Video game releases for October 2016

Below are some of the big video game releases for the month of October 2016. Be sure to check out the list we put together of our most anticipated games of 2016. Also, check out the free games you get with your Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus subscriptions this month.

What are you looking forward to playing? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

Note: Only games with specific dates are listed below. Some games are announced for October but have no firm release date.

October 7:

Mafia 3 (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — Mafia 3 stars Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam War veteran who returns home in an attempt to start life anew — while also building his organized crime empire. According to game director Haden Blackman, Mafia 3 will tackle racial prejudice and identity. "The Mafia experience is about organized crime," says Blackman. "It’s about crime with a hierarchy, with traditions and rules. So we’re very focused on that for the story. But at the same time, we didn’t want to shy away from the reality of the time and the place. There are quite a few moments in the story where race is referenced and race is part of the story, part of the plot. It’s part of who Lincoln is." Here's our first look and seven questions about the game, answered.

Read our review.

Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U) — The fifth installment of the lighthearted action adventure RPG series puts a Paint Hammer in Paper Mario's hands to let him re-color Prism Island. The game blends elements of platforming, turn-based combat and puzzle-solving. The screen of the Wii U controller can be used for a new "cut out" feature that alters the environment and helps Mario negotiate platform puzzles. Watch 15 minutes of gameplay.

Read our review.

October 10:

100ft Robot Golf (PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR) — A game plainly defined by its title, 100ft Robot Golf is a single and multiplayer experience that puts players in control of a gigantic robot body as they turn several city blocks into their own personal golf course. The title will also support PlayStation VR, which will let players ride on the backs of their respective mechs. There are corgis in the game, too.

Disclosure: The commentary track in 100ft Robot Golf is provided by My Brother, My Brother and Me, a popular comedy podcast featuring three McElroy brothers, two of whom also work for Polygon. More here.

October 11:

Gears of War 4 (Windows PC and Xbox One) — An excerpt from our pre-review: "Gears of War 4 (thus far) strikes a strong balance of familiarity and experimentation. If you’ve played other Gears of War games, then the basics should be easy. As main character JD Fenix — and one of his companions Kait Diaz or Del Walker, if you’re playing cooperatively with a friend — you’ll need to rely on cover-based gunplay and smart, strategic positioning throughout each combat scenario. Movement is incredibly smooth, and Gears of War 4 feels like a natural evolution of the series that began modern in-game cover systems as we know them." For more on the game, check out the launch trailer and 4K gameplay. Those who purchase its $100 special edition may play beginning Oct. 7.

Read our review.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration (PlayStation 4) — Last year's Rise of the Tomb Raider finally makes its way to PlayStation 4 with a special edition that will include all of the previously released downloadable content and PlayStation VR support. 20 Year Celebration will also add an optional higher difficulty level to the story mode, bring online co-op to the game’s survival mode "Endurance" and include new outfits and character models for Lara that span the franchise’s history. The content added with 20 Year Celebration will also be available for Windows PC and Xbox One, but VR support will be exclusive to PlayStation 4.

Read our review of the Xbox One version of the game.

October 13:

Rez Infinite (PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR) — Rez Infinite plans to go beyond the scope of a remake by adding additional content and virtual reality support. Tetsuya Mizuguchi and his new company, Enhance Games, are adding a new level called Area X, which he said was "an experiment." Mizuguchi spoke at GDC 2016 and explained the origins of Rez, its hidden meaning and what their plans are for VR. "We're using the current technology," he explained. "[We will explore] what is a VR-oriented Rez. The concept is particles moving with the music."

Shadow Warrior 2 (Windows PC) — The first Shadow Warrior launched back in 1997, and sought to merge first-person carnage with cheesy Kung Fu movie themes. A reboot came out in 2013. The story trailer shows protagonist Lo Wang in another first-person battle against demonic foes, using blades and guns. Shadow Warrior 2 also offers four-player co-op. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game are set to be released in the early part of 2017.

Read our review.

October 21:

Battlefield 1 (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — While its biggest competitors head further into the future, the Battlefield franchise is stepping back into the past — and that’s purely by coincidence, EA DICE design director Lars Gustavsson told Polygon at Gamescom 2016. "[Battlefield 1] was pitched in 2008 or 2009," he said. "We had too much to do at that time. These people who were kind of strong ambassadors have constantly been going at it." Check out Battlefield 1 in the style of World War I-era photography, its premium pass and an analysis of the first trailer to see how historically accurate it is.

Read our review.

Civilization VI (Windows PC) — Not only do we have 52 minutes of gameplay for your viewing pleasure, but we also have a Polygon exclusive impression of the game from the Chinese Emperor himself, Qin Shi Huang.

Read our review.

October 25:

Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — We spent some time with the first of two planned pieces of downloadable content for Dark Souls 3, and here's what we found out. "It’s very mysterious and a little bit unique," Miyazaki said of the new setting. He went on to explain that he’s aiming for a "gothic flavor" that stands apart from the core game but will be shared by both DLC packs. Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel will cost $14.99 on its own, or you can pay $24.99 for a season pass that includes a second DLC pack. That second piece of DLC — and, apparently, the last bit of new Dark Souls content we should expect for the foreseeable future — will be arriving some time in "early 2017."

Read our review.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — Bandai Namco promises that this game will feature "the most detailed Dragon Ball world ever developed."  The trailer teases what that world will look like. Fans will recognize several familiar characters, like Trunks and Frieza; the developer also hints at a story concerning the series' past and future. Hopefully, Ghost Nappa is a playable character.

World of Final Fantasy (PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita) — World of Final Fantasy, the upcoming chibi spin-off of Square Enix’s storied role-playing game series, has achieved something nearly impossible. By embracing over-the-top adorableness to the point of self-parody, it has become a game that is impossible to make fun of in any meaningful way. The trailer promises a special Sephiroth summon for pre-orders. Could even Final Fantasy 7’s timeless villain become a lovable snugglebuddy when transformed through the World of Final Fantasy machine? We'll find out this month.

Read our review.

October 28:

Titanfall 2 (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — Here's everything we know about Respawn Entertainment's second installment in the Titanfall franchise. Six different Titans, crazy leveling-up sounds and a single-player campaign are some of the highlights.

Read our review.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — Special Edition (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — This high-definition remaster for modern consoles will include all of the available downloadable content along with mod support on the Xbox One. Windows PC players who own the base game and all of the downloadable content or have purchased the Legendary Edition will receive the Special Edition for free. Be sure to take a look at the graphical improvements.

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Polygon Video: The most anticipated games of 2016

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