The new games this week are stacked in a way October rarely manages. Between October 26 and 31, we get a fast wuxia action RPG, a remastered detective classic, a wave of Game Pass day-one arrivals, a native Switch 2 version of Minecraft, and a horror lineup timed perfectly for Halloween week. I went through the full schedule so you do not have to, and here are the releases that actually deserve your time — plus my honest pick for the one game to play first.
The headliner: Phantom Blade Zero (October 29)
Phantom Blade Zero launches October 29 on PS5 and PC, and it is the game I am watching closest this week. It is a fast, stylish wuxia action RPG — martial-arts fantasy with quick swordplay and big boss-style set pieces — and it has been one of the most anticipated games of the year. If you only buy one game this week, this is my pick. The combat looks built for players who like speed and precision over slow, heavy swings, and October 29 is a date worth circling now.
The Wolf Among Us Remastered (October 29)
The same day brings The Wolf Among Us Remastered to PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch and Switch 2. This is the cult detective story where fairy-tale characters live in a gritty New York, and you play Bigby Wolf investigating a murder in their hidden community. The remaster brings updated graphics and modern sound design, plus a special monochrome cinematic mode called Noir Mode. If you like story-first games where your choices actually matter, this is the week to finally play it — or replay it in black and white, which honestly sounds like the right way to do it.
The Game Pass wave: October 26 to 29
Xbox Game Pass subscribers get six of the new games this week before October ends, and the schedule runs from October 26 through October 29, with four arriving on the final day. Scramble Knights Online, a cooperative RPG, opens the week on October 26 as a Game Preview title. The Séance of Blake Manor follows on October 27 — a supernatural mystery where you investigate a disappearance at a Victorian séance. Then October 29 stacks four at once: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the psychological space horror Mouthwashing (listed at $12.99 with Xbox Play Anywhere), Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, and the parkour action game Terrible Lizards. My take: the Game Pass lineup this week is stronger on atmosphere than on blockbusters, and that is exactly right for Halloween week. Mouthwashing and The Séance of Blake Manor are the two I would try first if you want something creepy without buying anything new.
Switch 2, retro and the rest of the week
Minecraft gets a native Switch 2 version on October 27, which is good news if you have been waiting for a version built for the new hardware instead of a port. The same day, three Game Boy titles join Nintendo Switch Online: Mole Mania, Avenging Spirit, and Pinball: Revenge of the Gator. On October 29, Croc 2 Kingdom of the Gobbos returns — Argonaut's remaster of the 1999 platformer, with more than 40 open-ended levels and an in-game Croc2pedia. And on October 30, the retro-fantasy action RPG Queen's Domain arrives for $19.99 ($16.99 during pre-order), where you wield the Holy Sword Endu across the Isle of Neasied. Rounding out the horror week, Look Outside reaches PS5, PS4, Switch and Switch 2 on October 30 after its PC run since March 2025.
Looking ahead: GTA 6 reviews reportedly land November 18
One more date to keep in mind, even though it falls outside this week. A new report, citing gaming insider BlackBate via Notebookcheck, says the GTA 6 review embargo could lift on November 18, 2026 — one day before the game launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The reported window is 12:01 PM to 1:01 PM CET, or 6 AM to 7 AM EST, with some sites and channels possibly waiting until launch day itself. Rockstar has not confirmed any of this, so treat it as a report, not a promise. My advice is simple: if you are buying GTA 6 on day one, wait for those November 18 reviews before you pre-order anything else. With 24 days to go, the smartest move is patience — and a few free games to fill the gap.
Free browser games to play while you wait
Not every release this week needs a console or a purchase. While Phantom Blade Zero and the rest download, you can play free games right in your browser on GameFunLife — no downloads, no sign-up. Try Dreamland Survivors for a quick survival session, Age of Zombies for zombie action, or Cursed Treasure 2 for tower defence. And since it is Halloween week, our 10 spooky free online games list has more seasonal picks that cost nothing.
My verdict: what to play first
If I had to rank the new games this week, Phantom Blade Zero is first for action fans, The Wolf Among Us Remastered is first for story fans, and the Game Pass horror pair — Mouthwashing and The Séance of Blake Manor — is the best free-with-subscription way to spend Halloween week. The rest of the schedule is genuinely deep, with over 40 games landing across platforms between October 26 and 31, but those four are where I would start. Tell me in the comments which one you are downloading first — I want to know if the samurai or the detective wins.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest new games this week?
Phantom Blade Zero (October 29, PS5 and PC) and The Wolf Among Us Remastered (October 29, most platforms) lead the week, with Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade joining Game Pass the same day.
What games are coming to Game Pass this week?
Scramble Knights Online (October 26), The Séance of Blake Manor (October 27), and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Mouthwashing, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted and Terrible Lizards (all October 29).
When does Minecraft come to Switch 2?
A native Switch 2 version of Minecraft launches October 27, 2026.
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
Reports say the embargo could lift November 18, 2026, one day before launch — but Rockstar has not confirmed it, so treat that date as unconfirmed for now.
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