There’s nothing to look forward to in August 2026! KIDDING! Let’s be honest—there are actually some decent releases coming out at the end of summer. Well, potentially decent ones. So let’s wrap up this introduction and get right to the point.

The gaming industry has a well-established release calendar: almost all major projects are released either in late winter/early spring or in autumn, when gamers return to their usual routines and are ready to spend more time in front of their screens. August usually works differently — it’s more of a warm-up for September, a month for niche releases, delayed titles and games that couldn’t find a spot in the busier schedule.

But 2026 is special. GTA VI is on the horizon, and no one wants to be overshadowed by such a giant. That’s why the release race is starting earlier than usual, with projects coming out in August that, in any other year, could easily have waited until autumn. This is good news for us, as there’s still time before the main game of the year and we’ll have plenty to keep us entertained while we wait.

• Release date: 3 August 2026.
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
• Genre: Action-adventure.

Stories about girls and their pets aren’t particularly popular, but they’re not all that rare either. This theme is particularly prevalent in Japan, where loyalty is practically a national pastime.

This game is set in post-apocalyptic Japan in the year 4026. The world lies in ruins and humanity’s last hope rests with Emma, a girl rejected by society who suffers from a mysterious illness, and an old, frail dog named Ku.

Together, they embark on a perilous journey through ever-changing landscapes, from barren wastelands to eerie, dense forests. This is a story of loneliness and loyalty, and of the deepening bond between a human and their faithful companion. As they travel, their friendship and mutual support grow stronger, helping them to survive in this harsh yet beautiful world.

The player controls Emma and Ku as a single unit. Emma fights with a sword, while Ku carries out various commands, turning battles into a dynamic blend of action and tactics. The game features a deep progression system comprising unique skill trees, gear and spirit stones that allow you to create different playstyles, ranging from ranged combat and stealth to aggressive melee.

Powerful bosses are scattered throughout the world, and the main objective is to defeat the Lord of Reincarnation. Beneath the world’s beauty lie many secrets and dark truths connected to Emma and Ku’s past. Players must unravel the tangled story of their fates and discover what truly awaits at the end of the journey.

• Release date: 6 August 2026.
• Platform: PC and PlayStation 5.
• Genre: Fighting.

Another brawler featuring Marvel heroes as fighters. Similar fighting games have been well-received by audiences in the past. This game could also become a worthy contender at EVO tournaments. Imagine a 4v4 team-based fighting game set in the Marvel universe and developed by PlayStation Studios, Arc System Works and Marvel Games.

The game lets you assemble your dream team of legendary Marvel heroes and villains. Twenty classic characters will be available at launch, with more to come in the future. Each fighter is rendered in a vibrant, dynamic anime style and belongs to a unique team.

The main mode features intense 4v4 team battles. Feel free to experiment with team compositions, character combinations and strategies. Battles take place in dynamic arenas inspired by classic Marvel locations which change seamlessly as the fight progresses. The controls are designed to be as accessible as possible, with classic and simplified control schemes, convenient combos and intuitive moves making it easy for beginners to jump right into the game.

• Release date: 6 August 2026.
• Platform: PC.
• Genre: Giant Cannon Simulator.

Nick Newwood and Dominic Latos were clearly inspired by the short anime City of Cannons from the anthology Memories of the Future when they came up with the idea for a simulator in which you play the operator of a giant walking cannon. If you haven’t watched this anime, I highly recommend it!

RON NEST is a brutal dieselpunk game about heavy artillery, in which you take on the role of the operator of a massive combat machine — the Iron Nest. You are the final link in the chain of command. High Command may issue orders, but you alone bear full responsibility for every shot fired. One miscalculation and the consequences will be felt forever. The game focuses entirely on controlling a giant self-propelled artillery piece.

Every shot feels heavy and powerful. The vehicle responds slowly yet powerfully to your commands. A single well-aimed volley can turn the tide of battle, destroy bunkers, cover your allies’ retreat or completely alter the landscape.

• Release date: 7 August 2026.
• Platform: PC.
• Genre: Story-driven survival game.

Frozen Ship is a survival adventure with city-building elements, set in a harsh post-apocalyptic world. Following a global climate catastrophe, Earth has turned into an endless icy desert. You are the captain of a massive mobile city-ship, capable of traversing these snow-covered expanses.

The ship carries a crew of 20, living quarters and workshops, as well as limited supplies. Your mission is to lead an expedition through a frozen, dangerous world in search of a new home for the survivors.

• Release date: 7 August 2026.
• Platform: PC.
• Genre: RPG.

Please note that this game is not being developed by the studio that previously created titles in the Expeditions franchise.

Expeditions: Samurai is a large-scale historical role-playing game set in early 17th-century Japan, a time of bloody civil strife and power struggles. You are the captain of the Dutch privateer Albatross. Unlike the real William Adams, you are the first European to reach the shores of Japan, finding yourself in the thick of the action. Taking command of a motley crew, you set foot on Japanese soil and are instantly drawn into a massive civil war. Here, every decision carries weight: one wrong move could cost you or your crew your lives — or alter the course of Japanese history.

• Release date: 13 August 2026.
• Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
• Genre: Shooter.

Unless, of course, the release date is delayed again at the last minute, as has happened before.

The game plunges you right into the thick of the Vietnam War. You will take part in brutal battles across treacherous terrain, including mountain gorges and impenetrable jungles, where the North Vietnamese Army will be fighting the US military.

There are six large-scale maps available to you, all of which have been recreated with great historical accuracy. Choose to fight for either the Americans or the People’s Army of North Vietnam and select from seventeen military specialties to form a squad of up to fifty soldiers.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam lets you join infantry, reconnaissance, armored units, mortar crews or helicopter crews. Here, coordinated teamwork, adherence to the chain of command and skillful use of tactics are essential.

• Release date: 18 August
• Platforms: PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
• Genre: Adventure

In The Sinking City 2, we return to a flooded Lovecraftian nightmare. This time, the focus is on survival and non-linear gameplay, similar to Resident Evil or Silent Hill. The setting has shifted to Arkham, where some streets are now submerged, with the water level rising as you progress through the game. Playing as occult adventurer Calvin Rafferty, you must tread the fine line between sanity and madness while investigating the case of his beloved Fay, who has become trapped in a mysterious dream following a failed ritual. At the same time, you must fend off creatures from the depths with limited ammunition. Every shot and encounter with these otherworldly beings irreversibly alters the protagonist’s mental state. Thanks to photorealistic graphics, the yawning depths, tentacles bursting through house walls, and monsters look particularly terrifying.

• Release date: 18 August
• Platforms: PC
• Genre: Adventure

REKA was added to Steam Early Access in September 2024. Nearly two years later, we have REKA 1.0. This unique adventure game, based on Slavic mythology, has finally been released from Early Access. Play as Reka, a young apprentice of Baba Yaga who travels the world in her little hut with chicken legs. The story is a therapeutic coming-of-age tale about learning magic and finding your place in a wild forest full of spirits. Gameplay revolves around gathering resources for potions and customising your mobile home: building new rooms and decorations directly affects your abilities. The captivating visual style features warm colours that deepen into an oppressive twilight when evil spirits are encountered.

• Release date: 20 August 2026.
• Platform: PC.
• Genre: Action (Souls-like).

Mortal Shell 2 is a dark fantasy adventure set in a ruined world with Souls-like elements. You play as the Harbinger, a being capable of possessing the bodies of fallen warriors. Each new body grants you unique abilities and a combat style, as well as lost memories that will help you to uncover the world’s secrets.

The game world is small yet rich, offering winding paths, abandoned temples, forbidden thickets, chilling crypts and bone fortresses. As you explore, you’ll discover new warriors to possess, powerful and unusual weapons, upgrades, and fragments of the story.

Over 80 dungeons are scattered among the key locations, where you’ll have to put your skills to the test in grueling challenges. Your main objective is to recover the stolen Andermefer eggs, which are guarded by dangerous and hideous creatures.

• Release date: 20 August 2026.
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
• Genre: Shooter.

Set on the Ottoman front during World War I, Gallipoli is a realistic multiplayer first-person shooter that transports you to the brutal shores of Gallipoli and the sun-scorched deserts of Mesopotamia.

You can fight for either the British Empire or the Ottoman Empire. It features large-scale 25-on-25 PvP battles with a ‘one hit, one kill’ system and an emphasis on team tactics.

You will experience key historical operations of the campaign, including the dawn landing at Anzac Cove, the assault on Cape Helles from the River Clyde, and the battles for the Dardanelles and El Kute. The game features ten classes, each with a historically accurate role — from officer and machine gunner to sniper and medic. Each soldier has their own unique traits, and the weapon handling system requires real skill, including methodical reloading and accounting for mental state. You must also understand the characteristics of each firearm. The arsenal includes more than 50 authentic weapons and pieces of equipment from the British and Ottoman Empires.

• Release date: 25 August 2026.
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
• Genre: Action.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 is a co-op shooter in which up to four players take on the roles of Colonial Marines and venture into the darkest and most dangerous corners of the Alien universe.

This isn’t a rescue mission — it’s a fight for survival. Xenomorphs lurk in every corridor, attacking from the ventilation shafts and overwhelming you with their numbers. Every room can become a deadly trap, so effective teamwork, intelligent use of class abilities and the ability to adapt quickly are essential.

The second installment is a significant improvement on the original. Squads can now consist of up to four players, and the game features more in-depth team mechanics and expanded, customizable specialist classes, as well as new tactical options. Each squad feels unique.

The Xenomorphs have become even more dangerous and diverse. They’re smarter and more aggressive, employing new tactics that turn battles into dynamic, tense and often chaotic skirmishes. You can go from a well-thought-out strategy to a desperate defense using flamethrowers, stun guns, and special ammunition in a matter of seconds.

• Release date: 27 August 2026.
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
• Genre: Tactics.

Star Wars: Zero Company is a single-player, turn-based tactical game set in the Star Wars universe. It takes place at the end of the Clone Wars.

You play as Hawks, a former Republic officer who now leads the elite ‘Zero Company’. Your squad is hired for a covert operation that quickly escalates into a battle against a threat that could engulf the entire galaxy.

You will command the era’s finest operatives, take part in cinematic missions, conduct investigations and make critical decisions. Every action you take influences the outcome of the operation, and the consequences of your choices ensure that no two playthroughs are the same.

You’ll assemble a squad of fighters comprising various archetypes, from hardened scoundrels and astromech droids to Jedi. By developing their skills and synergies, you can create powerful combinations to help you outwit and defeat the enemy.

• Release date: 27 August 2026.
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
• Genre: Metal Gear at its finest

This is a compilation of the iconic stealth-action series. Highlights include Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which is leaving the PlayStation 3 exclusives for the first time to become available on modern platforms, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Collection, which features enhanced graphics and online co-op support for up to six players. The collection also includes bonus digital content, such as story modes, art books, soundtracks and the classic Game Boy Color game, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel.

• Release date: 27 August 2026.
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
• Genre: Action-adventure.

Set in the A Plague Tale universe, this new game is set 15 years before the events of Requiem. Play as Sofia, a fierce and determined young bandit on the run, as she uncovers the secrets of her past.

Sofia’s journey leads her to the mysterious Island of the Minotaur. There, she must overcome deadly trials, solve ancient puzzles and battle the enemies pursuing her while staying one step ahead of an entire army on her tail.

Sofia is a nimble and skilled warrior who excels in close combat. She uses her agility and cunning maneuvers to evade pursuers and survive deadly battles, counterattacking with powerful strikes. She must find her way through a treacherous labyrinth where she is being hunted by numerous enemies, all of whom have been drawn to the island by its mysterious treasure.

• Release date: 31 August 2026.
• Platforms: PC
• Genre: Survival Adventure

In Breathedge 2, you must gather oxygen and resources, craft tools, explore wreckage and fend off creatures that run, fly, jump and roll towards you. The game is set in a universe divided into different star systems and zones, each with their own conditions, materials, and exploration rules. Your ship serves as your main base. You can upgrade and expand it with new modules and use it for space travel. Then, when you land on planets, you can switch to ground vehicles. There is also a separate system dedicated to the crew – your companions perform useful tasks, unlock new opportunities, have personal goals and require your attention.

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As you can see, August is set to be a busy month for game releases across a variety of genres. Play only the best games!