I like to compile a list of games that I’m excited about that will be released in the upcoming year around this time. Naturally, this isn’t an exhaustive list because more titles will undoubtedly be announced throughout the year, and I might receive some of them as well. Anyway, let’s look at the games I’m excited for in 2025 based on what I currently know, for the most part!
Hello Kitty: Island Adventure
Hey, don’t laugh! Alright, you may chuckle a little. The fact that a 48-year-old man is anticipating a Helly Kitty game is kind of amusing. However, this game is quite similar to Animal Crossing, which is my second favorite video game ever (Pac-Man is my top pick, of course), so that’s why. It has been available on Apple Arcade for a year or two, but I’m too frugal to purchase a subscription, so I’ll just hold off until the Switch version comes out. At the end of January, it is released. Since my mom enjoys Animal Crossing and Hello Kitty, I intend to get the game and see whether she would enjoy it. I’ll purchase her a copy of the game later so we can play it together if I think she’ll enjoy it.
Okami Sequel
At last year’s Game Awards, Capcom revealed that they were developing a follow-up to Okami, which was my 2006 Game of the Year. I adore that game. The game might not even be released this year because it looks like they are still in the early stages of development. I’m still anticipating it, though. Remember that there is also a successor to Okami called Okami-Den, which allows you to play as a dog on the DS!
Shadow Labyrinth
What happens if you combine a gloomy Metroidvania in the vein of Hollow Knight with Pac-Man? You get Shadow Labyrinth, then. At last year’s Game Awards, this was also revealed. A series of CG animated shorts based on different video games called Secret Level was recently made available on Amazon Prime. Among them were Armored Core,
WarHammer, and others. The Mega Man one piqued my interest the most; it was excellent but much too brief. That should be the subject of a whole series. Pac-Man was the other one. However, they took it in an odd way. In summary, a swordsman must either eat or be eaten while he is confined in a dystopian maze. Puck, a Pac-Man-like robotic floating sphere, serves as his guide. Namco turned the strange and extremely violent short into a game. I wouldn’t normally play a game like that, but my morbid curiosity has won me, and I simply must see how they take Pac-Man in new, sinister directions.
SEGA VGA Announcements from the Year Before
SEGA revealed during the previous year’s Game Awards that they would be creating new games based on beloved titles such as Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Crazy Taxi. Although I’m not sure how they’ll beat Streets of Rage 4, I will definitely be watching their progress with those franchises!
Big Walk
I will absolutely check out this new game, which was also unveiled at the Game Awards the year before last and was created by the same people that made Untitled Goose Game, if it is available on consoles that I can play.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution
This should have been released last year, but it wasn’t. I’ve always believed that the game that was first available on the DSiWare was finally adapted from the lost GBA Shantae game. However, I suppose I was mistaken! The long-lost GBA Shantae game will be made available on contemporary systems by WayForward. I’ve played every Shantae game, and they’re always good. I’m hoping to review this one as well because I’m generally quite excellent at getting to review WayForward’s games!
Pokémon Legends ZA
Pokémon Legends Arceus was the first game that I truly enjoyed. Since I’ve grown weary of the mainline games being essentially the same, I welcomed the addition of new elements and action to the original Pokémon concept. I will thus be watching this one closely.
Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time
If I get the time, I would like to play this Fantasy Life game because I missed the first one on the 3DS.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
The Rune Factory games appeal to me as well since they blend action-based dungeon crawling with farming aspects from Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons. I’d like to look into this one as well, if I have the time.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2
The fact that this one includes both Power Stone games on it is fantastic, in my opinion. Capcom should take another look at that series.
Metroid Prime 4
This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but we now have confirmation that it will happen this year, so hopefully it will. All I can hope for is that it won’t be too difficult. I was never able to defeat Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and I was unable to defeat Metroid: Dread’s final boss.
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo ultimately revealed that the Switch 2 would be released this year, not long after I finished writing this piece. Most likely in reaction to all of the recent releases. Like they did with the original Switch, I would have expected them to reveal it as a Super Bowl commercial. All I can hope for is that Nintendo produces enough of these to make them accessible at launch. Please pray that I am able to review games for it, as it would be really helpful if I could acquire one at launch. Please pray that I’ll be able to attend the Switch 2 Experience exhibition in Dallas in a few months.
And for now, that’s the only game that comes to mind! Please share your thoughts about my list and any upcoming games you think I’d enjoy in the comments area. Additionally, let me know which 2025 games YOU are most excited about! Later! -Cary