With the summer slowly coming to an end and kids everywhere heading back to school, video games releases are finally starting to heat up again. August is the rare month where we will be treated to an absurd amount of new releases that are destined to keep every type of gamer busy for quite awhile. The following list highlights 20 games coming out this month along with videos and links for more info on each game. Without further ado, here are the Best Games of 2013 for the month of August.
Full Title: Pikmin 3
Developers: Nintendo EAD Group No. 4
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Wii U
Release Date: August 4th (North America) Available Now in Europe
Nintendo’s popular real-time strategy based video game series is finally getting the sequel that diehard fans have been waiting for. Pikmin 3 expands on the gameplay elements of previous entries and allows players to control a team of up to 100 creatures, utilizing each individual’s talents to explore worlds, solve puzzles, and uncover treasures. Fans who enjoyed Pikmin 2 on the Gamecube need not hesitate to pick this game up when it launches in the US on August 4th.
Full Title: Dragon’s Crown
Developers: Vanillaware & Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Platforms: PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita
Release Date: August 6th (North America) TBA (Europe)
Dragon’s Crown is a unique action-role playing game that functions primarily as a stylized traditional side-scrolling beat ’em up. Set in a medieval world full of swords and sorcery, players will have the ability to play with up to 3 of their friends and experience all the action and excitement of the main campaign together.If you’re a fan of action RPGs and you happen to own a PlayStation Vita, then you owe it to yourself to tryout this game.
Full Title: Tales of Xillia
Developers: Namco Tales Studio
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Platforms: PlayStation 3
Release Date: August 6th (North America) August 9th (Europe)
Tales of Xillia is a popular Japanese role-playing game that was originally released in Japan way back in 2011 and is now getting a localized US release this month. If you ever got a chance to check out any of the games in the Tales series, then you should already have a good idea of what to expect from this game.
Full Title: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Developers: Starbreeze Studios
Publisher: 505 Games
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC
Release Date: August 7th (North America and Europe)
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a story-driven adventure game in which two brothers must work together to find a cure for their ailing father. While the game is one of the title’s listed on Microsoft’s Summer of Arcade promotion, it will also be available on both the PlayStation 3 and PC on the same day.
Full Title: Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Developers: AlphaDream
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: August 11th (North America) Available now in Europe
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is a role-playing game in which players can explore environments together and participate in grueling turn-based combat battles with enemies.The Nintendo 3DS has had a phenomenal year full of great releases and this game easily adds to that list.
Full Title: Payday 2
Developers: Overkill Software
Publisher: 505 Games
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC
Release Date: August 13th (North America and Europe)
Overkill Software’s insanely popular Payday series receives a sequel that promises more improvements and gameplay tweaks than the previous release. Payday 2 ups the ante considerably by adding unlockable heist missions and ways to upgrade weapons and items. If you were a fan of the first then you should find yourself right at home with this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N0PzqF9gWY
Full Title: DuckTales Remastered
Developers: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PC
Release Date: August 13th (North America and Europe) September 11th for the Xbox 360 Version
Capcom’s remastered version of the popular DuckTales video game features several new performances by the original voiceover cast. In addition to the rich HD graphics, fans can expect the same gameplay experience that made the original game a classic.
Full Title: Europa Universalis IV
Developers: Paradox Development Studio
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Platforms: PC, Mac OSX, and Linux
Release Date: August 13th (North America and Europe)
Europa Universalis IV is a grand strategy game set within the time period between November 11th, 1444 and January 1st, 1821.Fans who are heavily into strategy based war games should definitely check this out.
Full Title: Charlie Murder
Developers: Ska Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Platforms: Xbox 360
Release Date: August 14th (North America and Europe)
From the makers of The Dishwasher comes a heavy metal stylized RPG brawler about a band on a mission to settle debts and defeat adversaries. Charlie Murder is not only the hottest title on the Summer of Arcade lineup but it’s also the most unique of the bunch. If you enjoyed any of the Dishwasher games then do yourself a favor and pick this up on day one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz61FxmTOVM
Full Title: Disney Infinity
Developers: Avalanche Software
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Platforms: Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, PlayStation 3, PC and Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: August 18th (North America) August 20th (Europe)
Taking inspiration from Skylanders, Disney Infinity is an action-adventure platformer that allows Disney and Pixar characters to team up and go on adventures together.The game will feature two distinct play modes in which separate worlds and gameplay scenarios are created based off of individual movies. This ambitious game is aimed at kids and diehard fans of both Disney and Pixar animated films.
Full Title: Saints Row IV
Developers: Volition, Inc.
Publisher: Deep Silver
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC
Release Date: August 20th (North America) August 23rd (Europe)
Saints Row IV is the one game on this list that needs absolutely no introduction. After surviving a brutal THQ bankruptcy process, Volition teamed up with Deep Silver to create arguably the most outrageous Saints Row video game yet. Armed with an array of new weapons and uncanny superpowers, the leader of the Saints sets out to stop an Alien invasion and experience all types of hilarity along the way. If there is one game that you do decide to pick up this month, make sure it’s this one.
Full Title: The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
Developers: 2k Marin
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC
Release Date: August 20th (North America) August 23rd (Europe)
Ever since 2K Games announced that they were making a first-person shooter XCOM game, many fans grew anxious to see what they would ultimately come up with. The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a dramatically different type of game now and has essentially taken on the identity of a third-person squad-based tactical shooter. If you’re a longtime fan of the XCOM series, then you might want to keep an eye on this one.
Full Title: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Developers: Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PC
Release Date: August 20th (North America) August 23rd (Europe)
Tom Clancy’s latest Splinter Cell game highlights Sam Fisher as the leader of Fourth Echelon and in the midst of a global terrorist epidemic. Splinter Cell: Blacklist promises to offer a nice balance between both new and old gameplay mechanics to keep fans engaged on virtually every level. If you enjoyed previous entries in the series, then you’re guaranteed to enjoy Blacklist as well.
Full Title: DiveKick
Developers: One True Galaxy Studios and Iron Galaxy Studios
Publisher: Iron Galaxy Studios
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PC
Release Date: August 20th (North America and Europe)
DiveKick is a 2D competitive parody fighting game that builds it’s personality off of mocking famous fighting games like Street Fighter. The player is only allowed to use a kick and jump button throughout the game, making literal use of the divekick title. This game was highly praised at several shows like PAX East and PAX Prime throughout the years.
Full Title: Flashback
Developers: VectorCell
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC
Release Date: August 21st (North America and Europe) TBA (PlayStation 3 and PC versions)
Flashback is a science fiction platform video game remake of the original 1992 Flashback. The game is also part of the Summer of Arcade promotion that runs all August long.
Full Title: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Developers: Square Enix Product Development Division 3
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PC, and PlayStation 4 (post-launch)
Release Date: August 27th (North America and Europe)
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set approximately 5 years after the release of the original Final Fantasy XIV. The game is currently in open beta for those who are lucky enough to get a key.
Full Title: Killer Is Dead
Developers: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher: Xseed Games
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Release Date: August 27th (North America) August 30th (Europe)
Suda 51 returns to the director’s seat with a brand new hack and slack video game. Killer is Dead follows the story of an executioner by the name of Mondo Zappa and is set within a futuristic timeline. If you’re a fan of any of Suda’s other games, then chances are that you’ll definitely want to give this one a try.
Full Title: Lost Planet 3
Developers: Spark Unlimited
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC
Release Date: August 27th (North America) August 30th (Europe)
Lost Planet 3 is a third-person shooter that serves as a prequel to the previous two Lost Planet games in the series. This game is expected to have a much more story-driven focus this time around and will also adopt an overall western development style feel to the gameplay experience as a whole.
Full Title: Madden NFL 25
Developers: EA Tiburon
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (post-launch)
Release Date: August 27th (North America and Europe) November 2013 for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions
With Football season right around the corner, Madden NFL 25 is poised and ready to attract even more fans this year. With use of the new EA Sports Ignite game engine, Madden NFL 25 will offer new gameplay features and enhanced graphics on next-gen consoles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbIjCxilbKU
Full Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows
Developers: Red Fly
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC
Release Date: August 28th (North America and Europe) September 24th for the PlayStation 3 version
After taking the world by storm with their popular Nickelodeon cartoon, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are preparing to invade the gaming space again. Out of the shadows will be your standard action-adventure game with a four-player online mode for drop-in and dropout co-op action.
This concludes my list of the best games worth picking up this month. Will any of you guys be purchasing any of these titles? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
