As you approach the nondescript door, a burly figure outside gives you a once over, and then, a curt nod. You’re in, away from the noise and bustle of the month’s biggest releases and ready to discover what other exciting November video games are hidden behind. And boy is there a party to be had. Below, we’ve collected seven smaller or easily overlooked video games releasing in November which could well be your favorites of the month if not the year.
7. The Elephant Collection
© Wonderful Elephant
Release date: November 6
Platforms: PC
If you’re a millennial then there’s a good chance you spent a worrying amount of time in your youth playing silly Flash games on the internet. Flash may be dead, but the games you loved are coming back in force. The Elephant Collection is a remastered package of jmtb02’s classic blue elephant games. Platformers, puzzlers, microgames, and more combine into an arcadey blast packed with challenges and achievements. Your childhood is forever consigned to the past, but The Elephant Collection can help you relive some of that era's joy by bringing these trunk-tastic games bounding back into the present.
6. The Invincible
Release date: November 6
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5
Inspired by the work of Polish sci-fi author Stanislaw Lem, narrative FPS The Invincible tells the tale of a research crew sent to the planet of Regis III. Scattered from the rest of her team, protagonist Yasna is left to explore the planet under the guidance of her commanding officer in orbit. The Invincible bears a striking visual palette based on ‘50s and ‘60s retro-futuristic art and is filled with satisfyingly chunky planet-exploration equipment. As she uncovers what went wrong on the mission, Yasna will need to reckon with its goals and humanity’s wider place in the universe.
5. Cursorblade
© RealPeach
Release date: November 6
Platforms: PC (for obvious reasons)
As if bullet hell games weren’t stressful enough, Cursor Blade puts you in even more quickfire control by making you quite literally play as the cursor. Move the mouse to shift your sword icon around the screen so you can take down enemies and dodge attacks. Unlock new weapons and upgrade your powers as you attempt to survive wave after wave of increasingly tough foes. With cheerful colors and a budget price, Cursorblade looks to be an ideal lunch-break distraction.
4. Cobalt Core
© Rocket Rat Games
Release date: November 8
Platforms: PC, Switch
To your stations crew – this deck-driven ship isn’t going to pilot itself! Combining elements of Slay the Spire and FTL under an adorable pixel-art wrapping, sci-fi roguelike deck builder Cobalt Core looks set to steal away hours of your life. Your aim is to lead your ship and its crew through a web of combat encounters and events as you attempt to build up a deadly engine capable of breaking the time loop they're stuck in. Cobalt Core’s turn-based combat introduces a novel alignment system in which cards can help you strafe out of the line of enemy attacks. The Steam Next Fest demo (which remains available now) teased plenty of card-comboing potential, and we can’t wait to get back in the cockpit.
3. Spirittea
Release date: November 13
Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox
Humans have stopped worshiping spirits, leaving dozens of them wandering the town lost and looking for trouble. The solution? Setting up your own spirit bathhouse to soothe their souls. Imagine Stardew Valley crossed with Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away and you’ll arrive at what Spirittea is aiming to offer. Clean up and repair the dilapidated spa, make friends with the locals, and help wayward spirits find peace by solving their problems, one hot bath at a time.
2. The Last Faith
© Kumi Souls Games
Release date: November 15
Platforms: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox
If you’re in the mood for some punishment this November – no judgment here, we promise – then The Last Faith looks all too willing to oblige. This dark gothic 2D world pairs metroidvania powers and exploration with grueling soulslike combat. Send Castlevania out on an unholy date with Bloodborne, and The Last Faith may be the monster-ridden result of that union. Slice, dodge, and parry enemies, uncover hidden secrets, and face grotesque bosses with titanic health bars as you figure out your place in this twisted land.
1. Worldless
Release date: November 21
Platforms: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox
Eager for a taste of 2D exploration that doesn’t feature gargoyles and oppressive architecture? Wordless may be your answer. Navigating this starlit abstract land takes place in real-time, but combat shifts things to an active turn-based structure. You'll need to unleash your moves within a limited time-frame, but also be ready to practice your parries when it’s your opponent's turn to do the same. Expand and upgrade your capabilities to venture through this newborn universe forged from polarizing entities.
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