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What to watch and read this week, 19–25 October
The new fantasy releases this week, 19–25 October 2026, are mostly games: Dunecrawl on PS5 on 19 October, Frankenstein: Awakening of Horror on PS5 on 20 October and Square Enix's Final Fantasy Resonance on PS5 and Xbox on 22 October. On screen, the only confirmed in-window series is the horror series Yaga, on AMC+ on 23 October, and Shudder's horror film The Cycle also lands that day.
The October books we could confirm are dated 6 October, before this window, so no confirmed book lands between 19 and 25 October. This list sticks to dated, checked items and flags the rest. If you want a way into the genre while you wait, our map of science fiction subgenres is a good place to start.
What's on this week on streaming?
The only in-window series we could confirm is Yaga, a 2026 original on AMC+ dated 23 October. The monthly listing describes it as a Canadian horror series with one season. Shudder also has an original horror film, The Cycle, on the same day.
Streaming dates come from a monthly listing, so check each service before you plan a viewing. Disney+ and Paramount+ titles listed for early October fall before this window, so they are not included here.
| Date | Title | Where | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 October | Yaga | AMC+ | Horror series, one season |
| 23 October | The Cycle | Shudder | Horror film, original |
What new fantasy books came out in October 2026?
The October books we could confirm are all dated 6 October, so they landed before this week. They include Victorious by V.E. Schwab, the third Villains book from Tor, and The Scarlet Ball by Nghi Vo, also from Tor.
Other listings place some titles on 13 and 20 October, but we have not confirmed those dates on a publisher page, so they are left out. That means no book with a confirmed date between 19 and 25 October is listed here yet. If a magic-heavy read is what you are after, our guide to how magic systems work may help you choose.
| Date | Title | Author | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 October | Victorious (Villains #3) | V.E. Schwab | Tor |
| 6 October | The Scarlet Ball | Nghi Vo | Tor |
| 6 October | Quaint Folk | Bitter Karella | Run For It |
| 6 October | The Memory of Borrowed Books | Meg Anderson | Sourcebooks Landmark |
| 6 October | The Haunted Librarian | Auralee Wallace | Ace |
What's the new Final Fantasy game and when is it out?
Final Fantasy Resonance, from Square Enix, is dated 22 October and is listed for PS5 and Xbox. On Xbox it is listed as Xbox Play Anywhere at $49.99, with pre-orders open, and it is billed as the first Final Fantasy to join the HD-2D lineup.
Elsewhere, Dunecrawl arrives on PS5 on 19 October, an open-world action-adventure in which you ride a gigantic Crab Crawler. Frankenstein: Awakening of Horror, a third-person survival horror set in an alternative version of 1855, is listed for PS5 on 20 October. If you want the original novel first, how Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein is a good start.
Shoresy: Legends of the North is dated 19 October on Xbox and 20 October on PS5. Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest is dated 22 October on Xbox and 23 October on PS5. Dates differ by platform, so check the official store page for your console before buying.
| Date | Game | Platform | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 October | Dunecrawl | PS5 | Ride a Crab Crawler |
| 19 October | Shoresy: Legends of the North | Xbox | PS5 date is 20 October |
| 20 October | Frankenstein: Awakening of Horror | PS5 | Survival horror, 1855 |
| 22 October | Final Fantasy Resonance | PS5, Xbox | $49.99 on Xbox |
| 22 October | Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest | Xbox | PS5 date is 23 October |
| 23 October | Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest | PS5 | Xbox date is 22 October |
What other smaller games are dated this week?
No Middle-earth, Star Wars, Dune or Doctor Who item with a confirmed date in this window turned up in our checks. That is a gap in our research, not proof that nothing is happening, and some franchise news is still being checked against official sources, so none is included as fact.
Games are the strongest part of this week's listings, with a run of PS5 and Xbox releases across 19 to 23 October. If you fancy a Tolkien fix in the meantime, here is why The Lord of the Rings isn't really a trilogy.
| Date | Item | Platform | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 October | Hail to the Rainbow | PS5 | Post-apocalyptic cyberpunk game |
| 22 October | Cotton Reboot | PS5 | Game featuring the witch Cotton |
| 22 October | Moadra | PS5 | Alien-world game |
| 20 October | The Killing Stone | PS5 | 17th-century Arctic card battler |
What to look out for next
Disney+ and Paramount+ titles from early October fall before this window and are not listed. Dates for the HBO Harry Potter series and Dune: Part Three are still being checked against official sources, so neither is listed for this week. For what is known so far, see what we know about the HBO Harry Potter series.
Check back for an updated list once publisher, streaming and official franchise schedules for 19 to 25 October have been confirmed.
Try 30 Harry Potter Facts Even Potterheads Don’t Know
Hidden names, clues you only spot on a reread, the real Hogwarts and what to know before HBO's series: 30 checked Harry Potter facts as tap-through stories.
Sources and further reading
Pages we opened when writing this article, last checked 19 October 2026. They open in a new tab, and we are not responsible for what other sites publish.
- All of the Sci Fi and Fantasy TV Shows and Movies Coming to Streaming in October 2026 — Supports Yaga on AMC+ and The Cycle on Shudder, plus the early-October titles outside the window.
- 17 new science fiction and fantasy books to read in October 2026 — Supports the 6 October book titles and publishers.
- These 35+ PS5 and PS Plus Games Are Coming Out Next Week (19th-25th October) — Supports the PS5 release dates and game descriptions.
This article was written with the help of AI. Before publication, automated checks confirmed that every listed source was opened and every picture is credited. Spotted a mistake? Write to [email protected].
Unofficial fan commentary. Stars & Spells is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and related names are trademarks of their respective owners. Where Was Hogwarts Filmed in Real Life? is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Tolkien Estate, its publishers or the film studios. Star Wars and related names are trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. Where Was Hogwarts Filmed in Real Life? is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lucasfilm or The Walt Disney Company.
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