September is nearly here and that means the vaunted Fall deluge is nearly upon us. Next month will see some big triple-A releases, some long-awaited indie gems and of course, sports games. Whatever your tastes may be, there’s plenty to look forward to so let’s check out 10 standout titles in September 2018.
Spider-Man
The biggest release of the month, bar none, Insomniac’s highly anticipated Spider-Man game will finally be available. Releasing exclusively for PS4 on September 7th, Spider-Man will feature the enormous open city of Manhattan to explore and several villains like Electro, Vulture, Shocker, Mister Negative and much more. Though Spidey will be mostly on his lonesome, he’ll have a number of different suits to help him out – like the Velocity Suit and Iron Spider. With the wit and adventure that dictates a Spider-Man tale, we can’t wait to see how this exclusive shakes out.
NBA 2K19
So last year’s NBA 2K wasn’t exactly well received by the community – and people in general. NBA 2K19 appears to stay close to its roots, celebrating its 20th anniversary and bringing the Neighborhood out once again for players to roam in. With a soundtrack curated by Travis Scott and some good looking visuals, maybe this will be the redemption that the series deserves. NBA 2K19 is out on September 11th for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Set two months after Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider continues the journey of Lara Croft as she tries to stop Trinity. Of course, she accidentally triggers the apocalypse in the process and must make things right. Along with expanded combat and weapon customization options, Shadow of the Tomb Raider will feature tougher tombs and full underwater exploration. Perhaps even more interesting are the different settings for each gameplay aspect, letting players make certain parts easier or harder. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is out on September 14th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
Valkyria Chronicles 4
The Valkyria Chronicles series has had a number of follow-ups including the ill-fated Valkyria Revolution. However, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a title that follows the overall atmosphere of the first game. Valkyria Chronicles 4 seems intent on going that route, even taking place around the same time as the first game. It introduces a new Grenadier class and also has the Brave System, which adds further customization when a unit dies or is fatally wounded, allowing for stat increases and AP restoration. Valkyria Chronicles 4 will be out on Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch on September 25th.
Life is Strange 2 – Episode 1
Dontnod’s Life is Strange 2 will see its first episode releasing on September 27th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Moving on from the saga of Max and Chloe, the sequel follows the Diaz brothers, Sean and Daniel. Following an incident of sorts, the duo is on the run and heading to their home in Mexico. Like the first game, different decisions will lead to different outcomes, though it will also have the effect of influencing young Daniel’s thinking as the story progresses. Whether the game can still tug at our heartstrings and deliver a compelling story remains to be seen but for now, it’s looking pretty good.
FIFA 19
Another year, another FIFA and another chapter in the Journey of Alex Hunter. Along with including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup for the first time, FIFA 19 also revamps a number of its gameplay features. Though the Active Touch and 50/50 systems sound “meh”, the Dynamic Tactics system lets players create different strategies and then change between them during a match. It’s all well and good but will this year’s FIFA shake things up? We’ll find out when it releases for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC on September 28th.
The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep
A follow-up to the classic RPG series, The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep features much of the same party-based dungeon crawling that made the old games so endearing. With several unique classes, dozens of different skills, seven cultures and tons of puzzles to solve, The Bard’s Tale 4 looks to be an absolutely compelling experience set in a beautifully detailed world. Look for it to release for PC on September 18th.
Dakar 18
Lest you think this is another underwhelming racer from Milestone, Dakar 18 is actually an open world racing game. It’s centred on the real world Dakar Rally endurance race, taking place in South America across 9000 kilometres. Along with an immense world, players can expect five different types of vehicles from cars and motorcycles to quad bikes. You can even walk around on foot if necessary. Dakar 18 releases on September 11th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
Dragon Quest XI
The epic follow-up in Square-Enix’s famous RPG series (no, not that one. The other one). Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age takes place in Lotozetasia and follows a hero who is also called “The Luminary”. The hero’s role is to battle the forces of darkness and prevent the “Dark One” from being resurrected. Though the premise seems cliched, Dragon Quest XI offers a compelling adventure with memorable companions and solid turn-based combat. It’ll release on September 4th for PS4 and PC.
The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Episode 2: Suffer the Children
Telltale Games kicked off the final season of The Walking Dead pretty well with Episode 1: Done Running. With Clementine and AJ finding a safe haven of sorts with other kids, Episode 2: Suffer the Children will continue to amp up the drama and potential dangers to come. And yes, we’re doing our best not to spoil things for you. Episode 2 releases on September 25th for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC.