On October 15, PlayStation Plus Game Catalog – available to all PS Plus Extra and Premium members – will add ten new titles to its library, including Dambuster Studios’ zombie-slaying action RPG Dead Island 2, Terrible Toybox’s acclaimed point-and-click throwback Return to Monkey Island, Supermassive’s interactive horror adventure The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, Two Point Studios’ sophomore business simulation outing Two Point Campus, Nomada Studio’s narrative platforming adventure Gris, and IllFonic’s asymmetrical multiplayer title Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, among others.

On the same day, those subscribed to PlayStation Plus Premium will also get access to a couple of survival horror classics in Capcom’s Dino Crisis and PlayStation’s own Siren, while PlayStation VR2’s The Last Clockwinder will also become playable for subscribers.

You can view the full list of games being added to both libraries below.

PLAYSTATION PLUS GAME CATALOG

• Dead Island 2 (PS5, PS4)
• Two Point Campus (PS5, PS4)
• The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me (PS5, PS4)
• Gris (PS5, PS4)
• Return to Monkey Island (PS5)
• Ghostbursters: Spirits Unleashed (PS5, PS4)
• Firefighting Simulator The Squad (PS5, PS4)
• Overpass 2 (PS5)
• Tour de France 2023 (PS5, PS4)
• Ghost Recon Wildlands (PS4)

PLAYSTATION PLUS PREMIUM

• The Last Clockwinder (PS VR2)
• Dino Crisis (PS5, PS4)
• Siren (PS5, PS4)
• R-Type Dimensions EX (PS4)

This type of chatter has been notably lessened in the lead up to their newest installment – The Devil in Me – and that seemed like a more appropriate decision the more I played it. The Devil in Me is, in some ways, a wonderful step forward for the Dark Pictures Anthology, but in other areas, can still feel weighed down by the cliches and inconsistencies that have kept Supermassive Games from repeating the success of the one game from seven years ago, with which most people still associate them.

"The Devil in Me is, in some ways, a wonderful step forward for the Dark Pictures Anthology, but in other areas, can still feel weighed down by the cliches and inconsistencies that have kept Supermassive Games from repeating the success of the one game from seven years ago, with which most people still associate them."

If there’s anything that Supermassive’s lesser games have taught us it’s that an intriguing setting and compelling characters can make or break a game like this, so it’s equal parts relieving and disappointing that The Devil in Me’s setting of a trap-laden murder castle is one of their better backdrops, while the cast is, despite some bright spots, probably one of their worst. Here we have a down on their luck film crew in the final throes of cobbling together a documentary about H.H. Holmes. It’s not quite working out as they were hoping though, as they lack any real outstanding element to tie their project together, and also are clearly struggling with production fatigue.

Right on cue though, a special opportunity to get some great footage and introduce some real authenticity into their movie comes their way. While the situation they wind up in requiring them to relinquish their phones and put a body of water between them and any sort of help ultimately feels contrived as all hell, Supermassive’s writers do put just enough effort into justifying it to mitigate most of my eye-rolling.

This is a desperate group of filmmakers who really believe they’re onto something after all, and anybody who’s ever been through a college filmmaking class probably knows a few people who would have gladly done the same thing. Several of the characters tend to fall face first into a puddle of forgettable mediocrity when they are given any sort of focus. Still yet, I still found them, as an ensemble to be slightly more interesting after spending a few hours with them, despite some stiff gesturing here and there. Erin and Charlie are easily the two standouts, and I enjoyed sections involving them the most. In particular Erin’s shotgun mic she uses to create some legitimately harrowing moments.

There seems to be a nice synergy between how they were written and how they were performed that you don’t see in games all too often, let alone horror games, but it’s dragged down somewhat by the aforementioned woodenness of their movements and a series of predictable scenarios that just aren’t very scary. On the flipside, the tension that builds between climaxes can be palpable, and it’s nice to see a couple characters carrying some of the narrative load, and not just relegated to being villains or walk-on weirdos. Don’t get me wrong, this is not the worst cast in the genre. They do lean into flat delivery more than they should have, but if you couple them with a more interesting villain than usual for this series, a reasonably intriguing setting, and some of the best facial capture I’ve seen from any game in recent memory, then you have what I consider to be a solid package overall. I also enjoyed how much more grounded the story is here. While some of the death traps in the mansion are distractingly impractical, it’s nice to see the supernatural explanations dialed back to such a degree.

"This is not the worst cast in the genre. They do lean into flat delivery more than they should have, but if you couple them with a more interesting villain than usual for this series, a reasonably intriguing setting, and some of the best facial capture I’ve seen from any game in recent memory, then you have what I consider to be a solid package overall."

Another area I was surprised to see some positive changes in was the exploration and general gameplay. This game still fits neatly into the interactive drama/adventure game hybrid that the previous Dark Pictures games have established with quick time events, light puzzles, and meticulous exploration making up the bulk of what you’ll be doing – but they also introduced a true jogging button – a welcome change from the nearly-imperceptible fast walk from previous games. With this is also some light climbing of certain surfaces, and even jumping across small gaps. It might not sound like much, but it does introduce some sorely-needed variety into the several hours of roaming around and investigating that these games necessitate.

You also have a real inventory to manage now. It’s nothing fancy with only a few slots and rarely making you do much with it, but it helps set each character apart, as their different items impact how they play and can introduce completely different types of suspense. Also, keeping track of what you have and what you don’t adds a splash of depth that make this entry feel more like a real mystery adventure game that builds on the interactive drama format of its predecessors, as opposed to just continuing to repeat it note for note. The strictly choreographed QTE’s haven’t gone anywhere though, and neither have the choice-based mechanics that shape the narrative, so don’t get too excited in thinking this entry reinvents the series – it doesn’t. Nor does it need to. But it did need to show that Supermassive can still take this formula in new and interesting directions, which I feel, it ultimately does.

Earlier I briefly mentioned that the character models and facial capture is quite good in The Devil in Me, and that’s not all they get right in the graphics department. The environments are also exceptionally detailed, well lit, and just fun to poke around in, while also being more varied and interesting than the tight corridors of Man of Medan or the cluttered cabins of The Quarry, Despite the game being almost entirely centered around a single piece of property, the variety of situations you find your characters in is more diverse than you might expect. With the legend of H.H. Holmes murder castle already being quite an embellishment of the true story, this game’s villain takes the creative liberties with that inspiration and goes even further with a mostly amusing set of scenarios to explore and get killed in, despite rarely being particular scary. I don’t want to say too much more about that though, as most of the joy of discovering the ins and outs of the murder castle are derived from discovering it yourself.

"The new ideas it introduces into the formula might ultimately be too few and far between to totally make up for some of the lingering issues that have held back these games since this anthology began, but it’s still a solid horror adventure for fans of the series and the genre."

While some of The Devil in Me’s characterizations feel a bit too flat to really make the cast pop, and the more extreme moments of the story didn’t quite work for me, it’s hard to deny that this Dark Pictures entry has more going for it than not. The new ideas it introduces into the formula might ultimately be too few and far between to totally make up for some of the lingering issues that have held back these games since this anthology began, but it’s still a solid horror adventure for fans of the series and the genre.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Here are the 15 biggest games to look forward to in November.

The Chant

“Weekend getaway to a spiritual retreat turned to hellish survival against cosmic monstrosities,” isn’t the worst description for Brass Token’s The Chant. After a rift to The Gloom, a dimension of negative energy, opens and various horrors take over a peaceful island, it’s up to Jess to collect weapons like salt and incense, craft items, and harness spiritual energy to fight back. And also run away, because flight is sometimes just better than fighting.

Along with managing her spirit, players must also care for Jess’s physical and mental health – these will influence her survival and abilities throughout the story. Then there are the other survivors, slowly giving in to the negative energy perpetrating the island. Can they be saved? We’ll find out when The Chant launches on November 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

God of War Ragnarok

Over four years since its predecessor debuted, selling millions of copies over a few days, and three years past in-game, the sequel to God of War (2018) is finally upon us. The story sees Odin and Asgard preparing for Ragnarok while Kratos and Atreus avoid the conflict. Of course, it’s not long before they’re involved, battling the likes of Freya, the Valkyrie, the Einherjar, and the mighty Thor himself.

A lot has been said about the experience, with reports extolling its massive size and the development team claiming it’s bigger than they envisioned. Nine realms to explore, new shields and abilities to equip, an expanded combat system, more verticality, larger levels, more enemy variety – the list of improvements goes and goes. On November 9th, the world will finally have a chance to play it on PS4 and PS5.

Sonic Frontiers

If nothing else, you have to admire the guts of Sega releasing Sonic Frontiers just one day before God of War Ragnarok. Nevertheless, those looking for a brand-new 3D platformer to dive into should find promise in Sonic’s latest adventure. After his friends disappear during a hunt for the Chaos Emeralds and he delves into Cyber Space, Sonic finds himself on the Starfall Isles. This archipelago of five different islands is filled with mysterious mechanical beings, and a new enemy named Sage also emerges.

Sonic Frontiers goes for an open-world-esque approach for its exploration, with the different islands presenting various platforming challenges, puzzles, and Guardians to fight. Upon accessing a portal, he can venture into Cyber Space with levels inspired by older titles. Sonic Frontiers launches on November 8th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch, and is undoubtedly the biggest Sonic title yet.

Football Manager 2023

Another year, another promising new Football Manager title from Sports Interactive. Football Manager 2023 marks the series’ return to PlayStation but also features improvements to its scouting, squad planning, AI managers, and more. The UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa Conference League are all fully licensed, and new features like Supporter Confidence and Dynamic Manager Timeline promise to bring you closer to the sport than ever.

Football Manager 2023 is out on November 8th for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, and Apple Arcade, along with launching day one on Game Pass.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Bloody Ties

Techland has been updating Dying Light 2 Stay Human regularly since launch, and on November 10th, its first paid DLC Bloody Ties will release on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. Aiden enters a tournament to take on various challenging foes in Carnage Hall for fame and rewards. Things aren’t what they seem, though (surprise, surprise), and you’ll soon be investigating the tournament’s true purpose. In addition to a new story, Bloody Ties also provides new gear, a new weapon in the Shield Glove, and arena missions called Spectacles. You can also fight new mutated foes in Arena Challenges to truly test your limits.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Yes, it’s another Pokemon game on the Nintendo Switch for the fourth year in a row. Nevertheless, Pokemon Scarlet and Violent look genuinely interesting. Instead of a regional approach like Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Paldea is a seamless open world. As a student of Naranja or Uva Academy, the player participates in a treasure hunt with the freedom to go just about anywhere. All the tropes of a Pokemon title are here – an enthusiastic rival Nemona; Professors Sada and Turo; and even new Legendary Pokemon like Koraidon and Miraidon that serve as mounts when exploring the region.

In terms of story, players can choose from three different routes – Path of Legends to locate the Herba Mystica while fighting Titan Pokemon; Victory Road to challenge eight Gym Leaders and eventually the Pokemon League Champion; and Starfall Street, where they must battle against Team Star. With several new Pokemon, new moves and items, and Terastallization providing new properties for each Pokemon, Scarlet and Violet could be the best 3D titles in the series yet. They’re out on November 18th for Nintendo Switch.

Evil West

Third-person shooter meets stylish beat ’em up combat in the Weird Wild West with Flying Wild Hog’s Evil West. As Jesse Rentier, players must battle vampires in the American frontier. This is done in several violent ways, from firearms to a gauntlet that can electrocute enemies. Throughout the campaign (which supports co-op), you’ll discover new weapons, unlock new perks and upgrades, and ultimately save the country. Evil West is out on November 22nd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

WRC Generations

Originally slated to launch last month, KT Racing’s WRC Generations was delayed and now launches on November 3rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. Career Mode, multiplayer, Quickplay and other modes return along with Split Screen for local play. Leagues Mode is new and involves players completing different events every week and receiving a ranking.

In addition to new Hybrid Cars, major revamps have been made to the progression and Team Creation while cross-platform play has also been implemented. As the developer’s last game under the license (for now), WRC Generations could see it going out on a high note.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me

A documentary crew is invited to a recreation of serial H.H. Holmes’ infamous “Murder Castle” by a mysterious recluse – what could go wrong? Not every scary situation in The Dark Pictures Anthology is as avoidable as this, but I digress since The Devil in Me is going for something different with its killing rooms. You’ll still have to make decisions that can influence whether the central cast lives or dies.

But this time, there are more movement options like running, climbing, and jumping, an inventory for managing items, puzzles that require tools, and more. This is in addition to online mode and five-player local co-op. As the season finale, The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me should end things with a venerable bang when it launches on November 18th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (PC)

Warhammer: Vermintide developer Fatshark’s latest title leans more into the sci-fi Warhammer 40K universe, eschewing hack and slash for more first-person shooting (but still having some hacking and slashing). It’s set in the Hive City of Tertium on Atoma Prime, which has seen an influx of Chaos forces. As a “reject,” one must undertake missions across various maps, working their way up to better weapons and gear while opting for tougher difficulties.

Four classes – Psyker, Zealot, Ogryn, and Veteran – are available, each with different subclasses to specialize in different play styles (like the Skullbreaker Ogryn being more melee-focused). It will sound pretty familiar to Vermintide fans, which isn’t the worst considering how much fun co-op was in that series. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is out on November 30th for PC, with the Xbox Series X/S version launching “shortly after.”

The Entropy Centre

Amid all the action-packed titles releasing this month, it’s nice to have something more laid-back and cerebral. Stubby Games’ The Entropy Centre takes place after an extinction event seemingly wipes out mankind and as perhaps the last one alive, you venture to the heart of the Entropy Centre, which orbits the Earth in a space station, for answers.

The first-person puzzle-solving and time manipulation will look familiar, but Stubby Games puts an interesting spin on this by having you find the solution and then rewind time to solve the puzzle in reverse. The Entropy Centre is out on November 3rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Gungrave G.O.R.E.

Announced back in December 2017, Gungrave G.O.R.E. has been a long time coming. It’s out on November 22nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4, and PC, and launching day one on Game Pass. Set after Gungrave VR, it follows the Gunslinger of Resurrection, who is out for revenge.

Along with third-person shooting, there’s also close-quarters combat and brawling, and various types of enemies like mechs, zombies, and more to take out. Despite the long development cycle, it remains intriguing and worth keeping an eye on.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PC)

If you’ve already played Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on PC, then Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a no-brainer. Taking place one year later, it sees Miles Morales as Spider-Man, protecting Harlem from the conflict between Roxxon Energy Corporation and the Tinkerer’s Underground. While many of the same environments and gameplay elements remain, Miles has unique abilities like Venom Blast and Camouflage to even the odds.

There are also new gadgets like the Gravity Well, Holo-Drone, and more to further spice up the gameplay. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is out on November 18th for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, and while it’s not as long as the previous game, there’s still a great story, side content, and suits to collect.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

Tactics Ogre: Reborn is coming to PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC and serves as a remaster of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. Even with the upscaled HD visuals and artwork, re-recorded soundtrack and fully-voiced cutscenes, there is so much here to make it feel like a brand-new game.

Random encounters are gone, replaced with Training Battles; skills have been retuned while Finishers now use MP; Buff Cards throughout different battles provide positive and negative effects; new Charms provide different bonuses; and much more. You can even rewind actions within the last ten turns in case of an unfavorable outcome. With its numerous classes and skills, incredible branching story, and various quality-of-life improvements, it may end up a dark horse among some of the bigger releases this year.

Harvestella

The world, governed by four crystals called Seaslight, periodically suffers the effects of the Quietus, which ruins crops and brings death. As the duration of the Quietus increases, you control Ein and must figure out how to stop it.

Along the way, you’ll visit various towns, each with unique crops, materials, and recipes, and interact with many characters (including Aria, who is seemingly from the future), fish, craft and more. Maintaining a farm to fund your mission is one thing – you also need to venture out and fight monsters to make progress with the investigation. Good thing there are 12 different classes, each with unique weapons and abilities to assist in this.

Releasing on November 4th for Nintendo Switch and PC, Harvestella could fill that Rune Factory-sized hole.

Please note that some of these games may have 2022 as a tentative release date as of the time of writing this feature, and are subject to change. 

With that out of the way, let’s begin:

God of War: Ragnarok

Sony Santa Monica delivered an excellent reimagining of God of War with its 2018 reboot which masterfully combined sincere storytelling with adrenaline-pumping gameplay. Those familiar with the game would know that the story ended on a cliffhanger, and naturally – fans are more than excited to see the narrative unfold with the sequel. The aptly titled God of War: Ragnarok will continue the adventures of Kratos and Atreus as they bring about Fimbulwinter. God of War: Ragnarok releases on 9 November 2022 for PS4 and PS5.