The Top Video Game Releases Coming in September 2024

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions

• Release Date — September 3, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Publisher/Developer — Warner Bros., Portkey Games/Unbroken Studios
• Genre — Sports

One of the lingering questions over the release of Hogwarts Legacy was where the popular fictional sport of Quidditch was. Many fans were left wondering whether it would eventually show up as part of a DLC after its absence from the title at launch. Of course, we now know that Hogwarts Legacy‘s lack of Quidditch is due to Warner Bros.’s plans for a standalone release focusing on the sport from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. That title is set to arrive on PC and modern consoles on September 3.

Summer Game Fest 2024 included a lengthy reveal trailer for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions that showed off plenty of gameplay from the title as well as its unique visual style, which has some obvious differences from the more realistic visuals and art direction of Hogwarts Legacy. Quidditch Champions looks to be a great single and multiplayer experience set in the Wizarding World that should hold players over until the eventual Hogwarts Legacy sequel.

Prison Architect 2

• Release Date — September 3, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
• Publisher/Developer — Paradox Interactive/Double Eleven, Kokku
• Genre — Simulation, Strategy

After several delays, players will finally be able to get their hands on Prison Architect 2 on September 3, 2024. This full-3D follow-up to the surprise indie hit takes the same prison building and management sim gameplay of the original and expands it into a new dimension. However, characters still maintain their distinctive designs reminiscent of the “Little People” toy brand even with the visual upgrade. Additionally, the game clearly is keeping its offbeat sense of humor intact to counterbalance the dour subject matter.

Star Trucker

• Release Date — September 3, 2024
• Platforms — PC
• Publisher/Developer — Raw Fury/Monster and Monster
• Genre — Simulation, Driving

There’s little denying that there’s an entire subset of gamers who can’t get enough of the various simulation titles available on PC. One of the more popular simulation subgenres is the Trucking Sim, and Star Trucker looks to capitalize on that popularity by delivering an atypical spin on the cargo-hauling strategic freight gameplay. “How?”, you might ask. Why, by transporting the setting into outer space, of course. Star Trucker is a Trucking Sim in every facet of its gameplay. But its unique galactic setting and outer space visuals are sure to give it a unique spin on an otherwise fairly crowded subgenre of simulation games.

Age of Mythology: Retold

• Release Date — September 4, 2024
• Platforms — PC
• Publisher/Developer — Xbox Game Studios/World’s Edge, Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media, CaptureAge, Virtuos Games
• Genre — RTS, Strategy, Action

One of the more long-awaited releases arriving in September is the remaster of the classic RTS title Age of Mythology. Like the original, Age of Mythology:Retold is a historical RTS title with a heavy emphasis on combat and accessibility. However, it abandons the historical accuracy of its parent series Age of Empires in favor of bombastic supernatural fights and epic clashes courtesy of its many ancient gods from various cultural mythologies. Age of Mythology: Retold is intended to act as the Definitive Edition of the spin-off game similar to the Definitive Editions of Age of Empires II and III. Further, the game has been completely rebuilt from the ground up to include modern visuals and quality-of-life touches strategy players now expect as standard.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl

• Release Date — September 5, 2024
• Platforms — PC, Xbox Series X/S
• Publisher/Developer — GSC Game World/GSC Game World
• Genre — FPS, Survival Horror, Action

Separated from the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (Shadow of Chernobyl) by almost 20 years, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl is one of the more long-awaited games on this list. The developers originally announced the title in 2010, only for it to go through a protracted development before settling on a 2022 release date. That date would inevitably get pushed back thanks to developer GSC Game World’s position as a Ukrainian studio and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with members of the development team even volunteering for military service.

Thankfully, the team was able to get back together and continue work on the game throughout the conflict, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will finally see the light of day in just a few months. It looks to be every bit the nail-bitingly intense FPS survival-horror game that its predecessor was, albeit with some truly stunning visuals that showcase how much technology has improved since the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and look to push PCs and Xbox consoles’ hardware to their limits.

Astro Bot

• Release Date — September 6, 2024
• Platforms — PS5
• Publisher/Developer — Sony Interactive Entertainment/Team Asobi
• Genre — Platformer

Just ahead of Summer Game Fest 2024, Sony held a PlayStation State of Play event. It was here that the company revealed one of the few first-party titles that it has in development for 2024. A full-length follow-up to the PS5 pack-in title Astro’s Playroom, Astro Bot is a pleasant surprise that looks to deliver all the charm and accessible gameplay of its predecessor on a much grander scale. In addition to all of the new types of platforming challenges shown off (including flying on a DualSense controller as a jet), Astro Bot looks incredible and will hopefully include even more inventive uses of the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback than Astro’s Playroom did.

What The Car?

• Release Date — September 9, 2024
• Platforms — PC
• Publisher/Developer — Triband/Triband
• Genre — Action-Adventure, Physics-based Driving, Indie

September has one of the more promising-looking physics-based driving games in a while with What The Car?. Based on its title alone, it’s obvious that What The Car? isn’t taking itself too seriously and is putting over-the-top fun at a premium. Gameplay footage revealed so far only serves to back up that claim, showcasing the exact kind of zany hijinks that players expect from physics-based games that play fast and loose with the laws of gravity. The title has a demo currently available on Steam that players can check out ahead of launch.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

• Release Date — September 9, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
• Publisher/Developer — Focus Entertainment/Saber Interactive
• Genre — Third-Person Shooter, Action

The original Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is something of a cult classic among both third-person shooter fans and Warhammer fans. Accordingly, it should come as no surprise that Space Marine 2 is one of the year’s most anticipated games. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a dramatic visual upgrade over its predecessor, though, boasting some truly impressive graphical fidelity alongside a stunning number of enemies on screen at any given time. It seems like the biggest draw for Space Marine 2 is that it’s a game that knows what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else, delivering hours of horde-shooting fun in a beautifully realized rendition of the Warhammer universe.

Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis-The Answer- DLC

• Release Date — September 10, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Publisher/Developer — Sega/Atlus
• Genre — RPG

The final piece of DLC for the remake of Persona 3 is set to arrive this September, with Episode Aigis-The Answer- marking the final chapter of Persona 3 Reload. Episode Aigis is, like the base game it is a part of, a remake of the original Persona 3 content. The DLC takes the original The Answer expansion and reimagines it within the context of Persona 3 Reload. That said, even if players experienced a version of the original Persona 3 that included The Answer expansion, Sega and Atlus are sure to have included some surprises in Episode Aigis that will make it a worthy conclusion to the Persona 3 Reload experience.

Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown

• Release Date — September 12, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S
• Publisher/Developer — Nacon/KT Racing
• Genre — Driving/Racing, Open World

The Test Drive series has somewhat vanished into obscurity over the last several years, but the upcoming Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown looks to change that. The return of the Test Drive franchise for the first time in over 10 years and the official follow-up to Test Drive Unlimited 2, Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown takes the open-world driving that the Unlimited spin-off series is known for. However, Solar Crown takes place on the island of Hong Kong, meaning Solar Crown will be one of the few titles in the Test Drive series that sees players driving on the left side of the road. The title is already looking great in terms of its visuals, so hopefully the gameplay will follow suit.

Demonschool

• Release Date — September 13, 2024
• Platforms — PC
• Publisher/Developer — Ysbryd Games/Necrosoft Games
• Genre — RPG, Tactics

One that RPG and tactics fans have had on their radars for a while (thanks to a strong showing in 2022 and some considerable buzz from hands-on preview builds) is Demonschool. Fittingly, this horror-themed TRPG/SRPG is arriving on Friday, September 13, and it seems like its final delay out of 2023 and into 2024 has only helped to make the title even more impressive. Owing to its Shin Megami Tensei and Persona influences, there does appear to be some light social sim elements at play, but the star of the show in Demonschool is undoubtedly its strategically rich and hyper-stylized tactical combat.

Funko Fusion

• Release Date — September 13, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Publisher/Developer — 10:10 Games/10:10 Games
• Genre — Action-Adventure

Obviously looking to cash in on the same kind of success that the LEGO brand has had with its licensing partner-themed games, Funko is entering the world of video games this September with the aptly named Funko Fusion. Similar to the many LEGO games that make use of the various IP partners in LEGO’s portfolio, players will get to experience a wide variety of iconic worlds and characters from across film and television in Funko Fusion, albeit in their unmistakable Funko POP form. The team behind this one happens to feature veteran developers from Traveller’s Tales (makers of several LEGO games) and has an impressive roster of licenses that are already revealed to be included such as Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, The Thing, and many, many more.

Phoenix Springs

• Release Date — September 16, 2024
• Platforms — PC
• Publisher/Developer — Calligram Studio/Calligram Studio
• Genre — Adventure, Puzzle

Fans of classic point-and-click adventure and puzzle games are eating good this year after the likes of Lorelai and the Laser Eyes, and they’re going to have what looks to be an amazing second course in Phoenix Springs this September. Having already won and been nominated for several awards well before its release, Phoenix Springs is an old-school point-and-click adventure game with a stunning art style, dense atmosphere, and heavy emphasis on narrative. Early reviews for the title are all glowingly positive and speak about how the title’s arresting visuals and captivating narrative pull players in and threaten to not let go, making Phoenix Springs the exact kind of game that adventure fans should be able to sink their teeth into this fall.

UFO 50

• Release Date — September 18, 2024
• Platforms — PC
• Publisher/Developer — Mossmouth/Mossmouth
• Genre — Action, Shooter, RPG, Strategy, Indie

One of the most exciting indies on the September release calendar, UFO 50 is a collaboration the likes of which the industry rarely sees. Rather than coming from a singular developer, UFO 50 is a team-up between several noteworthy indie developers (including the minds behind games like Spelunky, Downwell, and many others) to deliver 50 unique mini-games spread out across a variety of genres. While the games themselves are all different and come from the unique design perspectives of the many game makers behind them, they do all share a similar visual style that only adds to the unique presentation and charm of UFO 50 and its zany “indie Wario Ware Micro Games” approach.

God of War Ragnarök

• Release Date — September 19, 2024
• Platforms — PC
• Publisher/Developer — PlayStation Publishing LLC/Santa Monica Studio, Jetpack Interactive
• Genre — Action-Adventure

September will also see the PC release of God of War Ragnarok. This second chapter in the new Norse saga of the erstwhile God of War Kratos is every bit as incredible as its predecessor, 2018’s God of War. As you might expect, the PC version of the title features a slew of improvements to its visuals and performance. In addition to unlocked framerates and ultra-wide monitor support, God of War Ragnarok features a wide variety of upscaling options and all the content of the console release. This means that PC players will have access to God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla on day 1.

Enotria: The Last Song

• Release Date — September 19, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
• Publisher/Developer — Jyamma Games/Jyamma Games
• Genre — Action RPG, Soulslike

While it might not be as high-profile as some of the other Soulslikes releasing in 2024, Enotria is still worth checking out. Few Soulslike games use the Italian countryside as their setting, which makes Enotria all the more unique. The visuals and environments of Enotria are already fairly impressive and pull from some non-traditional design elements for the genre, but what remains to be seen is whether its gameplay matches up with its audiovisual fidelity. There is a demo available on Steam as of writing, so fans of Soulslikes or atmospheric ARPGs should definitely check it out.

Rusty Rabbit

• Release Date — September 24, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS5
• Publisher/Developer — SoFun/Nitro Plus
• Genre — Action Platformer

Too few games harken back to the golden age of Mega Man, which makes Rusty Rabbit all the more special. For fans of classic, tough-as-nails 8 and 16-bit action platformers, Rusty Rabbit is looking to be your huckleberry. The latest title from Gen Urobuchi, Rusty Rabbit puts players in control of an adorable anthropomorphic rabbit as it pilots a mech known as a “Junkster”. While traversing through a post-apocalyptic Earth, Rusty will fight and dig his way through several stages all while uncovering a narrative mystery. What’s nice about Rusty Rabbit is that it’s a pure action platformer and not a Metroidvania, giving itself the potential to stand out and not get lost in the crowded indie Metroidvania space.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2

• Release Date — September 26, 2024
• Platforms — PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
• Publisher/Developer — D3 Publisher/Yuke’s
• Genre — Shooter

The Earth Defense Force series is like Dynasty Warriors. Both franchises offer players something familiar and entertaining in each entry, only EDF games embrace the shooting genre whereas Dynasty Warriors titles are hack-n-slash mousou games. Accordingly, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 is very similar to its predecessor. Like the original World Brothers, World Brothers 2 is a voxel-based spin-off of the mainline Earth Defense Force games that sees players battling wave after wave of invading insectoid aliens. While it might be mindless, its absolutely fun, and players looking for a great multiplayer shooter should keep EDF: World Brothers 2 on their radar.

Reynatis

• Release Date — September 27, 2024
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
• Publisher/Developer — NIS America, Inc./FURYU Corporation
• Genre — Action RPG

The last major release of September is another action RPG, though it doesn’t appear to be a Soulslike. Instead, Reynatis is more in line with hack-n-slash ARPGs like God Eater or Scarlet Nexus, placing a greater emphasis on story and character development over weighty, methodical combat and overbearing difficulty. Like the aforementioned games that look similar to Reynatis, the title has an appealing visual style and some interesting anime-inspired character designs. While there aren’t any hands-on impressions or a demo just yet, the game’s unique switching between modern-day Tokyo and a fantasy setting should fit right in with fans of Scarlet Nexus.