There is a special kind of bad luck that comes with buying a game shortly before it becomes free. The purchase can sit harmlessly in a library for weeks or months, only for a PlayStation Plus announcement to arrive and make the timing feel almost personal. It is one of the oldest jokes surrounding subscription services, but it doesn’t seem like a lot of folks are making this joke around the PS Plus free games for October 2026.
Befitting its typical pattern, PS Plus recently revealed the three games coming to the Essential Tier (aka the free games) in October: F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2. All three will be available from October 6 through November 2, with F1 25 on PS5 and Hunt: Showdown 1896 and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 available across PS4 and PS5. The lineup is certainly varied, but the immediate response from the PlayStation Plus community has been less enthusiastic than Sony may have hoped.
PS Plus Users React to the New Games for October 2026
In fact, one of the most relatable reactions to the announcement came from a Reddit user who wrote, “Genuinely surprised if anyone bought these games recently for the ‘I just bought this’ curse.” The comment quickly became one of the more visible reactions in the discussion, with another user humorously remarking they bought a trash can and that it fits the curse. Of course, some did—particularly Hunt—but as a whole it’s a weak offering. At best, each of these games feels like a supporting title, with there being no real headlining “must-download” PS Plus game here. Each also appeals to a highly specific niche, meaning there’s a lack of broad appeal among these titles.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Multiple users described the month as one of the worst lineups in PS Plus history, with one saying they normally find something to appreciate in every selection but “got nothing this month.” Another subscriber said they had let their membership lapse in September and were waiting for a good enough lineup to convince them to return, only to conclude October was not that month. The lack of a more obvious Halloween-themed game for PS Plus also came up repeatedly, with one player saying they expected at least a “semi-good horror game” for October.
To Sony’s credit, there’s still time for PS Plus to celebrate Halloween and the “spooky season.” It’ll reveal the PS Plus Extra and Premium games for October 2026 a week or so into the month, and that selection is consistently good. PS Plus Premium used to be the most neglected tier, and even it has gotten better in recent months. That said, a higher tier means more cash out of pocket, and so those who just subscribe to PS Plus Essential will miss out (if Sony even does this).
It’s worth noting that Sony has already confirmed that co-op extraction shooter Mycopunk will join PS Plus Extra on October 20. While it may not be Halloween-themed, it’s at least better than the free game offerings. Nonetheless, these new PS Plus monthly games will be available October 6, so the real test will come when players can actually put the games in their libraries instead of judging them from the announcement alone.
