It’s that time of the week again to check for noteworthy game releases for PC/Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch via Metacritic. We also discuss these games live on the High Noon with Hollywood Polo stream at noon Tuesdays PST (GMT-8) here: https://www.twitch.tv/playgamesmoredotcom including commentary from other PGM members, wishlist interest and more.
Leximan
August 13 – PC
“Do you like silly hats? Were you that one kid in class who broke reality? Are you eating nutritional slime right now? Embark on a brilliant adventure, using words and incompetence to solve bizarre problems. There are also hat goblins.” – Steam/PC
Single Player
Steam Achievements
Interest level: 1/10
Plan to buy at launch: No
Wishlist: No
Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Remastered
August 14 – PC, PS4, XBOX 1, NINTENDO SWITCH
“The last game in the episodic Sam & Max trilogy, beautifully remastered! As the intergalactic villains who seek the Devil’s Toybox close in and Max’s psychic abilities grow beyond his control, the Freelance Police will come up against their most frightening adversary yet: the power of Max’s mind.” – Steam/PC
Single Player
Remote Play Together
Steam Achievements
Interest level: 1/10
Plan to buy at launch: No
Wishlist: No
Arco
August 15 – PC, NINTENDO SWITCH
“Enter the breathtaking world of Arco, a dynamic tactical RPG where your decisions shape the story. Three tales forged in bloodshed, laced with magic, and united by revenge.” – Steam/PC
Single Player
Interest level: 1/10
Plan to buy at launch: No
Wishlist: No
Cricket: Jae’s Really Peculiar Game
August 15 – PC, PS5/PS4, XBOX, XBOX 1, NINTENDO SWITCH
“Cricket: Jae’s Really Peculiar Game is a hand animated JRPG adventure that draws from genre classics. Join Jae as he goes on a journey with his best friends to try and fix the past in a story full of laughs, tears, and Elemelons. Engage in silly battles that involve timed hits, meter, and teamwork.” – Steam/PC
Single Player
Steam Achievements
Interest level: 1/10
Plan to buy at launch: No
Wishlist: No
Farewell North
August 15 – PC, XBOX, NINTENDO SWITCH
“Restore color to the desolate islands of Farewell North, an atmospheric journey where you play as a border collie on an adventure with your human. Explore land and sea, uncover hidden paths and free wildlife to bring color back to her world, while revealing an emotional story about saying farewell.” – Steam/PC
Single Player
Steam Achievements
Interest level: 1/10
Plan to buy at launch: No
Wishlist: No
Hunt: Showdown 1896
August 15 – PC, PS5, XBOX
Single Player
Steam Achievements
Interest level: 1/10
Plan to buy at launch: No
Wishlist: No
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
August 15 – XBOX, XBOX 1
“Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a story-driven action adventure set in a charming world rich with exploration and fast-paced combat. Players find and grow a team of tiny spirit companions called the Rot, enhancing their abilities and creating new ways to manipulate the environment.”
Madden NFL 25
August 12 (Deluxe) August 16 (standard) – PC, PS5/PS4, XBOX
“Hit like you mean it with FieldSENSE™ powered by BOOM Tech. Experience how the new physics-informed dynamic tackling system unlocks realistic collisions & new gameplay animations on both sides of the ball.” – Steam/PC
Single Player
Online PVP
Shared/Split-Screen PVP
Online Co-op
Shared/Split Screen Co-op
Cross-Platform Multiplayer
Remote Play Together
Steam Achievements
Interest level: 7/10
Plan to buy at launch: Maybe
Wishlist: YES
SUMMARY
Every August for years, and this dates back into the 90s, but started in 1988, it’s been Madden football time. Even a cursory look at this $4+billion game franchise speaks of its financial success. The Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL) goes into much more detail about gameplay-related concerns.