Our recurring series curating the month ahead.

October is here, which means it’s spooky/cosy season at last (delete as appropriate).

Here’sWhat To Play This October.

Lords of the Fallen promotional image showing a bedraggled main character looking out over a burnt orange and brown landscape witha giant five-fingered hand in the far distance jutting out from the horizon

It has to be less - that’s the point, the glory of it.

Selflessly, it points the way back towards a gaming experience that was unprecedented.

It’s a picture frame, the perfect bit of hanging and staging in a gallery.

Racing through the city in Bomb Rush Cyberpunk, with a blue jet behind us as we’re boosting.

Its rich, energetic imagination is mainly spent on recreation and refinement.

Goodbye Volcano High

Availability:Out now on PC, PS4, PS5.

Mediterranea Inferno

Availability:Out now on PC.

Goodbye Volcano High screenshot showing three teen dinosaurs meeting for band practice at school

What a fascinating, thoughtful game this is.

I’m left with burning questions, however, as I have to imagine its world keeps turning.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Availability:Out now on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S.

A bleached, dream-like illustration from Mediterranea Inferno showing a blond young man, Andrea, standing facing the camera at the entrance to a beautiful beach; he wears a sailor’s collar and a chastity belt in the shape on a heart. A games arcade is visible to his left, a manned information kiosk lies to his right, and the sky, ocean, and a scattering of red and white parasols are visible behind him.

The main reason to play the game is to become tangled up in their lives… ## Cocoon

Availability:Out now on PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X/S.

We were both happy to bask in the wordless astonishment of it all.

(Okay, maybe the fly was just resting.)

Chants of Sennaar tower vista showing walkways and columns at night

El Paso, Elsewhere

Availability:Out now on PC, Xbox One and Xbox X/S.

En Garde!

Here’s what we said in our 4-starEn Garde!

Screenshot of Neurocracy 2.049, showing an obvious edit war happening about mushroom sentience

Well played, En Garde!

Qrth-Phyl

Availability:Out now on PC and Switch.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Availability:Out 5th October on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Cover image for YouTube video

Detective Pikachu Returns

Availability:Out 6th October on Nintendo Switch.

Everyone’s favourite strangely gruff electric rat returns to solve more crimes with his slightly gormless companions.

The original was actually kind of great, so we’re keen to see how this one shakes out.

Key artwork from the game Cocoon, showing a small insect-like character, with wings, looking into a large transparent dome that has a world within. And a dome with another world within. Which has a dome with another world in.

Forza Motorsport

Availability:Out 10th October on PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Total War: Pharaoh

Availability:Out 11th October on PC.

Potentially: yes?.

The hero is slumped by a motel window with slatted blinds casting shadows in El Paso, Elsewhere

Sonic Superstars

Availability:Out 17th October on PC.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Availability:Out 20th October on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S.

Personally hoping this one keeps those intact!

An explosion sends sword fighters reeling in En Garde!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Availability:Out 20th October on Nintendo Switch.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.

1

Availability:Out 24th October on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch.

The Snake-like game Qrth-Phyl, which is of course based on the game Blockade. We see a blueish 3D room filled by a gigantic, luminous yellow ‘snake’, which is wrapping around itself as it tries not to bump into itself.

Here’s what Ian made of it with his briefhands-on with the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.

Alan Wake 2

Availability:Out 27th October on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S.

Another biggun for a bumper October, and what a game this’d make for a Halloween playthrough.

A Lamplighter’s League promotional screen showing several people stood around a large table in a late 19th century room with lovely rays of moonlight through a window on one side.

The many book nerds here are pumped.

Jusant

Availability:Out 31st October on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S.

It does look marvellous, and likely the highlight of the month from smaller studios.

Cover image for YouTube video

What else do we recommend in September?

Take a look at ourHonkai Star Rail reviewfor more detail on why it’s such a blast.

Detective Pikachu Returns screenshot showing Pikachu in a Sherlock Holmes hat holding a mug of coffee by a window.

Forza Motorsport promotional screenshot showing a clogged up race of dozens of multicoloured cars up against the edge of the track

Total War Pharaoh preview - screenshot showing distant enemy units approaching mine in the foreground on a sand dune, with UI tooltip showing the fall back stance option

Lords of the Fallen promo artwork showing the player taking a swing at Pieta, a female knight with red angel wings and a magic sword

Emerald power reveals hidden platform in Sonic Superstars

Miles and Peter in Spider-Man 2

Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s talking flowers in action.

Cover image for YouTube video

Alan Wake 2 screenshot showing Alan Wake sitting behind his desk facing the camera, writing on his typewriter with just a faint desk lamp on

A distant peak in Jusant.