A new year is very nearly upon us, and as always, a new year brings with it new games.
January isn’t traditionally seen as a month when big releases queue up for our attention, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find new games to check out after the Christmas period has officially ended.
Indeed, if you’re a fan of old-school and retro gaming, you’ll find plenty to love this January, and if you’ve been waiting for PC releases of big-name console exclusives, you’re in luck too.
Here are the best games to check out in January 2025!
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Nintendo Switch – January 16th)
Donkey Kong makes his triumphant, ahem, return in this remastered version of the 2010 Wii original, which was developed by US outfit Retro Studios.
The Switch version of the game, however, will be masterminded by none other than Front Mission remake studio Forever Entertainment. It should still retain the platforming action you know and love from the original, though.
This version will include all of the extra stuff that Nintendo bundled in for the 2013 3DS version of the game, as well as a visual overhaul that should make Donkey Kong Country Returns look a little snappier.
Tales of Graces f Remastered (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch – January 17th)
We told you it was going to be a good month for remastered versions of old-school classics, and Tales of Graces f Remastered is no exception to that rule.
This re-release serves as an updated version of the PS3 game Tales of Graces f, itself a remaster of the Japan-only Wii game Tales of Graces from 2009.
If this is all getting a little confusing, just know that Tales of Graces f Remastered promises another classic JRPG adventure, so if you’re already a fan of Bandai Namco’s Tales games, you should be excited for this one.
Dynasty Warriors Origins (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S – January 17th)
If JRPG fun isn’t your bag, then perhaps you’d prefer to enrol in the Dynasty Warriors Origins academy, which promises plenty of classes on slaughtering hundreds upon hundreds of enemies with overpowered weapons and abilities.
The game will, like its forebears, be based on the classical Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, although as the name suggests, it’s focusing on the first part of the novel rather than the whole thing.
While Origins will likely offer plenty of mindless hack-and-slash thrills, it’ll also feature strategic elements, so you won’t be able to take your mind off the battlefield for too long.
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch – January 22nd)
Ender Magnolia has been in Early Access on PC for some time, but it’s finally making its way to consoles with its 1.0 release later in January.
A sequel to 2021’s Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, Bloom in the Mist revolves around an entirely new protagonist by the name of Lilac, who must journey forth to rid her kingdom of corrupted homunculi.
You can expect more Metroidvania shenanigans along the lines of the first game, complete with an all-new map to explore and new bosses to put down. Exciting!
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth (PC – January 23rd)
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth originally graced PS5 consoles back in February last year, but now, you’re getting the chance to check it out on PC.
That means all the usual PC-based enhancements like graphics options, DLSS support, and frame rates of up to 120fps, so if you’re a PC fanatic, this sounds like the release you’ve been waiting for.
Of course, it also means the chance to experience the second part of the ambitious but divisive Final Fantasy 7 remake project, and since there’s still no word on when the third instalment is coming, now’s your chance to dive back in.
Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch – January 23rd)
Here comes another retro re-release to tide you over until the big releases start kicking in this February. You’ll never guess who’s handling this port of a PlayStation-era game!
That’s right – another Star Wars game comes to modern platforms courtesy of none other than Aspyr, the studio behind the recent Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver and Tomb Raider re-releases.
You can expect a faithful recreation of the original game’s beat-’em-up action, complete with modern enhancements like improved controls, better visuals, and unlocked content right from the jump.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PC – January 30th)
The second of two PS5 console exclusives to make their way to PC in January, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is just as polished and sweeping as you’d expect from a sequel to the 2018 superhero game.
This time around, you’ll be playing as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they team up to combat a new threat, dealing with their own personal struggles in the interim.
Just like Rebirth, the PC port of Spider-Man 2 will bring lots of PC-exclusive features to enjoy, so whether you’re an experienced webslinger or a novice, you should check this one out (assuming your PC is beefy enough, of course).
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (PlayStation, Switch – January 30th)
21 years after the release of the original Phantom Brave in Japan comes this sequel, which takes place some years after the first game.
This time around, you’re playing as Marona, who must enlist the help of a young girl called Apricot in order to find Ash, who’s missing (as is Apricot’s father).
Expect more strategic RPG fun, as well as a chance to revisit some of the characters and concepts you loved so much in the first Phantom Brave.
Citizen Sleeper 2 (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch – January 31st)
The original Citizen Sleeper was a surprisingly deep and affecting RPG that carried weighty themes like belonging, acceptance, and mortality.
In Citizen Sleeper 2, you’ll be going mobile, as you’re given command of a ship to help you search for ways to keep your ailing android body alive.
In many ways, Citizen Sleeper 2 sounds pretty similar to the first game, but if it’s just an expanded version with new mechanics and storylines, then you can count us in.
