In the past few years, some of the gaming industry’s most surprising hits have been released during the post-Christmas period, between the start of the year and springtime. Traditionally, this was considered a quieter season, a time when we’d be too stuffed with holiday feasts and preoccupied with the games we’d received as gifts to crave anything new.
However, over the last decade or so, publishers have used this timing to their advantage, managing to make a mark with hidden gems that might have otherwise been overshadowed by bigger titles. I remember Dying Light as one of the early standouts from this strategy, launched ten years ago. It made waves in 2015 as a new property, capturing the enthusiasm surrounding both zombie themes and the PS4-era open-world games at its zenith.
Following its success, it seemed like every year, a well-funded indie or overlooked series would sneak its way to victory by avoiding the crowded holiday season and opting for a quieter launch. This trend solidified with games like the Resident Evil 2 Remake, which not only reasserted Resident Evil’s dominance in gaming but also struck a chord with the public that still resonates today.
Now, by 2025, this strategy is far from a secret. February alone is scheduled to bring us four major releases from some of the leading publishers and independent studios. Some of these arrived in this slot thanks to delays and development challenges, like Assassin’s Creed and Avowed, while others, such as Monster Hunter and Kingdom Come, are looking to replicate their previous February successes.
Regardless of how they landed here, February 2025 is shaping up to be a showdown of epic RPG proportions. With numerous extensive RPGs vying for your attention, only one can come out on top. Let’s meet the contenders.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – February 4, 2025
First on the list is Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, aiming to claim the top spot. It’s arguably the most realistic of the four games, yet equally ambitious, sticking to its “dungeons not dragons” ethos. It offers authentic medieval role-playing that mixes elements of renaissance fair, sandbox adventures, and a touch of chaos.
The game builds on CryEngine, which is typically optimized for FPSs with a limited number of characters, yet has been expanded to support bustling towns and a consistent open-world. This engine led to a beautifully crafted world in the first game, albeit one prone to instability.
I spent countless hours with the original Kingdom Come, intrigued by its novel role-playing mechanics that sounded promising but often yielded mixed results. Traditionally, as skills develop, so does their complexity. Kingdom Come, on the other hand, simplifies actions the more you perform them, simulating increased proficiency—sometimes humorously so, like the tricky lockpicking, or story-essential battles that become stumbling blocks if stealth or speech were prioritized.
The game also did fascinating things such as scrambling books, recipes, and signs until you learned to read, adding an engaging layer of realism.
This sequel continues the tale of Henry of Skalitz, a supposedly low-born blacksmith who rises through wit and circumstance to influence the Holy Roman Empire’s fate. I’m eager to see how it tackles character progression, given that Henry can’t simply forget his past skills in a way similar to characters like Ratchet or Kratos in other games.
Apparently, the sequel’s world will be twice as large with improved performance and some previous irritations addressed. However, its ability to handle this expanded scope will be crucial to standing out amid a crowd of heavyweight titles this month.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows – February 14, 2025
Despite some hurdles, I believe in the team behind 2018’s fantastic Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. As one of the most recognizable franchises, Assassin’s Creed Shadows faces a tough challenge this February, especially considering Ubisoft’s recent blunders with costly projects like Skull and Bones and Star Wars: Outlaws.
Japan has always been a coveted setting for the series, but with Ghost of Tsushima and Rise of the Ronin already illustrating a feudal Japan, Ubisoft’s interpretation will need to stand out in a landscape without the overt mythological elements seen in ancient Greece or Norse realms.
However, Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to tackle key issues. It features dual protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a samurai—with a variety of combat styles, wielding weapons like katana, short swords, clubs, and spears.
Something long-awaited is a reimagined stealth system, which, if executed well, could redefine how stealth sets the tone in the series.
A captivating dynamic between the protagonists also emerges. Yasuke, tall and imposing, is anything but subtle—passersby pause to look at him. Naoe, however, embodies the stealthy stereotype of the quiet assassin.
Valhalla felt overly expanded, padded with activities and a lengthy storyline that offered little more than combat and simple interactions. Shadows hopes to diversify its missions, integrating more engaging mechanics spread across its two main characters. It might just be the innovation the series needs.
Avowed – February 18, 2025
Ironically, while avoiding competition from Game Pass giants like Stalker 2 and Indiana Jones, Obsidian’s Avowed ended up right in the mix of some of the year’s most anticipated releases. Yet, with a lower barrier to entry, could this be the perfect opportunity for it to shine?
If The Outer Worlds was a slimmed-down, sci-fi take on Fallout, Avowed feels like Skyrim mixed with Dragon Age. Players explore smaller, loot-rich maps filled with enemies, twisty quests, and compelling choices—the type of narratives Obsidian excels at.
As a fan of many Obsidian titles—New Vegas, Alpha Protocol, Grounded, South Park: The Stick of Truth—I’m particularly excited about Avowed. Although it might fly under the radar, its setting in the Pillars of Eternity universe, along with its colorful, swashbuckling art style, promise a captivating experience. If it can pair engaging gameplay with its intricate narratives, it could certainly outperform expectations despite likely being the lowest budget entry here.
Monster Hunter Wilds – February 28, 2025
Since Monster Hunter World fully capitalized on its open schedule in February 2018, the franchise has reached new heights, especially in the West, where it had long attempted to gain a foothold.
With several titles trying to emulate its success, like the free-to-play Dauntless, indie contenders like Fera: The Sundered Tribes, and larger EA projects such as Wild Hearts, Monster Hunter Wilds has returned to reclaim its title as the genre’s apex.
The previous release, Monster Hunter Rise, was great but designed with the Switch in mind, thus somewhat limited in scope. In contrast, Wilds appears enormous, teeming with life, boasting more interactive landscapes and diverse environments, featuring great depth and verticality.
The creatures themselves are more dynamic than ever, emerging from sand, climbing trees, and banding together to overwhelm hunters, bringing even more personality to the already vibrant Monster Hunter ecosystem.
No longer a niche player, Monster Hunter aims to be a major release this year. The real question is how many players will save their resources in anticipation of this adventurous quest at the month’s close.
So, which game will you dive into? And which will you finally tackle years from now when the backlog clears up? This month alone offers a myriad of options to consider, not to mention other potential hits like Elden Ring: Nightreign, Borderlands 4, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Pokémon Legends Z-A, and, of course, the highly anticipated GTA 6.
