The cornucopia that has been pouring out interesting releases this year seems to have dried up. Finding something worthwhile among the meagre list of new releases in December proved to be a difficult task, so this selection is quite short. A long-awaited horror game, a comic book fighting game, a new instalment of Metroid Prime, a couple of releases postponed from autumn, and a few other things — in the last issue of ‘The Most Interesting Releases’ of this year.
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion
Release date — 1 December 2025
Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Why it's interesting — a beat ’em up based on the popular comic book universe.
The creative team of Tribute Games and publisher Dotemu, known for the excellent arcade title TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, is returning with a new project. It shares many similarities with Shredder’s Revenge, but this time the action takes place in the Marvel universe. The story follows the villain Annihilus, lord of the Negative Zone, who launches a galactic invasion threatening to wipe out all life. Opposing him are 15 superheroes, including Black Panther, Wolverine, Captain America, Venom and others.
The gameplay sticks to the classics — move forward and take down every enemy in your path. One notable new feature is the Cosmic Swap mechanic. Each level assigns two characters you can instantly switch between during combat, allowing for fluid combos and powerful team attacks. Fans of online casinos can also take advantage of a Wanted Win promo code to claim bonuses while enjoying their favourite games on the platform.
Cosmic Invasion will offer co-op for up to four players (both locally and online), along with full cross-play support. Well-known voice actors are involved — Captain America is voiced by Brian Bloom, and Spider-Man by Josh Keaton.
A demo version is already available on Steam.
SLEEP AWAKE
Release date — 2 December 2025
Platforms — PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Why it's interesting — a psychedelic horror game from the creator of Spec Ops: The Line.
SLEEP AWAKE is being developed by EYES OUT, a studio founded by Cory Davis (creative director of Spec Ops: The Line) and Robin Finck (guitarist for Nine Inch Nails). The story takes place in the last city on Earth, where residents are doomed to permanent wakefulness due to a phenomenon known as HASH — anyone who falls asleep disappears without a trace. Desperate citizens willingly embrace eternal insomnia, and many slip into fanaticism, forming cults devoted to death and sleep.
The protagonist, Katya, is a young woman who lost her family in a catastrophe. Her goal is to survive among the deranged cultists, uncover the truth behind the city's curse, and — most importantly — avoid falling asleep, despite increasing exhaustion and hallucinations. The line between reality and nightmare gradually dissolves: the environment shifts from surreal cityscapes to an otherworldly dimension shaped by Katya’s fears.
The gameplay focuses on exploration and puzzle-solving, with no combat — Katya relies on hiding and escaping rather than confrontation. The tense atmosphere is reinforced by FMV sequences that depict dreams and memories, as well as a soundtrack designed to heighten anxiety and disorientation.
A demo version is available on Steam.
Routine
Release date — 4 December 2025
Platforms — PC, Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Why it's interesting: a sci-fi horror experience in the vein of Dead Space and System Shock, first announced in 2012.
The story takes place in a world inspired by classic 1980s science fiction. The main character arrives at a lunar station that has been suddenly abandoned after mysterious events. His goal is to survive and uncover what happened there.
The Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T.) helps you explore the station and deal with threats — based on the trailers, these threats appear to be hostile robots and machinery. The C.A.T. acts as a weapon, an interaction tool, and a device for gathering information. The gameplay focuses on exploration, survival, and stealth, as direct combat can be dangerous.
ROUTINE was first announced in 2012. Since then, its release has been postponed multiple times, and in 2017 the developers restarted the project entirely. After that, the game went silent for years.
Cloudheim
Release date — 4 December 2025
Platforms — PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Why it's interesting: a cooperative survival game with a fully destructible world.
Cloudheim takes place in a fantasy realm shattered after Ragnarok. The player, either solo or in a squad of up to four, explores procedurally generated dungeons and floating islands to awaken the ancient sleeping gods and purge the land of a spreading corruption that threatens all life.
The key feature of Cloudheim is its completely destructible environment. You can bring down buildings on enemies, pull them into tornadoes, or hurl exploding barrels. Environmental interactions boost damage, and new abilities and weapons become available as you progress.
The base system is also unusual. Your home is Odin’s Armour, a massive flying turtle that carries the remnants of the fallen god’s power. On its back, you can build a full village, complete with workshops, storage, and even your own shop.
Players are joined by eccentric companions — from cute pancakes that help around the house to Gnash, a ravenous creature with a bottomless appetite. The world itself is diverse, stretching from frozen northern tombs to scorching southern deserts, with each region offering unique puzzles, enemies, and artefacts.
A demo version is available on Steam.
Octopath Traveler 0
Release date — 4 December 2025
Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Why it's interesting: a prequel to the original Octopath Traveler, presented as an expanded version of the mobile title Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent.
Unlike the original duology, Octopath Traveler 0 lets the player create a single custom protagonist, choosing their appearance, voice, animations, and even their favourite food. This hero sets out on a large-scale journey across the kingdom of Orsterra. The story focuses on a clash with three influential adversaries: Germain, the master of wealth; Titos, the master of strength; and Augustus, the master of fame. Along the way, the protagonist can recruit allies, with more than 30 potential companions available.
For the first time in the series, Octopath Traveler 0 includes a city-building system. The main character must not only battle enemies but also rebuild their hometown, adding a strategic layer to the familiar formula. Other elements remain true to the franchise: HD-2D visuals, the Break & Boost and Path Actions systems, and tactical combat with up to eight characters in the party.
The main campaign is expected to take around 100 hours to complete, roughly a third longer than the mobile version.
A demo is available on PC and consoles.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Release date — 4 December 2025
Platforms — Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Why it's interesting: the next chapter in the legendary Metroid series.
Beyond takes place on the mysterious planet Vuyros, where Samus Aran lands after an attack by the hostile bounty hunter Cylux on a Galactic Federation research facility. She must survive, uncover the secrets of the ancient Lamorn civilisation, and find her way home.
For the first time in the series, Samus gains psychokinetic abilities that let her manipulate the environment — moving platforms, activating mechanisms, and solving complex puzzles. These powers also play a role in combat. Other new features include the futuristic Vi-O-La motorcycle, which Samus uses to traverse Vuyros’ vast wastelands, unlocking access to remote ruins, temples, and secret areas.
Samus is not alone on Vuyros. Along the way, she can pick up distress signals from Federation allies. Rescuing them allows her friends to assist with certain missions and grants access to new abilities.
Skate Story
Release date — 8 December 2025
Platforms — PC, Mac, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2
Why it's interesting: an action game about a demon skateboarder from publisher Devolver Digital.
In this surreal action simulator, you play as a demon made of glass and pain who is imprisoned in Hell. To gain freedom, he must complete the Devil’s insane challenge — skateboard to the moon and devour it.
Skate Story combines realistic skateboarding physics with abstract visuals. The protagonist explores the nine circles of Hell, which resemble distorted reflections of earthly cities. Controls rely on weight and balance: ollies, grinds, kickflips, and over 70 other tricks require skill and practice, not just button pressing.
Along the way, the glass demon fights evil monsters and aids bizarre characters, gradually evolving from a fragile novice into a legendary skater. The progression system includes character levelling and skateboard customisation: new decks, trucks, and wheels alter both the appearance and performance of the board. A psychedelic soundtrack by New York band Blood Cultures and sound designer John Fio enhances the unique atmosphere.
A demo version of Skate Story is available on Steam.
UNBEATABLE
Release date — 9 December 2025
Platforms — PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Why it's interesting: a rhythm adventure in anime style.
UNBEATABLE is set in a dystopian world where music is banned. Players take on the role of Beat, a talented performer leading an underground group that organises secret concerts while avoiding the authorities. Despite using only two buttons — ‘Up’ and ‘Down’ — mastering the gameplay requires skill.
The story campaign lasts 6–8 hours and blends a visual novel with rhythm battles. Player choices influence the band’s development, relationships with characters, and the story’s ending.
Beyond the campaign, there is a large-scale arcade mode, essentially a separate game, featuring dozens of tracks, online leaderboards, difficulty modifiers, profile customisation, and a progression system. All compositions were created specifically for the project.
A demo of UNBEATABLE is available on Steam and PS5.
Ashes of Creation
Release date — 12 December 2025
Platforms — PC
Why it's interesting: a large-scale MMORPG where the world evolves based on players’ actions.
In Ashes of Creation, the universe is shaped by the players. Every action, individual or collective, affects the geography, economy, and politics of the world. Cities can be built or destroyed, regions transformed, and history changes in real time depending on community decisions. This ambitious vision was first outlined during the Kickstarter campaign in 2017. Judging by mixed reviews of the alpha version released almost four years ago, the game still has a long way to go before fully realising this concept.
When creating a character, players choose a basic archetype and can later add a secondary specialisation to create a hybrid class — from summoner-healer to tank-engineer. Progression and development are closely tied to participation in the world: looting, gathering resources, crafting, and trading all contribute to a living economy.
Another key feature is the player-controlled settlement system. Villages grow from small settlements into metropolises, unlocking new quests, political roles (including mayoral elections), technologies, and dungeons. Large-scale PvP and sieges (with hundreds of participants) allow players to capture territories, destroy cities, and reshape the map.
Terminator 2D: No Fate
Release date — 12 December 2025
Platforms — PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Why it's interesting: an old-school action platformer inspired by the iconic Terminator films.
In No Fate, players control Sarah Connor, John Connor, and the T-800 across 15 levels, featuring classic scenes from Terminator 2: Judgment Day and original locations designed for the platformer. Gameplay is classic arcade-style, reminiscent of Contra, but includes unique twists such as a beatmap segment in a biker club and chase sequences in two locations.
Each character has distinct abilities: Sarah uses melee attacks, while John throws homemade bombs. Multiple modes diversify gameplay — players can focus on the story, engage in boss battles, or try the ‘endless’ mode. Several difficulty levels are available, including ‘Doomsday,’ which unlocks after completing the campaign. Difficulty affects enemy numbers and placement, behaviour, trap timing, and the size of the boss battle crosshair.
Graphics are retro-styled, and the soundtrack combines reworked film compositions with original music.
