In this week's Inven Weekly TOP Game Rankings, 'GTA 6' made an immediate entry at No. 1, instantly proving its status as the most anticipated title of the year. 'World of Warcraft: Forever', which held the lead until last week, fell one spot to No. 2, while 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4' also dropped one place to 3rd. Meanwhile, 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Remake)' climbed two spots from last week's 6th place to reach 4th, significantly shifting the dynamics at the top of the board.
Notable ranking shifts also occurred in the middle tier. 'The War of Genesis Side Story: The Rhapsody of Zephyr Remaster' held steady at 5th place, the same as last week, while 'Dynasty Warriors 2: Complete Edition Remaster' moved up two spots to 6th. Conversely, 'Hearthstone - Reign of the Black Empire', which was 4th last week, dropped three places to 7th, and 'Final Fantasy Resonance', which had climbed as high as 3rd, fell five spots to land at 8th. The contrasting fortunes of declining top-tier mainstays and rising contenders brought major changes to the middle ranks.
In the lower tier, 'EA Sports FC 27' fell two spots from last week's 7th to rank 9th, while 'Minecraft Dungeons 2' maintained its position at 10th. Overall, the arrival of 'GTA 6' pushed existing top titles down by one spot, while the momentum of 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Remake)' and 'Dynasty Warriors 2: Complete Edition Remaster' stood out. In particular, 'GTA 6' claiming the crown in its debut week clearly demonstrated its presence as the most talked-about release of the year.
Last Week's News, New Releases, Events, and Updates
In the gaming world last week, 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4' became a topic of discussion beyond gaming and into political circles. Released on October 23, the title depicts battles between South Korean and U.S. forces against a backdrop of a second Korean War triggered by a North Korean invasion. On Metacritic, it received positive reviews, scoring an 86 on PC and a 91 on PS5. Amid this backdrop, related questions were raised during the National Assembly audit on October 23. When Rep. Kim Seok-ki of the People Power Party questioned the game's social impact and the government's response, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choe Hwi-young stated that games are not subject to prior censorship and that freedom of creation is a constitutional right.
Riot Games' virtual girl group 'K/DA' also drew attention by releasing a new song for the first time in about six years. The new track 'FIRESTARTER', released on October 19, is their first release since the EP 'ALL OUT' in 2020, with Sophie Powers and Mimi Webb joining original members Miyeon and Soyeon. The music video was produced by Fortiche, the French animation studio known for 'Arcane', and recorded approximately 27.67 million views on YouTube as of October 26, demonstrating K/DA's enduring popularity.
Meanwhile, as generative AI technology advances, concerns over clone games have grown across game development studios. Korean indie development team YNOT suspended distribution of its public demo on October 20 after receiving reports of attempts to clone its new title 'Spookitchen' using AI. Similar cases have been reported overseas where knockoff games appeared prior to official launch, leaving 'Needle in a Haystack Simulator' in a position where it had to emphasize its originality after at least eight games with similar concepts emerged.
Cases of developers being extorted using AI cloning as leverage have also surfaced. The developer of the Japanese indie game 'Dragon's Chronicles' stated that they received a blackmail email demanding $200, threatening that the game would be cloned and released first if not paid. As AI-driven game porting and reverse-engineering technologies advance further, discussions surrounding video game copyright and digital ownership continue to evolve.
Various other game industry news made headlines. Blizzard's 'Overwatch' revealed a new collaboration with Shift Up's 'Stellar Blade' titled 'Eve Protocol'. XLGAMES' new title 'ArcheAge Chronicles' adopted a B2P (buy-to-play) model with no separate subscription fee, pricing its Early Access release in Korea at 36,000 won. The studio also reaffirmed its policy not to sell pay-to-win items that boost character power with money. Conversely, EA decided to close BioWare, an RPG studio with over 30 years of history, resulting in the cancellation of the next 'Mass Effect' project, which was in its early development stages.
In esports, the main stage of the '2026 League of Legends World Championship' opened on October 24. Four teams from the LCK—Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, T1, and Dplus KIA—competed in the Swiss Stage. Among them, Dplus KIA became the first to secure a spot in the quarterfinals with three consecutive wins, while Gen.G also achieved three wins on October 26 after completing a 2:1 comeback victory against Rion to join the quarterfinals. Eyes are on T1 and Hanwha Life Esports to see if they can also advance to the quarterfinals.
Notable New Releases, Events, and Updates This Week
On October 28, the pixel-art action RPG 'Emberville' will launch. In this game, players wake up in a massive prison with no memories, battling monsters while working to rebuild a ruined town. Alongside combat featuring weapon-specific combos and class skills, the title offers various life sim elements including rescuing villagers, farming, and crafting.
On October 29, Capcom's popular IP receives a new mobile entry with the official launch of 'Monster Hunter Outlanders'. Developed by TiMi Studio Group, this survival hunting action RPG follows an adventure across Isolesia Island, where players hunt giant monsters. Inheriting the signature weapons and hunting systems of the series, it introduces new elements such as resource gathering, construction, and survival gear crafting. Supporting up to 4-player co-op, the game also features original Elder Dragons and variant monsters.
On the same day, the anticipated wuxia action title 'Phantom Blade Zero' will launch on PC and PS5. Developed by Chinese studio S-GAME, this semi-open-world action game tells the story of Soul, an assassin framed for his leader's murder, who must uncover the truth within his remaining lifespan. Set in a "Kung Fu Punk" universe that blends Chinese martial arts with steampunk, the game delivers fast and stylish combat centered on multi-weapon combos, parries, and dodges.
Also launching on October 29, 'The Wolf Among Us Remaster' modernizes Telltale Games' narrative-driven adventure. While preserving the original story of Sheriff Bigby Wolf investigating a murder in New York City's hidden fable community, it brings upgrades to graphics, animation, and audio. 'Hello Kitty Party Land', a party game featuring Sanrio characters, will also be released on the same day.
On October 30, Pearl Abyss's 'Crimson Desert Enhanced: Journey to the Unknown' will be released. As the first paid DLC for 'Crimson Desert Enhanced', it expands the stage of exploration to the sea alongside a new story for Kliff and his companions. Players can captain their own ship to explore islands, dive underwater to uncover ruins and treasures, and face new enemies in combat. Life sim content is also expanded, including facility leasing, management, housing, and town resident relationship systems.
Additionally, 'Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show' will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 29 to November 1. The event features business conferences and exhibitions for industry professionals alongside hands-on game showcases for general attendees. Meanwhile, the ongoing World Championship, where Gen.G and Dplus KIA have already secured quarterfinal berths, promises to keep esports fans tuned in.
Major METACRITIC Scores from Last Week
This week on Metacritic, reviews for several major new releases were unveiled. While 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4' and 'Final Fantasy Resonance' earned praise in the mid-80s, the upcoming 'Phantom Blade Zero' also got off to a strong start with an 88 score. On the other hand, a few new titles saw mixed receptions despite their unique game designs.
'Stupid Never Die' logged a Metascore of 66 on PS5 based on 31 reviews. While its distinct punk aesthetic and monster-ability absorption combat system drew praise, floaty controls and repetitive progression were cited as drawbacks. 'One Piece: Grand Restaurant' scored a 72 on Nintendo Switch 2 based on 17 reviews. Its charming pixel graphics and familiar character roster made for fun restaurant management gameplay, though a shallow management system and clunky UI were noted as disappointing elements.
'Final Fantasy Resonance' registered a Metascore of 86 on PS5 based on 51 reviews. Its classic visuals reimagined in HD-2D, traditional turn-based combat, and soundtrack were all highly praised. Critics especially highlighted the harmonious blend of modern quality-of-life mechanics and classic series elements. Conversely, some reviewers noted that the mobile-game-inspired narrative lacked sufficient punch, with occasional repetitive combat and slow pacing drawing minor criticism.
'Nintendo Switch Sports Resort' earned a Metascore of 79 on Nintendo Switch 2 based on 62 reviews. Its 12 sports, expanded single-player content, and intuitive motion controls received solid marks. Reviewers reacted positively to the expanded content that allows players to enjoy various sports solo. However, a few events that felt overly familiar from previous entries, minor motion-control inaccuracy, and small online connection hiccups were listed as downsides.
'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4' earned a Metascore of 86 on PC based on 18 reviews. The campaign, set against a full-scale war on the Korean Peninsula, drew praise for its spectacular set pieces, tense combat, and expanded DMZ mode. Multiplayer also garnered positive reviews for its excellent gunplay and fast combat rhythm. On the flip side, limited player freedom in certain missions and overly strict progression requirements were seen as drawbacks, with calls for balance adjustments between specific multiplayer modes and killstreaks.
Launching on October 29, 'Phantom Blade Zero' posted a Metascore of 88 on PC based on 31 reviews, signaling an impressive debut. Its fluid wuxia film-style combat, diverse weapon roster, and memorable boss encounters earned acclaim from multiple outlets. In particular, its fast and refined combat system and exploration mechanics were praised as making it a standout action game of the year. However, a complex narrative that can be difficult to engage with, alongside technical issues and framerate drops in certain sections, were noted as areas needing improvement.
New Game Popularity Poll
This week's poll covers popularity rankings for games newly released or scheduled for release between September 25 and December 2. Games past this window have been excluded from the poll, and new titles have been added.
