The biggest shopping season of the year is nearly upon us, and alongside big sales and the hottest gifts come an avalanche of exciting new games. Get ready to bundle up this winter with your best bets for new games being released from November into early 2019.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu! / Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee!
Date: November 13th, 2018
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Genre: Gotta catch ‘em all, in HD!
In the grand tradition of Nintendo game titles, the Let’s Go games are the latest iteration of the celebrated Pokemon franchise. This game is really designed to bring you back to the beginning, as it’s a slightly remixed and very updated version of Pokemon Yellow (from 1998!). Become a Pokemon trainer once again with some of the mechanics of the wildly popular Pokemon GO mobile game, including…throwing a ball at an unsuspecting pokemon to make them fight for you in thrilling animated battles!
Fallout 76
Date: November 14th, 2018
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Online post-apocalyptic action role-playing friend-finder
While Fallout 76 is chronologically a prequel to all the other Fallout games, it also differs greatly from the last decade in the series by being an online multiplayer version of the role-playing adventure. Explore post-apocalyptic West Virginia while other players do the same: every human you meet is another player. What will this mean? Lots of people doing weird Fortnite-dances, probably. But also interesting base-building and social mechanics as well.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Date: December 7th, 2018
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Genre: Over-the-top mascot brawler
This is it: the biggest fighting game in Nintendo history. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate brings every single fighter from the previous four games in the storied franchise, allowing you to bring the likes of Mario, Sonic, Mega Man, Pac Man, and even Isabelle to a wide range of stages and fight to your hearts content. There’s no way around it, this is the most ultimate Smash Bros. has ever been, and you know you want to see the dog from Duck Hunt inexplicably fighting Snake from the Metal Gear Solid series destroy each other on a Pokemon Stadium.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Date: January 29th, 2019
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre: Disney role-playing action-adventure with pointy hair
Kingdom Hearts fans have been waiting a looooooong time for this one, and barring any (almost inevitable) delays, KHIII will arrive in early 2019 after 13 years since the last numbered title. The plot is confusing, but the setting is only slightly less so: action RPG gameplay with magical keyblades featuring characters from Disney’s myriad of entertainment properties. Got that? Just don’t ask who Xehanort is, there are at least 13 different answers.
Anthem
Date: February 22nd, 2019
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Online Dragon Age in space, but also not Mass Effect
Anthem comes from Canadian developer BioWare, known for the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. Their newest game is an online science fiction RPG that bears a striking resemblance to Bungie’s Destiny series, but focuses on “exosuit” gameplay (kind of like playing as Iron Man on an alien planet). Anthem tries to set itself apart with its “shared world” and living, growing story – but, like Fallout 76, must also be played online.
Honourable Mentions
Hitman 2 (November 13th, 2019, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
Battlefield V (November 20th, 2019, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (January 11th, 2019, Nintendo Switch)
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes (January 18th, 2019, Nintendo Switch)
Stay tuned for “Gaming Best Bets” looking at the very busy November-December release window and beyond!
