2024 was diverse year when it came to playing new games. We had action/adventure games like Black Myth: Wukong, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, or Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree that took our breath away, and on the other hand, we had games like Balatro or Astro Bot just to chill out. 2024 was amazing in terms of gaming. But can the new games of 2025 beat it?
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Kingdom Come: Deliverance quickly became a cult classic when it was released in 2018. It immediately engaged players with its immersive medieval world, grounded storytelling, and a strong focus on realistic parts of gameplay mechanics. Now fans are patiently awaiting its sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. It is being developed by Warhorse Studios, the same company that brought us the original game.
The story is expected to pick up right where the original left off and to continue the journey of Henry, the humble blacksmith-turned-hero. It is set in the historically accurate Kingdom of Bohemia. The sequel will immerse players in the turmoil of a civil war fighting against the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund and all of his political and army allies. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will be filled with political intrigues, brutal battles, and personal quests for vengeance and honor, just like the first game was.
Thanks to more time and money, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will have new regions to explore, more characters to meet, and even a dynamic storyline that can be influenced by the player’s choices. The world of this game and its mechanics are twice the size of the previous game.
Mechanically, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will likely further upgrade its predecessor’s survival elements and historical accuracy events. Starting with the need to take care of your gear and health, finishing with training various combat techniques and taking care of your armor, the game definitely will try to make you feel like you’re truly living in the medieval era. If the first game was any indication, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will offer a one-of-a-kind journey through history, making it one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2025.
Assassin’s Creed Shadow
Release Date: February 14, 2025
The Assassin’s Creed series has always been one of my favorites, thanks to its historical storytelling mixed with action-adventure gameplay and fascinating narrative. This new game will take players to 16th-century Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, which was the final stage of the Sengoku period and a time of meddling with politics as well as incoming cultural transformation.
The game’s setting is one of the most requested by fans for years, and people at Ubisoft promised that they will deliver a detailed world full of inspirations from this iconic era. We will be able to explore villages, sacred temples, dangerous terrains, and more. All of this is just a small glimpse of the immersion that is promised. With the power of next-gen consoles and Ubisoft’s refined Anvil Engine, the game must deliver a game with a beautiful and solid level of detail. Starting with architecture and dynamic weather from this region, and finishing with traditional clothes, armor, and decorations of this era.
The story will be focused on two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke. Naoe is a skilled ninja warrior, raised in traditional values by her father. Yasuke is a historical figure who arrived in Japan and was trained as a Samurai. This dual perspective should offer a unique and fresh dynamic. We’ll be able to switch between them to choose our missions and preferred style of fighting/gameplay.
Thanks to the recent delay in making this game, Ubisoft added more things and changed those that people didn’t like based on the gameplay trailers, promo materials, and press events. Therefore, I believe Assassin’s Creed Shadows will gain more quality and more mechanics to make this product even more fascinating and amazing for fans of the series.
Borderlands 4
Release Date: Somewhere in 2025
A few years ago, I didn’t even know what Borderlands is. Then I learned that it is a beloved series of games made in a cartoonish art style with funny moments, very good gameplay, and fascinating characters. Since the release of Borderlands 3 in 2019, fans have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the series that will bring them back into this world. Now, based on the first trailer from The Game Awards 2024, Borderlands 4 is looking to be another massive, epic, and funny entry in this franchise.
The heart of every Borderlands game lies in its loot-driven gameplay, world looking like it’s taken straight from the comic books, and a diverse cast of likable characters. In Borderlands 4, players can expect a return to these roots. This time, the setting promises to take players beyond the familiar wastelands of Pandora and go into unknown territories across the galaxy, offering new planets (the main planet being Kairos), ecosystems, loot, lore, and enemies.
When it comes to the story, Borderlands 4 will surely dive deeper into the mysteries of the Vaults and the ancient Eridian civilization. Rumors suggest that the game will feature multiple interconnected storylines, each focusing on different factions and characters. We may even see some backstory about the ruler of Kairos The Timekeeper.
With improved graphics, co-op enhancements, and a more fixed multiplayer experience, Borderlands 4 is surely looking like another exciting game made by fans for fans.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Release Date: Somewhere in 2025
We know Hideo Kojima is a mastermind when it comes to creating games that will be legendary, crazy, chaotic, and remembered. His first Death Stranding game was an absolute hit, and it remains one of the fan’s favorite games. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is the highly anticipated sequel to this iconic project. The sequel looks to expand on its predecessor’s legacy, going even deeper into its mysterious, post-apocalyptic setting and lore. There are still many mysteries that weren’t solved in the first game, as well as the backstory of certain characters or their final fate.
The sequel takes place after the events of the first game, with Norman Reedus reprising his role as Sam Porter Bridges. While much of the story remains a mystery, the cryptic teaser hints at a larger conflict than in the first game. Themes of connection, loss, death, being reborn and survival will once again be central to the story of Death Stranding 2. Hideo Kojima is someone who always thinks a hundred steps ahead of you to give you the most mysterious, surprising, and beautiful experience, that’s why the story of Death Stranding 2 is already one of the most hyped stories in gaming history.
As for gameplay mechanics, Death Stranding 2 must slightly upgrade and redefine some of its exploration methods, combat weapons as well as escaping/fighting BTs. Players should anticipate more advanced travel methods, enhanced environmental interactions, and a deeper immersion in the world.
Just like in every other game from Hideo Kojima, the graphics, music, and voice actors are always amazing, and they fit the game. Death Stranding 2 is one of the most enigmatic games of 2025. It’s meant to be a good sequel that will be even crazier and more emotional than the first game.
Grand Theft Auto VI
Release Date: Q3/Q4 2025
Grand Theft Auto series is probably one of the most popular and classical gaming franchises ever. It is beloved by many and it still has a lot of active players. The most recent part GTA V was released in 2013 and immediately got a lot of fans. With over a decade since the release of GTA V, Rockstar Games has a huge challenge to give people what they want. Though official details about the game remain a secret, there’s still a lot we know about the game.
The most important part of every GTA game is its setting. This time, we’re going to return to the iconic Vice City, which is a city inspired by Miami. Even though it was already a part of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, this time we’ll get to see a big, expanded, and detailed world full of surprises. All thanks to the new gaming engine, graphics, models, and more.
Story-wise, we will be playing as Lucia and Jason, a criminal duo styled to appear and behave similarly to Bonnie and Clyde. In the trailer that was released for the game, we can see that they’re trying to do heists, get rich, and live together, doing everything to avoid jail.
When it comes to the mechanics in the game, they will be a mix of open-world mechanics from Red Dead Redemption II and Grand Theft Auto V mixed with a more advanced approach. There are rumors about including some sort of “stay hydrated and avoid being hungry” mechanics or the need to fuel cars to make the game even more immersive. We’ll see what happens, but GTA VI is the most anticipated game of 2025 by many.
What’s your most anticipated new game of 2025?
That’s my list! What’s yours? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus, in the Discord, or @TheCosmicCircus.com on Bluesky.
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