September is shaping up to be a pretty big month for video games. With a wide array of major titles like Marvel's Avengers and NBA 2K21, and big remakes like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 and Mafia: Definitive Edition, there is a something for every gamer. Let's dive in and show you what hot new games are dropping this month.
Check out the hottest new game releases for September 2020 below.
Ary and the Secret of Seasons is one September release that's flying a bit below the radar, though its beautiful design and great gameplay will definitely help it to succeed if it gets enough attention. An adventure game that allows players to take control of the seasons to defeat enemies and solve puzzles, it hearkens back to a number of classic adventure titles while still feeling thoroughly modern. This one looks like a classic in the making for fans of adventure and puzzle games as well as for those who are looking for a smaller, more unique title to treasure.
The latest entry in the grand strategy series will be released in September, finally allowing the players who have long since mastered Crusader Kings 2 to bring their talents to a new entry in the series. The game still brings the level of complexity that grand strategy fans have come to love, but it also boasts an improved interface and some exciting improvements under the hood. This is a great entry point for anyone who has never played in the genre as well as a must-buy for fans of the previous game.
The ninth game in the World Rally Championship series brings a host of official tracks and crews to players this September, with some graphical upgrades and some control tweaking to really make the rally experience feel real. The game will also bring in a host of historic rally vehicles, helping players to experience the world of rally racing in a whole new way. While the WRC titles might not get as much attention as some other racing titles, the dedicated fans of the series should feel confident in picking this one up as soon as it gets released.
2K's NBA series is back again for 2021, featuring new rosters, enhanced controls, and a host of new features. Another seasonal iteration for the franchise, this year's focus really seems to be making some much-needed under the hood improvements as the series makes its way to next-gen consoles. Though there's been some drama regarding its price point at release, the truth is that this game is still a clear buy for anyone who is a fan of video game basketball. 2K21 really does look like it's going to be another successful entry in the series.
Marvel's Avengers not only represents Square-Enix dipping its toes back into the world of superhero games, but it also represents a huge gamble in the games-as-service category. Taking place in an all-new universe and featuring some of Marvel's best-loved heroes, the new Avengers game will let you take on the role of the Avengers as they investigate the truth behind a tragedy and take on foes during a third-person, loot-based melee combat game. The beta has been fairly well-received, though only time will tell if the game manages to live up to its incredibly pedigree.
The Tony Hawk series has been dormant since a number of ill-advised sequels and enhanced editions sullied the name of the series, but this full remake of the original games looks like it's going to bring back a lot of the magic that made the series special in the first place. Featuring enhanced graphics alongside well-known levels, this game taps back into the combo-heavy arcade skating gameplay that made the original games so famous. This remake is already receiving rave reviews among those who get to play the preview and it looks like it's a real chance for the series to make a comeback.
Star Renegades is an impressive mix of old-school sprite graphics and more modern tactical roguelike sensibilities. Players will take on their enemies in a turn-based battleground, leveraging the powers of their sci-fi units in order to win the day. A clever game that boasts procedurally-generated battles and a unique enemy system that sees enemy officers leveling up as you go along, the game looks like an excellent challenge for fans of tactical combat. With a theoretically infinite number of potential battles, Star Renegades looks like a great fit for fans of traditional turn-based tactical combat.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is probably better known for its tortured development process and the absolute mayhem that its initial failure wreaked on both investors and a state government. Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning sweeps that all away to put the focus on a game that's actually much better than its initial release might have suggested. A novel roleplaying game that had great combat and some fun mechanics, Re-Reckoning gives players who never had a chance to play the original to try out the game without having to deal with the controversy that surrounded its creation.
While it might look cute, there's no doubt that OkunoKA Madness is meant for hardcore platforming enthusiasts. The game's protagonist, KA, is trying to save souls - but to do so, he must complete over one hundred incredibly difficult levels. If your idea of a pleasant evening is trying to rush through the hardest levels of Mario Maker, you'll find a lot to love in this game. It's a clever little piece of work that requires precision timing and a steady hand to beat, but it's remarkably fair despite the fact that it does its level best to give the player a hard time.
The Outer Worlds was a hit and a return to form for Obsidian, cementing their relationship with Microsoft and announcing to players that their particular flavor of choice-based roleplaying was going to come back in a big way. Peril on Gorgon is a new piece of story DLC for The Outer Worlds, taking place during the story of the base game and allowing players to solve a new mystery while exploring a new asteroid colony. The new content is meant for those who have already made it fairly far into the game, but it's also positioned well to be a seamless addition to the story for those who have never played The Outer Worlds.
While racing games might seem to be taking a turn towards the simulation side of things, Inertial Drift is a glorious arcade experience that's all about speed and aesthetics. Set in a future that never was, this game features a very unique twin-stick control scheme that allows players to control their drifting with ease. A love letter to the racing games of the 1990s, Inertial Drift features both a single-player career mode with sixteen cars to unlock as well as online multiplayer. If you're a fan of old-school racing, you'll love this game.
It's been twenty-five years since the first PES game was released, and PES 2021 is more a celebration than anything else. A streamlined version of the game that brings back most of last year's feature, this game is full of exclusive new clubs and locations. While it may not feature a huge overhaul of the graphics or new modes to entice people away from the last version of the game, this lower-priced version of PES is made specifically to help fans celebrate the anniversary of a favorite franchise. One of the biggest names in soccer, PES 20212's Season Update is a refreshed version of an already-great game.
Spelunky was a wildly popular game and its sequel, due in September, takes everything players loved about it and gives them more. Speleunky 2 has a new world with new explorers, but everything is bigger and better. All the roguelike elements from the original game are present, but the new version allows players to explore multilayered levels that add a little more depth to the experience. Spelunky 2 is an ideal sequel, keeping everything that made the original game so special while giving players a chance to test their skills in new ways.
A PC release will follow a few weeks later in October (hopefully!).
WWE 2K20 was a flop by any metric, pairing some bizarre design choices with a host of bad bugs to bring the 2k series to its knees. While there won't be a WWE 2k21 released as the series goes through a rebuilding phase, 2K is bringing out WWE 2K Battlegrounds. A more cartoony take on pro wrestling, Battlegrounds features exaggerated characters and combat for a more arcade-like experience. Only time will tell if this release will be enough to keep wrestling fans sated while they wait for the next entry in the main series.
Altus has returned with another great import, this time allowing players to engage in some truly epic combat. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim puts players in the role of a mech pilot, going through top-down combat scenarios as they fight against monsters. 13 Sentinels really looks like it's going to appeal to the Altus hardcore fans, but the unique concept absolutely stands out in a field full of fairly standard titles. Definitely give this one a chance if you are a fan of Japanese titles in general or of Altus' output over the past few years.
The Serious Sam series has never been one that takes itself too seriously, and the newest entry dropping this September seems like it's going be just as full of good-natured carnage as the previous series. A very old-school shooter that boasts massive waves of enemies, Serious Sam 4 looks like it's going to bring a little bit of relief to all of those players who are tired of slow tactical shooters. While the humor's always been a bit hit-or-miss in the series, this title does look like it's going to be a whole lot of fun.
This action-platformer allows fans to get directly into the world of Trollhunters, putting them in the shoes of Claire Nuñez or Jim Lake Jr. as they attempt to stop an apocalypse. Players will fight enemies taken right from the show while upgrading their skills and tools at the same time. A solid licensed game that looks very appealing to the show's core audience, Trollhunters: Defenders of Arcadia looks like the kind of solid action game that will keep fans happy while they wait for content in the show's universe to be created.
While the second and third Mafia games have already received the remaster treatment, Mafia: Definitive Edition will be released in September as a full remake of the classic game. While the original Mafia had its fan, outdated mechanics and wonky controls made it tough for modern players to get through. With new mechanics based on the excellent Mafia III, players will get a chance to relive the original story without having to slog through archaic gameplay. This game's been a bit delayed, but it really does look like the long wait is going to be worth if for those who want a return trip to Lost Heaven.
The Walking Dead already has one successful VR game in Saints and Sinners, but Onslaught will finally put players in the shoes of the characters from the hit AMC television show. Players who pick up Onslaught will get the chance to take on the role of Daryl Dixson in an all-new story, while also getting to take on the roles of the show's main characters as they scavenge, improve their communities, and eventually take on massive hordes of zombies. Given the positive reception of the other Walking Dead VR game, this one has a high bar to clear.