Is it September already? Dang, that went fast. What transitioning from Q3 to Q4 tells us is we’re now getting closer to those 2023 teases we’ve been exposed to all year. There’s a lot of online chatter about a lack of AAA content this year, despite both Microsoft and Sony spruiking first-party development stables to die for.

“What’s the point of all these acquisitions if there’s no content to show for the big money?”

The Internet’s a funny place sometimes. 2023 is definitely going to be a year of promises needing to be delivered on, as the hardware is now at a point where we should be baselining top quality, and enough time has definitely transpired to be seeing a lot of those promises in the gameplay light of day. In the meantime, however, it’s still 2022 and September isn’t a slouch at all in the release department with a couple of standouts between persistent online worlds that live by a “never say die” attitude, another remaster, though of an absolute classic, an Aussie Indie that is redefining storytelling and more.

Here’s the games of September, 2022.

Ooblets

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What do you get when you mix a bit of Harvest Moon with Pokemon with Slime Rancher and maybe a smidge of Animal Crossing? Ooblets. Yeah, we’re back in the hands of classic Ninty-styled family fun, and with an Untitled Goose Game look and feel, to boot. This little time-sink is an easy one to plonk the kids in front of, or just unwind behind yourself as you farm, collect and dance your way to… whatever the game’s ultimate reward is. Only out on the three platforms for now, Ooblets will hit a niche and you know that’ll only grow.

Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Release Date: September 1

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R

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For fans of this beloved anime series, it’ll be the prospect of being able to pit particular characters against each other who may have not crossed paths fully in the series. For others it could be a 50+ strong character roster in a new fighting game experience, and for others still maybe it’s just the game’s eccentric visuals coupled with the equally eccentric name. Whichever your reason, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R will serve up something unique to play in 2022.

Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Release Date: September 1

The Last of Us Part 1

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Platform: PS5
Release Date: September 2

We’re all as guilty as each other for frothing over a re-release of a favourite. For me, personally, I’m incredibly excited for the Dead Space 1 remake and re-release, and any of the trillion re-releases of Resi 4 tends to prick my ears up, too. And so for fans of Joel and his actual survival, this is likely high on their list, especially if they’ve got a PS5 sitting there waiting for an exclusive to run it through its powerful architecture. It will be interesting to see if the tap-in stops here, Naughty Dog games tend to find life after release on the reg.

Rocksmith+

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Platform: PC
Release Date: September 6

Do you remember a time when guitar-oriented games ran riot like so many boy bands in the 90s? It turns out Rocksmith, which opted to try and teach actual guitar and not the plastic peripheral ones South Park so brilliantly once potted, is still around and more than just kicking. Taking cues from Santana and just never knowing when to quit, Rocksmith+ -- a new evolution of the product -- takes things into a subscription territory that actually kind of fits, when all things are considered. If you’re contemplating learning the way of the axe, this is more than worth a look.

Gloomwood (Early Access)

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Platform: PC
Release Date: September 6

In the tradition of the immersive sim, Gloomwood is all about what players do with the tools and world presented before them, and then how those systems work dynamically with one another. Hence the game’s Early Access stint ahead of a full release. This has also been in the pipeline for quite some time, but as you’d expect (and hope) with games of this ilk, it’s about getting right, no matter how long it takes. Gloomwood is a stealth sandbox affair in the veins of Thief and Dishonored.

Steelrising

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Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: September 8

This alt-Victorian steampunk-driven Souls-like could be anything, including a heavily hyphenated affair when it comes to descriptors. But that’s a good thing as Steelrising looks to carve out its own niche while still delivering within its circles of inspiration. There’s a slightly mechanical feel to combat which adds to its -punk aesthetic and might just elevate it into an unsuspecting audience unaware they wanted authenticity on this level. This is definitely one worth a clockwork eye on.

Splatoon 3

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Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: September 9

Nintendo’s favourite esport is back, and painting the town red all sorts of colours. Fans of this won’t need any convincing to pick it up, but newcomers are encouraged as this might just be the best entry point for the franchise yet. Plenty of learnings, competitive jaunts and player feedback has led the product to this point, while it also gives the Switch another string release in 2022. A lot to love here.

NBA 2K23

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Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Release Date: September 9

The hype here has culminated at, maybe, the best sports videogame trailer of all time featured above. The challenge now is for the full product to live up to that. NBA 2K23 is a lot of things to a lot of people, most notably, however, it is a continuation of the influence that basketball of the highest level has on the rest of the world. The NBA and its many moving parts are not just a sport or sports organisation, it is a lifestyle and investment in culture. It is transcendent. So how the game lives up to that is still out on the court…

XIII

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Platform: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Release Date: September 13

Hooboy this one brings back memories. Both Kosta and myself were working at Nintendo Gamer when old XIII came in to sort of ‘save the day’ when considering the GameCube’s lack of first-person shooters of substance. And that it was not only based on a comic, but would also embrace that origin in its presentation and visual style only elevated it further. This, of course, is a re-release, but it’s a re-release of a re-release, of sorts. And if that’s confusing, well, it’s in keeping with the game’s narrative which is Bourne-esque. But that first re-release didn’t go too well, so this is another crack at it and we’re hoping for the legacy of the IP that it fares better this time around.

Wayward Strand

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Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: September 15

Aussie storytelling can be a grind to some. We have a way of telling stories and, if we do it in a wholly Australian way ignoring the rest of the world, there is a language barrier in both scripting and in tone and reference points. But Aussie storytelling is also rich and deserving of large audiences. Our unique perspective on things gives us a point of difference and helps separate us from the mainstream. In Wayward Strand we get all of the above with a fantastical setting that is heavily grounded, despite it being based on an airship. Keep an eye on this one.

Metal: Hellsinger

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Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: September 15

A DOOM clone where the metal music backing is part of the actual game mechanic is the sort of drunken idea we’re sure 100s of developers have had over the years. But someone finally made exactly that with Metal: Hellsinger and if a name couldn’t spell out an intent quite like that, we’re not sure what else could. Featuring appearances from actual metal singers, like Randy Blythe from Lamb of God, this is a late night blaster from hell and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Return to Monkey Island

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Platform: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: September 19

What more is there to say about this other than IT’S BACK! Of course, if you’re a young ’un or a monster and have therefore never experienced Ron Gilbert and co.’s classic but know lots of old people and nerds do nothing but laud it, then now has never been a better time to jump in. Fully reimagined from the artwork up, this fresh take on the classic has all the trappings to be as good, if not better than the originals. And yep, for the record, we LOVE the new art style. Can’t wait to get our pirate pants on and sink our sabres into this.

Session: Skate Sim

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Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: September 22

This one has been a long time coming, and trumps the return of EA’s Skate, which bodes well for its immediate impact. Skater XL has been the only other skating game that’s come close to building on the flickit blueprint of OG Skate, what with THPS being the arcade love-in that it is (which we’d never trade for the world). But this leaves Session: Skate Sim as something of a different option for players still not happy with where Skater XL has landed after all this time out in the wild. As with most games of this nature, the community shapes it so we’ll see how it’s rolling a few months on from now.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic

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Platform: PC
Release Date: September 26

WoW revisiting past expansions in Classic form allows for nostalgia and a second go round at how they play with newer mechanics. In this Classic revisit, we go back to a fan favourite in Wrath of the Lich King with players also able to roll a Death Knight in honour of the great and tragic figure, Arthus. The pre-patch rollout has already kicked off for this and if you haven’t got on it already, you’re probably just not into World of Warcraft.


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