It is officially “there are too many games” season! Most gamers are already backlogged, and there are even more incredible and varied titles releasing soon. Don’t worry, though; there’s no shame in not finishing a game or taking a break to play another. You can always come back later and pick up right where you left off.
November’s most anticipated game releases are comprised of a hodgepodge of different genres and backgrounds. They’re also a bit of a gamble. Many of these games have unusual circumstances tied to them or are departures from other entries in their series. November is definitely going to be an interesting month for gaming. These five titles will add their own unique charm to the practically overflowing video game scene.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
- Release Date(s): November 13th
- Developer(s): Toys for Bob
- Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre: Platformer
Twenty years after the release of the original game, the entire Spyro trilogy is getting remastered. Back in 1998, when 3D platforming was the genre of choice, the original Spyro the Dragon game was arguably the best platformer on the PlayStation system. Future entries in the series would refine its fun mix of draconic combat, level exploration, and quirky anthropomorphic animal characters.
This trilogy beautifully updates the graphics of the original games and transforms the polygonal world into a beautiful, Pixar-like, fantasy setting. This series is sure to capture the nostalgia of fans who played the original games and will give those who missed this trilogy and an easy way to play these classic titles.
However, there are a few eyebrow-raising aspects of this remaster that consumers should know before picking it up. Physical versions of the game will only have the remaster of the first Spyro game on the disk. The other two games will need to be dowloaded, taking up more hard drive space.
Additionally, this remaster, initially set to release in September, was delayed to November. Hopefully, the issues that caused the delay won’t be present at launch. But this is the first proper Spyro game to release in over a decade. A somewhat flawed game with the adorable purple dragon is better than no game at all.
Fallout 76
- Release Date(s): November 14th
- Developer(s): Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Genre: MMORPG
Fallout 76 marks a huge departure from the kinds of games that Bethesda usually creates, and what the Fallout series is known for. Moving away from a single-player RPG experience the Fallout series is known for, Fallout 76 will be an online-only multiplayer game. Some may question the change, but the Fallout series has a ton of potential as a multiplayer experience. Its beautifully detailed, 1950s-inspired apocalyptic world, stat allocation system, and combat could mesh well with multiplayer features.
Fallout 76 has the potential to be a truly incredible game. Unfortunately, it seems like it will be a while before it gets there. Bethesda recently released a statement asking fans of the franchise to temper their expectations, emphasizing that it’ll be up to members of the Fallout 76 gaming community to report issues and provide feedback to guide the game’s growth.
Bethesda’s attempts to prevent a game from getting overhyped are a nice change of pace in the video game industry. But it seems like Fallout 76 will be more of an experiment than a fully realized product when it hits shelves. Impressions from the game’s brief beta periods also suggest that many of the game’s open-world mechanics work against each other to create a disjointed system that causes frequent quest interruption and slows the pace of gameplay. It certainly will be fascinating to see how well this game performs and if it will ever live up to the enticing premise of a Fallout game you can play with your friends.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
- Release Date(s): November 16th
- Developer(s): Game Freak
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Turn-Based RPG
Pokémon is heading to consoles and returning to the Kanto region. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee will be the first mainline Pokémon games to appear on a non-handheld console — although many fans debate if these games are truly mainline games and if the portable Nintendo Switch is technically a handheld system.
The game will have many tie-in features with the Pokémon GO mobile game. Players can transfer monsters caught in the app to Pokémon: Let’s Go and use them there. Transferring Pokemon in this way will give trainers the opportunity to catch the mythical pocket monster Meltan in Pokémon GO.
But many wonder how different these games will be from the original Pokemon Yellow, the inspiration behind the upcoming new titles. Pokémon: Let’s Go will not feature any wild encounters — a long-running staple of the series — will allow two players to battle against a single opponent, and seemingly will be much easier than the original game.
While these changes will likely make the game more appealing to those who have only played Pokemon GO, longtime fans who have wanted a more challenging Pokémon title may be disappointed. Regardless, these games should be a fun walk down memory lane for most Pokemon fans. They’ll also serve as a great entry point for younger players or those looking to finally check out the gargantuan series.
Battlefield V
- Release Date(s): November 20th
- Developer(s): EA DICE
- Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One PC
- Genre: Online FPS and Battle Royale
After years of defining multiplayer shooters, the Battlefield franchise is looking to change things up a bit with their upcoming game, Battlefield V. Similar to the recently released Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII, Battlefield V will contain a battle royale mode known as Firestorm that offers a unique take on the massively popular game mode. The story mode, Tides of War, will also require an internet connection. Players will receive new narrative installments over time. We’ll see the return of co-op missions that upwards of four players can take on together and the highest level of character customization ever seen in the franchise.
After the praise and critical success the previous entry in the series, Battlefield I, earned, it’s nice to see the team behind it swinging for the fences, genuinely trying to outdo the previous game. However, it’s undeniable that this upcoming game isn’t receiving as much attention as earlier entries in the franchise, even the previous game. But it’s hard to imagine a game that’s pushing the series forward do poorly, unless, of course, EA included microtransactions (spoiler: they didn’t).
Kingdom Rush: Vengeance
- Release Date(s): November 22nd
- Developer(s): Ironhide Game Studio
- Platform(s): IOS, Android
- Genre: Tower Defense
Dust off your tablets or make some room on your phone. After four long years Uruguay-based Ironhide Game Studio is finally releasing a new Kingdom Rush game. This entry will put players in control of the series’ antagonist, Vez’Nan, requiring them to command his evil horde to stop the encroaching forces of good. This tower defense game will also include more tower upgrades than ever seen in the series before, giving players even more methods to defeat wave after wave of enemies.
The Kingdom Rush games are some of the best games in the tower defense genre and arguably some of the best games on mobile platforms. They possess a charming cartoon style, with loads of subtle and more overt nods to pieces of pop culture that inspired the team behind series.
Considering how many reskins of popular games and blatant cash grabs occupy mobile gaming, it’s genuinely refreshing to see a studio make a mobile game with so much passion and effort. Kingdom Rush: Vengeance is sure to be a treat for fans of the tower defense genre, the previous Kingdom Rush games, or anyone looking for an incredible game to play on their phone or tablet.
