The gaming world has a way of surprising players just when they think a beloved franchise is gone for good. Years of silence and lukewarm spin-offs can leave fans resigned to replaying classics in order to keep beloved memories alive. Canceled projects and turn hope for the future of one into total despair as well. But then, suddenly, the clouds part and a new entry appears, bringing back everything people loved while adding fresh ideas for a new era.
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In 2025, four series once thought dormant are returning in a big way: Skate, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Silent Hill f, and Ninja Gaiden 4. These are not just nostalgic rehashes. They are bold revivals with new ideas and plenty of reasons to be hyped.
4. Skate
Fans have been shouting “Skate 4 when?” for years, and now the wait is finally over. On September 16, 2025, Electronic Arts launched Skate, a fresh reboot of the beloved skateboarding series. While some still call it “Skate 4” in discussion, the game is officially just Skate, signaling a new beginning to the franchise. Unlike a remake of past entries, this is a full revival designed for today’s gaming paradise, and it’s hitting almost every platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with mobile versions also in development.
This new Skate embraces a modern, community-first approach. It’s always-online, free-to-play, and built around a multiplayer sandbox where players can skate together. Live-service features, such as seasonal events, ensure the game evolves naturally, but importantly, microtransactions are cosmetic-only. No loot boxes, no paid maps, just a steady stream of customization options for players who want to stand out, chill out, and, well, skate.
3. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
When Square Enix revealed Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, strategy RPG fans practically erupted in joy and for good reason. For nearly three decades, the original Final Fantasy Tactics from 1997 has remained one of the most celebrated titles in the series. Yet outside of abstract ports, the franchise was in a state of complete dormancy. But now, on September 30, 2025, The Ivalice Chronicles is set to arrive on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch (including Switch 2), and PC.
This is not a simple remake or a bare-bones remaster. Instead, it’s a hybrid re-release and re-imagining of the original Final Fantasy Tactics. Players can choose between a modern “Enhanced” mode with updated visuals, voice acting, revamped UI, and new difficulty options, or a mode closer to the original for those looking for the classic PlayStation experience. The developers have preserved the iconic grid-based tactical combat and intricate job system, while polishing the presentation and accessibility for a new generation.
The real excitement comes from knowing this isn’t a repackage of the 1997 classic. Instead, it’s an effort to breathe new life into a classic. For long-suffering fans, The Ivalice Chronicles feels like a long-overdue homecoming.
2. Silent Hill f
Few franchises of old seemed more dead than Silent Hill did. After years of questionable quality projects and widespread fan disappointment, the haunting fog is set to finally return in the form of Silent Hill f. Unlike the recent remake of Silent Hill 2, this is a brand-new project with its own unique identity. Launching on September 25, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Silent Hill f takes the series in an unexpected direction: 1960s Japan, in the eerie fictional town of Ebisugaoka. This is particularly surprising because it is the first Silent Hill game taking place in Japan.
The game stars a new protagonist, Hinako Shimizu, and introduces a more culturally rooted take on horror. The creative team has made it clear they want to move away from Silent Hill feeling “too Westernized,” and instead embrace haunting imagery and folklore drawn from Japanese settings. Fans can expect more puzzles and disturbing monstrosities, all backed by more melee-focused gameplay than earlier entries. While this increased focus on melee combat has already been somewhat controversial, the title is looking to be a solid return to form for the franchise.
1. Ninja Gaiden 4
The Ninja Gaiden series is legendary among fans of challenging action games, but after the lukewarm reception of Ninja Gaiden 3, the franchise seemed fresh out of juice. Then came the shocking reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4, a brand-new mainline entry. It is set to release October 21, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with Xbox Game Pass support at launch. This latest chapter brings some major changes to the series while still honoring its roots.
The story unfolds in a dark, cursed Tokyo plagued by an apocalyptic event known as the “Rain of Darkrot.” Players will meet a new central protagonist, Yakumo of the Raven clan, while longtime fans can rest easy knowing Ryu Hayabusa remains playable, though less centralized this go around. Ninja Gaiden 4 promises the challenging combat and intense difficulty that made Ninja Gaiden a staple of hardcore gaming, but now with a new narrative direction and a heavier focus on worldbuilding. Fans are buzzing with speculation about how Team Ninja, the game’s developer, will balance accessibility with the franchise’s famously steep learning curve.
In an era of gaming when many franchises get lost to time, these comebacks are a reminder that no series is ever truly gone. 2025 is shaping up to be the year these long-awaited franchises finally return to players.
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Image courtesy of Stage 6 Films -
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm.
