These long lists have proven popular thanks to continued interest in the archived release round-ups. That being the case, I’ll continue to store them for posterity and because it’s always fun to look back. There are so many interesting video games that release unnoticed, so check out a few that came out in August and click on a link or two!
Motordoom | August 2 | PC (Lin, Win) | Our opener this month looks like a fun fusion of Quake and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Riding on a “chainsaw driven pit bike” you must navigate monster filled arenas full of scenery that just so happens to be perfect for pulling tricks on. In these arenas it’s up to you to execute both special moves and your enemies, earning points to spend on progressing your character via “demonic offerings”.
Death Nomad | August 2 | PC | I’ve always had a soft spot for zombie survival games, and Death Nomad looks like it’s going to deliver those desperate yet exhilarating moments where you’re fighting to simply stay alive. With a procedurally generated world where you must build defences, craft the items you need, and loot everything in sight, if your idea of a good time is the end times, keep tabs on this one.
Rune Seeker | August 5 | PC (Mac, Win) | One of the strategy rogues that really stands out this month is Rune Seeker, and it’s not just because of the game’s bright and bold visuals. In this deckbuilder you must assemble a team of heros, equip them with powerful runes in potentially thousands of combinations, and then engage in turn-based battles with a broad range of fantasy monsters.
Loopstructor | August 7 | PC | After playing a bunch of different roguelite tower defense games recently, I was instantly drawn to the central premise of Loopstructor. The key differentiator here is that your towers are placed on looping tracks, which leads to a constantly moving playing field. It looks chaotic, but perhaps that’s what the genre needs.
Mortal Glory 2 – Reign of Tyrants | August 7 | PC | One of my most anticipated content drops of the month is Reign of Tyrants, an expansion for the excellent turn-based roguelike Mortal Glory 2. There’s loads of new content coming, including a mode that replicates the action of the first game. For more, you’ll find my interview with MG2’s developer right here!
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers | August 8 | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | I’ve been waiting for this one since I played the demo a few weeks back. This plucky little deckbuilder fuses the best aspects of Black Jack with a dizzying array of new cards. Your ever-growing deck goes with you as you explore a number of different locations, playing the characters you encounter until you’ve wiped out their points. It’s all about pushing your luck and knowing when to stick or twist.
Here’s a link to my review, if you’re up for some follow-up reading!
Cultist Simulator | August 8 | PlayStation and Xbox (it’s already out on PC and Switch) | A blast from the past, Cultist Simulator was groundbreaking when it first landed back in 2018. In this historically themed deckbuilder you’re tasked with setting up a cult, fending off rivals, and staying sane in the face of Lovecraftian horrors.
Dead Age II | August 8 | PC, PlayStation, and Xbox | Dead Age II is another console port of a previously successful PC game. This one takes inspiration from the likes of Darkest Dungeon, but throws players into a zombie apocalypse. If you’re after a mash-up of turn-based combat and survival elements, check this one out (it’s super cheap on PC right now, too).
Knock on the Coffin Lid | August 8 | PC (Mac, Win) | I’m adding this one after the fact, because at the time of writing it has already left Early Access. I’m playing through the campaign now and having a jolly time, and my first impressions of the game are rather positive, so I wanted to make sure that this story-driven fantasy deckbuilder was at least mentioned in this round-up, even if I missed it the first time around.
I really enjoyed this one, as noted above. You’ll find a review right here.
Cult of the Lamb: Unholy Alliance | August 12 | PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, and Xbox | For many, the addition of couch co-op to Cult of the Lamb will be the biggest release of the month. We’re planning on playing it in our house, with my teenage son controlling the eponymous lamb, while either my wife or myself will control his sidekick, the goat. Family bonding at its finest.
Nova Drift | August 12 | PC (Mac, Win) | This sci-fi shooter has been in the works for some time, but now it’s ready to exit Early Access on PC Steam. The bold but simple art style is somewhat abstract, but it facilitates a frantic action-RPG experience where you must upgrade your biomechanical spaceship via modular enhancements in order to take down the hordes of enemies that are out to destroy you.
Nova Drift is in great shape for its full launch. Here’s my review.
Shoulders of Giants: Ultimate | August 12 | PC | This bright and bold sci-fi roguelite looks like it could be a blast, played alone or in co-op (with up to four players). Shoulders of Giants: Ultimate gives off goofy Risk of Rain vibes, except for in this case players are controlling a giant sword-wielding robot that is being ridden by a space frog with a gun. Sounds trippy – but in a good way.
Adrenalin Rampage | August 13 | PC | It wasn’t really on my radar until today, but I like the look of Adrenalin Rampage and I think it could end up being an interesting game. The hook, for me at least, was combining survivors-like gameplay with a side-scrolling dystopian space city setting. Throwing in “techno-mutants” was just the cherry on the cake. I’ve got my fingers crossed for this one.
Orbs of Chaos | August 15 | PC | I’m not sure why, but I’ve got a feeling that Orbs of Chaos might well be one to watch. The abstract visuals depict a battle against Lovecraftian horrors, and players will be combining spells and orbs to create powerful attacks that will hopefully keep them alive as they battle hordes and bosses alike.
Artifice: War Tactics | August 16 | PC | In this polished turn-based strategy game, players must control their units across a grid-covered arena, taking down their enemies by pre-empting attacks and finding new strategies. As far as I can tell without actually having played it, Artifice is a fusion of roguishness, Chess and XCOM, all wrapped up in a medieval fantasy setting. As a fan of all of those things, I’m eager to find out more with the game about to exit Early Access.
I did indeed find out more. Find out what I found out in my review.
South Pole Bebop | August 16 | PC | Channeling the spirit of Into the Breach, South Pole Bebop advances the formula by injecting multiplayer into the mix (PvP and PvE). Play takes place on a 9×9 grid, with desktop tacticians drawing cards from a deck and using their abilities to fend off a zombie invasion.
Rack and Slay | August 19 | Switch | I’ve already covered Rack and Slay when it launched on PC earlier this year, and I liked it so much that I want to flag the game’s move onto console. This quirky take on billiards is all about pulling off audacious shots on increasingly chaotic tables filled with spikes and other such obstacles.
Here’s the review, as penned by Kinix!
Terminus: Zombie Survivors | August 20 | PC (Mac, Win) | Terminus is very much on my radar thanks to my adoration of all things zombie. This particular expression of the genre is a turn-based survival game set in a procedurally generated city in the grip of a zombie post-apocalypse. The aim of the game is to get to the eponymous Terminus, a last bastion of hope for your character, but getting there is going to be quite the challenge, one would imagine.
Here’s my review of Terminus. Spoilers: I liked it very much.
Hadley’s Run: A Starship Saga | August 26 | PC | If you’re after a sci-fi adventure set in deep space, then I suggest taking a closer look at Hadley’s Run: A Starship Saga, which looks to blend the exploration of FTL with more action-packed gameplay and a heartfelt story. The aim of the game is to get home after being stranded in a distant galaxy, and on the way there’s a story to untangle and weird aliens to meet.
Defenders of the Omniverse | August 26 | PC | This visually stimulating survivors-like game is aiming to deliver a blend of characters from all over the titular omniverse. Defends of the Omniverse has been inspired by classic Saturday morning cartoons, and there looks to be a decent amount of polish, too. If you’re after your next reverse bullet hell experience, put this one on your radar.
Peglin | August 27 | Android, PC (Mac, Win), Switch | The surprise launch of Peglin came as, well, a surprise, but a pleasant one nonetheless. This Pachinko-themed roguelike has a bunch of challenging pinball slinging gameplay for players to explore, with a range of different orbs that can dramatically change things up. On top of leaving Early Access on PC, Peglin also landed on Nintendo Switch, and after playing the game excessively on my Steam Deck, I can confirm that the game is a great fit on the small screen.
If you want more chatter about Peglin, hit this link for the full review.
Monster Run | August 27 | PC | Beat ’em up fans looking for their next violent fix need look no further than Monster Run. Taking control of a giant cat, you must defend your home against hordes of pesky humans. Oh, and you can breathe fire – double trouble!
Koboo: The Tree Spirit | August 27| PC | I’m a sucker for good pixel art, and I think Koboo: The Tree Spirit looks absolutely lovely from a visual point of view. In terms of gameplay, it’s less straightforward as the game blends soulslike and roguevania elements to create something potentially new and interesting.
Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm | August 27 | PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox | Unfortunately it looks like the much anticipated Risk of Rain 2 DLC otherwise known as Seekers of the Storm has gone a bit wrong and the expansion has been released in a somewhat undercooked state. That being so, I suggest you wait until Gearbox Software – who’ve taken over development of the title from here on in – have squashed all the bugs. I’ve linked the Steam version above so you can click through and check out the reviews, which aren’t encouraging at all but will hopefully improve over time.
Echoes of Humanity | DELAYED | PC (Mac, Win) | Another deckbuilder, although this one boasts a striking biopunk setting. In Echoes of Humanity you must explore an island called Tishu in search of a cure for the disease that is slowly killing you. Not only that, but there’s an overarching narrative that unfolds as you explore. Enhance your character with powerful abilities, fight mutants, and you’ll start to unravel the mysteries of this twisted island.
The Archives!
October 2024: There were several big releases in the month of October, but none as exciting as Windblown, the next game by Motion Twin (Dead Cells). I did enjoy [REDACTED], which is a comic book spin-off based on The Callisto Protocol, and I also picked up Diceomancer, a very underrated deckbuilder with a lovely graphical style and plenty of charm. Other releases included Wizard of Legend 2 and Transformers: Galactic Trials, for a truly unique blend of titles.
September 2024: What an excellent month for new roguelike games, with the highlights including deckbuilders Shogun Showdown and Pyrene, the FPS blaster otherwise known as Wild Bastards, and there was the mobile release of Balatro. Rogue Waters delivered pirate-themed turn-based tactics, and I also really enjoyed both Realm of Ink and Halls of Torment (the first which landed in Early Access and the second which just left it).
August 2024: The August archive boasts highlights including the blackjack-themed deckbuilder Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, a co-op update for Cult of the Lamb, plus excellent games including Peglin, Terminus: Zombie Survivors, Knock on the Coffin Lid, and Nova Drift all left Early Access. Plot twist: Risk of Rain 2’s latest DLC launched to very mixed reviews.
July 2024: Headline acts this July included the console release of Darkest Dungeon II, and Lost Castle 2 releasing into Early Access. The original Epyx version of Rogue has finally been ported to Nintendo Switch, with one or two improvements that no doubt explain the delay. Finally, shout outs to Arc Seed, because I do love a giant mecha battle, and Wastelander, because I’m a sucker for sci-fi strategy games.
June 2024: This month got better as it went on. June closed out with a tetromino-powered tower defense roguelite by the name of Emberward, a turn-based western rogue called Guncho (wanted dead or alive, apparently), the quirky auto-battler otherwise known as Million Monster Militia, and the early access exit of Champion Shift. All of them landed in the back nine of the month, so keep on scrolling.
May 2024: Hit this link for some of the very best launches of the year, including the Early Access release of Hades II, the wonderful turn-based roguelike Path of Achra, and a big crossover as Contra comes to Vampire Survivors. Plus stellar shooters Robobeat and Mullet MadJack both dropped in May, and there’s a certain Prince from Persia who arrived before the end of the month, too. Phew.
April 2024: One of my favourites in April was peaceful puzzler Planetiles, which certainly contrasts the grimy first-person horror of Buckshot Roulette. Traditionalists will note the release of Story Mode in Dwarf Fortress as a milestone, while console owners finally got to savour the delights of Dave the Diver. Finally, I want to highlight Against Great Darkness and Inkbound; two indie gems out this month.
March 2024: Mortal Glory 2 dropped in March and it’s an excellent tactical turn-based roguelite about fantasy gladiators. The always brilliant Crypt of the NecroDancer got a big multiplayer update by the name of Synchrony. Two very different magic games were released into Early Access this month, with third-person actioner Vellum landing alongside turn-based spell-simulator Rift Wizard 2. Finally, the wonderful dice roller Slice & Dice made an appearance on Steam.
February 2024: An earlier iteration of this format – February’s round-up is a bit of a mess. Nevertheless, it was a good month for games with the release of Balatro on PC and console, which has been my most-played game of the year by far, and Shiren 6 finally arrived on Nintendo Switch. Other highlights include the full release of Inkulinati, and the Early Access launch of Deep Rock Galactic: Survivors.
January 2024: The first month of the year is usually pretty quiet across the industry (except for at Capcom for some reason) but we did get some good rogues, too. Lonestar is my personal pick, but Go Mecha Ball landed on PC and console, and the unofficial Indiana Jones parkour simulator otherwise known as Phantom Abyss left Early Access. Finally, BlazBlue Entropy Effect also left EA.
November and December 2023: It was still early days for Rogueliker and the formatting is all over the place, but if you want even more games, I’ve got a few from late 2023 to tell you about. Picayune Dreams is one of the highlights, as is Against the Storm, two of the year’s best games, in fact. Other top-tier titles to drop before the end of the year include Cobalt Core, Roboquest, and Risk of Rain Returns.
