October has the year’s strongest lineup of new FPS games, with picks spanning a wide range of subgenres. Obviously, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 sucks most of the oxygen out of the room, but you don’t have to pick up Activision’s game to get your fill of first-person shooting. Throughout October, we will get our hands on horror shooters, boomer shooters, RPG shooters, and whatever Paperhead is meant to be.
As someone who considers FPS his favorite genre, October provides an abundance of riches (and bullets) that almost reaches the point of exhaustion. We cannot play every shooter, at least not right away, so it is important to know what’s coming and prioritize what best fits our interests. Let’s go through thestandout FPS games 100% confirmed for October.
For the most part, I’ll highlight who each FPS game is for.
Modern Warfare 4 Could Be A Return To Form For Call Of Duty
The Biggest FPS Game Of 2026
- Release Date: October 23, 2026
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series
- Style of Shooter: Military shooter, single-player, co-op, multiplayer
By finally abandoning last-gen, Infinity Ward might put together a new Call of Duty game that truly represents a jump in quality, even if only inpresentation. To be honest, you already know whether you will pick Modern Warfare 4, and nothing Isay will change anybody’s mind. Still, a few things are worth keeping in mind.
Modern Warfare 4 caters to modern high-end rigs far more than previous entries, while still maintaining the high level of PC optimization synonymous with Call of Duty. While the multiplayer has modes that embrace chaos, MW4‘s new Collateral pushes tactics to the forefront, stripping away custom loadouts, automatic health regen, and respawns in favor of a cash-economy system.
COD has a habit of treating single-player as an afterthought, but MW4 will return to old-school ways, offering a strict solo campaign without tacking on co-op.
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival Is Survival Horror FPS Goodness
Pinhead Awaits, But You Aren’t Helpless
- Release Date: October 8, 2026
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series
- Style of Shooter: Survival horror, action, stealth
- Try the demo on Steam
Finally, we are getting another FPS game with Clive Barker’s name attached, and Hellraiser: Revival has the potential to comfortably outdo the Undying and especially Jericho. Right out of the gate, I need to make it clear that this October release is primarily for body horror fans, even more so than FPS lovers. Don’t get me wrong, you get to wield devastating weapons, and you aren’t a hapless sap who spends the campaign hiding in a cupboard, but gunplay is a treat and not constantly the main course.
Hellraiser: Revival is tailored for players who love deliberate resource management over spraying bullets, and who don’t mind the occasional (or frequent) stealth section. Melee weapons are a big part of the equation, although they break after a couple of uses and cannot be relied upon endlessly. Firearms are deadly, but you have to contend with limited ammo and crafting.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 Fills Up October’s Boomer Shooter Quota
A Grimdark FPS Game With A Fondness For The Past
- Release Date: October 14, 2026
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series
- Style of Shooter: Boomer shooter
- Try the demo on Steam
Boomer shooters are a dime a dozen nowadays, but very few releases tie themselves to established franchises. Building on the quality and success of the fairly good first entry, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 should satisfy FPS fans craving twitch reflexes, fast-paced action, arena battles, and a grimdark aesthetic.
Although I enjoyed the original Boltgun, I found the campaign repetitive in the second half, as most encounters played out much the same. Fortunately, the sequel seems to rectify this in a couple of ways. First, movement is tighter and quicker, creating a snappier gameplay loop. Second, and more importantly, you control two characters. Ultramarine Malum Caedo returns to slaughter everything that moves, accompanied by a Sister of Battle named Nyra Veyrath. The latter should be far more agile and nimble.
Valor Mortis Is October’s Soulslike FPS Game
A Bolt-Action Rifle Vs. Lovecraftian Monsters
- Release Date: October 13, 2026
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series
- Style of Shooter: First-person Soulslike
Now, let’s get to something a tad different. First-person Soulslikes aren’t unheard of, but they are still very much a novelty without, arguably, a defining release. Valor Mortis could be that game, as One More Level knows how to put together top-notch first-person combat (as shown in its Ghostrunner series).
Set during the Napoleonic era, you rise from the battlefield into a nightmarish version of reality, filled with cursed beings that don’t belong in this world. Because of the setting, you fight with old-school firearms and melee weapons, an unusual arsenal for both Soulslikes and FPS games. Naturally, you also get some unique supernatural tools to help you in a pinch.
Divine Frequency Is A Modern ’90s Shooter
Early Access To What Seems To Be A Cool-As-Heck FPS Game
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Image via Abraxaes -
Image via Abraxaes -
Image via Abraxaes
- Release Date: October 27, 2026
- Platforms: PC
- Style of Shooter: Horror FPS game with RPG elements
- Try the demo on Steam
Of all the FPS games in this article, Divine Frequency has garnered the least attention heading into October, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get a fantastic release at the end of the line. Although only set to enter early access, the launch version will include about 70% of the campaign, allowing players to complete 2 of the 3 acts. The developer estimates a playing time of around 5 hours.
A love letter to 90s shooters, Divine Frequency has a DIY boomer-shooter quality that is truly endearing, though it doesn’t quite play like Boltgun 2. Based on what we know and the demo, the upcoming release draws on cosmic horror and immersive sims, while incorporating RPG elements like archetypes, choices, and weapon modification.
Paperhead Is October’s Cardboard FPS Game
A (Paper)Cut Above The Rest
- Release Date: October 9, 2026
- Platforms: PC
- Style of Shooter: Movement boomer shooter
- Try the demo on Steam
Let’s end things with the October 2026 FPS game that I cannot wait to try: Paperhead. The whole game takes place in a cardboard world, but you aren’t getting a cute Nintendo-style adventure here; no, Paperhead drowns you in a bloodbath akin to something like Ultrakill. The similarities don’t end with the gore, though, as the new game very much prioritizes quick movement.
Besides giving you an assortment of guns, Paperhead wants you to make the most of your environment, which you directly manipulate using a well-sharpened pencil. Don’t expect a 40-hour campaign here; this should be a high-octane FPS sprint that lasts for a satisfying couple of hours.
