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In recent times, some of the most surprising hits in the gaming world have arrived during the quieter months that follow the festive season, specifically between New Year’s and the onset of spring. Historically, this has been a period where many of us are still recovering from our holiday indulgences, both in terms of food and the slew of games we received as gifts, leaving us with little inclination to dive into something fresh.
Yet for the past decade or so, savvy publishers have taken advantage of this quieter period to release hidden gems, which might otherwise be overshadowed by powerhouse titles at busier times of the year.
I vividly recall one such standout: Dying Light, which came out a whole decade ago in 2015. It shattered expectations, emerging as a fresh IP at the height of the zombie craze and the PS4-era’s love for open-world games.
Following its lead, almost every subsequent year saw an indie darling or an underrated series hit its stride by sidestepping the crowded fall release window and landing during this quieter time when players were ostensibly done with their spending.
Resident Evil also made a strong re-entry into the spotlight, with the phenomenal Resident Evil 2 Remake, reaffirming its dominance in the gaming sector and setting a trend that persists today.
However, by 2025, this little industry secret seems to have become very obvious. This February alone, we’re witnessing the arrival of four potential blockbusters from both major publishers and renowned independent studios.
Some of these releases found their February slot due to delays and development obstacles, like Assassin’s Creed and Avowed. Meanwhile, others like Monster Hunter and Kingdom Come have previously thrived by launching at this prime time, and seem keen to replicate their earlier success.
Regardless of how they found themselves here, February 2025 is shaping up into a colossal RPG showdown. With several sprawling 100-hour RPGs vying for your precious free time, only one game will emerge as the stand-out champion—so let’s take a look at these contenders.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – February 4, 2025
Leading the charge is Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, eagerly setting its sights on a regal victory, quite literally. It might be the most down-to-earth of the four releases, but in some respects, it’s the most daring too. Following its "dungeons not dragons" ethos, it offers an authentic medieval role-playing adventure that’s part reenactment fair, part sandbox escapade, and part chaotic, glitch-heavy spectacle.
Developed using CryEngine, traditionally associated with first-person shooters, Kingdom Come pushes the limits of the engine to fill its bustling towns and open-world environment. This was a double-edged sword in its debut, creating a stunning and immersive world that perpetually teetered on the brink of collapse.
Having spent countless hours on the first Kingdom Come, I’ve seen how it boldly experiments with role-playing mechanics that sound innovatively exciting on paper but deliver mixed outcomes in practice. Take its difficulty curve, for example, which aimed to simulate gaining proficiency through repetition rather than skill complexity—it made early lockpicking attempts almost comically difficult and unavoidable combat sequences in some story arcs infuriatingly repetitive if you favored stealth or diplomacy.
Still, it introduced intriguing concepts such as scrambling books, recipes, and signs until your character learned to read from a monk.
The sequel again follows Henry of Skalitz, the humble blacksmith who, through a mix of chance and cleverness, becomes pivotal in the Holy Roman Empire’s turmoil. I’m eager to see how the new game tackles realistic character growth without the clichéd device of stripping familiar powers away between sequels.
Reported to be double the size of its predecessor, with improved performance and smoothed-out rough patches, the new Kingdom Come looks poised to surprise even in an already competitive month.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows – February 14, 2025
Although it faced a couple of setbacks, I have faith in the developers who delivered my personal favorite entry in the Assassin’s Creed series—2018’s epic Greek adventure, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Given its status as a well-established franchise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows faces the greatest scrutiny this February, especially after Ubisoft’s costly missteps with Skull and Bones and Star Wars: Outlaws.
Japan, with its rich history, has been an anticipated setting for the series for years, but Ghost of Tsushima and Rise of the Ronin have already brought feudal Japan to the gaming world’s attention. The challenge for Ubisoft will be keeping this fresh and intriguing, especially when the exotic charm of Ancient Greek and Norse mythology isn’t available to spice things up.
On a brighter note, Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems set to tackle some long-standing issues in the series. The dual protagonists, shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke, promise a richer, more interactive combat experience with a variety of weapons and styles, which could offer the depth players have been clamoring for.
A much-needed overhaul of the stealth system could finally come to fruition here—if true, this would be a significant leap forward for the series.
Interestingly, Yasuke’s towering presence makes stealth laughably difficult, often drawing the attention of everyone around, while Naoe fits the archetype of the swift, silent assassin.
In Valhalla, I felt overly burdened by a bloated storyline and lackluster side activities. But Shadows hints at more varied and meaningful experiences within its missions, perhaps bringing a breath of fresh air to the franchise and possibly, once again, shifting its trajectory.
Avowed – February 18, 2025
Delays can be quite the paradox in gaming; they might defer a collision with a competitor, yet there’s no assurance it won’t happen later. Avowed by Obsidian Entertainment finds itself navigating such a scenario after being postponed to 2025 to evade Game Pass rivals like Stalker 2 and Indiana Jones. Now, it’s sandwiched between some of the year’s biggest titles, but could Game Pass’s low entry cost be the secret to Avowed’s success?
If The Outer Worlds felt like Obsidian’s streamlined sci-fi spin on Fallout, then Avowed is akin to a blend of Skyrim and Dragon Age, with smaller maps packed with loot, adversaries, and those trademark Obsidian quests rich with choice and consequence.
As a fan of Obsidian’s extensive catalog, from Fallout: New Vegas and Alpha Protocol to Grounded and even South Park: The Stick of Truth, Avowed tops my personal list of February’s releases, though it may be overlooked.
Set in the imaginative Pillars of Eternity world, with its shimmering fantasy art style and engaging storytelling, Avowed’s success will depend on its narrative prowess combined with compelling gameplay to outshine its likely modest budget in this heavyweight lineup.
Monster Hunter Wilds – February 28, 2025
The Monster Hunter series has come a long way since Monster Hunter World made its triumphant breakthrough in February 2018. After simmering under the radar in western markets, it seized its moment with a clear schedule, drawing global attention like never before.
With numerous competitors now trying to stake their claim in the monster-hunting universe—though Dauntless faced a rough patch with a recent update, indie titles like Fera: The Sundered Tribes, and EA’s Wild Hearts offering stiffer competition—Monster Hunter Wilds is back to recapture its crown as the apex predator in the genre.
While the exceptional Monster Hunter Rise on the Switch succeeded as a compact experience on a constrained platform, Wilds promises a return to grandeur, boasting larger, more interactive landscapes and challenging terrains that emphasize variety and verticality across its ecosystems.
Creatures emerge from the sand, scale trees to gain high ground in battles, and operate in packs to overpower hunters, ensuring the franchise’s iconic monsters remain the stars of this grand adventure.
No longer niche, the Monster Hunter series is likely to score a major victory, leaving us to wonder how many players will hold onto their supplies until they embark on this epic journey at the month’s end.
So, which one are you interested in grabbing? Which will linger on your to-play list for the next four years? February alone offers a bevy of choices, even without counting other forthcoming blockbusters like Elden Ring: Nightreign, Borderlands 4, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Pokemon Legends Z-A, and, of course, the highly anticipated GTA 6…
