The gaming landscape is an incredibly dynamic and exciting space. With new titles constantly emerging, it can be a challenge for even the most dedicated enthusiasts to keep track of all the must-play experiences on the horizon. October 2020 proved to be a particularly rich month for game releases, offering a diverse array of genres and highly anticipated sequels that captivated players across multiple platforms. This companion piece delves deeper into the top new games of October 2020 featured in the video above, exploring what made these titles so compelling and why they stood out in a crowded market.
From chilling survival horror to expansive real-time strategy and adrenaline-pumping space combat, October 2020 truly had something for everyone. We’ll examine the innovative mechanics, intriguing narratives, and the overall impact these games aimed to deliver, providing a more comprehensive look at the month’s most significant launches.
Survival Horror Takes Center Stage: Remothered: Broken Porcelain & Amnesia: Rebirth
The survival horror genre saw significant entries among the new games of October 2020, demonstrating its enduring appeal and capacity for innovation. These titles often thrive on psychological tension, scarce resources, and the inherent vulnerability of the player character, creating deeply immersive and terrifying experiences.
Remothered: Broken Porcelain
Kicking off the list of noteworthy releases was Remothered: Broken Porcelain, which launched on October 13th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. This title serves as a direct sequel to the critically acclaimed Remothered: Tormented Fathers, a game that garnered significant praise for its intricate storyline and unsettling atmosphere. The original even caught the attention of Keichirō Toyama, the legendary creator of the Silent Hill series, a testament to its quality and narrative depth.
Broken Porcelain plunges players into the foreboding Flemington Girls’ Institute, an all-girls boarding school that harbors dark secrets. The narrative is structured as an escape story, tasking players with unraveling the mysteries of the institute while evading terrifying threats. Its focus on psychological horror, stealth mechanics, and complex environmental puzzles positioned it as a true successor, aiming to build upon the strong foundation of its predecessor and further solidify the Remothered franchise as a leader in the modern survival horror landscape.
Amnesia: Rebirth
Another major player in the horror space arriving on October 20th for PC and PS4 was Amnesia: Rebirth. The Amnesia series is synonymous with stealth horror, known for its emphasis on vulnerability, sanity mechanics, and the inability to directly fight threats. Rebirth marked a highly anticipated return to form, with the original developer, Frictional Games, back at the helm after the well-received but distinct A Machine For Pigs.
As the title suggests, the game centers around a protagonist suffering from amnesia, thrust into a desolate North African landscape with no memory of how they arrived or what transpired. Players must navigate terrifying environments, solve intricate environmental puzzles, and gradually piece together a fragmented narrative, all while evading monstrous entities and managing their character’s dwindling sanity. The core appeal of Amnesia: Rebirth lies in its masterful use of atmosphere and psychological dread, making every shadow and sound a potential source of terror. Its release was a significant event for fans of deep, narrative-driven horror experiences, proving that effective horror doesn’t always need combat to be impactful.
Interactive Narratives and Epic Strategy: Little Hope & Age of Empires 3
October’s new games also offered compelling choices for those who prefer their horror with a strong narrative focus or their empires built with strategic might.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope
From Supermassive Games, the acclaimed developers behind Until Dawn, came The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, which launched on October 30th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. This interactive drama survival horror game builds upon the branching narrative structure established in its spiritual predecessors, placing players in control of five characters whose fates are determined by their choices.
The unique premise of Little Hope involves characters trapped in the eerie, fog-shrouded town of Little Hope, caught between two distinct timelines: modern-day and the infamous witch hunts of 1692. A group of college students and their professor find themselves haunted by terrifying apparitions that bear an uncanny resemblance to historical figures executed during the witch trials. The core mystery revolves around understanding this connection and, crucially, making choices that determine who survives. With multiple possible endings, including scenarios where every character can perish, Little Hope offered a high-stakes, replayable horror experience that emphasized consequence and player agency. This release further cemented The Dark Pictures Anthology as a fascinating ongoing series exploring different facets of horror folklore and interactive storytelling.
Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition
For fans of grand strategy and historical warfare, October 15th brought Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition to PC. This highly anticipated remaster breathed new life into the classic real-time strategy (RTS) game originally released in 2005. A definitive edition typically involves much more than a simple graphical facelift; it often includes all previously released expansions, enhanced visuals, modernized UI, and sometimes even new content or quality-of-life improvements that bring the game up to contemporary standards.
Players embark on a journey through various historical ages, starting with a fledgling settlement and expanding into a formidable empire through exploration, colonization, and military conquest. The game masterfully blends base-building, resource management, and strategic combat across vast maps, often involving political maneuvering and economic development. The “definitive” treatment meant that both long-time fans and new players could experience the rich historical narratives and complex strategic gameplay of Age of Empires 3 with significantly improved fidelity and performance, ensuring its legacy continued to thrive in the modern gaming era. It was a crucial entry among the new games of October 2020 for the PC platform, appealing to a dedicated fanbase of RTS enthusiasts.
Cyberpunk Futures and Classic RPG Reimagined: Cloudpunk & Baldur’s Gate 3
The month also delivered innovative takes on open-world exploration and the long-awaited continuation of an iconic RPG franchise.
Cloudpunk
Cloudpunk, arriving on consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Switch) on October 15th after its earlier PC release, instantly captivated players with its unique aesthetic and compelling atmosphere. This game plunges players into the neon-drenched, vertical cityscape of Nivalis, a sprawling metropolis where the line between legitimate and illicit delivery services is perpetually blurred.
Players assume the role of a delivery driver for Cloudpunk, a “less than savory” service transporting dubious items across the futuristic urban sprawl. Built with voxels, the game boasts a distinct retro-futuristic look, akin to 3D pixel art, perfectly complementing its cyberpunk setting. The gameplay involves both exhilarating aerial driving through the labyrinthine city and on-foot exploration, where players interact with a diverse cast of characters and uncover the city’s hidden stories. Beyond its striking visuals and engaging mechanics, Cloudpunk excels as a piece of social commentary, utilizing its surreal neon landscape to criticize aspects of our contemporary world. It’s a game that prioritizes atmosphere and narrative over high-octane action, immersing players in a truly unique cyberpunk experience. Its stylish delivery made it a standout among the new games of October 2020.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Perhaps one of the most anticipated releases for PC and Google Stadia on October 6th was the early access launch of Baldur’s Gate 3. For many, a third installment in the revered Baldur’s Gate series seemed like a distant dream. This Dungeons & Dragons-based Western-style RPG carries immense weight, building on the legacy of BioWare’s original masterpieces.
Development was taken over by Larian Studios, the acclaimed creators of the Divinity: Original Sin series, known for their deep tactical combat and expansive world-building. A significant departure from the real-time-with-pause combat of its predecessors, Baldur’s Gate 3 incorporates Larian’s signature turn-based combat system. This change was met with excitement by fans of the Divinity games, who lauded its strategic depth and dynamic environmental interactions. The early access phase allowed players to experience the initial acts of the game, exploring its rich narrative, engaging in complex character interactions, and diving into meticulously crafted D&D-inspired combat. The pedigree of Larian Studios combined with the beloved Baldur’s Gate IP created a monumental event for RPG enthusiasts, setting the stage for one of the most ambitious new games of October 2020.
Resistance, Revivals, and Galactic Warfare: Watch Dogs Legion, Crash Bandicoot 4 & Star Wars Squadrons
The month also offered players opportunities to join a resistance, revisit a beloved platforming icon, and pilot starfighters in epic space battles.
Watch Dogs Legion
Ubisoft’s highly anticipated open-world title, Watch Dogs Legion, launched on October 29th for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Stadia. Building on the foundations laid by Watch Dogs 2, which was a significant improvement over the original, Legion brought a darker, more politically charged narrative to the franchise.
Set in a near-future, dystopian London, the game presents a city transformed into a police state under the oppressive thumb of private military corporation Albion. Players join DedSec, an underground hacker resistance group, in their fight against this authoritarian regime. The groundbreaking “Play as Anyone” mechanic allows players to recruit virtually any NPC encountered in the open world, each with their own unique skills, backgrounds, and voice lines. This innovative system brought an unprecedented level of player agency and variety to the gameplay, as the composition of the resistance force directly impacted available missions and strategies. Watch Dogs Legion pushed the franchise into a more serious, direct confrontation with themes of surveillance and state control, making it a compelling entry among the new games of October 2020 for players seeking a rich open-world experience with a strong narrative core.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
Nostalgia and innovation collided with the release of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on October 2nd for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Developed by Toys for Bob, the same studio responsible for the critically acclaimed Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, this game was presented as a faithful yet evolutionary sequel to the original trilogy.
The developers demonstrated a deep understanding of what made the classic Crash Bandicoot games so beloved – precise platforming, challenging level design, and a vibrant, cartoonish aesthetic. It’s About Time not only retained these core elements but expanded upon them with new mechanics, including quantum masks that grant Crash (and Coco) various reality-bending powers. These powers introduced fresh gameplay elements, such as phase-shifting platforms and gravity manipulation, significantly enhancing the platforming challenges. The updated art style successfully maintained the series’ iconic cartooniness while giving it a fresh, modern appeal. Crash Bandicoot 4 was a triumphant return for the beloved marsupial, proving that classic platforming franchises can evolve without losing their charm, securing its place as a fantastic entry among the new games of October 2020.
Star Wars Squadrons
Perhaps the biggest launch among the new games of October 2020, dropping on October 2nd for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, was EA Motive’s Star Wars Squadrons. This game was a dream come true for fans of classic Star Wars space combat simulators, evoking the spirit of beloved titles like X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter and Rogue Squadron.
Set shortly after the events of Return of the Jedi, Squadrons thrusts players into the cockpit during the ongoing conflict between the fledgling New Republic and the remnants of the Galactic Empire. The game features a compelling single-player campaign told from both sides of the conflict, offering unique perspectives on the galactic civil war. The true heart of Star Wars Squadrons, however, lies in its intense 5v5 multiplayer dogfights and larger fleet battles. Players customize iconic starfighters like X-Wings, TIE Fighters, Y-Wings, and more, managing power distribution between engines, shields, and weapons to gain a tactical advantage. A significant feature was its full virtual reality (VR) support on PSVR and PC VR, offering an incredibly immersive experience that placed players directly in the cockpit. Following a resurgence in quality for EA’s Star Wars games (such as Jedi: Fallen Order), Squadrons delivered a focused, high-fidelity space combat experience that satisfied a long-standing desire among fans.
Bonus Games: Expanding the October 2020 Lineup
Beyond the top ten, October 2020 also featured other notable releases that catered to specific tastes, further solidifying the month’s impressive lineup of new games.
FIFA 21
The annual arrival of FIFA 21 on October 9th for PC, PS4, and Xbox One was, as always, a significant event for sports gaming enthusiasts. While an incremental update, the yearly iteration of the world’s most popular football simulator consistently draws in millions of players. For 2020, its release held a special significance, offering a virtual outlet for sports fans during a period when real-world sports schedules were heavily impacted. FIFA 21 continued to refine its gameplay, introduce new features to its popular Ultimate Team mode, and update rosters and leagues, ensuring its place as a perennial bestseller and a go-to title for competitive and casual football fans alike.
Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part One DLC
For those who couldn’t get enough of demon-slaying action, Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part One DLC arrived on October 20th for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. This expansion picked up directly after the events of the main campaign, offering a challenging new chapter in the Doom Slayer’s relentless war against Hell. True to its title, the DLC introduced players to even more formidable foes, including ancient, god-like demons, demanding even greater mastery of Doom Eternal’s “push-forward, rip-and-tear” combat philosophy. It provided a substantial content injection for fans, delivering more of the high-octane, heavy-metal-fueled gameplay that made the base game a standout success. This DLC was a welcome addition to the pantheon of new games of October 2020, catering specifically to the hunger for more intense, satisfying first-person shooter action.
The sheer variety and quality of these titles truly made October 2020 a memorable month for gamers, offering deep narratives, innovative gameplay mechanics, and beloved franchises making triumphant returns. These new games of October 2020 ensured that players had no shortage of exciting adventures to embark upon.
