If you told me that a turn-based cRPG rooted in Dungeons & Dragons would outshine Bethesda's tentpole games, I never would have believed you. They couldn't believe it – Baldur's Gate 3 had its release date moved to Starfield. This is a type of niche that thrives on an active audience, not the mainstream. But with such charming characters, it took Larian even further than before.
If I look at the year 2025, I wonder what will cause a similar spread, There are many worthy competitors, but before we look forward, let's look again at the year we leave.
What is Baldur's Gate 2024 3?
There are many candidates for Baldur's Gate 3 this year. We have Black Legends: Wukong, Palworld, Helldivers 2, and maybe even Dragon's Dogma 2 to name a few. But none of them did Balatro's rebellion.
It sold 3.5 million copies, crossed paths with Among Us, Vampire Survivors, and Cyberpunk 2077, and won Best Indie at The Game Awards where it was even nominated for a GOTY. With the mobile port thrown in, it broke the store for a card-based roguelike, going mainstream in a way that developer LocalThunk didn't expect.
At the beginning of the year, if you'd told me that the solo Devil's Poker game would be bigger than the Dragon Age sequel, I wouldn't have believed you — but here we are. But who will take the crown in 2025?
Avowed
At Obsidian We Trust
It's hard to say exactly what to expect from Obsidian Entertainment's new RPG. On the surface, Avowed looks very different from The Elder Scrolls, right down to the stilted NPCs and weird jank. Clumsy, bland gameplay and boxed dialogue led to The Outer Worlds, so Bethesda's return to inspiration should be a cause for concern.
But the look is brilliant, and I've yet to play a bad Obsidian game. Despite being rushed to a tight deadline, he managed to deliver the best Fallout of the series, and much of that is down to the careful care put into his world and character building. At the very least, I can hope that Avowed will keep me engaged in all the conversations and pursuits… but I'd be surprised if it manages to stand out in a busy month like February, let alone an entire year. Feels doomed to be a cult classic already.
legend
I Can't Hold My Breath
If Avowed is unbelievable, Fable will be a miracle. It was announced four years ago before it had a writer or story creator, although it has been in development for years. It's supposed to come out in 2025, but we've seen very little of it so far. It could defy the odds and turn out well, offering a new perspective on this world, but I'm not holding my breath.
Citizen Sleeper 2
Don't sleep on Him
Citizen Sleeper, developed by Jump Over The Age studio, is one of the most impressive games of 2022. We even awarded it the GOTY. While it began life as a niche, dice-based RPG enjoyed by the genre's most ardent fans, word of mouth and critical acclaim pushed it steadily forward until it finally sold copies. one million.
A sequel is already on the way next year, and although there is some stiff competition, it's not hard to imagine Citizen Sleeper 2 taking more of its forefathers' ideas and becoming one of the most popular icons of the year 2025.
Light No Fire
It might just start a fire
No Man's Sky crashed and burned at launch, and could easily have gone down in gaming history as a sad lesson for aspiring developers: a warning against larger-than-life promises that you won't be able to. But Hello Games returned the favor with a single update, making No Man's Sky one of the best indie sandboxes of all time.
Much is riding on its spiritual successor, Light No Fire. Excitement is contagious, and it's hard not to get caught up in the anticipation like it was in 2016. There's a nagging doubt in my mind, but if Hello Games is sticking to its seat this time around this, it could be one of the biggest. 2025 games and more.
Can Grand Theft Auto 6 win?
Baldur's Gate 3 launched in the last few months of the year, competing with the likes of Starfield, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo 4, and Final Fantasy 16, but miraculously, it came out on top – us. it's still talked about today, and it's more popular than ever. But the competition will be even tougher in 2025.
Received the most anticipated award at TGA, it is difficult to imagine anything against the mammoth that is Grand Theft Auto 6 next year. Like all GTAs before it, it is destined to be the biggest, most talked about game of the year, creating a legacy that will last a decade and more. Its trailer alone received over 100 million views in 24 hours, becoming the second most viewed video game trailer of all time..
In the shadow of GTA 6, I doubt we will see anything close to the impact of Baldur's Gate 3. If anything, it will be the biggest break in video game history.

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In 2025, I Want Slower RPGs
Trying to run a mammoth RPG to keep up with the industry is exhausting.