The Biggest Games Releasing In September 2022: Splatoon 3, NBA 2K23, And More

September is usually a brief moment of calm on the gaming calendar before all hell breaks loose in the busy Q4 season. This year? September is loaded with dozens of games, mixing a number of indie standouts with high-profile titles, remakes, and brand new IPs. Here's a look at all of the games that Green Day will be missing out on while the band is in hibernation this month.

PS5 gamers get to revisit one of the best PlayStation exclusives of all time thanks to The Last of Us Part I, a remake that retains everything that players loved the first (and second) time around while significantly overhauling the graphics.

On the Nintendo Switch side of things, the next entry in the paint-splatting Nintendo franchise will surely grab the attention of many millions of Switch owners. Splatoon 3 features a full suite of modes, including competitive multiplayer, the cooperative Salmon Run mode, and a full-fledged single-player campaign.

It's also a huge month for sports games, as not one but two of the biggest sports franchises land on consoles and PC. NBA 2K23 will take hoopers back to the court, while FIFA 23 is a return to the pitch. Hopefully both sims improve on last year's iterations.

In addition to the big name titles, there are plenty of other exciting titles to look forward to in September. We imagine you'll find something on this list that is right up your alley.

Is this a Jojo reference? You bet your antagonists named after famous rock groups it is! A remaster of the 2013 PS3 game, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R features 50 characters from the popular manga series, several of the original Japanese voice actors from the anime adaptation, and even unique interactions when specific characters are pitted against one another.

While Naughty Dog's remake of its beloved post-apocalyptic game The Last of Us doesn't feature content that's mechanically different from the original game and its later remaster, you can expect this new edition to be graphically on par with its well-received sequel. In case you missed out on The Last of Us when it was first released during the PS3 era (or the PS4 remaster), this version will be the definitive edition to grab and will also have a rich selection of accessibility options available to make it more approachable to a wider audience.

It might look a House of Mouse take on Animal Crossing, but Disney Dreamlight Valley is forging its own path in the farm-life sim genre. Launching as an early access game this month, expect a sandbox populated by Disney icons as you start work on improving the land around you and start building a digital home for your avatar. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can jump into this early look at the game and receive a Founder's Pack as part of their subscription perks.

It's a great month for sports fans, especially when you have a new entry in the hoops franchise that is NBA 2K. As usual, you'll be building your legend as you go from rookie to GOAT and face off against the best in the world. Alternatively, you can set up dream matches between teams, take part in a new Jordan Challenge, and experience more refined gameplay when you hit the court.

What would happen if the French Revolution took place in a steampunk fantasy world filled with homicidal automatons? The rolling headcount would likely remain unchanged, but history would have been more exciting to say the least. Developed by Spiders, Steelrising puts you in the mechanical boots of Marie-Antoinette, a lone war machine who has to battle through the ruined streets of Paris and put an end to the reign of King Louis XVI before the Revolution is canceled.

One of Nintendo's best IPs, Splatoon 3 carries on the series tradition of competitive splatter-warfare with new modes, weapons, and polished gameplay mechanics. Splatoon 3 is going for broke with the sheer variety of activities that fans can dive into, and with heaps of customization available as well, it looks set to paint the town red, blue, purple, and any other color that you can get your hands on.

Preorder for $49 at SuperShop with promo code GSNSPTN.

Like the most memorable first-person shooter games, Metal: Hellsinger is all about finding your rhythm as you blast demons in the head with a trusty shotgun. The difference here is that the idea of finding a gory groove is the core gameplay theme of Metal: Hellsinger, as you'll need to vanquish demonic forces with style and timing. The more intense a level, the harder and heavier the music will be to stay on the beat with blazing revolvers and agile movement across a hell-stricken landscape.

After a lengthy early access period, Session is ready to skate into a full release. A spiritual successor to EA's Skate series, Session keeps the action authentic with its dual-stick controls, real-world locations, and a selection of top skateboarding brands to help customize your character. Once you learn how to play and start mastering the nuanced approach to skateboarding in Session, you'll feel like you've been transported back to the golden age of skateboarding.

Guybrush Threepwood makes his triumphant return this month, as the daring adventurer sets sail on a new journey that takes place after Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge. Series creator Ron Gilbert is returning to direct, and the release date has been locked in for the quasi-holiday International Talk Like A Pirate Day, September 19. Return to Monkey Island is rated Arr! for nautical nonsense that shouldn't be missed.

Creepy and cute, Beacon Pines is a beautifully illustrated adventure set inside of a book. As the reader of that novel and its protagonist Luka, you'll need to sneak out late, make new friends, and uncover the reality-warping power of words in this wholesome story. By collecting special charms, you'll be able to rewrite the tale, discover different story paths, and unravel the grand mystery that lies at the heart of Beacon Pines.

What happens when you mix intense, methodical sword combat with a classic fantasy land and detailed pixel art? You get No Place for Bravery, a 2D top-down action-RPG which aims to merge its epic pixel landscapes of Dewr with life-or-death action inside of a haunting tale. Former soldier Thorn is on a quest to rescue his daughter, and to brave the hordes of that stand in his way, he'll need to master multiple weapons and skills in this brutal and challenging odyssey.

A brand-new strategy-RPG from Square Enix, The Diofield Chronicle combines fantasy with real-time tactical battles and strategy-based combat that utilizes small squads. If that sounds like an adventure inspired by Game of Thrones, then you're not far off the mark as the soundtrack is scored by composers Ramin Djawadi and Brandon Campbell, who worked on the HBO fantasy series. Due for release later this month, the first chapter of the game can also be downloaded right now, with any progress from this demo carrying over to the full game when it arrives.

The Lich King is back, as one of World of Warcraft's most beloved expansions makes a return this month. You can expect plenty of quality-of-life changes, an improved barber shop for that extra touch of customization, and you'll be able to roll into the realms as a Death Knight without needing to have a level 55 or higher character in your collection. Fresh start servers are being introduced in effort to rebuild the WoW community for newcomers and veterans alike, and Blizzard has a long roadmap laid out for the next couple of months.

Switch players will be able to hop into Life is Strange for the first time this month, as the first two games in the award-winning series arrive on the Nintendo hardware this month. Whether you're rewinding time with Max Caulfield or uncovering the secrets of Arcadia Bay alongside Chloe Price, you're in for gripping stories and unforgettable characters in a package that has been optimized for the Switch.

A new God of War game is coming in November, but for a different taste of Ragnarok, you can grab Valkyrie Elysium in September. An action-RPG that incorporates the series' signature Einherjar and combo systems to create some lightning-quick gameplay, the latest chapter in the Valkyrie series also has a few new tricks up its sleeves. The new Soul Chain system expands on combat options, you can summon Einherjar to assist you in battle, and the Arts Gauge ability allows you to perform powerful Divine Arts techniques for when you feel like making a statement.

It's the end of an era for the FIFA series of soccer games, as this will be the final EA game with the FIFA name. EA plans to shift to its own original IP featuring the biggest soccer leagues and championships in the world next year. Hopefully the final year of FIFA proves to be one of the best when FIFA 23 launches at the end of the month.

• Anno: Mutationem (Switch) - September 1
• Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness (PC, Switch, PS4) - September 1
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 1
• Gerda: A Flame in Winter (PC, Switch) - September 1
• Mythbusters: The Game (PC) - September 1
• Onsen Master (PC, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 1
• Chenso Club (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - September 1
• The Last of Us Part 1 (PS5) - September 2
• Temtem (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 6
• Disney Dreamlight Valley early access (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 6
• Biomutant (PS5,Xbox Series X|S) - September 6
• Circus Electrique (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 6
• Rocksmith+ (PC) - September 6
• Nine Noir Lives (PC) - September 7
• Kaichu: The Kaiju Dating Sim (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) - September 7
• Roadwarden (PC) - September 8
• BPM: Bullets Per Minute (Switch) - September 8
• Rift Sweepers - Steam Early Access (PC) - September 8
• Hyperviolent - Steam Early Access (PC) - September 8
• Tower Princess (PC, PS4, Switch) - September 8
• Justice Sucks (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - September 8
• Steelrising (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) - September 8
• White Day: A Labyrinth Named School (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 8
• Splatoon 3 (Switch) - September 9
• Betrayal at Club Low (PC) - September 9
• NBA 2K23 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) - September 9
• Kitsune Zero (PC) - September 12
• Isonzo (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) - September 13
• Sunday Gold (PC) - September 13
• SCP: Secret Files (PC) - September 13
• Lovecraft’s Untold Stories 2 (PC) - September 13
• Little Orpheus (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 13
• Metal: Hellsinger (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) - September 15
• Fractured Online - Steam Early Access (PC) - September 15
• Despot’s Game (PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 15
• Blind Fate: Edo No Yami (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 15
• Wayward Strand (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 15
• Return to Monkey Island (PC, Switch) - September 19
• Hardspace Shipbreaker (PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
• Soulstice (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) - September 20
• Jack Move (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - September 20
• Scrap Riders (PC, Switch) - September 21
• Potion Permit (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 22
• No Place for Bravery (PC, Switch) - September 22
• Beacon Pines (PC, Xbox One, Switch) - September 22
• The Diofield Chronicle (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 22
• World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic (PC) - September 26
• Hokko Life (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - September 27
• Dual Universe (PC) - September 27
• The Fridge is Red (PC) - September 27
• Life is Strange Arcadia Bay Collection (Switch) - September 27
• Airoheart (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) - September 27
• Moonscars (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Switch) - September 27
• Post Void (PS4, PS5, Switch) - September 28
• Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous ( PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 29
• From Space (PC, Stadia, Switch) - September 29
• Dorfromantik (Switch) - September 29
• Moonbreaker - Steam Early Access (PC) - September 29
• Valkyrie Elysium (PS4, PS5) - September 29
• Blade Assault (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September 30
• FIFA 23 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia) - September 30
• Let's Build a Zoo (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - September TBC