The fall gaming rush is in full swing, and this year is even busier than usual. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles releasing in November will usher in the next-generation of gaming, but before that, October is packed-full of new game releases, ranging from promising indie titles to some of the year's biggest.
There are a number of major video game releases coming in October 2020 representing a variety of genres. This mainly includes sequels to established franchises, including Super Mario Bros., Crash Bandicoot, Watch Dogs, and much more.
Here are the biggest video game releases of October 2020.
Super Mario Bros. 35 (October 1)
2020 marks the 35th anniversary of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. franchise, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars isn't the only way it's celebrating the occasion. Nintendo is also releasing a Super Mario Bros. battle royale game, which will be free to play for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers from October 1 until the end of March, at which point it will be pulled from the eShop for some bizarre reason. The game looks to be mimicking the formula that Tetris 99 found great success with, and if nothing else, it gives Switch Online subscribers more content, even if it's just for a limited time.
Super Mario Bros. 35 launches October 1, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (October 2)
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy proved to Activision that there was still a huge audience for the Crash Bandicoot franchise, and so now fans are getting Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. A direct sequel to Crash Bandicoot: Warped, It's About Time features classic platforming action with a cast of recognizable characters from the series past, along with a variety of new features to mix things up. There's a great deal of hype going into Crash Bandicoot 4's release, and it will be interesting to see if it lives up to the high expectations.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time launches October 2 for PS4 and Xbox One.
Star Wars: Squadrons (October 2)
Star Wars space combat games were once a dime and dozen, but there haven't been many in recent years. Star Wars: Squadrons is hoping to be a return to form for the genre, with EA's Motive Studios helming the game. Star Wars: Squadrons is a budget release, but it should still have plenty of content, including a dedicated story mode as well as online multiplayer modes. The game will let players pilot a variety of iconic Star Wars vehicles, including TIE-Fighters, X-Wings, and much more.
Star Wars: Squadrons launches October 2 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
FIFA 21 (October 9)
EA's annual sports franchises are always big releases, and this year's FIFA 21 is no exception. FIFA 21 has found itself in some hot water due to some questionable microtransaction advertisements, but the core game should still deliver the same experience that fans have come to expect, except with some new features for career mode.
FIFA 21 launches October 9 for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X versions are also in development.
Remothered: Broken Porcelain (October 13)
October is a big month for horror games, and fans don't have to wait long to get their hands on the first big horror title of the season. Remothered: Broken Porcelain is a sequel to Remothered: Tormented Fathers, and serves as a spiritual successor of sorts to the classic Clock Tower survival-horror series. In typical survival-horror fashion, Remothered: Broken Porcelain players will have to solve a variety of puzzles, all the while avoiding vicious enemies that aim to kill them in gruesome ways.
Remothered: Broken Porcelain launches October 13 for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (October 16)
Super Mario Bros. 35 isn't the only way Nintendo is celebrating its flagship franchise's 35th anniversary. The Big N has also announced Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, which is an augmented reality racing game that turns the Nintendo Switch console into a controller for remote-controlled cars. The gimmick of Mario Kart Live is that it allows players to build their very own Mario Kart courses and race around their home. It may have limited appeal to core gamers, but it could still end up being one of the big holiday 2020 toys.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit launches October 16, exclusively for the Switch.
Amnesia: Rebirth (October 20)
The second big horror game launching in October 2020 is the sequel to one of the most innovative horror titles of the last decade. The original Amnesia: The Dark Descent can be credited with revitalizing the horror genre after the genre's major franchises abandoned it for more action-oriented experiences. Frictional Games followed up its work on the original Amnesia with Soma, which also earned quite a bit of praise at the time of its release. Considering this, it's no surprise that many horror fans are hotly anticipating Amnesia: Rebirth, and so here's hoping it lives up to fan expectations.
Amnesia: Rebirth launches October 20 for PC and PS4.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (October 27)
Blizzard's hugely popular MMORPG World of Warcraft is kept alive thanks to big expansions that add significant content to the experience. The next big World of Warcraft expansion is Shadowlands, and it will allow fans of the MMORPG to explore the realm of the dead. WoW enthusiasts can also look forward to the Death Knight class coming to more races, as well as a variety of new dungeons and raids to complete.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands will launch for PC on October 27.
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD Remaster (October 29)
Shin Megami Tensei 5 is coming to the Nintendo Switch at some point in 2021, but before that, fans of the franchise can try Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD. This remaster will include a variety of difficulty options to make the experience more accessible than it was before along with revamped visuals.
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD launches October 29 for PS4 and Switch.
Watch Dogs Legion (October 29)
One of two big open world Ubisoft games set to launch this fall, Watch Dogs Legion is making some big changes to the franchise. This time around, players will be able to recruit virtually any NPC in the game to their cause, in turn creating a massive roster of playable characters, all with their own unique abilities and personalities. It's certainly an interesting gameplay hook, and while some fans have raised concerns about not having a central protagonist to latch onto, it could be a lot of fun in practice. Fans will find out at the end of October.
Watch Dogs Legion launches October 29 for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with the Xbox Series X version launching November 10 and the PS5 version launching November 12.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe (October 30)
It's no secret that the Wii U was a sales failure, especially when compared to Nintendo's other major consoles. And since the Switch has sold significantly more units than the Wii U, it stands to reason that many Switch owners haven't had the chance to play some of the system's more highly-rated games. This includes Pikmin 3, one of the Wii U's top releases in terms of critical reception. Luckily, those that missed out on Pikmin 3 on Wii U will soon have the chance to see what all the fuss is about, as Pikmin 3 Deluxe is on the way for Switch with some enhancements, including a full-fledged co-op mode.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe releases exclusively for Switch on October 30.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope (October 30)
Just in time for Halloween, Supermassive's second entry in its The Dark Pictures Anthology series is set to launch. Like Man of Medan before it, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope is like an interactive horror movie, with players able to share the terror in an optional co-op mode. The game looks to be taking its cues from Konami's Silent Hill franchise, which is definitely a good sign, so horror fans will want to check it out come October 30.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope launches October 30 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.