The announcement that Grand Theft Auto VI was being delayed until next year was surely music to the ears of any studio releasing a video game this fall. Freed from the shadow of that cultural behemoth are the newest entries in popular horror, action and role-playing franchises.
New Nintendo Switch 2 owners looking to expand their library beyond Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza can look forward to Kirby Air Riders, the sequel to a 2003 GameCube title, on Nov. 20. They have also been promised Metroid Prime 4, but a specific release date has not been announced.
September
HOLLOW KNIGHT: SILKSONG The seven-year wait for a sequel to Hollow Knight, a Metroidvania with challenging combat, is over. The realm’s former princess, Hornet, will introduce more acrobatic movement; there are also side quests and dozens of new bosses. (Available now; PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
BORDERLANDS 4 Although a “Borderlands” movie was a flop last year, vault hunters get another opportunity to find randomly generated weapons in a graphic novel-style universe. Player movement is expanded with double jumps and dashes. (Sept. 12 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S; Oct. 3 on Switch 2)
SILENT HILL F The franchise’s fog-shrouded psychological horror moves from industrial Maine to rural Japan, where red spider lilies associated with death and the afterlife are spreading. A tormented teenage girl must solve puzzles and engage in hand-to-hand combat. (Sept. 25; PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
October
GHOST OF YOTEI The sequel to Ghost of Tsushima is a picturesque revenge quest in feudal Japan, where your wolf companion will complement traditional tools like the katana and the kaginawa, a grappling hook. Kurosawa, Miike and Watanabe modes are homages to Japanese directors. (Oct. 2; PS5)
BATTLEFIELD 6 The chaotic firefights in destructible environments will unfold in a very near future where NATO is crumbling and a private military corporation hopes to surpass the United States as a global power. Match your play style with the assault, engineer, support or recon classes. (Oct. 10; PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
LITTLE NIGHTMARES III Best friends — one armed with a wrench, the other a bow and arrow — must work together to solve puzzles and conquer their fears, including a monster baby and candy weevils. Online co-op is available for the first time. (Oct. 10; PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
POKÉMON LEGENDS: Z-A Start with either Chikorita (grass), Tepig (fire) or Totodile (water) on your side and rise through the ranks against rival trainers. The battles in this entry are real-time instead of turn-based, and some wild Pokémon can undergo mega evolution. (Oct. 16; Switch, Switch 2)
KEEPER During the coronavirus pandemic, members of the studio behind Psychonauts envisioned what a posthuman world would look like. They came up with this wordless tale, which features a walking lighthouse and a helpful seabird. (Oct. 17; PC, Xbox Series X|S)
NINJA GAIDEN 4 For the action franchise’s first main entry since 2012, Team Ninja partnered with the studio responsible for the acclaimed Nier: Automata. Slash your way through a demon-infested Tokyo with guillotine throws and izuna drops. (Oct. 21; PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
THE OUTER WORLDS 2 Megacorporations in control of a solar system wield the cudgel of capitalism in an action role-playing game with the quirkiness expected from the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas. Dozens of character perks, traits and flaws will influence your play-throughs. (Oct. 29; PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
ARC RAIDERS Bungie, the creator of Halo and Destiny, delayed its fall release of Marathon, making this an intriguing alternative for fans of extraction shooters, in which players must escape a hostile battlefield with the supplies they gathered. (Oct. 30; PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
November
CAIRN In addition to food, water and medicine, you’ll need to manage pitons, chalk and finger tape in this mountaineering survival game. Place your hands and feet wisely to avoid falling on the steep ascents; by observing your character’s labored breathing and shaking limbs, you can avoid exhaustion at the wrong time. (Nov. 5; PC, PS5)
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