Next week sees the release of survival title Breathedge on September 9th for all Game Pass platforms along with Nuclear Throne. Beethoven & Dinosaur’s trippy platforming adventure The Artful Escape is also launching on the same day for console and PC subscribers. Though it seems like slim pickings for now, more titles will be announced over the course of the month.

Games that will be leaving the service include Red Dead Online for cloud and consoles on September 13th. On September 15th, the following titles will also be gone so play them now while you still have the chance.

• Company of Heroes 2 (PC)
• Disgaea 4 (PC)
• Forza Motorsport 7 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Hotshot Racing (Cloud and Console)
• The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales (Cloud and Console)

Perhaps because Bossa Studios wanted to expand on that “limited scope” or simply wanted to evolve the experience further, Surgeon Simulator 2 is bigger, busier and now it’s own full-fledged universe with a story. While the developer can be commended for expanding a concept like this on such a scale, the execution in Surgeon Simulator 2 leaves much to be desired.

"There’s a fair bit of intrigue and while I could have stood for the game to slow burn things a bit more, it’s a welcome bit of mystery."

The core experience has been diversified into three major game modes – Story, Create and Discover. The Story mode sees you as a new trainee in a strange hospital, one that’s shoddily constructed but aims to help anyone become a surgeon. You’re guided by Dr. Pamela but it quickly becomes apparent that things aren’t what they seem.

And when I say “quickly”, I mean a literal voice in the vents that tells you things aren’t what they seem. It’s almost Portal-like in its set-up with the player being dropped into all these different chambers while a bigger, seemingly more nefarious scheme is being hatched in the background. There’s a fair bit of intrigue and while I could have stood for the game to slow burn things a bit more, it’s a welcome dash of mystery.

Bob returns and you’re tasked with conducting different operations on him, whether it’s severing an arm, removing a lung or popping off his entire head, all while ensuring he doesn’t bleed out. While you could simply rip off an organ or body part barehanded, it’s better to use a medical saw or scalpel to reduce the amount of blood lost. Depositing limbs and organs into special trays will send replacement parts to you. You’ll be managing your tools and Bob’s blood loss but eventually operations will descend into trying to access trays and replacement limbs from locked off areas.

Unfortunately, this design gets repetitive as things go along. On the one hand, I can appreciate how the setting plays into different objectives. It’s a hospital in disarray, that too with strange things going on, so it makes sense that certain doors would be locked or that you’d need to locate a medical scanner before commencing an operation. This also explains the sheer number of objects and trash strewn about, which makes locating tools a bit of a task. However, these objectives become extremely one-note over time.

"It’s almost kind of waste though – for as aesthetically pleasing as the levels look, the core gameplay doesn’t really leverage them to full effect."

Things really start to go down hill when it comes to the controls. Much like the original, your hand is the main controlling entity – you can rotate it, raise it, lower it, grasp objects, extend and withdraw the arm, and so on. You don’t have individual control of fingers though – one’s grip is a relegated to a single left mouse click. This feeds into existing issues when it comes to grasping items. You’re managing the orientation of your hand while picking something up, which could be wrong because your arm isn’t extended enough. Or maybe you have just the right hand position and arm length but the object won’t be grasped without some trial and error. Expect to be annoyed by this fairly quickly.

Sometimes, you might lose track of which mouse direction is the correct orientation, which requires some fiddling to fix. It also doesn’t help that a lot of the first game’s nuance is seemingly absent. Operations still employ some manner of precision when it comes to chopping off limbs but have otherwise been extremely streamlined. There’s not much by way of gentle incisions – just pick up a scalpel, shove it into Bob’s chest and voila, you’ve got the heart or lung or whatever. The real challenge is ensuring the scalpel is just within the correct length of grasping and then oriented properly before extraction. It’s less interesting than it sounds and there isn’t much variety to the actual operations outside of replacing limbs and organs.

Unlike the previous game, you’re not just a hand operating on a patient. You’re a fully fledged person who walks around, jumping on things and picking up objects. For how imaginative the setting is, you’re not really doing much with the environment outside of picking up stuff, opening doors or pushing open grates.

I get that Bossa Studios isn’t trying to make the next Trauma Center but there must be better ways to spice up the gameplay, especially when the operations themselves are fairly typical. Littering the environment with random junk that gets in the way isn’t a good alternative either, though I do appreciate just the details in levels. It’s almost kind of waste though – for as aesthetically pleasing as things look, the core gameplay doesn’t really leverage them to full effect.

"If I had to sum up Surgeon Simulator 2 in one word, it would be “passable.”"

Perhaps this is just the single-player experience talking and Surgeon Simulator 2 is a lot better suited for co-op. Maybe four friends would have an uproarious time when it comes to managing an operation, though again, there’s not a whole lot to really manage. One would think that the Discover mode with its selection of user-created levels would have something interesting to offer and to be fair, some of the levels are interesting. There’s a custom playlist queue for selecting different levels and playing them, one after the other, and Quick Play for hopping into a quick match with other players.

Though it’s early days yet, there’s a decent amount of user-created content. Granted, these aren’t the most complex levels. One sees the player standing on a suitcase and using it to fly via some convoluted instructions. Another tried to recreate the original Surgeon Simulator and was painful to manage, to say the least. The Bossa Levels are fairly limited right now and encompass such gems as “flipping the bottle”, which is not very fun alone. Again, we’ll see how things fare down the line but in terms of showcasing what the creation suite is capable of – which seems to be a lot, as per pre-launch trailers – it’s a good start, if nothing else.

Of course, it’s worth addressing the XP system and daily challenges, which go towards leveling the battle pass-like system of cosmetic unlocks. Oddly enough, while it’s possible to unlock cosmetics in the Story Mode by completing different objectives (which are usually time or blood loss-related), XP is seemingly earned only from Quick Play matches, rating levels and completing objectives in multiplayer. All of the Daily Challenges are also tied to multiplayer. Still, for those who like fiddling with the customization – and there are quite a few cosmetic options available – you can expect a good amount of stuff to unlock.

"Aesthetically, it looks nice though performance does slightly chug at times, and the voice acting is fairly well done."

If I had to sum up Surgeon Simulator 2 in one word, it would be “passable.” It’s hard to really recommended this to fans of the original, given how much has been simplified, but perhaps there are some players seeking a goofy, story-driven take on the formula. Aesthetically, it looks nice though performance does slightly chug at times, and the voice acting is fairly well done. Even the music is nice despite trying a little too hard to sound goofy at times. The controls are troublesome at best and downright irritating at worst but combining them with the samey objectives and repetitive nature of operations is what really drags the experience down.

While this is most definitely a “complete” package compared to its predecessor, the core gameplay loop really feels like it needed more time, more nuance and more interesting ways to leverage the interesting setting.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Horizon Zero Dawn (PC)

Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition is coming to PC on August 7^th. It would have seemed highly unlikely, if not impossible, that any first-party PS4 exclusive would come to the platform but here we are. Following the exploits of Aloy in a post-apocalyptic future of mystery and Machines, Horizon Zero Dawn sees players exploring the ruins of a massive world. Hunt Corrupted Machines, discover more about the Old Ones or simply bask in the gorgeous visuals. The PC release includes a bevy of graphical options including unlocked frame rates, support for 4K and Ultrawide screens, a bench-marking tool and customizable controls. It even features dynamic foliage and improved reflections for that extra bit of polish. If you’re craving a stellar open world action RPG on PC, Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition should suit your needs.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Another franchise whose comeback seemed impossible years ago is Flight Simulator. With Asobo Studio of A Plague Tale: Innocence fame at the helm, Microsoft Flight Simulator is looking to make up for lost time. It allows players to fly anywhere in the world with over two million cities, about 37,000 airports (with 40 being handcrafted), and real-time weather and air-traffic data influencing the game. The sheer visual splendor is made possible with Azure AI, Bing Maps and the ACE engine, among other tools. Microsoft Flight Simulator is out on August 18^th for PC.

EA Sports UFC 4

EA’s mixed martial arts fighting series is also making a comeback on August 14^th for Xbox One and PS4. EA Sports UFC 4 features a number of new mechanics like Real Player Motion for revamped clinches and takedowns along with new systems for submissions and ground and pound. Ultimate Team mode is gone but Career Mode has seen revamps as players “evolve” their fighters with five disciplines, choosing friends and rivals, and earning over 1600 new gear pieces. If multiplayer is your thing, new Blitz Battles offer rapid-fire tournaments with rotating rule sets and even lets heavyweight take on flyweights. Truly fair and balanced.

Madden NFL 21

It’s yet another year for Madden with Madden NFL 21 out on August 28^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC (with PS5, Stadia and Xbox Series X versions out in Q4 2020). EA Tiburon has promoted features thus far like the stick skill ball-carrier system, fresh pass rush moves and user-controlled celebrations. Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame is more of a journey to the Hall of Fame this time and Madden Ultimate Team is also coming back (for better or worse) along with X-Factor abilities. There doesn’t seem to be too much hype but hey, at least you have a year to upgrade from the Xbox One and PS4 to Xbox Series X and PS5 versions. That’s something.

Risk of Rain 2

Hopoo Games’ Risk of Rain 2 will finally exit early access on August 11th, launching first for PC and coming to consoles later. It’s been quite the ride for the roguelite, which surprise-launched for Steam Early Access last year and has since offered new Survivors, stages, bosses and skill variants over time. The 1.0 update promises even more with a new Survivor, the Captain; a new stage on the Moon; and of course, the final boss. One can also expect new items and skill variants along with a server browser for locating custom games.

Project CARS 3

In the midst of great racing titles like F1 2020 and upcoming blockbusters like DiRT 5 and Gran Turismo 7, Slightly Mad Studios’ Project CARS 3 is in an interesting position. Arriving on August 28^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, it promises a revamped Career Mode with 10 car classes, over 200 cars and more than 140 tracks across the world. Graphics hounds can expect 12K resolution along with “best-in-class VR support”. Newcomers, on the other hand, are expected to have an easier time with customizable assists. If you need a racing sim to tide you over before the other big names arrive, Project CARS 3 might be worth looking into.

Surgeon Simulator 2

Bossa Studios’ Surgeon Simulator seemed ripe for a sequel and while it’s taken seven years, Surgeon Simulator 2 is nearly here. Launching on PC via the Epic Games Store on August 28th, it features a new cast of characters and even more insane hijinks. Along with conducting all manner of operations on Bob, players can leverage the new Creation Mode for custom game modes, new levels and much more, which can then be shared online. With four-player co-op support, Surgeon Simulator 2 looks to be a fun time all-around.

Wasteland 3

InXile Entertainment’s epic sequel has quite the scope, taking place in post-apocalyptic Colorado and featuring numerous factions, each with their own agenda. Following the demise of Team November, you play as the last surviving Ranger and must survive in the wasteland. This means making choices on who to side with, which quests to pursue and most importantly, who to shoot. Turn-based combat makes a return but there’s also co-op support for another player to join. With a reported playtime of over 50 hours and multiple endings, Wasteland 3 is looking to be worth the wait when it finally launches on August 28^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

A Total War Saga: Troy

The Creative Assembly’s “Saga” games are typically smaller in scale, focusing on a specific conflict in history. In this case, it’s the Trojan War as the forces of Troy battle Mycenaean Greece. But you’ll still build up an empire, employ diplomacy, enter duels and wage war with eight different heroes like Achilles. Mythic figures like the Minotaur also appear, though they’re more realistically depicted as part of the whole “Truth Behind the Myth” approach. We’ll find out if it works or not when A Total War Saga: Troy releases on August 13^th for PC via the Epic Games Store. The game will be free on the storefront for 24 hours after launch.

Serious Sam 4

More comebacks are in store as Sam “Serious” Stone returns and while not necessarily ripping and tearing his way through Hell, he will be killing lots and lots of aliens. These include headless Kamikazes, Werebulls, Kleers and new foes like the Belcher, Zealot and Processed. Along with the double barrel shotgun and mini-gun, you also get a chainsaw launcher, a “laser beam of death” and the cannon. Thousands of enemies will swarm the player at once over main missions and side-quests but there’s four player co-op to help even the odds. Serious Sam 4 is out in August for PC and Stadia with PS4 and Xbox One versions coming next year.

Chaos reigns in the operation theater as Bossa Studios’ Surgeon Simulator 2 has a release date. It’s out on August 27th for the Epic Games Store. Furthermore, the developer has detailed its Bossa Labs Creation Mode in a new trailer. Check it out below.

Creation Mode is fairly extensive. Players can create new levels like dining halls full of food, elaborate mazes and much more but they can also craft new game modes. Bowling, Sket Ball or even a simple game of Paper Rock Scissors can be played. Going from Creation Mode to playing levels is also seamless.

Along with building levels solo, it’s possible to build with up to four other players for true mass chaos. With Surgeon Simulator 2 out in late August, those who pre-order can access the closed beta from August 7th to 9th. You’ll also receive the Mad Scientist cosmetic set, which is a “timed exclusive” offering. Stay tuned for more details on the game in the coming weeks.

Bossa Studios’ Surgeon Simulator 2 has a release date – it’s out in August 2020 for PC via the Epic Games Store. As the latest trailer highlights, there are now playable characters, namely Milo, Heather, Penny and Kamal. And of course, Bob returns. Check it out below.

The trailer has a lot going on. Four player co-op is supported and you can match for Quickplay to find others easily. The hospital can also be modified with players choosing different furniture to customize the interiors with. Some of the new levels include one that’s akin to the Surgeon Olympics, which sounds as unethical as it sounds.

Other strange sights include chopping Bob up and reattaching different limbs. Suffice it to say that fans of the original will have even more wacky fun to embrace this time around. Surgeon Simulator 2 will be available on the Epic Games Store for PC when it launches. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

Bossa Studios’ breakout indie hit Surgeon Simulator is getting a sequel. Announced at The Game Awards 2019, Surgeon Simulator 2 continues the tradition of wannabe surgeons (aka you and your friends) attempting to treat patients. Hilarity ensues thusly. Check it out below.

The presence of four surgeons in the trailer seems to indicate four-player co-op. A grander scale, as seen by the enormous hospital with dozens of different operating theaters, seems to be teased. Other mechanics have yet to be revealed but the visuals are a definite step-up from the original while maintaining the same charm.

Surgeon Simulator 2 will release in 2020 and has thus far been confirmed for PC. The kicker is that it’s currently exclusive to the Epic Games Store. How long this exclusivity period is for and whether the title will come to other platforms like PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch has yet to be confirmed. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.