By Darryn Bonthuys on

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Now is the summer of our sweet gaming content–unless you’re bundling up down in the southern hemisphere–and on the gaming calendar, August is bringing the heat with a mix of high-profile releases, ports, and indie games. There’s a sense of familiarity with this month’s releases, as Xbox is continuing its new multiplatform strategy by bringing its Gears of War remake to Xbox and PlayStation consoles, Nintendo is keeping the momentum on the Switch 2 going with an upgraded version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake is finally out this month.

Between those big releases, we’ve also got a new Mafia game, Black Myth: Wukong heads to Xbox Series X|S consoles, and Delta Force is also expanding to new platform frontlines. Overall, August is shaping up to be a comfy period ahead of the tsunami of big releases scheduled for the months ahead. For a broader look at the rest of the year, you can check out 2025’s upcoming game release dates.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2

  • Release date: August 1
  • Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch

The anime adaptation of Demon Slayer is preparing to go out with a bang thanks to a trilogy of films that cover the final story arc, but for anyone who needs to catch up on this series, you can hop into a new game this month. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 sticks to the arena-fighter action of the first game, and it once again follows protagonist Tanjiro Kamado. This entry covers the Entertainment District, Swordsmith Village, and Hashira Training storylines, and with CyberConnect2 on development duties, it looks like it’ll be another anime-accurate action game.

Gradius Origins

Gradius Origins

  • Release date: August 7
  • Platforms: PC

Classic shoot-’em-up games aren’t exactly in high demand these days, but if you’re looking to revisit the past, then you can grab a ton of retro action in Gradius Origins. A collection of seven arcade titles–including Gradius 3 AM Show for the first time ever on console–this compilation of arcade classics also comes with some nice quality-of-life upgrades, like save states, a rewind feature, and Invincible Mode. There’s also an art gallery for video game historians to enjoy and a new training mode to help you hone your skills for when you want to set a speedrun record.

Tiny Bookshop

Tiny Bookshop

  • Release date: August 7
  • Platforms: PC

The first House of the Dead remake wasn’t well-received when it launched, but could the second time be the charm for this revival of the classic arcade rail-shooter? That remains to be seen, as you’ll once again step into the shoes of a secret agent tasked with mowing down undead hordes so that you can get to the bottom of a mystery. Developer MegaPixel Studio says that players can expect remastered graphics and music, new modes, and gameplay that’s faithful to the original zombie-slaying adventure.

The House of the Dead 2 Remake

The House of the Dead 2 Remake

  • Release date: August 7
  • Platforms: PC, Switch

The first House of the Dead remake wasn’t well-received when it launched, but could the second time be the charm for this revival of the classic arcade rail-shooter? That remains to be seen, as you’ll once again step into the shoes of a secret agent tasked with mowing down undead hordes so that you can get to the bottom of a mystery. Developer MegaPixel Studio says that players can expect remastered graphics and music, new modes, and gameplay that’s faithful to the original zombie-slaying adventure.

Mafia: The Old Country

Mafia: The Old Country

  • Release date: August 8
  • Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

After several months of high-profile–and massive–open-world games, Mafia: The Old Country is shaping up to be a palette cleanser for anyone looking to grab something more focused. Set during the early parts of the 1900s, this $50 game from developer Hangar 13 isdesigned to be a short-but-bittersweet tale of loyalty in the cutthroat criminal underworld. Set in the old country of Sicily, Hangar 13 says it aimed to create a game that doesn’t require a massive time commitment, but also features a compelling story.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Definitive Edition

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition

  • Release date: August 14
  • Platforms: PC

Over 20 years since it first launched, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is making a comeback with a new Definitive Edition release. This updated version of the classic real-time strategy game features widescreen and 4K resolution support, upscaled textures, and various other visual upgrades, as well as an improved HUD. All of the expansions are also included, and 64-bit modding support has been added.

Madden NFL 26

Madden NFL 26

  • Release date: August 14
  • Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2

Football fans get a one-two punch of games focused on the exciting sport, and following the release of EA’s College Football game earlier this year, it’s time for the pros to shine. Arriving just in time for a new season of IRL NFL action, this year features Saquon Barkley on the cover, several gameplay mechanics have been overhauled,and it might even be worth picking up on Switch 2.

Drag x Drive

Drag x Drive

  • Release date: August 14
  • Platforms: Switch 2

The year of the Switch 2 continues with another exclusive release in the form of Drag x Drive. A 3v3 sports game that requires you to use both Joy-Cons in mouse mode to control the player’s wheelchair, you’ll also need the motion-control gestures to shoot some hoops. A very limited-time demo for it is available ahead of its launch, but it’ll only be available to Switch 2 owners with a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

Midnight Murder Club

Midnight Murder Club

  • Release date: August 14
  • Platforms: PC, PS5

While there’s no shortage of competitive first-person-shooter games, Midnight Murder Club puts a novel spin on this genre by forcing you to fight for your digital life in the dark. Set in a mansion where the lights have been switched off, you’ll have to make tactical use of your flashlight and keep an eye open for muzzle flashes as you use the darkness to your advantage. The game features detailed positional audio to help you zero in on other players, and this will be the full release of the game following its early access period on PC and PS5 that started last year.

Delta Force

Delta Force

  • Release date: August 19
  • Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S

The modern free-to-play revival of Delta Force landed on PC last year, and it’s ready to establish a beachhead on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S this month. The game has been fairly popular on Steam, and with its console release, interested players looking for an alternative to Call of Duty can expect to dive in with free modes, Operators, and DLC.

Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong

  • Release date: August 20
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Arriving exactly one year after the PS5 launch, Black Myth: Wukong is bringing its blend of Chinese mythology and souls-like action to Xbox Series X|S consoles. The game has been a massive hit since launch with more than 25 million units sold. It’ll be interesting to see just how much of an impact Xbox will have on those numbers when the game completes its journey to the west.

Sword of the Sea

Sword of the Sea

  • Release date: August 19
  • Platforms: PC, PS5

There’s cause for celebration whenever the studio behind Abzu and The Pathless–Giant Squid–releases a new game, and in August, you can crack open a bottle of bubbly for Sword of the Sea. The game looks like a spiritual sequel to Journey–not too surprising considering that studio founder Matt Nava was the art director on that game–as you traverse a world of deserts in a grand effort to resurrect a buried ocean. The cool thing about Sword of the Sea is that it’s essentially Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater meets high fantasy, as you’ll master the Hoversword on your epic quest.

Gears of War Reloaded

Gears of War Reloaded

  • Release date: August 26
  • Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Gears of War: Reloaded brings the classic series of beefy soldiers to PS5 in August, remastering it for a whole new audience. This version features 4K textures, revamped lighting and shadows, and 120 FPS in multiplayer modes, as well as cross-play and cross-progression support. across all platforms. Even better, all of the post-launch content from Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and the original Xbox 360 version has been included here, making this the definitive edition of the first Gears game.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2

  • Release date: August 26
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Helldivers 2 has been one of the best live-service games to play on PC and PS5, and it’s finally headed to Xbox Series X|S this month. Best described as Starship Troopers meets Warhammer 40K, the third-person action game features intense firefights and a tongue-in-cheek attitude that has made it a fan-favorite since it launched last year. Just remember: whether you’re dealing with gross oversized insects or strange visitors from a distant galaxy, every problem can be solved with the power of democracy and several kilotons of explosives.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar

  • Release date: August 27
  • Platforms: PC, Switch 2, Switch

In case you’re looking for something cozy this month, you can’t go wrong with Story of Seasons. Like previous games in this life-sim franchise, you’re given free rein to live a peaceful life on your farm, but this time there’s a big focus on also making a tidy profit from your labor. Expect to grow crops, raise animals, mingle with the people of Zephyr Town, and help restore the town’s bazaar to its glory days in this wholesome adventure.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

  • Release date: August 28
  • Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Remaking what many fans consider to be the best Metal Gear Solid game is no walk in the park, but it looks like this revival of Snake Eater is at least aiming to stay as true to the source material as possible. Our Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater preview found the game to be a “relatively straightforward, modernized remake of the original” and over the last couple of months we’ve seen Konami reveal a few legacy features that have also gotten a makeover.

Destiny Rising

Destiny Rising

  • Release date: August 28
  • Platforms: iOS, Android

A brand-new Destiny game for mobile devices, Destiny: Rising is set in an alternate timeline before the events of the original game. As a freshly resurrected Guardian–or iconic characters like Ikora Rey and the Iron Lord Jolder–it’s up to players to keep humanity safe and players can expect to embark on missions, strikes, PvP battles, and PvE showdowns.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

  • Release date: August 28
  • Platforms: Switch 2

In case you missed it when it first released on the Switch a few years ago, Kirby and the Forgotten Land will feature enhanced visuals and several performance upgrades when it floats onto Switch 2 this month. This edition includes the base game plus the new Star-Crossed World expansion, and if you’re looking to upgrade your Switch copy, you can do so for $20.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

  • Release date: August 29
  • Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch

Yo Joe (Musashi)! Shinobi is making a comeback in a new action-adventure game from the team behind Streets of Rage 4, and it looks like this action-adventure will be another love-letter to the golden age of Sega. Visually, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance looks impressive with its hand-drawn visuals and the gameplay looks like a blast of ninja power and lethal precision.

Lost Soul Aside

Lost Soul Aside

  • Release date: August 29
  • Platforms: PC, PS5

Almost a decade has passed since Lost Soul Aside was first revealed, and following a short delay earlier this year, it’s finally ready to rock. The game looks like a spiritual successor to Devil May Cry with its stylish action and edgy character designs, as you can expect fast-paced combat, puzzles, and titanic boss fights in this single-player game.

The Rogue Prince of Persia

The Rogue Prince of Persia

  • Release date: August TBC
  • Platforms: PC

After a lengthy period of early access, The Rogue Prince of Persia is finally ready for its full release. Developed by the Dead Cells team, this Prince of Persia game shares quite a bit of DNA with that beloved metroidvania roguelike, but it also has an acrobatic flair and an intriguing story to help set it apart. The early access version of the game was already solid, but since then, it has received several massive updates, including one that overhauled the art direction to make it look more faithful to the source material.

Is This Seat Taken?

Is This Seat Taken?

  • Release date: August TBC
  • Platforms: PC, Switch, iOS, Android

Finally, a video game about the most stressful job imaginable: organizing seats. Is This Seat Taken bills itself as a no-pressure game where you’ll use logic to solve seating puzzles, but when you’re faced with arranging people with very particular social tastes in environments like a cinema, a crowded bus, or a cramped taxi cab, it’s natural to start sweating. This looks like it’ll be a fun diversion from the bigger releases this month, if you can handle the social stress of playing matchmaker to please picky characters.

August 2025 games

August 2025 games

  • Wander Stars (PC, Switch) – August 1
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) – August 1
  • Hello Kitty Island Adventure (PS5) – August 1
  • Turbo Kid (Switch) – August 1
  • ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 5 (Switch) – August 7
  • ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 6 (Switch) – August 7
  • Gradius Origins (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) – August 7
  • The House of the Dead 2: Remake (PC, Switch) – August 7
  • Operation Night Strikers (PC, Switch) – August 7
  • Ritual of Raven (PC, Switch) – August 7
  • Tiny Bookshop (PC) – August 7
  • Mafia: The Old Country (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) – August 8
  • Echoes of the End (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) – August 12
  • Ra Ra BOOM (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) – August 12
  • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (PS5) – August 12
  • Dorfromantik (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) – August 14
  • Drag x Drive (Switch 2) – August 14
  • Madden NFL 26 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) – August 14
  • Midnight Murder Club (PC, PS5) – August 14
  • Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition (PC) – August 14
  • Bendy: Lone Wolf (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) – August 15
  • Off (PC, Switch) – August 15
  • Touhou Kinjoukyou: Fossilized Wonders (PC) – August 16
  • Delta Force (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) – August 19
  • Sword of the Sea (PC, PS5) – August 19
  • Black Myth: Wukong (Xbox Series X|S) – August 20
  • Discounty (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) – August 21
  • Grit & Valor: 1949 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) – August 21
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 (PS5) – August 21
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4 (PS5) – August 21
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie (PS5) – August 21
  • Magical Librarian Ariana: The Books of the Seven Heroes (PS5, PS4, Switch) – August 21
  • Gears of War: Reloaded (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) – August 26
  • Helldivers 2 (Xbox Series X|S) – August 26
  • Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution (PC) – August 26
  • Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) – August 26
  • Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (PC, Switch 2, Switch) – August 27
  • Destiny: Rising (iOS, Android) – August 28
  • Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (Switch 2) – August 28
  • The Knightling (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) – August 28
  • Lens (PS5, PS4, Switch) – August 28
  • Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) – August 28
  • NOROI KAGO: the Grudged Domain (Switch) – August 28
  • Super Robot Wars Y (PC, PS5, Switch) – August 28
  • Varlet (PC, PS5, Switch) – August 28
  • Lost Soul Aside (PC, PS5) – August 29
  • Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) – August 29
  • Is This Seat Taken? (PC, Switch, iOS, Android) – August TBC
  • The Rogue Prince of Persia (PC) – August TBC
  • TurretGirls (PC) – August TBC