Even with Grand Theft Auto 6 set to dominate November, there are still plenty of other video games worth paying attention to, including a new Nintendo remake and some nostalgic remasters.
GTA 6 casts such a huge shadow over the entire month and beyond that we almost didn't bother writing up a list for what video games to look out for in November. After September and October were jam packed with major releases like Wolverine, Gears Of War: E-Day, and Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, November's release schedule is almost entirely dry.
Even so, the rest of the industry isn't coming to a dead stop just because of one game. In fact, at least 58 much smaller games are sharing a date with GTA 6, because they're targeting entirely different audiences (and because GTA 6 isn't on PC). It's not just indies either. Some prominent publishers are taking advantage of how quiet November is to push their own mid-sized releases, that would have been muscled out in September or October.
Nostalgic Remasters and Remakes
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered (November 3) is one of two odd but no less welcome revisits from Atari in November. This remaster of the 2002 Godzilla fighting game is easily the best (along with its sequel) to be based on the King of the Monsters. It works not dissimilarly to the classic Power Stone and is being revamped by original developer, Pipeworks Studios. Fully rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, the game features a reworked unlock system that lets you choose which characters and bonuses you acquire, as well as online multiplayer; something the original lacked. This also marks the first time PlayStation owners can play the game, as the original was only available for the Nintendo GameCube and Xbox. There's a free demo you can try ahead of the game's launch, which deliberately coincides with Godzilla Day.
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time (November 5) on Nintendo Switch 2 is easily Nintendo's biggest Switch 2 game of the year, dropping just two weeks before GTA 6. The original Ocarina Of Time remains one of the best and most influential games ever made and, based on our own preview session, this is shaping up to be an incredibly faithful remake. While Nintendo has said they won't be returning to the classic Zelda formula with any new games, this remake is the perfect way to revisit the original style of gameplay.
DreamWorks Shrek 2 Remastered (November 10) is another nostalgic release, despite there not being a new Shrek movie out (yet) to ride the coattails of. The original was surprisingly solid for a licensed tie-in, being an action beat 'em up you can play solo or with up to four players. Local co-op has been retained, but there are options for online play and you can even mix and match. Original publisher Activision doesn't appear to be involved with the remaster, which is being handled by Aspyr, the same studio responsible for all those remasters of retro Star Wars games.
New Adventures and Spin-offs
World Of Warcraft: Forever (November 4) on PC is not another expansion, but an entirely new rendition of Blizzard's long running MMO role-player, planned to run alongside both the current and Classic versions. Much like World Of Warcraft: Classic, this version leans heavily on nostalgia, as it's set during the original MMO's first year. However, the story splits off into an alternate continuity, allowing Blizzard to expand on the land of Azeroth in whole new ways. Blizzard has already promised three new zones to explore and a new playable race, the Skyborn Elves. You only need a regular World Of Warcraft subscription, which includes access to all three versions of the game.
Warhammer Survivors (November 10) stands out for being an officially sanctioned clone of Vampire Survivors. Development and publishing are being handled by Auroch Digital (the studio responsible for Warhammer 40,000 Boltgun), but Vampire Survivors developer poncle is credited as a partner, having lent Auroch Digital the Vampire Survivors game engine. Warhammer Survivors will feature characters from both the fantasy themed Age Of Sigmar and the sci-fi Warhammer 40,000 settings, which we don't think has happened before in any other Warhammer video game.
Australia Did It: End-Of-The-World Railway Defense Business (November 10) is an obvious candidate for the longest video game title of the year. It's a joint project between indie studio Aesthetician Labs and acclaimed designer Rami Ismail, one of the brains behind the fantastic arcade throwback Nuclear Throne. It's an intriguing blend of turn-based strategy and tower defence, as it sees you set up your units to protect precious cargo from waves of enemies before segueing into an auto battler once your train departs. The game boasts more than 30 types of units that can be merged to create over 1,500 different combinations.
Family-Friendly and Cooperative Fun
Barbie Rewind (November 12) is the latest retro compilation from Digital Eclipse, who specialise in nostalgic re-releases like last year's Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection and, more recently, Toy Story: Retro Roundup. Barbie Rewind is positively stacked with games – 17 of them, in fact – that you otherwise can't easily play anymore, spanning the NES up to the Game Boy Advance. This includes the first ever official release of Barbie: Vacation Adventure, which was meant to launch for the SNES and Sega Mega Drive, so it's a win for game preservation, no matter what.
Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy (November 12) is a Switch 2 upgrade for Pikmin 4 that was announced during September's Nintendo Direct. It's not just a performance upgrade. Much like Super Mario Bros. Wonder's Switch 2 port, Pikmin 4 is getting a Switch 2 exclusive side mode called Dandori Academy, which has you completing various timed challenges. Nintendo is even setting it up like you're going to school, with 72 of these challenges scheduled to arrive weekly, meaning you'll have an incentive to keep coming back to Pikmin 4 for over a year.
Sonic Pico Park (November 12) is a Sonic themed version of indie hit Pico Park, a 2D puzzle platformer where up to eight players work together to gather keys so they can unlock the doors at the end of each level. Developer TECOPARK is handling it, so there's little risk in a drop in quality and it does incorporate Sonic mechanics and elements, like the spin dash, springs, and loop-de-loops, which make it feel like more than just a reskin.
The Big One: Grand Theft Auto 6
Grand Theft Auto 6 (November 19) on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S is the long awaited sequel to GTA 5 (which was 13 years ago now). GTA 6 is aiming to be one of the most immersive and realistic games ever made, not just in terms of its graphics but its gameplay too. It's predicted that 1.5 million people in the US plan on taking a sick day just to play the game the moment it comes out, so the question is not whether GTA 6 will be a success, but how much of a success.
