Games to Watch 2025 - FPS
It is that time of year when we look ahead to see what is coming. With that in mind, Matt has taken a look at the upcoming slate to see which games from each genre deserve to be watched closely. The reasons to watch these games may be varied and these lists are by no means comprehensive, but all games mentioned at least deserve to be kept in your mind as they head towards release.
First up, FPS.
Splitgate 2
The original Splitgate was something of an experiment for the developers, 1047 games. It combined Portal and Halo multiplayer into a fast-paced free-to-play shooter that felt exciting and fresh while being familiar enough to keep genre fans happy. Sadly it was a short-lived experiment that ended not too long after it started so the devs could tackle their next game, which just so happens to be Splitgate 2.
What we know so far is really not too much. The game looks fantastic that is for sure, but as far as I can tell, the gameplay hasn’t changed too much. There has been the addition of factions which come with their own playstyles though so that is a nice new touch. It will be interesting to see what the actual improvements are, as well as what plans the devs have for post-launch support. Expect this one mid-year, with a shadow drop at the PC Gaming show in June a possibility.
Metroid Prime 4
It seems like we have all been waiting on this one forever. Metroid Prime 4 should be here this year finally, but I bet it comes with a little catch. At this stage, I would wager a steak dinner that is both a launch title for the Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) and will still launch on the original Switch. What that means for the quality of the game it is hard to say, but at this point, we just have to trust Nintendo.
As for gameplay, we haven’t seen too much so far but what we have seen looks to take the concept from the first three games and run with it. It is hard to say if it will be a revolution or an evolution, but when you are following up such a well-loved trilogy, most people will be simply happy with more of the same. I am sure Nintendo has a few surprises up their sleeves though. This one will land whenever Nintendo gets around to releasing new hardware.
Doom: The Dark Ages
Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal are the best pure action FPS titles on the market bar none so expectations for their follow-up are understandably high. In last year’s Xbox showcase, we got to see a good chunk of gameplay and this Doom isn’t just rehashing past hits, it is taking the series back in time and as a result, things look to play quite differently.
There is a bigger focus on melee weaponry from what I can see and some of the classic weapons have been replaced by medieval alternatives, including a gun that crushes skulls and uses the bone fragments for ammo. But despite the new setting and melee additions, this looks to be exactly what Doom fans want, a fast-paced brutal FPS that will once again dominate the genre. I am betting we will see this one around April or May.
Mouse: PI for Hire
Take Steamboat Willy and mix it with Doom. That is the concept behind Mouse: PI for Hire and boy if that isn’t enough to at least pique your interest then I don’t know what to say. A black-and-white palette, old timey-wimey weapons and what appears to be a cracking sense of humour has Mouse looking to be something of a cult hit in 2025.
I can’t say if the gameplay is going to match the concept though and I do have concerns about some of the footage I have seen. The animation style seems to make the combat a bit stilted in the trailers. But I am hoping that is not the case because the idea is just so cool I need it to succeed. This is another game I expect to land in that quite period around June or July.
Borderlands 4
I feel this is a pivotal release for Gearbox studios. They don’t have many wins outside of Borderlands and even then it seems the shine has worn off the once massive franchise. Borderlands 3 was a disappointment and while Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands was a return to form, it didn’t set the world on fire like Gearbox hoped. So there is a lot of weight on Borderlands 4 to succeed.
I am not sure what Gearbox needs to do to make this one a winner, but I suspect a refresh and an update of the formula is a priority. It is a bit old hat these days and people need more than the promise of crazy weapons and dick jokes to keep them engaged. Whatever ends up happening, it will be interesting to see it play out. I don’t expect Borderlands 4 till August at the absolute earliest.
