Dragons, demons and Grand Theft Auto VI: the games to look out for in 2025

Civilization VII

Explore, expand, exploit, exterminate: the rules of Civilization haven’t changed, but this devilishly compelling strategy series has long been due an overhaul. Next year’s instalment lets you pick and choose between many more different leaders and peoples to guide to world domination, from antiquity and through the age of exploration to the modern era – peacefully, or otherwise.
Released 11 February; all platforms

Grand Theft Auto VI

The whole world is holding its breath for Rockstar’s latest. The first GTA game to star a woman – Lucia, alongside her partner in crime, it is set in the wild Floridian environs of Vice City, the series’ version of Miami. Given that GTA V has grossed $8.5bn over its lifetime, this will inevitably be a megaton of a game.
Release date TBC; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

A game about a group of teen band-friends drawn back together after 27 years, when one of them discovers a secret they shouldn’t know about. From the original creators of coming-of-age classic Life is Strange, this beautiful-looking narrative game will flit between the magical summer of 1995 and the present day.
Released 18 February; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

Monster Hunter Wilds

Japanese developer Capcom has been on an incredible run this decade, from a brilliant new Street Fighter to the revitalisation of Resident Evil to this, an awe-inspiringly expansive new entry in its dragon-slaying action series. The creatures are imposing, the weapons gloriously huge and improbable, and the environments lashed with lighting and blooming with natural diversity.
Release date: 28 February; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

Atomfall

Fans of The Last of Us and Fallout may perk up at the sight of this strangely cosy Lake District version of the post-apocalypse from British developer Rebellion. In this alternate timeline, the 1957 fire at the Windscale nuclear reactor has plunged Britain into a new age of desperate survival. There are pulpy references here, from Doctor Who to Quatermass.
Released 27 March; PC, PS4/5, Xbox

DOOM: The Dark Ages

The venerable first-person shooter goes even more metal next year, with gothic castles and sci-fi dragons and a shield that’s also a chainsaw and, of course, gore flying everywhere from hordes of demons. I’m not sure I can improve on its developer’s description of the game: “YOU ARE THE SUPER WEAPON IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELL”.
Release date: TBC; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

Metroid Prime 4

Destined, surely, for the yet-to-be-revealed successor to Nintendo’s incredibly successful Switch console, this space adventure has been in the works for around 10 years. The first three Metroid Prime games are standard-setting science-fiction masterpieces, so we are all hoping for something similarly revolutionary this time around from Retro Studios and iconic character Samus Aran.
Release date: TBC; Nintendo Switch

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

These games about colourful Japanese gangsters usually alternate between sombre self-seriousness and total ridiculousness, but here Sega is fully embracing its silly side by recasting flamboyant eye-patch-wearing villain Goro Majima as an amnesiac pirate on the high seas. An extravagant nautical action-adventure with naval combat, stylish sword-wielding, treasure-hunting and a much-needed dose of absurdity.
Release date: 21 February; PC, PS4/5, Xbox

Fable

Featuring Richard Ayoade and Matt King (Superhans from Peep Show), this comic fantasy adventure has the unenviable job of resuscitating a beloved series that has lain dormant for a long time. What we’ve seen so far happily suggests that it preserves the sense of humour and British sensibilities that have always made Fable unique.
Release date: TBC; Xbox, PC

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A French dark-fantasy game with a fascinating premise: each year, a mysterious supernatural painter daubs a number on a tower, in a torn-apart simulacrum of Paris, and everyone of that age vanishes Thanos-style into ash. You play the latest team of explorers sent out into the twisted wilds to try to stop it. A wondrous-looking game whose elaborate environments are frozen mid-destruction.
Release date: TBC; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC