With summer coming to an end, the gaming offerings in August bring with them tales of dimensions and worlds in peril, a brother’s quest to save his sister, a long-awaited evolution of a classic story, a new season of gridiron glory and a chance to see how humble beginnings can lead to a criminal empire lasting decades.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2
Step into battle in this demon-fighting sequel. Based on the anime of the same name, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 continues Tanjiro Kamado’s journey through three different arcs: Entertainment District, Swordsmith Village and Hashira Training. Continuing on his mission to find a way to undo the curse which has turned his sister Nezuko into a demon, Tanjiro must travel the lands, battling other demons and finding the pieces of information which will lead the siblings to their ultimate goal. Either working alone or with allies and friends, players will be able to explore the world of Demon Slayer and uncover new details, which will allow you to become a master of your skills so when the time comes, you are ready to do battle.
Players who pre-order the Physical Standard Edition will receive a set of mini stickers drawn by ufotable, while those who pre-order the Digital Standard Edition will receive character unlock keys for Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji. The Digital Standard Edition also includes character unlock keys for Academy Rengoku and Academy Uzui, along with the base game. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game, the character keys in the Standard Edition, the Upper Demons voice set (Akaza, Daki, Gyutaro, Gyokko and Zohakuten) for VS Mode, bonus Battle Attire for Tanjiro/Inosuke and Uzui and additional character unlock keys for Tengen Uzui, Obanai Iguro, Sanemi Shinazugawa and Gyomei Himejima.
Players who have save data from either Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles or Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Sweep The Board! will be able to unlock special bonuses if the data is on the same platform.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC from August 5*
Mafia: The Old Country
Go back to the beginning in this Mafia prequel. Set in 1900s Sicily, Mafia: The Old Country follows the story of Enzo Favara, a young man looking to make a better life for himself after a childhood spent in forced labour. Swearing his oath to the Torrisi Family, Enzo soon discovers that his place in the family will require many sacrifices along the way, as the underworld of Sicily is brutal and unforgiving. As both allies and enemies are unpredictable, players will have to tread carefully as they travel the island and learn the ropes to climb the ladder and prove themselves to the Don so Enzo can live the life he’s always dreamed of, away from the horrors of his past.
Players who pre-order will receive the Soldado Pack, containing distinctive cosmetics and a helpful Charm. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, the Padrino pack – featuring additional weapons, a Padrino outfit, Eckhart Speciale limousine and Cosimo horse – a digital artbook, digital copy of the original score and the Gatto Nero pack – which includes a bonus weapon, Charm, outfit and Carozella Nero race car.
Mafia: The Old Country will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC from August 8*
Madden NFL 26
Get ready to play in this year’s Madden release. For Madden NFL 26, the gameplay modes have been honed by an AI-powered machine learning system trained by real-life play in the NFL to bring players the most authentic and realistic experience on and off the field. Navigate harsh weather as you play through the season, have more control over the details of defensive plays and work with adaptive counters from the sidelines with Coach DNA. From opening day all the way to the bright lights and splendour of the Super Bowl, players will be able to assemble their dream teams and play their way to prove they are worthy of lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Standard Edition includes the base game, Cover Athlete Elite Player Item, Superstar XP boost and Franchise Coach ability points. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, all the Standard Edition content, up to seven days Early Access, 4600 Madden points, the ability to compete in Early Access bonus challenges and a Player Card exclusive item. Those wanting to experience the full journey from high school recruit to NFL Legend can do so with the MVP Bundle, which includes the Deluxe Editions for both Madden NFL 26 and EA Sports College Football 26, along with a bundle-exclusive MUT Elite Player Item.
Madden NFL 26 will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC from August 14*
Lost Twins 2
Navigate a dream world in this charming puzzle platformer. In Lost Twins 2, Abi and Ben return as they find themselves having to navigate dreamlike worlds. Facing an ever-changing array of puzzles, the siblings will have to work together if they want to reconnect with each other. Players will be able to explore the living storybook locations either solo (with the ability to switch between Abi and Ben seamlessly) or in co-op with a friend. Joining the siblings on their journey is Fenghuang, a mythical creature inspired by a legendary phoenix, who guides the duo as they unlock each piece of the puzzle held deep within the dreams.
Players looking to get a taste of Lost Twins 2 before release will be able to do so via the demo available on Steam.
Lost Twins 2 will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from August 14*
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
The world of Snake evolves with this reimagined adventure. In Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, players will relive the story of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater with all the action, drama and gameplay all elevated thanks to an evolutionary leap into Unreal Engine 5, allowing the world to be rebuilt in even more detail. Set in 1964, players will take Snake on his mission to not only track down and destroy the Shagohod – a Soviet superweapon – and the scientist behind it, but he must also face a ghost from his past in The Boss, Snake’s former mentor who has defected to the Soviets amid growing Cold War tensions.
Players who pre-order any edition will receive the White Tuxedo uniform, while those who pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition will also receive up to 48 hours of Early Access. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the Sneaking DLC pack, featuring a selection of stealth gear for Snake, including new uniforms, faces and equipment. The physical Deluxe Edition includes the base game, Sneaking DLC, a Steelbook case, keyring, FOX Iron-On patch, art cards and limited-edition packaging. The Collector’s Edition includes the base game, all the content in the Deluxe Edition, a 23cm (approx.) bust of Snake and the game’s soundtrack on vinyl with a digital code included for those without a record player.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC from August 28*
Lost Soul Aside
Travel through dimensions and worlds to save your home in this action-adventure. In Lost Soul Aside, siblings Kaiser and Louisa have lived on their own in Slum Harbour after losing their parents. Seeking revenge against the Empire and its oppressive rule, the pair are part of the resistance group GLIMMER. But the group’s plans are soon derailed by the arrival of the Voidrax – invaders from multiple dimensions who conquer worlds and absorb their power – and Louisa is among those captured. In order to save his sister, Kaiser joins forces with Arena, a Voidrax warrior who is haunted by the actions of his past and is looking to undo some of the damage he once caused by helping to take down Aramon, the ruthless leader of the Voidrax, who’s own desire for power and revenge has corrupted him into a monstrous tyrant.
Players who pre-order will receive the Origin outfit, 10 High Potion and 500 Divinity’s Gold coins to help them get started. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game, three weapon fragment cosmetics (Genesis Thunder, Everlasting Ember and Crystal of Abyss), the Golden Blaze arena skin, a Ruby Necklace health booster, Gemstone badge XP booster, a digital soundtrack and digital artbook.
Lost Soul Aside will be available on PlayStation 5 and PC from August 29*
Free to Play
On PlayStation, players with an active Plus subscription will be able to claim three titles to download and keep on all tiers as part of their subscription. From August 5*, Lies of P will be available for both PS4 and PS5, with DayZ and My Hero One’s Justice 2 available for PS4. In addition, a special set of Anniversary Avatars will be available at no extra cost as part of PlayStation Plus’s 15th Anniversary.
Full details on this month’s selection of games available as part of a Prime Gaming connection – including the titles available to play on Amazon’s Luna cloud streaming service – can be found on the Prime Gaming website.
Also Released This Month
August 1* – Wander Stars (Switch, PC)
August 4* – Catto’s Post Office (PC), Valiant Tactics (PC)
August 5* – Dfiance (PC), Turbo Kid (Switch)
August 7* – 1000 Deaths (PC), Gradius Origins (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC), Hidden Memories of the Gardens Between (Quest, PS VR), The House of the Dead 2: Remake (Switch, PC), Wildwood Down (PC), Operation Night Strikers (Switch, PC), Static Dread: The Lighthouse (PC), Tiny Bookshop (PC), Endless Legend 2 (PC), Chained Echoes – Ashes of Elrant DLC (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch), Make Room (PC), Ritual of Raven (Switch, PC)
August 8* – Slackjaw (PC),
August 11* – Whisper Mountain Outbreak (PC)
August 12* – Echoes of the End (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), Fallen City Brawl (PC), Shields of Loyalty (PC), Abyssus (PC), Dungeon Stalkers (PS5, PC), Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced Edition (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), World War Z (Quest, Steam VR), Ra Ra BOOM (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC)
August 14* – A Fistful of Yankees (PC), Drag x Drive (Switch 2), Ovis Loop (PC), Iwakura Aria (Switch, PC), Lord Ambermaze (PC), Midnight Murder Club (PS5, PC – leaving Early Access), Dorfromantik (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5), Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition (PC)
August 15* – OFF (Switch, PC), Bendy: Lone Wolf (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC)
August 16* – Touhou Kinjoukyou – Fossilized Wonders (PC)
August 19* – Sword of the Sea (PS5, PC), Delta Force (Xbox Series X/S, PS5)
August 20* – Black Myth Wukong (Xbox Series X/S), Morbid Metal (PC)
August 21* – Discounty (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC), Grit and Valor: 1949 (Quest, PS VR2, Steam VR), Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC), Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Mac, PC)
August 25* – Particle Hearts (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC), Pizza Bandit (PC)
August 26* – Gears of War: Reloaded (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), Helldivers 2 (Xbox Series X/S), Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC)
August 27* – Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (Switch, PC), Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World (Switch 2)
August 28* – Super Robot Wars Y (PS5, Switch, PC), The Knightling (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC), Destiny: Rising (iOS, Android), Goblin Cleanup (PC), NOROI KAGO: the Grudged Domain (Switch), iVarlet (PS5, Switch, PC)
August 29* – Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC), Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC)
Dates refer to UK release only. International dates may vary. Information correct at the time of writing
Words by Megan Roxburgh
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