Summer is gradually coming to an end, which is a cause for sadness for some. But for gamers, the real hot days are just beginning. Although the main releases of the year are still far away, August is still able to please video game fans with interesting new releases in various genres. In the last month of summer, for example, the long-awaited MOBA SMITE 2, the promising action game Black Myth: Wukong from the Chinese studio Game Science, cute cat adventures in Cat Quest 3, and a new game from the Star Wars universe by Ubisoft will be released.
Thank Goodness You're Here
Release year August 1, 2024
Genre 2D adventure, platformer, puzzle game
Platforms Windows, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
This absurd comedy game is set in the quaint town of Barnsworth. The protagonist, a traveling salesman, arrives in the city for an important meeting with the mayor, but gets there a little early. So he has time to explore the local sights and get to know the residents, who are happy to give him the most unexpected tasks. With each completed task, new areas of the city open up, and the errands become more and more bizarre. The colorful inhabitants come to life thanks to vivid hand-drawn animation, spoken dialogues, and ambiguous hints that are literally everywhere. The game's graphics are very interesting thanks to hand-drawn characters. Moreover, Thank Goodness You're Here has a wonderful voice acting with a British accent, which adds a special charm to it.
World of Goo 2
Release year August 2, 2024
Genre puzzle
Platforms Nintendo Switch, Windows, MacOS, Linux
Puzzle fans, especially those with a Nintendo Switch, are eagerly awaiting the second installment of the outstanding World of Goo game that first appeared on Nintendo Wii and PC back in 2008.
The predecessor had a lot of achievements: critics praised the game for its beautiful and thoughtful physics, and the Academy of Interactive Arts recognized the game's design. All this and more is promised in World of Goo 2.
As in the first part, the heiress will offer players to get immersed in the changing world of slime creatures with which you can build bridges, grow towers, shape the landscape, and power flying machines. But now we're looking forward to a real slime simulation, meaning that everything will stretch and splatter beautifully, as well as new types of balls, and on Switch, local co-op for up to 4 players. The Ukrainian text localization has also been brought over, as stated on the game's page in the Epic Store.
Creatures of Ava
Release year August 7, 2024
Genre action/adventure
Platforms Windows, Xbox Series X|S
Creatures of Ava is an indie adventure coming to PC and Xbox and immediately debuting on Game Pass. The game tells the story of a young explorer named Vic who crashed on the mysterious planet Ava. Now she's exploring the colorful terrain and trying to save its unusual inhabitants. The fact is that the local fauna is suffering from an unknown deadly infection, so the main character will have to make a lot of efforts for the harmonious existence of this beautiful world.
You can also tame a couple dozen bizarre creatures with the help of a flute. The authors promise a non-violent combat system and interesting terrain to explore. The story of Creatures of Ava is written by Rianne Pratchett, the writer of Mirror's Edge, Tomb Raider (2013) and the daughter of science fiction writer Terry Pratchett.
Cat Quest 3
Release year August 8, 2024
Genre action/RPG
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Series ONE, Nintendo Switch
Sometimes pirates can be very cute. Especially if they are cats. These are the sea robbers players will encounter in the third installment of the famous 2.5D open-world feline role-playing game. In addition to cats, there will be rat corsairs, which are not so cute anymore and, as you might guess, hostile to the protagonist.
Cat Quest 3 takes place on a fantastic pirate archipelago in the Purribian, or if translated according to Ukrainian traditions, the Murribian Sea, where tailed pirates are looking for the North Star, a long-lost mythical treasure. The place is full of dangerous rats, but the main cat bravely plows the local oceans and goes in search of treasure. If you are not familiar with the series, you may be misled by the "childish" graphics and not very serious-looking characters. In fact, this is a real role-playing game.
In the third part of the cat's adventures, we will continue to level up the hero, his weapons and spells, fight in real time, and explore the picturesque terrain with a variety of dungeons and biomes. There are plenty of cute dialogues and side quests given to the cat by the locals. The main difference between the third part and the second is the battles on the seas: you jump on your ship and can repel attacks from other ships or attack them. The game also features local co-op support, which allows two people to play together on the same device.
SteamWorld Heist 2
Release year August 8, 2024
Genre tactical strategy, role-playing game
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox ONE, Nintendo Switch
In SteamWorld, the main type of living creatures are steam robots. So water is a source of life for them, just like for us. But suddenly this source became poisonous: the robots began to rust for unknown reasons. The player takes on the role of Captain Leeway and has to find out what went wrong in this world.
The game is a turn-based strategy game with a side view, except for those moments when we travel on a ship between locations (here is the top view). Our hero, the captain, assembles a team of various robots. All robots in this world look different and are assembled from different parts, which gives them unique abilities and specializations. The player can determine the weapons for their fighters, creating snipers, melee fighters, bombers, flankers, engineers, etc.
In addition, the game offers unique items that allow you to customize your team to your needs. So everything is in the hands of the tin captain, that is, the player. But be prepared for serious challenges, because the enemies also assemble difficult teams. They can be robots or representatives of a local "organic" cult whose members replace mechanical parts with bones.
SteamWorld is part of a series of games connected by the same world, but completely different in gameplay from Image & Form (now Thunderful Development). The first part of SteamWorld Heist was released back in 2015.
Level Zero: Extraction
Release year August 13, 2024 [Early Access].
Genre multiplayer, online action, horror
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Another interesting Ukrainian project, Level Zero: Extraction. The game will be available on Steam on August 13, and later on consoles. Level Zero: Extraction is a multiplayer game with asymmetrical PvPvPvE battles and horror elements.
This action-adventure game offers two different experiences: players can play as aliens or as mercenaries. Aliens use their unique abilities to hunt humans by being vulnerable to light and using traps and other tricks. Mercenaries, on the other hand, have a wide variety of weapons, including familiar and fictional prototypes, and can use gadgets to aid in survival and exploration.
Black Myth: Wukong
Release year August 20, 2024
Genre soulslike, action/RPG
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
At the end of the summer, a "Chinese God of War" called Black Myth: Wukong will be released. According to Valve, this soulslike has become the most anticipated game of August on Steam. Perhaps the game will be really outstanding, or perhaps gamers just missed grandiose games of this format. Or maybe the PR people did a great job. In the press, Black Myth: Wukong was accompanied by sexist scandals that turned out to be the result of a mistranslation.
So, we are looking at an action game with RPG elements based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and Chinese mythology. Of course, the game is not a literal reproduction of the original source, the authors took only the key elements from the novel and created their own story based on them. In addition, the Chinese studio Game Science does not even call the protagonist "Monkey King Sun Wukong" and refers to him as the Chosen One traveling to the West.
Gameplay-wise, the game resembles Dark Souls, Sekiro, and God of War, but it also promises its own unique mechanics. Thus, the hero can take different forms, changing his appearance and acquiring new abilities.
Dustborn
Release year August 20, 2024
Genreadventure
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox ONE
In Dustborn, we are immersed in the world of an alternative America in 2030, divided into parts. Players control an adventurer and swindler (seriously, is this a new fashion for such characters?) who can use words as a weapon, and this is the main gameplay feature of the game. The heroine decides to build a new life and agrees to transport an important cargo.
During the journey, she meets various misfits, some of whom become her friends and join the team, adding their unique abilities. Together, this team of outcasts must overcome many obstacles - through manipulation, cunning, and strength - to reach the end of the journey and leave their sad past behind.
They will travel on a tour bus with a robot at the wheel. The game has an interesting graphic style that combines three-dimensional space with comic book-style art. The authors promise a variety of game mechanics and storyline branches, depending on the player's choice. The developers of the game are involved in the creation of Dreamfall Chapters and Draugen.
SMITE 2
Release year August 27, 2024
Genrerole-playing action, MOBA
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
We already wrote about this game last month, but its release was postponed after the article was published. And since SMITE 2 is the second most anticipated game of August according to Valve, we can't just leave it out.
So, at the end of August, online skating fans are waiting for the sequel to the fantasy MOBA action game in which players play the role of mythical gods. The new version promises improved graphics, refined mechanics, more spectacular battles, auto-leveling and auto-advancement features, cross-play and cross-progression, as well as many game modes. Let me remind you that the original game was released more than 10 years ago and has gathered more than 40 million players.
Star Wars Outlaws
Release year August 30, 2024
Genre action/adventure
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
New games and movies in the Star Wars universe appear quite often, but their scale and quality do not always meet the expectations of fans. Nevertheless, every time there is hope in the back of your mind that the next release will change the situation. Let's see if it happens on August 30, when the new Star Wars Outlaws game will be released.
In it, we find ourselves in the company of mercenaries and bounty hunters. The protagonist, Kay Wess, is an adventurer who seeks to carry out one of the largest heists in the history of the galaxy. Kay has a companion - a cute creature named Nyx, whose abilities are a full-fledged gameplay component of Star Wars Outlaws. The game will have different factions and a reputation system that determines who you will be friends with and who you will fight.
The Star Wars Outlaws genre can be defined as a stealth action game with role-playing elements. Most of the time, the player will have to hide, look for safe paths, and eliminate enemies unnoticed. Nix, who is good at distracting attention and picking up objects, will help with this. And the main character does not have many skills at the beginning, so she needs to look for teachers. In addition to planets, the game has space, of course. We will be able to fly from planet to planet and help ships that have been attacked.
Other interesting games coming in August 2024
Cygni: All Guns Blazing – is an indie shoot 'em up about an invasion of warlike aliens with detailed and interesting graphics. August 6, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S)
Precinct – a small "GTA in reverse" where we play as a cop. August 12, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S)
Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse – is a remake of the adventures of Sam and Max, in which the heroes learned to look into the future and read other people's minds. August 14, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One)
Farewell North – in this adventure, we transform into a dog. The world has become black and white, and it needs to be restored to color. August 15, 2024 (Windows, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch)
Concord – is a multiplayer shooter that is somewhat reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy. August 23, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 5)
World of Warcraft: The War Within – is the tenth addition to the cult MMORPG, which will feature new locations and a maximum character level of 80. August 26, 2024 (Windows, Mac)
Core Keeper – is out of early access on PC, and is coming to consoles and Game Pass in version 1.0. A sandbox mining adventure similar to Terraria, Starbound, and Minecraft. August 27, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch)
Gori: Cuddly Carnage – is a game about another cute but very belligerent cat. Fluffy lives in a world where humanity has been destroyed, but he has a smart hoverboard and a gloomy companion, the CH1-P drone. Together, the heroes must defeat the evil Magic Army. August 29, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch)
Visions of Mana – a new large-scale jRPG of the Mana series, August 29, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X|S)