent further disappearances. The story follows several heroes whose age is approaching this fatal threshold. The characters are vividly written, with deep personal histories and distinct perspectives on the unfolding events. The world itself is striking: elegant late 19th-century France is blended with gothic and mystical elements.

The gameplay centres on tactical turn-based combat with a well-designed skill system. In battles, it is important not only to choose the right attacks but also to manage ability points wisely, balancing powerful strikes with subtle tactical manoeuvres. Each hero has a unique development path, enhanced with additional passive bonuses. Exploring locations, engaging in dialogue, and managing camp between battles are key aspects of gameplay, helping to reveal character depth and influence the course of history.

DOOM: The Dark Ages

Platforms: PC, PS, Xbox
Developer: id Software

DOOM: The Dark Ages is more of a dark shooter set in a medieval fantasy world than a classic Doom game. The action takes place during the Unholy Crusade on the planet Argent D’Nur. You play as the Executioner of Doom, a legendary warrior from the Order of the Night Watch, called upon to stop the demons and protect the Heart of Argent. His power is controlled by the order using a device called the Leash, but as he fights, the Executioner gradually frees himself from their control and becomes a true armoured hero.

The gameplay has shifted from fast-paced run-and-gun to a heavier, more tactical style. New weapons have been added, such as a saw shield, which can be used to block, parry, and attack. Battles have become more intense, requiring tactics rather than just speed. Levels are divided into large missions with open areas, secrets, platforming elements, and exploration. Also introduced for the first time are pilotable machines—a cybernetic dragon and Atlant, a huge mech—that can be used to destroy groups of enemies.

This is not a remake of the classic fast-paced Doom, but rather an experiment: slower gameplay, tactical combat, and a medieval-tech atmosphere. The game retains the spirit of the series while charting its own path, balancing the old with the new.

Elden Ring Nightreign

Platforms: PC, PS, Xbox
Developer: From Software

Elden Ring Nightreign tells a separate story that runs parallel to the original Elden Ring. The game was created without the involvement of writer George R. R. Martin. The action takes place in a new procedurally generated world called Limwald, similar to the familiar Zamoglia. There are eight unique heroes to choose from, each with their own skills and stories, gradually revealed as you progress.

The game is an action RPG with a focus on co-op—you can play alone or in a group of three (but not two!). Game sessions are divided into short cycles of three days, with each day lasting about 15 minutes. At the end of the day, the play area shrinks, forcing players to move to a safe zone. After each day, the heroes return to the Round Table Fortress, where you can upgrade your character, purchase relics, and spend the local currency (“darkness”) on cosmetics and emotes. Boss battles are randomly generated and include both new enemies and familiar foes from the series, such as the Nameless King, who have become faster and more aggressive.

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