Game of Month: Halo: The Master Chief Collection
If you thought October was a dense month for games, wait until you see November. We’re now at the biggest gaming month in the industry, and it shows. Games from franchises including Call of Duty, Halo, LittleBigPlanet, World of Warcraft, and Super Smash Bros. have all agreed to make November 2014 as memorable as possible for gamers. Your wallet isn’t going to be happy.
Black Friday and holiday shopping are just around the corner, too. So maybe you’re just gift shopping, looking for a game that’ll make a family or friend happy. If that’s the case, then you have a lot to choose from.
Also See: 8 Reasons I’m Going Back to World of Warcraft
Below you’ll find what we believe to be the 11 biggest games of November 2014. There are other releases, but these are the ones you’ll really want to keep an eye out on.
November 2014 Video Game Release Calendar
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November 3rd - Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
This year's Call of Duty is set in the future, a first for the series. You'll be equipped with an Exoskeleton granting you incredible power, allowing you to jump higher and scale walls. There will also be new weaponry that strays from the familiar. Sledgehammer Games feels that it has a formula for reinvigorating the franchise.
Although the multiplayer and co-op modes are sure to be a highlight for many, the single-player story has been given a ton of attention. You'll play as a single character, and meet a memorable cast including Jonathan Irons played by Kevin Spacey.
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
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November 11th - Assassin's Creed Unity
If you own a PS4, Xbox One, or PC, you'll have the option to play the first next-gen only Assassin's Creed. This iteration is set during the French Revolution, one of the most interesting and impactful periods of the past millennium. You'll play as native Frenchman Arno Dorian during his quest of redemption.
Although Assassin's Creed is usually focused on delivering an epic story, there's a new cooperative multiplayer component that will allow you to share your journey with up to three other players.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
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November 11th - Assassin's Creed Rogue
If you don't have the means to play Assassin's Creed Unity, or just like to play everything in the Assassin's Creed universe, you may be interested in Assassin's Creed Rogue. This is a game very different from Unity in that it's built for last-gen consoles, and is set during the Seven Years' War.
While it might seem prohibitive to be built for older hardware, there's less risk involved. Rogue is sure to be a highly optimized experience as it builds off the experience of Ubisoft working with the PS3 and Xbox 360 during the past decade.
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
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[GAME OF MONTH] November 11th - Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Halo: The Master Chief Collection packs value unlike anything else in 2014. It includes the four numbered releases of the Halo series, including the Anniversary version of Halo: Combat Evolved. Made better, the highlight of the show is a brand-new Halo 2 Anniversary with significantly improved visuals and performance, as well as cutscenes made by Blur, one of the most prestigious visual effects studios on the planet.
It also has local multiplayer and online multiplayer with over 100 maps available. With all this consolidated into one easy-to-navigate interface filled with unlockable extras and playlists, it stands out as a real winner this Holiday season.
Platform: Xbox One
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November 11th - Sonic Boom
Sonic has struggled to stand out for the past few years, but things may chance on the 11th with the introduction of Sonic Boom. These are two games for Wii U and 3DS which are built around the action-adventure style of games like Sonic Adventure. It's a bold undertaking, and might just put Sonic back on the map.
Platforms: 3DS, Wii U
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November 13th - World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
World of Warcraft celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month in addition to receiving a brand-new expansion: Warlords of Draenor. This expansion is going big, using time travel to teleport players back to one of the most eventful times in Warcraft lore. Players will be able to visit Draenor before it became the devastated, floating rock known as Outland. There will be player housing through a Garrisons feature, as well as a level cap increase to 100.
A recent update titled 6.0.2 introduced some of the big adjustments that the expansion is aiming for. You might notice the removal of several abilities from each class, an item squish, stat removal, and more. This expansion means business.
Platform: PC
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November 18th - Dragon Age: Inquisition
Here's your big RPG for the month. Dragon Age is back, this time with a ton of tuning to remedy some of the commonly complained about issues of Dragon Age 2. Everything shown before release has painted a picture of an epic story with unique, strategy oriented gameplay. It should be another hit by BioWare.
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
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November 18th - Far Cry 4
If you loved Far Cry 3, you should be excited for Far Cry 4. This is an extension of everything Far Cry 3 offered. It's got a massive, real-world inspired location ready to be explored. You'll be able to ride elephants, hunt wild beasts, and combat a human threat in the region.
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
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November 18th - Grand Theft Auto V
Yes, Grand Theft Auto is making a big entrance two years in a row. Last year, Grand Theft Auto V won our Game of the Year award, and now it's back with significantly improved visuals and some extra content to spice things up for next-gen consoles. Given how much the game struggled on last-gen hardware (framerate drops, pop-in, etc) it isn't such a bad idea to buy the game a second game. It sure was good the first time around.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
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November 18th - LittleBigPlanet 3
Sony has a special exclusive for PS4 and PS3 owners during this month: LittleBigPlanet 3. This is going to be a huge evolution for the franchise, as it introduces three new playable characters (Swoop, Oddsock, and and Big Toggle) each with their own capabilities. There are also added dimensions to the level editor, allowing for much more complex creations.
Given how adorable LittleBigPlanet is, this is a game that is sure to light up living rooms during the holiday season.
Platforms: PS4, PS3
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November 21st - Super Smash Bros. Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Wii U will close out what will undoubtedly be recognized as the best month of gaming in 2014 in epic fashion.
Played in 1080p, Super Smash Bros. Wii U is looking like it'll become the new benchmark for Wii U visuals. As with any Smash Bros. release, it's also sure to be a go-to for those who enjoy playing local multiplayer with friends and family.
Platform: Wii U
