2025 is almost done, and, as long as you ignore most news stories, it has been a great year for gaming. Seriously, the Game of the Year competition is fierce, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yotei, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Silksong, Hades 2, and Donkey Kong Bananza all being top contenders. The industry is not done yet, either, as November 2025 has some of the biggest games of 2025.
While December has a few notable projects, November is the last stacked month of the year. Nearly every day will see the arrival of exciting titles from both AAA and indie developers, but not every release will attract the same attention. Some November 2025 games are simply bigger. Here they are.
No ports, remakes, or remasters. New games only.
The games are loosely listed by their name recognition and how big they are likely to be.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
The Biggest Game Of November 2025 (Obviously)
Of course, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will dominate headlines throughout November, and it will almost certainly be the month’s best-selling game. It is just tradition and the way things are. That said, Black Ops 7’s marketing strategy has not been consistently great, and its original reveal inspired quite a bit of negativity due to marking a return to a futuristic setting. Battlefield 6 also dulled Black Ops 7’s shine and might have taken a portion of its playerbase, although the latter should still be a success. The beta was fine, but not amazing.
At this point, everyone likely already knows if they will be picking up BO7 or not, or if they plan to download the game through Game Pass. Treyarch and Raven are handling the project, with the latter taking over responsibilities for Zombies. The story is set to be a sequel to 2012’s Black Ops 2, which seems like a lifetime ago, and will take place in 2035.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
November 2025’s Biggest Nintendo Switch 2 Game
Although the original release’s announcement was met with confusion rather than unbridled excitement, Hyrule Warriors has proven to be a quality spin-off, and Age of Imprisonment should help scratch that Zelda itch until another mainline entry becomes a reality. For the uninitiated, Hyrule Warriors is a hack-and-slash romp where you blast through hundreds of enemies at a time, building a body count that could make the likes of Kratos blush. Technically, Age of Imprisonment is the third entry in the series, but the games are fairly standalone, so you do not need to play Age of Calamity. That said, you probably should be familiar with Tears of the Kingdom.
Going by the trailer and known information, Zelda seems to take center stage in the story, and Link might not feature at all in the main narrative. The game takes place during Hyrule’s early years, focusing on a war between Ganondorf and King Rauru/Queen Sonia, with Zelda joining the fray through some good old time-travel.
I love Warriors, so I cannot wait for Age of Imprisonment; however, if you are completely new to Musou games, I advise looking closely at gameplay footage before investing cash. These games are divisive.
Anno 117: Pax Romana
November 2025’s Biggest Strategy Game
Yes, Ubisoft is not everyone’s cup of tea and garners constant criticism nowadays, but Anno has yet to miss. One of the most reliable and enjoyable city-builder franchises, the series has been producing excellence since the late ’90s, and there is nothing to suggest that the November 2025 release will be anything but another resounding triumph.
Set during the Roman Empire, Anno 117 will cast players as the Governor of one of two provinces, and they can pick between the Romans and the Celts. Your goal will be to ensure that your province not only grows and flourishes but also expands its influence beyond its borders. While built on mostly the same mechanics, each province has its own identity, strengths, and challenges, allowing each playthrough to (hopefully) be very different.
Where Winds Meet
November 2025’s Biggest Free Game
Everstone Studio’s Where Winds Meet looks way too good to be free to play, yet that is confirmed to be the case. An open-world RPG that teleports you to 10th-century China, the game seems like it will blend history and fantasy, all the while presenting jaw-dropping visuals that could be among 2025’s best. The combat system centers around Wuxia, a fiction subcategory revolving around Chinese martial arts, and it is very popular in Donghua and Manhwa.
Where Winds Meet appears to prioritize customization and choice, promoting both versatile combat and a player-driven narrative. The developer has gone out of its way to emphasize the game’s single-player viability, with its multiplayer aspect coming across as secondary. While technically an MMO, Where Winds Meet could also work as a more conventional action RPG, albeit one that requires an internet connection.
Kirby Air Riders
November 2025’s Biggest Racing Game
When 2025 started, a sequel to 2003’s Kirby Air Ride was probably not on a lot of people’s wishlists. That is by no means a comment on the GameCube game’s quality, but rather a reflection of just how unexpected Kirby Air Riders’ reveal was, along with the fact that the Switch 2 launched with Mario Kart World. Still, the console could use another premium racing game, and Kirby Air Riders should also be a great multiplayer option that you throw out during parties.
In terms of modes, the game should have Top Ride, Road Trip, and City Trial, just to mention a few. These should offer quite a bit of variety, as Top Ride shifts to a top-down perspective, while Road Trip is open-ended. Kirby Air Riders will have a substantial character roster compared to its predecessor, jumping from 3 to 20, all of whom will fall under classes that can use specific copy abilities.
November 2025’s Biggest Risk
Oh boy, this one should be interesting. For two decades, Sports Interactive’s Football Manager has been the definitive sports management IP, with each entry being a must-play for anybody into soccer. The upcoming entry will be a landmark release in the series, due to being the first game built on the Unity engine rather than the in-house one the franchise used to rely on.
On the one hand, this change was arguably needed as the previous engine had grown long in the tooth, featuring outdated UI and lackluster 3D gameplay. Conversely, it has created a lot of uncertainty around FM26, as Sports Interactive has reportedly struggled to adapt to the engine. Sports Interactive and Sega even canceled Football Manager 26, which was meant to be the first Unity entry. The beta did not really help ease these fears, and I would suggest waiting for reviews if you are on the fence about picking this one up.
Sonic Rumble
November 2025’s Biggest Multiplayer…Well, It Might Be Big
Sonic is way too inconsistent a franchise to make any predictions on an upcoming game’s quality, but Sonic Rumble should be an interesting distraction at the very least. Basically, Sonic is taking a stab at the battle royale market, marketing itself as the “first multiplayer party game” in the series.
32 players will compete across a series of stages while utilizing iconic characters from across the franchise, which can be customized. Modes include standard stuff like Run (first one to arrive wins) and Survival (avoid elimination), along with the fitting Ring Battle (fight other squads for rings). While generally focusing on PvP, co-op is also part of the equation and will feature in certain modes. At a glance, Sonic Rumble’s main influence seems to be Fall Guys.
Sonic Rumble is free to play.
Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive
November 2025’s Biggest Anime Game
In recent years, Solo Leveling evolved from being the biggest manhwa to one of the biggest anime, and it has been trying to do the same for the video game sphere. Not to be confused with Arise, Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive is an action RPG that goes through Sung Jinwoo’s story, along with including new stories to keep things fresh for veterans (who are the most likely to pick up the game).
Although supporting co-op through 4-player raids, this game is a single-player action RPG and not an MMO, so it might be a better option than Solo Leveling: Arise for people craving a more straightforward and, presumably, less grind-focused experience. Arise Overdrive seems to match the source material’s bombastic action, with the combat seeming to be fast-paced and stylish.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
November 2025’s Biggest Early Access Game
Digital Sun’s Moonlighter is a delightful indie game that blends dungeon crawling with shop management, and the developer is set to debut the sequel on Steam’s early access in November 2025. The core concept is the same as its predecessor, but Moonlighter 2 goes the full 3D route, which should allow for even more impressive dungeons and visuals. As Will, you will go into dungeons to acquire loot that can be sold at your shop, hopefully to turn a profit. Also, you can and should invest in the town’s growth, as that will allow you to acquire better weapons and other items.
Due to launching in early access, Moonlighter 2 will, obviously, not be a complete experience, and Digital Sun will use player feedback accumulated during this period to help shape the final version. While not every early access game is a success, this project should be in safe hands.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide
November 2025’s Biggest Kids Game
Ever since Purple Lamp Studios became the franchise’s default developer, SpongeBob Squarepants has been on a hot streak. A few flaws aside, Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated was a solid remake, while The Cosmic Shake is arguably the best game to feature everybody’s favorite sponge. Hopefully, it receives some stiff competition when SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide launches in November.
Another 3D platformer, the upcoming game features SpongeBob and Patrick as the main playable characters, and you will be able to switch between them on the fly. They have unique skills that make them equally crucial for completing the stages. The visuals look just as great as the developer’s previous projects, and the gameplay should be up to scratch as well.
