Top 10 Video Game Releases Coming in January 2025: Essential Titles to Start the New Year

January 2025 is set to kick off the year with a thrilling array of highly anticipated video game releases. Featuring stunning CGI, immersive storytelling, and innovative gameplay, developers are pulling out all the stops to offer players unforgettable experiences. Here's a preview of the 10 most exciting games coming in the first month of 2025.

Top Video Games Launching in January 2025

Sea Fantasy
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Developed and published by METASLA, Sea Fantasy is an exciting pixel-art action RPG that combines open-world exploration with a unique fishing mechanic. Players take on the role of a hero trying to save a crumbling world by capturing the SeaAZ, a mysterious marine life that holds the key to survival. With vibrant pixel graphics, dungeon exploration, crafting, and dynamic ship travel, this adventure promises a rich and immersive experience for fans of fantasy and JRPGs.

Things Too Ugly
Release Date: January 16, 2025
Developed by Professor Space Games and published by Baltoro Games, Things Too Ugly is a first-person psychological horror set in 1986. Players take on the role of a Risk Assessment Data Processor working for TEREBRO INC., uncovering the company’s dark past through archival documents and recordings. With retro-inspired visuals, era-specific tools, and a choice-driven narrative, this game offers an eerie, immersive experience.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Release Date: January 16, 2025
Nintendo brings an enhanced version of the classic 2D platformer, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, to the Nintendo Switch. Players join Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong on an action-packed journey to reclaim their banana hoard from the Tiki Tak Tribe. With improved visuals, new levels, and an optional easier mode, this game offers a fresh yet nostalgic experience for fans of the franchise.

STAR WARS: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles
Release Date: January 23, 2025
Remastered by Aspyr for the 25th anniversary of its original release, STAR WARS: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is a fast-paced action-adventure game. Players can control iconic Jedi heroes like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu in a 10-level campaign to reclaim Theed Royal Palace using the Force and their lightsabers. The game includes couch co-op, modernized controls, and nostalgic charm with added surprises.

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada
Release Date: January 24, 2025
Developed by Game Studio Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is a futuristic PvPvE extraction shooter. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, players control Drifters who search for AO Crystals while battling hostile creatures and rival players. Featuring customizable AI companions and mechas, this game offers high-stakes survival gameplay with deep customization options.

Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Developed by Idea Factory International, Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is a thrilling motorcycle combat game. Set in a dimension infested by Dogoo creatures, players race through 15 stages, combining high-speed bike action with tactical combat. With customizable rides, vibrant art, and quirky Neptunia charm, this game offers fast-paced fun for fans of the series.

Stone of Madness
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Set in an eerie 18th-century Spanish monastery, Stone of Madness is a real-time tactical stealth game developed by The Game Kitchen. Players control five unique characters, each with their own phobias and traumas, working together to escape a treacherous madhouse. The game blends exploration, strategy, and stealth with atmospheric visuals inspired by Francisco de Goya.

Warside
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Developed by LAVABIRD and published by First Break Labs, Warside is a fast-paced, turn-based tactical game with a vibrant pixel-art design. Players can choose from over 25 unit types and 12 Commanders, each with unique abilities. Featuring a single-player campaign, local and online multiplayer, and a map editor for custom scenarios, this game offers endless tactical possibilities.

Sniper Elite: Resistance
Release Date: January 30, 2025
In Sniper Elite: Resistance, developed by Rebellion, players assume the role of SOE agent Harry Hawker in WWII-era France, working with the French Resistance to stop a Nazi superweapon. The game offers realistic weapon customization, advanced ballistics, and a gripping single-player campaign. With co-op, Axis Invasion mode, and 16-player multiplayer, this title delivers a thrilling, tactical combat experience.

Genso Manège
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Developed by MAGES. Inc. and published by PQube, Genso Manège is a dreamlike otome visual novel. Players follow Emma, a young witch trying to rediscover her powers and free the trapped employees of a magical amusement park. With six male leads, captivating artwork, and a reimagined French setting, this game offers romance, mystery, and stunning visuals.

Conclusion
January 2025 is packed with a diverse range of exciting game releases, from whimsical romance in Genso Manège to tactical warfare in Sniper Elite: Resistance. With a mix of remasters, new IPs, and genre-bending experiences, there’s something for everyone in this month’s lineup, ensuring plenty of memorable adventures to kick off the year.