The short version
- Five big releases land in four weeks, right before GTA 6 on November 19.
- Gears of War: E-Day is the only one on Game Pass at launch.
- Modern Warfare 4 is not on Game Pass on day one.
- If you want something small and calm, look at Toem 2 or Heartworm.
The calendar
- Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, out now (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
- Gears of War: E-Day, October 6 (PC, Xbox Series X|S)
- Star Wars: Galactic Racer, October 6 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, October 23 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2)
- Phantom Blade Zero, October 29 (PC, PS5)
Who each one is for
Ace Combat 8 is for anyone who misses arcade-style jet dogfights. It has a full campaign and up to 8-player cross-platform multiplayer. It costs $69.99 and isn't on Game Pass.
Gears of War: E-Day is for shooter fans. Critics praise the combat and are split on the story (our review roundup). Since it's on Game Pass at launch, a subscription is the cheapest way in.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is for pod-racing nostalgia. It has a roguelite single-player campaign and 12-player online races.
Modern Warfare 4 is for the Call of Duty crowd. Captain Price is back, and the campaign centres on an invasion of the Korean Peninsula. It's coming to Game Pass after launch, but Microsoft hasn't said when, so day-one players have to buy it. Digital pre-orders get early access to the campaign.
Phantom Blade Zero is for Souls-like fans who want something different: kung fu action with a steampunk and cyberpunk look. It's on PS5 and PC only.
The smaller picks
- Toem 2 is a cosy photography adventure. It came out on PC on September 29.
- Heartworm is a camera-based horror adventure. It's been on PC since 2025 and reached consoles on October 1.
Both suit you if you don't want another 60-hour game before November.
Before November 19: finish whatever you start this month. GTA 6 is likely to eat everyone's free time.
