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, and the best November 2025 games are also among the year's best.
While December 2025 will have a few notable games, November is the last stacked month of the year. Nearly every day has seen 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 and better.
Updated on November 29, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Originally, this article was entitled "The 10 Biggest Games Releasing In November 2025," and it covered the 10 games that were most likely to be huge. Now that all these titles are out, and the month is almost done, I thought it would be interesting to reframe this article into "The 10 Best Games Of November 2025." Which ones lived up to the hype? Were there a few surprises?
Two games that were included in the original version have been removed: Football Manager and Sonic Rumble. Frankly, they are very far from November 2025's best games.
Two new games have been added: Europa Universalis V and Dispatch (Episodes 5–8).
1 Anno 117: Pax Romana
A Fantastic Strategy Game In A Series That Rarely Misses
Anno 117: Pax Romana
- Released
- November 13, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Genre(s)
- City Builder, Simulation, Strategy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Yes, Ubisoft is not everyone's cup of tea and garners constant criticism nowadays, but Anno has yet to miss, and Pax Romana is just another brilliant entry in a long line of top-notch games. One of the most reliable and enjoyable city-builder franchises, Anno has been producing excellence since the late '90s, and the November 2025 release provides a modernized experience that still holds to the series' core tenets.
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.
Anno 117: Pax Romana can seem overwhelming at first if you are a complete newcomer to the franchise (or suck at grand strategy games, like me), but the game does a great job of easing you into its core mechanics.
2 Where Winds Meet
The Biggest (And Arguably Best) New Game Of November 2025
Where Winds Meet
- Released
- November 14, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Everstone Studios
- Publisher(s)
- NetEase, Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Wuxia, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC, Android, iOS
Everstone Studio's Where Winds Meet seemed way too good to be free to play, yet it mostly managed to live up to the hype. An open-world RPG that teleports you to 10th-century China, the game blends history and fantasy, all the while presenting jaw-dropping visuals that are among 2025's best (particularly for the price point). The combat system centers around Wuxia, a fiction subcategory revolving around Chinese martial arts, and it is very popular in Donghua and Manhwa.
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Where Winds Meet prioritizes customization and choice to a degree, while also 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. However, you will most likely want to jump back and forth between its solo and online modes, as they have wildly different content that complements each other. That said, if you want to treat this as just a single-player game (or even a co-op one), you can do so and ignore most of the MMO raids, dungeons, and PvP.
3 Europa Universalis V
November 2025's Masterfully Done 4X Strategy Game
Europa Universalis V
- Released
- November 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Paradox Tinto
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, Strategy, Simulation, Real-Time Strategy, War & Military
- Platform(s)
- PC
November 2025 has been a glorious month for strategy games, along with being a great month for releases that I'll play and enjoy despite being god-awful at them. Europa Universalis V is, well, a lot, and its scope is both admirable and daunting. The game covers a quincentenary in such astonishing detail that you cannot help but sit back and marvel at Paradox Tinto's confidence that it could pull off such a feat and still craft a package that has more to offer than just the diehards of 4x fans.
Compared to Anno 117, Europa Universalis V is far less accessible or beginner-friendly; however, considering its sheer size, it is relatively approachable if you have some knowledge of this subgenre. The sequel takes Europa Universalis 4's fundamentals and pushes them to their absolute limit, putting the entire world (and a significant portion of its history) at your fingertips.
4 Dispatch (Episodes 5–8)
Bringing To A Close The Best Superhero Game Of 2025
Dispatch
- Released
- October 22, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- AdHoc Studio
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Point-and-click, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
Technically, Dispatch is an October 2025 release, but half the game came out in November...so, let's say it counts. Great superhero games are not that rare nowadays, but they tend to follow a similar action-adventure formula. Nothing wrong with that, but large open-worlds do not always lend themselves to a focused campaign; consequently, Dispatch's story and character-first approach is really refreshing, especially since it constantly requires players to make meaningful choices that lead to branching paths. You can and should play through episodes multiple times to see how things unfold, which actually makes Dispatch one of the most replayable games of November 2025.
I don't want to go into the story in detail, as that would ruin the fun. That said, Dispatch is about a former superhero who nowadays works as a dispatcher for caped crusaders, and the series dives into his life, regrets, and attempts to redefine his place in the world. The story also dives deep into other superheroes, many of whom are at least likable.
5 Kirby Air Riders
The Best Switch 2 Game Of November 2025
Kirby Air Riders
- Released
- November 20, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios, Sora Ltd.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Racing
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch 2
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 is a great multiplayer option that you throw out during parties.
In terms of modes, the game has 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 has 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. Ultimately, this title scratches the same itch as Mario Kart World, meaning it has FLAWLESS controls and a pick-up-and-play quality that makes it inherently fun.
6 Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
Still A Work In Progress, But Digital Sun's Sequel Has Hit Early Access With A Bang
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
- Released
- November 19, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Digital Sun
- Publisher(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Early Access Release
- November 19, 2025
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World, Action, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
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 allows even more impressive dungeons and visuals. As Will, you 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 allows you to acquire better weapons and other items.
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Due to launching in early access, Moonlighter 2 is, obviously, not 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 has gotten off to a good start, and it is even available on Game Pass.
7 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
The Best New Switch 2 Action Game Of November 2025
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
- Released
- November 6, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Action, Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch 2
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.
Similar to its predecessor, Age of Imprisonment blends the Musuo formula with Zelda fanservice and mechanics, specifically ones from TOTK. Although very simple at a glance, the combat has just enough depth to keep things interesting on the long run, especially as you have plenty of different characters to play around with.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is my personal favorite game of November 2025, but I'm a sucker for Musou licensed games.
8 SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide
A Pretty Great Kids Game, And November 2025's Best 3D Platformer
SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide
- Released
- November 18, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Purple Lamp
- Publisher(s)
- THQ Nordic
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
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 was arguably the best game to feature everybody's favorite sponge. Thankfully, it received some stiff competition as SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is just as great as its predecessor.
Another 3D platformer, the game features SpongeBob and Patrick as the main playable characters, and you are 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 is up to scratch as well. Ultimately, Titans of the Tide is mainly for SpongeBob Squarepants fans, but it could hit the mark with people who are just looking for a colorful, family-friendly platformer. We don't get much of those nowadays.
9 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
A Passable, Unspectacular Call Of Duty Game
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Released
- November 14, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Of course, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has dominated headlines throughout November, and it will likely be a success, relative to most other games released this month. That said, Black Ops 7's launch was notably more muted than usual for the franchise, and its critical reception was not fantastic either. Battlefield 6 also dulled Black Ops 7's allure and might have taken a portion of its playerbase, even though the latter shines brighter in some areas.
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Honestly, there is not all that much to say about Black Ops 7. The gunplay is as tight and responsive as usual, and Zombies is, once again, the best part of the package. The single-player campaign is pretty decent, although it doesn't reach the heights of the best games in the series. The multiplayer is a mess, in both good and bad ways.
10 Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive
A Decent Action RPG Based On A Great Anime And An Even Better Manhwa
Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE
- Released
- November 17, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Netmarble
- Publisher(s)
- Netmarble
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
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 matches the source material's bombastic action, with the combat seeming to be fast-paced and stylish. Although solid enough, this game is pretty much only for fans.
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