Although early 2022 has seen a ton of high-profile releases likeElden RingandHorizon Forbidden West, the fall/holiday season still maintains its title as the busiest section of the year for video games. Before long, several major releases will be dropping just weeks, if weeks, apart, and many fans will be deciding what to pick up, what to wait until later on, and so far.
However, while there are plenty of highly-anticipated titles for this fall, video game releases are always fluid. No one expectedMarvel’s Midnight Sunto be delayedagain, for example, and the same could be said of the games listed below. Delays are not off the table. And because the industry uses the term and holiday rather loosely, this list is looking at releases between September and December, meaning titles likeSaints Rowdon’t qualify. Still, for many,Saints Rowmay be the most anticipated title of the month, and following it there is plenty to look forward to (listed below in order of release date).
RELATED:Lord of the Rings: Gollum Release Date Hit With Big Delay
The Last of Us Part 1 - September 2
Although its reveal has not been without controversy,The Last of Us Part 1is a ground-up remake of the original title.The Last of Usis easily one of Sony’s most popular IPs, and fans will be experiencing thestory of Ellie and Joelonce again 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 1is scheduled to release on September 2 on PS5. A PC port is in development.
Splatoon 3 - September 9
TheNintendo Switch has had a great yearso far, and that’s likely to continue with its fall releases. Up first isSplatoon 3, which is complete with both a single-player campaign regarding the return of the Mammalians and various online offerings. This includes the Turf War multiplayer, a new Salmon Run co-op mode, a competitive card mode, and far more.
Splatoon 3comes out on September 9 for the Nintendo Switch.
Overwatch 2 - October 4
Overwatch 2will kick off the October releases this year, and it signals a huge shift for the hero shooter. At its core, it’ll be the same, but fans will get to check out new heroes, learn the ropes of thenew 5v5 gameplay, and enjoy the fact that it’s going free to play. For fans of the universe, the single-player campaign is also a promising feature though it should be noted that it won’t be available on October 4. This is technically an “early access” release, so fans should keep in mind that more tweaks and changes will come to the game, even after October 4.
Overwatch 2releases on 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 the adventure of Amicia and Hugo continue, now as they look for a cure to Hugo’s blood disease in Southern France. They’ll be confronted by the Inquisition and rats that are spreading the black plague.A Plague Tale: Requiemmakes a number of gameplay improvements, including the fact that Amicia will no longer die from a single hit, opening up more ways to handle stealth encounters and the like.
A Plague Tale: Requiemreleases on October 18 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
Mario + Rabbids Spark of Hope - October 20
The crossover titleMario + Rabbids King Battlewas a huge, if perhaps a little surprising, crossover between Nintendo and Ubisoft, and it’s continuing with a sequel this year. This time around, players will face an entity named Cursa who is seeking the energy of Sparks. 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 around, including theplayable addition ofBowser.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopewill release on October 20 for Nintendo Switch.
Scorn - October 21
October represents the “spooky season,” and it’s a time of year when fans visit new and old horror games alike.Scornis one of those, and it has developed a dedicating following throughout its development thanks to its disturbing visual style (influenced by H.R. Giger and Zdzislaw Beksinski) and unique biomechanical approach. InScorn, players control a skinless humanoidon a nightmarish and hostile alien planet, as players look for answers about the unique world. Players will also make use of biomechanical weapons that implant in the player’s body, which ensures plenty of bodily horror for fans.
Scornreleases on October 21 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Gotham Knights - October 25
Gotham Knightssees players step into the shoes of Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and/or Red Hood in the aftermath of Batman’s death. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding Batman’s death, though the developer insists he is dead, and fans will be dealing with The Court of Owls as a primary antagonist. A lot of marketing forGotham Knightshas been focused on the playable characters, but hopefully before October comes along, the developer will show off more of the villains too.
Gotham Knightsis scheduled to release on October 25 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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Bayonetta 3 – October 28
The threequel toBayonettahas been long awaited, and it perfectly releases just a couple of days before Halloween, just to match the aesthetic. This time around, Bayonetta is joined by old and new allies, alternate versions of herself, and awitch in training named Violato combat the Homunculi, travel to the island of Thule, and defeat the schemes of the Singularity. With new features and Switch-focused gameplay, it seems it’ll live up to the hype that surrounds it.
Bayonetta 3releases on October 28 for Nintendo Switch.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - October 28
The 2019 reboot ofModern Warfareis perhaps one of the bestCall of Dutygames in recent years, and that raises the stakes forModern Warfare 2. After all, the OGModern Warfare 2is one of the most beloved in the entire franchise, meaning this reboot has some big boots to fill. Luckily, it all seems on track for just that. It is set three years after Soap creates Task Force 141 and its synopsis reveals thatTask Force 141is attempting to contain a situation where a US missile strike kills a foreign general, while combating Al-Qatala and Las Almas. Of course, multiplayer is a big selling point for this game, and it was recently revealed that a multiplayer reveal would take place in September.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2launches 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 the most anticipated of the lot, but there’s a strong case it would beGod of War Ragnarok.Little has been shown, but many are excited to see the next step in the journey. Kratos and Atreus are looking to stop the apocalyptic events of Ragnarok from unfolding, with Freya and Thor serving as major antagonists. It remains to be seen how other characters like Tyr, Angrboda, and Fenrir all tie in, but the hype for this title is certainly high. This is especially true given fans know it bringsGod of War’s Norse sagato an end, one way or another.
God of War Ragnarokreleases on November 9 for PS4 and PS5.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet - November 18
Nothing builds hype quite like a new generation of Pokemon. There’s still plenty to be shown regardingPokemon Scarlet and Violet,but a lot of its new features have proven exciting for fans. It’s the first, true open-world Pokemon title with a nonlinear story design, it features four-player co-op, and many have fallen head over heels for the new starters: Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Sprigatito. A recentPokemon Scarlet and Violettrailer showed off somenew Pokemon like Fidough and Cetitan, and it stands to reason only more new faces will be revealed heading into launch.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetrelease on November 18 for Nintendo Switch.
The Callisto Protocol - December 2
The Callisto Protocolis another horror game set to release this year, although it comes after the “spooky season” ends. Many were immediately attached to the project because it is directed byGlen Schofield, co-creator of theDead Spaceseries. This puts a lot of expectations on the game, but everything shown so far promises that it’s going to be a frightful delight. It is set 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 caught in this prison during an alien invasion. Given this,Scorn,and the releases of theDead SpaceandResident Evil 4remakes in early 2023, it’s going to be a good couple of months for horror fans.
The Callisto Protocollaunches on December 2 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Hogwarts Legacy - Holiday 2022
UPDATE 8/12: Since the publication of this article,Hogwarts Legacy’s release date has been delayed to July 06, 2025, pushing it well outside the fall 2022 release window.
Hogwarts Legacy may be the most dubious title on this list, as its release date has not yet been confirmed. It should be noted, however, that recent leaks point toward aDecember release date forHogwarts Legacy, and if so, then fans will be getting it before the end of the year as promised. In it, players will experience a Hogwarts set far away from theHarry Pottermovie universe and become a student, being sorted into 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 everything comes together.
Hogwarts Legacyis in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
