Fortnitemares 2026 is about halfway through its spooky-season run. With new Five Nights at Freddy’s content, another iconic horror Freddy, plus returning items and twists on past season areas, there’s plenty to like. If you wait for seasonal or limited-time events to decide whether it’s time to hop back on the Battle Bus, let’s talk. Here’s my take on whether or not Fortnitemares 2026 is worth checking out.

Including Five Nights at Freddy’s is a boon to this year’s offering. Getting to such an iconic location is really fun. You can also embody one of the animatronics if you defeat them, adding another layer of immersion. Given how popular these games are, boosted by the movies’ success, it’s a great get for Fortnitemares. Not to mention, the skins available in the game are some of the best-selling skins we’ve seen all October.

On that note, Fortnitemares skins have always been good, but 2026 is a bit of a letdown for me. Starting strong with the FNAF crew and Nightmare on Elm Street was a real showstopper, but the middle releases are a bit less enticing. We will see Jason from the Friday the 13th franchise show up toward the end of the month, which is a nice perk. A Hollow Knight sidekick, other characters from Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, or some creepy dolls just don’t quite do it for me. After a killer summer lineup, this feels a tad underwhelming, but hey, that just means I’m saving some money.

In my opinion, the inclusion of sprites has really reinvented the game. Fortnitemares 2026 features exclusive sprites that offer major perks. This includes the Spooky Dash Sprite and rechargeable dashes, as well as the Vampire Sprite, which replenishes health as you engage enemies. I’m particularly excited to try the Obsession Sprite, releasing October 15, which will let One Wish Willow help you collect other Sprites. This ability system is preferable to medallions or other systems they’ve used in the past, and extracting them to save their perks is a great game within a game.

The return of some iconic items, plus new ones, has really taken the top prize for me in this Halloween event. Freddy’s Nightmare, the Nightmare on Elm Street claws, let you teleport into range and slash through your next opponent. Paired with Scream‘s Last Call, which returns this year, you have two showstopping abilities lurking in every match. Also returning are the Pumpkin Launcher, Light Machine Gun, Slap Candy Corn, and Witch Broom.

I tend to return to Fortnite daily this time of year, often after a compelling Fortnitemares experience. With the game continuing to innovate and some major collabs happening this year, I’m really into it. Fun fact: you can still get a Battle Pass with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, so if you’re eager to hop in and knock out some unlockables, grab a one-month subscription to play through the paywalled content. I hope the game builds on this with a strong Winterfest, my favorite event of the year. Nevertheless, nothing screams Halloween like watching Freddy Fazbear chase Ghostface around with a pumpkin-themed rocket launcher. Happy hauntings!

Watch the full Fortnitemares trailer below; it runs through October 31.

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