So you’ve played – or tried to play – all the major releases from September, and barely managed (or worse, added them to your backlog that you’re totally going to clear any day now). Well, good news – October is equally packed, and probably has even more big titles to look forward to.
It would be one thing if only big-name sequels and blockbusters with budgets in the hundreds of millions were released. But October has even more to offer, including games that have seen decade-plus development journeys. That doesn’t even include the major expansions, whether they’re reviving their fanbases and delivering what they’ve always wanted, or charting new paths into the unknown. Regardless, let’s dive into the 15 biggest new releases of October 2026, starting with a real barn-burner in…
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
Many expected Project Aces’ next air combat sim to be a critical success, but the second-highest rated in the franchise and comfortably sitting at an 87 Metascore, with some begging you to play? A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one, especially since Ace Combat 8 already sold us on its incredible fidelity, the more personal conflict surrounding the Wings of Theve callsign, and the stunning dogfights. And if you ever thought it would be fun to tackle Superweapons with up to seven other players, or hang out in a virtual air base with friends, Ace Combat Online has you covered. Whether you’re a long-time fan or someone who never knew they wanted to play the series, Wings of Theve takes flight on October 1st for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.
Gears of War: E-Day
Go back to 2006, where times were simpler, and the revving of a chainsaw cutting through subterranean flesh was all you needed. The Coalition looks to bring back those gloriously gory times when Gears of War: E-Day launches on October 6th. It’s not simply going back to the series’ old-school horror roots, where the Locust are huge and death is ever-present, but revamping the already sumptuous cover-based shooting gameplay with new movement options, weapons and enemies. Between the 14+ hour long campaign, new Versus modes, and Horde Siege, E-Day will keep any Gears-head busy for quite some time.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
This is podracing. And speeder bike racing. And land speeder racing. And skimspeeder – well, you get the drift. Fuse Games’ Star Wars: Galactic Racer takes us to the Outer Rim for a story about revenge, control, and most importantly, high-speed races. As Shade, you’re tasked with rising to the top of the Galactic League and dethroning Kestar Bool in a branching, rogue-lite-style campaign with multiple upgrade paths, mods, and playstyles. Once you do, jump into multiplayer next and compete against 11 other players. Galactic Racer may have taken everyone by surprise with its announcement, but less than a year later, we can’t wait for its October 6th release.
Order of the Sinking Star
In this post-Blue Prince world, few puzzle games look to challenge its sense of scale or level of secrecy. At least for the former, Thekla Inc.’s Order of the Sinking Star may very well be much more – an escalation, if you will. Venturing into a massive archipelago with no clue how you got there, the story unravels across four regions, each with separate characters and mechanics, from the Hearty Heroes of Hauling, using abilities like pushing, pulling and teleportation, to Mirror Isles, where swapping between the mirrors holds the key to success. And just as you’ve made enough progress, and maybe figured things out, they intersect, sharing mechanics in previously unthought-of ways. With 1000 puzzles and “hundreds of hours of unique gameplay” touted, this puzzle adventure is unlike any we’ve seen before, and it’s out on October 8th for PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is poised for a comeback. Its first paid expansion, Dark Arisen, launches on October 9th, and adds a brand new story centred around the foreboding Fallen Dragon. Of course, that’s only scratching the surface of threats involved, but as players explore the snowy Norgan region, they can uncover Relics and appraise them for new equipment. Even stronger equipment awaits in the 12 new Challenge Dungeons, and that’s not even accounting for the new skills, character creation options, and other potential surprises.
Planet Zoo 2
With the sheer amount of violence, survival and stress-inducing encounters in this month’s games, sometimes it’s nice to sit back and admire nature. That’s why Frontier Developments’ Planet Zoo 2 is notable, with aquatic species like turtles and sharks, flying species like Toucans and eagles, and so much more (including ostriches). Between the stunning fidelity, the challenge of keeping guests satisfied, and ensuring that your animals thrive, there’s a lot to get lost in when it launches on October 13th.
Valor Mortis
A month without some Souls-like to torture us? Simply impossible. Of course, One More Level isn’t strictly going the Dark Souls route with its latest title, and we don’t just mean the alternative European setting where you must stop Napoleon from spreading the plague while battling his monstrosities along the way. Valor Mortis is a first-person Souls-like, where parrying is as important as dodging. There’s even a fair bit of fast-paced traversal à la Ghostrunner 2. The demo wasn’t exactly perfect, but for $40 and a delay to implement feedback, it could be a dark horse when it launches on October 13th.
Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown
To say that Crimson Desert has had an eventful journey, week in and week out for over six months would be an understatement. With Charting the Unknown, the development team aims to go further beyond, introducing new conflicts and threats while venturing into a brand new space: the sea. Venture underwater to discover ruins and treasure, or sail on your own ship and make land on the numerous new islands. New bosses abound, both on the smaller CQC side and the world-threatening “how do you kill it” scale, and when you’ve had enough, there’s nothing quite like sitting back in your own home – which you can build thanks to expanded Housing features – and relaxing. Charting the Unknown launches on October 29th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and should bring even more hours of discovery and new features.
Phantom Blade Zero
Last August, GamerSky asked Phantom Blade Zero creator Qiwei “Soulframe” Liang what the game meant to him, especially since it was finally finished. He responded a little ominously, “Everyone has dreams, but turning a dream into reality is never a glamorous moment—it’s a day-to-day process of solving mundane problems.” R&D issues, optimization, delays – it’s been a long journey. Nevertheless, “For me personally, this is the culmination and realization of my long-standing passion for wuxia and my dreams in gaming.” Between the hefty story of making the most of your remaining time, the detailed world with its many secrets and characters, the stunning boss fights, and the fascinating combat system, what more can you really ask for before Phantom Blade Zero launches on October 29th?
The Wolf Among Us Remastered
With The Wolf Among Us 2 launching in 2027, for real (or so we hope), there’s never been a better time to revisit the first season of Telltale’s incredible narrative adventure. Cue The Wolf Among Us Remastered, launching on October 29th with a host of improvements to the presentation, UI, animations, frame rate, and resolution. The user interface has been updated, accessibility improved, and if that isn’t enough, you can dive into bonus content like behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, deleted scenes and more. Whether you’ve played the original or just want to re-experience Bigby’s journey, the remaster is worth checking out.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
As someone scorned by Call of Duty, namely Black Ops 7 and Modern Warfare 3, I have to admit: Modern Warfare 4 doesn’t look half-bad. A globe-spanning campaign with missions that actually feel cinematic (at least from what we’ve seen), characters you actually want to care about, and some much-needed quality-of-life changes. Of course, there are still all the issues with multiplayer to work out after the beta – particularly the matchmaking and fast time-to-kill – and DMZ is still relatively unknown. But it could be worse, and you can’t get a better ringing endorsement ahead of its October 23rd launch.
Enshrouded
Haven’t had enough of survival-crafting, action-RPG goodness after Palworld and Valheim exited early access? Well, Keen Games has you covered with Enshrouded. This is already a massive experience spanning multiple regions, bosses, underwater exploration, the list goes on. But there’s even more to come, including new abilities, skills, more enemy variety, a higher level cap, and some much-needed performance improvements. With its already-solid building system, sheer amount of stuff, and the aesthetic, 1.0 may take Enshrouded to new heights when it launches on October 15th.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2
That a retro-style, boomer shooter-esque take on 40K happened in this lifetime is notable enough. But who’s to say there can’t be more? Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 understands the assignment perfectly, offering over 30 levels to explore and two playable characters – the returning Malum Caedo and newcomer Nyra Veyrath, who brings her own unique fighting style to the forefront. But it also features a branching campaign which encourages multiple playthroughs to see everything, 40+ new enemies, and even Mick Gordon contributing to the soundtrack. It’s a smorgasbord of slaughter, and we can’t wait to partake on October 14th.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
Has it really been only four years since the last Nintendo Sports title? Even if it wasn’t on the level of Wii Sports, Nintendo Switch Sports still sold nearly 18.5 million copies, so a sequel was inevitable. Launching on October 22nd, Switch Sports Resort returns to Wuhu Island, albeit a more open version, and offers 12 sports, including bowling, table tennis, golf, basketball, skateboarding, tennis, and even flying a prop plane. We’re not quite sure if thumb wrestling should really be considered a “sport”, and the lack of chambara is heart-breaking, but this is still a proper Switch Sports sequel, with mouse controls available alongside Joy-Con 2 support.
Final Fantasy Resonance
The HD-2D RPG trend continues, but Final Fantasy Resonance also marks an addition to the “bring back a dead free-to-play mobile title as a full game” trend. The plot revolves around Rain and his friends as they try to stop Veritas of the Dark from destroying the remaining Crystals. The combat is more traditionally turn-based, but you also have Visions who can provide unique abilities and enhancements. The kicker? They’re based on legendary heroes from other games. Cloud Strife, Squall Leonhart, Terra Branford, Cecil Harvey, Tidus – all these and many more can be recruited to the cause. And if that wasn’t enough, encounter classic foes like Gilgamesh and even Sephiroth. Launching on October 22nd, Final Fantasy Resonance will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
