With PlayStation’s first State of Play in 2025 now under wraps, there are plenty of great games to look forward to. It has been five years since the PlayStation 5 was originally released, and it has continued to receive fantastic support from first-party and third-party developers alike. If you have 45 minutes to spare and would like to see PlayStation’s recent showcase for yourself, you can do so here.
There are many upcoming titles I’ll be keeping my eye on this year. While trimming my backlog is my utmost priority, I always set time aside for promising new releases. If all goes well, I’d love to earn platinum trophies in all of the titles on this list! Read on to find out what our most anticipated PlayStation games of 2025 are.
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Digimon Story Time Stranger
I have been very vocal about my love of Digimon in past articles. I’ve earned every Digimon-related platinum trophy thus far and even wrote an in-depth guide with maps and an automated spreadsheet tool for Digimon All-Star Rumble. I’ve been waiting with bated breath for the next entry in the series and was pleasantly surprised when it was officially announced during PlayStation’s February 2025 State of Play.
Digimon Story Time Stranger looks to be an evolution of the recent Cybersleuth releases. From what we can see in the announcement trailer, there is a lot to be excited about as a Digimon fan. Here are a few details that I noticed:
- You can ride on Digimon. Around the one-minute mark, the protagonist is shown riding gallantly on a Garurumon and a Whamon. This feature is sure to fulfill many Digimon fans’ childhood dreams. It would be incredible to be able to traverse open environments on the back of your favorite Digimon companion!
- The game features dual protagonists. Like recent entries in the series, it seems that Digimon Story Time Stranger will continue the trend of allowing players to select either a male or female protagonist. Having the freedom to choose which option best suits a player is very much appreciated.
- It will likely feature a story focused on the Olympus XII. During Digimon Con 2022, Chief Producer Kazumasa Habu shared that the next Digimon Story game would center on these fan-favorite characters. For the uninitiated, the Olympus XII are a group of Mega-level Digimon that parallel ancient Roman deities. They are wholly separate from the Royal Knights and exist on a different plane from the Digital World we’re all familiar with. This gives us an inkling regarding how large of a scale Digimon Story Time Stranger intends to take its narrative.
- There will be English voice performances. For the first time in several years, a Digimon game will launch with an English-dubbed vocalization option! Bandai Namco confirmed there will be Japanese and English voice casts in their official announcement. Digimon Survive, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Hacker’s Memory were all solely voiced in Japanese with English text translations. The most recent English-dubbed Digimon game was Digimon World: Next Order in 2017. This is an exciting development for the series and speaks volumes regarding the team’s expectations for sales numbers.
- It will be released on the current console generation only. Surprisingly, Digimon Story Time Stranger is set to release only for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, barring any owners still gaming on older hardware. For non-console players, it is also scheduled to be released on Steam. While it is unfortunate for fans who have not yet upgraded their systems, focusing development strictly on newer consoles may ultimately be a boon. That means Digimon Story Time Stranger may include higher fidelity, frame rates, and loading times commensurate with the modern generation.
Digimon Story Time Stranger does not yet have an exact release date. It is currently scheduled to be released sometime in 2025.
Ghost of Yotei
Sucker Punch Production’s newest success comes in the form of the Ghost series. This developer has far-reaching roots throughout PlayStation’s history, including the Sly Cooper series and Infamous games. Ghost of Yotei is the latest announcement set to release in 2025.
Sly Cooper was a household name during my childhood, so Sucker Punch is close to my heart. Ghost of Tsushima was such a refreshing take on the open-world genre; its focus on immersion makes it one of the most enjoyable movie-like gaming experiences out there. I relished every moment I spent earning its platinum trophy in 2021, as well as subsequent sessions spent in its online Legends mode in 2022.
For that reason, I am incredibly excited to dip my toes into the newest iteration of the series. I look forward to seeing Ghost of Yotei’s narrative from a female protagonist’s perspective, as it may lead to unique storytelling opportunities Jin’s adventure missed.
It’d be negligence on my part not to mention the studio’s technical feats. After seeing how well-optimized the PlayStation 5 version of Ghost of Tsushima was, I am even more stoked to see what impressive features can be implemented for a title made specifically with the newest hardware in mind.
While I enjoyed the Legends multiplayer mode in Ghost of Tsushima, I hesitate to say I’d want to see it return in the sequel. I had fun overall but felt its trophies were more taxing than they should have been. If it returns, I personally hope the developers either skip the additional trophy set or make it more accessible for players.
Ghost of Yotei does not yet have an exact release date. It is currently scheduled to be released sometime in 2025.
Borderlands 4
Like Digimon, I have earned every platinum trophy present in the Borderlands series (with two minor exceptions). That includes Borderlands 1-3, The Pre-Sequel, Tales from the Borderlands, New Tales from the Borderlands, and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. I haven’t gone out of my way for the VR version of Borderlands 2 or Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, as they are essentially repackaged content present in other titles.
Nevertheless, I have been patiently waiting for the next entry in Gearbox Software’s flagship franchise. To my surprise, the February 2025 PlayStation State of Play showed off a new trailer for Borderlands 4, as well as the announcement of a release date in the near future. Even more exciting, there will be a State of Play later this Spring centered specifically on Borderlands 4.
The looter-shooter RPG hybrid that constitutes the Borderlands series hosts a highly addictive gameplay loop. I am eager to dive back in and see what new weapons and classes the latest title will introduce. Some loose ends remained following the conclusion of Borderlands 3’s story, so I would love to see how they’re resolved in the follow-up entry.
The 2024 Borderlands movie’s staggeringly low reviews from critics combined with the fact that many fans feel the recent games have been lacking in terms of their overarching narrative and humor both contribute to an air of uncertainty surrounding the series’ future. It’s not surprising for players to be cautious after having been burned in the past.
That said, I am optimistic that Borderlands 4 will be a fun game regardless. All I need is an excuse to run around the wastelands with my friends, completing zany quests and fighting absurd battles.
Borderlands 4 is currently set for release on September 23, 2025.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was first announced 8 months ago during an Xbox Games Showcase. Thankfully for trophy hunters, it has since been confirmed for a simultaneous release on the PlayStation 5. This game is the incredibly ambitious debut title for its developers, Sandfall Interactive.
Everything I have seen and heard about the game so far has only made me more excited to get my hands on it. The PlayStation blog hosted a Q&A with the founder and creative director, Guillaume Broche, to provide some insight into the game’s development.
In the interview, Broche states that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is intended to fill a niche not adequately served by the gaming market: turn-based RPGs with high graphical fidelity. Since modern Final Fantasy titles have largely prioritized action-based gameplay, it certainly seems like there is space for a new competitor in the turn-based sub-genre.
Additionally, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set in a less-frequently observed setting in video games: France in the 1600-1700s. This era is most commonly known for the occurrence of the Franco-Spanish War, the Treaty of Versailles, and of course the French Revolution. With the developers hailing from the region, it will be all the more interesting to see how they choose to shape a story taking place on their stomping grounds.
Broche also shares which games inspired the developers at the studio. Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, Persona, and the Tales series were all highlighted in the discussion. As an avid fan of three of these industry-leading juggernauts myself, I have high expectations for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Although it’s not mentioned in the interview, the timed button presses shown off in combat sequences remind me of the Legend of Dragoon.
Sandfall Interactive has big shoes to fill, but they seem to be making all the right moves so far. Their first release is shaping up to be one for the history books, and I look forward to immortalizing it on my trophy list.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is currently set for release on April 24, 2025.
Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion
Corpse Party is a cult classic for many horror fans. Following its original release in Japan in 1996, it has seen many re-releases, sequels, and spin-offs over the years. The latest entry in the series, Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion was announced in 2023. Although it was originally slated for a Fall 2024 release window, it has since been pushed back to 2025.
Although I have little experience with the series myself, I greatly enjoyed my time with the original title made available on the PlayStation 4. While earning its platinum trophy in 2022, I was pleasantly surprised time and time again by the quality of its narrative and gameplay. Despite its old age, the game holds up quite well and still manages to evoke powerful feelings of revulsion thanks to its incredible sound design and atmospheric environments.
After such a positive introduction to the series, I’m excited to see a brand-new entry. The trailer seems to indicate that the story will follow a similar set-up to the original title. Additionally, we get a brief glimpse of Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion’s gameplay and graphics, which appear to take on a more modern style without sacrificing its charm.
Not much can be said without receiving more details from Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion’s developers, XSEED Games. But as of now, it’s certainly one to keep an eye on.
Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion does not yet have an exact release date. It is currently scheduled to be released sometime in 2025.
Conclusion
2025 is shaping up to be an amazing year for gamers. Between several stellar announcements from PlayStation and the expected release of the Nintendo Switch 2, there’s a lot to be excited about. I can’t wait to start earning platinum trophies on these new titles!
What are your most anticipated PlayStation games of 2025? Will you be picking up any of the titles I’ve highlighted above? Don’t forget to let us know in the comments below. If you want to distract yourself from an agonizing wait for these titles, check out our article about games we play to get out of the trophy hunting mindset.
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