August is, generally speaking, the final month during which you can expect hot weather to grace the UK.
From September onwards, things start to cool down a little, autumn kicks in, and the gaming release schedule ramps up as well, bringing major AAA releases and indie darlings to tide us over during the cold and cruel winter.
That’s not to say there’s nothing to play in August, of course; if you’re the kind of person who prefers to spend their summer indoors playing video games (as we are), then you’re well-served by this month’s release schedule.
Let’s take a look at the best games coming your way in August 2024.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch – August 1st)
Star Wars fans are eating well this month. Between Bounty Hunter and Ubisoft’s open-world extravaganza Outlaws, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy in August if you love Star Wars.
This remaster of the 2002 classic stars bounty hunter Jango Fett, following his story as he tracks down a Dark Jedi and investigates a sinister criminal conspiracy along the way.
While Bounty Hunter will almost certainly show its age despite its visual and gameplay tweaks, this one is a must-play for anyone who has even an iota of early-2000s gaming nostalgia.
SteamWorld Heist 2 (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch – August 8th)
The original SteamWorld Heist has one of those combat systems that feels so intuitive and innovative that it’s a wonder no developer has used it before.
That system, which allows you to aim bullets so that they ricochet off walls and other solid objects, will return in SteamWorld Heist 2, together with an expanded world map and other new features.
If you loved the original Heist, then there’s no reason to believe you won’t adore this one as well, since it’ll essentially offer an improved and augmented version of the tactical RPG action you already know and love.
Stormgate (PC – August 13th)
Created by ex-Blizzard staffers Tim Campbell and Tim Morten, Stormgate is a free-to-play RTS that promises to catapult the genre into its next generation.
Its initial release will be in Early Access, but that means that if you pick the game up, you’ll get the chance to shape its future development, so it’ll truly turn into the RTS the audience wants it to be.
If you’re a fan of early Blizzard strategy games like StarCraft or Warcraft, then you owe it to yourself to give this one a look, especially since it won’t cost you a penny to do so.
Black Myth: Wukong (August 20th)
Black Myth: Wukong has been turning heads ever since it was first revealed in 2020, and now, its release is finally imminent, so we’ll get to play it soon.
While Wukong has often been described as a Soulslike, its developer Game Science doesn’t agree, so what exactly this game is will be an interesting point of discussion when it launches.
One thing’s for sure, though: it looks great, and if the action feels half as fun and stylish as it looks, then we’re in for a treat when this one arrives.
World of Warcraft: The War Within (PC – August 22nd)
Final Fantasy XIV’s latest expansion Dawntrail was released in June, so now it falls to Blizzard’s titanic MMORPG to pick up anyone who hasn’t been absorbed into Eorzea and its struggles.
The War Within is once again helmed by creative director Chris Metzen, who’s well-known for overseeing the Warcraft series and serving as the creative lead on influential RTS Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.
What Metzen brings to the MMO remains to be seen, but many are already calling this a potential return to form for a game that has been wavering up and down in quality terms for a number of years now.
Concord (PC, PlayStation 5 – August 23rd)
When Concord was revealed, its debut trailer raised some eyebrows for what many considered to be a derivative tone, as well as the fact that Concord is a hero shooter.
Whether or not that genre’s time has come and gone will perhaps be answered on August 23rd, when Sony and Firewalk Studios launch their colourful Guardians of the Galaxy-inspired romp into the world.
It’s got all the usual hero shooter trappings: a diverse cast of heroes with different abilities, huge maps across which to wage war, and everything else you’d expect from the genre.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club (Nintendo Switch – August 29th)
Nobody expected Nintendo’s supremely creepy Emio trailer to turn out to be a new entry in the Famicom Detective Club series, but that’s exactly what it is, and it arrives on August 29th.
The game will take the form of a visual novel in which you can investigate areas, talk to witnesses and suspects, and gradually solve the titular case of the Smiling Man.
If you love games like Ace Attorney, Hotel Dusk, and Danganronpa, then this one’s definitely for you.
Visions of Mana (PC, PlayStation, Xbox – August 29th)
Visions of Mana represents the fifth mainline entry in the Mana series, as well as the first new main game in the franchise for almost 20 years.
The game reunites many of the series’ most important creative figures, so if you’re a Mana fan of old, you’ll almost certainly recognise the classic feel of this action RPG.
Even if you’ve never played a Mana game before, this should be a great place to start thanks to its endearing art style and action-packed combat.
Star Wars Outlaws (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S – August 30th)
The first ever open-world Star Wars game (or so Ubisoft would have you believe) is finally launching in late August, and it looks like an impressive one indeed.
If you’re a fan of Ubisoft’s open-world formula – think Far Cry, earlier Assassin’s Creed games, or the recent Avatar tie-in game – then you’re almost sure to love exploring this wretched hive of scum and villainy.
The game will tell an original story in the Star Wars universe rather than adapting any existing movies or ancillary media, although you will see a few familiar faces along the way.
