Get those consoles and controllers ready because September is set to be one of the biggest months in video games ever. Bioshock. Destiny. Batman. NHL. FIFA. Dragon Quest. Forza. Yo-kai Watch. These are just some of the incredible game franchises that will get new releases this month. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, there is also some new IPs on the horizon, including Ubisoft’s Just Sing and the Xbox-exclusive ReCore. Let’s take a look at the games!
[Note: The below release dates are subject to change at the sole discretion of the game publisher at any time.]
Just Sing
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Genre: Music
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Sony’s SingStar has stepped away from the limelight in recent years, leaving a big void in the karaoke genre that Ubisoft’s Just Sing is coming along to fill. I have a soft spot for karaoke games (yep, living room singer right here) so I am very much looking forward to trying this game. What’s cool about this game is you use your smartphone as your in-game mic and camera. Just Sing brings over 40 songs right to your PS4 or Xbox One, including hit tracks like “All About That Bass” (Meghan Trainor), “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” (The Arrows), “I Want to Break Free” (Queen), “What Do You Mean?” (Justin Bieber), and more.
The Elder Scrolls Online Gold Edition
Release Date: September 9, 2016
Genre: MMO RPG
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
ESRB Rating: M (Mature, 17+)
Following its console release last June, The Elder Scrolls Online is getting a “gold” definitive edition that includes the base game, plus 4 additional content packs previously released as DLC: Imperial City, Orsinium, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood. For players interested in joining ESO’s massive online community, the Gold Edition is your perfect gateway to the continent of Tamriel.
ReCore
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: Action-adventure
Platform(s): Xbox One
ESRB Rating: T (Teen, 13+)
I’ve had two opportunities now to play ReCore, the all-new action-adventure IP from legendary creator Keiji Inafune, and this game is showing massive potential. The sandy, mysterious world you explore is beautiful and looks quite vast, but for me it’s the exceptional gameplay that really stands out here. In the demos I tried, you get attacked my different robotic creatures that each have colour affinity, such as blue, red, and yellow. By pressing the D-pad on your Xbox One controller, you change the colour of your firepower, which can inflict extra damage if you match your shot colour to the colour of your enemy. It’s a really interesting gameplay mechanic, and I can’t wait to start this journey when the game launches on September 13th.
BioShock: The Collection
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: First-person shooter
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: M (Mature, 17+)
BioShock is one of the best first-person shooter franchises, bar none. This compilation packs the original BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite, all on one disc. Not only that, all games have been fully remastered in glorious 1080p resolution. BioShock: The Collection will let you revisit the underwater world of Rapture and the flying city of Columbia (two of the most detailed, imaginative game worlds ever) in a beautiful fresh coat of paint. You’ll also get all the single-player add-on content, such as the Columbia’s Finest pack, and Director’s Commentary!
NHL 17
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: Sports
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
The NHL series stumbled a bit when it landed on current-gen consoles two years ago, but last year’s edition brought back the most fan-requested features (like EA Sports Hockey League), and now this year’s edition is taking the franchise to the next level. NHL 17 will feature more customization options than ever, an all-new net battle system that will let you fight for control in front of this critical space, improved artificial intelligence, better hitting, passing, and skating mechanics, and much more.
Batman: The Telltale Series
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: Adventure
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
ESRB Rating: M (Mature, 17+)
Telltale Games are masters at creating captivating story-driven adventures. Now they’ve partnered up with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to bring us their latest episodic point-and-click tale: Batman: The Telltale Series. As Batman you’ll delve into the criminal underworld of Gotham City in a story that evolves and changes based on your decisions. Each of the chapters are being released individually digitally, but by picking up this special retail edition of the game you can get all five chapters on one disc.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2017
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: Sports
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Konami’s PES franchise has dramatically stepped up its game in recent years, greatly improving the graphics, controls, content, and more. PES 2017 will again kick up it up a notch with authentic and immersive first-touch ball control, a more precise passing system, highly adaptive A.I., the ability to set up strategies before kickoff, and even more realistic graphics using the Fox Engine.
NBA 2K17
Release Date: September 16, 2016
Genre: Sports
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
2K Sports’ fan-favourite perennial basketball franchise is back for another exciting installment. In NBA 2K17, the developers are bringing a whole new level of authenticity with improved A.I. that will replicate the styles of players who use take high risk shots or go for highly contested layups. In addition to the standard edition of the game, there’s also a special “Legend Edition” that features none other than the legendary Kobe Bryant on the cover. To celebrate his final NBA season, this special edition will feature bonus content like a limited edition Kobe Bryant poster, a Black Mamba controller skin, 30,000 in-game currency, and more.
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past
Release Date: September 16, 2016
Genre: Role-playing
Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
The classic PlayStation RPG Dragon Quest VII has been rebuilt from the ground-up for a new generation of gamers on Nintendo 3DS. This timeless masterpiece will take you on an epic journey through time where you’ll meet a cast of interesting characters and engage in turn-based battles full of new spells and abilities.
Destiny: The Collection
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Genre: Action role-playing, first-person shooter
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: T (Teen, 13+)
The latest expansion to Bungie and Activision’s Destiny franchise, Rise of Iron, is making its long-await debut on September 20. Along with this big release comes Destiny: The Collection, a value-packed edition aimed at newcomers to the series offering a Level 40 character booth, and 4 exciting expansion packs: The Dark Below, House of Wolves, The Taken King, and Rise of Iron. If you’ve yet to dive into this thrilling game world, Destiny: The Collection gives you everything you need to get started.
Forza Horizon 3
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Genre: Racing
Platform(s): Xbox One
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Following the adrenaline-fueled, off road trips to Colorado (Forza Horizon), and Southern France and Northern Italy (Forza Horizon 2), Playground Games’ epic racer is heading to Australia. In Forza Horizon 3 you’ll take control of over 350 vehicles and drive through a diverse range of environments—from the dusty Australia Outback, to lush, tropical forests, and sandy beaches—in this vast, open-world adventure. Race for championships and glory on your own, or head online via Xbox live and experience 4-player campaign co-op.
FIFA 17
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Genre: Sports
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
At E3 2017, I had the opportunity to try out FIFA 17‘s all-new story-driven mode called “The Journey” when you become the next rising star of the Premier League. In this robust new mode you’ll need to make crucial decisions on and off the pitch that help shape your personalized journey. On top of this exciting new mode, FIFA 17 is bringing football to life like never before using the industry-leading Frostbite engine. Enhancements in this year’s edition include an overhaul of physical play that will bring more authenticity to interactions, refined A.I., new attacking techniques, and many more.
XCOM 2
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Genre: Turn-based tactics
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: T (Teen, 13+)
Take control of the Avenger, a new mobile headquarters for XCOM, in this sequel to the 2012 reboot. XCOM 2 for PS4 and Xbox One will take you on missions around the world where you’ll use XCOM’s military forces and new capabilities to help repel the Earth’s alien oppressors.
Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls / Bony Spirits
Release Date: September 30, 2016
Genre: Role-playing
Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS – Fleshy Souls Edtion / Nintendo 3DS – Bony Spirits Edition
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Less than one year after Yo-kai made its grand debut on North American shores, the sequel, or should I say sequels plural, has arrived. Much like Nintendo’s main Pokémon series, this time around Yo-kai Watch 2 is getting two different editions—called Fleshy Souls and Bony Spirits—with each edition coming with a rare Yo-kai that can only be found in their version of the game. I loved the first game, so I can’t wait to jump back into the mysterious world of Yo-kai again soon!
Additional games releasing in September 2016
Sept 6
- The Legend of Heroes: Trials of Cold Steel II (PS3)
- Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet (PS4)
Sept 9
- Mario Party 10 & Peach amiibo Bundle (Wii U)
- Mario Party 10 & Bowser amiibo Bundle (Wii U)
- Captain Toad Treasure Tracker & Toad amiibo Bundle (Wii U)
- Yoshi’s Wooly World & Blue Yarn Yoshi amiibo Bundle (Wii U)
- Yoshi’s Wooly World & Pink Yarn Yoshi amiibo Bundle (Wii U)
Sept 13
- MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death (PS Vita)
- Psycho Pass: Mandatory Happiness (PlayStation 4)
- Dead Rising HD (PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
- Nascar Heat Evolution (PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Sept 20
- Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (Nintendo 3DS)
- Air Conflicts Double Pass (PlayStation 4)
- Killer Instict: Definitive Edition (Xbox One)
- Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Daybreak Special Gigs World Tour (PlayStation 4)
Sept 27
- Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice (Nintendo 3DS)
- Shantae Half-Genie Hero Risky Beats Edition (PlayStation 4, Wii U)
- Dead Rising 2 HD (Xbox One)
Are there any games coming out this month you’re interested in? Let us know in the comments section below!
