November is definitely going to be an excellent month for gaming.

November 2022 is already shaping up to be a big year for video games! There are so many upcoming releases that fans are really excited about. There's something for everyone, from big-budget AAA titles to smaller indie games.

From big-name sequels to new and innovative indie games, November 2022 is shaping up to be a stacked month for gamers everywhere.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

It's been over twenty years since the original Pokémon games, Red and Blue were released in the US. In that time, the franchise has seen a lot of changes. The most recent mainline Pokémon games, Sword and Shield, are the first to be in full 3D. This shift to a more modern graphics style is just one of the ways that the franchise is changing. Let's take a look at some of the other ways that Pokémon games are evolving.

One of the most significant changes in Pokémon games in recent years is the addition of new modes and features that provide different ways to play. For example, Sword and Shield introduced "Max Raid Battles." These battles pit four players (or AI partners) against a giant, super-strong Pokémon called a Dynamax. These battles are intense and require teamwork and strategy to win.

Another new feature are "Gigantamax" forms. Certain Pokémon can become even more powerful versions of themselves when they Dynamax. These Gigantamax forms often change the Pokémon's appearance and abilities. This adds an extra layer of depth and strategy to Max Raid Battles as players must decide which form will be most advantageous in any given situation.

The rise of online gaming has had a significant impact on the Pokémon franchise. Previous generations of Pokémon games included rudimentary online features, but it wasn't until generation six (X and Y) that Nintendo really began to lean into online play. Since then, each successive generation has added more and more online features.

For example, Sword and Shield allows players to battle and trade with each other from anywhere in the world. There's also a cooperative mode called "Raid Battles," where players team up to take down giant boss Pokémon together. The possibilities for online play are constantly expanding, giving players more ways than ever before to connect with each other and enjoy their favorite franchises.

The Pokémon franchise is constantly evolving, whether it's by adding new features or finding new ways to connect players with each other. The upcoming Pokémon games releasing in 2022 are, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which boasts some of the most modern graphics style and expansive online features for any Pokémon game to date.

Warzone 2

The Call of Duty franchise is, without a doubt, one of the most popular gaming franchises of all time. The games have something for everyone with their mix of historical settings and modern warfare. And with the recent release of the Warzone game, which features a Battle Royale mode, the franchise has stirred up the gaming world once again. Let's take a look at the history of the Call of Duty franchise and how Warzone has changed the landscape of battle royale games.

The first Call of Duty game was released in 2003 and was set during World War II. Since then, there have been numerous sequels set in different time periods, including Modern Warfare (set in the present-day), Black Ops (set during the Cold War), and Infinite Warfare (set in the future). In 2018, Treyarch released Black Ops 4, which did not have a traditional campaign mode but instead featured three Zombies modes and a new Battle Royale mode called Blackout.

And then, in 2020, Infinity Ward released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which featured a reimagined version of the original Modern Warfare campaign and a brand-new multiplayer mode and cooperative Special Ops mode.

But it was Warzone that really changed things up. Released in 2020 as a free-to-play standalone game, Warzone combined elements from both Modern Warfare and Black Ops 4 to create an entirely new experience. And with its 150-player Battle Royale mode, Warzone quickly became one of the most popular games in the world. So popular, in fact, that other battle royale games such as Apex Legends and Fortnite have added their own versions of 150-player modes in an attempt to keep up with Warzone.

With the upcoming release of Warzone 2.0, which features a popular Battle Royale mode with an upgraded game engine and progression, the franchise will continue to take the gaming world by storm.

Sonic Frontiers

The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise started in 1991 with the release of the eponymous game on the Sega Genesis console. The brainchild of Sega employee Naoto Ohshima, Sonic was designed to compete with Nintendo's Mario character as a mascot for the company. The original game was a critical and commercial success and spawned numerous sequels over the years. In total, there have been over 30 Sonic games released since 1991.

The most recent addition to the franchise is Sonic Frontiers, set to release in 2022. Sonic Frontiers promises an open-world Sonic game, unlike anything we've seen before. Let's take a look at the history of the Sonic franchise.

The first Sonic the Hedgehog game was released on June 23, 1991, in North America. Developed by Sega for its Genesis console, the game stars a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog named Sonic who must stop Dr. Ivo Robotnik from stealing animals and turning them into robots.

The game was a huge success, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. It has been credited with helping to revive Sega's fortunes after a series of poorly received games, such as Altered Beast and Golden Axe, failed to catch on with gamers. Along with its sequels, it helped cement Sega's position as a significant player in the video game industry in the early 1990s.

Sonic 2 came out on November 24, 1992, in North America. Once again developed by Sega for its Genesis console, this sequel sees Sonic teaming up with his sidekick Tails to stop Dr. Robotnik from using Chaos Emeralds to fuel his Death Egg II space station.

The game built on the success of its predecessor by introducing new gameplay elements such as playing as Tails and the Super Peel Out move. It also introduced new characters, such as Knuckles and Robotnik's henchwoman Metal Sonic. Like its predecessor, it was a commercial success, selling over 6 million copies worldwide.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles was released in North America on October 18, 1994. Developed by Sega for its Genesis console, this game is actually an expansion pack for Sonic 3 that introduces new gameplay mechanics and features, such as playing as Knuckles and using Chaos Emeralds to transform into Super Sonic.

It was well-received by critics and gamers alike, with many considering it one of the series' best games. However, it would prove to be the final game in what is now referred to as "the classic series" of Sonic games; subsequent games would take the franchise in different directions with mixed results.

The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1991. What started out as a simple platformer has grown into a multimedia juggernaut featuring dozens of different games across multiple platforms. Another entry in the series, Sonic Frontiers, is due out in November 2022.

November is shaping up to be a big month for video game releases. With the release of Warzone 2.0, Sonic Frontiers, and other highly anticipated titles, gamers are in for a treat. Whether you're a fan of platformers, first-person shooters, or open-world adventures, there's something for everyone.

Looking for some new video game titles? Then be sure to check out Retro Gaming of Denver! We carry both new and retro titles, so you're sure to find something you'll love.