Thought September was manic? Well, October 2026 is shaping up to be another busy month for Xbox players, with a host of new games landing on console, Game Pass and Play Anywhere.
There’s everything from high-speed racing and supernatural horror to zoo management, cooperative puzzling and story-driven adventures getting set to release. And alongside that are some familiar names returning, with The Wolf Among Us getting a remastered edition and a new chapter in the Hellraiser universe arriving for horror fans. Oh yeah, and it’s E-Day too!
Whether you’re looking to take to the skies, fancy exploring a galaxy far, far away or are ready to build the zoo of your dreams, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Here are the Xbox games to keep an eye on throughout October, with some of them releasing on Game Pass Day One. Many would say these are the best Xbox games set to release in October 2026. We would tend to agree…
October Xbox Game Releases At A Glance
- October 2nd: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE
- October 6th: Gears Of War: E-Day – GAME PASS DAY ONE
- October 6th: Star Wars: Galactic Racer
- October 8th: Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival
- October 8th: Forever Ago – GAME PASS DAY ONE
- October 8th: Neon Abyss 2
- October 13th: Planet Zoo 2
- October 20th: We Were Here Tomorrow
- October 23rd: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
- October 29th: The Wolf Among Us Remastered
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE – October 2nd
October kicks off with ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, bringing high-octane aerial action to Xbox. Developed by Bandai Namco, the game puts players in the cockpit as an elite pilot, taking on intense dogfights, eliminating threats and tackling missions across spectacular skies.
The campaign promises dynamic, multi-layered cloudscapes and fast-paced arcade-style combat, with powerful weapons available to dominate the battlefield.
But there’s more to the experience than aerial warfare, as first-person cinematic scenes explore the pilot’s story, the pressure of command and the bonds formed with squadmates between missions. if you liked previous ACE COMBAT offerings, you should jump in with this one.
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Developer: Bandai Namco Aces Inc.
Gears of War: E-Day – October 6th
Gears of War: E-Day takes players back to the beginning of the Locust invasion, fourteen years before the original Gears of War.
Join Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in a gripping origin-story campaign as the Locust Horde erupts from below, plunging the world into a desperate fight for survival.
Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, E-Day promises a darker, grittier experience, with reimagined enemies, terrifying new creatures and the brutal, cover-based combat that defines the series, enhanced with modernised movement and traversal.
Alongside the campaign, players can team up in Horde Siege, an expanded take on the series’ iconic PvE mode. Choose from four classes and fight alongside other squads to complete objectives and take down world bosses. Versus multiplayer also returns, featuring new maps, refreshed 4v4 modes and Ranked and Social playlists.
Campaign, Horde Siege and Versus support solo play or cooperative action, with two-player split-screen and online multiplayer options available. E-Day begins on October 6th, or October 1st if you jump in early with the Premium Edition.
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Developer: The Coalition
- Game Pass: Day One Game Pass
Star Wars: Galactic Racer – October 6th
The Star Wars galaxy turns its attention to underground racing in Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a high-stakes, runs-based reinvention of the racing genre set in the lawless Outer Rim.
With the Empire’s grip finally broken, a new obsession with speed takes hold. Players step into the role of Shade, a lone racer chasing revenge and glory in the unsanctioned Galactic League, where syndicates sponsor pilots and fortunes can be won or lost in seconds.
The game features a variety of craft, including landspeeders, speeder bikes, skim speeders and podracers, each with distinct handling and playstyles. Players can customise their craft, battle rivals across multiple game modes and take on a story-driven campaign or strategic PvP grudge matches.
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- Publisher: Secret Mode
- Developer: Fuse Games
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival – October 8th
Horror takes centre stage with Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, a first-person action horror survival game set in the legendary Hellraiser universe.
Players take on the role of Aidan, who must use the power of a mysterious puzzle box, the Genesis Configuration, to help his girlfriend Sunny escape from the otherworldly Labyrinth. Along the way, he’ll have to survive a bargain with the infamous Pinhead and battle the horrific cult devoted to the Cenobites.
With its blend of first-person action and survival horror, Hellraiser: Revival brings a new chapter to the series, plunging players into a nightmarish fight for survival.
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- Publisher: Saber Interactive Inc.
- Developer: Saber Interactive Inc.
Forever Ago – October 8th
Forever Ago offers a more reflective experience, following Alfred on a journey north after a tragic turn of events. This single-player road trip adventure is a story about redemption, loss, regret and the possibility of finding hope and friendship along the way.
As Alfred travels through beautiful environments, from peaceful forest trails to sun-baked desert landscapes, players will meet interesting characters, explore their stories and capture memories using an instant camera.
Photography also plays a part in solving environmental puzzles, while the story looks back across Alfred’s life and his enduring love for Audrey. The game features an original soundtrack by Clark Aboud, known for Slay the Spire and Kind Words, whilst Annapurna are behind publishing rights – sold!
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
- Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
- Developer: Third Shift
Neon Abyss 2 – October 8th
Neon Abyss 2 returns to the chaotic, pixelated Abyss with a faster and more explosive roguelike experience. This cybermyth adventure combines run ‘n’ gun action with a huge range of weapons, items and abilities that can be mixed together to create increasingly wild combinations.
One of the biggest additions over the original Neon Abyss is online four-player co-op, allowing players to team up with friends, coordinate their builds and explore different rooms within the same map.
The sequel also introduces a broad weapon system, collectible Hatchmon companions that can evolve into powerful allies, and a new Faith System that offers additional ways to turn the tide when a run gets tough. With new enemies, gods, loot and secrets to uncover, there’s plenty of reason to dive back into the Abyss.
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
- Publisher: Kepler Interactive
- Developer: Veewo Games
Planet Zoo 2 – October 13th
Planet Zoo 2 invites players to build and manage their own zoos, with a host of new animals, creative tools and conservation features expanding on the original simulation.
For the first time in the series, fully aquatic and flying species take centre stage. Players can construct freshwater and saltwater aquariums, build custom aviaries for birds and create habitats for a diverse roster of animals, each with their own behaviours and needs.
Beyond the zoo itself, Wildlife Reserves introduce expansive ecosystems where players can release animals as part of global conservation projects. New scenery themes, improved building tools and a range of management systems offer plenty of scope for creating a unique animal park.
Career, Franchise and Sandbox modes return from the original Planet Zoo, while the Frontier Workshop allows players to explore and download community-created content.
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
- Publisher: Frontier Developments
- Developer: Frontier Developments
We Were Here Tomorrow – October 20th
Cooperative puzzle-solving returns in We Were Here Tomorrow, as two explorers find themselves trapped beneath the ice of Antarctica and wake up inside the mysterious Norček Industries facility. We have adored the previous games in the We Were Here series and that means Tomorrow is highly anticipated.
With little recollection of what happened, the pair are tasked with helping Director Kathleen Bowe continue the work of her missing research team before a global crisis unfolds.
As before, communication is at the heart of the experience. Often separated, players must rely on walkie-talkies to share information, combine their perspectives and solve asymmetrical puzzles. Each explorer has a unique role, with different tools and information needed to overcome obstacles together.
Set inside a retro-futuristic facility inspired by the 1980s, the game promises strange technology, hidden secrets and a synthwave soundtrack as the pair work to uncover the truth.
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- Publisher: Total Mayhem Games
- Developer: Total Mayhem Games
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – October 23rd
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 takes the series to the Korean Peninsula, where a full-scale invasion by North Korea threatens to destabilise the world.
The campaign follows a young squad of South Korean soldiers fighting to survive on the collapsing front lines, while Captain Price wages a personal war from the shadows. As his off-the-books mission collides with the forces behind the invasion, the conflict spirals beyond anyone’s control.
Players will experience a variety of combat scenarios, from trench warfare in Korea and close-quarters fighting in New York to chases through Paris and SAS night raids in Mumbai.
Multiplayer promises grounded, precise combat, while DMZ sends players behind enemy lines on extraction runs where every decision matters. You really should know what to expect from this by now…
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
- Publisher: Activision Publishing
The Wolf Among Us Remastered – October 29th
The month closes with a return to Fabletown in The Wolf Among Us Remastered, a refreshed edition of Telltale’s acclaimed narrative thriller inspired by DC’s Fables comic series.
Players step back into the shoes of Bigby Wolf as he investigates brutal murders in a world where fairy-tale characters live secretly among us. Interrogating suspects, exploring crime scenes and uncovering a conspiracy are all part of the experience, with choices shaping relationships, dialogue and how the citizens of Fabletown view the Big Bad Wolf.
The remastered edition brings enhanced visuals over the original The Wolf Among Us, improved lighting, updated animation and a more cinematic presentation. It also introduces Noir Mode, allowing players to experience the complete story in a black-and-white style inspired by classic detective films.
All five episodes are included, alongside bonus material such as developer commentary, concept art, interviews and restored content.
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Publisher: Telltale
- Developer: Telltale
October offers a properly varied mix of experiences for Xbox players, from the aerial combat of ACE COMBAT 8 and the racing of Star Wars: Galactic Racer to the horror of Hellraiser: Revival and the creative freedom of Planet Zoo 2. With a new Call of Duty, a cooperative puzzle adventure and a remastered Telltale favourite also on the calendar, there’s a little something for just about every kind of player this month.
And then we’re in November. GTA VI, anyone!?
As always, we’d love to hear from you. What do you think the best Xbox games of October will be? What are you planning to play the most? Get down into the comments and let us know.
