The most anticipated games of May 2025

May 2025 in the gaming world looks like a clash between old titans and new contenders. After warming up at the start of the year and before the big summer announcements begin, the industry decided to put heavy artillery on the table. This includes the return of legends like Doom: The Dark Ages and Elden Ring: Nightreign, and debuts that have been waiting for years, such as Lost Soul Aside. And even attempts to resurrect the well-forgotten past - hello, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 and Onimusha.

The publishers chose May for a reason: while players' attention is not yet smeared across all Summer Game Fest events, it's time to attract attention. This article contains the most anticipated games of the month, which are worth putting aside everything else and freeing up a couple of evenings. Or maybe even a couple of weeks.

Schedule of games releases in May (quick jump)

Return of the Titans: reviving your favourite franchises

May 2025 is a month of big comebacks. Games that have long been more than just series are entering the arena: they are cultural markers for their fan communities and landmark events for the entire industry. These are not just new chapters in familiar stories - these are the releases that have a chance to redefine the rules of the game again.

Doom: The Dark Ages - the chaos of the Middle Ages

Doom: The Dark Ages takes the Doom Slayer back to the Middle Ages, where plasma rifles have replaced saw shields, and between levels you can fly a cyberdragon and control a giant mech. id Software promises the same aggressive and hyper-fast gameplay, but now with a dark fantasy backdrop. The game will be released on 15 May simultaneously on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S - and the launch on all platforms shows that Microsoft is seriously changing its approach to exclusives: the bet is no longer on hardware, but on maximum audience reach. The prequel opens up a new space for experimentation: expanded combat capabilities, new battle scales, and a storyline that delves into the origins of the Slayer's anger. Doom: The Dark Ages looks like a chance for the series not to get stuck in self-worship, but to reach a new level without losing what it is loved for: a frantic rhythm, meat on the screen, and the feeling that you are an uncontrollable force of destruction.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is a shadow over Limeweld

Elden Ring: Nightreign is FromSoftware's new big shot coming out on 30 May (or 29, according to some sources). The game is presented as a separate project - there is no need to buy the original Elden Ring. Nightreign takes players to the parallel world of Limveld, inspired by the familiar Limgrave, but with new rules: there is a three-day cycle where the map literally shrinks every night, pushing players closer and intensifying battles. This adds to the game's survival dynamics and forces you to plan your steps in advance, rather than just wandering around in a large open world.

Nightreign also changes the classic pumping system: attributes develop together, not separately. Plus, there's a big emphasis on co-op: up to three players in a group to survive together in Limeworld. Availability on both generations of consoles (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) and a $40 price tag open the door to a wider audience. All of this looks like a strategic experiment by FromSoftware: not just "another big game", but a test of a new format - between traditional add-ons and big sequels.

Long-awaited debuts and returns

In addition to the return of the giants, May 2025 will also bring newcomers that have been long awaited and the revival of favourite series. All this adds depth and diversity to the hottest gaming month of spring.

Lost Soul Aside - the ten-year wait is over

Lost Soul Aside is one of the most intriguing stories of May. Almost a decade ago, a lone developer Yang Bing posted a trailer for his fan project online and it took off into viral space. The idea turned into a real game, received the support of publishers, and will be released on 30 May on PS5 and PC. It's a dynamic action game with a Devil May Cry-esque style and Final Fantasy XV-level spectacle: lightning-fast combat, a heroic story of redemption, and a world that mixes science fiction with 4K epic.

The path of Lost Soul Aside is an example of how an independent vision can grow into a major release with publisher UltiZero Games and a bet on the PlayStation platform. Whether the game will become a breakthrough will be shown by the release itself - the industry is watching closely. The success or failure of the project can seriously affect how publishers will continue to invest in indie ideas that initially catch fire due to beautiful trailers and gaming hype.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 - a reboot of nostalgic arcades

For fighting game fans, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a real gift for May. The collection comes out on 15 May and brings together eight classic arcade games, including such legends as Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001, Power Stone 1 and 2, Project Justice, and Plasma Sword. All of this is toasted with modern bonuses: online play, support for next-generation consoles (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC), and minor improvements for convenience.

But Capcom is not just about nostalgia. The selection mixes cult 2D hits with lesser-promoted 3D fights, testing interest in forgotten series. If the collection works out - and there is already a lot of interest in Power Stone and Project Justice - it could be a signal to the company that it's time to bring back old franchises in a big way, and not just roll out new Street Fighter patches.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a long-awaited escape from the island

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time from Level-5 is coming out on 21 May, and for fans of life simulators and role-playing games, it will be a small holiday. Players are sent to a mysterious island where they have to build a city, dig into the past, and master 14 "professions" - from Paladin to Miner to Carpenter. The plot is intertwined with survival, crafting and dungeon exploration, and the game is available not only on Switch but also on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, which gives it a chance to find a new audience among fans of cozy games.

Entering the multi-platform is an important move for Level-5, which previously kept its hits mainly on Nintendo. This is part of a general trend: Japanese studios are increasingly expanding their horizons instead of locking themselves into exclusive partnerships. And if everything goes according to plan, Fantasy Life i may become a new favourite for those looking for unhurried RPGs with soul and "create the world around you" mechanics.

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny - the revival of the Capcom classic continues

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny returns on 23 May, following the wave of remasters from Capcom. The PS2-era classic is now available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC, following the first part's update in 2019. Players will find improved graphics for modern displays, auto-save (yay, 2025!), and a chance to play through the story of a samurai in the Sengoku era, where demons and swords decide fates.

The fact that Capcom didn't go for a full remake (like Resident Evil) but limited itself to a remaster looks like a soil test: does Onimusha still have the potential for a big comeback? If the players vote with their wallets, Capcom will have an argument to invest in something bigger, such as the already semi-confirmed Onimusha project: Way of the Sword.

F1 25 - added lidar and virtual reality helmet

F1 25, developed by Codemasters and EA Sports, is released on 30 May on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The new instalment returns the Braking Point 3 story mode, the redesigned My Team 2.0 career mode, and seriously improved track realism thanks to LIDAR scanning. The game no longer supports previous generation consoles and focuses on the quality of the picture and physics.

The teams feature updates based on the real-life Formula One season of 2025, including Lewis Hamilton's high-profile move to Ferrari. F1® 25 promises not just a copy of the seasonal changes, but a tangible upgrade in the details: tracks, car behaviour and the player's ability to build his legend to a new level.

Revenge of the Savage Planet: co-op with Game Pass access

Revenge of the Savage Planet comes out on 8 May and continues the story of the bizarre space adventure Journey to the Savage Planet. This time, the developers from Raccoon Logic Studios (ex-Typhoon Studios) switched the camera to the third person and threw players into exploring bright alien worlds where you can scan creatures, collect resources, craft equipment and have fun with new toys like Goo Cannons and whips. The game immediately supports co-op, both online with crossplay and locally on a single screen.

Additionally, Revenge of the Savage Planet will be available on Game Pass on release day - automatically expanding the audience. The satirical tone, colourful visuals, and fun with friends make the game one of the most unconventional offers of May for those who are tired of serious plots and gloomy worlds.

Unique experience and notable mentions

May 2025 is not only about high-profile sequels and remasters. The month's schedule has a place for independent projects and fresh ideas in familiar genres - for those who are looking for a new taste and a different pace of play.

The Midnight Walk - a spooky claymation show

The most visually unusual release of May is The Midnight Walk, which comes out on 8 May. The game is developed by Moon Hood studio, and the entire world is literally sculpted from clay, with animation made by hand using stop-motion techniques. The idea is simple: the player travels with a mysterious lantern, using its light to survive in a strange and at the same time eerie world. The main focus is on exploration, puzzles and avoiding monsters.

The game is available on PS5, PC, and especially interestingly on PS VR2 and PCVR, where hand-drawn clay animation can create a real immersive experience. In VR, this world looks not just beautiful - it becomes almost physically tangible. The Midnight Walk has every chance to become a real find for those who are looking for virtual adventures not for the sake of another shooter, but for the sake of atmosphere and unique visual experience.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master - mastering the car culture

For fans of racing and Japanese JDM car culture: Japanese Drift Master will be an important stop in May. The game from the Polish studio Gaming Factory comes out on 21 May and promises a simcade experience: realistic physics, but without the pain in the fingers after each race. The game is set in the fictional Guntama Prefecture, inspired by real Japanese locations, with an open world of more than 250 km of roads, weather changes, and a day/night cycle. The assortment includes tuned cars from Mazda, Nissan, and Subaru, customisable settings, and hundreds of turns to perfect your drifting skills.

The game features a story mode with manga cutscenes, where a Polish racer named Tooma tries to break into the underground Japanese drifting scene. Initially, the game is scheduled for release on PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store), with console versions promised later. After being postponed from March to May, JDM adds to the monthly schedule the very niche for those who need the smell of rubber, night tracks, and the right angle of attack in every turn.

Bottom line.

May 2025 is a month of strength and diversity. Doom: The Dark Ages and Elden Ring: Nightreign grab the headlines and absorb the attention of players. But the real weight of the month lies in what comes next: the ten-year journey of Lost Soul Aside, the carefully collected nostalgia of Capcom Fighting Collection 2, the return of Fantasy Life i, and the re-release of Onimusha 2 for a new generation.

Alongside is the artistic experiment The Midnight Walk, JDM's drift obsession: Japanese Drift Master, the simulation precision of F1 25 and the new movements of the indie scene with Revenge of the Savage Planet. May shows a cross-section of the industry: rethinking exclusives, testing new content formats and reviving classic franchises. It's a month where big names meet new trends - and lay the groundwork for what's to come.

For those who want to know more

• The most anticipated games of April 2025
• The story of John Carmack: the father of all shooters
• Easter eggs in games in 2025
• Exploring South of Midnight: while the player knits the world with threads of magic, the game puts a strain on his nerves with its combat system
• Let's explore the game Commandos: Origins - six commandos, one plan, and many ways to fail the mission
• Exploring the game The First Berserker: Khazan
• Assassin's Creed Shadows: finally something new or just samurai instead of Vikings?