Of course, this goes without saying, these top most anticipated games are subjective. Most are games without a release date, perhaps still in development, or we’ve only had a reveal trailer so far. That was unintentional but it just happened to be the case. These 5 games have stuck around heavy on the brain because of hype and we simply cannot wait or because we just haven’t seen anything quite like them. What’s also exciting is that all 5 games are very different from each other. Before diving into the top 5 most anticipated video games, there are honorable mentions and an obvious mention.
Honorable Mentions
EA Sports College Football 25
Releasing in a little over a month from now is the return of such a popular game. Among the childhood favorites NCAA Football 25 will be one of the biggest comebacks in gaming. As we all know, the production of this franchise came to a stop after NCAA Football 14 because of legal troubles surrounding player likenesses. Since things have been sorted out, EA Sports College Football looks to return to its glory days as one of the biggest sports video game franchises.
MARVEL 1943: Rise of Hydra
Coming in 2025, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra easily has a chance to move into this top 5 when more information comes out. Award-winning writer and director Amy Hennig is behind this narrative-driven game focused on Black Panther & Captain America. A recent first look at the game’s cinematics shows us the WWII setting also confirming Paris as a location. 4 playable characters that include: Azzuri Black Panther, Steve Rogers Captain America, Gabriel Jones a U.S. soldier whose also a member of the Howling Commandos, and Nanali whose a Wakandan spy. As of now, the graphics were a noticeable standout from the story trailer. The game will be powered by Unreal Engine 5 and will also include MetaHuman Animator.
Obvious Mention
Grand Theft Auto 6
This seemed like the very obvious choice for one of the most anticipated games to come. So much so that there was an executive decision made to not include it on the top 5 list for that reason. When the reveal trailer dropped, it was as if hype took on a physical form then dapped you up and gave you a hug. It really made you just want to twerk on a moving car in Miami. That’s how much you you could feel the buzz from that trailer alone. It feels like every generation and their mothers are excited for GTA 6. A return to Vice City and possibly other surrounding areas (“Gator Keys” wetlands?) Rockstar Games is eyeing a fall 2025 release. To say the least, the trailer looked incredible and if they have to take more time to make this game perfection, we’re all for it. Just watch the trailer for the thousandth time.
5 Most Anticipated Games!
5. Phantom Blade 0
Revealed during a Playstation Showcase back in 2023, Phantom Blade 0 stole the show. A dark aesthetic with a crazy combat gameplay style, the trailer showed off some wildly impressive action sequences. Has there ever been such responsive close-range fighting in quick succession between characters on screen engaged in combat like this? It was an awesome first impression from S-Game.
There was skepticism from the cinematic trailer that what was shown was just really well-scripted & that the actual gameplay doesn’t offer that kind of unique combat experience. That is until the recent Summer Game Fest where S-Game showcased a gameplay trailer.
In Phantom Blade 0, we will play as Soul, an elite assassin who comes close to death. After mysteriously being brought back to health, a curse gives Soul only 66 days to complete his revenge story. The game is set in a phantom world where other games from the developers are also set. We’re expecting Phantom Blade 0 to be a semi-open-world game. Inspired by Chinese martial arts paired with smooth hyper-speed combo action, this is a day 1 must-have game. S-Game developers also mentioned around 30 usable weapons in the game! At the moment there’s not yet an online demo or a release date.
The founder of S-Game Soulframe & Localization Lead David Zheng joined IGN Live to give us a hands-on experience. Watch them answer questions & play the demo here!
4. Marvel’s Wolverine
Remember that time when it felt like all the big games were being leaked? Even with the source codes in the wrong hands & people creating a version of what the Wolverine character could be like, Marvel’s Wolverine still makes the list of most anticipated games. Currently in development after giving us a successful Spider-man trilogy of their own, Insomniac Games has turned their attention and focus to Marvel’s Wolverine. If you’re familiar with their work, it’s hard to not be excited about the potential of a Wolverine game. There aren’t too many details on this game yet, but when the marketing push comes around for this game, best believe the rollout will be huge. The timing could also play a role as the Marvel Cinematic Universe is starting to dabble a little bit in mutant activity.
The reveal trailer slow-plays the aftermath of a fight that went down at a bar. At the very end, a knife is pulled out & so Logan pops out his claws as the trailer fades off. And just like that, Insomniac Games will be getting every gamer who is familiar with their work’s money upon release. People believe that the bar in the trailer is the Princess Bar on the island of Madripoor. Marvel’s Wolverine’s setting is still unknown, but it’s fun to imagine being able to explore places like Madripoor & perhaps have the option to go to the X-Mansion & more.
The head of Franchise Strategy at Insomniac Games Ryan Schneider stated “Being able to build a new, original universe with Spider-Man and now Wolverine is such an honor for so many of us at Insomniac Games.” This can be interpretted in him saying it’s completely separate from the Spider-Man universe or saying that it’s a universe that has Spider-Man and now Wolverine. We should expect great things from this game either way, but it’s more fun to think that all the web-slinging savagery we’ve done with both of the Spider-Men are part of the same universe as Marvel’s Wolverine.
3. Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert could end up being the best game on this list. First announced in 2019, the game has seen a number of delays. The developers felt the game could be even deeper and more enriching. Many fans gave up hope on the game until GamesCon 2023 Pearl Abyss made an appearance showcasing a gameplay trailer.
An upcoming open-world action-adventure game coming to console and PC. The medieval realm of Pywel will have different settings and regions. As Pywel’s King has fallen ill, the people of Pywel look to rise to power, bringing about total chaos. Judging just off the gameplay alone, chaos won’t be unfamiliar. You must fight to survive and become a well-known mercenary throughout the land, taking out others hungry for power.
There also seems to be a secondary focus that could make it’s way to being the main focus. From the Crimson Desert site, “But you better be ready soon, for not all is what meets the eye in the world of Crimson Desert. Alongside the heralding of a new age of warfare, tales are also spoken of beings from a distant world, perhaps even a world that exists in a time yet to be.” The trailer shows off some magical elements with portals, hidden doors, and otherworldly platforms. Prepare yourself to explore more than just a medieval setting when it comes time to play.
The gameplay & combat look impressive with a variety of different animations. Fighting seems to be extremely versatile as the player adapts to the numerous positions he’s in. As great as the combat looks, nature and exploration will be a key part of the game as the settings change with the seasons. You won’t just be fighting humans, Crimson Desert will have a vast amount of different enemy types such as dragons, giant sea snakes, & other large creatures.
The game truly seems like a pleasant mixture of well-known games of today. The game has been drawing comparisons with The Witcher for the medieval-style fantasy world. Assassin’s Creed is an easy one to see with some of the combat, other realms, and climbing. Others have spotted Dragon’s Dogma, Ghost of Tsushima, and Skyrim, but the floating islands and falling from that far up have people even comparing it to Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Crimson Desert is indeed a very ambitious game. There’s always that chance it could fall flat on its face, but there’s no denying it has the makings of a masterpiece.
Also, yes you will be able to pet the dogs and snuggle with cats.
2. Project Mugen
Naked Rain and NetEase Games are developing Project Mugen, an “urban open-world RPG”. Also revealed at Gamescon 2023, it will be an ambitious open-world free-to-play game. Many look for Project Mugen to become the next Genshin Impact. A brand new urban city with people comparing the game to the likes of Spider-Man, Persona, and GTA. It has fast-paced parkour movements & exploring which includes the option to drive around in vehicles, swing around like Spider-Man, scale tall buildings, and other ways of traversing the city.
We’ll be stepping into the shoes of characters called Espers as we unravel supernatural events within an immersive city. There will be a handful of playable characters with unique abilities. Each character has their own set of skills which compliment each other allowing you to perform synergy attacks. We can look forward to a large interactive city map in which a lot of your surrounds can be useful. The team stated that “you can interact with almost any object that you can see”. Going inside certain buildings, playing mini-games/arcade games, taking pictures & other slice of life details will be a part of the game as well. They’re putting a lot into their vibrant art style look, calling Project Mugen “a visual journey.”
Much like Genshin Impact and other recent games, there will be a big emphasis on the post-launch content. In a recent interview, the developers shared that they plan to release at least one city per year. The story is expected to be expanded upon after each major update which includes maps & new characters. When asked about the pay-to-win aspect of today’s games, they mentioned “Our players don’t have to pay to win, and their game experience does not need to be solely about winning. We want them to feel excited about the game and passionate about its content.”
1. DokeV
Trying to describe the first time seeing the reveal trailer from DokeV is impossible. As soon as it started playing, it immediately felt like a game we’ve never seen before. It may look silly with a bright and vibrant town full of cute characters, but it has the potential to be special. Drawing some comparisons to Pokemon as a cute monster-collecting game. Made from the same team creating Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss. The world premiere trailer was a tease, but DokeV is next on their list. Pearl Abyss has its full attention on Crimson Desert before diving back into the creation of DokeV. But we cannot wait to get our hands on such a unique-looking game. Check out DokeV’s insane-looking rock-out trailer below.
What in the world is going on in that trailer!? It looks like a giant sandbox playground full of joy, chaos, and cuteness. An open-world adventure, Pearl Abyss wants DokeV to have an eye-popping environment with a splash of reality and Korean culture. DokeV will feature monsters known as Dokebi and collecting them is a huge part of the gameplay and the story. Different kinds of creatures will pop up in the world of DokeV. The lead producer Sangyoung Kim stated that they are “spirit-like entities that appear in traditional Korean folktales and gain powers from people’s dreams. They inspire courage and sometimes unintentionally cause trouble, but they are fun friends to have.”
We’ll meet many different NPC’s who all have their own stories to get involved in, but DokeV revolves around an advanced AI-driven world where a company called “the company” creates robots using AI. Your character & friends will see “the company” as the antagonist for catching Dokebi creatures to fuel their AI. It seems even though it’s a monster collecting game, you’re actually freeing them from a dangerous corporation with bad intentions. As of now, the game is said to have multiplayer elements which makes sense judging by the trailer. If you’re going to make this beautifully massive playground with these kid characters doing the coolest things, playing with friends would only enhance the experience. This game just stands out from the rest because of how different and unique it looks.
The gorgeous setting, the adorable characters, the story, the gameplay, the traversing, and the interesting transport mechanics make DokeV a day-one must-have. With how popular a game like Palworld became, there is a demand for monster/creature-collecting games with intricate details and creativity. Not that DokeV would compete with the likes of Pokemon or even want to, but there is room for this style of game. The creative team that is Pearl Abyss will put a lot of resources into making DokeV the best it can be.
The real reason why DokeV is the most anticipated game is really because they gave us a special performance from the characters with their ROCKSTAR music video. What other game is giving you a free concert? Enjoy!
What Games are you Picking up?
As mentioned before, the list is subjective, and it changes a lot depending on the mood. There are of course tons of other games on the way that we can’t wait for. Star Wars Outlaws, Dragon Ball: Sparkling! Zero, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, The First Descendent, and more! But the games on the list feel somewhat unique or have a great blend of qualities from some of the best games already established.
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