This October, Nintendo is releasing both a new-and-improved Switch and a new entry in the Metroid franchise. The latter is particularly noteworthy; Metroid fans are starved for new Samus content, and Metroid Dread, arriving just in time for Halloween, looks to be exactly what we needed.
Let’s hope it sells well.
As well-known as the Metroid franchise is, a Metroid game is not the uncontested slam dunk that a Mario or Zelda game is. A Metroid game is an atmospheric, micro-oriented experience, rooted in sci-fi horror. That’s a tough sell to the average Nintendo fan, who might not know who Samus Aran is outside of Super Smash Bros.
Accordingly, Nintendo’s PR department has been working overtime to increase Metroid’s familiarity and visibility to the general public—to lure in new players who may be discovering the franchise for the first time. And if it sells well, maybe we won’t have to wait another 19 years for the next original 2D title in the series.
Here is your monthly video game roundup for October 2021.
Xbox Games With Gold Free Games for October 2021
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Xbox One
Aaero (October 1-October 31)
A rhythm-meets-action-shooter experience. Ride in a spaceship to a pulsing beat, while shooting alien robots.
Hover (October 16-November 15)
Parkour and grind your way through a neon, futuristic world, in either single-player or multiplayer.
Xbox 360 (backwards compatible)
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (October 1-October 15)
Released in 2010, this game distinguished itself with a co-op mode, allowing you to pair up multiple Castlevania characters from past games.
Resident Evil Code: Veronica X (October 16-October 31)
Starring Clare and Chris Redfield taking on zombies in the Southern Hemisphere, Code: Veronica was an exclusive release for the Dreamcast in 2000. An HD remastered version, Veronica X, was released for the Xbox 360 in 2011.
Playstation Plus Free Games for October 2021
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PlayStation 5
Hell Let Loose (October 5)
This multiplayer shooter pits 50 players against 50 other players, in a World War II-themed battle to the death. The maps are scaled to resemble real-world battle locations via satellite imagery.
PlayStation 4
Mortal Kombat X (October 5)
The tenth installment in the longstanding fighting franchise reintroduced Brutalities and handed the reins over to the next generation of Kombatants. Leading the new class: Cassie Cage, the wisecracking, Gen-Z daughter of Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage.
PGA Tour 2K21 (October 5)
Critically acclaimed for its difficulty and technical accuracy, this game includes 17 real-life golf courses and user-friendly assist modes for new players.
Google Stadia Free Games for October 2021
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Control Ultimate Edition. (October 1)
A paranormal third-person shooter, you play as a woman imbued with supernatural control over space and matter. We included this as one of our top games of 2018.
Hello Engineer (October 1)
An offshoot of the Hello Neighbor franchise, you build machines out of scrap to escape an abandoned amusement park.
DreamWorks Spirit Lucky’s Big Adventure (October 1)
Based on the Netflix series Spirit Riding Free, you play an open-world adventure as Lucky and her faithful steed Spirit.
Mafia III: Definitive Edition (October 1)
Set in New Orleans, Mafia III trades in protagonist Vito Scaletta for Lincoln Clay, a Black Vietnam War veteran who seeks bloody revenge. Brutally violent, the game received praise for its portrayal of racial dynamics in the United States circa 1968.
Amazon Prime Gaming for October 2021
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STAR WARS: Squadrons. (October 1)
Chronologically taking place between Episodes VI and VII, this game places you in the cockpit of New Republic and Galactic Empire flight squadrons. Dogfight “deathmatch” mode allows for up to 10 players.
Ghostrunner (October 1)
You play as a ninja, hacking through a cyberpunk world with a bullet-deflecting sword. Keep dashing and keep it moving.
Alien: Isolation (October 1)
You play as Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, who’s investigating her mother’s disappearance while hiding and surviving against the titular alien.
Other games (October 1)
Song of Horror Complete Edition; Red Wings: Aces of the Sky; Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures; Blue Fire; Tiny Robots Recharged; Whiskey & Zombies: The Great Southern Zombie Escape; Secret Files 3
LEGO Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block (October 1)
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Externally, this 2064-piece LEGO set is a massive, instantly recognizable Mario question mark block. But inside the block, which unfolds and spreads out in wonderful, layered fashion, are four mini-tableaus of iconic Super Mario 64 levels.
FIFA 22 (October 1)
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The latest edition of the longstanding soccer simulator features Hypermotion Technology, which means that EA motion-captured 22 professional players to make your players’ movements as realistic as possible. The game features 700 clubs across 30 licensed leagues.
Nickelodeon All Star Brawl (October 5)
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Think Smash Bros., but with Nickelodeon characters instead of Nintendo characters. Play as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Spongebob SquarePants, Ren and Stimpy, and more. Nickelodeon plans to add additional characters via post-launch DLC.
Far Cry 6 (October 7)
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Starring Giancarlo Esposito as the dictator of a Caribbean Island nation, Far Cry 6 casts the player in the role of Dani Rojas, a freedom fighter who is attempting to topple the brutal regime.
Metroid Dread (October 8)
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The latest entry in the Metroid 2D franchise has bounty hunter Samus Aran exploring the mysterious planet ZDR, where rogue security robots try to kill her as she follows a lead on the X Parasites. We already know Kraid will be making an appearance; it remains to be seen whether series mainstay Ridley will also find a way to come back from the dead. We will be publishing our official review of Metroid Dread the week following its release. Stay tuned.
Tetris Effect Connected for Switch (October 8)
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Back in 2018, we named Tetris Effect one of the best games of the year. But it was strictly a single-player game. The free Connected update allows for a variety of multiplayer games, plus cross-platform support.
Nintendo Switch OLED (October 8)
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There’s a brand new Nintendo Switch on the way, featuring a 7” OLED display and 64 GB of internal storage. It’s expected to retail for 349.99.
Back 4 Blood (October 12)
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Made by the same developers behind Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood continues the first-person shooting, multiplayer horror that the former made famous. New to Back 4 Blood is a card/deck-building mechanic, which enhances your abilities at the beginning of each level.
Guardians of the Galaxy (October 26)
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Square Enix’s newest Marvel title has a single-player focus. You play as Peter Quill, who leads his upgradeable, AI-controlled Guardians into battle. It’s a third-person shooter meets RPG meets adventure hybrid. Check out our demo preview to learn more.
Mario Party Superstars (October 29)
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The latest entry in Nintendo’s family-friendly party franchise is a blast to the past, featuring remade boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games and over 100 classic minigames. It’s available to play online, side-by-side, or via local wireless with up to four players.
