Must-Play September 2025 Games: Horror, Action & Racing Titles

September 2025 is shaping up to be a busy month for gamers, with multiple major releases across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. While first-party titles are relatively limited, several high-profile third-party games are arriving, including horror, action, and racing experiences.

Several releases carry spooky themes, perfect for the upcoming Halloween season. Titles like Cronos: The New Dawn, Hell is Us, and Silent Hill f are expected to dominate the horror gaming space, while games such as Borderlands 4 bring humor and chaotic action to the mix.

Here are seven of the most anticipated releases this month:

7. Dying Light: The Beast – September 19

Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, this installment continues the acclaimed zombie survival saga. Originally conceived as DLC for Dying Light 2, the new title revisits narrative threads from the first game while introducing fresh gameplay mechanics. The expansion emphasizes parkour combat, open-world exploration, and horror elements, promising a satisfying experience for long-time fans of the series.

6. Cronos: The New Dawn – September 5

This original sci-fi horror game from Bloober Team combines post-apocalyptic exploration with time-travel mechanics. Players confront terrifying creatures in the future while navigating temporal rifts that transport them to 1980s Poland. The game challenges traditional horror conventions and could fill the void left by the lack of new Dead Space or Callisto Protocol titles this year.

5. Hell is Us – September 4

Launching on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, this innovative open-world game removes conventional quest markers, requiring players to rely on environmental cues and dialogue for navigation. The absence of traditional guidance systems creates a unique challenge, emphasizing player intuition and observation, and marking the game as a standout experimental release this September.

4. Silent Hill f – September 25

Konami returns with the first fully new Silent Hill console release in over a decade. Set in Japan, the game follows a high school student trapped in a horrifying local version of the infamous town. New melee combat mechanics provide a fresh approach for series veterans, and the game builds on the positive momentum established by the Silent Hill 2 remake.

3. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – September 25

Available across multiple consoles, including Nintendo Switch 2, this kart racer adds a dynamic travel ring mechanic, allowing players to shift mid-race to new locations. Vehicle customization returns, addressing a feature gap from recent Mario Kart titles. The game blends familiar Sonic charm with imaginative crossovers and fast-paced racing mechanics.

2. Borderlands 4 – September 12

The iconic looter-shooter series expands its universe with a fully open-world experience on the new planet Kairos. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, the game introduces expanded mobility, including jumping and gliding, while maintaining the franchise’s core Vault Hunter mechanics. Humor is dialed back slightly, offering a balance between wacky action and refined gameplay.

1. Hollow Knight: Silksong – September 4

The long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knight launches on PC, consoles, and the latest Nintendo Switch. Featuring a new protagonist, expanded environments, and challenging enemies, the game elevates the Metroidvania formula established by its predecessor. Anticipation has been building for years, and early impressions suggest it will be one of 2025’s standout platformers.

Gamers have a wide range of genres to choose from this September, from horror and survival to racing and platforming, making it a diverse month for video game enthusiasts.