Spooky season is well and truly getting underway now, and we’re about to hit the peak month for spooky shenanigans, which means you’d expect a ton of horror games to be imminent.
Well, there may be one or two creepy experiences to enjoy while you’re wrapped up in a blanket with some hot chocolate, but October is also the month when a lot of major triple-A releases start sneaking out.
There’s plenty to enjoy this October, so let’s take a look at the best games you’ll be able to check out this month!
Silent Hill 2 (PC, PlayStation 5 – October 8th)
A lot is riding on Konami and Bloober Team’s upcoming remake of the seminal survival horror game Silent Hill 2, so we’re mainly including it here because it has a lot to prove.
The remake shifts the game’s perspective to a modern Resident Evil-style over-the-shoulder camera, and while we’ve got our reservations about that, we understand why the decision was made.
Hopefully, this remake can show that Bloober Team is capable of making more than barely-interactive walking sims and horror games that fall just short of the huge potential they exhibit.
Metaphor: ReFantazio (PC, PlayStation, Xbox – October 11th)
While you’re waiting for Persona 6 (and what an agonising wait it is!), you can whet your appetite with this Atlus and Studio Zero JRPG, which was developed by staff who’ve worked on the Persona series.
A quick look at the game’s UI and core conceits would tell you that, though, even if you didn’t already know it; this is a very stylish-looking turn-based JRPG with some interesting twists to set it apart from the crowd.
If you want a game that should fill that Persona gap while still offering some unique ideas of its own, then you’ll definitely want to pick this up when it comes out in mid-October.
Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch – October 17th)
A Mario Party release is always cause for celebration, and this one should serve as the franchise’s swansong on the current Nintendo Switch hardware, although the series is almost certain to continue on the new Switch successor.
As such, it’ll be jam-packed with minigames, new boards, and opportunities to screw over your friends in the most delicious and unfair ways, just as you’d expect from a Mario Party game.
If you’re not already a Mario Party fan, this isn’t likely to do much to convert you, but if you love the series, this one’s shaping up to be another essential entry.
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S – October 17th)
It’s hard to imagine a more jarring tonal shift than the one evidenced from Super Mario Party Jamboree to this game, but if you’re tired of Mario Party’s happy-clappy shenanigans, then this is the game to go for.
Set in the world of the hugely popular A Quiet Place movies, The Road Ahead is a horror game in which you must be careful not to make noise while you explore, find resources, and try to survive.
It’s not likely to be an action-packed thrill ride, but if you like your horror games quieter (ahem) and more slow-paced than the likes of Resident Evil, this is probably going to be essential for you.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (PC, PlayStation, Xbox – October 25th)
We’re mainly including this one on the list out of a sense of duty (ha!). Call of Duty is an annual event; by this point, you already know whether you want to play it or not.
For what it’s worth, this one looks like it’s shaping up to be the biggest Call of Duty yet, with a massive campaign, stacked multiplayer modes, and more.
Of course, if you’re not already a Call of Duty fan, you probably won’t get much from this, but Call of Duty aficionados are likely already lining up around the block to pick this game up.
Sonic x Shadow Generations (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch – October 25th)
We rather suspect that Sonic x Shadow Generations was named by someone who hasn’t spent much time on the internet, but if you don’t understand that reference, do yourself a favour and don’t Google it.
In any case, Sonic x Shadow Generations is a followup to 2011’s Sonic Generations, which was a very solid attempt to replicate the glory years of a franchise that has, to put it kindly, wavered in quality.
It’s also a remaster of the original Sonic Generations, and it’ll include a number of levels from Shadow the Hedgehog’s past, as well as DLC based on the upcoming movie Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard (October 31st)
You might not associate Dragon Age with spooky shenanigans, but the fact is that The Veilguard, which is the newest major instalment in the franchise, is launching on Halloween itself.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard seems to be stripping out more of the series’ RPG origins, focusing instead on God of War or Mass Effect-style spectacle as well as impactful decision-making and conversations with party members.
It’s a choice that’s proving controversial among some of the fans’ older hands, but at the very least, The Veilguard should be an entertaining entry into what is becoming a pretty malleable series.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (PC, PlayStation 5 – October 31st)
Sony’s penchant for remastering games that are arguably nowhere near old enough to get the remaster treatment continues with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, which is also launching on Halloween.
The game will sport a visual overhaul, as well as a number of other improvements to bring it up to spec with 2022’s Horizon Forbidden West, including re-recorded voice work, improved motion capture, and speedier fast travel.
This is shaping up to be the best way to experience Aloy’s first adventure (which, controversially, we still think is superior to the sequel), but whether it’s an essential purchase for those who have already played the original remains to be seen.
