October is traditionally one of the busiest months of the gaming year, as publishers line up their biggest releases before the holiday season. October 2026 is no exception, with a new Gears of War, a new Call of Duty, a Star Wars racing game, a fresh Castlevania and the long-awaited Phantom Blade Zero. Here is the full list, with what each game is and who it is for.
October 2026 release calendar
| Date | Game | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct | End of Abyss | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| 2 Oct | Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| 5 Oct | AION 2 | PC |
| 6 Oct | Gears of War: E-Day | PC, Xbox Series X|S |
| 6 Oct | Star Wars: Galactic Racer | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| 8 Oct | Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 |
| 9 Oct | Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 |
| 13 Oct | Planet Zoo 2 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| 13 Oct | Valor Mortis | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| 15 Oct | Castlevania: Belmont's Curse | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch |
| 15 Oct | Chained Beasts | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch |
| 22 Oct | Final Fantasy Resonance | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2 |
| 22 Oct | Nintendo Switch Sports Resort | Switch 2 |
| 23 Oct | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 |
| 26 Oct | Hunter's Moon | PS5 |
| 29 Oct | Phantom Blade Zero | PC, PS5 |
| 29 Oct | The Wolf Among Us Remastered | PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2 |
Release dates can differ slightly by region and store, so always check the official store page.
October 2026 at a glance
October's line-up covers almost every kind of player. There are two blockbuster shooters in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Gears of War: E-Day; two action games with demanding combat in Phantom Blade Zero and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse; a fast arcade racer in Star Wars: Galactic Racer; a relaxing management game in Planet Zoo 2; and a family party game in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. Switch 2 owners in particular have a lot to choose from, with several big games arriving on Nintendo's newer console for the first time.
Below, we explain the biggest releases in more detail, then help you decide which one suits you best.
The biggest releases explained
1 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
The yearly Call of Duty is always one of the best-selling games of the season. Modern Warfare 4 continues the rebooted Modern Warfare series, with a campaign, competitive multiplayer and co-op modes. Notably, it is also listed for Nintendo Switch 2, which makes it one of the first big Call of Duty launches on a Nintendo console in many years.
2 Gears of War: E-Day
A prequel to the original Gears of War, E-Day goes back to "Emergence Day", when the Locust first burst out of the ground. It is Microsoft's biggest Xbox exclusive of the autumn and a return to the series' heavy cover-based shooting.
3 Star Wars: Galactic Racer
A high-speed arcade racer set in the Star Wars galaxy, it has been popular enough to earn a nomination for the Golden Joystick Awards' Ultimate Game of the Year. If you love fast racing, it is the pick of the month.
4 Phantom Blade Zero
S-Game's stylish kung-fu action game has been one of the most talked-about games at trade shows for years. Its fast, acrobatic combat is the big attraction, and it is also on the Golden Joystick Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist.
5 Castlevania: Belmont's Curse
A new entry in Konami's legendary vampire-hunting series, which has been famous for gothic castles, whip-wielding Belmont heroes and tough boss fights since 1986.
6 Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
An expanded edition of Capcom's open-world fantasy RPG, built around a party of AI companions called Pawns. It also brings the game to Switch 2.
7 Planet Zoo 2
Frontier's zoo-building sequel lets you design habitats and care for animals. A relaxing choice if you prefer building to fighting, and it is coming to consoles as well as PC.
8 Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
A sports party game for Switch 2, ideal for playing with family and friends.
Keep an eye on day-one patches
Almost every big game now receives an update on its launch day, called a day-one patch, that fixes problems found after the game was finished. That means the version reviewers played may differ slightly from the one you download. If early reviews mention bugs or performance problems, check the patch notes on the publisher's website in the following weeks, as many issues are fixed quickly. It is also a good reason to leave automatic updates switched on.
The other October games worth a look
Beyond the headline releases, October has several smaller games that are worth keeping on your radar:
- Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (2 Oct): Bandai Namco's long-running series of arcade-style jet fighter games returns, with dramatic dogfights and big set-piece missions.
- Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival (8 Oct): a horror game based on the famous horror film series, aimed at adult players.
- Final Fantasy Resonance (22 Oct): a new Final Fantasy release arriving on almost every current platform at once, including both Switch and Switch 2.
- The Wolf Among Us Remastered (29 Oct): a refreshed version of the much-loved 2013 detective story set in a world of fairy-tale characters, ideal if you like story-driven games.
- AION 2 (5 Oct): a PC online role-playing game for players who enjoy large, shared fantasy worlds.
Which October game should you play?
- Love shooters: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 or Gears of War: E-Day.
- Love racing: Star Wars: Galactic Racer.
- Love action and combat: Phantom Blade Zero or Castlevania: Belmont's Curse.
- Love calm building games: Planet Zoo 2.
- Playing with family: Nintendo Switch Sports Resort.
October releases by type of player
If you want something to play with friends
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has the biggest online multiplayer community of any October release, and its co-op modes are a good choice for groups who prefer working together. Star Wars: Galactic Racer is also great for friendly competition, and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is the best pick for a family evening around one screen.
If you like a good story
Gears of War: E-Day returns to the beginning of the Gears story, which makes it a natural jumping-on point for new players. The Wolf Among Us Remastered is one of the most acclaimed story-driven games of its era, and it plays more like an interactive detective drama than an action game.
If you want a challenge
Phantom Blade Zero and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse are both built around demanding combat and tough bosses. Expect to fail often and to feel great when you finally win.
If you want to relax
Planet Zoo 2 is the clear choice. There is no timer pushing you, and designing habitats can be as calm or as detailed as you like.
The October tradition: why autumn is so busy
Publishers have released their biggest games between September and November for decades, and the reason is simple: the holiday shopping season. Games launched in October have time to build word of mouth, get reviewed and appear in gift guides before late-November sales and the end-of-year holidays. That is also why big publishers sometimes move their games away from the biggest launches. This year, many avoided November entirely because of GTA 6, which made October even more crowded than usual.
Should you pre-order or wait?
October is when publishers push hardest for pre-orders, with bonus items and early access. Before you pay in advance, weigh up both sides.
- You can usually pre-load digital games and play the moment they unlock.
- Some editions include early access or in-game bonuses.
- Physical collector's editions can sell out.
- Reviews tell you if the game is good and runs well.
- Day-one technical problems are often fixed within weeks.
- Prices usually fall in the first sales after launch.
For most digital games, there is no shortage of copies, so waiting a few days for reviews costs you nothing. If you do pre-order, check the store's refund policy first. Steam, for example, generally allows refunds on games played for less than two hours within two weeks of purchase, while console stores have stricter rules.
Standard, deluxe and ultimate editions explained
Big releases now come in several versions at different prices. Here is what usually separates them:
| Edition | What you usually get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | The full base game | Most players |
| Deluxe / Digital Deluxe | Base game plus cosmetic items, a soundtrack or an art book | Fans who want extras |
| Ultimate / Gold | Base game plus future expansions or a season pass, sometimes early access | Players sure they will play for months |
| Collector's | A physical box with figures, maps or steelbooks, plus the game | Collectors |
A simple rule: buy the standard edition unless you are sure you will want the expansions. You can almost always upgrade later, often for less money once a sale comes along.
How to save money on new games
- Check subscription services first. Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Extra and other subscriptions sometimes include new releases on day one, especially Microsoft's own games such as Gears of War.
- Compare digital and physical prices. Physical copies can be cheaper at launch and can be resold or traded in afterwards.
- Use wishlists. Add games to your wishlist on Steam, PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store to get an alert when the price drops.
- Look at regional pricing. Many publishers set lower prices for India and other regions, so always check the price shown in your own store.
- Be patient. Big seasonal sales, especially in late November and December, often include discounts on games released only a few weeks earlier.
How to read review scores
Review aggregators such as Metacritic and OpenCritic combine dozens of reviews into one score. They are useful, but a few tips help you get the most from them:
- Read two or three full reviews rather than just the number. A game criticised for being "too long" might be perfect for you.
- Look at user reviews on Steam or the console store for news about performance problems, which professional reviews of pre-release versions may not have caught.
- Check reviews for your platform. A game that runs well on PC might struggle on an older console, or the other way round.
Did we miss a game?
Every month brings dozens of smaller releases, from indie games to new versions of older titles, and no single list can include them all. We focus on the games most players are likely to hear about, plus a few interesting picks. If there is an October game you think deserves a place here, let us know and we will take a look when we next update this page.
What's next?
November is dominated by GTA 6 on 19 November. See the full list in Upcoming Games: November and December 2026, and catch up with the latest headlines in our gaming news roundup.
Want something quick and free while your downloads finish? Try a browser game, with no install:
Core BallCore Ball is a minimal timing game that is easy to start and surprisingly hard to master. A large core spins in the m... Play free