July was a dull month for gaming. Console and PC gamers didn’t really have anything to look forward to, and even handhelds were starved for exciting new software. I am Setsuna finally released for all of the old-school RPG fans, but I don’t expect that one made it to the top of too many people’s “must play” lists. Monster Hunter Generations is a welcome addition to our 3DS libraries, and we did see some indie favorites like Videoball, Inside, Starbound , and Quadrilateral Cowboy . It was a month full of niche pleasures.
August is shaping up nicely, but we still only have two bigger titles to look forward to: No Man’s Sky and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided . For many those are the games that they’ve been waiting all year for, but for most, the good stuff is coming out in September and October. I mean all of the good stuff. There is so much being crammed into those two months, and if you’re planning on experiencing even half of it, you better start saving your money right now.
It would take all night to list all of the games coming out in September and October, so I’m just going to focus on the huge AAA releases – the stuff everyone is talking about. Even then the list is overwhelming. In the span of two months, we’re getting XCOM 2 on consoles, ReCore , Destiny: Rise of Iron, Final Fantasy XV, Paper Mario Color Splash, Gears of War 4, Rise of the Tomb Raider on PS4, Battlefield 1, Civilization VI, The Last Guardian, and Titanfall 2 .
Those are all huge games, and there are so many more besides. I know for a fact that many of you will be offended that I omitted Dragon Ball Z Xenoverse 2 , or Dragon Quest Builders . For others of you, the 3DS release of Dragon Quest VII and Forza Horizon 3 might be the only two games left on your most wanted list for the rest of the year; those will be released in that same eight-week span. Did I mention PlayStation VR is coming in October as well? Well, it is, and there will be a slew of launch titles to choose from as well.
You’re not made of money, and I’m not either. Out of all of those game listed, which should you buy immediately, and what can wait? I’ve been thinking about that myself, and I decided to choose one game per platform that shouldn’t be missed. If you can afford to buy every game you want, then go ahead; you’re mighty blessed. For the rest of us, and for the indecisive, these are my top picks.
PS4: The Last Guardian
This may come as a surprise. Final Fantasy XV seemed like the obvious choice here, but I’m still not convinced that it’s going to be “all that and a bag of chips.” Platinum Demo was interesting, but raised some concerns about performance and combat flow. The E3 stage demo didn’t do much to quell my fears, so I’m thinking it might be wise to wait for some reviews to make sure this isn’t a drag to play through. The Last Guardian seems like a safer bet. It will be a shorter game for sure, but no less character-driven. We’ve been waiting for both of these games for a very long time, so either way you’ll be part of a huge, excited community as you all play through the game for the first time.
Xbox One: Gears of War 4
I feel like a bit of a bro for recommending Gears over ReCore , but there’s just something about it. The fact that we have a new studio developing a new Gears that focuses on new characters excites me. This is something I’ll be picking up on Windows 10 after seeing the E3 stage demo, and first impressions from the multiplayer beta were generally favorable. The Coalition has a lot to prove with this one, and all signs point to a fall blockbuster not to be missed.
Wii U: Paper Mario Color Splash
Paper Mario wins by default, I suppose, but I am genuinely very excited to play this game. Screw the Sticker Star haters; Color Splash is its own game, and I believe it will set itself apart from past Paper Mario games and give series fans a new set of expectations for future entries.
PC: Battlefield 1
Battlefield games got their start on PC, and they’ve always shined the brightest on PC. Battlefield 1 looks so good, and is already so fun, that playing the game for a few hours during EA’s E3 event inspired TV and film star Terry Crews to go out and purchase all of the components necessary to build his own high-end gaming PC. If you haven’t watched that video, go do that right now. His excitement is every PC gamer’s excitement as we eagerly await the next beautiful, destructive, large-scale multiplayer war game from DICE.
Those are my top picks, but what are yours? Maybe your number one game this September or October wasn’t mentioned at all. If that’s the case, then holler at me in the comments and let me know what you’re looking forward to playing the most.