All the Big Games Launching in November Besides GTA 6

For millions of players, November belongs to a single title: Grand Theft Auto 6. Rockstar’s long-awaited open-world crime epic is poised to become a cultural phenomenon on a scale gaming hasn’t witnessed since Animal Crossing: New Horizons arrived in 2020. That’s thrilling for fans, but it leaves everyone else with slim pickings, since so many studios have fled the month altogether rather than be swallowed by the hype.

Fortunately, a handful of releases are arriving to offer an alternative. The lineup is thinner than the usual November glut, but there’s still plenty worth your time. Here are the standouts to look out for if you’d rather steer clear of Vice City.

Gravhounds

Release date: Nov. 2

Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox Series X

Gravhounds stole the spotlight during a packed Gamescom Opening Night Live broadcast. This cooperative shooter casts you and your friends as armed canines blasting a path across a hostile alien world. Between its base-building systems and gravity-defying physics, it has all the makings of a delightfully silly multiplayer sensation. It debuts in early access on Nov. 2.

Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered

Release date: Nov. 3

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

Anyone who spent their childhood with a GameCube will likely remember Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, even if only for its unforgettable box art. Twenty-four years on, this cult-favorite kaiju brawler returns with a polished remaster and online multiplayer. If you never got the chance to try it, give it a look. It’s a surprisingly entertaining, easygoing fighter packed with beloved monsters.

World of Warcraft: Forever

Release date: Nov. 4

Platforms: Windows PC

For a certain generation of players, World of Warcraft: Forever is every bit as momentous as GTA 6. Blizzard is tapping into 2000s nostalgia with a wholly new rendition of its legendary MMO, pairing retro visuals with fresh content. It’s a fantasy realized for those who always craved more World of Warcraft exactly as they remember it in its golden age.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Release date: Nov. 5

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2

With GTA 6 skipping the Switch 2, it was clear Nintendo would need a heavyweight to compete. Few options are mightier than a remake of what many consider the finest game ever made. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time receives a contemporary overhaul, boasting gorgeous, dreamlike visuals, refined controls, and, at long last, a dedicated jump button.

Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School

Release date: Nov. 5

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

If GTA 6‘s lack of co-op has left you hunting for something to share with a friend, Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School is the strongest candidate. This cooperative puzzler sends you and a partner through a string of escape rooms crafted by veterans of the real-life craze. It even supports local split-screen, which makes it an ideal date-night pick for any Jason and Lucia.

Warhammer Survivors

Release date: Nov. 10

Platforms: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

Some titles explain themselves. Warhammer Survivors is essentially Vampire Survivors in the grim darkness of the far future. It comes from the team behind the superb Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, a studio that has already shown it can weave Warhammer lore into a classic retro-style game.

Barbie Rewind

Release date: Nov. 12

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

Barbie Rewind may be the cleverest counter-programming of the entire month. While GTA 6 appeals to those craving ultra-violent crime sandboxes, this warm-hearted throwback gathers a wealth of cherished Barbie games released between 1991 and 2007. If Barbie: Super Model was a staple of your childhood, this could be your very own GTA 6.

Sonic Pico Park

Release date: Nov. 12

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Windows PC

Not even Sonic the Hedgehog is intimidated by GTA 6. Sega is marking the Blue Blur’s 35th anniversary with Sonic Pico Park, a Sonic-flavored offshoot of the multiplayer Pico Park series. Anticipate a 2D puzzle platformer whose cooperative challenges will give you ample reason to grumble at your friends.

Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy

Release date: Nov. 12

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2

Pikmin 4 is the newest Switch title to receive a full Switch 2 Edition upgrade, and it’s a worthy candidate. Thanks to its satisfying creature-wrangling and upbeat atmosphere, this strategy game ranks among the Switch’s finest. The enhanced release includes Dandori Academy, a stage-based challenge mode built to put your organizational talents to the test.

Milki Delivery

Release date: Nov. 17

Platforms: Windows PC

Players who lean toward cozy experiences should keep Milki Delivery on their radar. This charming 2D indie puts you at the helm of a dairy delivery business. You’ll pedal through idyllic countryside, bringing fresh milk from your own cows directly to the townsfolk. The whole thing radiates the welcoming warmth of a Studio Ghibli film.

Source: Polygon