GRIND's Recommendations for August 2026
The flood has begun
Besides the infernal heat of this summer, the GRIND community has had to face another calamity: a drought of releases. There haven't been many new games, but the situation changes with the end of summer, because the deluge is starting! Most developers preferred to schedule their releases during this period, fearing Grand Theft Auto VI, which is why, starting from 4 August until 31 October, we will have important releases almost every week. So I sincerely hope you've prepared your wallet or taken out a loan, because literally too many games are about to be released!
Small disclaimer: although we do our best, the list of recommendations may undergo unforeseen changes, such as last-minute delays, cancellations, or surprise releases of titles we had no idea about.
Beast of Reincarnation
Release date: 4 August 2026
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC
What do we have here? A new title from Game Freak Inc. that isn't Pokémon? While it seems hard to conceive, the renowned developer also has other games in its portfolio besides Pikachu's famous franchise. One of its first titles was even Yoshi, released in 1991 for NES and Game Boy, followed by Mario & Wario in 1993 for Super Famicom. Since 2020, the studio has been working on a completely new project, which abandons both the family-friendly style and Nintendo mascots, namely Beast of Reincarnation.
The game is described as an intense action RPG, similar to legendary titles such as Black Myth: Wukong, NieR: Automata, or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, in which the protagonist, a young woman named Emma, endowed with supernatural powers, traverses a post-apocalyptic Japan alongside the wolf Koo to defeat the supernatural calamity that has taken hold of much of the country. The game will also be available on Game Pass.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Release date: 6 August 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
If you can't wait another month for Insomniac Games' Marvel’s Wolverine, then I invite you to satisfy your craving for violence in Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, the newest creation from Arc System Works, the developers behind the Guilty Gear series. The famous studio has applied the lessons learned from Guilty Gear Strive and created one of the best fighting games on the market, with a complex tag-team system and a varied selection of fighters, including Logan. Although it mechanically resembles Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 very much, Arc System Works' unmistakable graphic style, as well as the original interpretation of the characters, give Tōkon its own identity.
Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor
Release date: 14 August 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X/S
The first DLC for the successful 2025 game, Man of Honor takes us back to Sicily, this time in the winter of 1905, just a few months after Enzo Favara joined the Torrisi family! He will help Ennio Salieri, the antagonist from the first Mafia and its remake, regain the power he lost after being arrested. Alongside Cesare, Enzo will confront the underworld of Valle Dorata in an attempt to help Salieri regain his honour.
The DLC comes with two new chapters, a completely new area, Valle Dorata, as well as new weapons, vehicles, and talismans, which the player will use to face the dangers awaiting him in Don Salieri's hometown.
The Sinking City 2
Release date: 18 August 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
A sequel that radically changes genre. Don't worry, you don't need to have played the first game to enjoy The Sinking City 2, although it might help you understand certain nuances of the story.
Frogwares' new creation takes us directly to the infamous Arkham, literally swallowed by the waters of the nearby lake. The story is new and focuses on Calvin Rafferty, who is looking for a way to save his partner, Fay Bernette, from the clutches of the entity that captured her soul in the dream world. Throughout the adventure, he will confront all sorts of non-Euclidean horrors and do his best to resist the alluring whispers of the Dream City. But the adventure will endanger both his soul and his mental health. Besides the new setting, the game also differentiates itself through its chosen direction, being a full-fledged survival horror this time, unlike the first title, which was more of a detective noir.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope
Release date: 20 August 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X/S
Almost two years after the release of the most complex S.T.A.L.K.E.R., GSC Game World returns to the Exclusion Zone with the Cost of Hope DLC, a standalone expansion that takes place in parallel with the events of the main game. The player finds themselves in the midst of the conflict between the two major factions of the Zone: Duty and Freedom. The protagonist's choices will have a direct effect on the story, and they can either let the Zone flourish with Freedom or destroy it completely by aligning with Duty. The big surprise of the DLC is the iron labyrinth of the nuclear power plant, which can be fully explored.
Besides the novelties brought by the DLC, the base game also receives the long-awaited A-Life 2.0 update, which seems to be the most complex patch to date. Will the Zone, along with its characters, react intelligently, or will they remain as "smart" as a dummy in a Euro NCAP test?
Mortal Shell 2
Release date: 20 August 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
August seems to be the month of sequels, because on the same day that The Sinking City 2 is released, developer Cold Symmetry comes with something unexpected: a sequel to Mortal Shell. Mortal Shell II is a standalone sequel, which means it's not necessary to have played the first game to understand the events of the new title. What I can tell you from the start is that this sequel expands on the established formula of the first Mortal Shell, offering more options for customising gameplay style and a more detailed map. It's clear that the developers were heavily inspired by Elden Ring, and Mortal Shell II seems to be the indie scene's answer to the 2022 phenomenon. What's more, for those who can't wait, the developers have already prepared a demo, available on Steam.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2
Release date: 27 August 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
I never thought I'd live to see such a thing, but Konami seems to be serious about its promises! After two incredible releases in the Silent Hill franchise, a new Castlevania that seems to be exactly what we wanted, and the remake of our favourite uncle Kojima-san's best title, Konami is giving fans what they've wholeheartedly desired: a remaster of the famous Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots!
Okay, okay, that's not all. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 includes three titles: Guns of the Patriots, Peace Walker, and METAL GEAR Ghost Babel, the first game in the series released on a portable console in 2000. Although Peace Walker could be played on Steam and Xbox thanks to another collection released by Konami, Guns of the Patriots had remained locked on PlayStation 3 until now.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Release date: 27 August 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC,
Anyone who played the two titles in the A Plague Tale series expected a new game from Asobo Studio, but no one would have predicted it would be a spin-off and, at the same time, a prequel. Resonance stars Sophia, a community-favourite character who helped Amicia and Hugo reach the island of La Cuna. Unlike the other two games in the franchise, Resonance focuses on action, and Sophia will confront her enemies directly, sword in hand. Throughout the story, she will try to uncover the secrets of her family, which has a complex history related to the Prima Macula, the affliction Hugo de Rune suffers from. Moreover, the action will take place both in the Middle Ages and in the Minoan period, when players will control Sophia's ancestor, the legendary hero Theseus.
Star Wars Zero Company
Release date: 27 August 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
What do we have here? A new Star Wars game? Which isn't an action game, but a strategy game similar to XCOM? Now that sounds interesting.
The action takes place during the Clone Wars, and the player takes on the role of Hawks, a former Republic officer who must assemble a team of mercenaries and eccentrics to protect the galaxy from an imminent danger. The game is similar to the famous XCOM in almost every respect, and squad members can suffer serious injuries or even die during missions. However, the story will continue regardless of the team's fate. Yes, there are Jedi in the game, but, as the developers from Bit Reactor and Respawn Entertainment said, there aren't many, and it's very easy to lose them if you're not careful.
This project shows both the public's and the developers' desire to explore other genres in the Star Wars universe. Who knows, maybe in the future we'll see a new Republic Commando?
Bonus:
Lies of P: Complete Edition
Release date: 6 August
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
My favourite game of 2023 finally arrives on the Big N's newest console. And not just any version, but the complete edition, including the excellent Overture DLC. It probably won't have the same graphical quality as the versions on more powerful consoles, but the experience and story will remain intact.
What's more, this release also comes with a physical edition for Nintendo Switch 2, which includes a puppet you can use to show the GRIND editorial team exactly how the monsters of Krat battered you.
Agent 64: Spies Never Die
Release date: 11 August 2026
Platforms: PC
A true love letter dedicated to the solid 7s of FPS on Nintendo 64. This retro spy shooter invites you to relive the glory days alongside secret agent John Walters, whose mission is to save the world from the hands of his sworn enemy, Dominic Pulp. The game can be played both in single-player and in co-op, via split-screen or online!
The missions are designed as standalone episodes, perfect for evenings when you're tired and don't have time to tackle something more complex. So get your gadgets ready and a tuxedo, because it's time to save hostages and steal secret plans in style! And in case you can't wait until release, the developers have already prepared a demo available on Steam.
Duskfade
Release date: 13 August 2026
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PC
A European game that isn't Eurojank! Described by the developers as a spiritual successor to the famous Jak & Daxter franchise, this 3D platformer with action elements puts us in the role of Zirian, a young adventurer who must save his sister from the mysterious Clock Tower!
In this epic adventure, the protagonist will be accompanied by Cuckoo, a mechanical creation of his sister, who will help him overcome the various obstacles that will come his way. Like other titles recommended above, Duskfade has a demo available on Steam and other platforms.
Entropy
Release date: 18 August 2026
Platforms: PC
After the release of the excellent Dread Delusion in 2024, developer Lovely Hellplace returns with a new title, called Entropy. In this fever dream turned game, we step into the role of an actor who had the misfortune of being, along with his colleagues, in the wrong city just as a demonic invasion began. Mysteriously brought back to life by a divine being, the protagonist embarks on a grand adventure to discover who cursed him with eternal life and how he can stop the invasion of infernal forces.
The game is a tactical RPG with turn-based combat, and the only permanent character in the team is the protagonist. The rest of the teammates are NPCs who can be recruited for this "divine" cause and do not benefit from the same protection as the main hero. In other words, Entropy resembles a fantasy XCOM, where only one character stays with us throughout the adventure. Please note, the game will be released in EARLY ACCESS initially.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
Release date: 28 August 2026
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
It's Elden Ring on Nintendo Switch 2. Do you really need any more information?
…
Okay. If you haven't quenched your thirst for soulslikes with Nightreign or Lies of P and you're not guaranteed a spot in The Duskbloods Network Test, it's time to return to The Lands Between in this new version of the famous 2022 title, which includes skins for the horse Torrent and new armour sets.
My dears, these are the recommendations for August 2026! We sincerely hope at least one of these recommendations caught your eye!