'The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening' leads September's list of big-name releases.
September is almost here! With the return of fall comes an increase in the number of big-name games we’ll see hit store shelves each month. For September 2019, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Tropico 6 lead the month’s family-friendly offerings, while Borderlands 3 and Gears 5 are highly anticipated games that are only appropriate for adults.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Rated E
Appropriate for: Kids who are comfortable using console controllers
The next game in the popular The Legend of Zelda series is actually a remake of the original Link’s Awakening, which launched on Game Boy in North America in 1993. In this action adventure game, Link finds himself stranded on beautiful Koholint Island, and players will need to help him explore dungeons and collect instruments that can be used to help him go home. In this new version of the game, as players complete dungeons in the main game, they’ll unlock individual dungeon rooms (called Chambers), which can be used to create custom dungeons in the Chamber Dungeon mode. If your family owns any compatible amiibo figures, they can be used to unlock additional Chambers.
Great if your kids love: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas
Tropico 6
Rated T
Appropriate for: Teens who enjoy strategic thinking
Previously released on PC, Tropico 6 will be released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September 2019. The strategy game allows players to become a dictator (ruthless or benevolent) in the tropical land of Tropico. For the first time in the series, players will be able to build on “large archipelagos,” challenging them to keep track of multiple islands in a single game. Players need to manage multiple aspects of their country, including transportation and infrastructure, and they can also customize the look of their palace. Finally, players can send citizens on missions to steal “wonders” from around the world, like the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower, and put them on display in their own country. Tropico 6 is rated T for teen, and contains content descriptors for “Drug Reference,” “Mild Language,” and “Violence.”
Great if your kids love: Previous Tropico games, Civilization 6
Borderlands 3
Rated M
Inappropriate for young teens and children
Borderlands 3 is the latest game in the popular (and mature) Borderlands franchise. It allows players to become one of four new Vault Hunters and explore a dangerous world as they defeat enemies and collect large amounts of loot. They can also customize their character as they progress. Players can go it alone or team up with up to three other players for cooperative gameplay. Borderlands 3 has received an M rating from the ESRB, meaning it’s been deemed inappropriate for players under the age of 17. It has content descriptors for “Blood and Gore,” “Intense Violence,” “Sexual Themes,” and “Strong Language.”
Try These Games Instead: Destiny 2, Overwatch, Anthem
Gears 5
Rated M
Inappropriate for young teens and children
This newest game in the Gears of War franchise takes players back into a dangerous world threatened by The Swarm. The game features a story mode that supports up to three players for cooperative play, as well as extra modes like Boot Camp, which can help new players get up to speed with the game’s combat system. Gears 5 has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB, with content descriptors for “Blood and Gore,” “Strong Language,” and “Intense Violence.”
Try These Games Instead: Destiny 2, Generation Zero
Notable kid- and teen-friendly titles are in bold.
Release dates can change at any time.
Tuesday September 3, 2019
Torchlight II, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Root Letter: Last Answer, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Final Fantasy VII: Remastered, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Switch, PC
Fin and the Ancient Mystery, Switch
Conan Chop Chop, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox One, PC
Children of Morta, PC
Catherine: Full Body, PlayStation 4
Post War Dreams, PlayStation 4
Himno, PlayStation 4, Vita
Asdivine Menace, PlayStation 4, Vita
Fifty Words by Powgi, PlayStation 4, Vita
The Perlplexing Orb, PlayStation 4
Project Nimbus: Code Mirai, PlayStation 4
ShellShock Live, PlayStation 4
Blindfold, PlayStation VR
Wednesday September 4, 2019
Super Kirby Clash, Switch
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition, Switch
Deadly Premonition Origins, Switch
Gaijin Charenji 1: Kiss or Kill, Xbox One, PC
Post War Dreams, Xbox One
Himno, Xbox One
Monochrome Order, Xbox One
Thursday September 5, 2019
Space Cows, Switch, PC
Hyperfoma, Switch
River City Girls, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Headliner: NoviNews, Switch
Asdivine Menace, Switch
Fifty Words by Powgi, Switch
Spice and Wolf VR, Switch, PlayStation 4 [VR Compatible]
Battle Supremacy – Ground Assault, Switch
Gnomes Garden: Lost King, Switch
Flowers Are Dead, PlayStation 4
Truck Racing Championship, PlayStation 4
Throne Quest Deluxe, Xbox One
WRC 8, Xbox One, PC
Friday September 6, 2019
Creature in the Well, Switch, Xbox One, PC
NBA 2K20, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Super Jumpy Ball, Switch
Himno, Switch
Monster Hunter: World Iceborne [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Monster Hunter: World Iceborne Master Edition, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Path of Exile: Blight [DLC], PC
Throne Quest Deluxe, PlayStation 4
Apocalipsis: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, PlayStation 4
Shalnor Legends: Sacred Lands, PlayStation 4
Sudden Strike 4 – Complete Collection, PlayStation 4
Restless Hero, Xbox One, PC
Monday September 9, 2019
Path of Exile: Blight [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Tuesday September 10, 2019
Gun Gun Pixies, Switch
Trials Rising: Crash and Sunburn [DLC], Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Blasphemous, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Utawarerumono Zan, PlayStation 4
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
eFootball PES 2020, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Greedfall, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Distraint: Deluxe Edition, PlayStation 4, Vita
Battlewake, PlayStation VR, PC
Caravan Stories, PlayStation 4
Hero Express, PlayStation 4
Jigsaw Zen, PlayStation 4
WRC 8, PlayStation 4
Gears 5, Xbox One, PC
GRID, Xbox One
Wednesday September 11, 2019
Throne Quest Deluxe, Switch
Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure, PlayStation 4
Distraint, Xbox One
Thursday September 12, 2019
Super Dodgeball Beats, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Agatha Knife, PlayStation 4
Friday September 13, 2019
Daemon X Machina, Switch
Star Wars Pinball, Switch
Ellen, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Distraint: Deluxe Edition, Switch
Borderlands 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
NHL 20, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
NASCAR Heat 4, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Nextgen Sandbox, PlayStation 4
Colina: Legacy, Xbox One
Light Fairytale – Episode 1, Xbox One
Monday September 16, 2019
Massira, PlayStation 4
Mowin’ & Throwin’, PlayStation 4
We Were Here, Xbox One
Tuesday September 17, 2019
AI: The Somnium Files, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
LEGO Jurassic World, Switch
Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure, Switch
Castle Crashers Remastered, Switch, PlayStation 4
Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son, PlayStation VR, PC
Bus Simulator, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Rebel Cops, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning, PlayStation 4
Gnomes Garden: Lost King, PlayStation 4
Witching Tower VR, PlayStation 4
Stela, Xbox One
Wednesday September 18, 2019
Mable & The Wood, Xbox One
Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning, Xbox One
Sally’s Law, Xbox One
Thursday September 19, 2019
Police Stories, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Devil May Cry 2, Switch
GRID Autosport, Switch
Inferno 2, Switch, PlayStation 4
Lost Castle, Switch, PlayStation 4
Overland, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Sayonara Wild Hearts, Switch, PlayStation 4, Apple Arcade
Truck Driver, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Mutazione, PlayStation 4, PC
Friday September 20, 2019
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Switch
Untitled Goose Game, Switch, PC
Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning, Switch
Niffelheim, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Switch
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered, PlayStation 4, PC
The Sojourn, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Rebound Dodgeball Evolved, Xbox One, PC
Tuesday September 24, 2019
Dead by Daylight, Switch
Contra: Rogue Corps, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Switch, PlayStation 4
The Surge 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Color Slayer, PlayStation 4, Vita
Dreaming Canvas, PlayStation 4
Habroxia, PlayStation 4, Vita
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, PC
Wednesday September 25, 2019
Rex Rocket, Xbox One
Constructor Plus, Xbox One
Thursday September 26, 2019
Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition, Switch
Northgard, Switch
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Fight’N Rage, Switch
Habroxia, Switch
Rage 2: Rise of the Ghosts [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Friday September 27, 2019
Dragon Quest XI S: Echos of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition, Switch
Dragon Quest, Switch
Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line, Switch
Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation, Switch
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition, Switch
Dreaming Canvas, Switch
FIFA 20, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Code Vein, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Tropico 6, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Fight’N Rage, Xbox One
Mining Rail 2, Xbox One
The Adventures of Elena Temple, Xbox One
Monday September 30, 2019
No Way Out – A Dead Realm Tale, PlayStation VR
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
