GAMING - Gaming has grown in popularity over the last several years with many gaming genres being popular amongst players. Genres like action, strategy, puzzle and role-playing games (RPG’s) are amongst some of the hottest gaming genres available. Casino games have also grown in popularity since their transition online, with laws across the US and Canada relaxing as well as a number of casino providers being available, you can navigate here to find out more.
A demand for games means an increase in the number of new games set to be released amongst each gaming genre each year. Gamers are going to be spoilt for choice this year as a slew of hotly anticipated titles are set for release. It seems likely that Nintendo will be releasing the successor to the Switch, and this has fueled plenty of speculation as to what that is going to look like.
January has already seen the release of some top titles, including The Legend of the Cyber Cowboy, Sea Fantasy, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and Montezuma's Revenge - The 40th Anniversary Edition, but there are more to come, including:
Grand Theft Auto
Rockstar has set the gaming world alight with the news that they hope to release Grand Theft Auto 6 this year. With no release date confirmed as yet, gamers will have to be patient but what we do know about the next chapter is already enough to get excited about, including the addition of drawbridges which many predict will be ideal for dramatic jumps.
Players will be returning to Vice City for a couple's crime spree a la Bonnie and Clyde, but since the release of a trailer towards the end of 2023, fans have been waiting for updates that simply haven't materialized. However, committed commentators have noted a pattern in their previous announcements, many of which have taken place at the end of January, and they are hoping for news of a release date imminently.
Civilization 7
Another hugely popular and long-running game, Civilization has millions of fans all over the world who are on the edge of their seats waiting for the latest chapter, due to be released at the beginning of February.
Creators have teased players with snippets of information about updates to the game that will make it easier to reach the end. After noting that many players never completed the game, the developers decided to make structural changes that would help more players get to the finish line.
The original Civilization saw players starting in the Ancient era with the goal of progressing through the Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Industrial, and Modern eras, finally achieving one of the goals that demonstrate world domination. The upcoming version of the game will have only three eras to conquer and a simplified skills tree, so more players than ever should be able to achieve civilization.
Assassin's Creed
Say Konichiwa to the next instalment of the Assassins Creed story, which has been the subject of much online speculation since it was first announced in 2022. The enigmatic working title 'Codename Red' didn't offer much in the way of clues, but it has finally been revealed that the game will be set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.
Fans are delighted to learn that they will get a chance to play in their top choice of destination for the next chapter, and there will be two playable characters - a stealthy shinobi named Naoe, and a super strong samurai named Yasuke. After the disappointing pushback of the original 2024 release date, February can't come soon enough for eager fans.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter World earned plenty of fans with the quality and complexity of the gameplay, with players collecting monster parts and using them to craft weapons to advance to the next level. Twenty years after it was first released for the PlayStation 2, this latest instalment of the popular franchise includes even more realistic elements that fans are bound to love.
Monster Hunter Wilds makes use of the latest gaming technology to create a more responsive and immersive gaming experience. As day turns to night, the monster's behaviour changes so players will need to adapt their playing style to keep up with their goals.
Even the weather is more realistic, and appropriate responses to the meteorological conditions can now be seen, such as lightning striking bushes and causing fires, loss of visibility during sandstorms, and both players and monsters can take damage from the effects of severe weather. Artificial intelligence has been used to great effect to create more realistic interactions between the monsters.
Spider-Man 2
Although this came out on some platforms in 2024, it's due for release on PC at the end of January so there are plenty of gamers still waiting for this latest game from Insomniac Games. Fans of the original Spider-Man and its 2020 follow-up, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, will be delighted to know that their favourite superhero is back.
The gameplay continues the story where it left off in 2020, with both Peter Parker and Miles Morales as the playable main characters. Their varied abilities have been expanded to include more combat skills and players can unlock more gadgets and skins as they reach milestones in the game.
With so many games to look forward to, from racing and shooting to strategy and logic, 2025 is set to be an amazing year for gaming innovation.
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