Top 8 Best Games Releasing In December (2025)

We’ve finally reached the final month of 2025, and we’ve got our final list of the best games releasing this month. It’s a bit of a lighter month (my backlog appreciates this) with our list returning to only eight games for December. Last month was quieter than October’s grand slam of releases, but it did have its diamonds in the rough (alongside a few not-so-great instalments). There was the console release for Satisfactory that brought even more automation to that Sci-Fi landscape. We got the spooky survival horror, A.I.L.A, where we dived into a few different horror genres, all while trying to survive a killer A.I. Then, of course, there was Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 that may have given us the worst campaign in their history. Luckily, the Zombies mode is still high-octane fun, or it would possibly go down as the worst Call of Duty. 

Now that we’re in December, it’s time for our final list of eight games we think you should have on your radar. December brings in a few sequels, with one from a classic franchise and one that’s surprisingly still not dead. A few spooky titles grace us on this festive month, including one published by Blumhouse. We even have one game that advertises that it’s the same price as just one coffee. Enough of my rambling, let us get down to business and show you what we believe are the best games for December (2025).

Due to the influx of many big game releases over the last few months, you might need to catch up on what came out. If so, then check out last month’s list, Top 10 Best Games Releasing in November (2025). Have you got any other games you’ve been eyeing during December that are missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below!

1. MARVEL Cosmic Invasion

The future of the Marvel Universe will be fought for across the stars!

First on our list is a classic arcade game set in the Marvel Universe. In MARVEL Cosmic Invasion, Tribute Games and Dotemu are teaming up again, in collaboration with Marvel Games, to craft an original, fresh beat ’em up. After an unprecedented attack is launched across the galaxy, all life hangs in the balance. Annihilus is coming and heroes from all across the Marvel Universe must prepare for battle. You’ll visit iconic Marvel locations such as New York City, The Negative Zone and more. Featuring dynamic combat combos and dazzling pixel art, this planet-hopping adventure stands as a love letter to the Marvel Universe.

Choose between 15 Marvel heroes like Nova, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Phyla-Vell, Captain America and more. Whether you’re an old-school expert or a first-time fan, you’ll find familiar faces and discover new favourites in a captivating roster of characters from across the Marvel Universe. With the Cosmic Swap tag-team system, choose two heroes for each level and switch between them instantly. Create unique combos and powerful special attacks. Each character’s abilities encourage creative team-ups and a more tactical approach to the action. Whether you’re teaming up with friends or family, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion has you covered with local/online play and a drop-in/drop-out adaptive system.

2. SLEEP AWAKE

Struggle between oblivion and the waking world

Next, we have something spooky for the holiday season from Blumhouse Games. SLEEP AWAKE is an immersive first-person psychedelic horror narrative experience that aims to explore the realm between sleep and death. In the last known city on Earth, people are disappearing in their sleep; those who remain exist in a crisis of reckless experiments to keep awake and avoid The HUSH. Play as Katja, as you navigate through the city attempting to avoid depraved death cults, otherworldly forces, and the ever-present horrors of The HUSH to save yourself and those who rely upon you. 

Experience a psychedelic trip of the senses in a terrifying reality caught between the crumbling physical world and a symbolic otherworldly realm. Explore and solve puzzles while surviving harrowing enemy encounters through challenging stealth, survival, and chase sequences. Solve the puzzles of this mysterious world while avoiding the grasp of the death cults in an attempt to shatter the horrors of the past. The game combines FMV sequences with psychedelic visuals, blurring boundaries between reality and imagination. SLEEP AWAKE teams up Cory Davis (Spec Ops: The Line) and Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails) to create a hypnotic evil that I believe most fans of horror will enjoy. 

3. LET IT DIE: INFERNO

Descend into the abyss and conquer the Reaper’s challenge

Our next pick is for a game that I never saw having another instalment, LET IT DIE: INFERNO. After finally recovering from the unprecedented destruction of Earth Rage, humanity was once again struck by a terrifying new menace. A giant chasm, large enough to swallow an entire city, suddenly opened up in the ground one day. It was dubbed the Hell Gate after people who ventured down there perished. Why’d they go down? For the “Eye of the Reaper”, of course. It’s a treasure that’s said to grant anyone world-ruling power. To find it, however, one would have to jump into the abyss and overcome unimaginable difficulties. This is where you come in.

You play as an immortal raider in a roguelike survival action game where you scavenge SPLithium down in the depths of the Hell Gate. Fight through nightmarish hybrid monsters, unsettling hostile environments, and humans consumed by greed. Raiders can equip weapons separately in their right and left hands, using gear they either brought with them or found along the way. Monstrous creatures known as Yuckies lurk in the depths, while mighty fighters sent by the power-hungry Yotsuyama Group prowl every corner. Sometimes, even fellow Raiders will attack you. For those who like PvP, Death Jamboree returns, presenting the ultimate battleground to sharpen your skills and clash with other fierce Raiders.

4. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Samus is back in a brand new adventure

After many years of waiting, Samus’ fourth entry in the Metroid Prime series is finally here. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is an action-adventure game where you once again play as the legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran. In this new adventure, Samus travels to a mysterious jungle planet of Viewros. There, she must search for statues and other ancient ruins in search of clues on how to move forward. Whilst exploring the world, you’ll encounter dangerous creatures that inhabit the planet.

Alongside them will be the other threats that are hunting you down, like the sinister Sylux, who has a bone to pick with both you and the Galactic Federation. One of the biggest additions in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the driveable motorcycle that you can use to explore the planet and new psychic powers. These new abilities will allow Samus to manipulate objects in both combat and solving puzzles, like opening locks, tracing outlines, or guiding a beam from her weapon as she fires. From what’s been shown off, it seems like Nintendo are looking to shake up Metroid similar to what they did with Legend of Zelda, so hopefully it’s as successful. 

5. Routine

Explore and investigate your surroundings as you survive against unknown threats

Returning to horror on our list is the first-person Sci-Fi Horror title, Routine. That’s right, Routine is finally in our sights, after over 13 years since it was originally announced back in 2012. Set on an abandoned Lunar base designed around an 80s vision of the future, you find that something has gone terribly wrong. Investigate the halls of the Lunar base and uncover crucial information to progress and piece together the events that unfolded before your arrival. 

Routine has been designed to fully immerse players in its world, creating a strong atmosphere and firmly establishing its specific horror tone. There is minimal UI, deadzone aiming, and it’s possible to view your entire body by looking down. To aid your investigation, you have the Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T.). This handy device assists in accessing terminals, diagnosing system problems, and more. The game is primarily focused on exploration, immersion, and problem-solving. However, you don’t have the conventional means of defending yourself from threats, meaning running and hiding is your best bet for survival. Luckily, the C.A.T. can offer a last resort in defending yourself from threats, as long as you’ve got it fully charged.

6. Skate Story

Ollie, kickflip, and grind your way through the ash and smoke of The Emptylands

For anyone looking for something weird and possibly chill, then Skate Story could be for you. In Skate Story, you play as a demon who resides in the Underworld, which is made out of glass and pain. One day, the Devil offers you a simple deal: take this skateboard and ride all the way to the Moon and swallow it, then you shall be free. Skate through nine layers of The Underworld filled with streets and surreal landscapes full of waxed ledges, unholy gaps, and tortured demons. Learn to master your weight and motion to conquer the weeping concrete. Savour the ritualistic beauty as you set your feet to pop a perfect kickflip.

Skate fast to destroy vicious demons, help a forgetful frog, and save other tortured souls on your journey from fragile beginner to hardened skater. Push through hell and discover The Devil’s greatest weakness: humility, perseverance, and a disgustingly sweet backside tailslide. Discover and create your own challenges as you explore the world and master your board. Sell your soul for decks, wheels, and trucks to keep your skating fresh. Over 70+ skate tricks to progress and improve. Complete skate trials to level up, learn new tricks, and get new gear. Listen to the psychedelic soundtrack by enigmatic New York artist Blood Cultures, and additional tracks by John Fio.

7. A Game About Digging A Hole

There’s no rush, no rules, just you and the adventure underground.

Looking for a bit of repetition in your life? Then look no further than A Game About Digging A Hole. That’s right, the smash hit digging game is coming to consoles this December. This is a classic minimalist game about you guessed it, digging a hole. Why are you doing this? For treasure, of course. You start digging a hole in the garden of your newly purchased house and begin to collect resources. With said resources, you can sell them for upgrades to your equipment to get even deeper into your solo mining mission. Of course, is this game truly just about digging a hole, or is there a mysterious secret that lies beneath? With every spadeful you dig, you get closer to the truth. 

8. Code Violet

Feel the panic as you outmaneuver relentless dinosaurs

Finally, our last pick of 2025 is the third-person action horror, Code Violet. Set in the 25th Century, after a cataclysm rendered Earth uninhabitable, humanity’s survivors were forced to inhabit Trappist 1-E. Facing extinction due to sterility, the Aion colony harnesses cutting-edge time-travel technology to abduct women from the past to be surrogates in a dark yet desperate bid to save mankind. This is where you come in. You play as Violet Sinclair, the most recent abductee who awakens in the Aion Bioengineering Complex that is now swarming with ferocious prehistoric dinosaurs and hostile forces. Uncover Aion’s dark secrets, fight to survive and escape during a chaotic evacuation protocol. 

Dive into thrilling third-person battles against savage dinosaurs, blending melee and ranged tactics for adrenaline-pumping encounters. Confront intelligently designed beasts and classic dinosaurs that stalk unpredictably, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge AI for unforgettable chases. Code Violet requires a fast-paced strategy when managing your items. This will mean you’ll need to master the limited inventory slots to prioritise weapons, healing items, and puzzle-solving tools. Solve intricate environmental and mechanical puzzles to unlock paths and secrets, adding depth and rewarding critical thinking for a satisfying challenge. Lose yourself in haunting jungles and neon-lit facilities, where dynamic lighting, shadows, and reflections heighten the terrifying atmosphere.

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