Some great games to play before GTA VI and Zelda launch

Eight new releases including old-school horror, laid-back dressmaking, and the return of Castlevania.

Andrew Webster

Kallie Plagge

, and

Jay Peters

Oct 15, 2026, 2:00 PM UTC

Silver Pines.

| Image: Wych Elm

You could say we’re in the eye of the storm right now. The storm, of course, being the fall and winter release calendar for new video games. Things started out with a hectic few weeks that were packed with major titles likeControl Resonant,Marvel’s Wolverine,Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, andGears of War: E-Day. Meanwhile, next month will be dedicated almost entirely to two gigantic games:Nintendo’s remake ofThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeandthe long-anticipatedGrand Theft Auto VI.

But even though things are comparatively quiet at the moment, there are still a handful of great games that have come out recently. Even better: Many of them are short enough that you can easily squeeze them in before your life is taken over by Hyrule and Vice City. Here are eight titles you can check out before things get overwhelming again.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

Available on the PS5, Xbox, Switch, and Steam.

This newCastlevaniagame from the studios that worked onDead Cellshas everything I could have hoped for: intricate levels, challenging platforming, tough bosses, and secrets upon secrets to discover. Sometimes, the game got a little too tough, but thanks to some generous assist settings, I could tweak the experience to be exactly what I wanted it to be.Belmont’s Cursewhips.—JP

Dressmaker

Available on Steam.

South African developer Free Lives — known for decidedly not-cozy games likeBroforceandGenital Jousting— has ventured into the “cozy” space withDressmaker, a game about designing and sewing dresses, via a small internal team dubbed Cozy Lives. From your small village shop, you take commissions, sketch designs, pick fabrics and accessories, cut the dress patterns, pin them on a mannequin, and sew it all together. There is alotof creative freedom. You could certainly spend dozens of hours meticulously designing and accessorizing your dresses — I definitely have — but you can also play in relaxed half-hour sessions when inspiration strikes, making it a flexible option in a pretty packed season for games.—KP

Heartworm

Available on the Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC.

Resident EvilandSilent Hillare as big as they’ve ever been, but if you’re looking for that old-school survival horror vibe,Heartwormis the game. It looks and plays like a long-lost PlayStation classic — you even have limited inventory — albeit with some optional concessions for modern players, like getting rid of the dreaded tank controls. It also has an interesting twist as your character carries around a camera that serves as both a flashlight and a weapon, giving the game its own distinct-yet-familiar feel.—AW

Orbitals

Available on the Switch 2.

As far as co-op puzzle-solving goes,Orbitalsdoesn’t reinvent the wheel. But it nails the fundamentals, and it does so in a pitch-perfect ’90s anime package that elevates it beyond a stock puzzle adventure. The world and character designs are reminiscent of the peak Toonami days — the timeless art of Akira Toriyama or the stylish sci-fi ofCowboy Bebop —and are gorgeous even if you aren’t particularly nostalgic for the era.It’s short enough to finish in a few sessions, and becauseOrbitalscomes with a “friend pass” that allows someone else to play with you without buying their own copy, it’s easy to get a friend to join you for the journey.—KP

Silver Pines

Available on the PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC.

This is a game best explained in relation to things that already exist. It has the 2D exploration ofMetroid, controls like a point-and-click adventure, the slow-burning survival horror of earlySilent HillandResident Evil, and a weirdo Americana vibe that’s clearly inspired byTwin Peaks. That may sound derivative, butSilver Pinesis unlike anything I’ve ever played, a detective story that’s a mix of straight-up terror and deliberate and methodical exploration. It even makes you spend (fictional) money to save your gameandyou can relax with a cup of coffee to increase your stamina.—AW

Toem 2

Available on the PS5, Xbox, and Switch.

Toem 2is a sequel to 2021’sblack-and-white indie game about photography, and it’s just as lovely as the original. The characters are charming, the quests are silly, and taking pictures is a snap. It was a great travel companion during a recent trip, especially because I was able to finish it over the course of a couple hours.—JP

Toy Story: Retro Roundup

Available on the PS5, Xbox, Switch, and Steam.

For those interested in video game history, any game with the Digital Eclipse name on it is worth checking out. Even still, aToy Storycollection doesn’t seem as immediately interesting as, say, a history ofKaratekaorTetris. But through some fascinating archival material coupled with the actual games, the collection makes it clear how technically ambitious these games were, from squeezing 3D sprites on the Sega Genesis to a surprisingly open-endedA Bug’s Lifeadventure. Just as important, they’re still fun to play.—AW

Well Dweller

Available on the PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC.

InWell Dweller, an indie Metroidvania from developer Kyle Thompson, you play as an adorable bird in a world filled with cute characters and alarmingly grotesque bosses. The zones are weird and memorable, like a docks level where you jump from dead fish hanging in nets, but they’re a blast to explore, especially because Glimmer’s matchstick weapon cleverly serves double duty as a springboard you can stick to walls.Well Dwellercame out of nowhere for me, and it’s easily become one of my favorites of the year.—JP

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