Upcoming Games: An Astonishing August

August is unbelievably packed with games.
We’ve got massive titles like Black Myth Wukong, Star Wars: Outlaws and a niche game expansion called World of Warcraft: The War Within … you might have heard of it.
But indies and AAs are bringing the heat too - a surprisingly strong slate of comedy titles like Thank Goodness You’re Here and Squirrel with a Gun, the return of a legend with World of Goo 2 and long anticipated follow-ups like Tactical Breach Wizards.
There's quite genuinely something for everyone.

Star Wars Bounty Hunter (Remaster)

Developer: Aspyr
Publisher: Aspyr
Platforms: PC/Xbox/PlayStation/Switch
Release Date: 01/08

Another PS2 Era Star Wars Remaster from Aspyr, this time though with now multiplayer functions to make life complex like the Battlefront Collection.
This is a remaster of the 2002 tie in game/prequel featuring Jango Fett - a third person shooter where you navigate the seedy underbelly of Star Wars, collecting bounties as you track down a Dark Jedi.
A very well regarded game originally, and one I personally had a lot of time for with the GameCube release - but there's an additional factor to draw folks back too.
The remaster will finish work on an intended easter egg that was never actually included in the original, so when you complete the game you’ll get Boba Fett’s armour to play in.

Thank Goodness You’re Here

Developer: Coal Supper
Publisher: Panic (Untitled Goose Game)
Platforms: PC/PlayStation/Switch
Release Date: 01/08

Early reviews are painting this as a highlight of the year - a comedy adventure game set in the post industrial North of England - featuring regional British voice actors (and Matt Berry).
You'll be asked to explore the bizarre town of Barnsworth as a travelling salesman - doing odd jobs for the odder locals as you travel.
The appeal here is easy to see, hand drawn animation and cartoon styling with a focus on an attempt to turn a British comedy farce into a game - absolutely rammed with innuendo.

World of Goo 2

Developer: 2DBoy/Tomorrow Corporation
Platforms: Switch/ EGS/ Developer’s Own Store
Release Date: 02/08

Sequel to the award winning 2008 platform/puzzler about being a pile of goo balls and trying to solve challenging puzzles in a 2D world.
The original was one of the first of the wave of Indie games that defined how we think of those in modern day industry - and this is a long overdue sequel.
Overall, this looks like more of the same - delightfully presented puzzling with a deeply satirical narrative

Fields of Mistria

Developer: NPC Studio
Publisher: NPC Studio
Platforms: PC (Early access)
Release Date: 05/08

It wouldn't be a month of releases without a farming sim, but this GBA Aesthetic Farming Sim/RPG is August's fifth most wishlisted game on steam - so there's something worth looking into.
People love the 80s anime inspired character design and the GBA aesthetic as a spin on the conventional farming take - but the core here is familiar.
Full suite of expected mechanics including farming, animal husbandry, blacksmithing and romance mechanics - while restoring the land to it’s magical origins.
It'll be entering Early Access to help nail down the final details, but there's a lot here to like already.

Warhammer 40K: Speed Freeks

Developer: Caged Element Inc
Publisher: Plaion
Platforms: PC
Release Date: 06/08

What if Mad Max was Green and his car was Red because it goes faster that way? Then you'd probably get Speed Freeks - a free to play, third person, combat racing game where you play as Ork Speed Freeks, battling and racing for supremacy.
Another Early Access release after a good few beta tests, this will start with multiple modes - including a payload delivery where the payload is a titanic stompa mech, and a race to the capture point mode - both with 8 player teams.
As is standard for Warhammer games, you'll be getting full customisation and many vehicles (as expected) - but customisation will be at least partly behind the virtual currency - so we'll see how that feels on release.

Creatures of Ava

Developer: Inverge Studios
Publisher: 11Bit Studios
Platforms: PC/Xbox
Release Date: 07/08

It might look Palworld or Pokémon adjacent - but Creatures of Ava is a Third person Action Adventure game that’s not about creature collection.
Instead as outsiders who’ve crash landed on a planet, you’re trying to stop the local wildlife being wiped out by a spreading infection.

Core design focus is on exploring alien worlds, finding creatures and taming them.
From the previews and trailers, a good reference point is probably Luigi’s Mansion? You're using the tools available to tame creatures (ghosts) and solve puzzles by opening up new areas - continuing the game's narrative.
Of particular note here, this was picked up for a Gamepass deal on Day One - and in recent months that's been a pretty straightforward way to identify quality.

Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers

Developer: Purple Moss Collections
Publisher: Yogscast Games
Platforms: PC
Release Date: 08/08

Slightly warped card game based games are in a resurgence post Balatro's release earlier this year - so how about a “Roguelike, Deckbuilding, Blackjack adventure”.
21 or Bust is the core, but what if there were tarot cards, special effects and more - all as you build a deck by defeating the 60 characters in the game with their own decks in a revolving campaign.
Their own words sell the pitch best of all though:

All the degeneracy from a seedy casino but with no risk to your finances, mental health, or your loved ones

SteamWorld Heist II

Developer: Thunderful
Platforms: PC/Xbox/PlayStation/Switch
Release Date: 08/08

Follow-up to bestselling SteamWorld Heist - a turn based tactical shooter built around trick shots and ricochets as you advance through steampunk dungeons filled with robots.
That's stuck around, but new features include full overworld exploration and real time naval battles where you take on opponents in random encounters between missions.
Thunderful has had a tough time recently between expanding their company too rapidly and spin off SteamWorld games that didn't set budgets alight - so this will be a welcome return to a sequel format for the most beloved game in the franchise.

The Crush House

Developer: Nerial
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platforms: PC
Release Date: 09/08

Made by the veteran designers at Nerial (of Reigns/Card Shark fame), The Crush House is a Reality TV based First Person Shooter built on a big brother riff- where you’re shooting a 1999 tv show, choosing where to put the camera.

In this case, you're keeping your score up by meeting audience demand from each of your micro audiences - showcasing the characters they want to see or plot developments they want to happen, while meeting network demands around advertising.
But of course, there's another layer to all this: after the show stops airing you can explore the facility and uncover the “dark secrets of the crush house” while finding out more about the cast.
There's something deeply satirical about this one, the kind of genre spoof you can only get from folks who really understand the appeal of reality TV.

Level Zero: Extraction

Developer: Doghowl Games
Publisher: tinyBuild
Release Date: 13/08

Another PvPvE Multiplayer Loot Extraction Shooter - This time with tactical mercenaries vs alien monsters in an underground SCP style facility.
But they are offering something different in the extraction shooter space, if more complex than these games normally are.

Not all the monsters are AI controlled though, some are Human players who can only be killed by light mechanics - which means at any time players could face an entirely new set of challenges that ramp up the threat.
But death is not the end, rather than just spectating or waiting in a lobby - teammates get a second chance to help their two squad mates by being a flying camera drone till everyone's finished.
There's a lot of interest in this one, the second most played game of last Steam Next Fest, launching in Early Access and with a lot to live up to.

Sam & Max: The Devils Playhouse Remastered

Developer: Skunkape
Platforms: PC/Xbox/PlayStation/Switch
Release Date: 14/08

The Final Telltale Sam and Max remaster will be coming - completing a trilogy of remasters and ensuring they can be appreciated by modern audiences.
This comes to us from Skunkape after Telltale's collapse, but they've got original developers on board to ensure the game still feels authentic.
As a result, it's no surprise the other two remasters have been broadly been well received - and there's no exception expected here.
It's otherwise the classic comedy adventure game - the titular duo attempting to solve twilight zone-esque scenarios around magical psychic power generating toys.

I Am Your Beast

Developer: Strange Scaffold
Platforms: PC
Release Date: 15/08

The latest adventure in tone and style from Strange Scaffold (El Paso Elsewhere) - this is a shortform comic book aesthetic FPS where you play a Secret agent taking revenge against the agency who burned you in a madcap rampage.
Each level presents as a mini open world sandbox, with the aim being to take out opponents by any means necessary - immersive sim style weapon kills, environmental damage, parkour based movement - with that replayability coming from aiming for better times/completing mini objectives.

Just Crow Things

Developer: Unbound Creations
Platforms: PC/ Switch/ Xbox/ PlayStation
Release Date: 15/08

From the makers of comedy game, Rain On Your Parade, another title about flying around and causing chaos.
This time, a sandbox level based Animal Chaos Simulator as a Crow tries to recover her property from thieves.
Of course, because this is a chaos simulator, it's not just your own stuff you can grab - Players can pick up any item in the game and use it - or just drop it on heads

Black Myth Wukong

Developer: Game Science
Platforms: PC/Xbox (eventually)/PlayStation
Release Date: 20/08

The highly anticipated Journey to the West game from a debut Chinese Indie team - made of ex Tencent devs, who were later funded by Netease and Tencent themselves.
This is a Soulslike action game built around boss fights against mythological monsters for the most part, and of course, you're playing as Sun Wukong.
This means skills and upgrades reflect the Monkey King’s legendary skills for movement and trickery, while combat leans into a heavy combo system that is the core of the player expression.
Obviously worth remembering this is a debut game from a small team - so expecting a full AAA experience might be the first step towards an unfair disappointment.

Dustborn

Developer: Red Threads
Publisher: Quantic Dream
Platforms: PC/Xbox/PlayStation
Release Date: 20/08

From the developers of the beloved Dreamfall Chapters adventure games - yet another story driven adventure RPG.
Dustborn though is much more focussed on combat that synergises combos between different party powers, as part of an action RPG about a road trip to smuggle a package across a fascist America - while maintaining a disguise as a punk band.
The comic book inspired visuals in the dustbowl americana setting really is striking, and while the dialogue is definitely aiming to skew younger - I'm a Life Is Strange fan so I can't throw stones.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain

Developer: Chibig Studio
Platforms: PC/Switch (early access)
Release Date: 21/08

Coming from a hyper successful Kickstarter, this is another Debut game from a new Indie team that seems really quite promising.
Mika and the Witch's Mountain is a Ghibi/Wind Waker inspired game about being a witch, delivering packages, flying on a broom in an open world that rewards exploration and engagement with the game's puzzles.
Early Access is probably smart here, as it will hopefully let the team find the magic.

Tactical Breach Wizards

Developer: Suspicious Developments
Platform: PC
Release Date: 22/08

From the maker of Gunpoint and Heat Signature is a sentence that just activated some readers. Those are games that have their gameplay down to an art - shooting, movement and a love of defenestration (kicking people through windows) is a core appeal.
This time the 2D and top down room clearing action games have shifted to an Isometric Tactics RPG - where you're playing as a team of renegade wizards with guns trying to unwind a conspiracy.
Gameplay wise, this is campaign driven, with a simplified art style and free turn rewinds to encourage experimentation and replayability.
It's been in development for some time, but with the pedigree of its predecessors, it'll likely be worth the wait.

Concord

Developer: Firewalk Studios
Publisher: PlayStation
Platforms: PlayStation/PC
Release Date: 23/08

Poor Concord.
General perception appears to be that Sony's first PvP live service entry (from ex Bungie developers) is dead on arrival, with a very weak reaction in terms of PC players - it's not clear where the PlayStation numbers are though.
What aren't folks excited about?
It's a first person hero shooter - in the Quake multiplayer suite of lots of modes for play, with a focus on a tactical, high level experience.
It's also saying all the right things about being a Live Service, with no Battle Pass, only cosmetic upgrades and new story, maps, characters and more being given away for free.
But none of that matters if no one is interested in paying for a multiplayer shooter right now - especially not one that doesn't seem to offer anything new.

World of Warcraft: The War Within

Developer: Blizzard
Publisher: Xbox
Platforms: PC
Release Date: 26/08

As the 30th Anniversary of Warcraft rolls on, World of Warcraft tries something new - The War Within expansion kicking off three successive and narratively linked expansions under the guidance of franchise stalwart Chris Metzen - The WorldSoul Saga.
New zones set beneath Azeroth as you move between lost civilisations and the heights of the Nerubian Empire - as well as new gameplay features in a wholly expanded talent tree, a cross progression system in warbands and co-op/AI play with delves.
For most of you, you already know what the deal is - that's what Bellular Warcraft is for!
If you're not reading/watching the great coverage that the rest of the team are making ahead of launch, what's wrong with you?

Endzone 2

Developer: Gentlymad Studios
Publisher: Assemble Entertainment
Platforms: PC
Release Date: 26/08

One of several sequels to popular post apocalyptic City Builders this year, Endzone 2 is keeping what worked about the first game - while expanding the fantasy of building up a new society
That expansion is literal, with one of the biggest changes for the game being the addition of vehicles, an overhaul of exploration and the changes to allow for direct control over a bigger map with multiple settlements.
In this case, if more city building doesn't dilute what was already there, this could be a perfect sequel.

Smite 2

Developer: Titan Forge Games
Platform: PC
Release Date: 27/08

Smite 2 finally releases on the 27th in its closed Alpha. This is less sequel though and more rebuild for game, going from Unreal Engine 3 to be built in Unreal Engine 5 - updating a decade old game system.
The core of the 5v5 deity based MOBA should be fundamentally unaltered, the same core experience but significantly improved in look and feel.
That engine change does mean though that there will be no way to transfer over skins, assets or anything else from the original game as a result of technical differences.
The only exception will be anything from this year's Season 11 (which were made twice for cross-compatibility) and then a small amount of currency/upgrade materials designed to smooth out the transfer.
There's going to be friction during the transfer, as there have been for many multiplayer sequels in recent years, but hopefully Smite 2 gives players something to work towards.

Visions of Mana

Developer: Square Enix
Platform: PC/Xbox/PlayStation
Release Date: 29/08

The first brand new Mana title since 2006, this is a new revitalisation of a classic series.
The modern aspects include stunning visuals and combat effects as players enjoy real time combat in a semi-open world, all as they try to guide their childhood friend across the land to fulfil their destiny at the Tree of Mana.
Square Enix have already had a busy few years of making polished RPGs of all types - and this looks like a staggering revival for one of the giants of the genre.

Squirrel With A Gun

Developer: Dee Dee Creations LLC
Platform: PC
Release Date: 29/08

Sometimes those massively memetic social media darling games actually come out. In this case, yes, you can play as a squirrel running around a suburban neighbourhood (actually an underground testing facility) with a variety of guns and other gadgets while you try and find acorns.
Obviously though as a squirrel you don't weight much, so that means you can also use these weapons to platform around the world, solve puzzles and also defeat the besuited agents trying to keep you in the facility.
It's a chaos sandbox, but sometimes these meme games aren't just memetic.

Emio: The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club

Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Switch
Release Date: 29/08

Even after the original Famicom titles finally got ports a few years ago, no one was expecting a new entry in the Famicom Detective Club series.
This revival of 35 year old detective visual novel series will go beyond the polished ports of the first two games and be a full modern visual novel - with a whole new story, but the same classic characters investigating a serial killer known only as Emio: The Smiling Man.
Can Nintendo recapture the magic that entranced Japanese audiences all those years ago? And will western audiences care when it's no longer a novelty series they aren't being kept away from?
Those sound like questions for some kind of Detective.

Breachway

Developer: Edgeflow Studio
Publisher: Hooded Horse
Platform: PC
Release Date: 30/08

Yet another Hooded Horse title - this time moving in on FTLs turf. Breachway is a roguelike spaceship management game - with upgrades and combat coming from deckbuilder mechanics that you can add to and develop over time.
What sets this apart right now is the idea that while you can granularly build your own ship and systems, you can also granularly disable your opposition - taking out weapons, shield generators and more.
Plus, they're hoping for something slightly more narratively focussed as you go through roguelike runs and piece together the story of the game's six factions - managing relationships as you play.

Star Wars Outlaws

Developer: Ubisoft Massive
Platform: PC/Xbox/PS5
Release Date: 30/08

Finally, Star Wars: Outlaws.
The game Ubisoft is framing as the first open world Star Wars game.
Made by Massive Entertainment (The Division/Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora) this is a Snowdrop Engine powered open world third person smuggler/heist game set between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Which is a fantasy from that franchise we haven't seen in games in a long time - (since the start of this list in fact)
Blasters, droids, scum and villainy - not a Jedi in sight - with space travel/combat, speeder bikes and everything you expect from a ground level take on Star Wars.
What's seemingly landing from the final previews though has been framing that the game is a Red Dead Redemption level depiction of a Star Wars World - with the gameplay, mission and level design of something like Uncharted.
All in a package that at most could take up to 60 hours.