This week's Inven Weekly TOP Game Rankings featured a fierce battle for the top spot between 'World of Warcraft: Forever' and 'GTA6'. 'World of Warcraft: Forever', which ranked 2nd last week, climbed one spot to take the top position, pushing 'GTA6' to 2nd place. With an extremely narrow score gap between the two titles, high interest sets the stage for another tight ranking battle next week.
In the upper-middle tier, 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4' and 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Remake)' held onto 3rd and 4th places, respectively. 'Final Fantasy Resonance' and 'EA Sports FC 27' both climbed three spots to land at 5th and 6th place. Additionally, 'Phantom Blade Zero', which showed strong momentum in emoji reactions, entered at 7th place to join the chase for the top ranks.
'Hearthstone - Reign of the Black Empire' dropped one spot to 8th, while 'Dynasty Warriors 2: Complete Edition Remastered' fell three spots to 9th. 'Minecraft Dungeons 2' retained 10th place, unchanged from last week. As 'World of Warcraft: Forever' and 'GTA6' clash for the lead, mid-tier titles continue their upward momentum, raising anticipation for next week's standings.
Last Week's Issues, New Releases, Events, and News
The biggest topic last week was the transition of Smilegate's MMORPG 'Lost Ark' to a new director system. During a special live broadcast held on the 29th, Director Jeon Jae-hak expressed his intent to step down, with Lee Byung-tak, Head of Overseas Planning, designated as his successor. Director Jeon Jae-hak decided to step down as director around the game's 8th anniversary, taking responsibility for recent issues such as the failed difficulty tuning of the 'Mordum Extreme' raid and declining user trust. However, he will remain in the development organization to continue hands-on work, including raid development.
Large-scale improvement plans under the new director system were also revealed. The existing growth system will be effectively redesigned, making gems shared roster-wide, while transferring growth elements such as Ability Stones, Karma, and gear quality into a new system. Alongside this, four raids will be offered annually, and a 'Companion System' will be introduced to recruit NPCs as companions for use in single-player raids. With improvements to class balance, reduced reliance on support classes, and consolidation of daily content also previewed, incoming Director Lee Byung-tak stated his commitment to ensuring players can enjoy the game with a smile once again.
In the Korean gaming industry, the 12 main award nominees for the '2026 Korea Game Awards' were unveiled. Pearl Abyss's 'Crimson Desert' and NC's 'Aion 2', along with titles across various genres such as 'MONSTER Taming: STAR DIVE', 'The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin', 'World of Dokkaebi', and 'Mimesis', made the nominee list. With 'Crimson Desert' and 'Aion 2' highlighted as strong frontrunners, Netmarble secured three nominations through its affiliate developers. The final winners will be determined by combining panel evaluation (50%), public voting (25%), and media voting (25%), with the awards ceremony scheduled for November 18 at BEXCO in Busan.
'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4' became embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that actual news footage from a real-life tragedy was used in the game. It was confirmed that the opening cinematic of the game, released on the 23rd, included approximately 3 seconds of footage depicting paramedics performing CPR during the 2022 Itaewon tragedy. On the 28th, Activision acknowledged using actual news footage, explaining that there was no intent to trivialize the tragic event. Subsequently, in an official statement on the 30th, they apologized to the bereaved families and victims, announcing that the footage will be completely removed in an update on November 12.
Meanwhile, Valve personally addressed issues regarding game cloning and low-quality content using generative AI. At the 'Steam Indie Connect' developer event held on the 27th, Valve explained that AI technology has accelerated the game cloning problem that previously existed. They advised developers that building a user community and enhancing game quality through steady updates is the key to countering clone titles. Regarding concerns about low-quality AI-generated games being exposed during Steam Next Fest, Valve detailed its system of running random exposure during the first two days of the event before transitioning to personalized recommendations, noting that they are aware of the issue and considering ways to improve.
The Wuxia action RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' received praise from both critics and players. Released on the 29th, the title got off to a strong start, scoring an 88 on Metacritic for its PC version. Stylish action reminiscent of martial arts films, combat utilizing a variety of weapons, and highly polished boss fights were highlighted as major strengths. In particular, the combat system seamlessly connecting attacks, defense, and dodges, alongside exceptional hit feedback, earned high marks. However, a fragmented narrative, insufficient world-building explanations, and minor issues with controls and localization were noted as drawbacks.
In esports, the Swiss Stage of the '2026 League of Legends World Championship (Worlds)' concluded, finalizing the Quarterfinal matchups. From the LCK, Gen.G, Dplus KIA, and T1 successfully advanced to the Quarterfinals, whereas Hanwha Life Esports was eliminated after losing 0-2 to Bilibili Gaming (BLG) in their final match on the 1st. Consequently, in the Quarterfinals, Gen.G will face North America's LYON Gaming, Dplus KIA will take on China's BLG, and T1 will face Europe's Karmine Corp (KC). Notably, Dplus KIA and T1 are placed on the same side of the bracket, meaning an all-Korean Semifinal matchup will take place if both teams win. The Quarterfinal matches are scheduled to take place from the 4th to the 7th.
What are this week's notable new releases, events, and updates?
On the 3rd, Ubisoft releases its new story DLC, 'Tom Clancy's The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park'. Set in New York's Central Park and Upper West Side reclaimed by nature, it follows a story of tracking down an unidentified threat behind disappearances and deaths. The campaign can be enjoyed solo or in online co-op, with three companions joining the mission who feature distinct backgrounds and fighting styles. Six new skill variants, exotic weapons, and gear sets are added, and after completing the story, players can access endgame content to re-enter Central Park, hunt enemies, and earn exclusive rewards.
On the 5th, Blizzard Entertainment launches service for 'World of Warcraft: Forever'. Based on early Azeroth, it is a unique standalone 'World of Warcraft' that expands existing zones while adding new regions and over 1,000 quests. New race and class combinations are added, including the 'Skyborn'—a new elf race from Zefiras Island—as well as Dwarf Shamans and Forsaken Paladins. Classes, specializations, the Honor System, and professions undergo major overhauls, alongside diverse content including 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 the 5th. Rebuilt for Switch 2 from the classic masterpiece that marked the origin of the 3D 'The Legend of Zelda' series, it retells the story of young Link traveling through Hyrule with a fairy to confront Ganondorf, who seeks the Triforce. Players travel between youth and adulthood, exploring a Hyrule that changes with the era, and solving dungeon puzzles using various items and the power of the Ocarina.
While maintaining the original's progression and dungeon layouts, the graphics, lighting, and music have been modernized, with voiced cutscenes and additional dialogue enhancing narrative presentation. Direct jump and run controls, along with an improved camera system, have been introduced, alongside motion-controlled aiming and a feature to check current objectives. By modernizing controls and accessibility while preserving the original's iconic adventures and puzzles, it serves as a nostalgic return for long-time fans and an opportunity for new players to experience 'Ocarina of Time' for the first time.
Gaming events also continue. On the 5th, Nexon will host an online showcase titled 'Over World' for its new MMORPG 'Overgeared', presenting major game content and service details. Then, from the 7th to the 8th, 'ExileCon 2026' will be held in New Zealand. New updates and future plans for 'Path of Exile' and 'Path of Exile 2' will be revealed, complete with live commentary in Korean for domestic fans.
Playtests offering early hands-on experiences with upcoming titles are also lined up. On the 2nd, a closed beta test (CBT) begins for 'Void Diver', a 2.5D pixel-art extraction action RPG. Set in a city turned into a massive dungeon by an anomaly, players collect relics to escape, with support for single-player and online co-op for up to three players. From the 3rd to the 10th, the second CBT for 'God Save Birmingham', a medieval English zombie survival game, will take place. Incorporating player feedback, co-op play and a save feature have been added, alongside significantly enhanced survival mechanics such as new weapons and cooking methods.
What were last week's major METACRITIC scores?
On Metacritic this week, 'The Wolf Among Us Remastered' and 'Danchi Days' both earned solid reviews, scoring 85. 'Terrible Lizard', combining parkour with dinosaur chases, also received generally favorable responses with a 78. Conversely, 'Anomalys' and 'Hello Kitty Party Land' fell short in structure and polish despite their distinct personalities.
'The Wolf Among Us Remastered' recorded a Metascore of 85 based on 11 reviews for the PS5. The original's compelling mystery, distinct characters, and unique noir atmosphere continued to earn high praise. Upgraded graphics and bonus content such as behind-the-scenes material and deleted scenes were also positively received. However, stiff controls and dated animations were cited as drawbacks.
'Anomalys' was noted for strengths including its supernatural atmosphere exploring bizarre spaces, character-driven story, satisfying gunplay, and progression mechanics. Its unique world-building and art design received favorable mentions from multiple outlets. Conversely, repetitive progression, unnecessarily long traversal routes, and unharmonious systems were cited as compromising its quality as a survival horror title.
'Hello Kitty Party Land' recorded a Metascore of 67 based on 4 reviews for Nintendo Switch 2. A diverse roster of Sanrio characters, cute graphics, and family-friendly co-op features received positive feedback. Being easy to enjoy even in short sessions was also cited as a plus. However, reviews noted that it lacks sufficient appeal for players outside of children and Sanrio fans, with value relative to price being questionable. Some outlets also raised concerns regarding minigame control schemes that require rapid analog stick spinning.
'Danchi Days' earned acclaim for its heartwarming story of connecting with neighbors while preparing for a summer festival, distinct characters, and creative minigames. In particular, it was praised for delivering a tender perspective on dementia, loss, and community, conveying the value of everyday human connections. However, some media outlets noted that its approach to handling realistic hardship needed greater depth and weight. As review volume remains low, the score may fluctuate significantly.
'Terrible Lizard' received good reviews for its fast, fluid parkour, tense dinosaur chases, and impressive scene composition. Its blend of horror and platform action wrapped in an atmosphere evocative of 1990s monster movies was also highlighted as a strength. On the other hand, the story and character charm fell relatively short, and the movement system left something to be desired in terms of precision.
New Release Popularity Poll
This week's poll features games newly released or scheduled for release between October 2 and December 9. Consequently, expired titles have been excluded from the poll, and new games have been added.
