With a new year comes a new crop of games to look forward to (even though we’ve likely not even played everything we wanted from last year). I don’t know about about you all, but I’ve been finding it harder and harder to keep track of eveything I’d like to try, so while the following are all games I’m really psyched for, I’m pretty sure this list is far from complete. Anyway, here’s what’s got my eye going into 2025.

Judas

This is the first game that Ken Levine’s new studio, Ghost Story Games, will be putting out since Levine left Irrational Games several years ago. He’s described it as something of a spiritual successor to BioShock, and it’s definitely been looking the part from the trailers. This would be higher on the list, but it’s been over 10 years since Levine and his team have shipped a game, and that last game was BioShock: Infinite.

I mean, that game was fine, but it definitely wasn’t on the level of the first BioShock game, so I’m wondering which game Judas will be closer to, you know? Either way, it’s exciting to see something from Levine and them again, which is why I’ve included it here.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

I can hardly believe this one is finally on the horizon. I’ve been waiting for Metroid Prime 4 practically since I first bought my Switch in 2018! We haven’t seen a whole lot of gameplay yet, but the little bit that has been shown is definitely looking the part. It’s got the right perspective, the right movement, scanning, interesting environments and enemies…yeah, it’s really looking promising! I’m just hoping that I don’t have to buy a Switch 2 in order to play it.

Skate Story

Ever since I saw the very first trailer for Skate Story several years ago, I was entranced by it. The art work, the gameplay and especially the music all looked…transcendant. I couldn’t wait to give it a try! …And then it practically disappeared for three years. It wasn’t until TGS last year that I finally got another look at it AND a chance to finally try it! And you know what? It mostly lived up to my expectations!

Seriously, Skate Story is really cool and I’m so psyched that it’s finally going to to see the full light of day sometime this year. Of course, I’m still going to have to wait a beat until the console ports come out, but hey, at least the game will finally be out there instead of languishing in development hell.

Revenge of the Savage Planet

Journey to the Savage Planet was an absolute blast for a couple reasons. The first was that it was basically Metroid Prime if it was heavily seasoned with sardonic humor, which was unexpected. All the familiar gameplay beats were there, except that instead of being a cool, highly competent galatic bounty hunter, you were just some poor schmuck who got mixed up with an objectively terrible (read incompetent) company.

The second was that it had two-player co-op, so I was able to enjoy the full game with one of my friends from back home. Revenge of the Savage Planet seems to be doubling down on everything: gameplay, humor and co-op, so it’s basically looking like the perfect sequel as far as I’m concerned. There’s no way this one isn’t going to be a ton of fun!

Tormented Souls 2

The first Tormented Souls took me buy complete surprise thanks to it’s not only having a very Silent Hill/ Resident Evil-like structure and gameplay loop, but that it also managed to craft its own distinct identity too. It’s homage, but in a way that still leaves it feeling very much like its own thing, kind of like Signalis.

Tormented Souls isn’t exactly scary, but it is highly engaging, and that’s where the magic comes from. Good, puzzles, cool setting, interesting main character and an intriguing story…and soon we’re getting more! Seriously, I can’t wait!

Honorable Mention: Elden Ring Nightreign

One of my favorite aspects of playing through Elden Ring was playing it cooperatively with my friends, and now you’re telling me that there’s an Elden Ring game coming that’s entirely geared towards co-op multiplayer? Sign me right up! We still don’t know much about how the game will actually play so I’m trying not to get too hyped just yet, but it’s still a really exciting idea, don’t you think?

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And with that, all of the special year-end lists and topics are complete! It was a blast celebrating both new and old with you all, and I hope you join us all agin for it next year! For now, though, what are some of your most anticipated games for 2025?

Image from the Tormented Souls 2 steam page