October 2024 was a wild month. The air turned crisp, pumpkin-spice everything filled the cafes, and in the world of Fortnite, something wicked was brewing. I remember booting up the game on October 12, expecting a small update, but instead, I was greeted by the full force of Fortnitemares 2024. It was the Halloween event, and it promised to be darker and more chaotic than ever.
I had been following the leaks; they said the update would drop on October 15. Then Epic surprised us all, announcing an October 11 launch. But fate had other plans. A last‑minute delay pushed it back by almost 24 hours. The wait was excruciating. Finally, after some server downtime, update v31.40 went live, and I jumped straight into the Island.
The first thing I noticed was the new weapons. I grabbed a Chainsaw from a chest—yes, a riding, revving chainsaw! It wasn't just for hacking enemies; you could rev it into the ground and propel yourself forward. I remember tearing across a field, cackling, until I accidentally launched myself off a cliff. Then there was the Boom Billy. Imagine a miniature version of the creepy puppet riding a tricycle, chasing you. It locks onto opponents and explodes on impact. I used it to clear a squad that was hiding in a building. The sound of that tricycle was pure nightmare fuel.
Speaking of Billy, the real one was waiting at Freaky Fields. Defeating him dropped Boom Billys and some sweet loot. And the Jigsaw’s Challenge? That was twisted. Scattered across the map were TV monitors displaying Billy’s face. When approached, Jigsaw challenged you to a duel. Both players got a bear mask—an explosive one! If you didn't eliminate your target in time, the mask blew up. I won my first duel by a millisecond. The reward? A Boom Billy, an unvaulted Witch Broom, and a rush of adrenaline.
Old favorites returned too. The Wood Stake Shotgun and Pumpkin Launcher made killing zombies satisfying. Ultima Carver at Brawler’s Patch dropped them, so I farmed that spot obsessively. The Witch Broom let me soar into the sky and glide gracefully—a perfect getaway tool.
I dedicated myself to the Fortnitemares XP Quests. There were eleven in total, each giving a thematic reward. I still remember my grind:
-
🎣 1 Quest – The Fangler Bass
-
😈 2 Quests – Carver's Helm Emoticon
-
🎒 3 Quests – Horde's War Wheel Back Bling
-
🖼️ 4 Quests – Thrills & Chills Loading Screen
-
🎵 5 Quests – Nightmare's Choice Jam Track
-
🚩 6 Quests – Knight of the Patch Banner Icon
-
🌪️ 7 Quests – Jack-o'-Drifter Contrail
-
⛏️ 8 Quests – Fiendish Wand Pickaxe
-
🎃 9 Quests – Cauldron Chill Emote
-
🖼️ 10 Quests – Night of the Nitemares Loading Screen
-
✈️ 11 Quests – The Great Scarecrow Glider
Completing all of them gave me that glorious glider. I loved how the rewards pushed me to explore every corner of the map.
The limited-time mode Horde Rush returned, and it was intense. My squad and I fought wave after wave of Cube Monsters. New this year: Mod Benches! We could upgrade weapons between hordes. The final boss required a multi-layered strategy, but we managed to beat it with a combination of chainsaw rushes and pumpkin launcher blasts. The combos and score multipliers made it even more addictive.
Cosmetics? Oh, the Shop was a devil’s playground. Disney villains took center stage—Maleficent, Captain Hook, Cruella de Vil. I bought the Leatherface outfit because chain-sawing someone while looking like a horror icon was too good to pass up. She-Venom and Agony symbiotes slithered in later, and there was even a Ravemello skin (Marshmello merged with Raven) that heralded the end-of-year party.
I entered the Symbiote Cup on October 22. It was a Duos tournament with frantic matches. Points were tight; you could play up to ten games in a three-hour window. I still recall the scoring system:
| Placement | Points |
|---|---|
| Victory Royale | 65 |
| 2nd | 56 |
| 3rd | 52 |
| 4th | 48 |
| 5th | 44 |
| 6th | 40 |
| 7th | 38 |
| 8th | 36 |
| 9th | 34 |
| 10th | 32 |
| 11th–25th | falling from 30 to 2 pts |
| Each Elimination | +1 |
My partner and I didn't win the early unlock, but we came close. The sheer panic of balancing placement and kills is something I still talk about with friends.
Looking back from 2026, Fortnitemares 2024 remains a peak Halloween experience. The delayed launch only built suspense, and Epic delivered content that blended horror, humor, and high‑octane gameplay. I rode a chainsaw, blew up with a puppet mask, and danced as a scarecrow. It was the perfect prelude to the end of Chapter 5 Season 4, and it set the bar for every Halloween event since.