Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Sets the Stage
November 6 brings Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2. This title serves as an official prequel to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which I think is pretty significant for Zelda lore enthusiasts. The game features improved combat mechanics and includes battles across both surface and underground areas. What caught my attention is that Zelda takes the lead role this time, which feels like a natural progression given her expanded role in recent titles.
They’ve incorporated some Zonai devices from Tears of the Kingdom, though the building mechanics aren’t present. It’s interesting how they’re connecting these different gameplay experiences while maintaining distinct identities.
Lumines Returns After Long Hiatus
Lumines Arise arrives on November 11 for PC, PS5, and PS VR2—marking the series’ first new entry in fourteen years. That’s quite a gap between releases. The game includes 35 new levels plus 60 training levels, along with daily leaderboards. I’m cautiously optimistic about the leaderboard system; previous music games have struggled with score manipulation issues.
What stands out is the PS VR2 support, which seems like a natural fit for the series’ immersive audio-visual experience. Demos are available on Steam and PS5, which is always helpful for players deciding whether to commit.
Call of Duty Dominates the Month
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches November 13 across all major platforms. The campaign continues the Black Ops 2 storyline set in 2035, bringing back familiar characters. The multiplayer component expands with two 20v20 skirmish maps alongside thirteen new 6v6 maps and three returning favorites.
The zombie mode returns as expected. It’s interesting how the release schedule shaped up this year—September and October were packed with releases, likely to avoid competing with this title.
Notable Releases and Surprises
Where Winds Meet offers a free-to-play Wuxia experience set in 10th-century China, launching November 14. The developers promise over 150 hours of solo content and four-player co-op. Free-to-play models always raise questions about monetization impact, but the visual presentation looks promising.
Marvel’s Deadpool VR arrives November 18 exclusively on Meta Quest platforms, with Neil Patrick Harris voicing the character. The marketing has maintained Deadpool’s characteristic humor, which bodes well for the game’s tone.
Kirby Air Riders revives the racing series after more than twenty years, featuring twenty characters across multiple game modes. The timing feels a bit crowded with Mario Kart World’s recent release, but variety never hurts.
Terminator 2D: No Fate takes an interesting approach to licensed games by incorporating multiple endings and “what if” scenarios while maintaining a 16-bit aesthetic. This could finally deliver the authentic movie adaptation that many older gamers remember wanting back in the 90s.
November’s lineup demonstrates how the gaming industry balances major franchise releases with niche titles and experimental projects. The mix of AAA blockbusters, VR experiences, and retro-inspired games creates a diverse offering for different player preferences.
