Dean Takahashi’s “My most anticipated games of 2025” in his DeanBeat column at VentureBeat is a personal editorial pick list, not an objective ranking, and it is ordered in reverse, with the number-one pick at the bottom of the post. Its selections mix small independent-scale titles with large releases. The syndicated summary available to us does not reproduce the full lineup, so this guide does not name individual picks or attach release details to them.
What kind of list this is
DeanBeat is the personal column of Dean Takahashi, a long-running games journalist, published on VentureBeat. An “anticipated games” post of this kind records what the writer personally expects to be interesting, not what critics, sales trackers or review aggregators have forecast. Readers should treat it as one editor’s taste at one point in time. The summary of the piece that we could confirm, a syndicated copy carried by Ground News, describes the list in the same subjective terms.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
DOG MAN: Misson Impawsible - PlayStation 5 | $23.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
WWE 2K25 - PlayStation 5 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business – PlayStation 5 | $28.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
VGC: The 2025 Guide to Video Games: The 2025 Guide to Video Games | $14.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2025 | $6.48 | Buy on Amazon |
How to read a list that runs in reverse
Because the countdown is inverted, the order of the page works against the usual habit of reading from the top. To use the post correctly:
- Scroll to the end of the entries first. The final entry is the writer’s number-one pick.
- Read upward from there. Each earlier entry is ranked lower than the one beneath it.
- Do not assume the first entry is the headline pick. In this format it is the least-favored item on the list.
Small and large games in the same list
The summary says the picks span both small and big games. That matters for interpreting the list. A small-scale title can be a strong anticipation pick for reasons unrelated to budget or marketing, such as an unusual design idea or a developer with a track record. A large-scale title on the same list signals expectation about a major release. Comparing the two directly, as if they were the same kind of bet, reads more into the ranking than the format supports.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors#1 Best Overall
- 50 Exciting Levels: Explore iconic locations from the Dog Man universe, including the City Hall, Giant Marshmallow Factory, and the Police Station. Each location offers platforming and puzzle-solving challenges.
- Teamwork: Switch between Dog Man and his Supa Buddies, each with their own special abilities, to overcome obstacles and defeat bosses. o Dog Man: Digs underground and glides through the air. o Li’l Petey: Hacks gadgets and fits into small spaces. o 80-HD: Pushes heavy objects and jumps long distances.
- Fun Gadgets: Unlock new gadgets and abilities as you progress, like a grappling hook, rocket boots and power gloves to navigate through the levels. Puzzles and Bosses: Use your brain to solve puzzles and defeat unique bosses. Each boss fight requires clever use of your team’s abilities.
- Humor and Action: Enjoy funny dialogue, amusing interactions, and non-stop action that keeps you engaged in Dog Man’s world. Rewards and Collectibles: Revisit levels with new gadgets to find secret areas, and rescue the missing Comic Club members.
- Art Style: Great animations inspired by the books, with comic-style sound effects that add a fun, cartoonish touch to the action.
What a personal list does not tell you
An anticipation list records expectations set before release. It does not confirm that any game shipped on schedule, on the platforms first mentioned, or in the form the writer described. Checking those facts requires the original column and the publisher’s own announcements. Because the list covers 2025 releases, and today is October 2026, the games it names have either launched or been delayed, and it should be read as a record of expectations rather than a current release guide.
How to verify the list yourself
- Find the original DeanBeat column on VentureBeat using its site search, and confirm the publication date against the title “My most anticipated games of 2025.”
- Note the reverse order before you copy any entries, so the ranking is not inverted by mistake.
- For each game you want to follow, check the publisher’s store page or official announcement for the platforms and release date that apply to you.
- Where a game is listed without a stated platform, record it as unconfirmed rather than assuming a version.
Where this leaves a reader
The value of this list is as a dated, opinionated snapshot of what one experienced games writer was looking forward to in 2025. Use the original column as the source for the picks, read it bottom to top, and confirm any practical detail, such as platforms or editions, against the publisher before acting on it.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
- ROBOCOP IS BACK ON DUTY TO SETTLE UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Experience an all-new scenario set in a tower in chaos. OmniTower.
- FIGHT YOUR WAY TO THE TOP FLOOR: Following RoboCop's decisive victory over Detroit's gangs, a new chapter unfolds in this standalone extension set after the events of RoboCop: Rogue City.
- FACE A DEADLIER CLASS OF CRIMINALS: Prepare to take on a new breed of enemies. OmniTower is packed with high-tech threats - explosive drones, mercenaries in jet packs, androids armed with katanas and more.
- RESTORE ORDER WITH JUSTICE SERVED COLD: When it’s too late to shout "freeze", you can rely on RoboCop’s arsenal to to cool down enemies' ambitions. Choose from a wide range of powerful weapons to serve Justice, including the iconic Auto-9 or the all-new Cryo Cannon. Or destroy mercenaries in hand-to-hand combat with spectacular finishing moves.
- PLAY AS ALEX MURPHY: Experience unique missions with familiar faces which reveal more of the storyline of Unfinished Business. Gameplay blends nervous action and investigation, where your choices can decide the fate of citizens.
Rank #2
- RULE BEYOND THE RING: In a franchise first, step outside the ropes and onto The Island for Xbox Series X|S/PlayStation 5—an immersive, WWE-themed world filled with epic arenas, challenges, and live events. Fight to join the Bloodline with “The Original Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, as you upgrade and customize your MySUPERSTAR through multiple storyline chapters.
- 2K SHOWCASE: THE BLOODLINE'S DYNASTY: The all-new Showcase, hosted by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman, celebrates one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns or dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends.
- EXPANDED GAMEPLAY - Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in the WWE 2K franchise Additional features include the return of chain wrestling, Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving, and more.
- MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE - Take your show on the road with MyGM, now featuring online multiplayer. Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
