Ark 2 is a primal world where dinosaurs and humans vie for dominance. Join forces with legendary heroes to battle dark, powerful forces. — Studio Wildcard
Video gaming, once considered a niche hobby reserved for geeks, has long since taken the world by storm.
Billboards depicting the latest blockbuster titles now grace city skylines all over the world, and online video game streamers rake in millions of dollars from their armies of viewers. Fans eagerly anticipate the next release of their favourite game franchises and follow their favourite publishers’ social media accounts for news of upcoming games.
What keeps so many people engaged in this wonderfully diverse hobby? This is a question with many different answers, depending on who is asked. For some, it is the challenge of overcoming difficult games. For others, it is the sense of community and the friendships formed while playing.
No matter the reason, the new year brings with it a whole host of new games for gamers everywhere to look forward to.
Community and creativity
Natasha Julliannah Dela Cuesta, a 25-year-old creative executive who is also a gaming live streamer under the handle @tishiio on TikTok, says that she mainly enjoys multiplayer online games, particularly those that feature an open world to play in.
Dela Cuesta enjoys online open-world games that let her go on adventures with her friends. — NATASHA JULLIANNAH DELA CUESTA
“Right now I’m focusing a lot on Grand Theft Auto FiveM,” she says, referring to a community-created modification to the famous Grand Theft Auto Online, a game that allows players to play together in the sandbox of Los Santos, carrying out missions and heists alongside their friends.
“I’m really excited for all of the new open-world multiplayer games coming out. I’ve got my eye on Ark 2,” says Dela Cuesta, adding that she’s really looking forward to the new worlds she’ll get to explore.
“When it’s open-world, you get to explore a lot of things. New locations, new adventures. Also, in some open-world games you can build houses and decorate them, I like that kind of thing. And especially if I can play with friends, it’s like going on an adventure together.”
Clearly, the social aspect of gaming is a big draw for games like Ark 2. Dela Cuesta is not the only one who feels that way, as these massively multiplayer online (MMO) games have been a mainstay in the gaming industry since access to the Internet became commonplace. Many Malaysians have spent countless days in their youth playing games like these with their friends.
It isn’t only the youth who can find enjoyment in playing with friends. Penny Low, 54, is the founder of Amazing Seniors, a platform and community where seniors can access services such as exercise programmes, caregiving services and further education opportunities.
“I do introduce games to them,” Low says, talking about seniors who crave respite from boredom and loneliness at home. The games help them to talk with each other, providing them with entertainment and human connection.
Low has been gaming on and off throughout her life, enjoying strategy games like Civilisation and Age Of Empires in the past. She is still a long-time fan of The Sims franchise and is looking forward to further updates for The Sims 4 in the coming year, which has maintained constant support for the long-running game.
Get ready to build, explore and survive the cosmos in the eagerly awaited sandbox adventure, Space Engineers 2. — Keen Software House
She also expresses appreciation for Second Life, a multiplayer virtual world that allows its users to explore its world and interact with other users in the guises of their virtual avatars.
“It allows you to try different things, enjoy new experiences. I’d love to see updates come out for some of these games to keep the loneliness away from some of the seniors. Some people say games disconnect you, but I think if you find the right one, it could connect you to others.”
For the 42-year-old Meor Aniq Zariman Jabir, also known as Nick, simulation games are his favourite, whether they be business simulation games, space exploration simulations, or survival games like the ever-popular Minecraft.
Nick has been playing video games across a variety of genres for most of his life. — MEOR ANIQ ZARIMAN BIN JABIR
He is eagerly anticipating the recently announced Space Engineers 2, a sandbox game about exploration, construction and survival in space.
“The game is all about creativity,” Nick says. “Players can build mining facilities and buildings. They can build their own spaceships and prepare for war.
“I was raised on toys that focus on creativity, such as Lego and Play-Doh. Games like Minecraft have all of that and beyond. There are thousands of fans who pour their knowledge into the game to make it even larger with mods. It has the largest modding community in the world.”
The joy of challenge
Another major aspect of video gaming is the challenge that games can present to player skill. For Tan Jun Szen, a 30-year-old P2P dispute officer, other than experiencing the stories of the games, the greatest enjoyment in the hobby comes from overcoming difficult challenges.
“I like to play games from the action RPG (role-playing game) genre,” he says. “Such as games from the Dark Souls, Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy series. One aspect of games like these that I love is the learning and growth. Games allow us to do that. Once we overcome that obstacle, we have that sense of knowing we are better than before. I gain confidence and feel pretty proud of myself.
Explore the late Ming Dynasty in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, a new action RPG teeming with mystery and monsters from China. — Leenzee
“As for 2025, I’m looking forward to a game called Wuchang: Fallen Feathers,” Tan continues, describing the upcoming fantasy game set in the Ming dynasty. “It’s an action RPG game from China. Recently, I’ve been playing a game called Black Myth: Wukong, and it’s my first time playing a game from China. I was very impressed with the game, and I think Wuchang has the potential to be a good game.”
The samurai-themed Ghost Of Yotei is also on Tan’s radar, a game that shares many similarities with the action RPGs Tan favours.
Tan is also looking forward to GTA VI, the upcoming latest instalment in the legendary game series. It’s a testament to the game’s quality and longevity that players continue to regularly enjoy previous entries in the series.
Tan is excited for ‘Wuchang: Fallen Feathers’, an action RPG from China, after being impressed by ‘Black Myth: Wukong’. — TAN JUN SZEN
Tan says, “I played the first two GTA games as a kid on my PlayStation 2. Since the technology has advanced so much since then, it would be pretty interesting to see how much has changed.”
Nick adds to this point, observing how players of GTA may love the game because it allows them to step into the shoes of daring, larger-than-life characters and experience thrilling scenarios they wouldn’t encounter in real life. “They enjoy the excitement of high-stakes adventures and the freedom to explore a virtual world with their friends!”
Style and substance
For 47-year-old Pan Jan Lik, the CEO of Point College, “AAA games” are where he finds the most enjoyment. An industry term referring to games made by mid-sized to major publishers, the biggest and most popular games usually fall under this banner, for example, the aforementioned GTA games.
Pan’s favourite game genre is RTS, a genre that no longer sees as many new releases as it once did. — PAN JAN LIK
These games typically cost a lot of money to produce and boast impressive production values. The graphics and storyline can be very impressive and are key reasons why gamers like Pan enjoy them.
Pan, just like Tan, is looking forward to GTA VI and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. “I’m looking towards more Asian games now,” Pan elaborates on his anticipation for the game.
“Black Myth: Wukong marks the first time China has developed an AAA game. They have the capability, but they’ve been putting their effort into mobile games so far, so hopefully we’ll see more AAA games coming into the market. Japan has been doing these kinds of games for a long time, that’s why their game industry has grown this big.”
Monster Hunter Wilds and Death Stranding 2: On The Beach are two examples of Japanese AAA games that Pan can’t wait to get his hands on in 2025. The former is the latest instalment in an action game franchise where the player hunts down giant monsters, while the latter is a sequel to an action game that sees the player delivering supplies across a post-apocalyptic Earth.
Lee is drawn to games with a clear narrative or artistic message, preferably those that offer a challenge as well. — PHOEBE LEE TZE
Near the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of preferences is 23-year-old student Phoebe Lee Tze, who enjoys puzzle, platforming and RPG games, particularly those steeped in the horror genre.
Lee says, “I’m looking forward to the next chapter of Deltarune and also Little Nightmares 3. Another game that’s been recommended to me by a friend is Reanimal. The common thing about all these games is that they are all puzzle games and very story-based.”
Lee enjoys games that are able to tell compelling stories. Each of the aforementioned games is dripping with atmosphere and crammed with interesting details. For example, the Little Nightmares games are eerie titles where you play a little girl who must escape a vessel inhabited by monstrous entities.
“I do enjoy psychological horror,” Lee adds. “I find jump scares boring. Psychological horror creates a kind of creeping fear, which helps me immerse myself in the game a little better.
In Reanimal, the player controls a pair of siblings trying to escape their hellishly twisted home while evading mutated animals. — Tarsier Studios
“Reanimal is made by the same developers who made Little Nightmares 1 and 2. I trust their storytelling and art direction, which is what drew me to it.”
2025 is shaping up to be yet another good year for video games. With so much variety available on the market, there’s sure to be something for every kind of gamer. What games are you looking forward to the most?
