10 Most Anticipated PC Games of 2025

There's a clear winner in this bunch but the rest look pretty choice too

It's that time of the year again: time to check what PC games Choicest Games is interested in for the next year! Our list probably differs quite considerably from other lists out there since we're only focused on titles coming to the PC and due to the backgrounds of the judges, we don't necessarily go for the AAA titles, although we don't shy away from them either, if they've got something awesome to offer. Also, as we're older games, we do like our retro-inspired and indie titles too. We can already tell you Grand Theft Auto VI isn't at the top of our list (as it was with the Game Awards) but did it make our list at all? You'll just have to scroll further to find out!

As it's been with previous years, I've again managed to recruit the help of my wife as a judge but instead of using Google Trends as a third judge which I decided to do in 2019, I have instead used Wikipedia pageview statistics as a measure. While the effective goal is the same, i.e. to use a measure that gauges the public's interest with respect to a game (which in turn usually favours AAA titles), I have a preference for concrete numbers which you don't really get with Google Trends: it's all comparative.

The Judges

Mark G

Mark founded the blog Choicest Games in 2008 and has been playing PC games since the 1980s. He has an eclectic taste in games but his favourite genres include point 'n' click adventures, First Person Shooters and almost anything to do with sci-fi. He is also leader of the social guild/clan Gamers of Choice.

Lanna

Lanna is Mark G's wife and being the supportive wife that she is has contributed reviews and her input on the running of the blog. Lanna enjoys puzzle games, FPSs and Civilization. She was also at one stage world champion at Everyday Genius Squarelogic.

Wikipedia Pageviews

Wikipedia page view statistics is publicly available data that records how many times a Wikipedia page is viewed over a given time period (the default is the last 20 days).

How the list was made

An arbitrary list of 210 games was compiled (more than the previous year's 191) through a combination of me scouring the Internet for exciting PC titles coming out next year as well as any the contributors could find as well. I used the same scoring as previous years where contributors were given a choice of three potential scores:

0 = Not interested in the game at all
1 = Slightly interested. Keeping my eyes on it and/or will buy it if there's nothing better to get
2 = Must-buy. I will buy it on release or I've already pre-ordered it.

Contributors were asked to assign a 0, 1 or 2 to each of the games on the list. I would then count up the total score and then sort the list by score in descending order.

With respect to Wikipedia Pageview statistics, I drew a line in the sand at 10,000 page views: if a game received 10,000 page views or more it received a score of 2. If it had less than 10,000, it received a score of 1. If it didn't have a Wikipedia page at all, I gave it a score of 0.

This year is different to last year in that there was definitely a clear winner. The top ranked game got a full six out of six marks (which means that all judges were keen on this release). There were no games that received five or four points, but there were a few with three points, eight to be precise. 29 games were awarded a score of two points (which is less than the 2024 anticipated list and the 2023 anticipated list which had 40 and 30 respectively). Like last year, games that were awarded a score of two (and where one of those votes was a Human judge) were added to the Honourable Mentions List, but unlike last year, only three games are eligible for the Honourable Mentions list compared to last year's 13. One of these three made it onto the top 10 since we needed to complete it (and fans of oldschool RTS games are going to love it). Games that were awarded points by human judges were given priority but the Wikipedia Pageview scores assisted in pushing games that were well known enough to warrant their own Wikipedia page.

This year, only one game on the list appeared in last year's list (so maybe we're getting better at predicting games that will actually release on time) and this may be the first year a crowdfunded project didn't make its way into the top 10.

So I present to you the 10 Most Anticipated PC Games of 2025 as voted by Choicest Games! But before I get into that, here are the Honourable Mentions, those that didn't make the list but were close to being included…

Honourable Mentions

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered
Wanderstop

10. Tempest Rising

Could this be the game C&C fans have been waiting for?

This game literally came out of nowhere for me and was a late addition to the list. I somehow managed to be blissfully unaware of this game's existence for most of 2024 but how, I do not know. I am a big fan of Command & Conquer and this game seems to be a love letter or a spiritual successor to the series. I mean, one of the two initial factions is called the “Global Defense Forces", not exactly subtle is it? Not to mention there are these mysterious Tempest vines that grow unchecked across the Earth. Again, not exactly subtle is it? The game promises to have two factions available on release with a third being introduced later. Two single player campaigns will be available which includes cutscenes between missions (sorry, no FMV if that's what you were expecting) and the game will also feature multiplayer. Oh, did I also mention Frank Klepacki is contributing to the soundtrack? If that isn't enough to get old Westwood Studios fans excited, I don't know what is.

Fans of classic RTS games will probably be keen to check this out but the only thing that worries me is whether the RTS is a dying genre? Many claim it's a relic of the 1990s and 2000s but then again, the success of games like C&C: Remastered and Age of Empires IV shows there's still an appetite for good ol' micro, Pure Pwnage style.

The game is scheduled for release on the 25th April 2025.

Score:
2 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark and Wikipedia

Release Date:
25 Apr 2025

[ LINK: Official Tempest Rising Website ]

9. The Outer Worlds 2

I still have to play the original one but the sequel promises to be bigger and better

This is the first game on this year's list with three votes or more and that's because there seems to be a lot of interest from the gaming public at large for this game, and that probably comes as no surprise. This is a sequel to Obsidian's 2019 sci-fi RPG, The Outer Worlds which was well received by critics and fans alike, with a Metascore of 85 and a Steam Rating of “Very Positive" due to 83% of the 21,784 Steam user reviews being positive. The game seems to be more of the same except bigger and better, and set on a different colony. You play the role of an “Earth Directorate agent" who is investigating devastating rifts that are destroying a colony called Arcadia: there are the usual factions fighting against each other as well as the colony and your followers being influenced by the choices you make.

I'm embarrassed to say that I still have the original The Outer Worlds sitting on my Pile of Shame. If there was ever a good reason to start playing it, it would be now, considering the sequel is due to release very soon.

The Outer Worlds 2 is set for release sometime in 2025.

Score:
3 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark and Wikipedia

Release Date:
2025

[ LINK: Official Outer Worlds 2 Website ]

8. Fable

The real question is: will they still have chicken kicking contests?

It's been a while since I've played a Fable game. The last one was Fable III back in 2010 and that's, well, 14 years ago but that's only because there hasn't been a proper main series title since. Sure, there have been spin-offs like 2012's Fable Heroes, a beat ‘em up for the Xbox 360, as well as a Kinect game called Fable: The Journey that same year. Both games received mixed reviews and 2018's Free-to-play Collectible Card Game, Fable Fortune, didn't fare much better.

Meanwhile, a true Fable sequel was in development hell. Lionhead Studios, the original studio that developed Fable was working on a game called Fable Legends which would serve as a prequel of sorts. The game was to be a 4v1 multiplayer game, with four heroes going against one villain and was intended to be free-to-play. Development for the game started sometime in 2012 but was cancelled in 2016 and Lionhead Studios shutdown along with it. In 2018, rumours about a new Fable game surfaced and since then, Playground Games, best known for developing the successful racing game series Forza, have been working on it along with Eidos Montreal.

There hasn't been much revealed about the game besides what is shown in the trailers. The graphics are looking pretty good at the very least and it seems that one of the major characters in the game is the retired Hero of Albion called Humphry. How Humphry relates to the existing Fable lore or even if he does so in the first place, remains to be seen.

While I did enjoy the previous Fable games, we're talking about old games now with gameplay that probably doesn't hold up for a modern audience. I'm curious to see which direction they take the franchise and it seems a lot of other people are too.

The game is scheduled for release in 2025.

Score:
3 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark and Wikipedia

Release Date:
2025

[ LINK: Official Fable website ]

7. Mafia: The Old Country

Mafia: The Old Country is making an offer Mafia fans can't refuse

You know how I was saying I was embarrassed I hadn't played The Outer Worlds yet despite the sequel coming out soon? Well, I still haven't played the last Mafia game and soon there will be a new kid on the block: Mafia: The Old Country! In my defence, at least Mafia III is unlikely to have any impact on the story in Mafia: The Old Country, because it's a prequel. However, I really should get around to giving it a go in the near future.

I've never really been a fan of the Grand Theft Auto series nor its clones (well, besides the original top-down games - those were a blast at LAN parties) but I've made exceptions for the likes of Sleeping Dogs and indeed, the Mafia games, mainly because they both had more intriguing stories to tell, or maybe because they are heavily inspired by Hong Kong action films and mobster movies respectively.

As mentioned, Mafia: The Old Country is a prequel to the Mafia series, set in 1900s Sicily. The game is looking pretty good thanks to those Unreal Engine 5 visuals and it will be interesting to again experience a series known for its period-authentic details.

Ah geez, I just realised I also have a remastered version of Mafia II as well. I really need to get back into this series!

The game is scheduled for release in mid-2025.

Score:
3 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark and Wikipedia

Release Date:
Q2 2025

[ LINK: Mafia: The Old Country Official Website ]

6. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

Random trivia: I was still using a camcorder until a few years ago

French development studio Don't Nod is probably best known for their breakout adventure game Life is Strange, a narrative-rich adventure similar in style to the Telltale adventures of the 2010s which had become really popular. Unlike the Telltale adventures though, Life is Strange wasn't based off any existing IP and spawned a franchise of its own following its release in 2015. While Don't Nod would work on its 2018 sequel, Life is Strange 2, as well as its bridging episode The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, all other Life is Strange games were handled by an American studio called Deck Nine. It's been a few years since Don't Nod has touched anything resembling a Life is Strange game, but next year, this seems like it's going to change.

While Lost Records: Bloom & Rage isn't a new Life is Strange game, it's giving off very similar vibes: a story set in Small Town America where a group of childhood friends reunite and you as a player will have to unravel the mystery of a long-buried secret. The original events occurred during 1995 meaning the potential for a lot of throwbacks to 90s pop culture and I'm all for it.

Reading between the lines, it seems that Don't Nod are planning to make this their new Life is Strange as Square Enix now holds the rights to the franchise and Don't Nod have mentioned they're interested creating more games under the Lost Records banner. I'm crossing my fingers that this will be a return to form for Don't Nod and I suspect there are a lot of Life is Strange or Don't Nod fans that are thinking the same.

The game is set for release on 18 March 2025.

Score:
3 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark and Wikipedia

Release Date:
18 Mar 2025

[ LINK: Official Lost Records Website ]

5. Two Point Museum

First it was hospitals, then it was universities and now it's museums

Business management games seem to be somewhat of a niche genre nowadays but it's a niche that I'm particularly fond of. This year, I finally got around to playing Two Point Hospital and I loved the fact it was for all intents and purposes a modern version of the classic Theme Hospital. This was no accident as a couple of ex-Bullfrog employees that actually worked on Theme Hospital are part of the development team at Two Point Studios. In 2022, Two Point Campus was released (which I'm yet to play) and in 2025, we're going to see yet another business management game but this time, you play the role of a curator running museums.

There will be a variety of types of museums you can build, such as pre-history museums, aquariums and supernatural museums, and you'll have to send out experts to gather new artifacts to display in them. One interesting feature the latest trailer shows is the ability to send an expert for one type of museum to explore the region of another resulting in hybrid artifacts.

The game looks like it should appeal to fans as it brings its trademark silly humour and addictive tycoon gameplay but the only thing that worries me is, will people come back a third time to play this? After playing Two Point Hospital, I for one am definitely keen to play more.

The game is due for release on 4 Mar 2025.

Score:
3 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark and Wikipedia

Release Date:
4 Mar 2025

[ LINK: Official Two Point Museum Page ]

4. Carmen Sandiego

Where in the world is... Carmen Sandiego?

On the surface, this game looks like a bit of a cash grab. It's developed by Gameloft, a company often associated with mass producing a lot of mobile games and the trailer shows a lot of action gameplay which isn't typically associated with the Carmen Sandiego games. Worse! Carmen Sandiego seems to be one of the good guys in this game! The horror! The horror!

For anyone who is shocked by this revelation, I suggest you check out the Netflix show which this game is based on to learn why. Also if you dig a bit deeper and read the dev diary notes, the folks at Gameloft Brisbane (that's right, this game is being developed in Australia) are obviously fans of the original game from the 1980s as they plan to have you looking for clues, issuing arrest warrants and completing your almanac as you travel across the globe. This is reassuring news since it's been a long time since Carmen Sandiego fans have played a game with the classic style of gameplay and it seems that Gameloft Brisbane are doing their best to bring as much as practical from the original game into the 21st century.

The only thing that concerns me is the lack of locations advertised. I can see there are at least eight but that's hardly enough when you consider how many places you could visit in the original (30 cities in total). Let's hope there are many more to follow.

Since Lanna and I are fans of the original Carmen Sandiego games and the Netflix TV show (it was great fun watching this with the kids), we're keeping our eyes on this one. This is also the first game on the list where all judges have given the game at least one vote.

The game is due for release in Q1 2025.

Score:
3 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark, Lanna and Wikipedia

Release Date:
Q1 2025

[ LINK: Official Carmen Sandiego Website ]

3. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra

Can Cap do this all.... daaaay???

There hasn't been much in terms of gameplay footage in recent months but a rather epic trailer was shown this year for an action-adventure game featuring Captain America and the Black Panther, in pursuit of a common enemy during WWII. The game is called Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra and is being developed by Skydance New Media, which happens to have Amy Hennig of Uncharted fame, as one of its co-presidents.

I've always had a soft spot for WWII games and considering this game features one of my favourite Marvel characters, it's definitely got my attention. The game is also being developed by veterans of narrative-heavy video games which is another sign this game is in good hands.

This happens to be another game where all three judges gave at least one vote to the game.

The game is set to release in 2025.

Score:
3 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark, Lanna and Wikipedia

Release Date:
2025

[ LINK: Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra - Skydance New Media Page ]

2. Split Fiction

How to Train Your Dragon, but co-operatively!

Hazelight are no strangers to creating award-winning co-op experiences which they have done with the likes of 2018's A Way Out and 2021's It Takes Two. And frankly, there really should be more games that are built with co-op from the ground up. Next year, Hazelight will be releasing another co-op game entitled Split Fiction. The game is looking gorgeous, thanks to its use of the latest Unreal engine, but the game promises to not be just a pretty face. In this game you get to play one of two aspiring authors: one of them is into fantasy novels, the other, sci-fi. You go to meet some techbro that is into converting these stories into virtual experiences but an accident occurs and you end up trapped in the simulation, a bit like “Tron" or the recent “Jumanji" movies. Anyway, the only way to escape is to complete the levels in either the fantasy or sci-fi worlds created by the two authors. Each level is said to offer quite unique challenges to ensure that gameplay never goes stale and best of all, you only need one copy of the game as a friend can play free even if they're online. How cool is that?

All judges gave this game one vote meaning it scores 3 out of 6.

The game is set for release on 7 Mar 2025.

Score:
3 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark, Lanna and Wikipedia

Release Date:
7 Mar 2025

[ LINK: Split Fiction Official Page ]

1. Sid Meier's Civilization VII

Are fans going to warm to the changes being introduced in Civ VII?

It's been almost 6 years since the last expansion pack for Civilization VI was released and almost 9 years since the base game was released, so a new Civ game is definitely well overdue. But the challenge in making a new entry in the Civ series is making it different enough to warrant the purchase, but not losing sight of what Civ is all about to ensure you don't alienate the veterans.

While on the surface, Civ VII looks quite similar to Civ VI, this time they appear to be taking a leaf out of Humankind's book and are allowing you to change civilizations as you advance through the ages. One one hand, this offers greater flexibility for you, as you'll have a civilization in each age that is competent at what it does, instead of what previous iterations of Civ have done, offering civilizations that are either good in the early game or late game. Civ VII is also offering the ability to pick leaders that weren't necessarily heads of state such as Benjamin Franklin, Ibn Batutta and Confucius.

Lanna and I are big fans of the Civilization series and there are still plenty of Sid Meier fans out there which is why this game is the only entry on this list to receive the full 6 points, making it our number one anticipated PC game of 2025.

The game is set for release on 11 Feb 2025.

Score:
6 out of 6 votes

Voted by:
Mark, Lanna and Wikipedia

Release Date:
11 Feb 2025

[ LINK: Sid Meier's Civilization VII Official Website ]

So what did you think of the list? What are you looking most forward to in 2025 in terms of PC games?