August’s must-buy PS4 and Xbox One games

New month, new games. August's list of new game releases, thankfully, isn't too overwhelming, but it's definitely the start of what's slated to be one of the biggest holiday season for video games that we've seen in a long time. For that reason, I've put together a list of the "must-buy" titles for the month — games that I consider to be worthy of a day-one purchase — in attempt to save you some money for the coming months.

CounterSpy – PS4 – August 19

Not every “must-buy” game has to be a AAA blockbuster. As we’ve seen in the past, indie titles are just as worthy of the limelight as the big boys. So I’m starting off my list of must-buy games with Dynamighty’s CounterSpy, an action side-scrolling game in which you infiltrate, sabotage, and strike at the heart of two opposing Super Powers. Set during the Cold War, it’s your goal to prevent them from trying to destroy the moon with nuclear missiles. I’m honestly not much of a stealth game kind of guy, but the gameplay mechanics of CounterSpy coupled with the stylized visuals make it an intriguing title and one of my must-buy games for August. Oh yea, it’s also a Cross Buy game meaning if you buy it for PS4, you’re also getting it for PS3 and Vita.

Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition – PS4 & Xbox One – August 19

Diablo III has been available on PS3 and Xbox 360 since September 2013. It was released on PC back in 2012, so it’s not exactly a “new” game by any means. But it is new on PS4 and Xbox One. And if you haven’t yet played it on any other platform, the Ultimate Evil Edition offers the best jumping in point for next-gen gamers eager to adventure in Sanctuary. In addition to offering players a controller-centric base game, Ultimate Evil Edition also includes the Reaper of Souls expansion, adding the new Crusader hero, an increased level cap (70), major improvements to the loot drop system, and an improved account-wide Paragon leveling system.

Metro Redux – PS4 & Xbox One – August 26

Technically another re-release, Metro Redux is a next-gen bundle of fully-remastered and improved versions of Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light, two very well-received games. What’s cool about this re-release is that it’ll contain never-before-seen content and new gameplay features, while running at 60 frames per second. It will also offer two different gameplay modes that cater to your specific playstyle. For those who have never played a Metro game, I highly recommend Metro Redux. Heck, even if you have  played them, there seems to be enough in this re-release to make it worth replaying.

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Honorable Mention: Hohokum – PS4 – August 12

While I consider Hohokum to be a must-buy game, I recognize that it’s style and gameplay may not be for everyone. I mean, there’s no denying the game is odd, but that’s what attracts me to it. However, this list is about “must-buys” and I think Hohokum has a very niche appeal which is why I think those on a tight budget might want to skip this one. Who knows, maybe it’ll be a PS Plus game in the future.

Honorable Mention #2: inFamous: First Light – PS4 – August 26

I'm not really a fan of DLC. It's rare that you find post-launch downloadable content that adds something meaningful to the base game experience. If that were the case, wouldn't the content have been included in the base game to begin with? Granted, there are some exceptions, like The Last of Us: Left Behind; but, I mostly find DLC to be an optional purchase if you have the extra cash. So if you're a fan of inFamous: Second Son then First Light is probably worth picking up, especially if you have an interest in Fetch's backstory.