Square Enix has opened pre-registration for Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, a new 3v3 team-based boss battle arena game set to launch on iOS and Android in 2026.
In 2025, the game "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has gained popularity for its narrative and visual style. The gaming industry has seen increased production costs and ambitions, leading to expansive open worlds and cinematic storylines in triple-A games. However, some high-profile titles like "Dragon Age: The Veilguard," "Star Wars Outlaws," and "Starfield" have struggled to deliver fun. Indie games such as "Hades 2" and "Expedition 33" excel in providing enjoyable experiences. Game designer Peter Molyneux emphasized the importance of joy in gaming, particularly in his upcoming project "Masters of Albion," which aims to evoke a sense of escapism and creativity. Molyneux seeks to create an engaging experience filled with humor and joy, focusing on player feedback during the game's early access phase.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War is developed by Auroch Digital, known for Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun. A free demo is available on Steam. The game features a blocky boomer shooter visual style and includes cooperative gameplay elements similar to Helldivers, such as supply drops and demolishing bug nests. It primarily offers a single-player experience but incorporates chaotic moments reminiscent of Helldivers 2. The official release date is March 16.
Outfit7 has launched PlayValley, a new division focused on creating engaging gaming experiences for PC and mobile platforms. PlayValley's first PC title will be released on Steam in the second quarter of 2026, marking Outfit7's entry into the PC gaming market. The division aims to develop games with a unique visual style and intuitive gameplay, targeting accessible and replayable experiences across various genres. Outfit7 has a history of over 26 billion downloads and up to 470 million monthly players. PlayValley operates with a creator-led philosophy, encouraging experimentation and rapid iteration in game development.
Silt, a puzzle game often compared to "underwater Limbo", has been released for mobile devices by Snapbreak Games. The game offers a dark underwater adventure where players control a diver exploring flooded ruins and ancient mechanisms. Players can temporarily "inhabit" marine creatures to solve puzzles.
Hytale, an RPG developed by Hypixel, draws significant inspiration from Minecraft, featuring a similar blocky visual style. The game originated from a Minecraft server in the mid-2010s. A modder has created a mod that makes Hytale resemble Minecraft more closely, showcasing a multi-square inventory and softer textures. Discussions within the community include ideas for unique items and a portal connecting the two games, with predictions that someone will recreate Minecraft within Hytale. Recently, Hytale developers released a patch with dinosaur-themed content and plan further enhancements.
Rhythm Doctor, developed and published by 7th Beat Games, is set to launch on December 6, 2025, priced at £17. The game features a unique rhythm gaming approach using only the spacebar for gameplay, challenging players' musical timing while presenting emotional narratives across six acts. Players assume the role of a mute intern at Middlesea Hospital, where they use a long noodle arm to care for patients by synchronizing taps with their heartbeats. The game includes relatable characters facing real-life challenges, humorous interactions, and engaging tutorials led by a character named Hugh. It features a variety of rhythms and beats, including seventh beats and swing rhythms, and integrates audio cues into the music. The soundtrack ranges from lo-fi beats to energetic guitar tracks, enhancing the storytelling. The visual style is playful and experimental, with dynamic animations and attention to detail in various scenes.
Hollow Knight Silksong won the Game of the Year at the 2025 Steam Awards, receiving 43.8 million votes. It also won the award for Best Game You Suck At. The game was released on September 4, 2025, and experienced significant traffic that caused outages on platforms like Steam and Xbox. It did not win the Game Awards' GOTY, which went to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Players can expect additional content with the upcoming Sea of Sorrow expansion. Other notable awards included Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Best Soundtrack, Hades 2 as Best Game on Steam Deck, Silent Hill F for Outstanding Visual Style, and The Midnight Walk as VR Game of the Year. Team Cherry is also developing a new release for the Nintendo Switch 2. Baldur’s Gate 3 received the Labor of Love award.
Hollow Knight Silksong won the Game of the Year title at the 2025 Steam Awards, determined by user votes. It also received the 'Best Game You Suck At' award, making it the only title to secure two wins that year. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Best Soundtrack. Baldur's Gate 3 received the 'Labor of Love' award, while Hades 2 was named 'Best Game on Steam Deck.' Dispatch won 'Outstanding Story-Rich Game,' Silent Hill f received 'Outstanding Visual Style,' The Midnight Walk was named 'VR Game of the Year,' and RV There Yet won the 'Sit Back and Relax' award. Arc Raiders was recognized for 'Most Innovative Gameplay.' Hollow Knight Silksong reached the 'platinum' tier of bestsellers during the Steam Winter Sale.
Netflix has released a trailer for the fourth season of Bridgerton, set to premiere on January 29, with the second part on February 26. A teaser for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has also been unveiled, with the film releasing on March 20. A special Minecraft DLC linked to Stranger Things allows players to explore new chapters in the final season and features characters with unique abilities. SEGA and RGG Studio showcased Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, set for release on February 12. Persona5: The Phantom X's Ver. 2.7 update introduces new stages and characters, with an event ending on January 22. Wuthering Waves has launched its Chapter III update, adding new areas and characters. Gachiakuta: The Game has been revealed as a survival action RPG with cel-shaded visuals, focusing on combat and missions in monster-infested zones.
