Around this time, I like to make a list of games that are releasing in the coming year that I’m looking forward to.  Of course, this isn’t a full complete list, as there will assuredly be titles announced throughout the year that I may get as well. But anyway, here’s what I know now, for the most part, so let’s take a look at what games I’m looking forward to in 2025!

Hello Kitty: Island Adventure

Hey don’t laugh!  Well, OK, you can laugh a little bit.  It is kind of funny that a 48 year old man is looking forward to a Helly Kitty game.  But then, this game is a lot like Animal Crossing, and that’s my number two most favorite video game of all time (Pac-Man is number one of course) so that’s why.  It’s been on Apple Arcade for a year or two now, but I’m too cheap to get a subscription to that, so I’ll just wait for the Switch version.  It comes out at the end of January.  My plan is to buy the game and see if my mom would like it, because she loves Hello Kitty and Animal Crossing too.  And if I think she would, I’ll get her a copy of the game later on and we can play it together.

Okami Sequel

One of the things Capcom announced at the Game Awards this past year was that they are working on a sequel to Okami, which was my GOTY back in 2006.  I love that game.  It seems like they may be pretty early on making the game, so it may not even come out this year.  But I’m still looking forward to it.  Keep in mind that Okami actually already has a sequel in Okami-Den, which let you play as a puppy on the DS!

Shadow Labyrinth

What happens when you mix Pac-Man with a Hollow Knight style dark Metroidvania?  Well you get Shadow Labyrinth.  This was also announced at the Game Awards this past year.  Recently, Amazon Prime released a series called Secret Level, which are CG animated shorts based on various video games.  Some of these included WarHammer, Armored Core, etc.  The two I was most interested in was the Mega Man one, which was really good but way too short.  They need to make a whole series about that.  And the other one was Pac-Man.  But they took it in a WEIRD direction.  In the short, a swordsman is trapped in a dystopian maze and must eat or be eaten.  He’s guided by Puck, a robotic floating sphere that looks like Pac-Man.  The short is weird and hyper violent, and Namco made a game out of it.  Normally I wouldn’t play a game like that, but morbid curiosity has got the better of me and I just have to see how they take Pac-Man in new dark directions.

SEGA VGA Announcements from the Year Before

In the Game Awards that came out the year before,  SEGA announced they are planning on making new games based on classic franchises like Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Crazy Taxi.  Not sure how they’ll top Streets of Rage 4, but I’ll certainly keep an eye on what they’re doing with those franchises!

Big Walk

Also announced at the Game Awards the year before last, this is a new game made by the same folks who did Untitled Goose Game, so if it comes to consoles I can play, I will definitely check it out.

Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution

I think this was supposed to come out last year but it didn’t.  I always thought that the lost GBA Shantae game was eventually turned into the one that was on DSiWare initially.  But I guess I was wrong!  WayForward is going to release the long lost GBA Shantae game on modern systems.  Shantae games are always good and I’ve played all of them.  I’m usually pretty good about getting to review WayForward’s games, so I hope I can review this one, too!

Pokémon Legends ZA

I really liked the first game, Pokémon Legends Arceus.  They added new elements and action to the classic Pokémon formula and I appreciated the changes, since I’ve been tired of the mainline games being mostly the same.  So I’m definitely keeping my eye on this one.

Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time

I missed playing the first Fantasy Life on 3DS, so I’d like to check this one out if I have the time.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma

I also like the Rune Factory games as they combine farming elements from Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons mixed with action based dungeon crawling.  If I have the time, I’d like to check this one out, too.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2

I think it’s cool that this one has both Power Stone games on it.  That’s a series Capcom needs to revisit.

Metroid Prime 4

I always have this on my list, but we actually have a confirmation that it’s coming this year now, so hopefully that’ll still happen.  My only hope is that it’s not too hard.  I never beat Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and I couldn’t beat the last boss in Metroid: Dread!

Nintendo Switch 2

Shortly after I wrote this article, Nintendo finally announced the Switch 2 coming out this year. Probably in response to all the leaks that have been happening.  I would’ve thought they’d announce it as a Super Bowl ad like they did with the original Switch. My only hope is that Nintendo makes enough of them so that they aren’t hard to get at launch.  If I can get one at launch, it’ll really help me with reviewing games for it, so please pray that I can do just that. Also please pray I can get into the Switch 2 Experience show they’re having in Dallas in a few months.

And that’s all the games I can think of for now!  In the comments section, let me know what you think of my list, and fill me in on any other games coming out that you think I’d like.  And also tell me what games YOU are looking forward to in 2025!  Later!  –Cary

Tags: Misc