What video games do you need to have on your radar right now? That's always tricky to figure out over the summer months, where our most anticipated upcoming releases are suddenly vying for attention with the countless new titles announced across Summer Game Fest, Future Game Show, and the other various mainstay showcases.
That's why we are launching the GamesRadar+ Hot 25: a living list of the biggest video games in the world right now. Updated quarterly, Hot 25 is designed to reflect the games that are turning our heads – and that we know you're going to fall in love with too. It doesn't matter whether an upcoming game has a release date that's just a few weeks away, or whether it's a new project still a few years out from launch, Hot 25 are the 25 hottest games deserving of your time and attention today.
The Hot 25: Summer 2025 Edition
Blood flows freely in Crisol: Theater of Idols, an upcoming first-person horror shooter from Vermila Studios and Blumhouse Games. With a truly wicked visual style and a sharp creative concept (where blood acts as both your health and ammunition) this is one adventure you need on your radar in 2025.
The Dark Pictures Anthology returns on a TBD date in 2026. Think of Directive 8020 as The Thing in deep space, a body horror that'll have you struggling to steer five protagonists to safety on a colony ship called Cassiopeia. Directive 8020 looks a true step beyond Supermassive Games' previous releases.
When Baby Steps lands on September 8, 2025, it's guaranteed to become the archetypal walking simulator. Hike up a mountain sized mountain by literally placing one foot in front of the other, stumbling and tumbling around serene wilderness. Baby Steps is a silly idea with sublime execution.
Beast of Reincarnation isn't the first time Game Freak has turned its attention away from Pokemon, but we've never seen anything quite like it from the studio before. This 2026 release is a dazzling action-RPG that looks like a fusion of Studio Ghibli, Nier: Automata, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
The creators of Furi and Haven are back with an inventive survival-climber, challenging you to scale a towering mountain. Manage your pitons, ration your resources, and embrace the absolute freedom to plot your own route towards the summit – just avoid the temptation to look down.
Out of Words was a standout reveal from Summer Game Fest, a co-op platformer with a lush handcrafted, stop-motion style and no shortage of physics-defying puzzles to solve. Communication will be key to saving the wonderland of Vokabulantis, but will it be enough to save a relationship that's on the rocks?
When Pragmata was revealed all the way back in 2020, it was difficult to get a read of Capcom's upcoming sci-fi adventure. But with a 2026 release now on the horizon, we've been delighted to discover that this puzzle-shooter hybrid is one of the most compelling prospects of the new year.
Mixtape is a profound waste of time. That's a compliment, by the way. Three teenagers embark on a final adventure, as a curated playlist of absolute bangers draws the trio into dreamlike reenactments of their formative memories. Annapurna has something special on its hands here.
Witchbrook was announced almost a decade ago, and we were starting to question whether or not it was really even happening. But new gameplay showcases released this year have pushed Witchbrook back up our most-wanted list. This witchy life-sim has you enroll at the Witchbrook College to develop your burgeoning magical abilities; think the charm of Stardew Valley mixed with the mystic arts.
Techland is taking a step back from the scale of Dying Light 2 to deliver a more focused adventure in Dying Light: The Beast. Set to arrive on September 19, the realignment towards survival is working wonders. The Beast expertly captures the fear and ferocity that once propelled the first game in the series to legendary status – which is fitting, really, given that this game stars original protagonist Kyle Crane.
What do you get when a group of creative leads from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077 decide to strike out on their own to create a dark fantasy RPG, one where you assume the role of a vampire hybrid running out of time? You get The Blood of Dawnwalker, which has quickly become one of our most anticipated games of 2026 thanks to its layered gameplay systems and gorgeous visual design.
Pokemon Legends Z-A is set to be the first new Pokemon game to land on Switch 2, which in itself is cause for celebration. Factor in a return to the Kalos region, as well as a brand new real-time combat system, and this is shaping up to be one of the most promising instalments to the series in years – you should think of it as an early celebration ahead of Pokemon's 20th anniversary in 2026.
The legendary looter-shooter returns on September 12. Gearbox Software is back with a new instalment to the Borderlands franchise, with the developer pushing for real advancements in movement mechanics and weapon variety. The results are promising! Borderlands 4 is boasting a larger playspace than before, a wider emphasis on freedom, and more nuanced character building.
Konami is continuing its revival of the Silent Hill franchise on September 25, 2025. The studio is pitching this as a Japanese horror game through and through, a firm step away from the westernization that defined later instalments. Shifting out of the titular setting and into the town of Ebisugaoka is a big change, but it's one which is allowing Silent Hill F to truly redefine the fear factor of the series.
The Final Countdown
11. The Outer Worlds 2
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | Release date: October 29, 2025
Obsidian Entertainment is preparing to unleash its most expressive RPG to date. The studio is perhaps best known for its work delivering Fallout: New Vegas and the Pillars of Eternity universe, and it's taking all of that learning and applying it towards this lushly-presented sequel. The Outer Worlds 2 is really leaning into player freedom, with Obsidian establishing a foundation where you are free to define the outline of a character and then role-play your way across a universe that's desperate to account for every one of your actions. Keep staring into the sun? Maybe you'll develop a trait that trades health regeneration while under its rays for a blurry world. That's one fun example of over 100 perks and flaws available. We're certain that The Outer Worlds 2 is going to be one of the biggest RPGs of 2025.
10. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 | Release date: TBC 2025
It's been almost a decade since the release of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and we couldn't be happier that Retro Studios is set to usher in the return of Samus Aran here in 2025. While this new first-person adventure is set to land on both Nintendo's last- and current-gen systems, we're expecting Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to be a real system showcase for the Switch 2. The Prime series has always been about quiet exploration of hostile alien worlds, and that is absolutely true of this long-awaited sequel touches down on the planet of Viewros. You'll be scanning for secrets, upgrading Samus' Varia Suit with new psychic abilities, and carefully battling space pirates and bounty hunters flanked by metroids. Everything we've played so far has impressed, and all we're waiting on now is a firm release date.
9. The Duskbloods
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2 | Release date: TBC 2026
A new action-RPG from FromSoftware is always cause for celebration, the legendary developer responsible for causing many a stress headache through its Dark Souls and Elden Ring franchises. It should come as no surprise that The Duskbloods has become one of our most-anticipated games of next year, although there is still plenty for FromSoftware to reveal of its debut Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. For starters, The Duskbloods is a big change in foundational design, with the studio opting to frame its next adventure as an eight-player multiplayer game which supports PvP and PvE encounters. You'll pick from over a dozen Bloodsworn characters, vampire-like beings which each possess their own unique weapons and abilities, and then battle to survive and thrive across some truly gorgeous gothic environments.
8. Fable
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X | Release date: TBC 2026
Honestly, we can hardly believe it's happening either. Almost a decade after Xbox shuttered Lionhead and the collapse of Fable Legends, we're now just months away from returning to Albion. That's right, in 2026 Playground Games, the studio behind the beloved Forza Horizon series, is taking its expertise in open-world design and applying forward to a sprawling RPG – a Fable reboot that's heavily weighted towards player choice. With a dark threat looming across a fairytale land, it's your decisions that will change Albion forever. While Xbox Game Studios has only teased out details thus far, everything we've seen points to a luscious open-world to traverse, densely detailed cities and characters to meet, and explosive third-person combat as you wield all manner of blades and magics.
7. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | Release date: August 26, 2025
How is it that a remake has landed so high up on our ranking of the hottest video games in the universe? To answer that we've got to start with the legacy of Snake Eater, arguably one of the greatest games ever made. When Konami unleashed Metal Gear Solid 3 in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, it proved to be something of an opus for creative director Hideo Kojima. A stunning work of stealth-action that set a new standard for storytelling and cinematic presentations, dazzling with its intuitive stealth systems and innovative boss battles. So for Konami to bring about its return with a stunning remake is cause for celebration. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is introducing new gameplay mechanics, upping character detail and revamping the camouflage systems, and overhauling the visual design. What a thrill…
6. 007: First Light
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | Release date: TBC 2026
Talk about a match made in heaven. The studio responsible for the Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy embracing James Bond, a world renown IP that never really settled as a viable video game property. IO Interactive earned the opportunity to succeed where Activision failed by promising an adventure that wouldn't solely present weapons as the solution to every problem. 007: First Light is spotlighting espionage as we embody the role of a young, inexperienced MI6 agent trying to earn their 00 status. The decision to remove 007: First Light from any existing iterations of the character is bold, but IO has built a reputation for delivering stunning stealth systems, densely detailed environments, and layered mission objectives – which is why 007: First Light could be the Bond game we've been waiting decades to play.
5. Ghost of Yotei
Platform(s): PS5 | Release date: October 2, 2025
There's something special about the way that Sucker Punch approaches open-world game design. Ghost of Tsushima proved that it was possible to merge outlandish scale with quiet, contemplative action – an adventure as much about existing in a world as it was carving your own path through it. Sucker Punch is leaning even further in this direction with Ghost of Yotei, a 2025 PS5 exclusive that's being crafted to primarily focus on the exploration of the lush expanse surrounding Mount Yōtei.
Set some 300 years after the events of the first game, Ghost of Yotei puts you in the role of Atsu, a wandering ronin who adopts the persona of a spirit of vengeance – out on a mission to slay a samurai lord and his five servants of death and destruction. With that in mind, Sucker Punch is dialing in some key quality-of-life improvements to combat, from slick sword encounters which mimic classic genre productions to more desperate battles with chain blades and spears. Still, despite the flashes of violence, Ghost of Yotei is still wholly focused on cultivating good vibes in a beautiful world.
We asked Ghost of Yotei's creative directors, Nate Fox and Jason Connell, all of our burning questions about this upcoming PS5 exclusives. And while we don't want to get your hopes up too much this long-awaited sequel from Sucker Punch really does sound like feudal Red Dead Redemption 2. "We make the game that we want to play, and to see more like that, it's great."
Where the first game touched upon your relationship with nature, the sequel is seeking to deepen your connection with the world around you. Dynamic weather creates a more realistic world, systems are in place to allow Atsu to settle beneath the stars to take stock of her journeys, and who knows what secrets lay scattered around you. Ghost of Yotei is the sequel to beat in 2025.
4. Grand Theft Auto 6
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | Release date: May 26, 2026
For every video game developer set to launch something in 2025, the delay of Grand Theft Auto into 2026 is a blessing. That's because there's a very real chance that GTA 6 is going to be the biggest release in entertainment history, the sort of experience that commands the attention of the entire world. It's often said that waiting makes the heart grow fonder, but for those of us who have been waiting to play the first new GTA game since 2013 the push to next year feels like a curse. A punishment for wanting a return to Vice City too much.
With all that in mind, you might be wondering how anything could eclipse GTA 6 on a list of the hottest upcoming games. But the truth is this: Rockstar Games' intermittent updates have left us wanting more, and the lack of live gameplay leaves us with more questions than answers. Then again, if we've learned anything it's that you should never underestimate what this studio is capable of.
"There's a very real chance that GTA 6 is going to be the biggest release in entertainment history"
So here's what we can say about this long-awaited trip to the state of Leonida. GTA 6 will feature dual protagonists Jason Duval and Leonida Keys, a criminal couple with vastly different motivations for survival in the Florida inspired environment. Everything we have seen of the open world thus far indicates that Rockstar is about to unleash one of the most detailed and expressive playspace ever committed to a video game. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the wait is almost over.
3. The Witcher 4
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | Release date: TBC
The Witcher 4 is still years away from release, so how has the upcoming RPG found itself placed so highly on our list of the hottest 25 games? Well, for starters, this is CD Projekt RED that we're talking about here – the studio that has revolutionized open-world RPG design twice in the span of 10 years. Anything this team is working on is going to grab our attention. That's not all though, as a series of recent reveals have transformed The Witcher 4 from a curiosity into something that's become quite all-encompassing.
CDPR teamed up with Epic Games in the dying days of the spring to deliver a sprawling Unreal Engine 5 showcase. It was designed to spotlight Kovir, the setting for Ciri's adventure, and the staggering detail the studio is looking to capture within it. While technical demonstrations aren't always representative of the final product, they are a signal of intent – and we are certainly listening intently now.
Eager to learn more about The Witcher 4? We sat down with the team at CD Projekt RED to learn more about its most ambitious RPG to date. While the studio can only say so much this early on, it did reveal new details about new protagonist Ciri – including how her combat style, powerset, and ethos differs from Geralt of Rivia. Of the new game, CDPR tells us: "We definitely want to raise the bar with every game that we create"
There's a lot for us still to learn, but we do know that it'll be Ciri taking on the mantle of Witcher after Geralt's retirement, and that CDPR is looking to channel the character's proficiencies with sorcery into combat. It means you'll still be able to go up against towering beasts with steel and silver swords, but you'll also have the option of deploying new chain weapons and powerful abilities. The Witcher 4 is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious RPGs out there right now.
2. Hollow Knight Silksong
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | Release date: TBC 2025
There was a moment earlier this year, during a Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, where Hollow Knight: Silksong gameplay was shown and a 2025 release was confirmed. We hardly believed it – this isn't the first time Team Cherry has announced and then missed a launch window. But then the upcoming metroidvania appeared again, resurfacing during the reveal of the ROG Xbox Ally X. Two sightings in two months? We're hesitant to even say this out loud but… folks, this might actually be happening.
While it's true that the dizzying speculation and anticipation for Hollow Knight Silksong has become something of a joke online, there is a strong foundation of reality underlining the excitement. It didn't take long for the original Hollow Knight to turn heads in 2017, regarded by many to be not only one of the best games of the decade, but a metroidvania that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the genre titans.
"Hollow Knight Silksong started life as DLC before its scope spiralled out of control"
Hollow Knight Silksong started life as DLC before its scope spiralled out of control. There's a new character to control and kingdom to explore, with Hornet boasting an expanded suite of combat skills and acrobatic movement abilities. Expect over 100 new enemies and checkpoints across a wildly expanded playspace, complete with a new quest system to help drive you through it. We are in the home stretch now – prepare for impact, because Hollow Knight Silksong is almost here.
1. Resident Evil Requiem
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | Release date: February 27, 2026
Resident Evil Biohazard and Resident Evil Village should be viewed as a deep breath of fresh air, a sharp shift away from the shenanigans of the wider Resident Evil timeline. Running parallel to these first-person reinventions, we received groundbreaking third-person remakes of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil Nemesis, and Resident Evil 4. In 2026, Capcom appears to be bringing all of these disparate threads together to form a nightmarish tapestry.
Where RE7 and RE8 focused on a new protagonist with few existing ties to the Umbrella Corporation or graduates of the S.T.A.R.S. initiative, Resident Evil Requiem is taking a different direction. You'll be taking control of Grace Ashcroft, daughter to Alyssa Ashcroft – a key protagonist in Resident Evil Outbreak, a co-op focused spin-off from 2003. And you'll be heading back to Raccoon City too, some 30 years after the US Government eradicated it with an experimental thermobaric missile. All that combined, and you've got something of a fever dream for long-time fans of the franchise.
That's especially true as Capcom takes learnings from both its modern mainline titles and the remakes, giving us the ability to switch between first and third-person perspectives at any time in RE9 – the freedom to choose how we wanted to be scared silly by pursuant creatures and in caustic environments. With a mission that begins with an investigation into a series of mysterious deaths at a hotel, the promise of returning to decayed Raccoon City haunts means there's no telling where this adventure will go – nor which of the legacy characters will make a return.
Resident Evil Requiem is undoubtedly the hottest video game around right now, hot off the heels of what was undoubtedly the best reveal from Summer Game Fest. A compelling core concept, a dazzling mix of gameplay styles, and a genuinely awe-inspiring visual style are making RE9 stand out from the crowd, and there's a very real chance that Capcom's latest horror adventure is the only thing capable of drawing some amount of attention away from GTA 6 in the 2026 GOTY race.
Image credit: Capcom
Image credit: Capcom
Let's look at the data
Looking at the data behind this edition of Hot 25 in a little more granularity, it's pretty clear that RPG and horror fans have some particularly fantastic experiences incoming. While there's always a chance that this outwardly reflects the interests of the GR+ team, I think it's pretty clear looking at our lists of upcoming RPGs and upcoming horror games that these are key genres for developers looking to make a mark.
It's always interesting to see what games are turning heads, and right now it is largely all eyes on the near horizon. The range of new games for 2025 is impressive, with the vast majority of the Hot 25 titles landing in the next few months. Still, with behemoths like Resident Evil 9 and GTA 6 set to land next year it's no surprise that we're already starting to get excited about what's going to be Big in 2026.
Elsewhere, we were surprised to find no one publisher pulling ahead this period. Konami's return to AAA gaming is rewarded as both Silent Hill F and its MGS3 Remake make the cut, along with two entries from Nintendo as the Switch 2 exits its launch window. Just two of Xbox's upcoming Series X games featured in the final Hot 25 list, while Bandai Namco finished well through its incoming horror and RPG titles.
Have your say
We're had our say, now it's time for you to have yours. Do you agree with our pick of the Hottest 25 games out there right now? You can use this voting block to tell us your favorite of the games that made the cut. And if you think we overlooked your most anticipated title (or ranked one too highly or lowly) don't forget that you can sign in and drop us a comment below.
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