So, enough dilly-dallying. Let’s get into the top games (and consoles!) headed your way this month…

The Wizard And The Slug

Available on PC

What better way to kick off a massive month of gaming than with a small (but very, very fast) side-scrolling precision platformer that has you playing as the fastest, most agile slug in history. Oh, and he’s got a Wizard for a sidekick.

Breathedge

Available to play from Thursday 5 November on PC

Survival games don’t come much funnier than this small indie title in which the remaining survivor (well, survivors, if you include your immortal chicken companion) of a sudden space cruise crash is forced to fight for his life in outer space.

Kosmokrats

Available to play from Thursday 5 November on PC

Speaking of space, puzzle games show their sillier side in this cracking new brain-tickler of a game, where nudging parts of space bases together is as intense as it is challenging. Godspeed, comrade.

YesterMorrow

Available to play from Thursday 5 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

Travel through time, save your family and piece a broken world back together in this visually stunning action platformer from the studio behind Iconolasts. Top stuff.

DiRT 5

Available to play from Friday 6 November on PC, PS4 and Xbox One; Tuesday 10 November on Xbox Series X/S; and Thursday 19 November on PS5

If there’s one thing Codemasters know, it’s how to deliver crisp visuals, entertaining gameplay and endless hours of ear-shredding, racing sim fun. With DiRT 5, they’ve only gone and done it again. We haven’t been this pumped for an arcade/sim rally game since, well, DiRT 4?

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered

Available to play from Friday 6 November on PC, PS4 and Xbox One; and Friday 13 November on Nintendo Switch

Sometimes a game’s title alone can take you back to a time when your primary concern in life was, “Is it worth not doing homework in order to play this game?” Though the question and priority may have since changed, the answer regarding this sumptuous remake of the 2010 Need For Speed title is, inevitably, the same. Yes, it’s absolutely worth playing instead of… doing whatever else you have to do.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Stadia; and Thursday 19 November on PS5

Assassin’s Creed has come a long way since scouring Venetian rooftops… Journey to an ancient England and plunder its murkiest shores as a Norman invader in the latest addition to the smash-hit saga.

Xbox Series X/S consoles

Available to buy from Tuesday 10 November

Both Sony and Microsoft have flouted convention with this latest generation of consoles in releasing not one, but two at the same time! While the Xbox Series X is the uber-powerful, disc-compatible console of the two, the Xbox Series S is its slimmer, slightly less powerful (but still jaw-dropping), non-disc-using digital brother.

XIII

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

Fans of the legendary first-person shooter from “back in the day” (aka 2003) will be pleased to hear that it’s now available to enjoy all over again with this remastered, current-gen remake.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

The always entertaining and utterly bonkers Yakuza series gets a much-needed change of setting with this brand new instalment, following the rise of new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga within Yokohama’s suitably sinister (but still bonkers) criminal underworld.

Borderlands 3

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox Series X/S; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

Comic book-esque, self-shaded scenery and more guns than you’ve had hot dinners, we love the Borderlands series. This action-packed third entry didn’t disappoint last year, and can now be enjoyed all over again on next-gen consoles.

Enlisted

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox Series X/S

Fight your way through some of the most infamous conflicts from the Second World War in this ma-hoo-sive MMO that has you shooting, commanding and leading your armies into battle.

Evergate

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox Series X/S

Kindred spirits and souls come together in this 2D platformer, with players exploring the afterlife alongside a plethora of cute (if undead) characters.

Fortnite

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox Series X/S; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

Indeed, the smash-hit survival, battle-royale and sandbox title arrives on the next generation. In other words, being obliterated by fast-thinking players crouching on high towers or wiped out by a slowly shrinking wave has never looked so good.

The Falconeer

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PC and Xbox One

Fly through a jaw-dropping fantastical realm and duke it out with dragons, ships, strongholds and armies with your giant falcon in this stylish new air-combat game. It. Looks. In… SANE!

Fuser

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

The brains behind Rock Band and Guitar Hero have once again revolutionised the world of rhythm games with this innovative new title that has players DJing their way to superstardom and wowing vast crowds.

Gears Tactics

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

The typically fast, frenetic, third-person combat of Gears Of Wars turns tactical with this XCOM-esque spin-off set before the events of the original game. Who doesn’t love a prequel, right? (Let’s, like everyone else, just pretend Judgment isn’t a thing…)

NBA 2K21

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox Series X/S; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

The FIFA of basketball makes its debut on the next generation, meaning you can shoot hoops and dish out the Ls to your mates in the crispest, most eerily lifelike graphics the franchise has ever seen.

Observer: System Redux

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PC and Xbox Series X/S; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

One of the most criminally underrated games in recent years (in which players attempt to solve crimes by hacking into the minds of suspects) gets a next-gen touch-up with this stunning remaster.

Tetris Effect: Connected

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

The surprisingly tense, action-packed Tetris reboot finally arrives on Xbox with this acclaimed, chaotic iteration of the legendary puzzle game. Think Tetris combined with Geometry Wars and you’ve a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Warhammer: Chaosbane

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox Series X/S

If you haven’t had the pleasure of hacking and slashing your way through the Warhammer universe in this action RPG, then doing so on next-gen consoles is absolutely a good move. No seriously, do it. Do it now.

Watch Dogs: Legion

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on Xbox Series X/S; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

Sometimes (in the words of Gary Barlow) having “a little patience” reaps its rewards, with anyone who held off on leaping into the latest Watch Dogs title last month now able to explore and liberate its futuristic, Orwellian London setting on next-gen consoles.

Liftoff: Drone Racing

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PS4 and Xbox One

The little-known but always entertaining world of drone racing gets its very own rapid video game sim with this long-awaited title. Race through gardens, forests and custom-built courses and try, try not to hit anything.

Planet Coaster: Console Edition

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

With Planet Coaster: Console Edition, you can at last fulfil your childhood dream of creating, managing and expanding your very own theme park from the comfort of your own sofa. It’s a strange childhood dream, we’ll be honest, but one you can now live out to its fullest, nonetheless.

Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PC; and from Friday 20 November on PS4 and Nintendo Switch

The goddess of harvests journeys to a demon-riddled world and is tasked with sending them packing in this fantastical, side-scrolling action platformer. If you love rice and games (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?), you’ll love this.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light

Available to play from Tuesday 10 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Stadia

The long-running RPG gets its latest expansion in the much-anticipated Beyond Light. New weapons, worlds and abilities are all waiting to be enjoyed as Halo creators Bungie once again blow our collective gaming minds.

Esports Life Tycoon

Available to play from Thursday 12 November on PS4 and Xbox One

If you’re not a pro-gamer journeying from event to event and dishing out the Ls worldwide, you can finally experience the lavish lifestyle of an Esports athlete with this cracking simulator from Raiser Games.

Bugsnax

Available to play from Thursday 12 November on PS4; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

Half-bug-half-snack creatures are on the menu in this charming adventure game, and it’s your job to find them. Some serious fun to be had with this one.

Family Feud

Available to play from Thursday 12 November on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Stadia

Get the fam together and combine your collective quiz know-how for the latest side-splitting edition to the long-running series of video game adaptations.

Godfall

Available to play from Thursday 12 November on PC; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

Borderlands developer Gearbox Software presents an epic new title in which God-like Knights from separate realms band together to prevent an apocalyptic event. Action, high fantasy and some serious style to the visuals make this a perfect launch title for a new gaming generation.

Just Dance 2021

Available to play from Thursday 12 November on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Stadia; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

Prepare to pop, lock and generally strut your way to dance nirvana with the latest Just Dance title, this year’s offering packed wall-to-wall with a brand new playlist of absolute bangers.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Available to play from Thursday 12 November on PS4; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

The LittleBigPlanet star takes centre stage in his very own adventure with this Crash Bandicoot-looking 3D platformer. We’re getting Knack vibes from this one, which can only be a good thing.

The Pathless

Available to play from Thursday 12 November on PC, PS4 and iOS; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

A master archer is the only hope of lifting a curse plaguing an impoverished island in this innovative new adventure game from Abzû creators Giant Squid Studios. We’ll be honest: they had us at Abzûûûûûûû.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Available to play from Tuesday 12 November on PS4; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

This action-packed sequel to 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man picks up immediately where the previous game (well, its The City That Never Sleeps DLC, anyway) left off, with Miles Morales making his first forays into the world as the new Spider-Man and trying to acclimatise to his newfound powers.
 

Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Available to play from Friday 13 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

You know the drill. An entertaining campaign, rage- or fist pump-inducing multiplayer and, as always, zombies. This latest Black Ops instalment could well be the best one yet. Exciting times for COD fans, indeed.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody Of Memory

Available to play from Friday 13 November on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

The dimension-hopping Kingdom Hearts series gets an all-new, rhythm game prequel/remaster/reboot/something with Melody Of Memory, in which the events of all 13 previous titles’ stories are lovingly retold. It’s Kingdom Hearts… it wouldn’t make sense if it, you know, made sense.

Mars Horizon

Available to play from Tuesday 17 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

In what is effectively Kerbal Space Program minus the Kerbals, design, craft and manage a space agency and launch missions to Mars in this brilliant new space sim designed with the help of the European Space Agency.

Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate Edition

Available to play from Tuesday 17 November on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Stadia; and from Thursday 19 November on PS5

2019’s acclaimed Mortal Kombat 11 arrives on next-gen consoles with this suitably “ultimate” Ultimate Edition, with the graphics ramped up to 11 (see what we did there…?) and all of MK11’s DLC included. That’s a KO, in our books.

PlayStation 5 console

Available to buy from Thursday 19 November

As with the new Xbox, this generation’s PlayStation offering encompasses two versions of the console. The discless version caters solely to digital downloads, though a disc-compatible version is also available for any old-school gamers who still crave the “new game smell” that accompanies opening the box for the first time… ahhhh…

Astro’s Playroom

Available to play from Thursday 19 November on PS5

Pre-installed on your PS5 from the get-go, this charming little platformer is a brilliant showcase for the console’s power and performance and, if we’re being honest, has one of the cutest gaming mascots we’ve seen for some time.

Demon’s Souls

Available to play from Thursday 19 November on PS5

The first in FromSoftware’s now-legendary (and infamously difficult) Souls series gets an overhaul with this next-gen remaster. Meaning this game will as likely as not be responsible for the rage-induced destruction of controllers on the PS3, PS4 and, now, the PS5 too!

Destruction AllStars

Available to play from Thursday 19 November on PS5

A multiplayer vehicular combat game where the sole purpose is to jump into one of 16 “AllStar” cars and destroy other players by any means necessary? Yep, we’re in. Think Rocket League-levels of destruction, ramped up even higher, and without a ball…

Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition

Available to play from Thursday 19 November on PS5

Though the straight-faced plot has you attempting to save the world, make no mistake: this game is nuts. We’re talking “wield a motorbike in each hand while chaining combos alongside an electric eagle”-levels of weird. And with this expanded special edition for the PS5, there’s even more madness to go around.

Monster Truck Championship

Available to play from Thursday 19 November on Nintendo Switch

If you find games like Gran Turismo and Project Cars lack the kind of chaos and outright mayhem seen when monster trucks roll into town, fear not, for Monster Truck Championship is exactly that game, and (somehow) more.

Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity

Available to play from Friday 20 November on Nintendo Switch

The worlds of Dynasty Warriors and The Legend Of Zelda crossover yet again for this smash-tastic hack-and-slash sequel that sees players journey to a war-torn Hyrule a century before the events of Breath Of The Wild.

Katamari Damacy REROLL

Available to play from Friday 20 November on PS4 and Xbox One

Don’t worry, it wasn’t something you ate. The above trailer really is that strange. But we couldn’t be happier that the up-to-now Switch-exclusive puzzle platformer (that has you roll massive balls of stuff together to… bring the stars back to the skies?) is now available to play on PlayStation and Xbox. Some serious weirdness awaits.

Football Manager 2021

Available to play from Tuesday 24 November on PC

Whether your goal (pun absolutely intended) is to storm Preston to the top of Europe or simply secure Aldershot some season-on-season midtable mediocrity, there’s plenty of highs, lows and gut-wrenching losses to be had with this year’s Football Manager.

Vigor

Available to play from Wednesday 25 November on PS4

Fans of the OG Day Z mod for Arma 2 will find plenty to love with this free-to-play looter-shooter, where fighting for survival and scavenging for supplies in a post-apocalyptic Norway is key.