It’s back to school time, and for college freshman gamers across the country, a great thing about living on campus is the high-speed internet. One of my fondest college memories is playing Unreal Tournament on LAN; my suitemates and I spent hours sniping each other on the Facing Worlds map. And with the pandemic still raging, online gaming is still one of the safest ways to socialize—and hang out with your friends—without risking your health.
This month is dominated by oddities: eccentric story-centered games, a whimsical minigame collection, and a couple of indie titles that showcased at the Tribeca Festival earlier this year and are now ready for the spotlight.
Here is your monthly video game roundup for September 2021.
Xbox Games With Gold Free Games for September 2021
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Xbox One
Warhammer: Chaosbane (September 1-September 30)
Choose from three races (human, elf, dwarf) and five character classes to defeat the demons of chaos in this action roleplayer game.
Mulaka (September 16-October 15)
Based on real Mexican indigenous traditions, this game casts you in the role of a shaman, who can summon the demigods to help him on his quest.
Xbox 360 (backwards compatible)
Zone of the Enders HD Collection (September 1-September 15)
Play as a mecha in this sci-fi action game, set in outer space.
Samurai Shodown II (September 16-September 30)
This arcade fighting classic from 1994 is notable for being the first of its kind to introduce a parry mechanic, which has since become a standard defensive move in modern fighting games.
PlayStation Plus Free Games for September 2021 (rumored, unconfirmed)
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PlayStation 5
Overcooked! All You Can Eat (September 7)
This is actually a compilation of two Overcooked games with 4k resolution. Join up with a partner, and try your damndest to run a kitchen and get the customers’ orders to the pass.
PlayStation 4
Hitman 2 (September 7)
Jet to exotic locale, wine and dine the rich and famous, and then strangle them to death with piano wire. Agent 47 kills at a racetrack, a beach home, a tropical island, and more.
Predator: Hunting Grounds (September 7)
This is a multiplayer where most of you are special ops soldiers and one of you is the Predator, swinging above the treetops, and trying to kill everyone before they kill you.
Google Stadia Free Games for September 2021
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Darksiders II (September 1)
Play as Death—one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse—as he tries to clear the name of his brother, War, and save humanity.
Little Big Workshop (September 1)
This is an organizational simulator game, where you’re tasked with running a miniature factory. Choose what to make and how to make it, and keep your workers happy. The game leans into its theme with its visual presentation, which depicts a DIY crafting station on a wooden desk.
Wave Break (September 1)
Imagine Vice City meets Tony Hawk, but with boats instead of a board, and grinding on palm trees instead of on rails.
Watch Dogs: Legion of the Dead (September 1)
It’s the same technology hackathon you know and love, but this time, in a standalone game with an army of the undead coming after you.
Sonic Colors Ultimate (September 7)
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Originally released on Nintendo DS and Wii back in 2010, Sonic Colors had a back-to-basics approach. The game sold well and received critical praise at a time when Sonic’s star power was fading. Sega is re-releasing the game to celebrate the blue hedgehog’s 30th anniversary.
NBA 2K22 (September 10)
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The annual installment of 2K’s basketball simulator features updated rosters and stats, but also revamps the Defense systems to make shot-blocking and steals more realistic and responsive. The developers also upgraded the badge system in MyPlayer, giving you more badge points and more variety (80 badges total!) to customize your player.
Life Is Strange: True Colors (September 10)
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The newest installment in the Life is Strange series features Alex Chen, a foster family-raised girl who is investigating the death of her brother. Alex has empathic powers, which allows her to detect and experience the emotions and traumas of the people around her.
Lost in Random (September 10)
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A girl named Even braves the world of Random, to defeat an evil queen and save her sister Odd. Along the way, she meets Dicey, who she can “roll” to gain magical powers. We saw an unfinished version of this game at the Tribeca Film Festival, which was gorgeous and had a ton of potential.
Warioware: Get It Together (September 10)
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Wario’s newest mini-game collection is the 10th installment in the series and the first to be released on the Nintendo Switch. Most of the games require a single button and joystick, making Warioware an excellent party game that anyone can pick up and enjoy.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits (September 21)
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Another Tribeca highlight, this game stars Kena, a young spirit guide who disperses negative energy by communing with tiny spirit animals known as the Rot. An exploratory action platformer (think Tomb Raider, Uncharted), the game reminded me of Raya and the Last Dragon, with its mystique and sense of greater purpose.
Diablo II: Resurrected (September 23)
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A remastered edition of the hack-and-slash classic and its Lord of Destruction expansion, this game has been in development since 2019. Blizzard made multiple quality-of-life improvements based on the feedback from two development test periods.
Sable (September 23)
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You play a young girl on a rite of passage who gains mystical powers, like the ability to float midair, as she progresses across a massive, desert landscape. This is one of several games showcased at the Tribeca Festival a couple of months ago, and we gave this one a positive review.
Lost Judgment (September 24)
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A spinoff of the Yakuza franchise, this game features detective Takayuki Yagami as he investigates a murder by stealthing and punching his way across Japan. Fight with three unique styles—Crane style, Tiger style, and Snake style—in two fully realized Japanese cities.
Death Stranding: Director's Cut (September 24)
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If you didn’t pick up Death Stranding the first time around based on how long and granular it was, consider picking up the Director’s Cut, which offers several options to cut your transport time. Also, there are new story missions and new stealth/combat mechanics, and oddly enough, a race track. In short, it’s signature Kojima weirdness. Check it out.
Tokyo Game Show (September 30)
