Despite August sitting smack dab in the middle of summer, video game publishers are already gearing up for the big second-half push. As a result, August gets a notable boost in game releases, with the month featuring plenty of exciting titles. Black Myth: Wukong impressed critics when it was revealed in 2020, and it continues to wow with its superbly polished visual presentation and engrossing combat. It launches this month, delivering a fascinating action-RPG reimagining of the Journey to the West for a global audience. Shmup fans have Cygni: All Guns Blazing on deck, a dazzling shoot ’em up that features excellent visuals, tight controls, and a fascinating depth system that keeps you engaged with enemies in the air and on the ground.Don’t overlook last month’s games, either. Hoyoverse’s Zenless Zone Zero introduced tight team-based melee action, stylish visuals, and an excellent OST to PC and mobile players in July. First Descendant also impressed with its fun third-person shooting, team-based multiplayer synergy, and free-to-play progression. Read on to see what else July has in store. Check out other gaming options in our best PC games roundup, and peruse our 2024 video game calendar to see what other titles are coming later this year.
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Tomba! Special Edition
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5Release Date: August 1, 2024Rating: E10Tickle your nostalgia with the return of this PS1 classic. Tomba! Special Edition is an enhanced port of the original game that features improved loading and save functions, analog controls, and a remastered soundtrack. In it, you vanquish hordes of malevolent pigs with simple platforming and throwing mechanics. Discover treasures, meet quirky characters, and explore the colorful 2.5D world we enjoyed on that PlayStation sampler demo many years ago.
Cygni: All Guns Blazing
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/SRelease Date: August 5, 2024Rating: E10The Konami-published Cygni: All Guns Blazing is poised to deliver intense, arcade-style shmup action. Enjoy dazzling visuals and flourish, paired with intense waves of bullet-packed enemy assault. Cygni’s big gimmick is depth: You must engage enemies in the air and on the ground. An orchestral score wraps it all up in one neat, action-dense package.
Cat Quest III
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/SRelease Date: August 8, 2024Rating: E10Cats, pirates, and adventure await in Cat Quest III. You play as a daring kitty privateer who explores the pirate-themed 2.5D world. The Purribean archipelago is beset by Pi-rats, and it falls on you to stop them. Beat them up via side-scrolling action, or take to the sea and engage in cute naval battles on the world map. Cat Quest III is playable solo or local co-op.
SteamWorld Heist II
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SRelease Date: August 8, 2024Rating: E10The seas have become deadly to robot-kind, and Captain Leeway and his Steambot crew must unravel the mystery behind the corruption. Explore and do battle on an expansive world map, or raid bases and dungeons to engage in turn-based, side-scrolling combat. Aim is integral to the flow of battle: You must skillfully target foes or cleverly ricochet shots to optimize your damage each turn. Customize your crew with different roles and equipment, upgrade your gear, or relax at a lively bar and enjoy some music by Steam Powered Giraffe.
Madden NFL 25
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SRelease Date:August 16, 2024Rating: EMadden NFL 25 goes back to basics via a new physics-based tackling system powered by BOOM tech, revamped Hit Stick controls for improved defensive plays, and tightened animations. Franchise Mode enjoys a refresh, too, with dynamic storylines, personality management, and redesigned draft mechanics.
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Black Myth: Wukong
This creative reimagining of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West follows the Destined One on an adventure through a world of myth and legend. Black Myth: Wukong frames this journey around challenging action-RPG mechanics, including melee combat, spells, and transformations. Powerful monsters and bosses await, demanding that you master the game’s many systems to make progress. An adaptive difficulty system means that the game never gets too hard.
Concord
Round up your Freegunner buddies and dive into the Concord galaxy for some 5v5, hero-focused, first-person shooting. You play as a member of the Northstar, a rabble of mercenary outlaws. Concord tweaks the common matchmaking mechanics seen Overwatch and similar games by limiting you to a team of characters you select before a match. You are encouraged to swap between characters between rounds to accumulate perks, rather than sticking to a favorite.
Visions of Mana
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/SRelease Date: August 29, 2024Rating: TThe Mana series is one of Square Enix’ most established franchises, right alongside Final Fantasy. Visions of Mana is a new series entry that takes you on another sweeping action-RPG adventure across the colorful and cartoonish world of Mana. Visions features semi-open fields with monsters to fight and secrets to find. The party-based combat system lets you swap between characters on the fly, and expanded aerial mechanics let you evade and fight much more seamlessly than the previous iteration, Trials of Mana.
Star Wars Outlaws
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/SRelease Date: August 30, 2024Rating: THang up your laser sword and pick up a blaster in Star Wars Outlaws. You play as Kay Vess, a scoundrel trying to find a better life. Fight, steal, and swindle to pay off a massive debt you owe a crime syndicate. Explore the bustling cities across the galaxy, take on jobs, speed around the map, and undertake any challenges that come your way to make some scratch. Engage enemies in third-person shooting, or sneak around enemies to avoid trouble. Combat even takes you to space, where you can take foes down in dogfights.
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