The Biggest Games Releasing in October 2021

The world’s most popular futbol simulator is back once again for the fall season and it’s looking to further improve on past iterations in the series. All the modes you’ve come to enjoy will make their return here - Career Mode, Volta Football, and FIFA Ultimate Team are back and all come with some much-needed enhancements. FIFA 22 also comes with a wide range of standout pro clubs, the Hypermotion play feel that makes the onscreen action look even more fluid, and changes to the series’ traditional futbol action.

Remedy Entertainment's most memorable release thus far is the supernatural, third-person thriller known as Alan Wake Remastered. For years, fans have been clamoring for a return to Bright Falls to re-experience Alan's mysterious search for his lost wife. That request has been answered in the form of this welcome remaster that features all of the upgrades gamers have come to expect. The visuals have been improved to output 4K visuals, both pieces of the game's DLC are included at launch, and a new commentary track by the game's lead writer Sam Lake. Alan Wake Remastered is the perfect game for the spookiest month of the year.

This platform fighting game mashup between the mechanics of Super Smash Bros. and the Nicktoons roster caught everyone by surprise. After watching some gameplay demonstrations of this unexpected fighter in action, it looks way better than it has any right to be. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is set up as a serious platform fighter that features iconic cartoon characters at war with each other. You can hop into battle with the likes of SpongeBob Squarepants, Ren & Stimpy, April O’Neil, and so much more. This party brawler may just take the stage at premier fighting game tourneys in 2022 and build up a scene full of hardcore Powdered Toast Man mains.

Don’t let this game’s super cute veneer put you into a false sense of security - Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is hard as hell! The simple act of rolling a precious monkey inside of a ball becomes a nerve-wracking experience once you come across the game’s most outlandish track layouts. Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a remastered best-of compilation that features all of the tracks and minigames from the first three series entries. Along with all that, you’ll get to do some rolling with separate Sega icons and some of its past consoles. Get ready to carefully maneuver your way through some daredevil stages and enjoy some fun multiplayer side games along the way.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

Ubisoft’s premier FPS series is going international once again by transporting players to the fictional Caribbean island of Yara. The tyrannical leader of that new locale is referred to as “El Presidente” (real name: Antón Castillo), whose likeness and vocals come from actor Giancarlo Esposito. You’ll fight to liberate Yara with a varied arsenal packed with firearms, vehicles, and helpful allies that come in the form of human resistance fighters and even local wildlife. As Mr. Castillo raises his young son to eventually take his place, you’ll take the fight to his forces and look to liberate Yara’s many denizens. Welcome to Far Cry 6.

Interplanetary bounty hunter Samus Aran sure has her work cut out for her in this new side-scrolling series entry. This time around, Samus must explore the mysterious planet of ZDR and stay out of the vicious grasp of a vicious robotic foe. Like Samus’ starting adventures, Metroid Dread will push players to explore every nook and cranny within ZDR and blast any foes that invade the bounty hunter’s comfort zone. For anyone who enjoyed Samus Returns, then you’ll want to hop into this new Nintendo Switch exclusive since it retains the free aim and melee attacks from that game. Metroid Dread puts forth a more terrifying feel as you take Samus Aran on a journey through a new hostile planet.

Shout out to Turtle Rock Studios! They really tapped into their inner Thanos and went “Fine, I’ll do it myself” when it came to creating another co-op zombie buster. They developed the Left 4 Dead games, after all. Their spiritual successor to that series comes in the form of Back 4 Blood, a four-player co-op FPS that pits your band of “Cleaners'' against the bloodthirsty “Ridden.” You’ll need to have your wits about you as you pick your finest ranged/melee weaponry and navigate a series of locales that are filled with walking dangers around every corner. Back 4 Blood’s cards present varied challenges during each campaign, plus the game’s PvP mode offers something different for those used to the Left 4 Dead formula.

When Crysis first came to be, PC gamers recognized it as a powerhouse FPS that pushed the limits of the best PC gaming builds. Now in 2021, all three entries within the graphically intensive franchise are coming together in a remastered package. The Crysis Remastered Trilogy is a comprehensive collection that helps each game look as great as possible and play just as well as you remember. The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 version of each game outputs 1080p and 4K at 60 FPS, plus they each come with Dynamic Resolution, HD textures, and so much more. It’s time to don that signature exoskeleton suit and take down some nasty aliens!

CyberConnect2 is responsible for providing Naruto fans with a strong line of fighting games via the Ultimate Ninja Storm series. And now they’re set to apply their arena brawler formula to the new hit anime, Demon Slayer. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles lets you experience the tumultuous demon-hunting tasks given to Tanjiro Kamado first hand. The game’s single-player campaign starts at the very start of the series and runs up to the “Mugen Train” arc. On the multiplayer front, you and your rival can test out your combat mastery during heated 2v2 battles. We personally can’t wait to head into battle as the demons that will get added to the game as free post-launch DLC.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

Shredding across the ice, bashing your opponents into the protective glass, and nailing that strategically placed puck shot means everything in the world to hockey pros. Simulating such a demanding sport has always been a priority for Electronic Arts on an annual basis, which is why we’re getting yet another one this year. NHL 22 looks to keep building upon the foundation set by earlier iterations of the series. Dedicated fans can look forward to the incorporation of Superstar X-Factors across various modes and improvements to all of the franchise’s signature gameplay suite. Be a Pro, Franchise Mode, and Hockey Ultimate Team will be better than ever before and live by the on-ice gameplay that fans have come to celebrate for years.

Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology has already delved into the realm of supernatural horror two times before with Man of Medan and Little Hope. Now the studio is ready to deliver the third entry in their ongoing IP with House of Ashes. This time around, you’ll follow five soldiers and fight to keep them alive as they deal with otherworldly creatures within a hidden Mesopotamian temple. House of Ashes offers some mechanical enhancements, such as a free-moving camera, difficulty levels for the game’s quick time events, and more. 

Peter Quill aka “Star-Lord,” Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Drax the Destroyer are collectively known as Marvel Comics’ Guardians of the Galaxy. Now that ragtag group is finally getting their own AAA-video game from the developers at Eidos-Montréal. This brand-new Marvel interactive experience has you controlling Star-Lord as you use your plasma pistols to do big damage and command your teammates in battle. Of course, you’ll be treated to some licensed throwback tunes, engage in some hilarious conversations with each team member, and explore the galaxy at large.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

Xbox Game Studios is ready to satiate strategy RPG fans’ thirst for a new experience thanks to the release of Relic Entertainment’s Age of Empires IV. This highly anticipated sequel transports players to the Middle Ages while they play out the events tied to the Norman Conquest of England. You’ll be able to choose from eight civilizations as you raise them to societal prominence and defend them from outside threats. The best aspects from the last two entries in the Age of Empires series are present here, so you’ll get to dive into the best-streamlined experience yet. It’s time to raise your empire to greatness!

The world needs more games dedicated to extreme sports, doesn’t it? Ubisoft and its Ubisoft Annecy development studio seem to think so, which is why they’re filling that sub-genre void by releasing Riders Republic. This massively multiplayer sports game lets you go exploring and participate in the following activities - mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, wingsuit flying, and rocket wingsuiting. You’ll be able to test your skills within each sports category against 50 players during super competitive races (note - this can only be done on current-gen consoles, while 20-player online support is offered through last-gen hardware). Riders Republic looks like it’ll be the type of game SSX and Steep fans have been waiting for.

Mario Party Superstars is essentially a celebration of the longtime party game series. This best-of compilation includes five of the best play boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games, plus it compiles 100 fan-favorite minigames from the N64 and GameCube games. You can enjoy all the Mario Party fun (and get enraged from time to time!) via local and online multiplayer play. Mario Party Superstars sticks to what worked so well during earlier series entries and ups the ante by bringing all of that retro goodness online for fans far and wide to enjoy.