There is no doubt in my mind that this week is the biggest week in gaming. Though there aren’t as many releases as last week’s with 24 instead of 29, the biggest games of the year are launching during the week of November 17,2014. With games like Far Cry 4, Dragon Age: Inquisition, the current gen versions of GTA V, Super Smash Bros. on the Wii U and the Pokémon remakes, this lineup is just filled with amazing-looking experiences that are bound to be Game of the Year contenders without any question.
Note: All of the dates and prices listed below are for North American territories. Also, keep in mind that this list is subject to change with new games potentially announced or launching this week without notice.
Tuesday November 18, 2014:
- Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, 3DS
Prices: $39.99 for the Console and PC Versions, $29.99 for the 3DS Version
In the third video game installment of the popular Adventure Time cartoon titled The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom, you must explore the uncharted territories of the Nameless Kingdom, as Finn and Jake, by solving puzzles in a Top-Down perspective, which is the same view as the previous game Explore the Dungeon Because I Don’t Know!. Expect tons hidden secrets, hilarious quests and references to various characters present in the TV show while battling your way through unique dungeons and a danger-filled overworld.
- Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault
Platform: PC (Digital Only)
Price: $39.99
Set in a war conflict known as The Battle of the Bulge, Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is the thrilling new chapter in the popular World War II series. With its non-linear campaign, 18 new scenarios, three companies and layers of customization, Ardennes Assault changes the Strategy formula enough that it makes it feel like a true sequel instead of a simple expansion.
- Dragon Age: Inquisition
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Prices: $59.99 for the Standard Versions, $69.99 for the Deluxe Editions
Bioware’s upcoming Action RPG, Dragon Age: Inquisition promises over 200 hours of open-world gameplay goodness with its open-ended plot focusing on player decisions that will depict the game’s narrative. As your own customizable character, you’ll pick up shortly after the events of Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age II, the initial installments in the series. Inquisition will feature two combat systems; your typical Third-Person RPG perspective as well as the Tactical view that switches the game to a Top-Down view and plays a lot more like a strategy game. Nevertheless, be ready to be lost into the amazing world of Thedas that BioWare has crafted in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
- Escape Dead Island
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Price: $39.99
In this spinoff based off the Survival-Horror franchise Dead Island, you follow the story of Cliff Calo, a man wanting to document the rumored catastrophic events happening in Banoi. Since it is a story-driven adventure game and not a First-Person Survival title, Escape Dead Island is a much more passive gameplay experience that will remain interesting and engaging because it will explain many of the Dead Island universe’s secrets and, most importantly, is the missing link between the events of Dead Island and the upcoming Dead Island 2.
- Far Cry 4
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Prices: $59.99 for the Standard Versions, $89.99 for the Gold Edition (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC – Digital Only), $129.99 for the Ultimate Kyrat Edition
Set in the fictional Himalayan region of Kyrat, you play as Ajay Ghale who returns to his homeland to dispose of his mother’s ashes in Far Cry 4. Unfortunately, it proves to be a much harder task as Pagan Min, the game’s main antagonist, has dragged the country into a raging civil war. You’ll have to explore the massive open-world and use the vast array of weapons, vehicles and animals to find a way to stop the conflict. Additionally, PlayStation users will be able to play Far Cry 4’s co-op thanks to its Keys of Kyrat feature, which allows the game’s owner to invite players who don’t have it and play for two hours.
- Grand Theft Auto V
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Price: $59.99
The fastest selling entertainment product of all time, Grand Theft Auto V, is hitting the current gen platforms as well as the PC this week. With its enhanced resolution, level of detail, draw distance and brand new on-foot First-Person mode, this upgraded version of Grand Theft Auto V hopes to bring last year’s critically acclaimed title to a whole other level. Plus, players will be able to transfer all of their GTA Online progress from PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 to any of the two current gen consoles.
- Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Prices: $39.99 for the PlayStation Vita Versions, $49.99 for the PlayStation 3 Version – (Compatible with PlayStation TV)
Nearly seven months after its original Japanese debut, the sequel to Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F arrives in the West this week. As the world’s most famous virtual singer, you’ll need to tap and hold the buttons to the beat of 40 addicting songs spanning through four different difficulty settings in this unique rhythm game.
- Little Big Planet 3
Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3
Price: $59.99
Sackboy is back, but, this time, he has brought along three new friends in Oddsock, Swoop and Big Toggle, which are all playable characters with different traits and abilities. Because of the variety in the character roster, Little Big Planet 3’s levels are a lot more versatile than the previous ones in the series. In addition, all previous downloadable content packs as well as any level created in Little Big Planet and Little Big Planet 2 will be available in LBP3.
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Price: $59.99
Nearly 2 months after its original debut, the critically acclaimed Action-Adventure title, Shadow of Mordor, is heading to previous gen consoles along with all of its core features. As Talion, a ranger from the Black Gate leading to the dangerous land of Mordor, you must avenge your death as well as your family’s in wraith form. Shadow of Mordor is easily one of 2014’s best games of the year and you can read our review for it right here.
- Minecraft
Platform: Xbox One (Retail Only)
Price: $19.99
Chances are, if you own any video game console, you probably already have a version of Minecraft installed on it. If buying digital games isn’t your thing, you can now purchase Minecraft in a sealed box at your local retail store starting this week.
- Monopoly Family Fun Pack
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Price: $29.99
Featuring three variants of the massively popular board game in Monopoly Plus, My Monopoly and Monopoly Deal, Monopoly Family Fun Pack allows you to enjoy these timeless classics using your home console.
- MXGP: The Official Motocross Videogame
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita (Digital Only)
Prices: $59.99 for the PlayStation 4 Version, $39.99 for the Xbox for 360 and PlayStation 3 Versions, $TBD for the PlayStation Vita Version
With two MXGP Championships to race in, put your racing skills to the test by taking on official events alongside all of the MX1 and MX2 riders and bikes. It is the most faithfully reproduced motocross game of all-time.
- Never Alone
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC – (Digital Only on All Platforms)
Price: $14.99
Never Alone puts you in the shoes of an Alaskan little girl named Nuna and her arctic fox as they go through an atmospheric adventure while solving multiple platform-based puzzles to restore balance in eternal blizzard. Since both Nuna and her fox are playable characters in Never Alone, each of them have their own abilities that must be exploited throughout the game’s eight chapters alone or with a second player.
- The Jackbox Party Pack
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 – (Digital Only on All Platforms)
Price: $TBD
Featuring five uniquely weird games in Drawful, You Don’t Know Jack 2015, Fibbage XL, Lie Swatter and Word Spud, The Jackbox Party Pack is a fun board game-type experience that can be played by 1 to 100 players using their tablets, smartphones or computers.
- Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360
Prices: $39.99 for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 Versions, $29.99 for the Xbox 360 Version
Rabbids Invasions, the animated Nickelodeon TV show, has been tweaked to be an interactive TV show on consoles, using the motion controls from your Kinect or PlayStation Camera. Not only is this TV you can watch, but it’s TV you can play with up to four people on Xbox One and PS4, and two players on Xbox 360. You’ll need to obtain high scores in order to unlock additional episodes.
- Rollers of the Realm
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PC – (Digital Only on All Platforms)
Price: $9.99 (Cross-Buy on PlayStation Platforms)
With its Medieval-inspired setting, Rollers of the Realm is an indie-developed Pinball RPG where your characters are the balls. It features a fully-voiced story that explores the tale of Rogue and her dog as they are tasked with reclaiming the world from dark and ancient magic.
- Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops
Platform: PlayStation 4 (Digital Only)
Price: $7.99 (Cross-Buy with PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita)
Following its debut on PS3 and Vita, Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops, the bite-sized arcade shooter, is making its way to the PS4. Since it is Cross-buy-supported, players who already have a version of Tiny Troopers will get the PS4 version for free, or the other way around.
- Watch Dogs
Platform: Wii U
Price: $59.99
Wii U owners, Watch Dogs is finally hitting the platform six months after its original debut on all the other platforms. With new GamePad-centric features that are tied into Aiden’s Pearce’s hacking capabilities, the Wii U version of Watch Dogs promises an immersive experience with the unique second screen that is only available on Nintendo’s platform.
- WWE 2K15
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Price: $59.99
Following its last gen release in late October, WWE 2K15 is hitting the current gen systems with its new fighting mechanics, modes and enhanced gameplay experience with WWE Superstars in it. It is the most authentic and action-packed WWE video game experience to date.
Thursday November 20, 2014:
- Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms
Platform: PC (Digital Only)
Price: $29.99
Out of Steam Early Access, Book 1: Devourer of Souls of Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms, the sequel to Kult: Heretic Kingdoms, officially launches this week. It promises an epic adventure filled with challenges, a gripping storyline and enchanting graphics. Book 2 of Shadows will release in February of 2015.
- The Marvelous Miss Take
Platform: PC (Digital Only)
Price: $TBD
The Marvelous Miss Take is a clever Action-Stealth indie-developed title that is a high speed game of cat and mouse. As Sophia, you must use the gadgets at your disposal to keep out of trouble and sneak into the 25 multi-floored galleries.
Friday November 21, 2014:
- Pier Solar and the Great Architects
Platform: Xbox One
Price: $19.99
Pier Solar and the Great Architects, the HD remastering of the 2010 Sega Genesis RPG, is coming to Xbox One, following its previous release across all the major platforms. As Hoston and his friends, you’ll embark on a lengthy 20+ hour Final Fantasy-inspired adventure that will test your Turn-Based RPG skills. You can read our review for the game right here.
- Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Platform: 3DS
Price: $39.99
Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire are much more than just simple remakes of the original 2002 GBA titles. Not only do they feature upgraded visuals and character models, but they also mix up the gameplay with the addition of Mega Evolutions, which are abilities that Pokémons can use to become more powerful in combat. While you are waiting for Gamer Headline’s review of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, you can check out our thoughts regarding the game’s Special Demo right here.
- Super Smash Bros. Wii U
Platform: Wii U
Prices: $59.99 for the Standard Version, $99.99 for the Controller Bundle
It’s finally time to settle it in Smash in glorious 1080p and 60 frames per second on your Wii U. Though it features the same complete character roster as the 3DS version, Smash Wii U has a multitude of exclusive modes and gameplay options that will keep players smashing their way through Nintendo’s beloved characters. Smash Tour, Special Orders, Event Mode and Amiibo support are only some of the few things the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. has in store for us, making the game one of the most complete fighting game experiences you’ll get in 2014. Look out for our review of Super Smash Bros. Wii U within a few days following its release.
Are you planning on getting some games from this list this week? If so, let us know which ones in the comments below and, as always, stay tuned to Gamer Headlines for all things gaming.
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