So, the Nintendo Switch 2 just got officially announced
After years of waiting and speculation, Nintendo have finally opened up about one of the worst-kept industry secrets in recent years and officially announced the Nintendo Switch 2.
Bigger and more powerful, the Nintendo Switch lacks the colour of its predecessor.
Despite all the leaks, the shadow drop reveal trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2 still drew hundreds of thousands of views in the first few hours. Instead of trying out a new gimmick like with previous consoles such as the WiiU, Nintendo have decided to go with the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it model” for their next flagship console. It’s essentially the Nintendo Switch but bigger and running stronger hardware. Paring back the colour from the base model, the Switch 2 sports a beautiful matte black colour chased with the original’s red and blue to keep things from looking too bland, though it is harder to notice when the Switch is set up in it’s “controller” mode.
It seems that Nintendo were eager to try and get ahead of the many leaks as the announcement trailer was a little light on details. But with how popular the Nintendo Switch is, we’re just happy to have official confirmation. The information we can glean from the trailer hints at the separate Joy Cons being used like the mouse on your PC. We also have a bigger display with all the regular bells and whistles, such as a USB-C port and the power buttons being shown off. The kickstand for playing standalone has also been made bigger and more flexible. To go along with the increased screen size, the Joy Cons have also been enhanced. Although it’s hard to say for certain, it seems the joysticks have also been reinforced to reduce the chances of stick drift.
A new Mario Kart was revealed, but not officially announced.
As for what to expect on the software front, we did get a sneak peak at a new Mario Kart game. While we may be a little way off another mainline Mario entry, that doesn’t mean we will have an empty launch window and a brand new Mario Kart is just the kind of title to bring players together for some party games. But the main highlight was the official confirmation that the Nintendo Switch 2 will run both exclusive new games alongside the majority of original Nintendo Switch games, though it should be pointed out there’s a caveat of some original Switch games not being supported or fully compatible on the Switch 2. How many games that may be affected, if any, remains to be seen, but Nintendo have promised further details will be announced soon. And on that note, the trailer ends with a look ahead at April 2nd of this year with the reveal of a Nintendo Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct.
I created this website as I feel the state of the games industry and games reporting as a whole has gotten overly negative and full of clickbait. While I understand both of these are a great way to generate engagement, it’s a detriment to those gamers (like myself) that are just trying to enjoy games and not have to worry about the negativity of the current state of the gaming industry. I want a space where gamers can come for unbiased news that doesn’t rely on clickbait or rumours with a dash of humour and have the opportunity to share their passion for games.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Officially Revealed - A Quick Look At The Vampire RPG
Newly-minted, veteran-led studio Rebel Wolves have finally pulled back the curtain fully on their next project, The Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy RPG set in an alternative, gothic version 14th-century medieval Europe.
As you can probably guess from the title, it has something to do with vampires. Well, not just something. Players will step into the boots of a Dawnwalker, Coen, the player character afflicted with both a vampiric curse and silver poisoning. Sounds like a volatile mixture, especially since silver is meant to be lethal to vampires. But then again, it would be a really disappointing game if your character blew up after the opening cutscene. Taking place in the kingdom of Vale Sangora, deep in the Carpathian Mountains, players will be facing all manners of things that go bump in the night. As both the Black Death and bloody wars ravage the land, a coven of vampires have descended on the dwindling human population. Led by the game’s primary antagonist Brencis, the vampires have conquered Vale Sangora and now rule it with an ice-cold iron fist. This is where Coen will come in. He has just 30 days to save his younger sister, Lunka, from a life-threatening illness; though if that is 30 in-game days or just for story progression remains to be seen.
Promising a rich, detail-filled world of supernatural beasties, moral choices that will really make you consider your options, and navigating through political intrigue, The Blood of Dawnwalker is set to lead players through a world where all odds are against you. And that promise looks to be delivered by the team of Rebel Wolves, who are planning for The Blood of Dawnwalker to be the first game in a series. If you’ve never heard of Rebel Wolves, that’s okay. But you may recognize their previous works as the development studio is let by former game director and head of production for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, respectively. But Konrad is not the only former CD Projekt Red alum to be working on The Blood of Dawnwalker, as he is joined by his brother and creative director, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, alongside design director Daniel Sadowski, narrative director Jakub Szamalek, and art director Bartłomiej Gaweł. Having all previously worked on CDPR’s main series games, it seems to be a safe bet that The Blood of Dawnwalker will be a game to keep an eye on. And thankfully we don’t have to wait too much longer to see more as in the official cinematic trailer that Rebel Wolves have put out, they have set a Summer 2025 date for a deeper look at gameplay.
Blade Isn’t The Only Daywalker Anymore
Though it is a gorgeous mostly-cinematic trailer, Rebel Wolves have given us a glimpse at some of the gameplay of The Blood of Dawnwalker. Though the footage is brief, we do see some traversal, combat, and a general look at the world running in-engine. Despite it being labelled as pre-alpha footage, it looks like we’re set for quite a bloody good time in a gothic world teeming with lore. We don’t have a release date currently for The Blood of Dawnwalker, but that might change with the full gameplay this summer. While we may have to wait for the game’s release to be announced, we do have confirmation on platforms. The Blood of Dawnwalker is scheduled to release for Xbox Series consoles, PlayStation 5, and PC. Do you think we will have another franchise to rival The Witcher or will The Blood of Dawnwalker crumble to dust when it sees the light of day? Sound off down in the comments!
I created this website as I feel the state of the games industry and games reporting as a whole has gotten overly negative and full of clickbait. While I understand both of these are a great way to generate engagement, it’s a detriment to those gamers (like myself) that are just trying to enjoy games and not have to worry about the negativity of the current state of the gaming industry. I want a space where gamers can come for unbiased news that doesn’t rely on clickbait or rumours with a dash of humour and have the opportunity to share their passion for games.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Faces Yet Another Delay
Things continue to deteriorate for Ubisoft.
In a rather unsurprising turn of events, Ubisoft has delayed Assassin’s Creed: Shadows by a month, pushing it to March of this year. While it remains to be seen if this is a good move or not, it comes at a time when Ubisoft really needs a win.
After just about breaking even in 2024, things have been looking pretty bleak for Ubisoft with many fans wondering if this might be the end for the beleaguered publisher. Their 2024 lineup of games (such as Star Wars: Outlaws) failed to meet their expectations. Having such a coveted IP like Star Wars sounds like a surefire way to print money, even when its fanbase is so divided. However, interest in Star Wars has been waning in recent years, though this is only one of the reasons Outlaws underperformed. Overall, it’s just not a very enjoyable game.
Ubisoft is no stranger to having a series that prints money as the Assassin’s Creed franchise has been a juggernaut in the games industry since the original launch in 2007. While players - and the games’ quality - suffered from the yearly releases and franchise fatigue, Assassin’s Creed was revitalized with the 2017 launch of Assassin’s Creed: Origins which took the series in a new gameplay direction. Many fans praised the new design choices but lamented the minimized stealth options, a core feature of, you know, being an assassin.
Though we have the new release date of March 20th, 2025 for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of there being more delays closer to the release date. Ubisoft shared a post over on X to announce the delay while expressing their gratitude for players’ patience, citing the need for a few more weeks to implement fan feedback.
Take Your Time, Hurry Up. Choice Is Yours, Don’t Be Late
Hot on the heels of this announcement, fans were quick to make their feelings clear. Some players, like myself, are happy to wait for a game to be polished and hopefully ship with a minimal amount of bugs (but let’s be real here, the odds of that happening in the 2025 gaming industry is like catching lightning in a bottle). Other fans voiced their frustration as they are eager to dive into Ubisoft’s rendition of feudal Japan after clamoring for it for at least a decade.
I don’t envy any game developer in today’s day and age, as there will always be harsh critique of your choice to either release a game early and get bombarded with complaints of bugs and rushing a game out before it’s done, or get slandered for delaying a game multiple times with many vocal players advocating a game shouldn’t be announced so far in advance. But in the ever-growing industry, it is nigh impossible to please everyone as game development takes longer with each passing generation and developers are at risk of losing interest in a franchise if games aren’t released every few years or drawing the ire of gamers that want a new game now.
Patience is a virtue that is a tricky line to balance in the world of gaming, but not just for developers. Just don’t pull a Bethesda, and we’re golden! I’m still upset that not only is The Elder Scrolls VI still several years out, but Fallout 5 is a twinkle in Uncle Todd’s eye despite the critical acclaim of the Fallout TV show that aired only last year.
Despite all Ubisoft’s flaws, I am still hoping that they can launch a successful product this March. And I’m guessing their investors are hoping for the same after the underperforming titles of 2024, which included the aforementioned Star Wars: Outlaws, the sunken cost of Skull & Bones, and the short-lived “CoD-killer” XDefiant. Announcing an investigation of their development cycles and a desire to focus on a "player-centric approach", Ubisoft announced the first delay of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows to February 14th, 2025, before eventually delaying the game a second time. How do you feel about another delay? Let us know down in the comment section.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is now set to launch on March 20th, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles and PC.
I created this website as I feel the state of the games industry and games reporting as a whole has gotten overly negative and full of clickbait. While I understand both of these are a great way to generate engagement, it’s a detriment to those gamers (like myself) that are just trying to enjoy games and not have to worry about the negativity of the current state of the gaming industry. I want a space where gamers can come for unbiased news that doesn’t rely on clickbait or rumours with a dash of humour and have the opportunity to share their passion for games.
Opinion Piece - Games To Look Forward To In 2025
From indie bangers to AAA blockbusters - and everything in between - here are just some of the games to keep an eye on in 2025.
2024 was a stellar year for gaming, but not without its downsides. While many fantastic games launched, the year was marred by the sheer number of layoffs across the whole industry. A lot of talent was lost across multiple development studios, many of which have been attributed to studios “restructuring”, resulting in over 15,000 job losses.
It was also the year where many live service games crashed and burned, the first of which to fall being The Day Before (yes, that really was 2024. Yes, it feels like at least 6 years ago) to the biggest live service death of the year, Concord. Concord lasted just two weeks before Sony removed it from sale. While there was speculation if Concord would relaunch as a free to play game, but those theories were quickly put to bed when in October Sony officially announced the game would not be returning. They also announced the studio behind Concord, Firewalk Studios, would also be shut down down, further adding to the layoffs in 2024.
But instead of looking back, we’re going to be looking at that bright spot cresting the horizon. It’s the start of a new year, which means a new slate of games launching this year, all vying for that coveted Game of the Year award at the Jeffies- sorry, the Game Awards. I’ve picked out the games that I think are worth devoting some of your time to when they launch. So what’s first?
If you’re like me, you love pretty much anything zombie-related. For me it started way back with the original Resident Evil, even if I was terrified of it as a kid. Years later, blasting away zombies in any form has become pretty much therapeutic for me. And Killing Floor 3 looks like it’ll crank things up past 11. While the Killing Floor franchise doesn’t quite have the same chops as classics like Left 4 Dead, it is definitely one you should look into if you enjoy turning Zeds into red mist.
Killing Floor 3 takes place 70 years after Killing Floor 2 where the Horzine Corporation has created an army of bio-engineered Zeds with the only thing standing between them and wiping out humanity is a ragtag group of rogues known as Nightfall. These specialists are armed to the teeth with a variety of different weapons, ranging from staples such as assault rifles and shotguns to flamethrowers and bows with explosive-tipped arrows. Want to feel like you can take on a whole army of Zeds by yourself? Pull out a katana and dive right in. Just don’t be surprised if you can’t actually take on the army by yourself. But it’s not just weapons you’ll need to re-deadify these Zeds. You also get to wield a number of gadgets that can get you out of - or into - trouble. I’m most keen to try out the grappling hook, which I think will pair spectacularly well with katanas or shotguns for some of those pesky ranged enemies. If you prefer a more defensive approach or need a breather, doorways can be sealed temporarily with an explosive-rigged barricade.
But that doesn’t mean the enemies will stay at range—quite the opposite. What do you get when you take a bio-virus and inject it into test subjects? Zombies, probably. I dunno, I haven’t done it personally, but it seems to be how these things go. And then what happens when you add some mechanical implants to those test subjects, carving them open and drilling and welding weaponry to them? You get… a wide variety of enemy types very eager to make you as dead as they are. In a series fo short videos on their YouTube channel, Tripwire Interactive has been slowly revealing the list of Zeds you’ll be dealing with in Killing Floor 3 with weapons bigger but no less lethal than yours. The Husk will launch fireballs at range and use its jetpack to close the distance to burn you up close with a deadly spray of flames all while the Scrake will make you “get over here!” using its grappling hook and carve you up like a Christmas turkey with its built-in chainsaw arm.
You can dive into Killing Floor 3 for some chaotic gameplay with up to 5 other players when it launches with crossplay on Xbox Series consoles, PlayStation 5, and PC in March.
Before the first game launched, people complained they didn’t want to play a medieval peasant simulator. But that all changed when the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance was released back in 2018. Strapping yourself into the boots of Henry, you started out as the son of a blacksmith. Not even a blacksmith yourself. While you start the game off as a typical young adult intent on getting up to no good, it’s not long before Henry’s world gets turned upside down and his once-peaceful life ends up as dead as his parents. In order to kickstart the plot, something has to happen, right?
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 sees you returning as Henry to conclude the story from the first game, taking on the army of Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund. The sequel is poised to expand upon the gameplay mechanics of the first, with the developers having designed the in-game world of Bohemia to be twice the size of the first game. But instead of one massive open world, Warhorse Studios have built two larger open areas. The first being the Bohemian Paradise and the other being the city of Kuttenberg and its surrounding areas. Despite being a sequel, Warhorse has clarified that the game is still accessible to new players who haven’t played the first. However, I believe to truly appreciate a story, you should play games in order of release. Including some sim elements, such as needing to eat, sleep, and tailor your appearance based on how you want the world to view you, Henry will meet all manner of characters from lowly peasants to the highest of nobility. How you view them and how they view you based on your appearance and actions will lead to many differing interactions
Diving back into the world of 15th Century Bohemia to wrap up Henry’s adventure will include all kinds of gameplay features, new and old. We don’t have to long to wait to draw our swords as Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 launches on Xbox Series consoles, PlayStation 5, and PC on February 4th.
“Ey up, there’s robots roaming in them ‘ills.”
If you enjoyed the Fallout London mod, you’re probably chomping at the bit for something similar to scratch that itch. With the next official Fallout game an unknown number of years away, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s DLC currently without a release date, we have Atomfall to turn to. But is Atomfall just British Fallout or will it be something more?
Coming from Rebellion Developments - the minds behind the Sniper Elite series - Atomfall takes players to an alternate reality 1960s where most of Northern England has been turned into a radioactive wasteland after the nuclear meltdown at the Windscale facility. Like any survival game worth its salt, Atomfall gives players the ability to scavenge limited supplies and weapons to face off against bandits, mechs, and mutated enemies. Unlike similar games, players will also need to manage their heart rate as intense combat, kicking enemies, and sprinting will result in muffled hearing and darkened vision until the heart rate settles to a normal rate. Taking inspiration from Fallout: New Vegas, Rebellion are focusing on giving players choices that matter and will make players’ choices feel important. Avoiding the typical open-world design, the developers decide to create a number of smaller connected zones and let players find their own way through each.
Players can see alternate history Britain with their own eyes and unravel the mysteries of Windscale when Atomfall launches on the PlayStation consoles, the Xbox consoles, and PC on March 27th.
Without a hay pile, Assassin landings are murder on the knees.
Coming off a rather dire 2024 - in which even this game was delayed - Ubisoft really need a win to keep themselves afloat. Assassin’s Creed: Shadows just might be that game, but it is too early to tell. At the time of writing, AC: Shadows was pushed from its November 2024 release date, instead launching in February of this year. But will it be too late for the long-awaited Assassin’s Creed set in Japan?
Fans have been crying for an Assassin’s Creed set in Feudal Japan for years. A franchise notorious for having the player character as part of a hidden organization that blends in fits nicely in an era of ninjas and samurai. But what what took Ubisoft so long to finally deliver what fans have been looking for? While fans are finally getting what they’ve been clamouring for, many feel like it’s too little too late. Franchise fatigue has been setting in, even with the change of gameplay style introduced in Assassin’s Creed: Origins. While it was a divisive choice, many believe it was the shakeup the franchise needed. But now players feel it’s becoming stale again. It’s also diverting too much from what made the series popular in the first place, the titular assassin’s as most playable characters nowadays are assassin’s in title alone.
Controversies aside, I firmly believe Shadows could be a worthwhile investment. Featuring two playable characters - Naoe, a female shinobi alongside Yasuke, an African samurai drawing inspiration from a historical figure of the same name - AC: Shadows will feature gameplay features new to the series such as utilizing shadows and a grapple hook to enhance the series’ staple parkour. Players will get to carry out a number of missions in the game’s open world, taking them through a variety of different seasons and landscapes. And while the series’s standard vantage points return, in a series first, they do not mark areas on the map, instead encouraging players to find nearby points of interest. We will also get the chance to maneuver the world in new ways, such as going prone to enter small crevices and sneaking underwater with a bamboo shoot to breathe, opening up new ways to avoid an enemy’s line of sight. For combat, we have a wide range of historical weapons at our disposal, each one coming with its own skill tree to rank up and open up new bonuses for each.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows drops on February 14th for Xbox Series consoles, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Avowed: In the Multiverse of Madness.
2025 looks set to be a stellar year for the Xbox brand when it comes to new releases and that all starts with Avowed. With plenty more games to come for the platform across a range of genres, Avowed could be one of the forerunners for a Game of the Year nomination this November. But that’s a bit too far in the future to be thinking about. Luckily, the actual release of Avowed is right around the corner, so we will get a chance to see for ourselves just what kind of impact it’ll have on the gaming landscape.
Coming from legendary RPG developer Obsidian, the first full reveal of Avowed after the original teaser back in 2020 came as a bit of a shock for people wanting to hear more about the game. Unlike the dark and gloomy teaser trailer - somewhat akin to Bethesda’s Skyrim - the full reveal during the Xbox showcase in summer 2023 was certainly much brighter. While it was a little jarring at first, the shock quickly wore off when we got a chance to see how Avowed played. That being said, certain aspects of Avowed will seem familiar to some players. That’s because Avowed is set in the same world as the Pillars of Eternity series. But playing PoE isn’t necessary to enjoy Avowed as it is its own unique story. From what has been shown so far by Obsidian, there are multiple ways to engage in combat; this ranges from the standard RPG fare of magic and melee, but ranged combat will feature firearms alongside the use of bows. Avowed will let players switch up their weapons on the fly, swapping from wands and spellbooks inflicting various status effects to swords and pistols to quickly dispatch the various enemies that will be stopping us from exploring The Living Lands. In true RPG fashion, Avowed will feature skill trees to rank up as gamers progress through the open zones that Obsidian has crafted for us. While we get to meet companions who will join us on our journey, we don’t get to romance them like we would in other similar RPGs. As long as they pull their weight in combat (and carrying loot), it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
While it was set to launch back in 2024 originally, Microsoft pushed the release back to February 18th, 2025 to give players breathing room from the busy holiday period of 2024. However, every February over the past few years has been absolutely stacked - which is evident just from this list alone - it waits to be seen if that was a good idea or not. Avowed launches on Xbox and PC, though it remains to be seen if it will come to PlayStation further down the line.
How To Train Your Dragon might give some tips on how to play this game.
After its full reveal at The Game Awards 2024, many people are keeping their eyes on Hazelight Studio’s newest game, Split Fiction. Coming from the same studio that released the critically acclaimed It Takes Two and A Way Out, Split Fiction features the same co-op multiplayer platformer gameplay as the aforementioned titles. You’ll need to dig up a buddy if you’re planning on jumping into this one.
Now, I’ll be honest, I never really played the previous Hazelight games. But, that didn’t stop Split Fiction from catching my eye. And I’m the kind of gamer who will happily go back to previous games I’ve missed from my backlog… when new games permit. But I’ve loved what I’ve seen from Split Fiction so far. I’m torn between going in blind but as a news outlet, I have to keep up to date with whatever information comes out. Players will get a chance to control Zoe or Mio, two authors who get caught up in the worlds of their stories. This is of particular interest of mine, as some of my other main hobbies are reading and writing. Throughout the game, players get transported through various different worlds and settings as Mio’s science-fiction story intertwines with Zoe’s fantasy one. Each of the game’s individual levels features unique, once-off mechanics that don’t follow through to the next setting. While there will be enough time to get used to each mechanic, it will help the game feel fresh for the duration of the story as more features get cycled through. But the mechanics aren’t the only thing that change every level, as our characters will need to work together and use their changing abilities to progress.
Grab a buddy and prepare to dive into the ever-changing worlds of Split Fiction on March 6th, on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Fans of the Monster Hunter series have been waiting for a new entry in the series since Rise launched back in 2021 and now that wait is coming to a close with the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds right around the corner. However Wilds will be a successor to Monster Hunter: World, which launched back in 2018. Personally, that suits me just fine as World was the only one of the series I’ve played so far. Players get to dive into an open beta for Wilds on February 7th, a few weeks before the full game launches.
For those who don’t know, the core gameplay loop is a sick twist on the Metroidvania style of gameplay where you use weapons to kill large monsters, turn parts of their bodies into new weapons, and then use those new monster weapons to kill their mates. The weapon types from World all return in Wilds, but new moves, features, and actions were added to shake things up. New mounts called Seikret have also been added, allowing players to charge into battle while mounted or get some guidance while exploring the Forbidden Lands. After taking a beating, or looting new gear, players can seamlessly swap between the various biomes and the hunter’s village to stock up on supplies, craft new gear to take on bigger and tougher enemies, and cook food for additional benefits. In combat, players can utilize the Focus system to target individual body parts of monsters to heap damage onto specific areas of the beast. If you manage to wound these monsters, you can then focus on those wounds to deal increased damage. But that is if you can even get into combat with the monsters you want as they will also be hunting each other. While this may make your work easier if you’re going for the predator, it could also result in you getting ganged up on by both beasties. Even if it’s not two beasts against each other, monsters will exhibit herd mentality to make the hunt more of a challenge. Some of the beasts will only show up under certain weather conditions, giving them a boost and possibly hindering their hunters.
You can hop into Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28th with up to three pals (or three AI Hunters if you prefer to play solo) on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles.
For someone named Naked Snake, he sure does wear an awful lot of clothes.
A bit of a returning trend here, but I never really played the Metal Gear Solid series. I did play MGS3, but I only got halfway through it. That being said, when the announcement came for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, it caught my eye. While it might seem a little strange to remaster the third game in the series first, it makes sense as it’s an origin story for some of its more important characters and a starting point for the franchise’s timeline.
Though the legendary Hideo Kojima - the mind behind the series’ main entries - isn’t returning for this remake after parting ways with Konami in 2015, MGSD appears to be in good hands, with Metal Gear Solid V creative producer Yuji Korekado supervising the project. Korekado is heading Konami Digital Entertainment with Virtuos providing additional support. The majority of the core game features will remain the same as the original MGS3 but will be enhanced to keep more in line with later MGS entries. Crouch-walking and using firearms in third-person are returning gameplay aspects, but are new to Metal Gear Solid Delta. A new feature making its debut in Delta is that any damage Snake takes throughout the course of the game remains visible permanently which will help shape each individual’s playthrough feel more unique. This also pairs with the camouflage system as mud and branches will dirty and damage Snake’s clothes and bullet holes don’t disappear. It’s a small feature that brings more realism to the game, one I am looking forward to seeing in action. Players will also get the choice to swap between a New Style and a Legacy Style, letting players choose between classic gameplay and gameplay more akin to more recent MGS titles and similar modern action games. This is a feature that I think should have been an option in other remakes of more recent years, such as Capcom’s Resident Evil 2 remake.
Unlike everything so far on the list, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater has an estimated launch of sometime this year. Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long to drop into the “first” chronological MGS entry.
Despite undergoing 13 years of enhancements, Kyle Crane looks slightly worse than your average Hollywood-type.
I’m currently undergoing a love/mildly-dislike relationship with the Dying Light series. While I absolutely love the first game and have rated it as my personal favourite zombie game of all time, Dying Light 2 felt more like a misfire compared to the original. Despite there being 7 years between the release of the two games, Dying Light 2 was a step back in many ways. The most notable, in my opinion, was how nights in the game functioned. And why is that?
What truly detracted from the overall experience for me wasn’t the change in how zombies reacted to your attacks or how they were dismembered, but it was how mundane the nights in Dying Light 2 were. The heart-pounding chases from the original felt stripped back and less a matter of life and death, predator and prey. The night sky in Dying Light 2 was much brighter than the original, almost always a navy blue. In comparison, the nighttime runs of Dying Light almost always took place in pitch-dark alleys and rooftops, the only lights being your flashlight and still-burning fires. So after not really enjoying Dying Light 2, why am I recommending Dying Light: The Beast? For one, DL:TB sheds the city settings of its predecessors to move things to the sparse setting of Castor Woods. Parkour will be trickier, but feel rewarding when escaping the mutated beasties hoping to turn you into their next meal. Resuming the role of Kyle Crane from Dying Light, players will explore Castor Woods using some of Crane’s new supernatural abilities he’s gained after undergoing years of experiments with the Haran Virus. Mixing parkour with vehicles and other methods of traversal will be key to surviving the nights in Castor Woods, wielding a variety of different weapons. You’ll have to work with the diminishing human settlers to track down the man who experimented on you for so long all the while avoiding the people who want to recapture or kill you. This will be made a little easier to accomplish with the option of playing in 4-player co-op if you have friends eager to survive the night, or it can of course be played solo.
Dying Light: The Beast doesn’t have a definite date yet, but it is set for release in summer of this year on PC, Xbox Series consoles, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
Shadow of the Colossus meets Breath of the Wild and births… Eternal Strands.
It’s not very often that we get to scale large colossuses (colossi?) while fighting in their shadows, but the debut title from Yellow Brick Games will scratch that itch for players who love the David versus Goliath-style gameplay of similar titles. Players will assume the role of Brynn a seasoned warrior on the hunt for more clues of a long-lost civilization known as the Enclave.
Forgoing cutting-edge graphics despite it being an Unreal Engine 5 title, Eternal Strands takes inspiration from the recent mainline Legend of Zelda entries, but the developers have also said they’re drawing inspiration from European visual novels. Despite being a relatively new studio, there’s a lot of seasoned talent behind the scenes, mostly from former Ubisoft veterans. Headed up by Mike Laidlaw, the original creative director for the Dragon Age series, the developers have returned to what they do best: crafting a high fantasy world for players to explore. While Brynn will be searching for more information on an ancient civilization, she will have to contend with nine distinct bosses in different areas of the game’s world. Felling these giants will grant players a new magical ability to explore or utilize in combat. Brynn has a mystical cloak that allows players to manipulate temperatures and the elements, which can help alter the game’s world, sometimes to the player’s detriment or to help access new areas. Other than scaling the main bosses, the trailers have depicted a variety of enemies that players will be facing, pairing magic with different weapons in whatever manner they see fit.
Eternal Strands launches for Xbox Series consoles, PlayStation 5, and PC on January 28th.
What if Steamboat Willie went down a different path?
It feels weird to claim that I think I already know what my own Game of the Year is. But that’s a claim I feel confident in making this year for Mouse: P.I. For Hire. Now, that may actually change by the time December 31st rolls around, but there’s just something about Mouse that stands out among all the games I’ve listed so far.
Seemingly taking inspiration from the resurgence of Boomer Shooters, Mouse: P.I. For Hire combines a lot of classic elements along with gameplay features of more recent entries into the subgenre, such as wall running. Not exactly what you’d expect from a mouse. Players might be reminded of Cuphead, due to the 1930s-style cartoon art style, though unlike Cuphead, P.I. For Hire is sapped of colour, a lá Steamboat Willie. Classed as a dark and gritty noir-inspired first-person shooter, players take control of Jack Pepper, a war veteran-turned-detective who’s dragged into a rescue mission for a damsel in distress. But it doesn’t take long before we find out just how corrupt and murderous the city of Mouseburg really is. The beautifully hand-drawn rubber hose animation, paired with the retro jazz soundtrack contrasts heavily with the dismemberment and destruction you’ll leave in your wake as you blast your way through the various maps. As players progress, they will discover new upgrades and can combine them with a multitude of weapons and gadgets in a uniquely cartoony way. Players will be searching for clues to unravel the story and taking part in mini-games across a broad range of locales from docks and sewers to the Mouseburg Casino and even a noir film studio.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is scheduled to launch sometime this year, though we don’t have a fully confirmed release date yet. It launches on the PlayStations, the Xbox consoles, and PC.
So there we have it! That’s my list of games I think are worth keeping an eye on in 2025. But it’s impossible to claim this will be all as some games we know about are rumoured to also be launching this year. And then there’ll be the announcements yet to come and the occasional shadow drop or two to catch us off guard. What games are you looking forward to? Let us know down below.
I created this website as I feel the state of the games industry and games reporting as a whole has gotten overly negative and full of clickbait. While I understand both of these are a great way to generate engagement, it’s a detriment to those gamers (like myself) that are just trying to enjoy games and not have to worry about the negativity of the current state of the gaming industry. I want a space where gamers can come for unbiased news that doesn’t rely on clickbait or rumours with a dash of humour and have the opportunity to share their passion for games.