Fall Videogame Preview: 30 Most-Anticipated Games

Release date: November 15 for Switch

The eighth generation of Pokémon RPGs are also the first "core" Pokémon games for the Switch console. Developed by Game Freak, who also worked on last year's Let's Go games, Sword and Shield are set in the Britain-inspired Galar region where gyms have the size (and appearance) of soccer stadiums. A new battle mechanic called "Dynamax" inflates the size (and power) of your Pokémon for three turns, and the game adds a pair of legendaries named Zamazenta and Zacian. Also new are the co-op multiplayer Raid Battles that take place in "Wild Areas" in between towns. You can also make your Pokémon earn their keep by sending them out on jobs (at least until the economy crashes); eventually, they'll return with rewards.