September is almost here and, as the end of the year approaches, video game publishers start to ramp up their release schedules with more and bigger titles. The upcoming month might not be that packed with new stuff, but there still are plenty of good games for everybody.
After Madden NFL 23’s release in August, sports fans are getting the latest versions of two more long-running top sports games – NBA 2K and FIFA. We also have the usual remasters and remakes, another Square Enix JRPG, a LEGO-themed brawler, and yet another big release from Nintendo.
Strap yourself in as we dive into our list of the biggest and best games releasing in September 2022.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is a fighting game set in the world of the eponymous shonen and seinen manga franchise. It is a remaster of a 2013 game released for the PS3, hence the ‘R’ at end of the title.
This rerelease, which is coming to all modern platforms, will feature all the playable characters from the original base game and its expansions, plus an additional nine base characters and some more coming through season passes. A total of more than 50 characters from all JoJo arcs will be playable.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R brings the expected visual updates, a variety of game modes, gameplay improvements, and new audio recordings from the Part 6 anime voice actors.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is coming Sept. 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
LEGO Brawls
Yep, another brawler game. Until now, LEGO Brawls has only been available for iOS and macOS devices via the Apple Arcade game subscription service, but this month it’s coming to all modern consoles and the PC.
Just like Multiversus, which is having a smashing success over the last few weeks, LEGO Brawls is clearly inspired by Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros., but it adds quite a few features not seen in any other crossover brawler.
The game lets you unleash your imagination and create unique LEGO Minifigure characters by using parts from both classic and modern LEGO sets. It also adds modes that aren’t available in other Super Smash Bros. clones, like the ‘capture the flag’ style mode where you play on a bigger map with the aim to control a central point.
LEGO Brawls releases Sept. 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC. A PC demo is available on Steam and the game has been out for quite some time via Apple Arcade.
The Last of Us Part I
The Last of Us Part I is a ground-up remake of one of the most iconic PlayStation games bringing modernized gameplay and even more realistic visuals worthy of PS5’s graphical prowess.
Rather than just remastering the game again, this new version completely rebuilds it from scratch using developer Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 game engine. Expect not only improved graphics but also better controls, mechanical tweaks, and accessibility options that would bring everything in Part I up to par with its 2020 sequel.
Fans were initially skeptical about the need to remake The Last of Us. Still, after a few trailers showing off the welcome improvements, it’s shaping up to be the best way to play an essential PS game that – let’s not forget – was initially made two console generations ago, for the PS3. Time flies.
The new version is also a great way to relive its unforgettable story ahead of HBO’s TV adaptation starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay, which should be released sometime in 2023.
The Last of Us Part I releases Sept. 2 for PS5. A 2014 remastered version of the original game is available via PS Plus Premium on PS4 and PS5 via backward compatibility.
Steelrising
Steelrising presents an alternate version of the French Revolution in which king Louis XVI has managed to quash the uprising by using a merciless army of robots called automations. You play as Aegis, a rogue automation who must confront the king’s forces alone and save history as we know it.
The action RPG promises versatile gameplay that accommodates loads of different playstyles thanks to Aegis’ varied ability and weapon set. You’ll cross your paths with historical figures like Marie-Antoinette, Lafayette, and Robespierre, whose motives and allegiance will be unclear.
Judging from the trailers and what we know about its gameplay, Steelrising feels like a mix between Assassin’s Creed’s exploration and alt-history approach, and Dark Souls’ challenging combat. Changing the course of history as a hi-tech android in 18th century Revolutionary Paris. How cool is that!
Steelrising is coming Sept. 8 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
NBA 2K23
The latest version of the most popular annual basketball simulation game is just around the corner and it promises new modes, refined gameplay and rewards.
NBA 2K23 is bringing back The Jordan Challenge mode, introduced in NBA 2K11. Some 12 years later, players will once again be able to recreate not 10 but 15 of the most iconic moments from Air Jordan’s career, five of which are all-new to the game series.
The new title also comes with AI improvements and reworked controls to boost realism, while still keeping the control scheme simple and newcomer-friendly.
Preorders are open already and they come with digital perks, including free virtual currency, MyTeam points and promo packs, boosts, and a Devin Booker 95-rated free agent card and jersey.
NBA 2K23 releases Sept. 9 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
Splatoon 3
The next installment of Nintendo’s ink-filled third-person shooter series, where you play as a fictional cephalopod known as an Inkling or Octoling, which transforms into a humanoid form at will.
Thanks to the recent Nintendo Direct and a free demo on Aug. 27, we know that Splatoon 3’s turf wars will feature new battle stages, weapons, and character customization items. At launch, there’ll be 12 stages to battle on, eight of which will be new. More game maps should be coming after Splatoon 3’s release.
The Salmon Run co-op mode, introduced in the previous game, is returning in Splatoon 3. In it, four players will need to work together to defeat weird creatures called Salmonids and grab as many of their golden eggs as possible.
Splatoon 3 is coming on Sept. 9 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Metal: Hellsinger
Metal: Hellsinger is a rhythm first-person shooter game, where you must attack diabolical enemies in time with the beat of the game’s heavy metal soundtrack.
Firing your guns, reloading, dodging enemy attacks, slashing your sword and performing finishers to the rhythm increases a score multiplier which is critical for your high score success at the end of the level. At launch, Metal: Hellsinger will feature 10 heavy metal songs specifically written, produced and performed for the game’s seven levels by nine different artists.
The game’s demo, available on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5, reached more than 1 million downloads in the first 11 days since its release, putting the unique boomer shooter among the most anticipated FPS games right now.
Metal: Hellsinger releases Sept. 15 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Return to Monkey Island
Monkey Island is coming back for a sixth installment of the pirate game series, after a 13-year hiatus. Return to Monkey Island picks up the story where Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge left it off, but will also feature references to subsequent games.
The new point-and-click adventure will revisit well-known locations like Mêlée Island and the titular Monkey Island, adding new areas to explore. Entirely new locations like Terror Island and Brr Muda will also be featured.
Return to Monkey Island will see several characters reappear, including protagonist Guybrush Threepwood, with many voice actors reprising their roles.
Return to Monkey Island is coming Sept. 17 on Switch and PC.
The DioField Chronicle
The DioField Chronicle is an all-new strategy RPG and the first of many releases that publisher Square Enix has lined up for the last few months of 2022. The new game will be followed by the launch of Valkyrie Elysium, the third installment of the Valkyrie action-RPG series, at the end of this month for PS4 and PS5, and in October for the PC.
The DioField Chronicle will offer the typical JRPG setting of a medieval fantasy world with plenty of epic battles for you to take part in. The game’s world will feature 16 playable characters and a main story that will last between 30 and 40 hours.
This new RPG promises an innovative real-time battle system, deep strategic gameplay, and beautiful diorama-style visuals, while its epic musical score comes from Game of Thrones composers Ramin Djawadi and Brandon Campbell.
Preorders for the game are open and it will release together with a board game version as a collector’s edition perk.
The DioField Chronicle releases on Sept. 22 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
FIFA 23
It’s September, so it’s time for EA Sports to bring its latest vision for soccer with the annual licensed sim game, FIFA 23. This will be the last game under the FIFA brand after soccer’s top governing body and EA have parted ways earlier this year and the publisher announced it will be switching to EA Sports FC as the franchise’s title from next year.
‘The last FIFA’ comes with plenty of changes and improvements: an exciting new grass system, HyperMotion2 bringing more realistic and less predictable player animations, better Career Mode, the fusion of Pro Clubs and VOLTA FOOTBALL, and… Juventus are back after a three-year hiatus, during which ‘The Old Lady’ had been replaced by the fictional club Piemonte Calcio in-game.
FIFA Ultimate Team, the game’s most popular mode, will see significant changes to its chemistry system, crossplay will be expanded as PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Stadia players will now share a single transfer market, and there will be a new FUT Moments single-player mode aimed at casual players.
FIFA 23 is releasing Sept. 30 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia.
Written by Stoyan Ovcharov on behalf of GLHF.
