30 Xbox Series X|S Games To Look Forward To In 2025

Dynasty Warriors: Origins (Xbox Series X|S)

Who doesn't want more Dynasty Warriors? OK, look, probably loads of people. But, the fans, the fans who love Dynasty Warriors already, they are nothing if not dedicated to being very excited by a lot of the same thing happening ad nauseum. We jest, we're actually huge fans ourselves.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins looks to be more than just more of the same, though, as it delves deeper into the lore and story of the first half of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Chinese novel on which the games are based. Rather than trying to cram the whole thing in, they're breaking it down, taking it slow, and hopefully making it all a little more relatable in the process.

More depth to the story does sound like a step in the right direction to us, as much as we love to relentlessly shred a millions goons, and it's the first new entry for seven years, so we might as well get excited, no?

• Release Date: 17th January 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? No

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 (Xbox Series X|S)

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 looks set to get 2025 off to a brutally realistic start in terms of RPGs, with Henry of Skalitz returning for another slice of superbly atmospheric 15th century action.

Warhorse Studios nailed the vibe of 15th century Bohemia first time out, although their first bite at the cherry took a while to get patched into good shape, and this second outing looks set to arrive in a much more polished state. Let's hope for less controversies and more player conveniences this time out, as we genuinely think this studio is capable of dropping an absolute belter if they get it all right on the gameplay front. Henry's first adventure is a hidden gem that's still well worth a playthrough, and this sequel could end up being one of 2025's unexpected biggies.

• Release Date: 4th February 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? No

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

Not sure if any of you lot have heard of this little Assassin's Creed series that Ubisoft have had on the go, but for those amongst you who have, well, here's another one.

Assassin's Creed Shadows finally, FINALLY, takes the series to feudal Japan, a setting so perfect we have to believe it's gonna be dynamite, regardless of any issues or delays. With two protagonists and newly pimped up parkour, stealth and combat, we reckon Shadows is gonna be a good time for a long time when it drops in February.

• Release Date: 14th February 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? No

Avowed (Xbox Series X|S)

A new Obsidian RPG is always something to get massively excited about, and so we've went and got massively excited about Avowed. Twice.

However! It's almost, finally, actually time. With the release date for this classically-styled fantasy epic just around the corner (and absolutely not being moved ever again) expect the smart sort of RPG that revels in choice-driven conversations, lots of excellent writing, a memorable cast of characters and, judging by the slick as hell gameplay trailer we've just watched while gorging on leftover chocolates, some absolutely belting battle sequences. February 13th can't come soon enough!

• Release Date: 18th February 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Xbox Series X|S)

The creators of the phenomenal Life is Strange return in 2025 with this all-new fictional adventure. With four old friends reuniting after a lifetime apart, expect those adventures to be tinged with the sort of heart-string tugging emotion that Don't Nod are known for.

Part one of this new effort hits in February, with the finale, part two, landing in March - we love serialized video-gaming - and we expect nothing less than to be gutted and puffy-eyed by the end.

• Release Date: 18th February 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? No

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

Listen. When the announcement trailer for Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was first aired, this writer let out an audible sort of squee-like noise in total delight. Very annoying, but also just a moment of complete abandonment, because this incredibly silly premise is exactly what we want to see from this incredibly silly - and yet somehow always poignant - series.

We aren't worried about how good it's gonna be, the last two LaD games have been amongst our favourites of this gen (Infinite Wealth was robbed not being in our Top 10 for 2024, let's face it) and so we must only wait now, and not even for that long, for the good stuff to come to us. It may be a slightly smaller package, as a Majima-focused spin-off that packs in lots of action, but we're still expecting a decently lengthy story full of the kind of crazy only Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios knows how to bring.

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

Monster Hunter Wilds (Xbox Series X|S)

Monster Hunter Wilds feels like it's arriving in some sort of totally unexpected golden age of massive popularity for a series that, what seems like mere moments ago, was for us super-nerds only.

We love it, make no mistake, it's fantastic to see this series realise its huge potential, and Wilds looks set to go even further in welcoming new players to the fold. New mounts, known as Seikrets now enable hunters to track scents from afar - a potential game changer - as well as enabling you to carry an extra weapon. Changing weather conditions round out the biggest change-ups, and judging by the trailers we've seen so far, it's also looking the best the franchise has done to date. We can't wait!

• Release Date: 28th February 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? No

Split Fiction (Xbox Series X|S)

It Takes Two was a phenomenal game, and a massive success for Hazelight Studios. So, obviously, all eyes are on their next venture, Split Fiction, which to us sounds like the perfect vehicle for the studio's unique brand of co-op-from-the-ground-up game design.

In Split Fiction, players team up to conquer a massively expanded series of challenges thanks to the core concept of being sucked into a series of books, whereby all genres of video game adventure are, presumably, covered. It feels like it could be the culmination of everything we've had from the geniuses over at Hazelight thus far, and we're prepped and ready for super-good fun times with a pal in tow.

• Release Date: 6th March 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? No

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of The Rings Game (Xbox Series X|S)

Lord of the Rings is still a thing.

A rhyme of exasperation or celebration, depending on where you're coming from. Luckily we're very much in the celebration camp, and Tales of the Shire: A Lord of The Rings Game also happens to be made by Weta Worshop, so it's directly connected to the movies, and therefore might as well have been designed by whoever wrote the damn books in the first place.

Think "incredibly relaxing life-sim set in Hobbiton" and we reckon you've got the gist of this kid-friendly adventure!

• Release Date: 25th March 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? No

Atomfall (Xbox Series X|S)

OK, let's see here. Rebellion, the makers of the phenomenal Sniper Elite series, have made a game set in northern England that sees you attempt to survive in the aftermath of a nuclear disaster? Where do we sign our lives away to get this now, please?

Atomfall is 100% up there with the most exciting prospects of 2025 and, if Rebellion can pack it full of as much clever humour, well-realised mechanics and fun as their sniper games, well, aren't we all in for a big ruddy treat, as they say in northern England. Possibly.

• Release Date: 27th March 2025
• Xbox Game Pass? Yes