Pokemon Sword and Shield lead a huge month of game releases.
The year is rapidly coming to a close, and as usual, the lead-in to (and beginning of) the holiday shopping season is full of big-name games, with titles available for players of all ages. As examples, Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield will allow kids and adults alike to discover new pocket monsters on Switch, while Death Stranding is a highly-anticipated game for adults only.
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield
Rated E
Appropriate for: Kids who are comfortable with console controllers
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are the next major installments in the long-running series of Pokemon role-playing games. They’ll take trainers to a new area of the Pokemon universe — the Galar region — where they’ll be joined on their adventure by one of three new starting Pokemon (you get to choose): Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble. Players will travel throughout the Galar region, collecting additional Pokemon, participating in Pokemon battles, and more as they work through the game’s storyline. Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield will introduce players to many new features that haven’t been seen in previous games, such as the Dynamax and Gigantamax phenomenons. For more information, check out our previous coverage of the game.
Great if your kids love: The Pokemon franchise, Digimon, collecting one of everything
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Rated T
Appropriate for: Teens who enjoy single-player games
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a third-person action-adventure game that lets players become a Jedi who is being hunted by the Empire, which wishes to wipe out any remaining Jedi forces. As players explore various environments, they can use Force powers and their lightsaber to interact with the environment or take out enemies. They’ll also be joined by a friendly robot named BD-1, who can help them on their journey. As reported by PC Gamer, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a completely single-player experience, with no multiplayer mode or microtransactions to purchase.
Great if your kids love: Star Wars Battlefront 2, Final Fantasy XV
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Rated E10+
Appropriate for: Older kids who enjoy sports and mini-games
The 2020 Summer Olympics will begin in Tokyo next July. To celebrate the Games, players can join Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and their friends in a new experience on Switch, which will let them play more than 30 sports games based on Olympic events. Plenty of sports are represented, including some new events for the 2020 Summer Olympics: skateboarding, surfing, sport climbing, and karate. While many events have 3D graphics, there are 10 2D events as well, which give a retro look to the competition. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will allow you to compete on your own, play with others in the same room, and even compete with other players online, if you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Great if your kids love: Previous Mario and Sonic Olympics games, Super Mario Party
Death Stranding
Rated M
Inappropriate for young teens and children
Death Stranding is the latest video game from Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima. According to the PlayStation website, it challenges players to help Sam (played by actor Norman Reedus) “journey across the ravaged wasteland and save mankind from impending annihilation.” Death Stranding has received an M rating from the ESRB, meaning it’s been deemed inappropriate for players under 17 years old. The game has Content Descriptors for “Blood,” “Intense Violence,” “Partial Nudity,” and “Strong Language.”
Try This Game Instead: Horizon Zero Dawn
Notable kid- and teen-friendly titles are in bold.
Release dates can change at any time.
Friday November 1, 2019
Race with Ryan, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Spirit Roots, Switch
Windmill Kings, Switch
Perseverance, Switch
Delta Squad, Switch
Citadel: Forged with Fire, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The Forbidden Arts, PlayStation 4
Qubit’s Quest, PlayStation 4
Spirit of the North, PlayStation 4
Voyage of the Dead, PlayStation 4
TwinCop, PlayStation 4
Jalopy, Xbox One
Tuesday November 5, 2019
The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game, Switch
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Switch
Garfield Kart Furious Racing, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Ships, Switch
Just Dance 2020, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
GRIP: Combat Racing AirBlades vs Rollers Ultimate Edition, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Blacksad: Under the Skin, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Valfaris, PlayStation 4
Conception Plus: Maidens of the Twelve Stars, PlayStation 4, PC
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
The Elder Scrolls Online: Dragonhold [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Football Game, PlayStation 4, Vita, Xbox One
Asdivine Kamura, PlayStation 4
Audica, PlayStation VR
Destiny Connect: Tick-Tock Travelers, PlayStation 4
Light Fairytale Episode 1, PlayStation 4
Lithium: Inmate 39 Relapsed Edition, PlayStation 4, PC
Alwa’s Awakening, Xbox One
Planet Zoo, PC
Red Dead Redemption 2, PC
Wednesday November 6, 2019
Construction Simulator 2 US – Console Edition, Switch
Fire Pro Wrestling World: Entrance Craft [DLC], PlayStation 4
Wizards of Brandel, Xbox One
Thursday November 7, 2019
Incredible Mandy, Switch
Ritual: Crown of Horns, Switch, PC
Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Headsnatchers, Switch
puzzlement, Switch
Juicy Realm, Switch
ANIMUS: Harbinger, Switch
MEANDERS, Switch
Strange Telephone, Switch
Super Street: Racer, Switch
Asdivine Kamura, Switch
MechaNika, PlayStation 4
Friday November 8, 2019
Disney Tsum Tsum Festival, Switch
Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition, Switch
New Super Lucky’s Tale, Switch
STURMWIND EX, Switch, Xbox One
One Person Story, Switch
Blindy, Switch
REKT!, Switch
Jumanji: The Video Game, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Football Game, Switch
The Stretchers, Switch
Death Stranding, PlayStation 4
Need for Speed Heat, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Police Chase, PlayStation 4
Tanky Tanks, Xbox One
Monday November 11, 2019
Romancing SaGa 3, Switch, PlayStation 4, Vita, Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android
The Mims Beginning, Switch
Tuesday November 12, 2019
Bee Simulator, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Yaga, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Thief of Thieves: Season One, Switch
Mad Games Tycoon, Switch, Xbox One
Doctor Who: The Edge Of Time, PlayStation VR, PC
VR Ping Pong Pro, PlayStation VR, PC
Contagion VR: Outbreak, PlayStation VR
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition, PlayStation 4
Wednesday November 13, 2019
Last Labyrinth, PlayStation VR, PC
Mercenary Wings: The False Phoenix, PlayStation 4
Spider Solitaire F, Xbox One
Thursday November 14, 2019
Sparklite, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Rocket Wars, Switch
Squidgies Takeover, Switch
Galactic Defence Squadron, Switch
Gear.Club Unlimited 2 Porsche Edition, Switch
Scarlet Mysteries: Cursed Child, Switch
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets, PC
RAGE 2: TerrorMania [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Mad Games Tycoon, PlayStation 4
Fractured Minds, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Kitten’d, PlayStation VR
Bee Simulator, PC
Deadliest Catch: The Game, PC
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, PC
Friday November 15, 2019
Pokemon Sword, Switch
Pokemon Shield, Switch
Pokemon Sword & Shield Double Pack, Switch
Woven, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist, PlayStation 4, PC
ASTRONEER, PlayStation 4
Golem, PlayStation VR
Tokyo Warfare Turbo, Xbox One
Valfaris, Xbox One
Scarlet Mysteries: Cursed Child, Xbox One
Terminator: Resistance, PC
Tuesday November 19, 2019
Munchkin: Quacked Quest, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Zumba Burn it Up!, Switch
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Shenmue III, PlayStation 4, PC
Age of Wonders: Planetfall Revelations [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
We Happy Few: We All Fall Down [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets, PlayStation VR
Espire 1: VR Operative, PlayStation VR
Football Manager 2020, PC
Football Manager 2020 Touch, PC
Wednesday November 20, 2019
Children of Morta, Switch
Still There, Switch, PC
Thursday November 21, 2019
Black Future ‘88, Switch, PC
Strike Force – War on Terror, Switch
Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
The Touryst, Switch
Titeuf: Mega Party, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
DEEMO -Reborn-, PlayStation 4 [VR Compatible]
Farmer’s Dynasty, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Mountain Rescue Simulator, PlayStation 4
Friday November 22, 2019
LASTFIGHT, Switch
G.R.E.E.N. The Life Algorithm, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Expansion Bundle [DLC], Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Lost Ember, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Debris, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Stretch, PlayStation 4
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, Xbox One
Wednesday November 27, 2019
Widget Satchel, Switch
Friday November 29, 2019
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, Switch
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
