One thing you can count on every October, aside from a bunch of big game releases, are developers releasing Halloween-themed updates and events. Halloween is still weeks away, and already we’ve seen a number of such announcements, and some of these events are already underway. [Updated October 19 with official Pokemon Go details.]
With so much going on, it can be difficult to keep track of everything that’s happening. Given that many of these events, such as Overwatch’s Halloween Terror, provide you with a limited amount of time to obtain items you can use year-round, you’ll want to stay on top of how and when you can expand your collection. We’ve compiled a list of many of the Halloween-themed events happening in games this month, and we’ll continue to update this as more are announced. Check everything out below, and let us know what you’ll be playing (as well as any we missed) in the comments.
Pokemon Go
Following leaks that spoiled some surprises, Niantic has officially announced its Halloween plans for Pokemon Go. Sableye, Banette, and other Gen 3 Ghost-types will make their debut, with more creatures from Hoenn coming later this year. During the event, a Pikachu wearing a special hunt can be found in the wild, and a new cosmetic item will be available to players as well. Additionally, bonus Candy can be earned for catching, transferring, and and hatching Pokemon, and your buddy Pokemon will accumulate Candy two times as fast as usual.
- Dates
- October 20 at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET / 8 PM BST (6 AM AET on October 21 in Australia) until 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET / 9 PM on November 2 (7 AM AET on November 3 in Australia).
- Further Reading
Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Activision will host a monthlong event in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare called Willard Wyler’s Halloween Scream that features several different components. Each week, players will be able to pick up a free Halloween Supply Drop by logging in, as well as a Halloween-themed cosmetic item on each Friday. Halloween gear and loot, such as a zombie-themed Rig skin, will also be up for grabs.
Additionally, Gesture Warfare mode–where you take out opponents by doing things like pinching your fingers–returns for a limited time. Carnage, one of the maps in the Retribution DLC, will be free to all players from October 12 until November 1 in a special playlist that runs only that map and offers double XP. Finally, Boss Battle will allow DLC owners to tackle a different Zombie episode’s final fight each week.
- Dates
- Now – November 1
- Further Reading
Overwatch
For its second October, Blizzard has brought back Overwatch‘s Halloween Terror event. It replaces the standard Loot Box with an event-specific one, which contains a variety of Halloween-themed cosmetic items. These include both those from last year and more than 50 new ones, such as Legendary skins for Ana, Symmetra, Zenyatta, and McCree. Last year’s Junkenstein’s Revenge event also returns as a special Brawl mode–this is a Horde-style co-op game type where a team of four takes on waves of AI-controlled enemies. New to this year’s version is an endless variant, where you can compete on leaderboards by seeing how many waves you can successfully make it through.
- Dates
- Now – November 2
- Further Reading
Gears Of War 4
The Coalition is marking Halloween in Gears of War 4 in a variety of ways. As the video above reveals, Friday the 13th marks the return of Skorge, the Locust general who will make an appearance as a skin. Later in the month, players can jump into a special multiplayer playlist that adorns everyone with a pumpkin head, or take part in a special mode called Phantom Dodgeball. The Coalition has also teased “a few extra surprises,” of which Skorge is likely one.
- Dates
- October 13 (Skorge)
- October 27 – TBA (pumpkin heads, Phantom Dodgeball)
- Further Reading
Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 brings back the Shadow of the Mad King event this year. This consists of multiple elements, including a decorated version of Lion’s Arch, new armor and weapon skins to collect, and a special jumping puzzle in the Mad King’s Clock Tower. You can also head to the Mad King’s Labyrinth for some limited-time, spooky activities and take part in the Lunatic Inquisition PvP event. Or you can meet up with King Oswald Thorn, who is said to have “deadly tricks up his sleeve.”
- Dates
- Now – November 7
- Further Reading
Hearthstone
Part of Hearthstone‘s Halloween celebration is tied to Fireside Gathering events. Hallow’s End-themed real-life meet-ups will take place over the course of more than a month, and a free Warlock hero (Nemsy Necrofizzle) is available for attending certain ones. She’ll continue to be available even after Hallow’s End concludes.
For those who can’t make it to an event, there’s still plenty happening in-game. For one week, players can get a Whispers of the Old Gods card pack and an Arena ticket just for logging in. The following week, logging in rewards a Knights of the Frozen Throne card pack and another Arena ticket. A special dual-class Arena mode will also be available for a limited time. Here’s how Blizzard explains it: “At the start of every Arena run, players choose a Hero, a Hero Power from another class, and then choose cards from both of those classes in addition to neutral cards. That’s not all though: each of the nine classic Hearthstone Heroes will attend their Arena games in costume!”
Finally, players will be able to take on the Headless Horseman in a special Tavern Brawl. You’ll wear a costume that dictates what cards you have available and grants a passive power that will help you defeat him.
- Dates
- Now – November 5 (Fireside Gatherings, Dual Class Arena)
- October 24 at 9 AM PDT – October 30 at 11:59 PM (Whispers of the Old Gods freebie)
- October 31 at 12:01 AM PDT – November 5 at 11:59 PM (Knights of the Frozen Throne freebie)
- October 25-28 (special Tavern Brawl)
- Further Reading
Heroes Of The Storm
Heroes of the Storm once again sees its Hallow’s End event, which kicks off this month. However, this marks the first Halloween since Blizzard launched HotS’ new Loot Chest system, which means things work a bit differently than in the past. Like in Overwatch, event-specific chests will replace the standard ones during the event. You’ll earn one with every level up, and at least one of the four rewards inside is guaranteed to be a Hallow’s End item, which includes skins, mounts, sprays, and portraits. Weekly Brawl rewards after October 20 will take the form of a Hallow’s End chest, and these can also be purchased using gems.
Also during the event, you can make progress toward quests that will net you a special spray (by playing two games), banner (eight games), and portrait (15 games). However, Custom Games, Training matches, and Brawls don’t count toward these totals.
- Dates
- October 17 – November 14
- Further Reading
Killing Floor 2
The Halloween Horrors content pack update has been released for Killing Floor 2. This introduces a new map that is meant to be set inside the mind (or more precisely, the nightmares) of Boozo the clown. There are new Achievements to earn and two new weapons to use: the Seeker Six (a multi-shot, guided rocket launcher) and the Hemoglobin (which somehow drains enemies of blood). New, limited-time unlocks include face paint and pumpkin helmets. Prize tickets can be earned for free by playing, or you can purchase them; either way, they can be exchanged for new Halloween Horror cosmetics, such as weapon skins. Finally, the King Fleshpound has been added as a permanent member of the boss rotation, and new daily and weekly objectives can earn you in-game cash to spend on cosmetic items.
- Dates
- Now – TBD
- Further Reading
Minecraft
Minecraft‘s Halloween Spooktacular event is officially underway. This brings special, themed content and activities to official servers for players on Bedrock Engine platforms (which is to say, most versions of the game). Among other things, the Lifeboat server is home to a haunted house parkour course; InPvP has the Haunted Mansion SkyWare map; and Mineplex brings The Pumpkin King, plus quests, flaming pumpkins to fight, and more. You can get a look at what awaits in the video and gallery above.
- Dates
- Now – October 31
- Further Reading
Paragon
As part of the Shadow’s Eve event, Paragon players will be able to get their hands on limited-edition chests. These contain regular items and Shadow’s Eve-specific rewards, including skins and banners. Narbash, Wukong, and Yin have received new skins for the event, and each week will offer up a selection of different skins from last year. (These skins and banners are only available during the event.) A special Mega Bundle that includes all of this will be sold from October 24 – November 11; you’ll receive a discount if you’ve already gotten your hands on any of the contents.
- Dates
- Now – November 1 (Shadow’s Eve)
- October 24 – November 11 (Shadow’s Eve Mega Bundle)
- Further Reading
Smite
The newest patch for Smite brings back the Halloween makeover for Arena mode’s map and the Scary Potion. The latter messes around with players–last year’s version, for instance, would occasionally play a Loki sound effect that made you think you were about to be backstabbed. Additionally, a Halloween chest is for sale that includes things like spooky and themed skins (Trick or Treat Cupid and Grim Reaper Thanatos). Through the Odyssey, there are new Halloween skins you can buy directly, such as Mummified Izanami and Yurei Susano.
- Dates
- Now – TBA (PC)
- October 16 – TBA (PS4/Xbox One)
- Further Reading
World Of Warcraft
Blizzard hasn’t yet revealed its full Halloween plans for World of Warcraft, but we do know that Hallow’s End will return. The event “celebrates the break of the Forsaken from the Scourge,” Blizzard says. “Fun and mischief reign as the Innkeepers of Azeroth give treats, and tricks, to whomever asks.”
- Dates
- October 18 – November 1
- Further Reading
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