Mafia: The Old Country (Xbox Series X|S)

Next up is Mafia: The Old Country, and if it’s even half as cool as the trailer suggests, don’t expect to see us outside touching much grass this summer. Set as a prequel to the original Mafia trilogy, the game takes us back to the Sicilian countryside.

All the rich Mafia flavors we’ve come to love over the years are looking better than ever, with Hangar 13 aiming to craft a more linear open-world origin story, in contrast to the looser gameplay of Mafia 3. From the trailer, it seems we’ll step into the shoes of a new initiate with something to prove. We’re honestly buzzing for this one - it looks absolutely gorgeous.

  • Release Date: TBD 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Subnautica 2 (Xbox Series X|S)

Who’s ready to trigger their Megalohydrothalassophobia with us in 2025? (That’s just a big word for a fear of bigger things lurking in the depths, by the way.) Yes, Subnautica 2 is on the horizon, bringing back the deep, open-sea world that’s been terrifying players for the past decade.

If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a survival game at its core. Whether you play with friends, or are brave enough to play alone, you’ll dive into the habitual crafting, scavenging and exploration that define the series. Build vehicles, tools and sprawling deep-sea bases as you descend into the depths of a mysterious new alien planet.

  • Release Date: TBD 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (Xbox Series X|S)

RGG Studios have a knack for regularly delivering quality RPGs, and 2025 is no exception as we head back to Hawaii. Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks every bit as bonkers as its title suggests - but believe it or not, it could have been even weirder. Originally, the game began development as Like a Dragon: Tuna, where Kazuma Kiryu, working as a tuna fisherman, squared off in fisticuffs with rival fishermen. Fun tidbit for you there.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii serves as a spin-off to Infinite Wealth, this time placing us in the boots of Goro Majima - a mighty pirate with amnesia - exploring a Hawaiian playground both on land and at sea. As more of a side-quest adventure, the game clocks in at roughly 15–20 hours. Seriously though, how are we going to fit all these February releases into our schedules?

  • Release Date: 21st February 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Dying Light: The Beast (Xbox Series X|S)

Originally slated as DLC for Dying Light 2, our next entry, Dying Light: The Beast, has since grown into a full standalone title. Techland, known for their generosity with DLC content, decided that with The Beast clocking in at around 18 hours to complete, it had the legs to stand tall as a beastly game in its own right.

This time, we’ll be lacing up the running shoes of the original protagonist, Kyle Crane, once more, diving into another parkour-filled, zombie-infested dystopia. It’s been over a decade since we last saw Kyle, and now, boosted with zombie DNA, he’s on a mission for revenge against his captors. This time the open-world setting is Castor Woods - a post-apocalyptic tourist hotspot brimming with enough zombies to keep us happy.

  • Release Date: TBD 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Jurassic Park: Survival (Xbox Series X|S)

We're all for tapping into nostalgia, especially after recently completing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. And what cooler franchise to take on an open-world adventure than Jurassic Park: Survival?

This game takes us back to Isla Nublar, the iconic island from the 1993 Jurassic Park film. Set directly after the events of the movie, we’ll play as InGen scientist Dr. Maya Joshi. From the trailer, it’s giving off Alien: Isolation vibes - but with dinosaurs and a bit more freedom to roam around.

Saber Interactive has a solid track record when it comes to creating breathtaking worlds, so if everything falls into place, Jurassic World Survival could be a real banger.

  • Release Date: TBD (expected in 2025)
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Assassin's Creed Shadows (Xbox Series X|S)

Since the early days of Assassin’s Creed, we’ve all been dreaming of the series taking its murderous ways to feudal Japan. And finally, FINALLY, we’re getting our wish with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

Listen, Ubisoft has seen better days, but we’re genuinely hyped for Shadows. With their recent decision to delay the game from November to yep, you guessed it - busy, busy February (update: it's actually now March!) - we’re hopeful it’ll launch as a much more polished and complete game. At least, that’s the plan.

AC Shadows will be set during the Azuchi-Momoyama era, with a map roughly the same scale as AC Origins. We’ll be playing as Yasuke and Naoe, two very different protagonists - the former a powerful samurai, the latter a stealthy shinobi leading to very different methods of traversal across Japan.

We’ve got high hopes for this one, so fingers crossed it all pays off!

  • Release Date: 20th March 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Light No Fire (Xbox Series X|S)

And finally, from Hello Games, the ambitious creators of the most ‘open’ of open-world games, comes Light No Fire. Trading in the infinite stars of No Man’s Sky, Light No Fire will feature just one planet. One gigantic Earth-sized planet. Literally. Hello Games doesn’t do things by halves, do they?

Technically, this multiplayer fantasy planet should be able to accommodate every human being on Earth - if that’s true, it’s absolutely bonkers to think about.

As for gameplay? Well, it’ll simply be one giant survival sandbox to roleplay in. We don’t have a solid release window for Light No Fire just yet, but we do know the title has been in active development for at least five years already. With all the lessons learned and procedural tech gained from No Man’s Sky, we might just see Light No Fire sooner rather than later.

  • Release Date: TBD (expected in 2025)
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Well, there’s a selection of some eagerly anticipated open-world games we’re looking forward to in 2025. Which one tickled your fancy? And, have you booked time off work in February yet? Let us know in the comments.