Top 10 Video Games That Will Blow Your Mind in 2025

#10: “Avowed” (2025)

While the visuals are a tad on the rough side, this is Obsidian we’re talking about, you leave these guys to cook up a story and chances are it’ll come out an absolute treat. Combining the setting of the Pillars of Eternity franchise with rich customisation, FPS fantasy battles and branching dialogue that seems to be chasing the tailcoats of Baldur’s Gate 3, which is never a bad thing, the more we see of this game the more we’re convinced its going to leave a a hell of a stamp on the genre upon arrival!

#9: “Split Fiction” (2025)

We’ve been waiting with bated breath for a follow up to the likes of It Takes Two - the couch- co-cop masterclass brought to us by resident mad lad Josef Fares - and given the previews so far, it looks like he’s given us a similar set up…with double the craziness. Trapped in a simulation as a pair of aspiring authors, players will be constantly switching between fantasy and sci-fi settings, along with a multitude of mechanics to master. Given how much their previous work was able to experiment with style and create a seamless experience, we’re hoping this spiritual successor follows in its footsteps!

#8: “Monster Hunter Wilds” (2025)

World and Rise did a tremendous job at breathing fresh life into what has since become one of Capcom’s flagship franchises. Now Wilds looks set to not only expand the scope of its biomes, but also the immensity of the beasts themselves. With the introduction of wounding, the hook slinger as well as mounts for both land and sky, taking down behemoths is likely going to be as challenging (and as satisfying) as it gets. Whether you’re summoning NPCs or you’ve got your hunting party on lock, this game is going to have legions diving into its lands with no desire to leave!

#7: “Elden Ring Nightreign” (2025)

On the one hand, there’s a little bit of trepidation rippling about in regards to this latest outing from the Lands Between. After all, it’s a multiplayer, rogue-lite and isn’t being directed by Miyazaki. On the other hand, it's a new direction that has every chance of succeeding. As long as the fundamentals are solid and the flow of combat is up to that same Elden Ring standard, we’re all too eager to dive in again. Also, the fact that this is somehow combining characters and bosses from Dark Souls 3 can’t be ignored!

#6: “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” (2025)

At long last, the promised time has come. Fans of Samus’ exploits have been waiting for what seems like eons for the legendary bounty hunter to make her grand return via this most anticipated fourquel, and now it is upon us. Alongside ushering in the successor to the Nintendo Switch, Beyond is taking the time honoured mechanics of morph ball puzzles and fluid FPS combat and giving them the mother of all graphical updates, as well as a new nemesis for Samus to test her mettle against. Given the recently released remaster of the first Prime game, we know how well Metroid’s style of gameplay holds up, now we just have to wait to see what else Beyond has up its sleeve to make the decades of waiting feel truly earned!

#5: “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” (2025)

This thing came out of nowhere and has refused to leave our minds since! Seemingly combining the stylings of a classic turn-based RPG with visuals pulled right out of a renaissance painting, sprinkled in with a star-studded cast, Expedition 33 has every chance to become one of the year’s frontrunners. The bleak mission to stop the god-like Paintress from destroying humanity one year at a time has us very much intrigued, as is the fact we now have the likes of Andy Serkis, Ben Star and Charlie freakin’ Cox in the same game. Though if there’s one aspect we can’t wait to experience for ourselves, it’s how it plays with the trimmings and trappings of its turn-based framework and puts its own spin on it

#4: “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” (2025)

You wanted unfiltered Kojima? You’ve got it. The original Death Stranding was beyond polarising, and now it seems one of video games’ most beloved auteurs is doubling down on his particular brand of storytelling. Because that’s just how he rolls. Looking for grand conversations about how tar is a potential primordial soup for life? In the mood to see Troy Baker fight against a samurai mecha hijacked by a psychic newborn? It’s all here. While there’s no guarantee that this sequel will be for you, we can confidently say it will be like no other game you experience this year. Don’t ever change Kojima.

#3: “Doom: The Dark Ages” (2025)

How does one go about following up the explosion of testosterone and bullets that was Doom Eternal? A game where one man literally shoots his way through hell on earth? Apparently, you set it in the medieval ages, and give the Doom Slayer a chainsaw shield and a fur pelt. Oh, and his own dragon. This honestly looks like the most metal game we’ve seen in years, and that’s even comparing it to the grandiose slaughterhouse that were its prequels. If they can make every level match the raw intensity of its reveal trailer and not get too bogged down in any unnecessary lore, then this has every potential to become the franchise’s pinnacle.

#2: “Grand Theft Auto VI” (2025)

Granted, as history can attest to, there’s every chance that we won’t be seeing this thing until the next century, but until said otherwise, 2025 looks set to be the year of GTA 6’s colossally overdue arrival – a game that promises to consume the medium like few could ever hope to. A sprawling cityscape filled with activity, side-missions, and satire. A story of thievery a la a pair of Bonnie and Clyde-esque protagonists, and that’s just scratching the surface. GTA games are all about “go big or go home”, and few have the kind of hype as this sixth mainline entry. If they truly can find a way to raise the bar and outdo GTA V on a technical and narrative level, then we can confidently say without hyperbole that this game won’t just be one that defines the year but potentially the next several!

#1: “Ghost of Yotei” (2025)

Not enough amazing things can be said about Ghost of Tsushima. The combat, whether it be striking from the shadows or challenging every Mongolian invader to an epic showdown – both played as smooth as butter. The locations, lush. The story, the performances, phenomenal. And now it's back. Jin’s story may have concluded, but we have everlasting faith in Sucker Punch’s capacity as developers to rope us into a new tale of blood, revenge and swordplay. Whatever their plans for Atsu and her warpath across Hokkaido, it can’t get here soon enough.
Which of these games do you think will go down as the year’s best? Let us know in the comments!
Trivia –
Which of these characters made a name for himself in Los Santos?
Jin
Trevor (Correct)
Sam
Messmer
The Mother of Fingers is the final Elden Ring DLC boss
False