Five Must-Play 2025 Game Releases For Students

If you’re dreaming of a career in games, you always need to be up to date with the latest releases. Good news for you – that means getting to grips with the gameplay for yourself!

The 2025 line-up of releases features stunning examples of storytelling, mechanics, and visuals set to blaze new paths of creativity and tech wizardry. Check out these top titles to add to your 2025 wish list, and discover why they’re essential for any aspiring games professional looking to level up their craft.

Grand Theft Auto VI

Why it matters: Rockstar Games has mastered open-world design, and GTA VI is set to push boundaries once again. The game combines a vibrant sandbox world, dynamic interactions, and cutting-edge character systems. It’s a brilliant example of how to balance freedom and structure, giving players the tools to craft their own stories while delivering a meticulously crafted narrative.

What to learn: Look at how Rockstar creates believable, living environments. Study the AI of non-playable characters (NPCs), the structure of missions, and how the dual protagonists’ stories weave together to create variety and emotional depth.

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Ghost of Yōtei

Why it matters: Sucker Punch’s follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima promises another immersive adventure, set in Japan, 300 years after the events of the previous title. The game demonstrates the power of environmental storytelling: how a well-constructed world can guide players and shape their experience without overly intrusive interface elements.

What to learn: Pay attention to the use of visual markers in the world to lead players organically, as well as the elegant combat systems that feel both accessible and rewarding to master. The game’s ability to blend historical authenticity with a touch of fantasy offers great lessons in building a compelling, believable world.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Why it matters: Hideo Kojima continues to innovate with his unique ‘strand’ gameplay philosophy, which prioritises cooperation over competition. This sequel promises a more layered narrative and expanded mechanics, pushing the boundaries of what interactive storytelling can achieve.

What to learn: Dive into how Death Stranding 2 uses its environments to evoke emotions and drive narrative themes. Let Kojima’s approach to non-traditional game mechanics, like the traversal systems, encourage you to think outside the box and experiment with unconventional ideas.

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Elden Ring Nightreign

Why it matters: FromSoftware builds on the success of Elden Ring by introducing procedural generation into its trademark world-building. This opens up new opportunities to study replayability and adaptability, as well as how to maintain a handcrafted feel in a system-driven game.

What to learn: Look at how cooperative gameplay changes the dynamics of FromSoftware’s traditionally solitary experiences. Examine the game’s balance between challenging mechanics and player fairness, which is critical to crafting satisfying difficulty curves.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Why it matters: Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings the franchise to 16th-century Japan—a setting fans have been requesting for years. The dual protagonists, Yasuke (a samurai) and Naoe (a shinobi), are a fascinating example of how gameplay mechanics and storytelling can be tailored to suit distinct characters.

What to learn: Explore how the game uses stealth mechanics, verticality, and the flow of parkour to create dynamic gameplay. The attention to detail in animations and sound design is also a great example of how small touches can elevate immersion and realism.

Learn through play

All five of these titles are sure to be masterclasses in the art and science of game design, and by playing and dissecting them, you’ll get to see industry best practices in action and gain inspiration for your own projects.

So, fire up your consoles and let these incredible worlds inspire your journey into the games industry. Who knows? The next game-changing release might come from you.