Originally published at: https://geektherapy.org/novembers-new-titles-from-nostalgia-to-bold-new-adventures/
Author: Greg Lozano
Just because we’re nearing the end of 2024 does not mean that there aren’t a multitude of games that will be rearing their head. We will be seeing a number of rereleases as well as ports onto other systems, but there are also unique titles that will be making their way onto platforms, so I’m curious as to which you will be checking out.
Metal Slug Tactics (PC, PS4/5, XSX/S, Xbox One, Switch) – November 5
Metal Slugs is taking on a new adventure in the form of a tactics style roguelite. If you grew up with the NeoGeo classic, you’ll know that this series has incredible pixel art and a knack for humor in some bizarre places. This is definitely a healthy serving of nostalgia, mixed with roguelite elements that will be worth checking out.
Planet Coaster 2 (PC, PS5, XSX/S) – November 6
If you were around during the Rollercoaster Tycoon era, then you know that the development team left to make their own entries without the scrutiny of Epic Games and Atari. Fans have hailed the planet series as the successor to all of the fun tycoon games that they grew up with, and this game looks to fare even better for loyalists of the series. With several different game modes, players will be sure to enjoy their time building the themepark of their dreams, or nightmares.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership (Switch) – November 7
With Bowser’s Inside Story being the last Mario and Luigi game to release, and the studio filing for bankruptcy not long after, fans were starting to believe that the age of Mario style RPGs will soon fade as the Paper Mario series veered from its RPG elements, and there hasn’t been an RPG with the Mario name in some time. Excited gamers lept when Nintendo released their Direct and showed Brothership and its new adventure. For those new to the series, the Mario and Luigi RPGs centers around precision timing with button presses between the two brothers to create impactful attacks as well as abilities to reach new areas.
Metro Awakening (PSVR 2, Quest 2/3, Steam VR) – November 7
The Metro series has been known for its gritty and quite terrifying landscape of survivor, and now it’s ventured its way into VR. The game does play like many FPS, but there is one key element that stands it apart from the others. Your currency in game is ammunition which leaves you with the question as to how you supply yourself without leaving yourself vulnerable or just stocked full of useless items. I always praise new releases for having a respectable price tag, and if you have a VR set and are curious to take on this challenging world, it is respectably only 39.99.
Goat Simulator Remastered (PC, PS5, XSX/S) – November 7
In a world where you play as a goat and your objective is to completely crash the game comes that title that spun three main titles and now has a remaster. Goat Simulator is anything but a simulator, and if you weren’t aware of that, well here’s the ice breaker. Quite possibly one of the most chaotically fun titles to grace gaming and it will be available with all DLC included. I wasn’t lying when I said that the objective is to crash the game, there’s even an achievement for doing so!
Slitterhead (PC, PS4/5, XSX/S) – November 8
Set in a fictional Asian city in the 90s comes a new survivor horror game from the creative mind of Keiichiro Toyama. While many games have had a possession mechanic, this one operates in a unique way where you inhabit random NPCs to use your abilities, and when your newly acquired meatshield is nearing its end, it’s time to host jump and continue to stop the threatening onslaught that invades your city. It’s always refreshing to see original ideas implemented into genres such as these and create scares in ways people haven’t experienced before.
The Rise of the Golden Idol (PC, PS4/5, Switch, XSX/S, Xbox One, Mobile) – November 12
A detective puzzler where you investigate crimes and areas and work to solve the mysteries behind them. This is the sequel to the title known as The Case of the Golden Idol which notably won many awards. Many fans of the series have already spoken about how this is a day one purchase because of how engaging the first title was, and the reviews for that title are nothing short of stellar.
Tetris Forever (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, XSX/S) – November 12
Have you ever wanted to watch a documentary about one of the biggest gaming titles in existence and also have access to many titles from its inception to modern age? Tetris forever not only includes a documentary about the history of the game, but also comes with the original Tetris made from Alexey Pajinov in 1985, some versions that never released outside of Japan, and an all new Time-Warp mode which shuffles between all versions that come with this game and supports 4 players.
Temtem: Swarm (PC) – November 13
I had to look up the term of what kind of game this is as I have not heard of the term “bullet heaven” before, but after seeing it play it, it is a rather simple and familiar structure. If you are like me and don’t know what a bullet heaven is, it’s basically a survival game where you are swarmed with an insane amount of enemies, and the goal is, well, survive. Upon death you can work on skill-trees to better coordinate to your playstyle. If you played Vampire Survivor, you will be familiar with the style of game this is. Something incredibly easy to get into with not a lot of depth beyond gunning down hordes of mobs.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake (PC, PS5, XSX/S, Switch) – November 14
Technically the first entry in the original trilogy, despite being the 3rd entry to release, and by that I mean chronologically in regard to the story. If you are a fan of traditional turn- based Japanese RPGs, and have an itch for nostalgia, there is no better way to go than experiencing the HD-2D remake. Decorated in amazing enhanced visuals and still keeping the charm of the original series, this game will definitely bring together fans both old and new in a way not existed before. Since these are older RPGs, expect playtime to be somewhere along the lines of 30 hours and still getting a full and incredible experience.
Skydance’s Behemoth (VR) – November 14
This is one of those titles that I want it to be good, because the ideas behind them seem extremely intriguing, but the execution of this game looks like it is missing the polish in making it into a great title. Combat looks incredibly responsive with the angles needed to block and attack, and having to scale behemoths is reminiscent of titles such as Shadows of the Colossus, but in 3D; yet the game looks far from polished in regard to animation. This could be a game that paves the way for incredible titles in the future, but I’m curious to see what reviewers will think of this when it releases.
LEGO Horizon Adventures (PC, PS5, Switch) – November 14
What’s this, a PlayStation exclusive coming onto the Switch? Well, sort of. Sony has teamed with LEGO to bring the Horizon franchise into a new world, and honestly, I’m all for it. The Horizon games are solid pieces of work, and there really isn’t a bad LEGO game as they’re always fun and have incredible mechanics that really make one feel like they’re playing with LEGOs in a virtual world.
Path of Exile 2 (PC, PS5, XSX/S) – November 15 (Early Access)
This has been on my radar since it was announced. PoE was basically the solution to how dull the ARPG genre had become, and PoE2 looks to evolve it even further. Looking to blend the genres of ARPG and Soulslike and also including console and couch co-op mode, this game looks like it’s going to be an excellent title for fans of the genre. With the ability to play casually or really go into a hardcore mode where if your character dies, it is completely over, this is definitely a title that people should have on their radar if they’re into games like Diablo.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (PC, Xbox) – November 19
Available day 1 for GamePass holders, Flight Simulator takes the modern simulation technology and finds yet another way to improve the franchise. Giving players the agency to improve their aviation career through various methods, people can eventually build a reputation to partake in Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search and Rescue, and many more, including an Airline Passenger Pilot. With all new modes that allow you to compete with other pilots around the globe, this will be a great title for those of the Flight Simulator series.
Towers of Aghasba (PC, PS5) – November 19 (Early Access)
What happens when you mix 1 part Stardew Valley, one part Shadow’s of the Colossus, and then add waves of monsters that can invade, well you get Towers of Aghasba. This game looks to take the world crafting genre into new heights by involving gargantuan creatures that occupy as high as the skies and as low as the depths of the seas, all while developing your own town and fighting off hordes of monsters. It looks good, and while not exactly unique in concept of game design, it still stands out apart from other titles in the same avenue. I will definitely be looking at the reviews from this early access as it looks like it can only improve, and it already seems impressive.
MySims Cozy Bundle (Switch) – November 19
There have been a number of Wii titles that resurfaced onto the Switch. One that was not on my bingo card was MySims, which was a spin-off of the Sims franchise (oddly enough which was also a spin-off of the SimCity games). This game and its DLC did garner a lot of praise when they originally released, and I’m sure fans of the game would like to pick this up once more if they enjoyed it then and would like the trip down memory lane.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PC, XSX/S) – November 20
I’ll be honest, when it comes to this and Metro, I tend to get the games mixed up. I know I played both original titles, but I can’t for the life of me remember the difference between the two. That being said, the first installment of this franchise won multiple awards, and now running on Unreal 5 and with a non-linear story, it’s possible the FPS genre may just find some new elements that will need to find their way into other games of the same genre. An incredibly immersive single-player experience with a free multiplayer update coming in the future, I’m sure there are going to be memorable moments throughout a playthrough.
Genshin Impact (XSX/S) – November 20
Saying you haven’t heard of Genshin Impact is like saying you haven’t heard of Sonic. Sure Sonic has been around for many more decades, but Genshin Impact grew in popularity as many of its mechanics were borrowed from Breath of the Wild and then incorporated in its own unique way in this free to play gacha RPG. Finally making its appearance on the Xbox, players will be allowed to move their save file onto the console if they so wish, allowing them to play in multiple ways now.
Star Wars Outlaws (Steam) – November 21
Receiving an incredible amount of negative attention upon its release back in late August, Outlaws will finally be making its way onto Steam. Many people have criticized Star Wars Outlaws for being generic and dull. Coining it as an Uncharted title, but in the Star Wars Universe and still not as good, is really telling about Ubisoft and how disconnected they are with gamers. They’ve constantly boasted about how their titles are better than AAA games, and yet, this company is the biggest offender of never wanting to be original but rather ride the coattails of what succeeded before it.
Nine Sols (PS4/5, Switch, XSX/S) – November 26
Have you ever been sold with just one sentence? A: That’s great marketing, and B: it is worthy of your interest when all you need is one sentence. Nine Sols was inspired by Sekiro, Hollow Knight, and Katana Zero, and while I still need to play Katana Zero, the other two titles are cemented as some of my favorite games in gaming history. Released earlier this year on PC to high praise (and I’m surprised that I didn’t list it on my May releases), it is looking to evolve an entire genre thanks to its incredible gameplay.
That’s it for the game releases coming out in November. Let me know what titles you are most interested in and what you’ve been waiting to play since its announcement.