These are the game highlights for August

Rewind ten years, and August 2014 was also packed with some top-class titles. Rather than a whole game, the highlight was actually a playable demo or PT (playable teaser) for short. The teaser for the as yet unreleased new Silent Hill shocked millions of players worldwide – in a good way. This year’s August potentially also has something scary up its sleeve, although not quite as sweat-inducing.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter – amazing

Before the lawbreakers take over the sceptre at the end of the month with Star Wars: Outlaws, you get to play bounty hunter Jango Fett. This third-person shooter comes from Lucas Arts and was originally released for PS2 and Gamecube. Amongst other things, the spruced-up version offers better environmental textures and new lighting effects. The PS5 variant also benefits from exclusive DualSense functions.

When: 1 August
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Switch
Multiplayer: no

Thank Goodness You’re Here – gives you the giggles

Studio Coal Supper describes its game as joke’n’run, with a string of bizarre quips coming in hot pursuit. As a sales rep, you stroll through the northern English town of Barnsworth, get to know the locals and carry out their bizarre orders. The demo made me laugh a few times. It’s published by Panic, the studio behind Untitled Goose Game.

When: 1 August
Where: PC, PS5, Switch
Multiplayer: no

Creatures of Ava – taming instead of destroying

This game’s about saving a strange and brightly coloured ecosystem from a mysterious infection. From a third-person perspective, you explore a colourful world full of fantastic creatures. Using your special flute, you tame over 20 wild creatures to save planet Ava from «wilting».

When: 7 August
Where? PC, Xbox Series S/X
Multiplayer: no

Cat Quest 3: Pirates of the Purribean – purring through a treasure hunt

As in the predecessors, you explore an open game world as a cuddly kitten in this 2.5D action adventure. The fantasy setting of the previous game is now followed by a pirate theme. Armed with a sabre, pistol and magic, you fight against rebellious Pi-rats in search of the legendary North Star treasure. There’s also a boat you can use for travelling around the beautiful archipelago. I was already enchanted by the teaser version.

When: 8 August
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Switch
Multiplayer: local co-op for two people

Steamworld Heist 2 – release the pressure

We continue on the theme of pirates, as they also play the leading role in Steamworld Heist 2. But instead of cats, steam robots cut across the sea with their submarine. As well as smaller ocean battles in real time, the game focuses on turn-based, tactical fights, as in the first part. The aim is to use your Steambot’s different abilities correctly so you emerge from battles victorious.

When: 8 August
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Switch
Multiplayer: no

Preserve – comforting tile laying

Preserve is a relaxing nature puzzle where you have to make an ecosystem flourish. By placing plants and animals correctly on hexagonal squares, you create a perfect symbiosis. It’s reminiscent of the Dorfromantik game.

When: August 8 for early access
Where: PC
Multiplayer: no

The Crush House – pretend you’re in Jersey Shore

The concept behind The Crush House is refreshingly different. You manage a 1999 hit reality show of the same name by satisfying viewers with hot romances and placing tasteful ads to generate enough money for the next season. By night, you also need to uncover The Crush House’s dark secret. This game is published by Devolver and promises to be wonderfully weird.

When: 9 August
Where: PC
Multiplayer: no

Black Myth: Wukong – monkeying around

The action RPG has parallels with soulslike games and is meant to consist primarily of boss battles. You can take on the role of an ape-man from Chinese saga The Journey to the West. And you should expect numerous imaginative mythical creatures such as dragons, fearsome giant bears and fire-breathing stone skulls. I got the chance to play it at last year’s Gamescom and was incredibly impressed by the powerful battles and cinematic staging.

When: 20 August
Where: PC, PS5
Multiplayer: no

Dustborn – getting thrashed with words and a baseball bat

Set in a (more) dystopian version of the US, this game involves you delivering an important package as a con artist. You go on a road trip with an eclectic group of people. A robot steers your tour bus through a neo-western landscape. Then you fight against the authoritarian justice regime with a baseball bat and some strong words. Skyrim instantly comes to mind. You can also use words of power in conversations to manipulate people. It all sounds promising.

When: 20 August
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Multiplayer: no

Concord – heroic costume party

Concord is the latest hero shooter in the style of Overwatch. Two teams of five people compete against each other in six game modes from a first-person perspective. There are 16 characters, so-called freegunners, to choose from, plus 12 cards. The beta was fun. But whether that’s enough to hold its own against Overwatch 2 or the upcoming Marvel Rivals remains to be seen.

When: 23 August
Where: PC, PS5
Multiplayer: PvP

Endzone 2 – post-apocalyptic Sim City

You create new settlements out of the remains of a destroyed civilisation in this post-apocalyptic building strategy game. Endzone 2 is reminiscent of Sim City – the difference being you first have to make dangerous wasteland habitable. Only then can you build houses and factories.

When: 26 August for early access
Where: PC
Multiplayer: no

World of Warcraft: The War Within – Happy Birthday

The tenth expansion to this popular online role-playing game is being released to mark its tenth anniversary. It includes four new areas. Three are underground caves, but they’re meant to be spacious and varied when it comes to vegetation. Each class gets new hero talents. These are smaller, separate talent trees. The maximum level will also be increased to 80.

When: 26 August
Where: PC
Multiplayer: PvP and PvE

Visions of Mana – new look for the role-playing saga

Mana is a long-running Japanese role-playing game series that burst onto the scene back in 1991. At first glance, the latest instalment stands out with its detailed 3D graphics. Visually, the games have been rather modest to date. Protagonist Val embarks on a journey to the mana tree along with Hina, his childhood friend and consecrator of fire. In vast, semi-open areas, you fight wild monsters using the power of the elemental spirits.

When: 29 August
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Multiplayer: no

Monster Jam Showdown – vroom, vroom

Fans of monster trucks should keep their ears to the ground – well maybe not, it’s going to be loud. In this arcade game, you get to race fat-wheeled, roaring behemoths across off-road tracks, perform breakneck stunts and compete with friends in split screen.

When: 29 August
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Switch
Multiplayer: local and online PvP

Shadow of the Ninja Reborn – retro without Super Nintendo

What do you mean? Is there no retro game in the game preview? Scandalous. That needs to change immediately with this wonderful 2D action platformer. In this game you get the full 16-bit pixel romance. The title already gives the game away, this is a remake of an NES classic originally released in 1990. The new version is visually more reminiscent of SNES games. Shadow of the Ninja Reborn offers typical, frenetic battles against unusual opponents and lots of great power-ups.

When: 29 August
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Switch
Multiplayer: co-op for two people

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club – will make you laugh

Famicom Detective Club is an NES adventure game series. More than 30 years later, we’re seeing the release of a new part in the form of Emio. Nintendo made the announcement with a creepy mini-trailer showing a person with a paper bag and a painted-on grin. This is a point-and-click adventure where you play an investigator looking into a murder case. In a rare move for Nintendo, it’s given the game an 18 age rating, suggesting a more adult story than the other parts.

When: 29 August
Where: Switch
Multiplayer: no

Star Wars Outlaws – blaster instead of laser sword

As the saying goes, the best is saved for last. We’ll have to see if this is the case for Star Wars Outlaws. In the open-world action game, you take on the role of adventurous Kay Vess. With her loyal and cuddly companion Nix, she sets off across the galaxy in search of lucrative contracts and valuable loot. You can travel on foot, on a speeder bike or in a spaceship. In terms of the timeline, it’s set between parts two and three of the original Star Wars trilogy.

When: 30 August
Where: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Multiplayer: no

Game preview August

Which game are you looking forward to the most?

• Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
  5%
• Thank Goodness You're Here
  2%
• Creatures of Ava
  1%
• Cat Quest 3: Pirates of the Purribean
  3%
• Steamworld Heist 2
  2%
• Preserve
  1%
• The Crush House
  0%
• Black Myth: Wukong
  16%
• Dustborn
  0%
• Concord
  1%
• End zone 2
  8%
• World of Warcraft: The War Within
  8%
• Visions of Mana
  3%
• Monster Jam Showdown
  1%
• Shadow of the Ninja Reborn
  0%
• Emio - the smiling man: Famicom Detective Club
  1%
• Star Wars Outlaws
  38%
• Another
  8%

The competition has ended.