The Most-Anticipated RPGs Of 2025 And Beyond
2025 promises to be a big year for role-playing games. Some of the most popular and beloved RPG series are slated to receive new entries, alongside remakes of all-time classics, and promising new ideas that could blossom into franchises of their own. RPGs have become an especially flexible genre in recent years, encompassing a wide range of stories and mechanics. That means that whether you're looking for a swords-and-sorcery epic, a far-flung future in space, or even just the ability to set up shop and live in a fantasy world, there's something for you to enjoy this year.
This year's slate of RPGs comes at an interesting time for the industry, as well. Nintendo is preparing to launch the Switch 2, which will provide a new portable-hybrid home for games that may not have run well on the older Switch. The Steam Deck and other portable PCs are looking to directly compete with the Switch functionality and form. And Microsoft and Sony, on their own console platforms, are increasingly making their games more available--Sony is frequently porting its games to PC while Microsoft is allowing its own to arrive on both PC and PlayStation. That could impact some of our most anticipated RPGs by giving us a huge variety of options when it comes to where and how we play our games.
For even more of this year's anticipated releases, check out our 2025 release dates list and mark your calendars for the year ahead. It's going to be a big one. And be sure to check out our picks for the best RPGs to play right now for even more recommendations.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- Developer: Warhorse Studios
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: February 4, 2025
As a direct sequel to the cult hit Kingdom Come: Deliverance, KCD2 takes place just after the first game and puts you in the shoes of Henry, the son of a blacksmith living in the 1400s. You'll need to learn the tools of war while also carefully navigating your character's standing in the community.
Avowed
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: February 18, 2025
Obsidian just keeps producing interesting projects, from the traditional first-person RPG The Outer Worlds to the survival-crafting game Grounded and the narrative adventure Pentiment. Avowed is its take on a high-fantasy world, mixing spellcasting and firearms in the Pillars of Eternity setting, Eora. The studio has a knack for crafting detailed settings, so this is one to watch.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
- Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: February 21, 2025
After Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth moved its central location to Hawaii, along comes Goro Majima to loot and plunder. Majima will lead a pirate crew across tropical islands searching for his own treasure, with a concept so wild that Sega has had to confirm that it takes place in Yakuza canon.
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Developer: Capcom
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: February 28, 2025
The next game in the wildly popular Monster Hunter series promises a whole new batch of magnificent and deadly beasts to hunt in a deadly new world. This time you'll be assisted by a new mount called a Seikret, which can also be ridden while in combat.
Suikoden I and II Remaster
- Developer: Konami
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: March 6, 2025
The influential Suikoden games are finally getting their own modern re-releases, with a remastered package that includes the first two games together. These games are known for their massive party-building and replay value, and the remastered versions include upgraded visuals and sound effects, a battle fast-forward, and auto-save features.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
- Developer: Monolith Soft
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: March 20, 2025
Ten years after its original release, Xenoblade Chronicles X is getting an expanded remaster on Nintendo Switch. The massive open-world RPG in the land of Mira is getting visual enhancements and new story elements.
Atomfall
- Developer: Rebellion Developments
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Release Date: March 27, 2025
This survival RPG from the studio behind the Sniper Elite series asks the question, "What if England were an irradiated wasteland?" Or perhaps, "What if the Sniper Elite team made a Fallout game?" The first-person wasteland invites easy comparison, but we're very curious to see the talented team at Rebellion tackle a post-apocalyptic setting.
Lunar Remastered Collection
- Developer: Game Arts
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One
- Release Date: April 18, 2025
A remaster of the renowned Sega CD RPGs Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete are coming this year, making it easier than ever to play these classics. The remastered collection will let you choose between a classic and remastered presentation, features upscaled anime cutscenes, and will pack some quality-of-life features to help speed along the gameplay for modern audiences.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
- Developer: Level 5 Comcept
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: April 2025
While all eyes are on the impending Switch 2, Nintendo is still getting a little more juice out of the original. This sequel to Fantasy Life doubles down on the life-sim aspect, letting you play a wide variety of jobs as you uncover the mystery of an island trapped in a time paradox.
Dragon Quest I and II HD Remake
- Developer: Square Enix
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: 2025
A set of remasters of the classic Dragon Quest series went slightly out of order--Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake was released last year--but this collection of two games would complete the original three games. The classics are being given the same HD-2D treatment, making them look nicer than ever, and we can probably expect similar quality-of-life updates.
Elden Ring Nightreign
- Developer: FromSoftware
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: 2025
One of the biggest surprises at The Game Awards, Elden Ring Nightreign isn't quite a full-fledged sequel to the excellent first game, but it should scratch the itch of fans regardless. This one is co-op focused, having you form teams of three to take on the encroaching threats of creeping night.
Fable
- Developer: Playground Games
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: 2025
A new entry in the Fable series from Forza Horizon developer Playground Games has been teased since 2023, but the release seems to be getting closer. We've seen some trailers that set a whimsical, comical mood alongside some snippets of gameplay, but this may be the year we finally take the wraps off of the long-awaited return to Albion.
The Outer Worlds 2
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: 2025
Obsidian's debut game under Microsoft was a throwback to its famous work on the Fallout series, but with a cheeky "unchecked capitalism in space" tone. The Outer Worlds 2 promises a new story and new crew, with the same comedic tone. This time you're an Earth Directorate agent looking to uncover the source of deadly rifts. Hijinks ensue.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
- Developer: Game Freak
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: 2025
The first Pokemon Legends took us all the way back to the Sinnoh region, before it was even called Sinnoh, and introduced some creative open-world mechanics unique to the series. The follow-up, Pokemon Legends Z-A, appears to take place in Lumiose City of the Kalos region, but we know almost nothing about how it will iterate on its predecessor's open-world mechanics.
Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
- Developer: The Chinese Room
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: 2025
The long-awaited Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is just around the corner, finally letting players explore modern-day Seattle as a bloodsucker, choosing from several unique clans to represent which type of vampire you want to be. You'll need to feed while also building your influence over the city.
Borderlands 4
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: TBA
The massively popular looter-shooter returns with a fresh batch of Vault Hunters ready to crack open chests full of guns and probably save the universe in the process. Gearbox hasn't given us much detail on the next numbered entry in the franchise, but we wouldn't be surprised if it's ready to hit this year.
Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate
- Developer: Square Enix
- Platforms: TBA
- Release Date: TBA
Following the DQ I and II HD remakes, the next big game in the Dragon Quest series has been announced. Not much is known yet about Dragon Quest XII, but it's long been in development, so Square Enix could be preparing to show more this year.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
- Developer: Digital Sun
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Release Date: TBA
Moonlighter was a surprise hit, combining roguelike dungeon crawling with managing a shop stocked with the wares you find while exploring. Moonlighter 2 appears to be an even more expansive world to explore, this time rendered in 3D with an isometric perspective.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
- Developer: Marvelous
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: TBA
The next game in the Rune Factory series will once again let you farm the land to produce crops while exploring a deep dungeon-crawling experience. This time you're an Earth Dancer who uses magical treasures as well as your own innate magic dancing ability to purify the land and tend to your farms.
-
The Witcher Remake - Everything We Know About The Open-World Remake Of The Classic RPG
Esteemed Polish development studio CD Projekt Red has a number of projects in development, including a remake of the 2007 original The Witcher game. It appears to still be relatively early days for ...GameSpot - 2d -
The Most Exciting Tech for Your Business at CES 2025
Some of the weird and wonderful gadgets announced at the Consumer Electronics Show could help you run your company (or at least have more fun).Inc. - Jan. 10 -
The Most-Anticipated Horror Games Of 2025 And Beyond
A new year is upon us, and though it promises many horrors of its own, it deserves to be said that 2025 should be another banner year for the video game horror genre. From new sequels in major ...GameSpot - Jan. 10 -
How to Create the Most Productive Office Space in 2025
Kick the year off by refreshing your space with products and tools to help you stay organized and on task.Inc. - Jan. 8 -
Beyond Trudeau: Canada's political future
After the PM's resignation, polls predict a shift to the rightBBC News - Jan. 8 -
Elon Musk, the Titan disaster and Sly Stone: the most anticipated documentaries of 2025
The next 12 months promises a host of provocative and revealing new documentary movies. As of early January, it is still too soon to know how the year will shape out for documentary film, with many ...The Guardian - Jan. 3 -
To the moon, an asteroid and beyond: The biggest space missions ahead in 2025
The year 2025 promises to be packed with space exploration, including robotic expeditions to the moon, a new observatory and a rendezvous with an asteroid.NBC News - Jan. 2 -
2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings: Sam Darnold soars despite uncertainty beyond this season
Updated quarterback rankings for Dynasty leagues entering 2025CBS Sports - Jan. 1 -
The 25 movies we're most looking forward to in 2025
We asked Times staffers for the films they were most stoked for, sight unseen. Brace for a "Freakier Friday," a new "Superman," the return of Malick and more.Los Angeles Times - Jan. 1
More from GameSpot
-
Assassin's Creed Shadows Is Getting Several New Open-World Activities
Assassin's Creed games usually include a large open world, and Assassin's Creed Shadows is no exception. While there are familiar elements to the travel and exploration abilities in this game, ...GameSpot - 1h -
Kindle Colorsoft Ereader Gets First Major Discount At Amazon
Kindle Colorsoft $230 (was $280) | Extra 20% off with ...GameSpot - 2h -
Tomb Raider Remastered Trilogy Deluxe Edition Is Only $30 At Amazon
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Deluxe Edition $30 (was ...GameSpot - 3h -
Get Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth With A Steelbook Case For Only $38 Today (December 20)
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth + Free Steelbook Case $38 (was ...GameSpot - Dec. 20 -
Poppy Playtime Dev Sues Google Over Counterfeit "Scam" Versions Of Its Games
Mob Entertainment--the development studio behind the jumpscare-heavy survival horror game known as Poppy Playtime --is suing Google over what it calls "scam" games that are ripping off the ...GameSpot - 5h
More in Tech
-
Apple Plans to Disable A.I. Summaries of News Notifications
The company’s Apple Intelligence system has erroneously characterized news stories, provoking a backlash from media companies.The New York Times - 1h -
She Is in Love With ChatGPT
A 28-year-old woman with a busy social life spends hours on end talking to her A.I. boyfriend for advice and consolation. And yes, they do have sex.The New York Times - 2h -
GDC reveals finalists for the 27th Independent Games Festival
The Independent Games Festival revealed the nominees for its upcoming awards event, with Consume Me and Despelote leading in nominations.VentureBeat - 2h -
Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk
Find insight on data center real estate investment trusts, Cisco Systems, BCE and more in the latest Market Talks covering technology, media and telecom.The Wall Street Journal - 3h -
Waymo Finds a Way Around US Restrictions Targeting Chinese Cars
Waymo confirms to WIRED that its planned partnership with Chinese-owned automaker Zeekr remains “on track.”Wired - 3h