Ah, fall. Crisp air, falling leaves…and snow. While the weather may not always be predictable, we can always count on the post-American Thanksgiving period to be the biggest season for video game releases. And this year, along with new games, there is an exciting 'new' platform release (and its not the PS5)!

One of the most popular series, and a family and library favourite, is Just Dance. Kids love it because it’s fun and it has all the hit songs. Parents love it because while their kids may be playing video games, they are also staying active. Parents also have the chance to learn what songs are currently "cool" and can attempt to be hip, while almost certainly failing. Certainly, it gives dads a chance to bemoan the lack Bon Jovi in the game, and how that was "real music", to the eye roll of confused and embarassed children everywhere. This year’s Just Dance includes songs from artists such as Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, Panic! At the Disco, Cardi B, Billie Eilish and many more songs that make you want to…Just Dance! 

The 2020 edition is available for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and yes, the Wii. This is the only physical game release remaining for the Nintendo Wii, and UbiSoft just announced that it will be the last title released for this platform. This move solidifies the fact that Nintendo is moving full-steam ahead with the Switch Platform, with no plans on going back to the disc format that was the Wii. 

Add to this the release of Nintendo's exciting ‘new’ platform, the Nintendo Switch Lite. This more affordable version of the original Nintendo Switch basically combines the Nintendo DS with the Nintendo Switch, giving more people access to the great family games that the Nintendo brand is known for. As the Nintendo Wii and Wii-U are being phased out, more libraries are starting to collect this new platform.

Headlining the Switch releases this year is Luigi’s Mansion 3. This series began back in the olden days in 2001, when the Nintendo Game Cube was all the rage. Its somewhat surprise success lead to Luigi’s Mansion 2, available only on Nintendo DS. Now, with updated graphics, Luigi continues battling his demons – literally – in Luigi’s Mansion 3. He and his brother Mario, along with Princess Peach, a bunch of Toads, and Luigi’s pet dog Polterpup, receive an invitation to stay at the fancy hotel ‘The Last Resort’. Luigi soon finds out that the hotel is haunted, and must battle his way through to save himself and his friends. This third person player game contains a single player story mode as well as a multiplayer co-op mode. 

This year's AA PlayStation 4 exclusive is the star studded Death Stranding. The new game from industry titan Hideo Kojima is one of the most talked about games right now. An open world action-adventure game taking place in an apocalyptic United States, Death Stranding can be played as a single or multi-player game. Aside from the beautiful graphics and gameplay, this game also features motion capture, 3D scanning and vocal performances from actors including Norman Reedus (the game’s main character and star of the hit series ‘The Walking Dead’), Mads Mikkelson, Margaret Qualley and more. Film directors Guillermo Del Toro and Nicholas Winding Refn are also featured. Not only does this game have an incredible cast, it is also getting rave reviews from critics. This is definitely a ‘must-have’ for libraries. 

It wouldn't be a release seaso without a gritty first person shooter, and this year serves up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for both the Xbox One and PS4. This is the sixteenth installment of the incredibly popular series, as well as a reboot of the Modern Warfare subseries (video games can be as confusing as comic books sometimes). Set in the "real world", the game allows players to assume the roles of American CIA operatives or British SAS forces, combating Russian troops in a fictional, vaguely Middle Eastern country. 

Also for the Xbox One and PS4 is Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. For those who can't wait until December for their latest Force-fix comes this new adventure from a long time ago, and far far away. Set between Episode III and the original Star Wars film, the game lets players assume the role of a Jedi-in-training on the run from the Empire and Darth Vader, who are combing the galaxy and destroying all the Jedi they can find. This game is "in continuity" with the films (Star Wars is definitely as confusing as comic books), and features Forest Whitaker reprising his role from the movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which also takes place in this timeframe.

Rounding out the family friendly titles, Jumanji: the Video Game, avaialble on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PS4 lets players become one with the video game setting of the most recent and forthcoming Jumaji movies. In this game, players can choose to play as Fortnight-styled version of The Rock, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart, and battle their way through the jungle. 

Other notable mentions this season include:

Doom: Eternal – Xbox One; PS4

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 – Nintendo Switch 

Garfield Kart: Furious Racing – Nintendo Switch; Xbox One; PS4 

Harvest Moon: Mad Dash – Nintendo Switch; PS4

Need for Speed: Heat – Xbox One; PS4 

New Super Lucky’s Tale – Nintendo Switch 

Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville – Xbox One; PS4 

Pokémon Shield – Nintendo Switch 

Pokémon Sword – Nintendo Switch

Zumba: Burn it Up – Nintendo Switch 

For a complete list of November/December releases, please see the Video Game New Releases – November/December 2019 catalogue Slist #42441

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Happy gaming!