November games release radar: fast cars, big guns, and Pokémon

San Francisco, California - The year is coming to an end, but before the Christmas season kicks off, the gaming community is in for some more big hits. TAG24 gives you a brief overview of the top games to look forward to in November.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

On November 5, travel back to World War II once again – and fight your way across five campaign storylines and 20 multiplayer maps.
On November 5, travel back to World War II once again – and fight your way across five campaign storylines and 20 multiplayer maps.  © Activision

Details:

  • Genre: First-Person-Shooter
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
  • ESRB Rating: M for Mature
  • Release Date: November 5

This autumn, Sledgehammer Games takes you back to World War II in Call of Duty: Vanguard, after the most recent CoD title dropped you into the Cold War and its proxy conflicts.

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Now it's time for a massive campaign that takes you back (once again) through the Second World War.

The locations include action in every theater of war, featuring Germany, France, Russia, Africa, and the Pacific.

In contrast to the Cold War CoD game, you get a whopping 20 maps right at launch instead of 12, and each map lets you throw down online.

Champion Hill is a battle royale meets team deathmatch mode intended to provide variety to the usual modes, and it has already been made publicly available for testing.

If you still need your fix of zombie-slaying fun, CoD: Vanguard has its own Zombie mode, which even features local splitscreen.

Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 wants to set new graphics standards. The necessary hardware is available in the newest consoles and higher-end PCs.
Forza Horizon 5 wants to set new graphics standards. The necessary hardware is available in the newest consoles and higher-end PCs.  © Microsoft

Details:

  • Genre: Open-world Racing Simulation
  • Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series
  • ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
  • Release Date: November 9

Autumn is here, and what better way to enjoy the gray days than racing through picturesque landscapes in cool cars?

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Going outside could be an option, but if you're inside and looking to have a blast behind a virtual wheel, then the newest racing title isn't just for die-hard Forza fans.

Forza Horizon 5 is the next installment in Microsoft's racing simulation franchise, and judging by the trailers and images so far, Horizon lives up to its name as the less realistic and more playful offshoot of the franchise.

At the wheel of hundreds of different vehicles, you will be transported to the beautiful landscapes of Mexico, where you can participate in races and explore the open-world surroundings.

The newest Forza game looks like just the thing for racing sim fans who want a less serious escape from Fall feelings.

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One

Players must solve some tricky puzzles in the role of the young master detective Sherlock Holmes.
Players must solve some tricky puzzles in the role of the young master detective Sherlock Holmes.  © Frogwares

Details:

  • Genre: Action-Adventure
  • Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series, later release for PS4 and Xbox One
  • ESRB Rating: T for Teen
  • Release Date: November 16

Slip into the role of the most famous sleuth in the world in the latest game of the Ukrainian developer studio Frogwares.

Unlike the previous titles of the studio's Sherlock Holmes series, this game is a prequel.

Sherlock is just 21 years old and is still at the very beginning of his career.

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One promises to be a story-heavy detective thriller, which leads you through an open-world Mediterranean island. The gameplay focus will be on puzzles, but the missions give you some freedom of expression.

There is no predetermined path to objectives. Instead, you can decide for yourself which strategy you want to pursue.

Whether you use brute force to smash through challenges or clever maneuvers to outsmart your enemies – everything is allowed here.

Battlefield 2042

Will Battlefield finally get back to its old strength with its new release?
Will Battlefield finally get back to its old strength with its new release?  © EA/Dice

Details:

  • Genre: First-Person Shooter
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
  • ESRB Rating: M for Mature
  • Release Date: November 19

The hype was huge when the first trailer for Battlefield 2042 appeared this summer, but one postponed release date and a mixed beta phase later, the enthusiasm is somewhat restrained.

The Battlefield franchise is not in the easiest of situations right now. Since the less than glorious release of Battlefield 5, the series has lost a lot of goodwill – and now has to deliver accordingly.

After all the struggles for the franchise, Battlefield 2042 will bring numerous new modes and features, as well as new weather elements like tornadoes and devastating sandstorms. Pair that with stellar Frostbite Engine visuals and up to 128 players on one map, and the new title from Dice seems to have a lot to offer.

The question is whether Battlefield 2042 will live up to its promise. Doing so would certainly be desirable for the franchise – and for anyone who already pre-ordered the game.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

There's no shortage of cuteness in the new edition of Diamond and Pearl, but will the sugary sweet look really appeal to every fan?
There's no shortage of cuteness in the new edition of Diamond and Pearl, but will the sugary sweet look really appeal to every fan?  © Nintendo

Details:

  • Genre: RPG-Adventure
  • Platform: Nintendo Switch
  • ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
  • Release Date: November 19

Nintendo naturally wants to get a piece of the Christmas business pie before a potential revamp of the series hits the market in the new year with Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Nintendo has given its DS games Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl a bit of a facelift and will re-release the two titles as Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl at full price for the Switch.

Followers of the series can expect maximum fan-service, even though some have criticized Nintendo's pricing decision.

Graphically, the cuteness level has been thoroughly tweaked, with the familiar locations of the original returning with more detail and color.

Apart from that, everything is on board that connoisseurs of the first games already know: you can prepare snacks, take part in competitions, dig for fossils underground, and of course: fight!

There won't be any real innovations, but nevertheless, the titles are expected to sell big as fans of the series try to catch 'em all.

New games for Playstation Plus and Xbox Games with Gold subscribers

Sony has since announced which new games will be included in the PS Plus subscription. Here's the lineup:

  • First Class Trouble
  • Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
  • Knockout City
  • The Persistence
  • The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Standard Edition
  • Until You Fall

Microsoft has also announced November's games for its Games with Gold subscription service, which are:

  • Lego Batman 2
  • Kingdom Two Crowns
  • Moving Out
  • Rocket Knight

November is packed with big new games and a return of fan favorites. Grab your favorite toasty Fall beverage and get ready for a month of potential grade-A gaming.

Cover photo: Collage: EA/Dice, Nintendo, Activision & Microsoft

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