There are too many games. Seriously, every week seems to produce new RPGs, drop players in fresh open-worlds, or give them brand-new nightmares. The upcoming week, October 20 to 26, is particularly stuffed with big games. In fact, it might be the calendar’s most jam-packed seven days of the year, and there should be something for just about everyone.
Regardless of your hardware of choice, you have options. Many, many options. During a time when negativity seems to overwhelm the news cycle and industry in general, it can be helpful to block the noise and focus on the basics: the games you are excited about. Therefore, let’s take a look at the standout upcoming games that will dominate the discourse over the coming days.
Ninja Gaiden 4
The Return Of The Hack And Slash King (And His Successor?)
After lying dormant for roughly a decade, Ninja Gaiden has made 2025 its comeback year. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was a nice surprise, while Ragebound is a great throwback to the IP’s roots; however, everything has been building up to Ninja Gaiden 4. This is the game that should place Ryu Hayabusa (and a newcomer) at the top of the hack-and-slash mountain, where he rightfully belongs. While playable, Ryu seems to be the secondary protagonist, with a newbie named Yakumo taking center stage.
To make matters infinitely more exciting, the project is a collaboration between Team Ninja, the IP’s owners, and PlatinumGames, the developer behind heavyweights like Bayonetta. On paper, this sounds like a dream partnership, and previews have done little to dull the hype surrounding this huge game.
Jurassic World Evolution 3
Dinosaurs Will Always Be Cool
Frontier Developments is generally quite reliable, and you know what you are getting when you pick up one of their releases. Jurassic World Evolution has been particularly consistent, with the first game serving as a great proof of concept that set the stage for a fantastic sequel, which went on to become a cornerstone of the management genre over the last few years.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 does not seem to reinvent the wheel; instead, it offers more species, expansion options, and tools. With a formula as rock-solid as JWE, the best course is to fine-tune the things that worked, and the sequel should do just that, while still offering new features like the ability to breed dinosaurs. Finally, Jeff Goldblum will be part of the campaign, which should be fun.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
This Should Be October 2025’s Biggest Game
In theory, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 should be the biggest game of October 2025. Heck, it should be the biggest game of the entire year. However, to say that it has garnered some negative pre-release press would be an understatement. At this point, Bloodlines 2 will either be 2025’s nicest surprise or the most predictable disappointment. Either way, the RPG will get a lot of attention when it finally drops on the 21st of the month, more than two decades after its predecessor.
If you are on the fence, wait for reviews before picking this one up. That said, if you are looking for a (hopefully) immersive and choice-driven role-playing game that lets you experience a clan-divided Seattle as an Elder vampire, Bloodlines 2 should be it. At launch, you will be able to pick from six clans, all of whom have wildly different abilities that allow for diverse playstyles.
PowerWash Simulator 2
Clean And Simple (And Co-Op)
Sometimes, an idea does not need to be complicated. PowerWash Simulator lets you start a business where you clean a wide assortment of objects and buildings. It is a competent management sim, while offering a really relaxing gameplay loop which is way more addictive than it has any right to be. PowerWash Simulator 2 will let you do the same thing, but more. More jobs, more equipment, more towns, and more water. Also, you get a home base to customize, an addition that is always welcome.
Like its predecessor, PW2 emphasizes multiplayer, offering a two-player co-op campaign and a free mode that allows up to six power washers to join in. The former will likely be the best way to play through the main mode, but the game will likely be a blast for solo cleaners, too.
Dispatch
A New Type Of Superhero Game
Building up steam following the release of a demo, Dispatch has exploded in popularity over the last few months, becoming one of the most highly anticipated games of the year’s final quarter. While the superhero game debuts on October 22, AdHoc has opted for an episodic release schedule, with two new episodes dropping each week until November 12.
Blending Telltale’s style of storytelling with strategy gameplay, Dispatch revolves around a former superhero who starts working as a dispatcher who guides the active heroes, deciding which of them is best equipped to handle certain cases. As a concept, that is absolutely brilliant, and should make for a really fun time. However, Dispatch will live and die on the strength of its characters and writing, both of which seem to be of a high standard.
Honorable Mention: Vein (Entering Early Access)
3D Project Zomboid Enters Early Access
Going by Steamdb.info, Vein is next week’s third most-wishlisted game, only being surpassed by Bloodlines 2 and Dispatch. That is impressive for an indie game that still has a long way to go before reaching its final form, although its ambition is to be respected. Vein, essentially, takes the Project Zomboid formula and gives it a full 3D makeover, which sounds almost too good to be true. The project has a fairly positive reputation overall, so it could end up taking the survival multiplayer scene by storm.
As with all early access games, you should be prepared for bugs, missing features, and rough edges; this is a work in progress.
