Since their rise back in the 80s, video games have seen some pretty incredible years. 1998 had innovators like Half-Life, Metal Gear Solid, and Pokémon Red & Blue. 2007 had the original Mass Effect, Bioshock, Assassin’s Creed, and Super Mario Galaxy. Until recently, I marked 2017 as my personal favorite, with Persona 5, Cuphead, NieR: Automata, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to top it off.
However, it seems 2025 is ready to challenge that title. Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Deltarune, and Donkey Kong Bananza have already given us quite a feast, starting up the debate for Game of the Year earlier than expected. Little did we know, that was only the beginning.
With this year’s Gamescom and Summer Games’ Fest, we saw the reveal and release date for titles that push things even further. This fall is now slated to bring a swath of excellent games from every corner of the industry. First-party releases from both PlayStation and Nintendo, exciting new projects from prominent indie teams, and some of the most anticipated games the industry’s ever seen. Without question, it’s a truly exciting time to play video games.
In order of release, here are the games to play this fall:
Hollow Knight: Silksong – September 4
After seven long years of waiting since its announcement, the sequel to the critically acclaimed metroidvania Hollow Knight is finally releasing. The original’s beautiful art, tight combat, and excellent word design propelled it to indie stardom back in 2017, and this second entry looks to be taking everything up to eleven. More boss fights, more areas, and more secrets to find around every corner. Main character Hornet marks a noticeable shift from original game’s protagonist, with an acrobatic style that should make traversal even more engaging.
After a myriad of false starts, rumors, and “leaks” along the journey to release, Silksong easily could have faded into obscurity, but the passion of fans only grew its legend further and further every year. Without exaggeration, this looks to be one of the most hyped releases in a generation, and a definite must-play this fall.
Ghost of Yotei – October 2
After making a name for themselves with moderately successful series like Sly Cooper and Infamous, Washington-based studio Sucker Punch finally struck gold with 2018’s Ghost of Tsushima, a masterclass of tone, setting, and cohesive game design. A gripping story and unique two-path combat system marked it as the premiere samurai gaming experience, and this fall, it sees its first sequel.
Ghost of Yotei looks to contrast its predecessor in many ways, with a more dynamic open world and less traditional story that leaves behind the samurai order to focus on a new female bounty hunter. However, if the trailers are to be believed, the heart of the series is still alive and well here.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A – October 16
Back in 2022, Pokémon Legends: Arceus was exactly the shot in the arm the long-running monster-catching series needed (see our review). It’s focus on action and Pokémon as wild animals gave it a memorable atmosphere, and the open area catching system was a risk that paid off in spades. Since then, fans have been wondering whether Pokémon Company would embrace this new style of play. With Legends: Z-A, we now know that they have.
Set in Lumiose City, an area first featured in 2013’s Pokémon X & Y, this new entry furthers the gameplay seen in its predecessor. Modern urban spaces are a notable shake-up after the distant past of the first game, and the free-flowing combat system strays even further from the traditional turn-based Pokémon format. With smooth Switch 2 performance and pre-release demos receiving stellar reception from fans, this could be the entry that finally redeems the series’ often rocky reputation.
Mina the Hollower – October 31
Few indie games hold as much sway with gamers as Yacht Club Games’ Shovel Knight. After a successful Kickstarter debut and long string of DLC and spin-offs, the blue burrower has cemented himself as a true icon of indie gaming, a Super Mario for a new age of players. Now, over a decade after that first release, Yacht Club takes their next big swing: Mina the Hollower.
Acting as the Zelda to Shovel Knight’s Mario, Mina the Hollower is a top-down action-adventure game that takes clear inspiration from the Game Boy Color and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening specifically. It borrows that game’s simple-but-effective graphical style and classic dungeon-crawling gameplay. However, just like Shovel Knight before her, there’s a ton about Mina that’s wholly unique. A Bloodborne-inspired gothic setting, orchestra-styled chiptune soundtrack, and unique fast-paced combat make this something that could live up to its legendary predecessors.
Unbeatable – November 6
Since the fad that was Guitar Hero and Rock Band in the early 2010s, rhythm games as a genre have seen only sparse releases. An arcade game here or spin-off title there, but nothing that would evolve the formula or grab people’s attention. That’s why, when I spotted the Kickstarter for a little game called Unbeatable, I was instantly hooked.
Marketed as a game where “music is illegal and you do crimes,” this highly stylized headbanger had everything I was looking for. A fully original rock soundtrack, a punk-infused tone, and a full story campaign with cinematic flair, it was all literally music to my ears. Don’t let this one slip by among all the heavy hitters this season. I get the feeling Unbeatable’s going to rock some worlds.
Kirby Air Riders – November 20
Few people would disagree that Masahiro Sakurai is one of the most prolific directors in gaming history. Most famous as the creator of the Super Smash Bros. series, his work has delighted and inspired fans across the entire gaming community and beyond. His most recent title, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, received one of the only 10/10 reviews this site has ever delivered (see our review). As a result, the expectations for his new project were extremely high.
I don’t think Kirby Air Riders was what anyone was expecting, but after seeing it in action, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It’s been over two decades since Sakurai has touched the Kirby series (after creating it himself back in the 90s), and as a classic GameCube title, Kirby Air Ride provided a unique alternative to the traditional racing formula. With easy-to-learn high-speed gameplay, graphics currently unrivaled on the Switch 2, and a whimsical tone you won’t find in any other racer, this certainly looks to match the pedigree of its creator’s past work.
Despite being released alongside Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Fast Fusion, and even Mario Kart World (see our review), we may yet see the best racing game this year has to offer.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – TBD 2025
When the Nintendo Switch originally launched, a vast slate of games was promised along with it. This included massive titles such as the aforementioned Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, but arguably even bigger was the announcement of a return for a series thought long-dead: a brand new Metroid Prime game.
After the massive critical success of the original trilogy, players looked to developer Retro Studios to continue the adventures of Samus Aran. Unfortunately, that wasn’t in the cards, and even when it eventually was, that was back in 2017. It’s been eight long years of development hell, swapping studios and restarting from scratch, but at long last, it finally releases this fall. It’s up in the air whether Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will live up to the legacy of the metroidvania and FPS genres its series innovated in, but one thing’s for sure: It’s an absolute must-play.
