October 2023 is going to be an absolute treat for gamers worldwide, with some of the biggest titles launching on all major platforms. But with so many titles coming out within a short timeframe, it can be daunting to select the ones you might want to invest your time and money into. So, here are our picks for the top 10 most anticipated games coming out this month! The list is organized in the order of release dates, so you can map out your wishlist for the entire month.
1. Forza Motorsport (October 10)
Starting off with a big one, we have Forza Motorsport from Turn 10 Studios. This upcoming installment in Microsoft’s long-running series has been a forerunner in the racing genre for decades. Forza Motorsport is a sim racer that prioritizes clean, professional circuit racing. The player will have a fleshed-out offline single-player experience, dubbed the ‘Builders Cup’, where you can participate in various tournaments and test the limits of both your car, and your skills behind the wheel.
The creative director of Forza Motorsport, Chris Esaki, has quite eloquently called the car-leveling system a ‘CarPG.’ This is because here, you don’t just buy parts for your car and upgrade it; you build a relationship with the machine. Drive it, understand its limitations, gain XP by beating lap times, and then upgrade it how you feel is most optimal. There is another interesting system in place called ‘Challenge the Grid,’ where players can choose their starting position before every race, and based on the difficulty, the payout changes. You get bonus points for a podium finish, so look sharp, rev up that v12, and hit that finish line!
Forza Motorsport is out on Xbox Series X, Series S, and Microsoft Windows on October 10.
2. Assassin’s Creed Mirage (October 05)
Here’s another big release from a legendary franchise. Assassin’s Creed Mirage, developed by Ubisoft Bordeaux, is the next installment in the historical stealth RPG series. This time, you are put in the shoes of Basim Ibn Ishaq, a character that was introduced in the series’ previous installment, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Set in 9th-century Baghdad, the Assassin brotherhood must infiltrate the far-reaching veins of their age-old nemesis, the Templars, and put an end to their heinous plans. The developers had promised to take the series back to its roots, and from the gameplay we have seen so far, it sure is reminiscent of the very first Assassin’s Creed set in Jerusalem.
The game is much more focused on stealth and tactics this time, with combat meant to be used only as a last resort. Along with the various espionage tools at the players’ disposal, the game also introduces a new mechanic called ‘Assassin Focus’, allowing you to tag and eliminate multiple enemies in quick succession. It is quite similar to another one of Ubisoft’s titles, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, which showcased the ‘Mark and Execute’ feature.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is out on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Series S, and Microsoft Windows on October 12. It will be released on iOS, too (iPhone 15 Pro only for now) in early 2024.
Related: Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Top 15 Essential Tips and Tricks You Need To Know
3. Lords of the Fallen (October 13)
And the choices get harder! Just a day after Mirage, the long-awaited soulsborne game, Lords of the Fallen, is set to send players on a dark, mystical journey of death and decay. This 3rd person action RPG is set about a million years after its prequel of the same name. The demon God Adyr, thought to be defeated, is back with a vengeance. You, a dark crusader, must travel across realms and conquer this foe once and for all. Like other soul-likes, Lords of the Fallen lets the player choose their own builds and playstyles, offering ample variety in both melee as well as magical offensive abilities. Experienced players of the genre know how punishing yet rewarding such games can be. One wrong dodge could send you all the way back to the last checkpoint, robbing you of your hard-earned currency.
An intriguing new feature is the addition of a magical lantern, which, when shined at the right places (marked by white butterflies), reveals a parallel plane called the Umbral world. This artifact can be used both in and out of combat, and is vital to several puzzles and secrets. But don’t let the pretty butterflies fool you. The Umbral world is way deadlier and will send you back to the last checkpoint before you can finish fumbling through your trousers for that last health potion.
Lords of the Fallen is coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Series S, and Microsoft Windows on October 13.
4. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged (October 19)
Remember the days when you used to set up those bendy, orange tracks all around your room and race your new Hot Wheels car all day? Well, get ready to do that and much more in Milestone’s upcoming sequel, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged! There’s not much to say here, really, but not in a negative sense. The first game was a big hit back in 2021, and the developers are all set to one-up their previous creation with more cars, more tracks, and more fun.
This arcade racer takes you across various levels in miniature cars, features some of Hot Wheels’ most iconic play sets, and adds some new ones as well! Boost over the kitchen sink, drive through a snow globe, and dodge a toy T-Rex in a car of your choosing in this nostalgia-inducing joyride.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is out on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X, and Series S on October 19.
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (October 20)
Oh boy, it’s time for the big one. After the immense success of the first game, Insomniac Games returns with the next installment of everyone’s favorite web-slinger’s adventures. And what’s better than one web-slinger? Two! Miles Morales joins Peter Parker as they battle classic villains from the Marvel universe like Kraven the Hunter, the Lizard, and Venom. And where there is Venom, there is the symbiote. Fans of the comics, movies, and games will instantly recognize Peter’s black symbiote suit from the trailer. The suit gives Spidey all-new powers and abilities. But with great power, comes great conflict. There will be friction between Peter and Miles as Peter battles his inner demons under the influence of the symbiote suit.
Making this a PlayStation 5 exclusive has allowed the developers to go all out and push the new-gen console to its limits. The city of New York is much bigger compared to the first game. But thanks to the new hardware at the dev’s disposal, it’s a beautiful and seamless experience to explore the city. The devs also confirmed that players can switch between Miles and Peter almost instantaneously. This gives players lots of freedom when it comes to traversal, as both Spider-men have their own unique move sets and mobility powers. We sure are super excited to get into the black suit and see how one of Marvel’s greatest heroes fights his battles, both inside and out.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is set to land on the PlayStation 5 on October 20. We will have extensive coverage of the game’s lore, builds, and more on this page, so make sure you swing by!
6. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 (October 24)
Back in 1998, Konami redefined the tactical stealth genre with Metal Gear Solid, which went on to form a franchise spanning decades. Now, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the series, Konami has brought us Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1. This collection includes the first three legacy titles: Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. All three games have been remastered with HD textures for modern-day consoles.
The performance and framerates vary across different consoles, but this gives a chance for a new generation of gamers to experience an absolute classic. Konami has also announced a complete remake of the third game, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which is rumored to be out in 2024. Till then, fans and new players can dig into the Master Collection for some of the best storytelling and stealth gameplay to ever grace the world of gaming.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 arrives on the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Series S, and Microsoft Windows on October 24.
7. Cities Skylines II (October 24)
Here’s another title dropping on the 24th! Cities Skylines II pretty much makes all your city-building dreams come true, minus the hassle of, well, reality. After the critical success of the first game back in 2015, Paradox Interactive has invested a lot into this sequel, making it a more feature-rich experience all around. On top of the core features seen in the first game, many new ones are set to hit the streets that you build, like interactive traffic AI, a much more dynamic climate system, and our favorite feature, the citizen lifepath.
Basically, the citizen lifepath is the complete simulation of each and every resident of your city, from the moment they move in or are born in your city, all the way to their death from old age. Now, it is your job to ensure they are happy and sustained so they don’t choose to move out. From the looks of it, this game is going to be a very in-depth building simulator, and we can’t wait to see all the fantastic cityscapes that the community comes up with!
Cities Skylines II is coming to the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and Microsoft Windows on October 24.
8. Ghostrunner 2 (October 26)
Let’s see, slick visuals, check. Flashy cyberpunk dystopia, check. Fast-paced hack-n-slash, check. Developer One More Level checks all the right boxes for the upcoming sequel to the critically acclaimed Ghostrunner from 2020. You are a nameless, teched-out cyber-ninja with lightning-fast reflexes and moves that could put John Wick to shame. Your mission? Put an end to the sinister plans of a hostile AI cult that is out to destroy the last refuge of humanity.
This first-person action game is an adrenaline rush from start to finish. But it also requires tactical planning and split-second decisions, as even a single stray bullet could be the end of your run. Think you can handle that? Then hop right in when the game drops on the PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X, and Series S on October 26.
9. Alan Wake 2 (October 27)
Back in 2010, Remedy Entertainment brought an amazing horror-survival experience out of the shadows. The first Alan Wake was an atmospheric delight, putting the player in the mystery writer’s shoes, who has to battle surreal monsters and escape reality-bending nightmares. Almost a decade later, in 2019, Remedy released another successful title called Control, which was an action-packed third-person game with a vibe quite similar to that of Alan Wake. A little… too similar. Our suspicions of the connection between the two were confirmed with Control’s AWE DLC, which brought Alan Wake right into the game!
Ever since, fans have been dying to know more about what is now being called the Remedy Connected Universe, and Alan Wake 2 is all set to give us some answers, as well as more questions about this universe’s future trajectory. But all theories aside, we are super excited to embark on this new gritty, dark adventure when the game drops on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X. Series S, and Microsoft Windows on October 27.
10. EA Sports UFC 5 (October 27)
Here to conclude this list with a bang is UFC 5, EA Sports’ upcoming game in the world of MMA. We have already sunk countless hours into UFC 4, battling out friends and randoms alike, honing our skills, celebrating victories, and blaming our controller for the losses. But jokes aside, UFC 5 is bringing all new features to the table that bring fans closer to the octagon as much as possible from the comfort of their homes. One of the features that caught our eye is the real-time injury system.
This system is more than just cosmetic damage showing up accurately on the fighters’ bodies (which is already pretty cool). It also has solid consequences in matches as well. If you get injured to a point where a real MMA match would have been stopped by the doctor or referee, well, that’s going to happen here, too! It’s not just down to KOs or points anymore. Exploit the damage system enough, and you could end a match in no time. But the same could happen to you, so keep that guard up! Man, Jon Jones sure looks positively badass in the trailer!
EA Sports UFC 5 lands on the PlayStation 5 on October 27.
And that concludes our list of all the games we are excited about coming out in October 2023! Did we miss out on some titles that you are looking forward to? Let us know in the comments! For more from the world of gaming and tech, stay tuned to Nerds Chalk. Until next time!
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