5 biggest game releases of October 2023

It’s officially the busiest month of the year for new video games. Even if you have the budget to pick up most of these titles, you almost certainly don’t have enough time to play them all. Over the course of just 15 days, we’re getting a new Assassin’s Creed, a new Forza, a new Sonic, a new Spider-Man, and a new 2D Mario. No matter which consoles you own, there’s something worth playing this month, so carve out plenty of time for gaming in October.

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Best new game releases of October 2023

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Release date: October 5
Systems: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PC

If you aren’t a fan of the seemingly endless open worlds of recent Assassin’s Creed games, Mirage might be the perfect re-entry point for you. Unlike Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla, the latest title features a more compact setting and shifts the focus back to stealth, parkour, and assassinations. The protagonist of Mirage is Basim Ibn Ishaq, introduced in Valhalla, who explores 9th-century Baghdad and fights against the Templar Order.

Forza Motorsport

Release date: October 10
Systems: Xbox Series X/S, PC

Forza Motorsport is the latest simulation racing game from Turn 10 Studios and its first since 2017. This is technically the eighth entry in the series, but the studio dropped the number as this will be something of a reboot. As in previous games, players rise through the ranks by winning races while collecting hundreds of cars and upgrading them to compete against better competition. There’s a single-player career mode as well as online multiplayer.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Release date: October 20
Systems: PS5

The sequel to Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man and Miles Morales looks bigger and better in every way. Not only can you play as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales (and switch between the two at will), but the sequel also lets players explore parts of Brooklyn and Queens in addition to Manhattan. There are new powers to acquire, new suits to collect, and new villains to fight as you swing around New York City for another exciting adventure.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Release date: October 20
Systems: Switch

It’s been over a decade since the arrival of New Super Mario Bros. U — the last full 2D Mario game from Nintendo — but at long last, a new title is on the horizon. Super Mario Bros. Wonder will send Mario and friends to the Flower Kingdom, where Bowser has turned into a giant flying castle and is causing havoc. There are several new power-ups to experiment with, including the Elephant Fruit, the Bubble Flower, and the Drill Mushroom.

Alan Wake 2

Release date: October 27
Systems: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

After finding immense success with Control in 2019, Remedy Entertainment opted to turn back the clock and finally make a full sequel to Alan Wake. Alan Wake 2 picks up 13 years after the first game, with the titular thriller novelist still trapped in an alternate dimension. Players will jump between the stories of Wake and FBI agent Saga Anderson, who has been sent to Bright Falls, Washington, to investigate a string of ritualistic murders.

Those are the highlights, but here are some other notable game releases in October: