A long-in-development indie from Ratloop Games Canada, Lemnis Gate is a sci-fi turn-based combat strategy shooter. It's also yet another entry in the increasingly crowded field of time loop games, though the mechanic has the potential to be fresh here. Each 1v1 (or 2v2) game takes place within a 25-second time loop, played out in a series of five rounds in which you have to make your move quickly by inserting a new operative into the mix. Every move made by both sides persists as the loop replays (and the number of combatants mounts), forcing you to think four dimensionally as you plot a strategy to achieve that game's particular objective. Gate will also be available on Xbox Game Pass on launch day.
2 of 13photo by Curve Digital
Lawn Mowing Simulator
Simulation/Management
Out August 10 for PC and Xbox Series X/S
What's better than watching paint dry? How about watching the grass grow—or, better yet, stopping it from doing so. Actually, games based on quotidian tasks (think PowerWash Simulator and House Flipper) have been surprisingly popular in recent years—think of it as a more active form of meditation—and Lawn Mowing Simulator aims to cash in on that trend with what developer Skyhook Games bills as a "physically authentic lawn mowing experience." Choose from a wide range of officially licensed lawn mowers (no knockoffs here!) and go to work in various settings in the English countryside, including the grounds of a castle, an equestrian center, and the garden of a modern house. And there's more than mere mowing; the game also works as a business management sim, allowing you to build your own lawncare business through hiring, marketing, upgrades, and more.
3 of 13photo by NetEase Games
Naraka: Bladepoint
Battle royale
On August 12 for PC
Following a popular beta release this spring, the gaming world's latest battle royale title arrives in finished form in August for PC (with a console release—on the PS5, at least—to come shortly). Created by Chinese developer 24 Entertainment, Naraka: Bladepoint features 60-player battles focusing on martial arts and melee combat (though you'll be able to use ranged weapons if you prefer). IGN has already likened the game to "a battle royale version of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." but what truly sets the new game apart from its battle royale competition are its grappling hook/parkour mechanics (you'll definitely want to start thinking vertically) and its profound character customization tools.
4 of 13photo by Supergiant Games
Hades
Action/RPG
Out August 13 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One
Supergiant's follow-up to Pyre uses the world of Greek mythology as the setting for an isometric roguelike action-RPG, which tasks you with guiding the prince of the Underworld to Mount Olympus, where he can finally escape from his father, Hades. Hack-and-slash combat combines with procedurally-generated narrative and ample dialogue to provide a unique gaming experience. When it was released last year for Switch and PC, Hades scored big with critics and gamers alike, becoming the best-reviewed game of 2020 on the former and recently collecting the Game of the Year trophy from the Game Developers Choice Awards. This month, Xbox and PlayStation owners can finally get in on the fun (and Xbox Game Pass subscribers will get it for free).
5 of 13photo by Sega
Humankind
4X strategy
On August 17, for PC
Delayed from the spring to respond to player feedback following an early access period, Humankind is Amplitude Studios' attempt to beat Civilization at its own game. While the developer's previous games, Endless Legend and Endless Space (and its sequel), borrowed heavily from the Sid Meier-created Civ franchise (albeit with fantasy and sci-fi settings, respectively), Humankind is a direct competitor to the now 5-year-old Civilization VI, similarly following the development of civilizations around the globe from pre-ancient times to the present day and beyond. One key difference between the competitors: In Civ 6, you pick a civilization and stick with it the entire game, enjoying that civ's unique abilities. But in Humankind, you are prompted to select your civilization type each time you begin one of the six historical eras, allowing you to mix and match traits of multiple real-world cultures over time. In addition, Civ's multiple victory conditions are reduced to just one in Humankind (a metric called "Fame"). At the same time, combat is more detailed than the simplified version in Civ (and is more akin to a tactical RPG—or, for that matter, Endless Space 2).
6 of 13photo by Annapurna Interactive
12 Minutes
Adventure
Out August 19 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One
Would you believe ... another time loop game? (It's almost like we're caught in some sort of ... well, never mind.) In this stylish, Annapurna-published (and Microsoft-exclusive) indie top-down point-and-click adventure from Luis Antonio, you'll need to replay a 12-minute period of time set within the confines of an apartment—a period that starts with a nice romantic dinner with your wife but quickly grows dark as your wife is implicated in a murder and your own life comes to a gruesome end. Can you break out of the loop and save your life? Inspired by the films of Alfred Hitchcock and Christopher Nolan, 12 Minutes features a cinema-ready voice cast of Willem Dafoe, Daisy Ridley, and James McAvoy. Sort of like an Earthbound Returnal with thinking substituting for shooting; it looks like one for gamers and non-gamers alike. (It's also for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, who will get the game on day one.)Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut
Action-adventure
Out August 20 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4
Suck Punch's well-reviewed 2020 open-world samurai game comes to the PS5 for the first time in an expanded "Director's Cut" edition, which will also be available for the PS4. The new version includes the base game and the previously released Legends expansion. It adds a second single-player expansion: Iki Island (also available separately). It adds a new story and missions and a large island setting to explore (similar in size to the base game's Izuhara). The PS5 version of Director's Cut will also boast a few new, exclusive features, including upgraded visuals, quicker load times, 3D audio, and haptic feedback.
8 of 13photo by EA Sports
Madden NFL 22
Sports
Out August 20 for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One
Last year's Madden was a notably lackluster entry in the venerable EA sports football franchise, introducing little new to the series other than a few glitches (and a new mode called The Yard, which returns this year). Will this year's installment be any better? Featuring both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes on the cover, Madden 22 does offer some tweaks to the formula, especially on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, where home-field advantage becomes a bigger factor and a brand-new "momentum meter" will cause your team's momentum to swing based on your performance during the game. The AI has been refined to improve single-player competitions. The Franchise mode has graphical changes, new staff management and progression features, and the ability to set weekly practice strategies. However, all of these changes sound relatively minor, so ultimately, it will be up to the overall execution and polish to determine whether Metascores are higher this year than last.
9 of 13photo by Cold Iron Studios
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Co-op survival shooter
Out August 24 for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One
Emerging from a six-year development period (under newcomer Cold Iron Studios), Fireteam is the first console game based on the Alien film franchise since 2014's Alien: Isolation. Unlike that game, the emphasis here is on action rather than survival horror—so think more James Cameron, less Ridley Scott. Set aboard the USS Endeavor as it responds to a distress call that takes it to an alien-filled location, Fireteam takes place over two decades following the events of the third film; not that story is a major consideration here (though there are four campaigns to play through). Choose from five RPG-like classes for your character and over 30 weapons and team up online (with friends or with strangers via a matchmaking system) to take down waves (and waves) of Xenomorphs of varying species and behaviors. There's no cross-platform play (at least at launch), but the game supports cross-gen play in the same platform family.
10 of 13photo by 1C Entertainment
King's Bounty 2
RPG/Strategy
Out August 24 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch
The first official direct sequel to New World Computing's 1990 strategy/RPG King's Bounty—the game that launched the Heroes of Might and Magic franchise in all but name—King's Bounty 2 follows 2008's King's Bounty: The Legend, a game directly inspired by the 1990 original though more spinoff than a sequel. (The new game doesn't actually continue any storylines, so newbies can jump right in without missing anything.) The gritty tactical RPG is set in a fantastical open world—the Blight-infected land of Nostria—and incorporates multiple changes from its predecessors. Among other things, the camera angle has changed to an over-the-shoulder viewpoint, voice acting brings characters to life with spoken dialogue, and a new "Ideal" mechanic gives your character unique bonuses while also narrowing your available narrative choices based on which of the four potential alignments (order, power, finesse, anarchy) you adopt.
11 of 13photo by Xbox Game Studios
Psychonauts 2
Platformer
Out August 25 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One
If the 2020 Olympics can happen in 2021, why can't we also have one of the most anticipated games of 2018 come out this year? This long-awaited crowdfunded sequel to the cult hit 2005 platformer Psychonauts comes from the same developer, Double Fine, working on the new game since 2015. (Double Fine was acquired by Microsoft a few years ago, but since a PlayStation version of Psychonauts 2 was already in the works, it'll be the rare PS4 game to be published by Microsoft.) The sequel follows the young acrobatic psychic Raz, who has grown up (a bit) and now works as an intern at Psychonaut Headquarters. Expect Double Fine's usual sense of humor mixed with surprisingly weighty themes and a touch of surrealism. Xbox Game Pass subscribers (including PC subscribers) get the game on day one.
12 of 13photo by Grasshopper Manufacture
No More Heroes 3
Action-adventure
On August 27 for Switch
A (timed) Switch exclusive like 2019's Travis Strikes Again, the pandemic-delayed No More Heroes 3 is the first numbered entry in Suda51's humorous, cult hit, genre-blending action-adventure series in over a decade. This time, beam katana-wielding protagonist Travis Touchdown is back in his hometown of Santa Destroy after a self-imposed exile. It appears that extraterrestrials have invaded the town while he was away. But the winner of a galactic superhero tournament will determine the fate of Earth, so who better than Travis to be that hero—provided he can raise enough cash to cover the entry fee. Oh, and for longtime fans of No More Heroes, don't worry: Lawn Mowing Simulator isn't the only game with lawn mowing action out this month.
13 of 13photo by Amazon Game Studios
New World
MMORPG
On August 31, for PC
Arriving over a year after originally expected following multiple delays—assuming this latest date sticks—New World is by far the biggest game to date developed by Amazon's on-again, off-again game studio (which has seen all of its other major projects canceled). The massively multiplayer game is set in the 17th century and asks players to explore and colonize the newly discovered Atlantic island of Aeternum (a fantastical version of the Americas) either on their own or in groups of up to five members. Instanced dungeon quests, called "Excavations" here, are a key part of the game, though you'll also engage in real-time combat with three species of non-human creatures (and another even more mysterious plant-based enemy). Though you'll join one of three factions, a key difference from similar fantasy MMOs is New World's lack of character classes, a change made to allow more versatility in gameplay without needing to start from scratch with a new character. An ongoing beta has attracted a lot of interest (even as it has been bricking some high-end graphics cards), which could be a positive sign for the beleaguered developer.
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