It’s that time again, where we highlight cool and interesting games releasing this month including much anticipated remakes, a few potential dark horses that might be amazing niche games and of course Call of Duty.

That behemoth overshadows most of this month of game releases, as it does every year, but there’s some real gems this month, and it would be a shame to leave them obscured by the biggest release.

Alien Hominid HD

Developer: The Behemoth Publisher: The Behemoth Platforms: PC/Xbox/Switch Release Date: November 1st

Alien Hominid HD is finally reaching modern consoles and PC, meaning new audiences will get to experience the cult game. They too can marvel at the classic game where a single alien takes down entire agencies of suit wearing goons alongside alien bosses, with the same 2002 level of difficulty and indie charm, just slightly prettier.

Alien Hominid Invasion

Developer: The Behemoth Publisher: The Behemoth Platforms: PC/Xbox/Switch Release Date: November 1st

In a more modern experience, Alien Hominid Invasion is launching the same day. This time an arcade style run and gun roguelike, with customisable characters for up to 4 player co-op (local or online) and tonnes of customisation for how you want to play. Same charm as the original. but with a more full experience of play.

My Time at Sandrock

Developer: Pathia Games Publisher: Focus Entertainment Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation/Switch Release Date: November 2nd

On the second, from Pathia Games, we have My Time at Sandrock. The follow-up to the staggeringly successful My Time At Portia (2.3m Sales in 4 Years) leaves Early Access and moves the simulator RPG fantasy from verdant farmland to an industrial desert ranch - with mining, combat and production line building to match.

Robocop: Rogue City

Developer: Teyon Publisher: Nacon Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation Release Date: November 2nd

This is an odd one from Teyon, makers of the cult hit Terminator: Resistance, you’re gonna move and shoot like RoboCop. That means stiff and slow gameplay that looks like a lightgun game. Yet people are so far excited about capturing the feel of the films - especially once the Steam next fest demo revealed open world sections that you have to explore and perform detective work inside, all with the deeply satirical tone of the films. This might be a dark horse AA title to keep an eye on

The Talos Principle 2

Developer: Croteam Publisher: Devolver Digital Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation/Switch Release Date: November 2nd

The Talos Principle 2 from Croteam is the sequel to the critically acclaimed indie game. The first used puzzles as a means of exploring selfhood and the philosophy of consciousness so expect more cerebral challenges in this one. More first person puzzle solving and more philosophical questions await!

Thirsty Suitors

Developer: Outerloop Games Publisher: Annapurna Interactive Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation/Switch Release Date: November 2nd

Outerloop Games’ Thirsty Suitors is an Annapurna published narrative adventure game about going home, confronting past loves and lives - and doing so while engaging in over the top Bollywood style turn based combat. Pair that all with a strikingly colourful aesthetic and the potential for some really interesting cooking and skateboarding mini games and you might begin to scratch the surface of what this game offers.

EA Sports WRC

Developer: Codemasters Publisher: EA Sports Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation Release Date: November 3rd

Racing game developers Codemasters return to their former dirt track in EA Sports WRC as Codemasters get the World Rally Championship license back for the first time since 2002.
The team that have been working on the Dirt Rally series will have a lot riding on this as both a new subseries, and the return to official games - so let’s hope it pays off.

The Invincible

Developer: Starward Industries Publisher: 11Bit Studios Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation Release Date: November 6th

A first person narrative adventure game based on the titular story by Stanislaw Lem, you’re playing a scientist stuck on an alien world, trying to find your lost crewmates in an atompunk 50’s inspired setting. This one is being published by 11bit Studios, who have an eye for personally affecting, philosophical stories - so might be worth checking out based on that alone.

Stronghold Definitive Edition

Developer: Firefly Studios Publisher: Firefly Studios Platforms: PC Release Date: November 7th

A blast from the past with Stronghold Definitive Edition on the seventh. The original Castle Builder series gets a remake - one that they’re keen to show is authentic. Not only has the art and VA been rebuilt from the original sources - but they’ve even got the series founders to work on new content. Firefly Studios founders Simon Bradbury and Eric Ouellette have designed a 14 Mission campaign as well as 10 unique scenarios - so even if you’ve spent the last 20 years knowing every inch of the original, there’s still something new for you here.

Gunhead

Developer: Alientrap Publisher: Alientrap Platforms: PC/Playstation Release Date: November 8th

Gunhead from Alientrap is a roguelike FPS that is all about boarding procedurally generated alien starships, shooting everything inside and eventually blowing them up. The real standout here though is the verticality, equipped with a jetpack you’ll be navigating a complex 3D space filled with chaotic combat.

Risk of Rains Returns

Developer: Hopoo Games Publisher: Gearbox Publishing Platforms: PC/Switch Release Date: November 8th

But if you want one of the OG roguelikes that day - Risk of Rain Returns is a remake of the original from the original developers Hopoo games - launching on the ten year anniversary of the first game. Everything you love is there, alongside the addition of more survivors and new kit to match, all polished for modern consoles and PCs.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Publisher: Sega Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation Release Date: November 8th

Something equally new but old is Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name from RGG studio. Both a spin off and a return to form for the team. This game will be separate from the regular entries, building on the Yokohama setting of Yakuza: Like A Dragon - but it will see the return of original playable character Kazuma Kiryu. The pitch this time though is that he’ll be acting in the role of a secret agent for one of the in universe factions - so the team at RGG get to play with an entirely new set of conventions and tropes. Considering what they’ve accomplished with Yakuza, checking this out on the ninth feels like a no brainer.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III

Developer: Sledgehammer Games Publisher: Activision/Xbox Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation Release Date: November 10th

Part apology tour, part kitchen sink development, Modern Warfare 3 appears to be bringing everything to the table. Sledgehammer Games are lead studio, but Treyarch, Raven and Infinity Ward are all contributing in their own way. Mission design in the campaign is being built partially around the Verdansk map so players will get to experience semi-open world design with different options as they return to take down original series villain Makarov. The first Modern Warfare game with a Zombies mode will also benefit from that as they unleash the undead on an open world Warzone map as well.

Meanwhile the core multiplayer experience is about giving players back everything they complained about from MWII - including red dots and the classic perk system. That the launch line-up is the return of the beloved Modern Warfare 2 Suite of maps probably won’t hurt either. What might be most important though for multiplayer is that this will be the first title in the series to actively retain purchased content through from the last title - Call of Duty as connected content platform is here, and that has big implications for the future. If nothing else it means they’ll probably have the store up from day one this time.

Broken Roads

Developer: Drop Bear Bytes Publisher: Versus Evil, Team 17 Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation/Switch Release Date: November 14th

2023’s CRPG sweep hopefully continues with Broken Roads from Drop Bear Bytes. This time channelling classic Inexile Fallout, this isometric RPG in a post apocalyptic Australia is unashamed of it’s influences. Turn based combat and complex decision making underpins what they’re calling their Moral Compass - where your choices inform your philosophical leanings, and they then influence your in game stats.

American Arcadia

Developer: Out of the Blue Games Publisher: Raw Fury Platforms: PC Release Date: November 15th

A single player game with two characters, you’ll be escaping from a self contained city that’s the worlds greatest reality show (Think Truman Show) in a 2.5D platformer built with a retro 70s aesthetic. But you’ll be doing so with the help of yourself, as you play first person puzzle sections set outside the city in order to set up the escape. It’s an ambitious second title from Out of the Blue Games, so hopefully they can get the balance right between both styles of play.

Teardown

Developer: Tuxedo Labs Publisher: Saber Interactive Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation Release Date: November 15th

This month sees the deeply impressive Teardown come to Playstation and Xbox as well as the Wild West themed DLC across all existing platforms. The Voxel based demolition game is all about clever puzzle solving and precise destruction, and recieved a raft of plaudits on PC - now everyone gets to check it out.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin

Developer: Frontier Developments Publisher: Frontier Developments Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation Release Date: November 17th

Remember Dawn of War? The First One? And how that distilled the essence of 40k into a territory control strategy game about massing an Army and outmanoeuvring your opponent? And everyone loved it? Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is that but for the fantasy setting. Frontier Developments are hoping for this to be the entry point for AOS that Dawn of War was for 40k. With a full narrative campaign, procedurally generated challenge mode, multiplayer suite including co-op and even full map editor and army painter - they’ve definitely got it matched for content.

Bluey the Videogame

Developer: Artax Games Publisher: Outright Games Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation/Switch Release Date: November 17th

That’s right, the first ever Bluey The Videogame is here and everyone you know with a small child is more excited than is reasonable to be able to experience a whole 2D game in that world.

Super Mario RPG

Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Platforms: Switch Release Date: November 17th

Super Mario RPG is coming to Switch with a full HD Remaster alongside some QOL features and updates to gameplay. But people have only been waiting 17 years for that and who’s counting, really?

Worldless

Developer: Noname Studios Publisher: Coatsink, Thunderful Platforms: PC/Xbox/Playstation/Switch Release Date: November 21st

Worldless is starting to be whispered in the same sentences as Silksong - and it’s not hard to see why. A 2D Metroidvania with a striking minimalist art style, the twist here is a turn based combat system that’s designed to be as cinematic as it is sporadic. Inside each turn, you’ll be inputting actions within a time limit to build up damage. When your turn ends? Parries and guards are the order of the day. The coolest part though is building up a combo meter which will ultimately let you absorb the opponent and take on some of their skills into yourself. It’s been a great year for metroidvanias - and maybe this might be the game that helps close that out.

Last Train Home

Developer: Ashborne Games Publisher: THQ Nordic Platforms: PC Release Date: November 28th

It’s also been a year for strategy games though - and Last Train Home from Ashborne Games is one that might be a bit special. A personally relevant story for the developers - you’re playing as a force of Czechoslovak soldiers trying to make your way home following the War. Unfortunately you’re doing this via Siberia during the Russian Civil War. Fortunately, you have an Armoured train to ride the whole way. Along the way you’ll have to manage the train itself as well as your forces - before engaging in real time battles that will have significant stakes for your progress home.