In this week's Inven Weekly TOP Game Rankings, a fierce battle for the top spot between 'World of Warcraft: Forever' and 'GTA 6' caught the eye. Last week's runner-up, 'World of Warcraft: Forever', climbed one spot to claim #1, pushing 'GTA 6' into second place. With an extremely narrow score gap between the two titles, high player interest signals another tight race next week.
In the upper-middle ranks, 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IV' and 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Remake)' held firm at #3 and #4, respectively. 'Final Fantasy Resonance' and 'EA Sports FC 27' both jumped three spots to take 5th and 6th place. Meanwhile, 'Phantom Blade Zero', boosted by strong emoji reactions, entered the rankings at #7 to chase the top spots.
'Hearthstone: Reign of the Black Empire' dropped one place to #8, while 'Dynasty Warriors 2: Complete Edition Remastered' fell three spots to #9. 'Minecraft Dungeons 2' held on to 10th place, unchanged from last week. As 'World of Warcraft: Forever' and 'GTA 6' clashed for the lead, momentum among mid-rank titles further heightened anticipation for next week's standings.
Last Week's Issues, New Releases, Events, and News
The biggest story of last week was Smilegate's MMORPG 'Lost Ark' transitioning to a new director. During a special live stream on October 29, Director Jae-hak Jeon announced his resignation, with Byung-tak Lee, head of the overseas design department, named as his successor. Director Jeon decided to step down around the game's 8th anniversary, taking responsibility for recent issues including difficulty balance failures in the 'Mordum Extreme' raid and declining player trust. However, he will remain within the development team to continue hands-on work, such as raid design.
Major overhaul plans under the new director were also unveiled. The existing progression system will effectively be redesigned to share gems roster-wide, while transferring growth elements such as Ability Stones, Karma, and gear quality to a new system. Alongside this, the game will offer four raids annually and introduce a 'Companion System' that lets players recruit NPCs to assist in solo raids. With plans announced to address class balance, reduce reliance on support classes, and consolidate daily content, incoming Director Byung-tak Lee expressed his commitment to ensuring players can enjoy the game once again.
In the domestic gaming industry, 12 nominees for the main awards at the '2026 Korea Game Awards' were revealed. Titles across diverse genres made the list, including Pearl Abyss's 'Crimson Desert', NCSoft's 'AION 2', as well as 'Monster Taming: Star Dive', 'The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin', 'World of DokeV', and 'Mimesis'. With 'Crimson Desert' and 'AION 2' highlighted as strong contenders, Netmarble secured three nominations from its subsidiary studios. The final winners will be decided by combining judge evaluations (50%), public voting (25%), and media voting (25%), with the awards ceremony taking place on November 18 at BEXCO in Busan.
'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IV' stirred controversy after it was revealed that actual news footage from a real-life tragedy was used in the game. The opening cinematic of the game, released on October 23, was confirmed to include a roughly 3-second clip showing paramedics performing CPR during the 2022 Itaewon tragedy. Activision admitted on October 28 to using the actual news footage, explaining that it had no intention of trivializing the tragic event. Subsequently, in an official statement on October 30, the publisher apologized to the bereaved families and victims, stating that the video clip would be removed entirely in an update scheduled for November 12.
Meanwhile, Valve directly addressed concerns regarding AI-generated game clones and low-quality content. At the 'Steam Indie Connect' developer event held on October 27, Valve explained that generative AI technology has accelerated the pre-existing problem of game cloning. The company advised developers that building user communities and improving game quality through consistent updates remain the best ways to counter copycat titles. Addressing criticism regarding AI-generated low-quality games appearing during Steam Next Fest, Valve detailed its system of running randomized impressions for the first two days before switching to personalized recommendations, adding that it is aware of the issue and actively seeking improvements.
Martial arts action RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' received praise from critics and players alike. Released on October 29, the game got off to a strong start with a Metacritic score of 88 for its PC version. Its main strengths included flashy action reminiscent of wuxia films, combat utilizing diverse weaponry, and highly polished boss encounters. The combat system, which seamlessly links attack, defense, and evasion, along with excellent hit feedback, earned high marks. However, a fragmented narrative, insufficient world-building explanations, and minor control and localization issues were noted as drawbacks.
In esports, the Swiss Stage of the 2026 League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) concluded, locking in the quarterfinal matchups. From the LCK, Gen.G, Dplus KIA, and T1 successfully advanced to the top eight, but Hanwha Life Esports was eliminated after a 0-2 loss to Bilibili Gaming (BLG) in their final match on November 1. As a result, Gen.G will face North America's LYON, Dplus KIA will battle China's BLG, and T1 will take on Europe's Karmine Corp (KC) in the quarterfinals. Notably, Dplus KIA and T1 are placed on the same side of the bracket, creating a potential all-Korean semifinal matchup if both win. The quarterfinal matches are scheduled to take place from November 4 to 7.
Notable New Releases, Events, and Update News This Week
On November 3, Ubisoft releases its new story DLC, 'Tom Clancy's The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park'. Set in a nature-overgrown Central Park and Upper West Side of New York, players track an unidentified threat behind a series of disappearances and deaths. The campaign can be played solo or in online co-op, with three companions joining the mission, each possessing distinct backstories and combat styles. Six new skill variants, exotic weapons, and gear sets are added, and after completing the story, players can re-enter Central Park in endgame content to hunt down enemies and earn exclusive rewards.
On November 5, Blizzard Entertainment launches 'World of Warcraft: Forever'. Based on early Azeroth, this standalone version of 'World of Warcraft' expands existing regions while introducing new zones and over 1,000 new quests. A new Elf race originating from Zephtas Island, the 'Skyborn', joins the roster alongside new race-class combinations such as Dwarf Shamans and Forsaken Paladins. Classes, specializations, the Honor system, and professions undergo major overhauls, accompanied by new dungeons, max-level raids, and a Camping system.
The most anticipated title of the week is undoubtedly the remake of 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time', releasing on November 5. Reimagined for Switch 2, this remake of the masterpiece that birthed the 3D 'The Legend of Zelda' series retells Link's journey alongside a fairy across Hyrule to stand against Ganondorf, who seeks the Triforce. Players travel back and forth between Link's childhood and adulthood, exploring a Hyrule that changes with time while solving dungeon puzzles using various tools and the power of the Ocarina.
While preserving the original's puzzle solutions and dungeon designs, the remake updates graphics, lighting, and music for modern standards, enhancing narrative presentation with fully voiced cutscenes and additional dialogue. Direct jump and sprint controls along with an improved camera system have been introduced, alongside motion-control aiming and a feature to track current objectives. By modernizing controls and quality-of-life features while preserving the iconic adventure and puzzles, the game serves as a nostalgic return for longtime fans and a perfect entry point for new players experiencing 'Ocarina of Time' for the first time.
Gaming events will also continue throughout the week. On November 5, Nexon will host the 'Over World' online showcase for its upcoming MMORPG 'Overgeared', revealing key gameplay content and service updates. Following that, 'ExileCon 2026' will take place in New Zealand from November 7 to 8. Fresh news and future plans for 'Path of Exile' and 'Path of Exile 2' will be unveiled, complete with a live Korean broadcast for domestic fans.
Playtests offering early hands-on opportunities are also lined up. On November 2, the CBT for 2.5D pixel-art extraction action RPG 'VOID DIVER: Escape from the Abyss' kicks off. Set in a city turned into a massive dungeon by anomaly phenomena, players retrieve relics and escape, with support for single-player and up to 3-player online co-op. From November 3 to 10, the 2nd CBT for medieval English zombie survival game 'God Save Birmingham' takes place. Incorporating player feedback, the test adds co-op play and save functionality while bolstering survival content with new weapons and cooking mechanics.
What Were Last Week's Key METACRITIC Scores?
On Metacritic this week, 'The Wolf Among Us Remastered' and 'Danchi Days' both earned solid receptions, tying at 85 points. 'Terrible Lizards', which combines parkour with dinosaur chases, also garnered generally favorable reviews with a 78. Conversely, 'Anomalis' and 'Hello Kitty Party Land' fell short in game structure and polish despite their distinct personalities.
'The Wolf Among Us Remastered' achieved a Metascore of 85 on PS5 based on 11 reviews. The original's compelling mystery narrative, distinct characters, and unique noir atmosphere continued to win praise. Upgraded visuals alongside bonus content like behind-the-scenes material and deleted scenes were also positively received, though stiff controls and dated animations were cited as minor drawbacks.
'Anomalis' was highlighted for its supernatural atmosphere exploring strange spaces, character-driven story, satisfying gunplay, and progression mechanics. Its unique world-building and art direction drew praise across multiple outlets. However, critics noted that repetitive progression, excessively long travel routes, and unharmonized systems undermined the overall survival horror experience.
'Hello Kitty Party Land' scored a 67 Metascore on Nintendo Switch 2 across 4 reviews. Featuring a lineup of Sanrio characters, cute visuals, and family-friendly co-op design, the game earned positive mentions for its accessible pick-up-and-play nature. However, reviewers felt it lacked depth to engage players beyond children and core Sanrio fans, noting low value for its price point. Some outlets also expressed concern over minigames that require rapid stick rotation.
'Danchi Days' won acclaim for its heartwarming story centered on building ties with neighbors while preparing for a summer festival, alongside memorable characters and creative minigames. Critics commended how it tackles themes of dementia, loss, and community with a gentle touch, highlighting the value of everyday human connections. However, some outlets noted that its handling of realistic struggles could have used more depth and weight. Given the small review sample so far, the score remains subject to shift.
'Terrible Lizards' was praised for its fast, fluid parkour, tense dinosaur chases, and striking set pieces. Its blend of horror and platforming action alongside an atmosphere evocative of 1990s monster films stood out as key strengths. On the flip side, critics pointed out relative weaknesses in narrative and character charm, as well as a lack of precision in its movement mechanics.
New Release Popularity Vote
This week's poll invites votes for games newly released or scheduled to launch between October 2 and December 9. Accordingly, games outside this timeframe have been removed, and new titles have been added.
