August used to be a quiet month for games. Not anymore. This year it’s stacked with heavy hitters, throwbacks, and a few projects that could either surprise or crash straight into mediocrity. Here’s what’s coming and what’s worth paying attention to.
August 7
Gradius Origins (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
House of the Dead 2 Remake (Switch, PC)
Gradius is back. Konami’s calling it a return to form. Early footage looks solid enough—side-scrolling, twitchy, visually dense. They’re leaning hard into the retro vibe, but if the controls feel dated, it won’t hold attention for long.
House of the Dead 2 Remake is another shot at cashing in on nostalgia. The first remake was clunky, even after patches. Hopefully this one lands cleaner. If nothing else, it’s another excuse to hear some of the worst voice acting in gaming history.
August 8
Mafia: The Old Country (PS5, Xbox, PC)
This is easily one of the most interesting releases this month. Set in Sicily before the events of the original Mafia trilogy, it’s going back to roots in more ways than one. Less neon, more dirt and blood. If the storytelling hits and the pacing’s right, this could be one of the year’s best narrative games. But if it leans too hard into open-world filler, it’s just another mob game with a big map.
August 11 or 14
Madden NFL 25 (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2)
It’s Madden. They’ve added a few buzzwords about AI and footwork again. Either you’re already in, or you’ve been out for a decade. The Switch 2 version could be the most interesting if it’s not just a stripped-down legacy build again.
August 14
Drag x Drive (Switch 2)
Looks like a hyper-stylized arcade racer with anime flair. Could be fun in short bursts if the handling is tight and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Not much coverage so far, which usually isn’t a great sign.
August 19
Sword of the Sea (PS5)
From the team behind Abzû and The Pathless. Gorgeous to look at, probably chill to play. You’re surfing across a dead world on a hoverblade. Journey fans will eat it up. Just don’t expect deep mechanics or anything that really pushes the medium forward.
August 22
Dying Light: The Beast (PS5, Xbox, PC)
Techland is back again, and the hook remains the same—zombies, parkour, and nighttime panic. If they can nail the story this time and give us fewer filler fetch quests, this could be their best one yet. If not, it’s more of the same. Which, to be fair, still works when the movement hits right.
August 26
Gears of War Reloaded (PS5, Xbox, PC)
Helldivers 2 (Xbox)
Gears Reloaded is Microsoft finally giving the series a clean-up. Less bro-y nonsense, more weight and grit. Could be exactly what Gears needs, or it could be another limp attempt to stay relevant.
Helldivers 2 making its way to Xbox is news in itself. Still one of the best co-op shooters of the generation. If the port runs well, Xbox players are in for a good time.
August 27
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (Switch, Switch 2, PC)
Harvest Moon-style farming, bartering, relationships. You know what this is. A safe game that people will sink 100 hours into while pretending they don’t like life sims. This one’s tied to a fan-favourite DS entry, so the nostalgia will help it sell.
August 28
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PS5, Xbox, PC)
This is the one. Konami’s chance to prove they can remake Kojima’s work without killing the soul of it. The original Snake Eater is iconic. If this version feels lifeless or if the new visuals come at the cost of tone, there’s going to be hell to pay. No pressure.
August 29
Lost Soul Aside (PS5, PC)
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (PS5, Xbox, PC)
Lost Soul Aside is finally happening (I bet it doesnt) Flashy combat, anime visuals, and a development story so long it makes FFXV look punctual. Could be the surprise of the month if it holds together.
Shinobi’s return looks slick but cautious. It’s leaning on stealth and stylish kills, but Sega needs to prove they can modernize Shinobi without turning it into a Souls clone or a forgettable action slog
Final Thoughts
August 2025 is overloaded. Metal Gear and Mafia are the two biggest risks and biggest opportunities. Dying Light and Gears could round things out with solid action, while the rest either fall into niche appeal or get buried.
Expect delays. Expect bugs. But if even half of these land properly, August could end up more memorable than most holiday release windows.
Let’s see who actually shows up.