In the gaming world, the period between New Year and spring has seen some delightful surprises over the past few years. Traditionally, this was a time when things slowed down—a little post-holiday respite when we were content with the games we received during the Christmas festivities. However, for roughly a decade now, gaming publishers have cleverly used this downtime to launch hidden gems that might have been overshadowed by high-profile releases at other times.
Dying Light comes to mind as one of the pioneers of this trend. Released a decade ago, in 2015, it smashed records as a fresh IP when the zombie craze was peaking along with the excitement for open-world PS4 games. It seems almost every year since, a well-backed indie or an undervalued series has tried its luck during this quieter season, hoping to stand out against less competition.
This approach proved its mettle time and again, especially with hits like the Resident Evil 2 Remake. This game signaled the resurgence of the beloved franchise, capturing the essence of the times and setting a trend we’re still riding today.
By 2025, however, this strategy isn’t such a well-guarded secret anymore. February alone is packed with potential blockbusters from top publishers and talented independent studios. Some entries have landed in this slot unintentionally due to delays, like Assassin’s Creed and Avowed, while others, like Monster Hunter and Kingdom Come, intentionally aimed for this fertile launch window once more.
How these titles ended up releasing in February is a story in itself, but it’s undoubtedly setting the stage for an epic showdown among RPG titans. With several 100-hour RPGs vying for your attention, only one can ultimately claim victory—let’s see who’s in the race.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – February 4, 2025
First in line, we have Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, aiming to take the throne—literally. With its "dungeons not dragons" philosophy, Kingdom Come crafts an authentic medieval role-playing experience. Part renaissance fair, part sandbox, and as unpredictable as a charmingly chaotic fest, it promises depth and immersion.
Powered by CryEngine, originally built for FPS games, the series stretches its limits to present bustling towns and a dynamic world in the form of an open-world RPG. This engine’s adaptation for Kingdom Come resulted in a beautifully rendered yet slightly precarious game world.
Having spent countless hours with the first installment, I can attest to its unique approach to role-playing, which sounds amazing on paper but sometimes lands unpredictably in practice. Instead of escalating skill challenges with levels, it simulates your growing expertise by making tasks easier as you repeat them. Quite innovative, right? But it led to hilariously tough tasks like lockpicking upon the game’s initial release, and pivotal story battles could become frustrating loops if your focus was on stealth or dialogue skills. Yet, it also featured novel ideas, like scrambling books and recipes until your character learned to read.
The sequel revisits Henry of Skalitz, a lowly blacksmith thrust into heroics amidst the turmoil of the Holy Roman Empire. It will be fascinating to see if the game handles progression realistically with Henry, who can’t simply lose his powers in a convenient plot twist.
Twice as expansive as its predecessor and boasting improved performance, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has a lot riding on how well it scales up. Will it pick up the slack and surprise players amid a bustling month of releases?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows – February 14, 2025
Next, despite some hurdles, I remain optimistic about the team behind my favorite Assassin’s Creed installment—Odyssey’s wondrous Greek journey. Nevertheless, with Ubisoft’s high-profile setbacks like Skull and Bones, and Star Wars: Outlaws, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has even more to prove this February.
Japan has been a long-anticipated setting for the series, but after Ghost of Tsushima and Rise of the Ronin set a high bar for feudal Japan’s aesthetic, Ubisoft has a tough act to follow. How will they maintain a fresh and engaging experience in a setting already beautifully depicted without the mythical elements of Ancient Greece or Norse legends?
Mechanically, Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems poised to tackle some long-standing series issues. The dual protagonists—shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke—boast varied combat styles encompassing everything from katanas to naginatas. Additionally, it seems there will finally be a revamped stealth system—could this be the Assassin’s Creed where stealth truly feels like stealth?
Furthermore, an intriguing character dynamic is in play here. Yasuke’s towering presence makes him inherently unstealthy—passerbys literally halt and stare. Naoe, on the other hand, moves with the silent, mysterious grace typical of classic assassins.
While I found Valhalla to be overly padded with repetitive tasks, Shadows appears to be expanding beyond the linear mission structure of recent Assassin’s Creed games. A wider range of activities and meaningful interactions between two characters might just breathe refreshing new life into the series.
Avowed – February 18, 2025
In the ever-shifting landscape of game releases, a delay can be a double-edged sword—you might dodge one competition only to find another waiting. Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment’s latest venture, slipped into 2025 to sidestep its Game Pass peers, including Stalker 2 and Indiana Jones, only to find itself in the thick of February’s highly anticipated crop. Yet, the ease of entry might just play to its advantage.
If The Outer Worlds was Obsidian’s condensed Sci-Fi take on Fallout, Avowed is their version of Skyrim inspired by Dragon Age. Players will explore smaller, interconnected maps brimming with loot, adversaries, and the compelling quest design and storytelling Obsidian is famed for.
As a die-hard fan of Obsidian’s games—from the iconic Fallout: New Vegas to the quirky South Park: The Stick of Truth—Avowed is my personal highlight for February. Despite that, I worry it might slip under the radar amidst stiff competition.
Set in the Pillars of Eternity world and boasting a vibrant, fantastical art style, Avowed’s strengths will undoubtedly lie in its narrative depth and traditional quest design. If it can wrap those elements into a gameplay package as compelling as its story, it might just outperform its relatively modest budget.
Monster Hunter Wilds – February 28, 2025
Monster Hunter has evolved remarkably since 2018’s Monster Hunter World pivoted the franchise to massive success. Now in a different arena entirely, Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to reclaim its dominance among numerous hopefuls looking to capture the monster hunting magic.
After World’s breakthrough, others attempted to ride the monster-hunting wave, from Dauntless to EA’s Wild Hearts. Meanwhile, Monster Hunter Wilds plans to assert itself as the unrivaled leader in this genre.
While Monster Hunter Rise, a Switch-focused project, was a notable hit, its scale matched the console’s limitations. Wilds, however, is anything but restrained. It promises expansive environments, intricate terrains, and diverse, vertical biomes filled with dynamic monsters.
Expect these creatures to burst from sand, nimbly navigate high terrain, and swarm in groups to challenge hunters, all adding layers of personality to the already lively roster.
Don’t think for a second that Monster Hunter is still a niche series; it’s now a massive player—and Wilds looks ready to deliver. Just how many of us are stockpiling supplies in eager anticipation for this epic hunt at the month’s end?
So, which adventure will you embark on first? Or perhaps like many of us, you’ll be diving into these worlds sometime during the next four years. The selection seems infinite, this month alone, and that doesn’t even touch upon releases like Elden Ring: Nightreign, Borderlands 4, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Pokémon Legends Z-A, and—of course—the highly anticipated GTA 6…
