Top 5 Most Anticipated Fall Game Releases
It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
It’s that time of year again, folks. The time of year when many AAA game developers release their latest games just in time for the holiday season in October or midway through November.
We’re in the middle of a console generation shift from current-gen PS4 and Xbox One to PS5 and Xbox Series X, but current devs aren’t letting next-gen consoles have all the fun quite yet. You can still purchase the latest releases for current-gen consoles and some even include free upgrades to your next-gen console of choice if you decide to buy one next year.
This year may mark the end of a console generation, but it’s going out with a bang. Here are my picks for the Top 5 most anticipated fall game releases ordered by release date.
5. Watch Dogs: Legion
Release Date: October 29th
The original Watch Dogs game shook up the gaming industry for better and for worse. The premise of a rogue hacker with a magic wand cell phone blowing up steam pipes and hunting down gangs and criminals was something to get excited about but after a graphics downgrade and somewhat sloppy execution, fans were left with mixed perceptions of the game.
The sequel’s gameplay and characters felt more like a quirky Scooby-Doo gang of hackers who “didn’t kill” despite giving players access to 3D print weapons and the ability to place hits on random people on the street they didn’t like. Watch Dogs: Legion seeks to change the wrongdoings of the past two entries by making every highly detailed NPC recruitable to the DedSec cause, from grandmas to beekeepers to even a street magician with an online dating profile seeking a “goth gf” (I’m not making this up.)
4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Release Date: November 10th
The latest iteration of Ubisoft’s cash cow series follows the story of Eivor, a Viking clan leader, seeking to find a new settlement in England. Fans of previous entries will be happy to find Eivor has access to a hidden blade, something that had been missing from the last two games, but disappointed that the series has taken a turn to RPG-style gameplay like Origins and Odyssey.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla seeks to improve on past RPG mechanics and provide the player with a much more immersive experience with a decluttered map and side quests that present themselves naturally during regular gameplay. Will it be better than Origins or Odyssey? Only time will tell.
3. Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Release Date: November 12th
Once thought to be a PS5 exclusive, Spider-Man: Miles Morales will be available both on PS4 and PS5 at launch. Insomniac’s original take on the series proved to be wildly successful for PlayStation; who wouldn’t like to play a game as everyone’s favorite friendly neighborhood web-slinger, soaring across New York and fighting charismatic villains?
Spider-Man: Miles Morales follows the story of a mentee of Peter Parker, the titular mixed-race Miles, in his journey of becoming the next Spider-Man. Miles has a slew of new abilities, most notably his ability to briefly turn invisible and shock enemies with electricity. The gameplay looks promising and it’s sure to be a hit when it comes out in mid-November.
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Release Date: November 13th
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without Blizzard/Activision’s latest Call of Duty, would it? Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War seeks to do something a little different this year, focusing on a historical topic seldom covered in games (except, of course, the Metal Gear series.)
The game will feature a mix of ground, sea, and air combat, giving players a much-needed sense of variety and depth the series has been lacking. Even the new Zombies mode looks promising with a whole new story and nods to previous Zombies modes in maps. I’ll be picking up a copy on Black Friday to see what kind of mayhem I can cause with my friends online.
1. Cyberpunk 2077
Release Date: November 19th
This is the reason you clicked on this article. If not, you might not have been keeping up with the gaming industry as of late. Cyberpunk 2077 has been in development for the past 8 years by CD Projekt Red, the developers famous for The Witcher 3 and Gwent card game.
The story follows V, a rogue “fixer,” someone who performs dirty deeds for the right price in a futuristic sci-fi game world. Players will have access to immersive player customization, detailed environments, a rich storyline, and Keanu Reeves stars as one of the main characters.
There is nothing to not love or look forward to about this game. I have faith this will be the game of the year, outshining even the currently trending Among Us and Fall Guys. It is estimated the game could sell upwards of 15 million copies and is one of the few games I have ever preordered (the most recent before Cyberpunk was Pokemon: HeartGold, which came out over 11 years ago.)
Honorable Mentions
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Release Date: September 18th
I couldn’t technically include this in the Top 5 list because it had already been released. Nonetheless, it’s quite the title. While this game compilation might be a cash-grab by Nintendo, rereleasing three previous entries in one game package for $60, it sure is an effective one.
Players will have access to Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy, all great Mario games in their own right. Fans young and old will undoubtedly love this collection and will be a great experience for those of us who never got to play 64, Sunshine, or even Galaxy growing up.
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered
Release Date: November 6th
The first Need For Speed game released 10 years ago is getting a remaster, and longtime fans of the series are understandably excited about it. With updated graphics and online racing, it’ll be a standout entry more so than EA’s latest Need For Speed: Heat. While it may not be one of the Top 5 most anticipated this year, it’s certainly worthy of an honorable mention.
