Best upcoming video games for October

October is usually the time for scary movies, trick or treating and partying with friends, but you can also fit time for video games in there as well. Knowing the best releases will save you both time and money, especially in this economy. 

Hey SoCal is here with the best upcoming video game releases for October. 

October’s hottest titles

“Overwatch 2” – Oct. 4

“Overwatch” took the gaming world by storm in 2016. Featuring a vibrant cast of unique characters with their own playstyles, its gameplay has captivated many, so it only made sense for Blizzard to create a follow-up.

“Overwatch 2” will sport a revamped PVP (player vs player) experience, new heroes to play as and single-player content that will eventually release in 2023. The old cast of heroes from the first game will also be present, making the roster mainly comprised of returning characters.

The most significant change from the original will be the free-to-play model that the sequel will adopt. You won’t have to pay money to play the game but certain cosmetics will be tied to a “Battle Pass,” a system that encourages constant play. The price for the “Battle Pass” has not been announced yet but will probably align with other “Battle Passes” in the industry. 

Available for PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

“NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition” – Oct. 6

“NieR:Automata” was a smash hit in 2017, garnering much praise and attention to the then-dormant “NieR” series. The highly polished gameplay and captivating plot bolstered the dedicated but small fanbase. The newest version of the game, “The End of YoRHa Edition,” will finally be available for Nintendo Switch owners.  

This version of the game will include all previously released content and exclusive cosmetics for this release. Nintendo fans can finally experience the tale of protagonists 2B and 9S, who are part of a group dedicated to winning a war against a group of automatons. While the premise seems straightforward, “NieR:Automata” is anything but.

With 26 endings to obtain and various secrets to uncover, players can expect to put hundreds of hours into the game if they want to uncover everything. With a plot as layered as “NieR:Automata’s,” it’s well worth the time and effort.  

Available for Nintendo Switch

“No More Heroes 3” – Oct. 11

Goichi Suda (also known as SUDA51) is well respected in the gaming industry for his off-the-wall works, namely the “No More Heroes” series. The most recent entry, “No More Heroes 3,” was released last year on the Nintendo Switch. After porting the first two games to PC, the third entry was announced for release on PC and gaming consoles. 

Known for being a series with a chaotic tone and excessive violence that borders on absurd, “No More Heroes 3” is the climax the series deserved. You play as legendary assassin Travis Touchdown, who is pulled out of retirement to deal with an invading alien menace. The gameplay is simple but cathartic, as you’ll tear through enemies with Travis’ signature “Beam Katana” and various wrestling moves. 

While not the most complex or deep of games, “No More Heroes 3” is an entertaining and heartfelt send-off to one of gaming’s more lesser-known stars. Playing through the other games is a must, otherwise, you’ll be lost in the sea of characters and references to past events. 

Available for PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One

“Dragon Ball: The Breakers” – Oct. 14

“Dragon Ball Z” is mainly known for its various fighting games, where you play as your favorite hero and duke it out locally or online. “Dragon Ball: The Breakers” approaches the world of “Dragon Ball Z” from a completely different angle. Imagine if you, a normal civilian, were wrapped up in the earth-shattering battles of the series. 

Now, imagine that instead of crazy powers being thrown around, you’re hiding and running from the villain. “The Breakers” is a multiplayer game where one person controls a powerful villain while everyone else plays as a civilian. The objective of the game is to escape the playing field either alone or with your fellow civilians.

While you’re trying to make it out alive, the villain player (or Raider) will try their hardest to capture everyone, all while accumulating more power. Players can expect to control iconic “Dragon Ball” villains such as Cell, Frieza and Majin Buu at release. Presumably, more characters will be added in the future. Grab some friends and enjoy the thrill of escaping superpowered aliens. 

Available for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

“A Plague Tale: Requiem” – Oct. 18

Focus Entertainment made everyone hate rats with “A Plague Tale: Innocence.” The tale of two siblings trying to escape French soldiers and hordes of plague-ridden rats was enthralling for many. The horror of seeing swarms of vermin consume people was both shocking and refreshing. Focus Entertainment is aiming to do the same with “A Plague Tale: Requiem,” a direct sequel to “Innocence.” 

In it, siblings Amicia and Hugo must travel to an island that may hold the cure for Hugo’s affliction. It plays similarly to the first game with a few additions, such as Hugo’s ability to control rats. Seeing entire mobs will still be mesmerizing and terrifying, even if you’re in control of them this time.

“A Plague Tale: Requiem” promises to be another heartrending journey for two siblings that only want to return to some form of normalcy. Watch out for this title if you prefer your gaming experiences to be much more emotional. 

Available for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch

“Gotham Knights” – Oct. 21

Rocksteady blessed the world with the fantastic “Batman: Arkham” series of action games. Years after the final game in the series was released, Warner Brother Games has created a fresh new game that is divorced from the Rocksteady series. “Gotham Knights” is the newest Batman game that has an emphasis on RPG (role-playing game) elements.

Its premise sees a recently deceased Batman leaving Gotham City without its hero to protect it. The Bat-Family (various proteges of Batman) have to step in and bring Gotham under control amidst a surge of criminal activity. You have the choice of four characters (Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Hood) to play as, with each one being unique in terms of gameplay.

You’ll have the entirety of Gotham City to explore, filled with plenty of villains to take down either alone or with friends online. If you’re into live-service games like “Destiny 2,” then this newest addition to the library of Batman games will be for you.

Available for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X

“Scorn” – Oct. 21

Gamers have been waiting since 2014 for this H.R Giger-inspired first-person shooter to release. “Scorn” is without a doubt one of the most anticipated horror games in recent memory, with developer Ebb Software working hard to create a horrific world for players to explore.

You play as an unnamed humanoid exploring disturbing bio-mechanical environments and fighting horrific, twisted monstrosities. Weapons in this game are unconventional, looking like extra appendages as opposed to traditional shooter weaponry. Puzzle-solving seems to be a core aspect of the game and are all presented without a single line of dialogue to explain anything.

“Scorn” is an atmospheric horror experience that wants to twist your expectations of what the first-person perspective can do. The lack of dialogue asks the player to intuit solutions from what they can gather from the world they’re exploring. Horror faithfuls can expect a mind-bending and unsettling experience from the few bits of gameplay shown alone. 

Available for PC, Xbox Series X 

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” – Oct. 28

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” was a surprising reboot for fans of the franchise, as it reinvigorated interest for single-player campaigns in “Call of Duty” and emphasized more realism. There was more of an emphasis on slow, semi-simulated set piece levels where players can experience military operations. There was still plenty of action, however. 

A direct sequel was expected after such a successful release, and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” will surely continue the momentum for the reboot series. It follows the newly formed Task Force 141 on a globe-trotting campaign to stop a terrorist organization. Mechanically, it looks to be more of the same twitchy shooting “Call of Duty” is known for and the campaign looks to be even more over the top and schlocky than before. 

While many enjoy the single-player experience that these games provide, the multiplayer is usually why players buy them. “Modern Warfare 2” will presumably continue the trend of fast-paced multiplayer the series is known for along with other cooperative modes. If “Call of Duty” has been off your radar for years now, maybe this one’s worth paying attention to. 

Available for PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One

For September’s list, click here.

You can reach Eloin Barahona-Garcia at eloin@beaconmedianews.com. 

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