Over the years, gamers have found an unexpected treasure trove of hit releases in the time right after the holiday rush—those quiet months between New Year’s and the onset of spring. Traditionally, this period is when we’re all still digesting holiday meals and trying out games we received in December. But for the last decade, savvy publishers have transformed this lull into an opportunity, sneaking out overlooked gems that might otherwise be overshadowed by blockbuster titles.
One of the earliest examples of this trend was Dying Light, which, hard to believe, launched a whole decade ago in 2015. As a fresh IP, it broke records, perfectly riding the wave of fascination with both the undead and the PS4-era of sprawling open-world games.
Since then, each year seems to bring a well-funded indie title or underrated series into the limelight by sidestepping the crowded fall release schedule to land on a much quieter runway. This practice was reinforced over the years, exemplified by the stunning Resident Evil 2 Remake, which reminded the gaming world of this franchise’s dominance and ushered in trends we’re still witnessing today.
By 2025, this strategy is no longer a secret. Just in February, we’re anticipating four major releases from industry giants and prolific indie studios. Some games, like Assassin’s Creed and Avowed, landed in this slot due to delays and development hiccups. Meanwhile, others, such as Monster Hunter and Kingdom Come, have strategically chosen this timing once more, aiming to replicate past successes.
Regardless of the reasons, February 2025 promises to be an epic showdown for RPG fans. With so many enticing titles vying for our precious gaming hours, only one will prevail—so, let’s get acquainted with the contenders.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – February 4, 2025
Kicking off the month, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is poised to claim victory with its unique medieval appeal. This entry stands out as both the most realistic and ambitious among the lineup, adhering to the “dungeons not dragons” philosophy. The game combines authentic historical role-playing with sandbox adventure and a touch of unruly charm.
Working within the limitations of CryEngine—a tool typically more suited to first-person shooters than expansive RPGs—the team has crafted lively towns and a persistent world that the first title famously stretched to its limits.
Having spent countless hours on its predecessor, I can testify to its imaginative role-playing mechanics, which sound brilliant but varied in execution. The creative approach to skill progression—simplifying tasks as you master them—led to some quirky challenges, like lockpicking being laughably tough at launch or story battles causing headaches if you favored stealth or diplomacy. Yet, innovative features such as scrambling text until your character learned to read brought fresh ideas to the genre.
The sequel, once again featuring Henry of Skalitz, continues his underdog story in the tumultuous Holy Roman Empire. I’m eager to see how the game tackles character development without resorting to the familiar trope of wiping abilities from previous games.
Now set to be twice as big, with improved performance and refined gameplay, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 could easily surprise even the most seasoned gamers despite the intense competition this month.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows – February 14, 2025
Despite facing setbacks, I still have high hopes for the creators of my favorite Assassin’s Creed adventure, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. However, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the latest installment from this renowned series, has the most to prove given Ubisoft’s recent misses with pricey projects like Skull and Bones and Star Wars: Outlaws.
Setting the stage in feudal Japan has been a long-held ambition for the franchise. Yet, with games like Ghost of Tsushima already exploring similar themes, it’s fair to question how Ubisoft will keep their new world captivating without the exotic mythologies of ancient Greece or Norse traditions.
However, Assassin’s Creed Shadows promises improvements where they count. The dual protagonists, the shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke, offer a much richer and varied combat palette, utilizing multiple traditional weapons. Significantly, the game finally revamps the stealth mechanics—a much-needed change.
Adding depth, Yasuke’s imposing presence and Naoe’s stealthy demeanor create an engaging dynamic between the two leads. This plays into missions that seem less formulaic, weaving a tapestry of engaging gameplay and subtly evolving narratives. Can this be the game that revitalizes Assassin’s Creed for a new era?
Avowed – February 18, 2025
The irony of shuffled release timelines is that even escaping competitor launches doesn’t mean you’ll avoid them entirely. After adjusting its release to steer clear of internal Game Pass rivals like Stalker 2, Obsidian’s Avowed finds itself caught between heavyweight February drops. Yet, this might offer the chance it needs to make an impact.
Drawing a parallel with Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds, if that was their streamlined, space-age Fallout, Avowed is their take on Skyrim crossed with Dragon Age. Expect smaller, densely packed maps teeming with loot and complex quests, hallmarks of Obsidian’s storytelling prowess.
As a longtime fan of Obsidian’s oeuvre, including classics like Fallout: New Vegas and niche favorites like Alpha Protocol, Grounded, and South Park: The Stick of Truth, Avowed is my personal front-runner for February’s releases. However, it may fly under the radar.
Set in the vibrant Pillars of Eternity universe, Avowed’s strength lies in exquisite narrative and intricate quest designs. If it pairs these elements with engaging gameplay, it could exceed its humble production scope and stand out among its larger-budget peers.
Monster Hunter Wilds – February 28, 2025
The Monster Hunter series is at a high point, a stark contrast to when Monster Hunter World made its debut during a similar post-holiday period in February 2018. After years of striving to captivate Western audiences, the stars aligned, and Monster Hunter achieved tremendous success.
Now, with numerous contenders eager to capture a slice of the monster-hunting market—from the free-to-play Dauntless to EA’s bigger budget Wild Hearts—Monster Hunter Wilds returns to reclaim its throne.
While the fantastic Monster Hunter Rise for Switch achieved notable success, its smaller scale was suited to its console. Wilds, however, appears sprawling, featuring interactive arenas, challenging terrains, and varied biomes.
Expectations are high as monsters exhibit new behaviors, bursting through sand and scaling limbs with prey in sight. These treacherous, expressive creatures are the series’ real stars, ready to challenge seasoned hunters once again.
Mark my words, Monster Hunter is mainstream now, and Wilds looks poised to be another smash hit. We’ll see how many explorers are ready to set forth at month’s end.
So, which game will you pick up first? Or, maybe let them all stew in the backlog for a few years? With an abundance of choices this February, that’s before we even consider upcoming heavyweights like Elden Ring: Nightreign, Borderlands 4, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Pokemon Legends Z-A, and the juggernaut that is GTA 6…
