Looking forward to the video game calendar is one of the most exciting things for any gamer. It’s always fun to see what developers are cooking up, and what players will soon be able to get their hands on.
Generally, August tends to be a pretty quiet month for video games. There are exceptions, of course, last year’s Baldur’s Gate 3 being the most notable in recent memory. Ultimately though, August is just an awkward month for a game to land in. It’s too late for the summer rush of titles but too early for the massive number of games released during the winter period for Christmas. As a result, you’ll often find mid-budget games looking to avoid the big hitters and carve out their own niche.
This August, it’s a particularly small selection of games, with only one title you might consider AA at best. Maybe we’ll see more announced for an August release over the next few months, but for now, here are the top video game releases coming in August 2024.
Polyoshapes (August 1, 2024)
First up is Polyoshapes. This indie puzzler is the second title from UnSweet, after their city-builder Reefland was released back in 2022. The premise is simple – fit the blocks outside the shape inside, without leaving any gaps.
For some, this will be the type of game they hop on for ten minutes here and there to pass the time. But that might be all it needs to be – a fun puzzle title with an interesting premise, and a ton of potential for new levels. After all, the shapes can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. If UnSweet pushes this idea to its full potential, we could be looking at a sleeper hit here.
As of right now, Polyoshapes is tied into an August 1 release date. As with any indie title not backed by a large publisher, this could be subject to change.
Aery – Ancient Empires (August 9, 2024)
The Aery series already has plenty of titles from developer and publisher EpiXR Games UG. This series of relaxing flight games sees players take charge of a bird as it flies around various atmospheric landscapes, with no enemies to harm you or challenge to face. They’re all about kicking back and finding your zen.
From the early images, Aery – Ancient Empires promises to be more of the same. According to the official description, the game will allow gamers to “watch ancient civilizations evolve,” which could give this title a unique element when compared to the rest of the series.
If you’re familiar with any of the other Aery games, we imagine you know exactly what to expect here. Aery – Ancient Empires is currently set for release on August 9, and it’ll be interesting what changes this release might bring.
Blood Bar Tycoon (August 13, 2024)
If you haven’t heard of Blood Bar Tycoon, that makes sense. It’s another indie title making the list, this time as the debut game of Clever Trickster Studio. This game offers the ability to become the manager of a vampire bar, where you lure in humans to drink their blood. You can hire other vampires and build the bar according to your vision.
Despite being such a small and unknown title, we’re highlighting Blood Bar Tycoon because of its premise, plain and simple. It’s such a unique take on the management genre, with a dark twist that’s sure to make it worth your time.
Blood Bar Tycoon is slated for release on August 13. With it being the first game from Clever Trickster Studio, we can’t wait to see what they’ve got up their sleeves.
Black Myth: Wukong (August 20, 2024)
Easily the biggest game on this list, Black Myth: Wukong is on the way courtesy of developer Game Science, which previously was responsible for Art of War: Red Tides. Its latest title is an action RPG, which, in its own words, is “rooted in Chinese mythology.”
Footage of the game looks extremely impressive, boasting an open world and deep combat against a bunch of unique enemies. It looks like a blast, and far higher-budget than you would expect from Game Science with some serious FromSoftware vibes.
As currently the biggest game releasing in August, a lot rides on its eventual quality. If word of mouth is good from players, we could see another surprise hit in Black Myth: Wukong. Based on the trailers, we’ll definitely be giving it a go.
Nightfall Hollow (August 21, 2024)
Nightfall Hollow touts itself as “a rich story driven game with a paranormal edge.” In the game, you play as Neo, a journalist looking to expose the spooky secrets of the titular town.
Players can speak to the town’s residents, and find various items hidden away to unravel the web that Nightfall Hollow weaves. Launching from publisher Deadlyspud Production on August 21, we expect Nightfall Hollow to be pretty low-key. Still, it’s an interesting premise that’s worth a look.
We told you it wasn’t a big list. No big names have currently committed themselves to an August 2024 release date, but with some expos still to come from the industry’s heavy-hitters, hopefully we see a few more added to this list.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Game Science.