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Between Marvel's Spider-Man and Alan Wake sequels, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and even a new Sonic game, October was a heck of a month. You'd think that November would be the time to relax and catch up on your backlog, but guess again, because 2023 isn't ready to slow down just yet. Instead, the month ahead is being main-evented by the future of law enforcement, the return of Mario's evil opposite, a VR adventure from a well-known franchise, and the always-reliable Call of Duty. Between those big blockbusters, we're also seeing the return of the Dragon of Dojima, a packed compilation of Naruto games, and a brand-new spin-off in the Persona 5 universe. Fans of sequels that had a short two-decade gap between entries are in for a treat when Jagged Alliance deploys on consoles, Thirsty Suitors looks like a colorful clash against jilted lovers, and Assassin's Creed parkours into virtual reality. Here's a look at the biggest releases arriving in the penultimate month of a terrific year in gaming.
RoboCop: Rogue City
RoboCop is no stranger to video games, but can Rogue City break new ground by being the first not-terrible game starring OmniCorp's billion-dollar engine of law enforcement? Old Detroit looks worse than ever, the streets are flooded with punks who think that they have a chance against a police cyborg outfitted in titanium armor, and there'll be plenty of opportunities to apply the prime directives to the fragile faces of any criminals who get in your way. Not just an action-packed romp, RoboCop: Rogue City also mixes in some solid voice-acting and intriguing RPG-inspired elements to help capture the looks, sounds, and feels of the two feature films that inspired it.
The Talos Principle II
Billed as a thought-provoking first-person puzzle experience, The Talos Principle II expands on the first game's philosophical themes with even more stunning environments and riddles that'll push your ability to think outside of the digital box. Set in a world where biological humanity is extinct and robots explore the remnants of our culture, it'll be up to you to uncover the mistakes of the past while dealing with existential questions surrounding civilization and the cosmos. A variety of new abilities have been added, including gravity manipulation and mind transference, and when combined with the established mechanics of the original Talos Principle, we expect a fresh but familiar experience.
Thirsty Suitors
Battle your exes, disappoint your parents, and find yourself. That's the elevator pitch for Thirsty Suitors, in which you take control of Jala as she finds herself caught between her demanding parents, former lovers out for revenge, and the impending visit of Paati: her family's terrifying and judgmental matriarch. Also, her sister is about to get married. That's a recipe for a lot of conflict, and through cinematic turn-based battle sequences, Jala will have to confront her past in this adventure from Falcon Age developer Outerloop Games.
WarioWare: Move It!
Nintendo is ending 2023 not just on a high note, but a silly one as well. The best Mario, Wario, is back and this time he's ready to get you shaking to the groove of dozens of microgames. Some of these are strange, while others are downright weird, but they're all united by an emphasis on adopting the right pose and having some healthy fun. Lasso a llama, clean up dirty windshields, face an ancient Greek monster, and do much more in this game that's better with friends.
The Invincible
Set in a hard sci-fi world inspired by the writing of Stanisław Lem, The Invincible takes you to the planet of Regis III, and as the scientist Yasna, you'll need to make use of your wits and tools to survive this seemingly deserted world. The previous crew has gone missing, unforeseen threats lurk in the shadows, and there are some hard choices to make in a philosophical story that's driven by science.
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Next year might see the final Like a Dragon game starring Kiryu Kazuma in a lead role--for real this time!--as even the famed Dragon of Dojima can't punch his way out of a grim cancer prognosis. But before the end arrives, Like a Dragon Gaiden will chart the hidden years of Kiryu's life leading up to next year's Infinite Wealth. Presumed dead, Kiryu is thrust into an underground world of mystery, ghosts from the past, and hostile VTubers as he battles to stay under the radar. It's a good thing then that Kiryu has allies and gadgets, as he'll need them in his quest to erase his past so that he can protect his future.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Another year, another Call of Duty! Activision Blizzard's--and now Microsoft's--latest blockbuster dips back into the reimagined Modern Warfare timeline as Captain Price and Task Force 141 finally face off against the ultimate threat. War criminal Vladimir Makarov is on the loose and causing chaos, and as usual, this is one problem that can only be solved by an explosive journey across the globe to bring the terrorist to justice. Additionally, Modern Warfare III celebrates the 20th anniversary of the franchise with a collection of fan-favorite multiplayer maps that have been modernized with new modes and gameplay features, as well as a new Zombies mode that has an impressive amount of scale.
Teardown
Teardown, a game about pulling off the perfect heist by using creative and destructive brute force to solve problems--is finally headed to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S this month. While the game has been available on PC for a while, this new version of the voxel-based destruction game packs in new missions, maps, and vehicles that can be used for some constructive problem-solving. Additionally, this will be a day-one release for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members when the game lands in their PS Plus Game Catalog.
Assassin's Creed Nexus VR
Virtual reality is still a niche market, but Ubisoft is bringing an all-star cast of its greatest assassins to Meta Quest devices in November. Assassin's Creed from a first-person perspective, fans can experience 18th Century America during the American Revolution as Connor, parkour their way through 15th Century Italy during the glorious Italian Renaissance as Ezio Auditore, and relive the blood-soaked days of ancient Greece as Kassandra.
Flashback 2
Back when it first released in 1992, Flashback was an impressive mix of storytelling and cutting-edge visuals as protagonist Conrad B. Hart faced off against shape-shifting aliens that infiltrated human society. Decades later--and after long periods of radio silence since the game was first announced in 2021--Flashback 2 is targeting a November release date on PC and console. The Morph are once again threatening humanity, and in this sequel that is directed by Flashback creator Paul Cuisset at at Microids Studio Lyon, the action flows between 2D gameplay and 3D environments as Hart runs and guns his way through some good-looking levels.
Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections
While Naruto is more well-known for being Boruto's dad lately--and looking like an anime Mark Zuckerberg--for a time, Konoha's favorite maverick ninja was the star of some of the best 3D arena fighting games around. Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections celebrates the history of that series and then some, as it recuts the saga of Naruto into a more cohesive story, adds in a new original storyline focused on Boruto, and goes all in on the anime spectacle.
Persona 5 Tactica
Persona 5 fans have been eating well lately, and for the next spin-off on the menu, the Phantom Thieves are headed into a world of turn-based tactics encounters. Joker, Morgana, Ryuji, Ann, and several other characters are back in action, but with a more adorable art direction as they find themselves pulled into another dimension that's in dire need of a revolution thanks to some tyrannical oppression that's keeping the masses down. Assemble a dream team, overthrow the monarchy, and take out enemies with some stylish strategy.
Super Mario RPG
A remake of Super Mario RPG has long been on the wishlist of Nintendo fans, and finally, that dream is coming true. The DNA of the original 1996 game is on full display here, but with a charming glow-up in the graphical department and thoughtful tweaks to the gameplay, the turn-based return of Mario, Peach, Geno, Mallow, and Bowser looks like it'll be well worth the wait.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
In a year with Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1, a new Tekken around the corner, and a healthy competitive scene, there has never been a better time to be a fighting game fan. And yet, something has been missing: a fresh assault on the senses with hand-drawn visuals and over-the-top anime action from a studio that is considered to be the gold standard in this particular genre. Fortunately, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising will fill that gap soon, as Guilty Gear developer Arc System Works is back with a revamped sequel to GBVS that is designed to be more thrilling and accessible than ever before.
The Last Faith
A metroidvania and Souls-like combo isn't unheard of, but The Last Faith looks like a terrific blend of two genres that thrives on merciless and precise combat. On top of that, there's gorgeous pixel art, gothic environments, non-linear exploration, and gameplay that packs a punch with a formidable arsenal of melee weapons, arcane spells, and long-range firearms.
Jagged Alliance 3
Arriving on PC back in July, Jagged Alliance 3 now has console platforms locked and loaded in its sights. Essentially a tactical game about invading a foreign nation with a team of colorful mercenaries watching your back, Jagged Alliance 3 is a love-letter to its genre. It might be a tactics game first and foremost, but with a fun sense of humor, flexible combat systems, and cunning opportunities to cause some chaos, this sequel proved that the 20-year wait between games was well worth it.
November 2023 video game release schedule
- Alien Hominid Invasion (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 1
- Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 1
- Blasphemous 2 (PS4, Xbox One) - November 2
- For The King II (PC) - November 2
- PlateUp! (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - November 2
- Powerwash Simulator (Quest) - November 2
- RoboCop: Rogue City (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) - November 2
- Star Ocean: The Second Story R (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC) - November 2
- The Smurfs 2: The Prisoner of the Green Stone (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 2
- The Talos Principle II (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - November 2
- Thirsty Suitors (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 2
- Vampire: The Masquerade - Justice (PlayStation VR2, Quest) - November 2
- WarioWare: Move It! (Switch) - November 3
- The Invincible (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - November 6
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 7
- Salt and Sacrifice (Switch) - November 7
- Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC) - November 9
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC) - November 10
- The Day Before (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - November 10
- Hogwarts Legacy (Switch) - November 14
- Invincible Presents: Atom Eve (PC) - November 14
- Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 14
- Teardown (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) - November 15
- The Last Faith (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 15
- Assassin's Creed Nexus VR (Quest) - November 16
- Jagged Alliance 3 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) - November 16
- Flashback 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 16
- Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - November 17
- Persona 5 Tactica (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 17
- Super Mario RPG (Switch) - November 17
- Jurassic Park: Classic Games Collection (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - November 22
- Biomutant (Switch) - November 30 -
- Gangs of Sherwood (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - November 30
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (PS5, PS4, PC) - November 30
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