On this week's Inven Weekly TOP Game Rankings, the battle for the top spot between 'GTA 6' and 'World of Warcraft: Forever' continued. Last week's runner-up, 'GTA 6,' climbed one spot to take the top position, while 'World of Warcraft: Forever' dropped to 2nd place. 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4' and 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Remake)' held onto 3rd and 4th place, respectively.
'Final Fantasy Resonance' maintained 5th place, while 'Hearthstone - Reign of the Black Empire' climbed two spots to 6th. 'Azur Promilia' entered the TOP 10 in 7th place. Although not yet released, it has clearly made its mark as a next-generation anime/subculture title drawing high interest from players, raising anticipation for how it will compete against upcoming rivals in the future.
The new release 'Football Manager 27' took 8th place. 'Football Manager 27' is a football management simulation where players take charge of player signings and tactical decisions as manager, reviving fan-favorite features based on player feedback in this latest installment. 'Phantom Blade Zero' fell two places from last week to 9th, while 'Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4' entered the rankings in 10th place.
Headlines, New Releases, Events, and News from Last Week
In esports, the semifinals of the '2026 League of Legends World Championship (Worlds)' concluded. Gen.G swept Invictus Gaming (IG) 3-0 to advance to the finals. Notably, Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon reached the Worlds final for the first time in his career after nine years since his debut and eight attempts. Meanwhile, T1 fell 1-3 to Bilibili Gaming (BLG), ending their quest for a fourth consecutive title. Led by Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, T1 claimed Game 2, but could not overcome BLG's macro play and bot-lane strength in the remaining games. In a final without T1, Gen.G and BLG will battle for the Summoner's Cup this year.
The biggest news last week was a security incident involving Level Infinite's PC launcher for 'Goddess of Victory: Nikke.' Following the hijacking of a domain used for certain game services on September 27, script files downloaded by the PC launcher from the official CDN were tampered with. Subsequently, starting October 30, remote-control malware was confirmed to have been distributed to some players' PCs. Analysis revealed the malware was capable of executing external commands, stealing files and screen captures, as well as targeting browser passwords, cryptocurrency wallets, and developer security keys. The fallout was amplified by the fact that the official launcher, trusted and executed by players, was exploited as a malware distribution vector.
Shift Up CEO Kim Hyung-tae apologized, stating that the company would work with Level Infinite to prepare fundamental solutions and follow-up measures, while Level Infinite disclosed the details of the incident and security check procedures. The compromised files and CDN cache were reported to have been restored as of November 4, and players who executed the Windows PC launcher after 3:41 PM on September 27 were advised to conduct security checks. Additionally, an automatic detection and removal feature for malware was applied to the official client, along with a separate manual inspection guide. Level Infinite stated it would accept reports of account and financial damage via customer support while strengthening security monitoring and external resource verification.
Blueprints for existing live-service titles were also revealed. During the 8th anniversary broadcast, 'Lost Ark' Director Lee Byung-tak announced plans to streamline complex progression systems while preserving existing gear value, alongside expanding solo content so players can progress at their own pace. The 6-character gold-earning limit per Roster will also be lifted, though gold earned past the threshold will be character-bound. At its 1st anniversary event, 'Aion 2' unveiled a winter roadmap including a level cap increase, housing, solo modes for all raids/expeditions, and new progression systems. 'Blue Archive' also disclosed business model overhauls at its 5th anniversary festival, including recruitment mileage, alongside Main Story Part 2 and the Pandemonium Society event, while teasing collaborations with titles like MapleStory.
News regarding games in development and studios also followed. Nexon's 'NAKWON: LAST PARADISE' is developing PvE as an independent mode offering distinct fun rather than mere practice for PvPvE. While both modes share a single character, rewards vary by risk level, and PvPvE parties will be capped at up to two players. Epid Games showcased 4-player party-based turn-based combat and character growth content in an alpha build video for 'Trickcal Fatima,' with plans to recruit participants for its first CBT in Q1 2027. Conversely, Nagoshi Studio, founded by Toshihiro Nagoshi, has entered liquidation procedures. As a result, the future release of 'Gang of Dragon,' an action-adventure game starring Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok), remains uncertain.
Returning on Nintendo Switch 2, 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' Remake achieved a score of 96 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic, earning top-tier acclaim for 2026. The game was praised for modernizing graphics and quality-of-life features while preserving the original's dense world and puzzles. S-Game's wuxia action RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' surpassed 4 million cumulative sales within 72 hours of launch. It also enjoyed a strong start in both commercial success and critical reception, with peak concurrent Steam players topping 830,000 over its opening weekend.
What Notable New Releases, Events, and Updates Are Coming This Week?
On November 9, the post-apocalyptic fishing adventure 'Dreadmoor' launches. Set in a submerged world, this first-person game sees players pilot a fishing boat to explore islands and ruins. Players catch fish to sell to survivors, using earnings to upgrade their boat and gear while navigating dangerous waters. It blends survival mechanics like crafting and gear management with combat against mutated creatures and exploration of radioactive zones.
On November 10, Auroch Digital's 'Warhammer Survivors' goes live. An official bullet heaven game leveraging both the 'Warhammer 40,000' and 'Warhammer Age of Sigmar' universes, it was developed by the team behind 'Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun' in collaboration with Warhammer and poncle of 'Vampire Survivors' fame. Featuring over 40 characters selected from both universes and more than 75 weapons including boltguns and chainswords, players will combine weapons and power-ups to face swarming Tyranid and Skaven hordes. The game supports progression through replayability, alongside character and secret collection.
The most anticipated title of the week is undoubtedly 'Football Manager 27,' launching officially on November 10. It is the latest entry in the football management simulation series where players manage leagues and clubs around the globe, handling player recruitment, training, tactics, and match operations. Released across PC, console, and mobile platforms, an Advanced Access preview was also offered on PC and Mac for pre-order customers prior to official release. Expectations are high to see if it delivers the captivating gameplay that has earned the series its reputation as an addictive time-sink.
This edition introduces a new 'Tactical Efficiency' system connecting squad building, training, and tactical familiarity. Players can adjust tactics in real-time during matches to exploit defensive gaps, and set more detailed player instructions for attacking the penalty area. Stadium and crowd visuals have been enhanced to heighten matchday immersion, while key seasonal events such as cup draws and Transfer Deadline Day have been made even more vivid. The interface has been streamlined to access key information with fewer clicks, and a new multiplayer mode, 'Shuffle Draft,' developed in partnership with FIFAe to test squad-building skills, has been added.
On November 12, SEGA's 'Sonic the Hedgehog' crossover with co-op puzzle game 'PICO PARK,' titled 'Sonic Pico Park,' launches. In this co-op action puzzle game supporting 2 to 8 players, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy team up with Pico Cats to clear stages. Players must synchronize their speed and timing to activate mechanisms and clear obstacles, launching on PC, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2.
Industry events also continue. On November 9, the 'Console Game Developers Conference 2026' will take place at the SKY31 Convention in Lotte World Tower, Seoul. Featuring lectures from domestic and international developers such as CD Projekt Red and Shift Up, guide sessions will be conducted for developers preparing for PlayStation and Xbox console launches.
The '2026 League of Legends World Championship,' which kicked off last month, has only its grand final remaining. The last teams standing, Gen.G and BLG, will face off on November 15 for the trophy. Additionally, on November 14, the 'SWC 2026 World Finals' will be held at KBS Arena in Seoul, where 12 players who cleared global qualifiers will compete for the title of 'Summoners War: Sky Arena' champion.
What Were Last Week's Major METACRITIC Scores?
On Metacritic this week, 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' received overwhelming acclaim with a score of 96. 'Psycho Sleuth' and 'Stellar Blade: Complete Edition' recorded scores of 81, while 'Chivalware' stood at 79. On the other hand, 'CRYMELIGHT' lingered at 69.
'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' earned a Metascore of 96 based on 87 reviews. Critics noted that the original's iconic adventure, dungeon design, and puzzles demonstrate outstanding polish even after so much time. Opinions highlighted that modernized graphics, music, and controls, alongside voiced dialogue and newly refined dungeons and puzzles, enriched the experience without detracting from the original's charm. The dominant consensus was that it serves as the most complete version for both returning and new players. However, some pointed out that staying faithful to the original offers fewer new surprises for veteran players, while retaining certain classic progression styles and a slower pace.
The PC version of 'Psycho Sleuth' currently holds a Metascore of 81. Critics praised its premise—where cognitive impairment twists character perception and the rules of a murder case—alongside its twist-filled mystery and distinct characters. However, some noted that the gameplay engagement fell short compared to the story, with lengthy visual novel segments. With only 4 reviews aggregated, the score is highly subject to change.
'Chivalware' received an average score of 79 based on 7 reviews for the Nintendo Switch 2 version. Its original concept of blending tile-matching with real-time combat, alongside diverse weapon combinations and fast pacing, earned positive remarks. Conversely, a steep initial learning curve, hectic combat, lack of permanent progression, and minor balance issues were noted as drawbacks.
'CRYMELIGHT' garnered mixed reviews, settling at a 69 Metascore for PC. The dark reinterpretation of an Alice in Wonderland-inspired world, striking art design, and card-based progression system received praise. However, repetitive combat, steep difficulty spikes, technical issues, and unharmonious mechanics were cited as dragging down its overall quality. With only 4 participating outlets, the score could shift significantly as more reviews are added.
'Stellar Blade: Complete Edition' settled at 81 based on 20 reviews for the Nintendo Switch 2 version. Satisfying combat, flashy action, robust content including past DLC, and portability were highlighted as key strengths. On the flip side, reduced graphical quality and responsiveness compared to the PS5 version, alongside input lag stemming from Joy-Con controls and frame generation, were identified as drawbacks. For existing owners, the value of portability will likely determine whether it warrants a double-dip.
Popular New Release Poll
This week's poll covers popular upcoming or recently released games between October 9 and December 16. As a result, titles outside this timeframe have been removed from the poll, and new games have been added.
