The big 2025 has been very generous to every sort of gamer out there, and its remaining few months are going to be even better. With some massive hits coming our way that could (and should) change their respective genres, we’ve compiled a list of what we’re most excited for.
From AAA beasts to indie wonders, here’s what the rest of this year of our Lord has in store for us.
Arc Raiders
Let’s start off with what’s probably my most highly anticipated game of this year. From what we’ve seen so far in beta tests and showcases, Arc Raiders is shaping up to be among the top shooters of all time, combining epic scale with tasty and precise gunplay.
Whether you’re battling massive robotic beasts prowling the land (which, by the way, looks beyond amazing) or engaging other players in direct combat, Arc Raiders never relents and always keeps you on the edge. This is precisely what I’ve been hungering for, and what will justify the inclusion of the next entry on this list, also (hopefully) packed to the brim with near-constant action and tension.
Arc Raiders officially launches on Oct. 30, so it’s not that far off.
Battlefield 6
Following Battlefield 2042, I thought EA would completely give up on the genre. However, they’re rolling one last DICE to try and achieve something great with this series again. There’s footage of the game’s alpha tests out there, and from what I could gather, it’s looking pretty solid. Lots of destructibility, Medics dragging players away to safety before healing them, guns and immersion are top-notch, etc.
How that will look in the official release is anyone’s guess, but it seems EA is really trying to highlight the tension and grittiness of war, much like they did in Battlefield 1 and some other games in the franchise.
Battlefield 6 is supposedly aiming for a Fall release, somewhere on or around Oct. 10, which is much sooner than I anticipated.
Out of Action
Yes, yes, it’s the third shooter on the list in a row, but hear me out. Out of Action is an indie gem in the making, combining a unique art style with the cyberpunk genre. It’s a PVP first-person shooter that seems more than just another competitive title, which is exactly why I’ve included it on the list.
Its gameplay trailers on Steam show a mixture of Max Payne-style slo-mo action, lots of fast-paced combat, flashy graphics, and amazing gunplay. If it’s as good as its promotional material claims it is, it’s probably going to be among the most successful shooters of 2025. It also doesn’t yet have an official release date, but it aims to launch by the end of the year.
Slay the Spire II
The sequel to 2019’s indie hit is coming later this year. Slay the Spire II aims to build upon the first game’s legacy and expand its recognizable deck-oriented systems and roguelike elements. All the bells and whistles you’ve gotten accustomed to in the first Slay the Spire are going to be in the second one, coming alongside a set of new enemies, stories, and challenges to overcome.
Much like Out of Action, Slay the Spire II does not have an official release date but is supposed to drop sometime later this year. That could be tomorrow or Dec. 31, it’s anyone’s guess.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
Now, hear me out. This game has been stuck in development hell for years now, changing studios and developers out like socks. However, I remain somewhat optimistic, despite the not-so-great gameplay showcase we got earlier.
What I would love is for this game to live up at least somewhat to the original’s quality. VTMB remains one of the best, if not the best, RPGs of all time, with writing that is out of this world, quite literally. Its characters, choices, and other RPG elements have withstood the test of time and are yet to be outmatched by the majority of modern RPG titles.
The genre in general is doing better than ever now, what with Baldur’s Gate 3, Disco Elysium, and others dominating the market. VTMB 2 could count itself among the greats, and gamers only stand to gain if this game turns out to be fantastic and sells like hotcakes, as studios and publishers would be more inclined to create more story-oriented, proper RPGs.
VTMB 2 comes out sometime this year, if it’s not delayed once more.
What’s your most anticipated game for the remainder of this year? Any horror, shooter, or RPG in there? Let us know below.
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