5 Games to Play in October Before 'GTA 6' Takes Over November

Published Oct 10, 2026, 8:46 AM EDT

Randy Rhodes' first gaming memory is Kirby's Adventure on the NES, and his love for gaming only rose from there. Playing games eventually wasn't enough for him. He began following the industry closely. In 2024, he finally started putting that to use by launching the Project Untitled Gaming Podcast and later the Dual-Wield Gaming Podcast. Covering the news week to week turned out to be something he loved, but a weekly show only has so much room in it, and writing was already something he wanted to do more of.

Randy has written for Lords of Gaming since March 2025 and already has over 200 articles published to show for it. His coverage centers on Nintendo, Xbox, and indies, and runs across news, reviews, previews, and editorial. He enjoys writing about and critiquing the games that he's played, but analyzing the industry brings just as much enjoyment for him. He tends to write editorials that try to dig deeper into the news instead of just restating it.
 

Randy reviews and previews games broadly across all genres. He has a soft spot for co-op games, 3D platformers, and the majority of Nintendo's first-party output, but he also adores cozy and niche titles that don't always get a serious look: visual novels, farming sims, life sims, etc. He's always looking for up-and-coming indie games worth writing about.
 

Outside of games, Randy is into DnD, cooking, music and music production, which inspired one of his favorite pieces to write: 50 Songs Leveled Up By Video Game Samples. He also cares about Black representation in games and in the industry behind them, and he's always looking for opportunities to cover it.

November will mark the month when two sleeping giants will arise and consume all of your free time: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake on November 5 and Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19. Between the remake of one of the most influential games of all time and the decade-in-the-making sequel to the 3rd best-selling game of all time, the rest of the industry will be completely overshadowed.

October, however, is quietly stacked with releases that deserve your time before the clash of titans. There's a nice variety of releases across completely different genres. From catastrophic invasions to Wuxia-style action-packed adventures, here are the five games you should play before the two biggest releases take over the rest of 2026, listed in release order.

Gears of War: E-Day (Available Now)

Image via Xbox

Gears of War: E-Day is the return to form the series has needed since the original trilogy ended. The game drops players into Emergence Day itself, one of the most important events in the series' lore. Set 14 years before the original game and shortly after the Pendulum Wars, it follows a younger Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago as the Locust Horde erupts from beneath Sera and ends human civilization as we know it in a single afternoon.

The reviews are in, and they are stellar. E-Day is sitting at 87 on Metacritic with few negative reviews, making it The Coalition's best-reviewed Gears game. The gunplay is superb, and it may be in the running for the best looking game of the generation. The campaign and multiplayer are both top-notch and the game feels like a complete experience with tons of multiplayer modes, co-op campaign, and split-screen.

Gears of War: E-Day being Xbox's breakout return to console-exclusive games is a fantastic sign of what's to come and gives the platform a compelling reason to jump in. With a standout title and a ton of recent goodwill since Asha Sharma took over as CEO, the brand hasn't felt this alive since the start of this generation. E-Day is available now on Xbox Series X|S and PC, as well as Xbox Game Pass.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer (Available Now)

Image via Steam

It's been 24 years since the last Star Wars podracing title, Racer Revenge, and Star Wars: Galactic Racer is the franchise's long-overdue return to the genre. Fuse Games, a studio founded by Criterion veterans who worked on Burnout, built a high-speed arcade racer set after the Empire's collapse. Players race across the lawless Outer Rim where the inhabitants have developed a newfound need for speed.

The Galactic League, an unsanctioned underground circuit where syndicates bankroll pilots, is the setup for Galactic Racer's roguelite-structured campaign. It's a choice that seems odd at first, but it makes the single-player content more interesting than you'd expect from the genre. Podracers, landspeeders, and skim speeders are all here, and vehicle customization lets you tune your ride between runs.

There's also plenty of fan service, with Phantom Menace racers including Sebulba and Ben Quadinaros making appearances. It also helps that reviews are rock solid. The game is sitting at an 88 on Metacritic, placing Galactic Racer amongst the top 5 highest rated Star Wars games of all time, which I don't think anyone expected before launch. You can get your podracing and Burnout fix right now, available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse (October 15)

Image via Steam

The Dead Cells duo of Evil Empire and Motion Twin have crafted the first proper Castlevania in 12 years. They may be known for their roguelite prowess, but Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a proper Metroidvania through and through. Although it's sad to have a new Castlevania without Koji "IGA" Igarashi involved, it's hard not to be excited about the talented developers working on the game.

Belmont's Curse is set in 1499 Paris, 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, as a mystical castle appears in the core of the city and spreads a Crimson Curse. You play as Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, and the non-linear map takes you across the castle and the surrounding city.

The Vampire Killer whip returns better than ever, with its combat capabilities extending to traversal as well. Tarot magic layers on top to round out Rose's moveset. Evil Empire's art style is a complete level up from Dead Cells with a gorgeous painterly look. The gameplay is fluid and punchy with Rose's attacks feeling powerful. The Belmont family's next adventure will be available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC on October 15, but you can play the free demo right now.

Final Fantasy Resonance (October 22)

Image via Steam

After years of Final Fantasy chasing cinematic visuals and real-time action combat, Final Fantasy Resonance returns the series to its roots. Square Enix and Team Asano have remade the free-to-play mobile game, Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, as a single-player monetization-free RPG in glorious HD-2D. The game returns to turn-based battles and plants you in a world full of towns, dungeons, airships, Chocobos, Espers, and Moogles.

The combat is the highlight of this adventure. It takes the job system of Final Fantasy V and combines it with the distinct characters of Final Fantasy VI, minus the Active Time Battle (ATB) gauges. This is a classic turn-based experience through and through. Add in a stagger system that's reminiscent of Final Fantasy XIII and Octopath Traveler and you have a recipe for one of the most satisfying turn-based systems the series has ever produced.

Then there are Visions, echoes of famous Final Fantasy characters who join your party to unleash unique abilities. Final Fantasy Resonance is a love letter to the franchise's 38-year history without relying too hard on fan service. The HD-2D visuals are the best Square Enix has ever designed, and the fully animated cutscenes bring the art style to life like never before. The game arrives for Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC on October 22, and there's a free demo you can play right now.

Phantom Blade Zero (October 29)

Image via Steam

Phantom Blade Zero has been one of the most anticipated action games since its unbelievable reveal at PlayStation’s 2023 State of Play showcase, and S-GAME is finally delivering after a long wait. This Chinese studio built what it calls a "Kung fu-punk" world, blending traditional Wuxia with darker, stranger elements that make it feel unique compared to anything we've seen in the genre.

You play as Soul, an assassin framed for murder and poisoned, who now must clear his name before he succumbs to the toxin. The combat is what truly makes the game special. It's built with offense and precision as the focus, leaning more towards a character action game than a Soulslike. The cinematic flair during battles may be some of the best we've seen this generation, and it's surprising that this is the studio's first attempt at a AAA console experience.

Besides the flashy gameplay and the unique setting, this should be a must-play for those looking for something new and fresh. While Castlevania and Final Fantasy are familiar franchises that do familiar things very well, Phantom Blade Zero is coming from a mobile-first studio shooting for something original and grand on its first major console release. The game lands October 29, a little too close to Zelda for comfort, available for PlayStation 5 and PC.

Play Them Now Before the Hero of Time Awakes

Every game on this list is worth your time, but they're going to struggle for attention once November 5 arrives. Final Fantasy Resonance and Phantom Blade Zero in late October won't give gamers much time to play before Ocarina of Time remake takes over, but there's nothing wrong with backlogging a game for later. No matter which of these games you decide to make your final appetizer before the main course arrives next month, you should have a worthwhile experience. Come November, we will all be on a trip through Hyrule, with a final stop in Vice City.