Halloween Events 2026 in Survival and Shooter Games: Every Date, Free Item and Reward

The Halloween events 2026 season is in full swing, and survival and shooter games are handing out free packs, ghost creatures, candy hunts and limited cosmetics. Some events are already live, others start this week, and a few end as soon as November 2.

We've rounded up every event announced by the developers themselves, with exact dates and what you can get for free. Times are as published by each studio.

Halloween events 2026 at a glance

When is the Rust Halloween event 2026?

Facepunch turned on Rust's yearly Halloween event on October 22, and it runs until November 5, 2026. Roughly every two in-game days a Candy Hunt starts: you get three minutes to grab as much candy as you can, and the top three players win special loot bags. Candy and bags can be opened for loot ranging from scrap all the way up to an M249, and candy can be upgraded for better rewards.

This year you can also build your own monster. Kill the scarecrows and mummies roaming the map, collect a head, torso and legs, craft a Frankenstein's table, and your new pet will follow you, defend you and attack on command (press P). Cultist portals have also opened rift dungeons across the island. Twitch Drops run until November 1 on any Rust channel.

Once Human Halloween Wonder Night

Starry Studio's Halloween Wonder Night runs from October 22 to November 11, alongside the new Isles of Abyss scenario. Starry fixed a bug in its October 23 patch where event task progress didn't carry across seasons, and says lost Blind Box attempts will be compensated by in-game mail.

Battlefield 6 x Dead Space event

EA's Dead Space crossover runs from October 20 to November 10 in Battlefield 6 and the free REDSEC. It adds Marker Incursion, a 16-player PvE mode in Area 51 with the Pulse Rifle as a pickup, plus rewards like the Aegis VII skin. Our full guide is linked below.

Apex Legends Blood Pact event

Apex Legends' Blood Pact event has been live since October 13. Players pledge to Beasts or Demons in the Wildcard mode, on a haunted Kings Canyon with random fog, haunted loot bins and pumpkin EVO orbs. Rev Shell grenades are back, and the Blood Pact store sells werewolf and demon skins.

Is the V Rising Halloween pack free?

Yes. Stunlock Studios is giving away the Haunted Nights Castle Pack for free from October 26 (10am PDT / 6pm CET) until November 2. Claim the DLC on the store during that window and you keep it forever. It includes stained glass, web drapes, a carpet, floating gourds, a gourd lantern, a standing mirror, a small stash, wall decor, a coffin, skull candles and three carved pumpkins.

What's in the Grain Rot October update?

Neem Interactive's next Grain Rot update lands on October 26. To celebrate, official "Rot Squad" creators are running Twitch Drops until November 2: watch any of their streams for three hours to earn exclusive gold sunglasses. The developer says this colorway won't return after November 2.

When is the SCUM Halloween update?

Gamepires' SCUM Halloween update arrives on October 28, with a partial wipe on all official servers at 3pm GMT and official server merges. Halloween items are free in this update. Our SCUM article has the full details on what you keep.

When is ARK Fear Ascended 2026?

Studio Wildcard's Fear Ascended returns from October 28 to November 11 on ARK: Survival Ascended. Official servers get boosted rates: 2x harvesting, taming, experience and breeding on PvP/PvE, 4.5x (with 4x breeding) on Small Tribes and 5x on ARKpocalypse.

New ghost creatures this year include the Ghost Tidepup, Burrowbuck, Gargantar, Bloodstalker, Therizino and Megaraptor, alongside returning ghost, skeletal and zombie creatures. All of them spawn on their native maps. There are also new costumes, a Dragon costume, coffin-themed storage and a Pumpkin Carving Station.

Which Halloween events give free rewards?

• V Rising: the whole Haunted Nights Castle Pack, free to keep if claimed by November 2.
• Rust: candy and loot bags in-game, plus Twitch Drops until November 1.
• Grain Rot: gold sunglasses via creator Twitch Drops until November 2.
• SCUM: Halloween items free in the October 28 update.
• ARK: Survival Ascended: event creatures, costumes and decorations earned in-game.

More on these games on iGame Magazine

• SCUM Halloween Update Lands October 28 With a Partial Wipe and Official Server Merges: everything in the SCUM Halloween update
• Battlefield 6 x Dead Space Event Guide: Dates, Marker Incursion and Every Reward: our Battlefield 6 Dead Space event guide
• Once Human: Isles of Abyss Sets Sail October 21 – Ships, Diving and a 21-Day Ocean Scenario: Once Human's Isles of Abyss scenario
• Grain Rot: PS5 & Xbox, Roadmap, Next Update and Everything We Know: Grain Rot's PS5, Xbox and roadmap news
• Rust Livestock Update: How to Farm Cows and Sheep, Sell at the Stables and Use Milk and Wool: Rust's latest monthly update
• Soulmask Bone Bash Is Out: Free Día de Muertos Story, $7.99 Skeleton DLC and Patch #21: Soulmask's Bone Bash DLC

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