October’s 7 Hottest Games You Need to Play

As we head into the final quarter of 2026, as always, there are some big-name franchises seeing releases this October. From long-running FPS veterans to an iconic Xbox duo making a return, here are the games we’ve picked for October 2026:

End of Abyss

Release date: 1 October (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

A small but interesting indie title, End of Abyss is a horror-themed twin-stick shooter made by developers who worked on Little Nightmares. It’s got a creepy, Sunshine-esque aesthetic with a fluid combat system, telling the story of a combat mechanic who has to work his way through a creepy facility taken over by a rogue AI.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Release date: 2 October (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

Ace Combat is finally back, bringing a new entry into the aerial dogfighting simulator. This time around, the story plays an even bigger role, and the cinematic element of the game has been ramped up. You’ll have to manoeuvre and eliminate hostiles in some pretty epic scenarios as you get into the cockpit of some stunning jets. There’s obviously a big multiplayer element too, which should be a hit for fans of the franchise.

Gears of War: E-Day

Release date: 6 October (Xbox Series X/S | PC)

The Gears of War prequel, E-Day, arrives this October, acting as an origin story of sorts, following original Gears of War heroes Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago on the day the Locust first attacked Sera. E-Day features the beloved third-person cover shooter gameplay that the franchise perfected, along with some new twists along the way.

Valor Mortis

Release date: 13 October (PS5 | PC)

Valor Mortis is a first-person action soulslike from the creators of Ghostrunner. You play as a former soldier of Napoleon’s army who has risen from the dead with some new supernatural powers. Like other Soulslike games, it’s got more technical melee combat, albeit from the first-person view, which should add a new element to the genre.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

Release date: 15 October (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Switch | PC)

I’ve got a soft spot for Castlevania games (with Lords of Shadow being one of my favourite games of all time), but Belmont’s Curse is a return to the side-scrolling era of the franchise. You play as Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont (who killed Dracula), as you wield a powerful whip and other weapons to vanquish Paris from a new wave of monsters.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Release date: 23 October (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Switch | PC)

After last year’s somewhat divisive Black Ops entry, Call of Duty is getting its Modern Warfare sub-series of the franchise back on track with Modern Warfare 4. The upcoming sequel picks up after the events of Modern Warfare 3, and drops players into the chaos, pressure, and split-second intensity of ground-level combat with some new characters and returning favourites. Like any CoD release, the multiplayer plays a huge role, and MW4 will feature a revamped online component too.

Phantom Blade Zero

Release date: 29 October (PS5 | PC)

If Ghost of Tsushima and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon had a baby, it would be Phantom Blade Zero. It’s a fast-paced action game from S-Game Studio, featuring a deep and dark art style, frenetic combat, and a fictitious world blending Chinese martial arts and mechanical steampunk aesthetics. We can’t wait to see more of Phantom Blade Zero when it arrives this October.

Which games are you most looking forward to? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.