It’s October, which means it’s spooky season, and there are a few horror titles to go along with it. The month is surprisingly packed with a wide range of releases, including the highly anticipated Metaphor: ReFantazio, one of my top picks. Diablo IV is getting its first major expansion, Vessel of Hatred, while Switch owners can look forward to Super Mario Party Jamboree. Life is Strange: Double Exposure is also on my list, as I really enjoyed Max’s first adventure, and finally, the wait is over for Dragon Age fans at the end of the month.
Here are our picks for the top games to play in October 2024.
Until Dawn
Originally released in 2015, Until Dawn has been rebuilt from the ground up for PlayStation 5 and PC. This slasher horror follows eight friends who return to an isolated mountain lodge, where two of their group vanished a year earlier. The new version also takes advantage of the DualSense wireless controller and adds an all-new third-person camera. I recommend the experience if you enjoy horror games. It features some familiar faces including Rami Malek, Hayden Panettiere, and Brett Dalton.
Until Dawn releases on October 4 for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Silent Hill 2
Continuing the horror trend is another remake, Silent Hill 2 from Bloober Team. With ray tracing and other technical enhancements, this psychological horror is expected to be more immersive than ever. The remake offers more than just a graphical overhaul, with newly accessible locations and additional buildings that weren’t part of the original. The story remains the same, but the experience is likely to feel fresh even for seasoned veterans. Another major change is moving the fixed-camera viewpoints from the original to an over-the-shoulder perspective.
Silent Hill 2 releases on October 8 for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
Diablo IV was a bit of a disappointment for me when it initially launched, but recent patches have made it more than playable, and even fun at times. I hope it takes a significant step forward with its Vessel of Hatred expansion, which adds the all-new Spiritborn class. We will also get to explore a new region as we follow Neyrelle into Nahantu. I hope the new co-op end game activity, Dark Citadel, will keep us entertained for weeks instead of days.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred releases on October 8 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
With over 180 fighters from Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball GT, and select Dragon Ball movies, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is set to be the ultimate brawler for Dragon Ball fans. Building on the gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero delivers the high-speed 3D battles fans expect, along with online play and an original story campaign.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero releases on October 10 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metaphor: ReFantazio is likely my most anticipated game left for release in 2024, and after the recent Prologue Demo, I’m more excited than ever for it. From the creators of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 comes a new fantasy RPG, one that hopefully has as much substance as style. The story takes place in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, where the assassination of the king brings turmoil to the land. The protagonist is joined by the fairy Gallica and other companions in hopes of breaking the curse placed on the prince, whom the kingdom believes to be dead.
Metaphor: ReFantazio releases on October 11 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
While the Switch’s successor is likely to debut within the next six months, that doesn’t mean there aren’t more games coming to the current Switch. Another Super Mario Party game is on the horizon, featuring seven boards, over 110 minigames, and 22 playable characters including newcomers Pauline and Ninji. Super Mario Party Jamboree will also introduce the Koopathlon, a series-first 20-player online competition that crowns the player with the highest score across various minigames. Co-op fans can team up in Bowser Kaboom Squad mode, where eight players face off against an Impostor Bowser.
Super Mario Party Jamboree releases on October 17 for Switch.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed
Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello return for an all-new adventure in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed. As another beat ’em up game, Mutants Unleashed likely won’t offer much depth, but it promises to be an entertaining experience solo or in co-op for TMNT fans.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed releases on October 18 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC.
Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza Kiwami’s arrival on the Nintendo Switch was a surprise announcement during the August 2024 Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase. It’s a remake of the first game in the Yakuza series that was originally released on PlayStation 2. Yakuza Kiwami debuted in Japan in 2016, before arriving in North America and Europe in 2017. It didn’t reach PC until 2019, followed by an Xbox One release in 2020. The game tells the story of Kazuma Kiryu and takes place in Kamurocho, a fictional district of Tokyo that’s based on the real-life Kabukichō district.
Yakuza Kiwami releases on October 24 for Switch.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
For many gamers, this will be the biggest release of the year. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 returns with a cinematic single-player campaign, a robust multiplayer experience, and the return of round-based zombies. The latest entry in the long-running franchise will be the first under the Microsoft banner, following the company’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy-action thriller set in the early 1990s. The game will be available on Game Pass as a day one release.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 releases on October 25 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Sonic X Shadow Generations offers the best of both worlds, combining two unique experiences in one collection. The game features a brand-new story campaign for Shadow, showcasing never-before-seen abilities, alongside a complete remaster of Sonic Generations, with upgraded visuals and bonus content. In Shadow’s standalone campaign, he must journey into his past to unlock dark new powers and save the world from his nemesis, Black Doom.
Sonic X Shadow Generations releases on October 25 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC.
Ys X: Nordics
Ys X: Nordics, the latest entry in one of the oldest action RPG franchises, has arrived. The Ys series started in 1987 with Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished, with the series telling the story of Adol Christin. Chronologically, Ys X: Nordics is set between Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished – The Final Chapter and Ys: Memories of Celceta, following Adol and the seafaring warrior Karja Balta. For the first time in the series, Ys X: Nordics introduces sailing, ship combat, and only two playable characters, departing from the party system seen in recent games.
Ys X: Nordics releases on October 25 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure
Max Caulfield makes her long-awaited return in Life is Strange: Double Exposure. Caulfield, the protagonist of the original Life is Strange, now wields a new power that allows her to open portals to parallel timelines. Guide Max as she navigates between realities to save her new friend, Safi, who tragically dies in her original timeline. Life is Strange: Double Exposure is developed by Deck Nine Games, the team behind Life is Strange: Before the Storm, the Remastered Collection, and Life is Strange: True Colors.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure releases on October 29 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
It’s a long time coming, but Dragon Age is finally back with Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The franchise hasn’t seen a release since Dragon Age: Inquisition, which was a decade ago in 2014. The gaming landscape has changed significantly since then, but hopefully the team at BioWare has kept up with the times to deliver another memorable single-player RPG. In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, players must unite a team of seven companions as Rook and explore the vast world of Thedas. Choose from three classes—Warrior, Mage, and Rogue—each with two distinct weapon types and unique abilities.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard releases on October 31 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
