Games Released in January 2005

97 new games debuted in January 2005, with PC being the most active platform. January 27 was the busiest day, with 23 releases. Resident Evil 4 was the most popular release of the month.

Which days had the most releases?

January 27 saw the most activity with 23 releases.

23 releases

January 27

11 releases

January 1

9 releases

January 7

8 releases

January 20

How did each week compare?

The fourth week of January was the busiest with 40 releases.

Week 1 (January 1–7)

35 releases

Most popular release in Week 1

Hearts of Iron II

When Germany is defeated in 1945, the Allies and the new Soviet alliance fight for supremacy. World War III is drawing closer. Play as the ruler of one of 175 countries through World Wars II and III. As the Allies and the Soviet Union clash in Europe, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Week 2 (January 8–14)

23 releases

Most popular release in Week 2

Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 is the sixth installment in the Resident Evil series and is often noted for its departure from the fixed camera angles of earlier titles. It introduced an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective, faster-paced gunplay, and more dynamic controls. The game features larger, more open environments and a new AI system that enables enemies to coordinate attacks and attempt to corner the player. Enemies exhibit more human-like behavior, such as climbing ladders, opening doors, and using weapons.

Week 3 (January 15–21)

26 releases

Most popular release in Week 3

Monster Hunter G

Monster Hunter G is a Japan-exclusive expansion of Monster Hunter for PlayStation 2. It featured more Quests, equipment, and recolors of the original monsters, as well as a brand new tier of "G-class" or "G-rank" Quests. The Hunter Rank cap was increased from HR20 to HR30, and many quality of life features were added to this version. Monster Hunter G was originally released on PlayStation 2 in 2005 but rereleased on the Nintendo Wii in 2009. The Wii version features many gameplay changes that made it more akin to the preceding Monster Hunter game, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.

Week 4 (January 22–28)

40 releases

Most popular release in Week 4

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is set in the fictional Oddworld universe, differing in many ways from the preceding installment. The game incorporates two basic genres: third-person platforming action and first-person shooter. The player can switch between the modes at any time by using a melee or a ranged weapon, respectively. The goal of the game, for the most part, is to bag the outlaws and bring them in, collecting "moolah" (the game's currency) in the process. The Stranger can stun or knock down enemies, as well as use a stealthy approach, e.g. hiding in long grass to surprise the enemy.

Week 5 (January 29–31)

6 releases

Most popular release in Week 5

Lugaru

Follow Turner, a rebel bunny rabbit with impressive combat skills in his quest to find those responsible for slaughtering his village. Uncover a far-reaching conspiracy involving the corrupt leaders of the rabbit republic and the wolves of the nearby lands. Streamlined Combat: Gone are the days of combo memorization and button mashing. Lugaru uses a context-sensitive combat system to put all the moves at your finger tips. It’s up to you to choose the right move at the right time and think your way through the fights. Open-Ended Strategy: Each level presents you with an environment and a series of enemies. How you choose to defeat your adversaries is entirely up to you. Storm in from the front and fight everyone at once or ambush your foes one at a time with stealth attacks.

Which platforms saw the most releases?

PC received 37 new titles in January 2005. The runner up was PlayStation 2 with 33 new titles.

PC37 releases

PlayStation 233 releases

Game Boy Advance16 releases

Web browser11 releases

Xbox9 releases

Mac7 releases

Legacy Mobile Device5 releases

Nintendo DS4 releases

Nintendo GameCube4 releases

PlayStation Portable4 releases

What genres were most popular?

Adventure was the dominant genre in January 2005 with 35 titles. Role-playing followed closely with 23.

Adventure35

Role-playing23

Arcade16

Shooter14

Strategy14

Puzzle13

Visual Novel11

Hack and slash10

Platform10

Point-and-click8

2005 Review

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