We’ve had a busy season here at Game Informer, doing our best to track on some of the most interesting games rolling out during the busy holiday rush of releases. But even as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., there are still some notable titles set to roll out before the end of the year.
If you’ve somehow stayed ahead of your backlog, and you’re still ready for more titles to enjoy, keep these on your radar.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Nintendo has remained relatively quiet regarding Samus’ new adventure until recently, but recent glimpses suggest this will be the Switch and Switch 2 title to watch in the final weeks of the year. Set to launch on December 4, players will take the space bounty hunter to the mysterious planet of Viewros, learn a host of new psychic abilities, pilot a futuristic motorcycle, and navigate puzzles, exploration, and bosses. It’s been a long wait for this one, but ahead of playing the final version, we’re hopeful it’s a fitting continuation of the impressive legacy of early Metroid Prime releases.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
We’ve seen a resurgence of strong brawler games in recent years, and Tribute Games has had a lot to do with that. The same team that brought us Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is now set to release Marvel Cosmic Invasion, which looks like all the fun of the old X-Men arcade game, but expanded to the full suite of Marvel characters and locations, and with a slick tag-team mechanic in the mix to let you enjoy more characters in one playthrough. Release is only days away on December 1, and you can enjoy cross-play on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, or PC. This looks like it might be an easy pick for cooperative holiday fun.
Octopath Traveler 0
Fans of classic JRPG gameplay and storytelling still have a big treat on the way before the year ends. Octopath Traveler 0 is purported to be a truly massive adventure, adapting and expanding on the content that was first seen in the mobile iteration, Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, but remaking much of it and stripping away all the mobile game shenanigans that would likely (rightfully) scare off more dedicated players. Town-building, custom character crafting, and an array of compelling characters for your party are just some of the reasons to be excited, alongside an evolution of the excellent combat system the series is known for. Watch for the game on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PS4, Switch, and PC on December 4. If what we’ve heard is right, expect it to be a significant time investment this holiday.
Skate Story
Experimental, vibrant, and unusual – Skate Story mixes skateboarding tricks, RPG storytelling, and hallucinogenic visuals to offer up one of the more unusual releases of recent months. You’re skating through the underworld, facing off against demons, and aiming to swallow the moon. It is, indeed, as weird as it sounds. Whether you choose to play on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, or PC, the game is available on December 8, and promises to provide an experience quite unlike anything else 2025 has had to offer.
Terminator 2D: No Fate
Over 30 years after its release, Terminator 2: Judgment Day remains one of the high-water marks for classic action sci-fi moviemaking. This new throwback action game capitalizes on that excellence, offering a hardcore arcade experience that reenacts the movie’s events, alongside a wealth of additional scenes and experiences. 15 levels let you play the Terminator, Sarah Connor, and even John Connor in various future scenes, fighting their way through scorching waves of enemies, infiltrating sites with stealth, and driving in memorable scenes from the film. The character sprites look amazing, and an impressive variety of modes and customization await players, aiming to expand the experience beyond a single playthrough. If the combat plays as well as it looks in early glimpses of the game, old-school action fans have a lot to look forward to. Watch for release on PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. Judgment Day comes on December 12 for this one.
Routine
Set for release to PC and Xbox platforms on December 4, Routine’s first-person sci-fi horror experience has been teased for years, but it’s finally set to arrive and – presumably – scare you out of your seat. First announced well over a decade ago, Routine has had a torturous path to final release, but we’re excited to see how this long-gestating project finally came together. Robots, moon exploration, and thoroughly creepy environments all appear to be on the menu if you decide this Routine is for you.
MIO: Memories in Orbit
Call it search action, or call it Metroidvania; no matter your preferred term, this exploration-heavy 2D game has you navigating beautiful environments as an android named MIO as they investigate a mysterious spaceship. The action looks great, the navigation and traversal seem fast and exciting, and the narrative conceit of discovering lost memories is a compelling draw. The game will hit PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Switch, and PC, but unlike the rest of the games on this list, it doesn’t yet have a concrete release date – only a continued insistent listing from publisher Focus Entertainment that it’s set to be out before the end of 2025.
Death Howl
This fascinating deck-building combat game, described by its developer (The Outer Zone) as a soulslike in structure, features grid-based battles where you use cards to defeat your foes. Players control a shaman mother who must enter the spirit world in hopes of bringing her dead son back to life. New game regions bring new cards to acquire and new strategies to unwind. Watch for the launch of this mysterious and haunting game for PC on December 9, or wait for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch releases in 2026.
Unbeatable
We were excited to check out this action/music hybrid release when it was set for an early November launch, but last-minute development challenges pushed it even later into the year. Nonetheless, players should be able to see how it all came together when Unbeatable launches on December 9 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game features an attractive anime-inspired visual aesthetic, a fully original soundtrack, and rhythm gameplay that lets you play out the story’s music in cool action sequences. Good music games can be hard to come by, so we’re hopeful about this one.
Did we miss any standout titles you’re hoping to play that are still planned for release between now and the end of the year? Let us know in the comments what we missed, and which of the games above are going on your wish list.
