# 2025 is Gonna Pop Off, Right? My buddy brought this up the other day on [[MFP42 - "Pretty Much Dead to Me" with Logan Moore|the latest episode]] of [[The Max Frequency Podcast]]—next year is *stacked* for games. While editing the episode, I looked up a list of what is supposed to be out next year and, ummmmmm, yeah, 2025 is shaping up to be a big one. ### Games Max Is Hype For With 2025 Dates #### *[Death Stranding 2: On the Beach](https://youtube.com/watch?v=wbLstJHlC4U)* The latest news from [Tokyo Game Show](https://www.youtube.com/live/3j3XizwzhEY) showed us some peak Kojima design. Polaroid photoshoots with famous Hollywood actors? Weirdly long cutscenes with weird puppet men? Those same puppets doing a dance number? Sign. Me. Up. Cannot wait to dive into the world of *Death Stranding* again. You can read [[Returning to Death Stranding Six Months Later|what I thought about the first game here]] if you'd like. #### *[Ghost of Yōtei](https://youtube.com/watch?v=7z7kqwuf0a8)* The [[Ghost of Yōtei Announced|most recent announcement]] on the list, but it is looking like a strong year for PlayStation alone. #### *[Pokémon Legends: Z-A](https://youtube.com/watch?v=uq-Znr_jGIg)* *Pokémon Legends: Arceus* was a captivating game. It's the kind of Pokémon game you always played with your imagination outside as a kid. It's the kind of game *Pokémon GO* felt like at its infectious launch. Pokémon roam and you have the thrill, rush, and fear of encountering them. I am eager to see what Game Freak does to refine and expand the formula on, hopefully, more powerful hardware. #### *[Unbeatable](https://youtube.com/watch?v=LXb0wT75wP8)* Sign me up to [[Unbeatable is Back and I Still Can't Get Over It|commit music crimes]] day one. #### *[Grand Theft Auto VI](https://youtube.com/watch?v=QdBZY2fkU-0)* Speaking of committing crimes, this game is going to be insane. ### Games Max Assumes Will Be Hype for Others #### *[Civilization VII](https://youtube.com/watch?v=pygcgE3a_uY)* These games are big, right? A game has to be big if it has a guy's name preceding the title. #### *[DOOM: The Dark Ages](https://youtube.com/watch?v=4tk8lkmYGWQ)* The most recent *DOOM* games may be too long and are [[Mick Gordon’s Statement about DOOM Eternal’s Soundtrack|tainted in legal music issues]], but the people will be hype nonetheless. #### *[Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Lb2wwEx6DVw)* Marvel is in a major slump right now. Really, I'm not even hype for the game itself. What I am excited about is that it will be Amy Hennig's first released game in almost 15 years. ### Games That Don't Have a Date, But Come On, They Should be Out Next Year #### [*Metroid Prime 4: Beyond*](https://youtube.com/watch?v=mMAgmdR8jwU) With the Switch successor rumored to be on track for next year, I still feel like *Prime 4* is a cross-gen game in some capacity. #### [*Judas*](https://youtube.com/watch?v=FoLJ4HgWqw4) *Judas* is a game that pops in my head from time to time. One that doesn't feel like it was unveiled two years ago, but rather simultaneously right after *BioShock: Infinite* and yesterday. I am infatuated with the idea of [Lego narrative pieces that Ken Levine keeps talking about](https://www.ign.com/articles/judas-first-details-how-ken-levine-is-building-on-bioshock-with-narrative-legos). Given that press has played *Judas*, I am hopeful that it releases next year. #### [*Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*](https://youtube.com/watch?v=gsWIvq1i7W4) It looks soooooooo good. Take me back to the jungle! I hope it plays well, both in its classic mode and its new mode. Snnnnnnnnakkkkkee! #### [*Mina the Hollower*](https://youtube.com/watch?v=b5MbAFiFlOA) Like I said on the aforementioned podcast episode, I am dying for something *new* from Yacht Club Games and *Mina* looks oh so good. #### [*Earthblade*](https://youtube.com/watch?v=wafFds3Ppb0) Default hype engaged for a new game from the team behind *Celeste*. #### [*Fable*](https://youtube.com/watch?v=2FiBmVBaY0g) This could have been slotted under the "Games Max Assumes Will Be Hype for Others" heading too, but I don't believe a date is announced. Maybe it was even rumored to be 2026? I'm not sure. Playground Games are unparalleled in their open world design for cars. I am eager to see how it translates to an IP like *Fable*. --- So, that's what 2025 is shaping up to look like. And those are just the games *I picked* from [the list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_in_video_games). On paper, the year seems like an overwhelming slam dunk of primo video games. I can't even fathom touching all of these in the year itself. Gut check, I'll play *Death Stranding 2*, *GTA VI*, and *Unbeatable* at launch. The rest, I can't speak for: only time and the budget will tell. Godspeed gamers. We're all going to need it in 2025.