While there have been a ton of high profile releases in early 2022 such as Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West, the fall/holiday season still holds its title as the busiest part of the year for video games. Before long, several major releases will just be weeks, if not weeks apart, and many fans will be deciding what to pick up, what to wait for later, and until now.
While there are many highly anticipated titles this fall, video game releases are always fluid. Nobody expected Marvel’s Midnight Sun be postponed again, for example, and the same could be said of the games below. Delays are not off the table. And because the industry uses the term and holiday rather loosely, this list looks at releases between September and December, meaning titles like Saints Row are not eligible. Yet for many Saints Row is arguably the most anticipated title of the month, and there’s plenty to look forward to after that (listed below in order of release date).
The Last of Us Part 1 – September 2
While the unveiling has not been without controversy, The last of us part 1 is a thorough remake of the original title. The last of us is easily one of Sony’s most popular IPs, and fans will relive the story of Ellie and Joel with new features only possible thanks to the PS5. Improved graphics, DualSense features, great accessibility options and more really show how Naughty Dog is realizing its original vision with this title.
The last of us part 1 is scheduled to release on September 2 on PS5. A PC port is under development.
Splatoon 3 – September 9
The Nintendo Switch has had a great year so far and will likely continue to do so with its fall releases. First up is Splatoon 3, which is complete with both a single-player campaign about the return of the mammals and several online offerings. This includes Turf War multiplayer, a new Salmon Run co-op mode, a competitive map mode and much more.
Splatoon 3 will be out on September 9 for Nintendo Switch.
Overwatch 2 – October 4
Overwatch 2 will kick off the October releases this year and it marks a huge shift for the hero shooter. At its core it will be the same, but fans will be able to see new heroes, learn the ropes of the new 5v5 game and enjoy the fact that it is free to play. For fans of the universe, the single player campaign is also a promising feature, although it should be noted that it will not be available on October 4. This is technically an “early access” release, so fans should be aware that more tweaks and changes will be coming to the game even after October 4.
Overwatch 2 Releases October 4 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
A Plague Tale: Requiem – October 18
Stealth action adventure title, A Plague Tale: Requiem, sees Amicia and Hugo’s adventure continue as they search the South of France for a cure for Hugo’s blood disorder. They will face the Inquisition and rats spreading the black plague. A Plague Tale: Requiem makes a number of gameplay improvements, including the fact that Amicia no longer dies from a single hit, giving more ways to handle stealth encounters and the like.
A Plague Tale: Requiem out October 18 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
Mario + Rabbids Spark of Hope – October 20
The crossover title Mario + Rabbids King Battle was a huge, if perhaps a little surprising, crossover between Nintendo and Ubisoft, and it’s continuing with a sequel this year. This time, players will face an entity called Cursa who is looking for Sparks’ energy. The galaxy is in chaos, so it’s up to Mario, his friends and their Rabbid counterparts to defeat them. Players will have new allies this time, including the playable addition of bowser.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope will be released on October 20 for Nintendo Switch.
Contempt – October 21
October represents the “ghostly season” and it’s a time of year when fans visit horror games new and old alike. contempt is one of those, and it has developed a devoted following during its development thanks to its disturbing visual style (influenced by HR Giger and Zdzislaw Beksinski) and unique biomechanical approach. In contempt, players control a skinless humanoid on a nightmarish and hostile alien planet, as players search for answers about the unique world. Players will also make use of biomechanical weapons that are implanted in the player’s body, causing a lot of physical horror for fans.
contempt releases on October 21 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Gotham Knights – October 25
Gotham Knights sees players take on the role of Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl and/or Red Hood in the wake of Batman’s death. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding Batman’s death, though the developer insists he’s dead, and fans will get to see The Court of Owls as a primary antagonist. Lots of marketing for Gotham Knights is focused on the playable characters, but hopefully the developer will show off more villains before October as well.
Gotham Knights is scheduled to release on October 25 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Bayonetta 3 – October 28
The three quarters to bayonetta it’s been a long wait and it’s coming out perfect just a few days before Halloween, just to match the aesthetic. This time, Bayonetta is joined by old and new allies, alternate versions of herself, and a training witch named Viola to fight the Homunculi, travel to Thule Island, and defeat the Singularity’s plans. With new features and Switch-focused gameplay, it looks like it will live up to the hype surrounding it.
Bayonetta 3 will be released on October 28 for Nintendo Switch.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – October 28
The 2019 reboot of Modern Warfare might be one of the best Duty games in recent years, and that raises the stakes for Modern Warfare 2. After all, the OG Modern Warfare 2 is one of the most beloved in the entire franchise, meaning this reboot has some big boots to fill. Fortunately, it all seems on track for that. Set three years after Soap established Task Force 141, the synopsis shows Task Force 141 trying to control a situation where a US missile strike kills a foreign general, while fighting Al-Qatala and Las Almas. Of course, multiplayer is a big selling point for this game, and it was recently revealed that there would be a multiplayer reveal in September.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 launches on October 28 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
God of War Ragnarok – November 9
It’s impossible to pick which of all these games is most expected, but there’s a strong argument that it would be God of War Ragnarok. Little has been shown, but many are excited to see the next step in the journey. Kratos and Atreus try to stop the apocalyptic events of Ragnarok, with Freya and Thor as main antagonists. It remains to be seen how other characters like Tyr, Angrboda, and Fenrir will all hook up, but the hype for this title is certainly high. This is especially true, as fans know it brings god of war‘s Norwegian saga to an end, somehow.
God of War Ragnarok will be released on November 9 for PS4 and PS5.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – November 18
Nothing builds hype like a new generation of Pokemon. There is still plenty to show about pokemon scarlet and violet, but many of the new features have proved exciting for fans. It’s the first true open-world Pokemon title with a non-linear story design, it offers four-player co-op, and many have fallen head over heels for the new starters: Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Sprigatito. A recent Pokemon Scarlet and Violet trailer showed off some new Pokemon like Fidough and Cetitan, and it goes without saying that more new faces will only be revealed on the way to launch.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet release on November 18 for Nintendo Switch.
The Callisto Protocol – December 2
The Callisto protocol is another horror game to be released this year, although it comes after the “ghostly season” ends. Many were immediately attached to the project because it is led by Glen Schofield, co-creator of the Empty space series. This sets a lot of expectations for the game, but everything that’s been shown so far promises that it’s going to be a terrifying delight. It takes place in the year 2320, in a prison colony called Black Iron on Jupiter’s Callisto moon. Players take on the role of Jacob Lee who is trapped in this prison during an alien invasion. This given, contempt, and the releases of the Empty space and Resident Evil 4 remakes in early 2023, it’s going to be a good few months for horror fans.
The Callisto protocol launches December 2 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Hogwarts Legacy – Vacation 2022
Hogwarts Legacy is arguably the most questionable title on this list, as the release date has not yet been confirmed. However, it should be noted that recent leaks point to a December release date for: Hogwarts Legacy, and if so, fans will get it before the end of the year, as promised. In it, players will see a Hogwarts set far away from the Harry Potter movie universe and become a student, sorted in one of the four houses. A connection to ancient magic, a goblin rebellion and more are all tied to the plot, though it remains to be seen how it all comes together.
Hogwarts Legacy is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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