Jack Paul 
November 2025 Gaming Lineup
November typically slows down for game releases, but this year brings several notable titles despite Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 dominating the month. The pattern makes sense—developers often avoid competing with major franchise releases. Still, there’s quite a variety coming, from puzzle games to racing titles and VR experiences.
Some older favorites are getting fresh treatment too. Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2 arrive on Nintendo Switch 2, while Fallout 4 receives an Anniversary Edition that bundles all DLC and game content together. These re-releases give players new ways to experience classic games.
Hyrule Warriors Returns
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment launches November 6th exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. This installment addresses a common criticism of previous games by offering a canonical story that serves as an official prequel to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The game expands on Tears of the Kingdom’s mechanics, featuring battles both on the surface and in the Depths, along with some Zonai devices—though the building mechanics from Tears aren’t included. Interestingly, Zelda takes the lead role this time, making it a true “legend of Zelda” experience.
Puzzle and Music Revival
Lumines Arise arrives November 11th on PC, PS5, and PS VR2—marking the first entirely new entry in the music-puzzle series in fourteen years. The game includes 35 new levels, 60 training levels, various challenges, and daily updated leaderboards. Developers hope the scoring system remains secure against hacking, which has plagued similar games in the past. Since its PSP debut two decades ago, Lumines has maintained its addictive quality, and this version continues that tradition. A demo is available on Steam and PS5, and it’s one of the few new titles supporting PS VR2.
Major Franchise Releases
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 hits stores November 13th across all major platforms. The latest Black Ops installment features a campaign set in 2035, directly continuing the story from Black Ops 2 and bringing back familiar characters. Beyond the standard multiplayer and zombie modes, the game introduces two 20v20 “skirmish” maps alongside thirteen new and three returning 6v6 maps.
Where Winds Meet offers something different—a free-to-play action RPG set in 10th-century China, launching November 14th. Players become a young swordmaster practicing Wuxia-style martial arts, similar to Chinese fantasy films. The developers promise over 150 hours of solo gameplay and four-player cooperative play. Being free-to-play raises questions about monetization impact, but the visual presentation looks impressive for a no-cost entry.
VR and Racing Returns
Marvel’s Deadpool VR arrives November 18th exclusively on Meta Quest 3 and 3S. With Neil Patrick Harris voicing the character instead of Ryan Reynolds, the game features both ranged and melee combat while maintaining Deadpool’s signature fourth-wall-breaking humor. The marketing has stayed true to character, suggesting the game will follow suit.
Kirby Air Riders revives the racing series after more than two decades, launching November 20th on Nintendo Switch 2. The game includes twenty characters across racing, combat, exploration, and field event modes. It’s somewhat surprising Nintendo would release another character-driven racer so soon after Mario Kart World, but the original Air Ride was well-received, suggesting this could be equally enjoyable.
Retro-Inspired Licensed Game
Terminator 2D: No Fate closes the month on November 25th, available across all platforms. The game embraces the 16-bit aesthetic of classic licensed titles but improves on the formula by allowing players to experience scenes from the film as the T-800, Sarah, and John Connor. The most intriguing feature involves multiple endings and “what if” scenarios—like exploring what would happen if the T-800 had killed all police at Cyberdyne HQ. These alternate paths come with consequences, creating the authentic licensed game experience many players wanted back in the 1990s.