December 2025 video game releases: Metroid Prime 4, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Elden Ring DLC, and more

© A. Krivonosov

December 2025 is shaping up to give gamers a calm yet content-rich finish to the season. The month traditionally trails autumn in blockbuster volume, yet this time the schedule still packs notable releases. According to experts at PEPELAC.NEWS, the spotlight falls on four anticipated AAA titles and three standout indies, each with its own character and mood.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Nintendo Switch / Switch 2)

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is one of December’s headline moments—and not just for Nintendo devotees. Eighteen years after the previous entry, fans finally get the next chapter in Samus Aran’s story. The game launches on December 4, 2025, exclusively on Switch and Switch 2, once again crafted by Retro Studios, which inspires confidence that the series’ signature solitary exploration will remain intact. At the same time, the team folds in new angles: Samus’s psychic abilities and the futuristic Vi-0-La motorcycle shift the familiar cadence and broaden the playbook.

The buzz is real: Nintendo has already shown the game at events, and early previews emphasize that Beyond preserves the series’ spirit while drawing on the potential of the new generation. That balance is exactly what this sequel needs.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (Nintendo Switch 2)

On December 2, Switch 2 owners can dig into Assassin’s Creed: Shadows—a rare instance of a major series entry landing on Nintendo hardware. Feudal Japan has long felt like a natural fit for Assassin’s Creed, and here players experience the story through two protagonists: the shinobi Naoe and the samurai Yasuke. Each brings a distinct play style that keeps encounters and mission routes varied.

On PS5, Xbox, and PC the game arrived back in March, but the Switch 2 version not only supports cross-progression for seamless handheld continuation; it also launches with all updates included. Critics on other platforms have described Shadows as one of the series’ stronger installments in recent years, making its Switch 2 debut an inviting way to embrace the Japanese setting on the go.

Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows (DLC, PC/PS4/PS5/Xbox)

On December 4, The Forsaken Hollows—major DLC for Elden Ring: Nightreign, the cooperative spin-off of FromSoftware’s landmark game—expands the experience considerably. The add-on introduces two new classes, fresh bosses, and the Shifting Earth phenomenon capable of reshaping the world’s landscape. It arrives simultaneously on all main platforms, and owners of the expanded editions receive it at no additional cost.

The original Elden Ring is long since a cultural touchstone, so interest in Forsaken Hollows is immense; for soulslike devotees, it’s a chance to return to a grim universe and tackle new co-op trials. Expect this DLC to spark plenty of spirited debate among the hardcore.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion (PC/PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch/Switch 2)

December 1 brings Marvel Cosmic Invasion—a cooperative retro brawler in the Marvel universe, styled after 1990s arcades. Developed by Tribute Games and Dotemu, it lets players choose from 15 iconic heroes, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Storm, and Wolverine.

Up to four players can team up in local co-op, battling villains across recognizable locales—from New York to the Negative Zone. Each hero features bespoke combos and unique tandem attacks when swapping characters. Pixel art or not, it’s already one of the month’s talking points thanks to its warm nostalgia and generous roster.

Skate Story (PC/PS5/Switch 2)

On December 8, Skate Story offers an unusual blend of skateboarding and demonic mythology. Creator Sam Eng and publisher Devolver Digital present the tale of a demon made of glass who must skate through hell to earn freedom, carrying out the Devil’s errand along the way.

The game stands out with a surreal aesthetic, metaphysical spaces, and mechanics where the risk of shattering is part of the learning curve. Players who tried the demo single out its entrancing style and fresh take on the genre. It’s little wonder Skate Story is already being called one of the season’s most-discussed indies.

Routine (PC/Xbox Series X|S)

After nearly 13 years in development, the sci-fi horror Routine launches on December 4—a tense story set on an abandoned lunar station shaped by 1980s retrofuturism. Players pick through dim corridors to uncover why the base went silent while evading lethal robots.

The lead character carries no firearms—only a handful of tools—which heightens the sense of vulnerability. The many delays have only stoked curiosity, and Routine’s release lands like an event for horror fans who remember its first trailers from a decade ago.

Unbeatable (PC/PS5/Xbox Series X|S)

On December 9, Unbeatable arrives—a rhythm game with the slick attitude of 1990s anime. Its release was pushed just a day from the original date due to a critical bug, but the game is now set.

At its core is a two-button rhythm loop wrapped in a hand-drawn world and a story about a rock band defying a ban on music. A vivid visual identity, an energetic soundtrack, and a charismatic cast have already drawn strong interest—its demo earned plenty of positive feedback.

December 2025 may not shatter records for headline premieres, yet it offers range: sequels to beloved series, moody horror, and adventurous indie experiments. There’s a clear end-of-year charge here—the impulse to dive into new worlds just before the calendar turns. For players, it’s a packed finale to 2025 that can easily become a bright full stop to the gaming season.

Age rating: 18+.