2018 Video Game Halloween Events Offering Free In-Game Items And Rewards

The Halloween season of 2018 offered a wide variety of limited-time events across the video game industry, providing players with opportunities to acquire free in-game items, cosmetic rewards, and special event currency. These promotional activities were designed to revitalize player engagement by introducing seasonal content, including themed skins, crates, and gameplay modes. According to gaming news sources, numerous popular titles participated in these holiday festivities, offering rewards that required no purchase but often necessitated active participation or logins during the event window.

Overview of 2018 Halloween Gaming Promotions

In October 2018, game developers and publishers utilized seasonal events to distribute free content to their player bases. These promotions generally focused on cosmetic items—such as character skins, weapon decals, and vehicle accessories—rather than gameplay-altering advantages. The primary method of acquiring these free items involved logging into the game during the event dates and completing specific challenges or playing matches to earn event-specific currencies.

The scope of these events varied significantly between titles. Some games offered immediate rewards for logging in, such as a free golden card in Hearthstone, while others required players to accrue currency through gameplay, as seen in Rocket League. Additionally, several games reintroduced previously released Halloween content, allowing newer players to acquire items they had missed in prior years.

Specific Game Events and Free Rewards

The following sections detail specific Halloween events from 2018, outlining the available free items, eligibility requirements, and event durations based on available reports.

Rocket League: Haunted Hallows

Rocket League hosted the "Haunted Hallows" event, which ran until November 5, 2018. During this event, players could earn a special event currency known as "Candy Corn" by playing online matches. This currency could be redeemed for limited edition, Halloween-themed wheels, decals, and toppers.

In addition to the purchasable items, players could obtain a "Gold Pumpkin." This item granted the player a customization item selected from the Nitro, Turbo, or Player’s Choice crates. It is important to note that the "Candy Corn" currency was set to expire on November 8, 2018, creating a window for players to spend their earned currency.

Overwatch: Halloween Terror

The "Halloween Terror" event in Overwatch ran until October 31, 2018. This event featured two distinct Player vs. Environment (PvE) modes: Classic Mode and Endless Night. Participation in these modes allowed players to collect various new cosmetic items, including spooky skins, emotes, and sprays.

Furthermore, the event facilitated the return of every previously released Halloween skin, giving players a second chance to acquire them. The event was described as a continuation of the "Junkenstein’s monster" narrative.

DC Universe Online: The Witching Hour

DC Universe Online featured "The Witching Hour," an event that concluded on October 31, 2018. To participate, players were required to reach level 10 or higher. Once eligible, Heroes needed to visit the safehouse in Gotham City’s East End to speak with the Phantom Stranger, while Villains had to visit the Tap Room in Burnley to speak to Tala.

Completing the event quest rewarded players with Halloween-themed feats, collections, and items for their in-game base.

Hearthstone: Hallow’s End

The "Hallow’s End" event in Hearthstone ran until October 31, 2018. Upon logging in during this period, players received a free golden Witch’s Cauldron card. The event also introduced a new Tavern Brawl featuring the Headless Horseman, which incorporated characters from the game's Monster Hunt mode.

H1Z1: Hauntfest

H1Z1 offered "Hauntfest," which ran until November 6, 2018. A notable freebie was the distribution of a free battle pass to players simply for logging in during the event period. Players could earn "Treat Crates" by completing challenges and raising their season level. These crates contained special Halloween-themed costumes, though the specific costume obtained was random.

Hauntfest also introduced a new arcade mode featuring candy scattered across the map. Consuming this candy granted accelerated speeds, though excessive consumption resulted in blurred vision.

World of Tanks Blitz: Mad Games

World of Tanks Blitz hosted the "Mad Games" mode, which lasted until November 12, 2018. This event featured two limited edition tanks: the V level Scavenger and the VII level Gravedigger. These tanks were designed in collaboration with Peter Pound, the principle vehicle designer for Mad Max: Fury Road.

The event also introduced a new map with a post-apocalyptic vibe, featuring sandstorms and special abilities like invisibility. Additionally, tanks from past Halloween events were made available again.

Dauntless: The Haunted Hallowe’en

Dauntless featured an event where the hub city of Ramsgate was covered in darkness. The event offered new limited-time cosmetics and exclusive in-game items. A new Behemoth was also introduced to the Shattered Isles.

Additional Titles and General Availability

Beyond the specific events detailed above, a broader list of games was reported to be offering Halloween-themed content in 2018. These games generally offered limited-time items or events, though specific details regarding the nature of free items were not provided for all titles. The list of games included:

• Dragon Ball FighterZ
• PUBG
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Guild Wars 2
• Hitman
• Killing Floor 2
• Rainbow Six Siege
• Metal Gear Survive
• No Man’s Sky
• Pokemon Go
• Splatoon 2
• Star Wars Battlefront II
• Super Mario Odyssey
• The Elder Scrolls Online

Some titles, such as Fortnite, were noted to have specific limited-time items available. For example, the "Fortnitemares" event reportedly included a limited-time weapon available in Epic variant with 40 base damage and 4x damage against Fiends. This weapon could be found from floor loot, chests, and Vending Machines.

Conclusion

The Halloween events of 2018 provided substantial opportunities for players to acquire free cosmetic items and participate in special game modes without spending money. The distribution of these rewards generally relied on active participation, requiring players to log in, complete challenges, or play matches to earn event currencies or unlock crates. While the specific mechanics varied by game—from immediate login rewards in Hearthstone to match-based currency earning in Rocket League—the overarching trend was the celebration of the season through limited-time content accessible to the general player base.

Sources

1. Gamaverse Halloween 2018
2. ComicBook.com Video Game Halloween Events List
3. DMarket Best Gaming Offers Halloween 2018
4. GameRevolution Best Halloween 2018 Events