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.
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.
هونەری بەرگەکە بناسە لەکاتێکدا کە فۆیلی کەم وەک...
ئەگەری هەیە.
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.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://gamerant.com/ps-plus-free-games-october-2026-bad/
