The previous month was packed with big games, with Baldur’s Gate 3, Armored Core 6, and the regular Madden NFL annual update, and September 2023 won’t be any different.
PC and Xbox owners are getting what is probably the most anticipated game on Microsoft’s platform this year – in fact, some are already playing it via early access. PS5 will have its own big RPG release of last month’s best game, to compensate for the lack of space adventures.
Sports fans are treated to two of the biggest annual releases and an open-world racing game. Also, the Monster Hunter franchise is branching out to mobile, and a long-running fighting series is getting a major reboot.
Lots of titles to go over, so let’s have a look at the best games releasing in September 2023.
Starfield
To say that Starfield is highly anticipated would be the biggest understatement ever uttered in the universe. Bethesda’s vast space RPG is finally releasing this month, more than five years since its official announcement and probably a couple of decades after the idea for it was initially conceived.
The game lets you explore a seemingly infinite version of our Milky Way galaxy, filled with hundreds of star systems and planets you can visit. You make your way around space, cityscapes, and desolate planets, complete missions, talk to people, upgrade your starship, or buy a new one, in an endless gameplay loop that goes beyond the game’s 40-hour main story.
Aptly dubbed “Skyrim in space”, Starfield adds unparalleled scale and the alluring theme of space exploration to what players already liked about Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to get the game at no additional cost starting on its release date, while some are already playing it as early access for deluxe edition owners began on Aug. 31, 2023.
Starfield launches on Sept. 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and is a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass.
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 was the talk of the town last month when it emerged from early access on PC, and it still is among the top three most-played games on Steam. The fantasy RPG set in tabletop franchise Dungeons & Dragons’ world is the best way to play a D&D campaign, if you want your PC to be the Dungeon Master.
Its unfathomable systems based on D&D’s 5th edition rulebook, allow for unrivaled freedom of roleplay that even sparked a debate about new standards in the RPG genre. Last month’s best game is now releasing for PS5 and PlayStation fans will barely notice the absence of Starfield on the platform, as BG3 also offers more than a hundred hours of story for players to immerse themselves in.
Baldur’s Gate 3 arrives to PS5 on Sept. 6 and is already available for PC.
NBA 2K24
NBA 2K24 is the latest annual entry in the most popular basketball sim series. The 25th installment features ProPLAY, a brand-new tech that allows developers to grab actual NBA footage and turn it into NBA 2K24 gameplay.
Expect the most realistic player movements in a basketball video game, for the most authentic simulation the series has ever had. 2K Beats are back with the nice playlist of tracks to listen to while playing.
Kobe Bryant is the cover star on both the regular and special Black Mamba editions of the game, while Sabrina Ionescu graces the WNBA edition cover. To celebrate Kobe’s return on the cover, the game also features a Black Mamba Moments mode, letting players recreate some of the most memorable performances in the late Lakers legend’s career.
NBA 2K24 is coming Sept. 8 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Switch.
Monster Hunter Now
After Pokémon and the Wizarding World, Monster Hunter is the next franchise to get an augmented reality treatment from Niantic. Just like Pokémon Go allowed players to catch Pokémon in the real world for the first time, Monster Hunter Now is a mobile game that will have you hunt formidable monsters roaming around your neighborhood, or anywhere in the world.
Pre-registration for the game is open, and it comes with rewards based on the number of eager fans who can’t wait to sign up before Monster Hunter Now’s launch. More than 2 million players have already pre-registered, and two additional award packs will be unlocked if that number reaches 5 million.
Monster Hunter Now is releasing on Sept. 14 for Android and iOS devices.
The Crew Motorfest
Ubisoft’s upcoming racing game will feature a smaller open world compared to previous The Crew games, which had the entire contiguous United States to race on. The Crew Motorfest is set in a scaled-down version of O’ahu in Hawaii and revolves around a festival that serves as your central hub for accessing racing events.
The upcoming game gives off heavy Forza Horizon vibes, and gameplay is similar to previous The Crew titles. It’s not just cars you will be driving, but also other vehicles, such as motorcycles, boats and planes.
The Crew Motorfest launches Sept. 14 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Mortal Kombat 1
As you’ve probably heard if you’re following the 30-year-old MK franchise, there won’t be a Mortal Kombat 12 game, and the twelfth installment in the series will be called Mortal Kombat 1.
A soft reboot for MK, the new game gives the series the multiverse treatment we now see everywhere. Set after the events of MK11, Liu Kang has created a new universe to his own liking and assembles a group of fighters to battle against a familiar threat from the past.
Not many players care about the story of Mortal Kombat, so what’s important is that the upcoming reboot brings a new feature called Kameo Fighters, which adds a second character from a separate roster of fighters to help you out in each fight.
Mortal Kombat 1 is releasing on Sept. 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch.
Lies of P
First announced more than two years ago, Lies of P combines the unforgiving soulslike genre, exemplified by games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, with a story inspired by Carlo Colodi’s classic The Adventures of Pinocchio.
From what we’ve seen in trailers so far, the game’s steampunk aesthetic looks great, and the intriguing Lying System is a nice “decisions matter” touch that could lead to three completely different endings.
You can learn more about the game in our Lies of P preview.
Lies of P launches on Sept. 19 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Payday 3
An FPS co-op game about pulling off heists, Payday 3 is a direct sequel to 2013’s Payday 2, and unlike its predecessor, which is set in Washington DC, this one takes place in New York City. Your gang has come out of retirement to deal with a new treat while planning and executing the perfect heists.
Payday 3 can be played solo, but its appeal lies in its co-op mode, letting you team up with up to three friends. A new skill tree and improved stealth mechanics promise more freedom in approaching heists and even allowing for an entire heist to be completed in stealth mode.
Payday 3 launches Sept. 21 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty expansion
Cyberpunk 2077 had a catastrophic launch in late 2020, with countless bugs and virtually unplayable versions for previous-gen consoles, but despite the issues, it was obvious that the long-awaited game was something special. It has come a long way since its bug-ridden beginnings as developers from CD Projekt Red managed to release a ton of patches and free DLC to fix the game and add quite a few promised features.
After the fixes, Cyberpunk 2077 is a great game to pick up and finish in 2023, just in time for its Phantom Liberty expansion, which is coming at the end of this month. The first and only big CP2077 story expansion brings a brand new spy-thriller plot and a star-studded cast.
Keanu Reeves is reprising his role as Johhny Silverhand, while Idris Elba is coming on board to play agent Solomon Reed, an important character in Phantom Liberty’s story. The new expansion will bring revamped game systems, new quests, weapons, and vehicle combat, and a lot of these improvements will also be available to owners of the base game, via Update 2.0.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty expansion releases Sept. 26 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
EA Sports FC 24
As publisher EA Sports and soccer’s top governing body FIFA parted ways in 2022, the long-running FIFA series of soccer sim video games had to change its name to EA Sports FC.
EAFC 24 is the first game after the rebrand and will still be part of the same series you love (or hate), of course with the usual annual improvements and new features. FIFA Ultimate Team is now called just Ultimate Team and will feature women’s soccer players and mixed teams for the first time in the series.
EA Sports FC 24 launches Sept. 29 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Switch.
Written by Stoyan Ovcharov on behalf of GLHF.
