Dubai: A look at the hottest games coming our way in 2025.

‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ 

Rockstar Games’ open world action-adventure series has become one of those creative works that transcends its medium — so the release of “GTA VI” will likely be gaming’s biggest moment of 2025, as likely to make broadcast news headlines as to whip up a social-media frenzy. Its reveal trailer already smashed YouTube records for non-music videos, racking up 46 million views within 12 hours, and 101 million within two days, and sparked a huge spike in Spotify streams for its featured track, Tom Petty’s “Love Is a Long Road.” The game will feature the series’ first female protagonist in a quarter of a century — Lucia, a Latina woman — and her male partner as they try to evade law enforcement around the fictional state of Leonida (a thinly disguised Florida), including Vice City (a thinly disguised Miami) and visit South America too. Expect the usual blend of amoral/immoral action and pop-culture parodies (social-media influencers are apparently a major theme) along with gameplay that will keep you engaged for weeks. 

‘Assassin’s Creed: Shadows’  

The 14th major installment in Ubisoft’s action-adventure franchise takes the action over to 16th-century Japan, towards the end of a long period of civil wars. Considering how big a part stealth plays in all “Assassin’s Creed” games, ninjas seem a natural fit, and indeed, one of the two central figures of “Shadows” is Naoe, a female shinobi (the game’s stealth mechanics have undergone a major and welcome upgrade, too). The other is Yasuke, an African samurai apparently inspired by an historical figure of the same name. Players will once again be embroiled in the millennia-long conflict between the peace-and-freedom-seeking Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order, who believe peace can only be attained through control. After a difficult year for the French publisher, there’s a lot riding on this title. 

‘Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game’ 

Games based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” tend, unsurprisingly, to be foreboding, violent affairs focused on the great battles between good and evil. So this life simulation game from Take-Two Interactive Software will make a refreshing change, allowing you to play a Hobbit without any great responsibility beyond making your idyllic corner of Middle Earth as welcoming and homely as possible — foraging in the forest, fishing in the crystal-clear lakes, gardening, trading with the townsfolk, and cooking for your fellow Hobbits to help build friendships.  

‘Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’ 

Game designer Hideo Kijima is one of the biggest stars in the gamers’ galaxy. He first made a name for himself as the creator of “Metal Gear” at Konami before setting up his own studio, Kojima Productions, and releasing the genre-defying, slow-burn epic “Death Stranding” in 2019, in which the vast majority of the player’s time was spent trekking across post-apocalyptic mountainous landscapes to deliver parcels to isolated communities and attempt to reconnect the shattered chiral network (the internet, basically). Logistical skills were vital. It wasn’t for everyone, but if you bought into it, it was hugely rewarding and surprisingly emotional. Comparisons with some of the isolation felt worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, which arrived shortly after the game’s release, were inevitable, and Kijima has reportedly leaned into that for the sequel, which once again has a stellar cast. Norman Reedus and Léa Seydoux return as main protagonist Sam Bridges and his ally Fragile, while Elle Fanning also joins. 

‘Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza’  

The latest spinoff from the “Like a Dragon” action-adventure series sees fan favorite Goro Majima, a former Yakuza, taking the helm of his own pirate ship — and crew — after losing his memory. He goes in search of a fabled hidden treasure in islands surrounding Hawaii, including Honolulu, where last year’s excellent installment “Infinite Wealth” was set. Naturally, the game includes sea combat as well as the series’ regular beat ’em up combat style, and also sees the return of a few favorite minigames, including karaoke.  

DUBAI: Disney fans in Abu Dhabi are in for a treat as “The Magic Box,” an innovative theatrical production celebrating a century of Disney, is set to premiere at the Etihad Arena from Feb. 6 to 15, 2025.

Created and co-written by Felipe Gamba Paredes, the show combines more than 75 Disney songs with immersive visuals and an original narrative.

Gamba, a former Disney executive with over 15 years of experience, describes “The Magic Box” as a “love letter” to the timeless stories and music that have defined generations.

“In creating ‘The Magic Box,’ I wanted audiences to reconnect with their own inner child, and to do so, we chose not to tell one singular story from one single Disney film but instead blend them all into one unforgettable journey to the feelings and joy they triggered when we first saw them,” he told Arab News.

At its core is the tale of Mara, a woman rediscovering her inner child through Disney’s evocative melodies.

The production spans Disney’s vast musical history, featuring songs from as early as 1929 alongside contemporary hits from 2023, which Gamba said was “not an easy task.”

He said: “We spent many months just combing through the catalog. We knew we wanted to curate a collage that would resonate across multiple generations so that everyone would find their emotional place inside our show. Balancing content was important.”

The decision to debut “The Magic Box” in Abu Dhabi is based on the UAE capital’s diverse demographics.

“So, I know our show will feel right at home in Abu Dhabi, which is home to so many diverse cultures and represents such a rich tapestry of humanity,” Gamba said.