October brings with it a feast of games to enjoy. From testing your skills on the pitch to toppling dictators, surviving the apocalypse to travelling through space, from the horrors of the shadows to the pages of a comic book and getting the perfect adrenaline rush, there really is something for everyone with this month’s video game releases.
FIFA 22
A new season awaits with this year’s FIFA release. Featuring a global roster of players, clubs and leagues, FIFA 22 is the franchise’s most true-to-life experience of the modern football world. Reimagined gameplay mechanics for all squad positions bring a new dynamic to the various game modes. Career mode will put players in control of their own fortunes (as a player or a manager) with new ways to progress and grow as you make your way through the leagues. VOLTA makes a return to the franchise for those looking to showcase their true flair and skill in this street football experience, while FIFA Ultimate Team allows players to build their dream squads and test them out against other players in a variety of single and co-op modes.
Players who pre-order will receive a Team of the Week player item, a Kylian Mbappé loan item, a FUT Ambassador loan pack and a homegrown talent for Career mode. The Ultimate Edition includes a copy of the game, Team of the Week item, Mbappé loan item, FUT Ambassador Loan pack, Career mode homegrown talent, Ones to Watch player item, 4600 FIFA Points, Early Access and a Dual Entitlement upgrade within the same console family.
FIFA 22 will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC from October 1*
Far Cry 6
The fight for the future of your people begins in the latest in the Far Cry series. In Far Cry 6, players will travel to the island paradise of Yara, where the dictator Antón Castillo has asserted his power of the island with brutal force and who Is training his son, Diego, to follow in his footsteps. Playing as Dani Rojas, a former soldier turned guerrilla operative, players will try and liberate Yara and her people from Castillo’s dominance. With help from resistance leaders Clara Garcia and Juan Cortez, players will use a mix of assault and stealth tactics to achieve their goals, while also trying to safeguard the island’s potential future by protecting its valuable medicinal resources.
Players who pre-order will receive the Libertad pack, which includes a unique outfit for Chorizo and the Discos Locos weapon. The Yara Edition (available at select retailers) includes a copy of the game and the Croc Hunter Pack, which includes bonus weapons, an off-road vehicle and an extra outfit. The Gold Edition includes a copy of the game with the Season Pass. The Season Pass includes a digital copy of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, a Blood Dragon pack for Far Cry 6 including an additional vehicle, weapons and other gear along with the three Become The Villain DLC episodes which mark the debut of Vaas Montenegro, Pagan Min and Joseph Seed as playable characters. The Ultimate Edition includes all the content included in the Gold Edition along with the Ultimate Pack, which features three bonus packs (Vice, Croc Hunter and Jungle Expedition) of in-game items, vehicles, weapons and outfits.
Far Cry 6 will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Google Stadia, Amazon Luna and PC from October 7*
Metroid Dread
A new mystery waits for Samus in this new chapter in the Metroid franchise. In Metroid Dread, players must travel to ZDR, where a transmission leads the Galactic Federation to assert that not all the X parasites were destroyed following the events of Metroid Fusion. Upon arrival to search for a missing droid team, however, Samus is ambushed by a figure in a Power Suit and is left weakened and stuck under the planet’s surface. With only her basic armour intact and no clear way back to the surface, players must guide Samus through this unknown world to find out the truth of what has really happened on ZDR.
Players who pre-order through select retailers will receive a limited-edition Metroid Dread double-sided poster and notebook.
Metroid Dread will be available on Nintendo Switch from October 8*
Back 4 Blood
Fight your way to survival in this FPS horror. In Back 4 Blood, players are put into the middle of an apocalyptic world where a parasitic infection has turned most of the world’s population into ravenous zombie-like creatures known as the “Ridden”. Playing as one of a group of eight people know as the “Cleaners”, players will have to find their way through what remains of this new world. Either playing solo or with up to three friends online, players must navigate the area surrounding Fort Hope and Finleyville, Pennsylvania to find a way to beat back the hordes once and for all.
Players who pre-order the Deluxe Edition will unlock the Fort Hope Elite Weapon Skin pack at launch. The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, four days Early Access, a limited-edition box and the Annual Pass, which will include all post-launch content.
Back 4 Blood will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from October 12*
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
The horrors of war add a new tale with the latest in The Dark Pictures Anthology. Set during the Iraq War in 2003, House of Ashes features five playable characters as a simple recon mission takes an unexpected turn. While searching for chemical weapons, a team of American and Iraqi personnel soon find themselves trapped in the buried ruins of an ancient Sumerian temple. The unit quickly realises that they are not alone, as their arrival has awoken the next of ancient creatures who dwell within the temple walls. It will be up to players to make the choices each character needs in order to try and escape the temple and survive the rising evil.
Players who pre-order will receive Early Access to the Curator’s Cut at launch. This extended cut of the game allows players to make new choices in the story to unlock different outcomes and new aspects and dialogue previously hidden in the regular story. Those looking for the full Dark Pictures Anthology experience will be able to purchase the Triple Pack, also launching on October 22*, which included Man of Medan and Little Hope alongside House of Ashes in a complete set.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from October 22*
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Players who pre-order will receive the Throwback Guardians Outfit Pack, with an exclusive Steelbook case available at select retailers. The Cosmic Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, Steelbook case, Sun-Lord and City-Lord outfits for Peter Quill, a hardback mini-artbook and a digital copy of the game’s soundtrack – The Hits.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from October 26*
Riders Republic
Get ready to hit the slopes in this sporting adventure. In the world of Riders Republic, players will be able to travel across seven National Parks in the United States to test their skills across six different high-octane events. By honing their craft and building their reputation, players will be able to unlock new gear and other items required as they work their way up the career ladder in their chosen event(s). Featuring competitions including the X Games, players will be hunting to get one of the coveted spots at the prestigious Riders Ridge Invitational against the best of the best in the world.
Players who pre-order will receive the Bunny Pack at launch, with includes an additional outfit, headpiece and snowboard paint. The Gold Edition comes with a copy of the game and the Year 1 Pass to unlock post-launch content. The Freeride Edition includes a copy of the game, a Neon Pack with additional items, and a small Helico Ticket currency pack. The Ultimate Edition includes the game, Year 1 Pass, 20 Helico Tickets and four cosmetic packs: Neon, Cosmic, Rainbow and Skull’n Style. The PlayStation 4 physical releases will also include a free digital upgrade on PlayStation 5.
Riders Republic will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Google Stadia and PC from October 28*
Free to Play
Those with an active Xbox Gold or Game Pass Ultimate subscription will have four new titles to add to their libraries to keep and play for free this month. On Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, Aaero will be available from October 1-31*, with Hover available between October 16 – November 15*. On Xbox 360 – and Xbox One/Series X/Series X via backwards compatibility – Castlevania: Harmony of Despair will be available from October 1-15* followed by Resident Evil: Code Veronica X from October 16-31*
Over on PlayStation, those with an active Plus subscription will have three titles to add to their libraries for free to play and keep this month. From October 5* Hell Let Loose will be available on PlayStation 5, with PGA Tour 2K21 and Mortal Kombat X both available on PlayStation 4.
On Prime Gaming, there will be 10 games that eligible users will be able to claim and keep for free this month. From October 1*, the following games will be available to claim through the Prime Gaming service:
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- Alien Isolation
- Ghostrunner
- Song of Horror: Complete Edition
- Red Wings: Aces of the Sky
- Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures
- Blue Fire
- Tiny Robots Recharged
- Whiskey & Zombies: The Great Southern Zombie Escape
- Secret Files 3
Full details on how to claim these titles, along with content drops and in-game loot for Genshin Impact, Paladins, Rainbow Six Siege, Fall Guys and more can be found on the Prime Gaming portal.
Also Released This Month
October 1* – Away: The Survival Series (PS4, PS5), Gris (Switch), Sonic Colours Ultimate (Xbox One, PS4, Switch), Blaze and the Monster Machines: Axle City Racers (Xbox One, PS4, Switch), Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition (Xbox One, PS4)
October 5* – Exophobia (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Jett: The Far Shore (PS4, PS5, PC), Vagrus: The Riven Realms (PC), Hell Let Loose (Xbox Series X/S, PS5), BPM: Bullets Per Minute (Xbox One, PS4), Alan Wake Remastered (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC), Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch)
October 8* – Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch), Knockout Home Fitness (Switch), Alpaca Ball: All-Stars (PS4, Switch)
October 11* – Book of Travels (PC – Steam Early Access)
October 12* – Xuan Yuan Sword 7 (Xbox One, PS4)
October 14* – The Riftbreaker (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC)
October 15 – The Good Life (Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC), Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC), NHL 2022 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5), Crysis Remastered Trilogy (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Bugsnax (PS4, PS5), Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4), Just Die Already (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Switch)
October 19* – Into The Pit (Xbox One, PC), Inscryption (PC)
October 20* – They Always Run (PC)
October 21* – Sands of Aura (PC – Early Access), Resident Evil 4 VR (Quest 2), Tandem: A Tale of Shadows (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch)
October 22* – RICO London (PS4), My Friends Peppa Pig (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Switch)
October 26* – Darkest Dungeon 2 (PC – Early Access), Solar Ash (PS4, PS5, PC), The Unliving (PC – Steam Early Access)
October 28* – Age of Empires IV (PC), Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars (PS4, Switch, PC), Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Mario Party Superstars (Switch)
October 29* – TY The Tasmanian Devil HD (Switch), Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, Switch), Carrion (Switch), PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Nintendo Switch), Tormented Souls (Switch)
*Dates refer to UK releases only. International dates may vary and are subject to change. Information correct at time of writing.
Words by Megan Roxburgh
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.