August is shaping up to be a busy month for video game releases, with games big and small in different genres set to debut in the coming weeks. Two of the most anticipated games of the year are launching this month: Game Science’s action role-playing game Black Myth: Wukong and Ubisoft’s action-adventure Star Wars: Desperados. Black Myth: Wukong brings Souls-like combat set against the backdrop of Chinese mythology, while Star Wars Outlaws lets players become bounty hunters running around the galaxy.
In addition to the two AAA games, August also saw the release of a slew of different smaller games. Thank God you are here! , an indie comedy-adventure game developed by a two-person team, will be released on August 1; Concord, a first-person online hero shooter exclusive to PS5 and PC, will be available on August 23; Dustborn, a narrative-driven action-adventure game that takes players on a colorful road trip, will launch later on August 20.
There are a number of other games coming this month that will appeal to different types of fans. Here, we’ll take a look back at some of the most interesting games released in August, and take a look at our picks of the games to watch out for this month on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch consoles.
Thank God you are here!
Time: August 1
Location: PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Produced by two-person studio Coal Supper, thank goodness you’re here! Its cute cartoon art style immediately grabs your attention. This indie comedy-adventure game puts players in the role of a traveling salesman who takes on strange requests and tasks for the townspeople of Barnsworth. The game is set in northern England and relies heavily on Yorkshire humor and its vibrant art style.
You’ll meet and get to know different characters, take on strange quests, and go on surreal adventures. Thank God you are here! It will be released on August 1 for Mac, Windows (via Steam and Epic Games Store), PS4, and PS5.
Cat’s Quest III
Time: August 8
Where: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Five years after the release of Cat Quest II, the third installment in the action role-playing (RPG) series will debut this month. Cat Quest III recreates the quirky art style and creative storytelling that the series is known for. Developed by The Gentlebros, the pirate-themed game gets several new quality-of-life upgrades, such as the removal of HP bars for non-boss enemies and circles that glow faintly when monsters attack. Melee weapons and armor are also more balanced this time around. Additionally, the 2.5D open world features multiple new dungeons and biomes that should keep players hooked.
However, the main highlight of the game remains its character-based storytelling. You start out as a cute cat pirate on the Pribien Islands, an archipelago filled with pirates. They are all looking for the mythical treasure Polaris, and you must defeat them. On this journey, you’ll explore land and sea and defy the Pirate King’s orders with your trusty sword, pistol, and spell to summon shocking electric orbs.
Since this is an open world game, you have access to multiple islands where you can find treasure chests to hunt and weapons to upgrade. For fans of the original game, the combat mechanics are still very simple, but with improved animations, combat is even more immersive.
Black Myth: Wukong
Time: August 20
Location: PC, PS5 (Xbox Series S/X version TBD)
Since the first gameplay trailer was released in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has become one of the most anticipated games of this generation of consoles. Its gorgeous, fluid Souls-like combat, imaginative enemy designs, and incredible graphics have players counting down the days. Multiple gameplay trailers over the years have only fueled the game’s hype. This month, we’ll see if Black Myth: Wukong lives up to expectations.
Developed by Chinese studio Game Science, Black Myth: Wukong is inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, allowing players to take on the role of its titular monkey god protagonist. Armed with a magical staff and an array of abilities, Wukong embarks on a dangerous journey filled with challenging boss battles. The action RPG will be released on PS5 and PC on August 20th. Xbox Series S/X will be released at a later date.
dustbourne
Time: August 20
Where: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
It’s a single-player action-adventure game where robots, supernatural abilities, and complex relationships all come together on a road trip, which sounds like an odd combination, but that’s what you get in Dustbourne. The game’s graphic novel-style art and animation and story-driven narrative (possibly with multiple endings) only add to the flavor of the game.
You begin the game as Parks, an outlier with the power of writing who is tasked with delivering a package to the other side of the American Republic. As you travel long distances on the bus, you’ll meet and recruit new people with unique abilities while managing your relationships with them and completing numerous missions.
Parks’ word-based abilities introduce a new gameplay mechanic in which players must find specific words to control crew members and complete missions. There is a simple combat system in which the player must fight alone or with the help of teammates, but a large part of the game is dialogue-based and requires the user to make the right choices. If you’re a fan of visual novels, this is the game for you. One of the interesting features is 360-degree camera control, which Pax can use in different situations to recognize and analyze its surroundings and use it to its advantage.
harmony
Time: August 23
Location: PS5, PC
Concord is an upcoming multiplayer hero shooter from Firewalk Studios. This is the first game from the studio since Sony acquired MaybeMonsters in 2023. The studio’s founders include Ryan Ellis, Tony Hsu, and Elena Siegman, the brains behind the Destiny series, so we can expect their experience with online shooters to benefit Concord. From the trailer, we can expect a Guardians of the Galaxy-esque crew to “free fire” with us.
Imagine stepping into the shoes (or rather, space boots) of a starship captain in the vast, unknown universe. The game features stunningly detailed worlds and levels. Whether you’re negotiating with alien species, mining asteroids for resources, or battling space pirates, Concord lets you carve your own unique path through the galaxy.
Concord allows you to team up with friends or compete against them in space skirmishes that will engage you with customizable starships and a deep, immersive storyline. Players can choose from a variety of humanoid and alien mercenaries, known as Freelancers. Each Freelancer has unique weapons, defenses, abilities and movement skills, creating a unique playstyle for each choice. These mercenaries vary in agility, damage output, and special skills. For example, the Tactician increases reload speed, while the Ranger reduces weapon recoil, and the Ghost increases player mobility. Anchors, on the other hand, increase healing received, Breakers reduce the cooldown of dodge, and Wardens extend weapon range.
Akinbote
Time: August 29
Location: PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC
Imagine a vibrant, neon-drenched cityscape reminiscent of the PS2-era aesthetic, where you have to not only survive, but thrive amidst the chaos. Akimbot in Evil Birds of Prey thrusts you into the metallic boots of a rogue artificial intelligence with a mission: to overthrow a corrupt megacorporation that turns everyone into puppets. You’ll navigate a vast open-world environment filled with secrets, dangers, and the occasional friendly NPC who may just need saving. Equipped with a dizzying array of gadgets and weapons—from holographic decoys to mind-bending gravity grenades—Akimbot’s arsenal is as flashy as it is fun.
You take on the role of Exe, a quiet but fun robot with excellent platforming and combat abilities. Shipset is a reliable companion and a chatty, floating sidekick who once worked as an accounting robot before making a dramatic escape. The story begins on a starship where Exe and Shipset are imprisoned by intergalactic thugs. Their escape begins when their traveling prison crash-lands on a lush tropical beach planet, paving the way for an exciting adventure.
Akimbot also has a competitive multiplayer mode where you can show off your skills and climb the leaderboards. Whether you’re hurtling around an urban jungle on control roller skates or causing chaos with a powerful plasma cannon, the game is all about fast-paced strategic action.
Vision of Mana
Time: August 29
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Ouka Studio’s upcoming action RPG is the latest entry in the Seiken Densetsu series and puts you in the role of a young man named Val, who comes from the flame village of Tiania and travels with friends to visit the Seiken Densetsu tree. You’ll be able to engage in real-time team-based battles in Visions of Mana, which means you can switch characters and use special abilities.
Character progression includes the ability to unlock new features and upgrade existing gear, two things to look forward to in the upcoming RPG. Thanks to the semi-open world, you’ll be able to keep yourself busy exploring while discovering lore and completing side quests in Secret of Mana.
star wars desperadoes
Time: August 30
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
The first open-world game in the “Star Wars” series will launch later this month. Players will play as a thief named Kay Vess, trying to pull off the heist of a lifetime with her trusty sidekick Nix. The game will have you jumping across multiple planets while completing challenging missions and fighting other thieves in space.
If you want to relive Han Solo’s adventures across the galaxy, Star Wars Outlaws will take you to a series of areas from sparse deserts to dense jungles, using your wits to survive as best you can with the help of some handy gadgets and the deadly blasters popularized in the Lucasfilm films. Remember to think twice before making choices in the game, as your decisions will not only affect your reputation as the galaxy’s newest rookie villain, but also the outcome of your story and the game itself.
There are a number of other game announcements in August, including another Star Wars game. Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, a remake of the 2002 game, will launch on all platforms on August 1st.
For sports fans, Madden NFL 25 will be available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X on August 16th. The tenth expansion pack for the popular MMORPG “World of Warcraft: Civil War” will also be released on August 26 this month.
