October is typically one of the busiest months of the year in terms of new video game releases, and that hasn’t changed at all in 2025. Major exclusive games from well-known franchises are set to release for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X throughout October.

Many of these games are from well-regarded franchises like Pokémon, The Outer Worlds, and Ninja Gaiden. Still, some notable indie-level titles have nestled their way into October’s video game lineup, like Mina the Hollower.

As compelling new game launches are so plentiful every week of this month, it might feel like a roll of the dice when it comes to choosing a game that you might enjoy playing. If you find yourself in that situation, I’m here to help.

I’m spotlighting seven games set to release across PC and consoles during October 2025. Hopefully, you will learn about an exciting new game that interests you and pick it up as a result.

Ghost of Yōtei

Launching on October 2 for PS5

We’re kicking off October with Ghost of Yōtei, which will undoubtedly be one of the year’s biggest releases.

It’s a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, a beloved Japanese action game from Sucker Punch Productions, and it seems to expand on everything that made its predecessor work. It just shifts the setting to the northern island of Japan and a later time period.

From pre-release trailers, Ghost of Yōtei appears to be a visual stunner on PS5. Atsu’s journey of revenge has also been praised in reviews for the game, while its open world design is even a little innovative in how it doles out and shows objectives to players.

As someone who doesn’t quite like Ghost of Tsushima as much as everyone else, I’m interested to see if this sequel feels improved to me.

2025 has been a pretty light year for good PS5 exclusives outside of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. As such, Ghost of Yōtei is pretty much a must-buy if you only play games on Sony’s console.

Battlefield 6

Launching on October 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X

While the recent EA acquisition news isn’t exactly inspiring, I’m not letting that dampen my excitement for Battlefield 6.

While this series has lived in the shadow of Call of Duty for almost a decade rather than serving as a direct rival, that finally seems like it will change this year.

By going back to basics and leaning into destruction, Battlefield 6 has a chance to be a better shooter than Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

If you’ve never played a Battlefield game before, this shooter series stands out because of its large-scale battles and emphasis on destruction.

It has been outclassed by games like Delta Force and The Finals on those respective fronts recently, though, so expectations were high for the series return. That said, everything Battlefield 6 is doing trends in the right direction.

As someone who enjoyed this series during the peak years of Bad Company 2, Battlefield 3, and Battlefield 4, I’m really hoping Battlefield 6 is the return to form the series needs. Whether EA has much of a worthwhile future beyond that release remains to be seen.

Pokémon Legends Z-A

Launching on October 16 for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2

Whereas mainline Pokémon games are fairly formulaic at this point, the Pokémon Legends games can be a lot more experimental.

In Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s case, the entire game is going to be set within a single city, and battles will take place entirely in real-time. If you’ve ever played a Pokémon game before, those are both clearly massive changes.

Still, from what we’ve seen of the game so far, Pokémon Legends: Z-A seems very promising. It’s also going to be the first game in the series directly released on Switch 2, which is exciting given the technical problems the franchise has run into on Nintendo Switch.

And as someone who likes Pokémon X and Y more than most, I’m excited for the series to finally return to Kalos.

As a lifelong Pokémon fan, I was going to be trying this game out on day one, no matter what.

That said, I’m still appreciative that Game Freak is willing to experiment with its game design with this title, potentially charting a new path forward for the series.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

Launching on October 21 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 makes this list partially because I’m excited that the game’s finally coming out.

It was first announced all the way back in March 2019, but since then, this sequel to a cult classic has been delayed multiple times, shifted developers, and then delayed even more.

It has even made some changes regarding the content available to all players at launch as we approach its release.

As such, this game will be worth playing just to see whether it thrives or stumbles due to the arduous development cycle it has gone through.

I had the opportunity to go hands-on with the game this year ahead of its release, and what I played has been promising. It doesn’t seem like the most revelatory RPG ever released, but it’s a competently made one nonetheless.

Generally, we don’t get much vampiric video game media either, so Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 stands out in that regard. If that premise or the game’s troubled development history intrigues you, this sequel is worth a look.

Ninja Gaiden 4

Launching on October 21 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X

Earlier this year, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound put Koei Tecmo’s ninja action game series back on the map with an exhilarating 2D platformer paying tribute to the series’ past.

Now, Ninja Gaiden 4 is giving this franchise the more modern 3D action game evolution that it deserves. It’s even being worked on by PlatinumGames, the developer known for beloved action games like Bayonetta.

Ninja Gaiden 4 specifically seems like it’ll be faster-paced than the previous 3D Ninja Gaiden games, bringing it in line with the typical pace of PlatinumGames’ titles.

There’s also a brand-new protagonist named Yakumo, which should make this a great on-ramp into the series for those unfamiliar with it.

As the series has been dormant for so long, it’s a bit shocking that we’ve gotten three new Ninja Gaiden games this year (if you count Ninja Gaiden 2’s remake).

Still, I’m not complaining, as they all look like they will be regarded as some of 2025’s best action games.

The Outer Worlds 2

Launching October 29 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X

While it’s proven somewhat polarizing in the long term, The Outer Worlds is still one of my favorite RPGs from the past decade. No other studio outside of Larian is as good at making RPGs as Obsidian Entertainment.

Avowed is already one of my favorite games of the year, and I’m hoping The Outer Worlds 2 will make for a gnarly one-two RPG punch for the studio this year.

Like its predecessor, this RPG is a satirical sci-fi shooter where players explore a solar system colony that’s ruled over by megacorporations that don’t value the lives of the people living there very much.

I’m looking forward to meeting its eclectic cast of characters and seeing what ideas the plot chooses to lampoon, as some real-world goings-on feel like they could reflect the game’s reality.

I also knew that the RPG faithful in me will be compelled to make a unique character build and tinker with all the stats, skills, and abilities at my disposal.

If The Outer Worlds 2 can smooth over the original’s edges, we could have an all-timer RPG on our hands.

Mina the Hollower

Launching on October 31 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2

There are lots of interesting, smaller games to check out this month. Double Fine is releasing Keeper on Xbox, while Dispatch is set to bring back Telltale-style narrative games.

But ultimately, none of those games look more enticing than Mina the Hollower from Yacht Club Games.

Whereas Yacht Club Games’ last title, Shovel Knight, was a tribute to NES platformers, Mina the Hollower is a spooky tribute to the early top-down The Legend of Zelda games.

I played the demo released for it back in August, and instantly fell in love with Mina the Hollower’s aesthetic and satisfying yet nostalgic gameplay.

I have a feeling that this game is going to be something really special, so it should be on your radar when it launches, which is fittingly taking place on Halloween.