The best games from October 2026 (Part 1)

25 days ago, by Enzo

After an already particularly busy start to the school year, October 2026 clearly has no plans to slow down: on the contrary, it’s one of the busiest months ever in terms of game releases. Between the return of famous franchises, new indies, and several highly anticipated ports, gamers will once again have plenty to fill their schedules with. Due to the sheer volume of releases this month, we’ve broken this selection into three articles, which is a first to our usual format. This first part highlights the best releases from October 1 through 10.

New Games

Nostalgia strikes hard with the return of Dynasty Warriors 3, accompanied here by its Xtreme Legends expansion in a fully remastered Complete Edition. End of Abyss offers a harrowing descent into the depths of a mysterious underground complex. As Cel, a young combat technician, you’ll explore abandoned facilities, face monsters, and upgrade your gear.

After several years of hype, AION 2 is set to turn a new page in the Atreia universe. This MMORPG aims to modernize the series’ formula with a vast world to explore, massive battles, and everything that makes the genre so appealing.

Motocross fans can dust off their helmets for MXGP 26, the latest official adaptation of the MXGP and MX2 World Championships. For the first time in the series, the game is powered by Unreal Engine 5 and features tracks that gradually warp as the laps progress. Staying with the racing theme, Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a futuristic racing game that takes us to Jakku, among other locations. Anti-gravity vehicles, tracks inspired by the Star Wars universe, and high-speed showdowns promise a vibrant and nostalgic experience.

Gears of War: E-Day returns to the origins of the war against the Locusts by recounting the day of the Emergence, fourteen years before the first game. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago are at the heart of a campaign that reveals the origins of this catastrophe, complete with the franchise’s signature blend of brutal combat, cover mechanics, and spectacular action.

For fans of visceral horror, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival promises a few particularly uncomfortable nights. As Aidan, you’ll have to traverse the Labyrinth to find Sunny, all while harnessing the powers of the mysterious Configuration. Silver Pines pays homage to the great survival horror classics with a 2.5D adventure with Metroidvania-style elements. Between exploration, puzzles, limited resources, and nightmarish creatures, the atmosphere is sure to be spine-chilling.

The animals of Clawville are back in action in WILD Tactics, a turn-based tactical strategy game set in the Chicken Police universe. You’ll need to assemble a team of colorful characters, manage their relationships, and lead your troops through 15 story-driven missions to dismantle a vast criminal conspiracy. Its 1950s-inspired aesthetic and dark humor should give it a personality all its own.

Finally, a particularly extensive compilation, KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III], is also coming. The pack brings together KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind, allowing players to experience six major stories from the saga in a single collection. It’s a great opportunity to discover or rediscover the epic adventures of Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they journey through Disney worlds, engage in Keyblade battles, and face off against the Heartless.

DLC & Expansions

Dragon’s Dogma 2 welcomes its massive expansion, Dark Arisen, this October, taking players to the snow-covered and forgotten region of Norgan. A brand-new story, new dungeons, and new encounters are on the horizon, while progression is enhanced with new gear and skills.

In other news, Two Point Museum is getting a new expansion called Attractions and Relics. This time, curators are tasked with reviving an old amusement park and designing their own roller coasters.

Ports

Early October also marks the arrival of the racing game The Crew Motorfest on the Switch 2. After two years on other platforms, it’s now time for the Hawaiian tracks to take over the tracks on Nintendo’s latest console.

Between major titles that have been eagerly anticipated for several years, the return of cult classics, and a few particularly intriguing indie offerings, this first part already gives a good idea of just how packed October is. And this is just the beginning: the other parts of our selection still have some highly anticipated releases in store.