New Month, Who dis? October is here at long last. A necessary lull before the storm that Grand Theft Auto VI is released, there is still plenty to be excited for that is coming this month. Here, we wanted to highlight a few of the big-name games that you can get your hands on sometime this month, so without further ado, lets hop into the list with the return of one of the best pilot games around:
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
- Release Date: Early Access: September 29th, Full Release: October 2
- Developer: Bandai Namco Aces
- Publisher: Bandai Namco
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam)
While some players have already gone hands-on in the cockpit of the fighter planes on offer here, the full release of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve isn’t actually slated until October 2, 2026. Featuring 30 missions and over 30 playable aircraft, the arcade flight title offers a range of challenges, from robust dogfights to more tactical tasks. This will also be the first time that the series offers dual special weapon loadouts. Once you have finished the campaign, multiplayer lobbies support up to 100 players in the lobby before you enter a match and can test your skills against up to 7 players.
Who is this game for: The obvious answer would be fans of pilot games since, you know, it is one. Compared to War Thunder or Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Ace Combat Series is typically more accessible, meaning more for fans of arcade control. This makes the series slightly more accessible if you were looking for a franchise to start off in the genre.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
- Release Date: October 6
- Developer: Fuse Games
- Publisher: Secret Mode
- Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store
From the air to the ground, we have another vehicle-based game to showcase; this one is set in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an arcade racing title set in the world of Star Wars and seemingly paying homage to the classic Phantom Menace tie-in from the PlayStation 2 era. This time, though, the game is carving its own legacy unrelated to anything before. Players will be able to customize their pod racer, earn stat increases, and participate in races, with the story and narrative structure actually changing and branching to reflect you as a racer.
Who is this game for: Fans of racing games and Star Wars fans might not always seem like a clear intersection, but with some nostalgia tied to the premise, this is actually an easy title to feel hyped for. Given that it is an arcade racer, most likely similar to the Need For Speed series, this is not one you need to be fully in on.
Clive barker’s Hellraiser: Revival
- Release Date: October 8
- Developer: Saber Interactive
- Publisher: Saber Interactive
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam), and Nintendo Switch 2
I don’t know what’s weirder. That we haven’t had a big Hellraiser game in the past, or that we are getting one at all. The Hellraiser universe is unique in that while it has horror and scares, it also blends that with a bizarre level of sexuality, drawing from BDSM culture for its villains, the Cenobites. In Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, embark as Aiden in this FPS as he attempts to save his girlfriend from them, arming himself with the Genesis Configuration in one hand and his weapons in the other. The title will also draw from the survival horror genre, making ammo scarce and forcing the player to make tough choices about how they will handle each situation.
Who is this game for: Obviously, Hellraiser has been making some moves, with a brand new movie having been released in 2022. As far as popularity, though, the franchise has always enjoyed a more cult status compared to big horror franchises like Friday the 13th. This said, the game is an FPS survival horror that is releasing right in time for Halloween with very little competition. Talk about good timing.
Valor Mortis
- Release Date: October 8
- Developer: One More Level
- Publisher: Lyrical Games
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam)
I was able to preview this soulslike earlier this year, and I absolutely loved it. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, players take the role of a soldier stuck in an endless loop of soulslike death and rebirth. Similar to our previous game, this plays out in first person, which is an interesting twist given the genre it is in. Playing at a slower pace than the team’s previous title, Ghostrunner, we still get some of those elements slipping in. This includes the very precise melee combat, as well as loads of traversal.
Who is this game for: At its core, this is a soulslike title. You collect experience by killing enemies; you lose it if you die and fail to collect it from where you died. That said, the first-person perspective does manage to add a lot to the experience that differentiates it from the typical trappings of games like this. That said, expect to die a lot, with plenty of frustration mixed in. If that isn’t for you, I get it.
Planet Zoo 2
- Release Date: October 13
- Developer: Frontier Developments
- Publisher: Frontier Developments
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store
Those last two games veered off into some dark territory, so lets move to something lighter to break up spooky season. How about some animals? Planet Zoo 2 brings back the park management sim with some brand new exhibits to set up, such as ones for aquatic and flying animals. The title also extends the franchise’s focus on conservation by allowing players to not only run zoos, but also wildlife preserves where the animals are free to live their best lives.
Who is this game for: Me? No, but seriously, I am excited to play it. Frontier Developments makes GREAT Management sims, sometimes to a fault. In comparison to the Two Points franchise, which is easy to jump into, there will be a lot of learning and micromanaging here that can put off new players. Stick with that, though, and if this is anything like the first game, you will have a great experience in the long run.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
- Release Date: October 21
- Developer: Evil Empire
- Publisher: Konami
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.
Am I crazy, or do I feel like I never hear people talking about the fact that WE HAVE A NEW CLASSIC STYLE CASTLEVANIA ONLY WEEKS AWAY!? I mean, that’s what Castlevania Belmont’s Curse really is. The more exciting part is that the team behind it, Evil Empire, is also the team behind titles like The Rogue Prince of Persia, so they know what they are doing. Konami’s return to gaming continues to be a sight to behold, and I have a feeling this is the one to watch out for. Oh, and did I mention there is a demo out now?
Who is this game for: While not a full return to classic gaming like, say, Mina The Hollower, this is a throwback game in a lot of ways. Side-scrolling and platforming action is abundant, so players should act accordingly.
Stupid Never Dies
- Release Date: October 21
- Developer: GPTRACK50
- Publisher: SEGA
- Platforms: PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam
Stupid Never Dies is a weird game, but also a very fun roguelike. You play as a zombie named Davey who falls in love with a frozen girl named Juliet and (I cannot stress that all of this is true) flushes yourself down a toilet into an underworld to fight through layers of demons to try to both save the world and save the girl. It’s a crazy concept, but ultimately it boils down to doing a run, getting crazy powers, then unlocking more for the next run. From what I played in my preview, it’s pretty freaking addictive.
Who is the game for: That is genuinely a hard question in this case, but my easiest way of answering is fans of developer SUDA 51. The game is kind of crazy in some very good ways, with the beat em up action feeling very much in line with what you might expect from Lollipop Chainsaw or No More Heroes
And there you have 7 games releasing this month that you should definitely check out. At least try one of them? For me? No, but obviously some games didn’t make the list. You can check out Final Fantasy Resonance Preview because I would definitely recommend that game as well. Gears of War: E-Day is also finally set to release as an Xbox Console Exclusive, so if you like that franchise, you should be in for fun times. Phantom Blade Zero is set to round out this month with some hack-and-slash action as a timed PlayStation Console Exclusive. And if you want to take a break from it all, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort will be releasing exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Hopefully you find something here to enjoy; let us know what you are excited for in the comments.
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