Bluey with a side of RoboCop: November’s top games

Video game lovers should buckle up for a month full of diverse, quirky releases.

By SAMMY BOVITZ
Disney Plus

The video game industry never stops surprising players worldwide. This year alone has seen jaw-dropping sequels, disappointing blockbusters and even an Elephant Mario. The upcoming slate of games scheduled for release in November features a solid number of promising titles, but it is dominantly populated by a series of games that should be delightfully weird. Here are a few of the most bizarre titles poised to release next month.


Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.


“RoboCop: Rogue City”

The latest title from Polish studio Teyon features the 1980s action hero in a new story based on the original trilogy of films. In a move sure to excite fans, original actor Peter Weller returned to record lines for the first-person shooter.

“RoboCop: Rogue City” focuses on everyone’s favorite robotic cop as he embarks on rampages in between detective-style conversations with the citizens of Old Detroit. On top of the loud combat and mystery solving is a compelling story, falling in line with the original movies’ exploration of the remaining humanity of RoboCop — and where Alex Murphy, the man inside the robot, may still exhibit some control. “RoboCop: Rogue City” releases Nov. 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

“WarioWare: Move It!”

One of Nintendo’s strangest spin-offs returns for another go-around just two years after the multiplayer-focused “WarioWare: Get It Together!” The latest title stays true to the series’ central mechanic of “microgames,” which are rapid-fire games players can enjoy as a part of a story or in the more casual “party” mode. The entry centers around the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controllers — specifically, winning microgames by shaking and moving them to accomplish various silly tasks. 

”WarioWare: Move It!” features a solid helping of Nintendo fan service, with microgames based on classics like “Super Mario 64” and “Pikmin.” In a surprising change, longtime Wario voice actor Charles Martinet will not play the mustachioed star in this new entry, and it remains to be seen who will be stepping into the overalls for this new title. “WarioWare: Move It!” launches Nov. 3, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.

“Persona 5 Tactica”

“Persona 5” has been a massive success ever since its initial release in 2017. The dynamic role-playing game has sold millions of copies and even inspired the well-received 2021 action spinoff “Persona 5 Strikers.” After a few years away from the spotlight, the cast of the original game have returned once more for a tactics-based adventure.

But it’s not just a change in genre that’s in store for this spin-off. “Persona 5 Tactica” features a more cartoony art style and an adventure set in a new corner of the Phantom Thieves’ universe.  In previews, the gameplay was said to be settling on a happy medium between its parent title’s RPG mechanics and the typical features of the tactics genre. “Persona 5 Tactica” drops Nov. 17 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

“Bluey: The Videogame”

A Bluey video game? While it may sound like a joke, it’s reality. Publisher Outright Games turned the popular children’s series into an adventure that can be enjoyed in multiplayer, where a family or a group of friends can team up and play as Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad — all voiced by the show’s original cast.

To make matters even stranger, “Bluey: The Videogame” takes a lot of cues from contemporary open-world games. Players can cycle between main story missions — or “episodes” – alongside a series of side activities and minigames, many of which originate from the BBC show. The game also features a boatload of collectibles, from unique outfits to an in-game sticker book.  The TV team was quite involved with this adaptation, consulting on story and contributing tunes from the soundtrack to make this a faithfully cozy title just in time for the holidays. “Bluey: The Videogame” arrives Nov. 17 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

“Stranger Things VR”

While Netflix’s premier 1980s monster-hunting series has been delayed by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, that hasn’t stopped developer Tender Claws from delivering a brand-new thrill ride for players to enjoy in the meantime. The virtual reality experience puts players in the claws of Season 4 villain Vecna.  The action-horror hybrid features fan-favorite characters like Will Byers and promises to reveal untold secrets on the origins of the monster, including his influence on the events of previous “Stranger Things” seasons. “Stranger Things VR” spooks its way into gamers’ homes when it releases onto Meta Quest Nov. 30.

© University of Southern California/Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.