9 Most-Anticipated Games Arriving in October 2023

October is arguably the biggest and highly-hyped month for game releases in 2023; not necessarily because there’s a guarantee all these games will be great, but just the sheer volume of big-name titles is hard not to get excited about. From a return-to-roots for a Ubisoft classic to the enticing sequel to 2018’s Spider Man, here are the most-anticipated games arriving in October 2023.

Assassin’s Creed: Mirage

Release date: 5 October 2023 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

Assassin’s Creed Mirage takes place in ninth-century Baghdad and centres on the coming-of-age story of Basim Ibn Is’haq, the Hidden One who appeared in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, however, the game is set twenty years before Valhalla. The game is somewhat of a throwback to the classic gameplay of older Assassin’s Creed games, with a focus on story, assassination missions, and parkour, with less emphasis on RPG mechanics and XP building. The game looks fantastic in action, and a lot quicker than previous AC games, making us very excited for its release.

Cricket 24

Release date: 5 October 2023 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | Switch | PC)

Cricket 24 is the culmination of a decade of Cricket video game development and includes teams from every corner of the globe. Players will be able to take on major cricket nations including Australia and England in the official Ashes, West Indies, New Zealand, Ireland and more, plus for the first time ever, professional Indian T20 teams, all set in over 50 detailed official stadiums.

Forza Motorsport

Release date: 10 October 2023 (Xbox Series X/S | PC)

After veering off to do some offroad and more festival antics with the Forza Horizon spin-off franchise, Forza Motorsport, which is essentially Forza 8, returns to the hardcore racing sim foundation that made the series so beloved. You can race over 500 real-world cars including modern race cars and more than 100 vintage cars, along with 20 tracks new to Forza Motorsport. It also features fully dynamic time-of-day changes with weather with unique driving conditions, so that no two laps feel the same.

Lords of the Fallen

Release date: 13 October 2023 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

Lords of the Fallen is the sequel to the 2014 Dark Souls-like release (which also had the name, Lords of the Fallen) that went relatively under the radar despite accruing a decent fanbase. It’s a dark fantasy action-RPG with some tough baddies and a gorgeously haunting setting, with a gameplay twist that also allows you to jump between the world of the living and dead.

Sonic Superstars

Release date: 17 October 2023 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | Switch | PC)

If you’ve been eager for another old-school Sonic game, but with the benefits of new-age gaming, Sonic Superstars should be on your list. Pulling on the nostalgia strings hard, it features side-scrolling gameplay similar to the Sonic the Hedgehog games released for the Sega Genesis in the 1990s, but with spectacular new visuals and gameplay mechanics. You can also play the game co-op with friends, as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and the rest of the gang can join the adventure too.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Release date: 20 October 2023 (PS5)

2018’s Spider-Man game from Insomniac was a smash hit, and after the standalone expansion/spin-off, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the game gets its full sequel this October. One of the lead villains of Spider-Man 2 will be Kraven the Hunter, who comes to New York to hunt the heroes and villains who reside there. Players will have access to more suits and abilities, and delve deeper into the story-arc hinted at the end of the first game, along with the introduction of Venom.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection

Release date: 24 October 2023 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PS4 | Switch | PC)

Metal Gear fans will be ecstatic to revisit some of the best games in the franchise, with the Master Collection launching in October. It comprises of the first five main entries in the franchise: Metal Gear (1987), Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990), Metal Gear Solid (1998), Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), as well as the VR Missions for Metal Gear Solid, the NES version of Metal Gear and its standalone sequel Snake’s Revenge (1990), games guides, a sound selection of music from the series, and the motion comics Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel and Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée as bonuses.

Alan Wake 2

Release date: 27 October 2023 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

Remedy will finally be releasing a sequel to 2010’s Alan Wake. The game takes a far more third-person survival-horror spin on the formula, where you indulge in some light-manipulating combat and twisty narrative beats. Interestingly, you get to play as two characters, Alan and an FBI agent named Saga, who has to head back to Bright Falls and face the nightmarish hellscape Alan’s mind has created. 

EA Sports UFC 5

Release date: 27 October 2023 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5)

Fans of fighting will have the release of EA Sports’ next entry into the UFC franchise circled on their calendars. Powered by Frostbite engine’s advanced rendering capabilities, players can take control of the UFC’s most famous fighters with detailed character likenesses, styles, and strengths. An all-new authentic damage system brings the intensity and strategy of a fight to life, as cuts and strikes absorbed can affect mobility, defence, and stamina — not to mention revamped ground grappling mechanics — making fights a lot more tactical.

What games are you most looking forward to? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.