August is the tail end of summer, with everyone getting ready to wind down after a sunshine-filled couple of months. New games have just come out over the summer months, while newer games are set to release just before the holiday season starts to kick into gear. But as more games drop onto various platforms, it can be tough figuring out which ones everybody should be playing. Whether you have a brand-new console to play with, or are just looking to build up your backlog, there are plenty of games to play right now.

With August starting up over the weekend, there are a few new releases that gamers should be trying out when they can. Nintendo is keeping the party going with the return of a fan-favorite character for their latest console, the Nintendo Switch 2. But if you're looking for something a bit more serious, then there's fast-paced combat going on elsewhere that will satisfy anyone's need for action. Here are three games that you need to play over the weekend as the August month begins.

3 Donkey Kong Bananza

Smashing on the Switch 2

With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, people were looking for that must-own game to justify their purchase of the console. And while Mario Kart World was a great pack-in title for the system, it's Donkey Kong Bananza that makes it feel like their purchase was worth it. This game marks the return of Donkey Kong in the 3D platforming space, with a new adventure that gives a nod to games like Donkey Kong 64, but with a ton of inspiration from Nintendo's Switch hit Super Mario Odyssey. It helps that the same team who made that game also worked on Donkey Kong Bananza, bringing what was so beloved about that Mario adventure into DK's world. Alongside Donkey Kong himself is a young version of Pauline, the same singer that Nintendo fans see in Super Mario Odyssey, whose relevance to the greater narrative of the game is deeper than at first glance.

Like our review of Donkey Kong Bananza stated, the game will have Switch 2 owners going bananas with how much fun it is to play. Not only is there a colorful and detailed world for Donkey Kong to explore, but a goofy story that is fun to follow as he smashes through everything. The places that DK and Pauline visit are wide open spaces, with tons of areas to discover and smash through to uncover secrets. But if that wasn't enough, the bigger boss battles will have you on the edge of your seat as Donkey Kong does what he does best when things get tough. Nintendo's favorite tie-wearing ape might be driven by his insatiable appetite for giant bananas, but his latest outing is one that will be a must-own for anyone that picks up a Nintendo Switch 2. It's simply that good, and will be in many conversations about the best games of the year.

2 Shadow Labyrinth

A dark turn for a classic icon

How do you make a classic series like PAC-MAN feel brand-new once again? You twist the premise into something darker and completely different from what anyone has ever seen before. Shadow Labyrinth is what happens when you take the PAC-MAN franchise and mix it together with elements of the Castlevania series. Shadow Labyrinth was released on July 18th for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. The game puts players into the role of a swordsman, with a small puck ally, as they traverse a large maze with a mysterious backstory. It is a metroidvania-style game where you fight enemies and gain new abilities to reach new locations on the larger map, opening up greater challenges.

Shadow Labyrinth had a prequel tie-in short episode of the series Secret Episode on Prime Video, which gave some more backstory to the events of the game. It makes audiences question if this version of PAC-MAN is a hero, or something far more sinister. For many people, Shadow Labyrinth is a take on the PAC-MAN franchise that they did not expect, but find intriguing. If you want something unique, yet familiar to play through over the weekend, then diving into Shadow Labyrinth may be a great idea.

1 Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

The ninja action has returned

One universal fact that everyone can agree upon is how ninjas are awesome. This is why game series like Ninja Gaiden have garnered a fan base over the years, whether it was the 2D action games of the NES era or the bloody 3D titles from the modern era. While the series has flourished in the 3D realm across multiple console generations for years, Ninja Gaiden is going back to its roots at the end of July with a new 2D-style game that will have fans excited to play. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a game developed by The Game Kitchen for the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It's an action-platformer with hack-and-slash elements that go back to the same kind of gameplay that the Ninja Gaiden NES games were known for.

The story of the game follows a ninja named Kenji Mozu as he fights demons to protect the renowned Hayabusa Village. On his travels, Kenji meets the kunoichi Kumori, and their fates become intertwined. For anyone that is a fan of action games and loves platform gameplay that has been around since the 8-bit days, this is going to be right up their alley. There are tons of enemies to take down, weapons and abilities to utilize, and beautiful visuals that capture all the action in all of their 2D glory. One thing that carries over into Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound from the rest of the series is the sense of challenge, which has been infamous among gamers for a long time. Don't expect this ninja game to be a walk in the park, but be prepared for some gorgeous, yet intimidating battles that will be awesome.

Gaming over the weekend

As we move into the final days of the summer, there are plenty of great games for everyone to get invested in. 2025 has been an interesting year of game releases thus far, with many more to come as the holiday season draws closer. All three of these games will definitely keep the first weekend of August interesting, regardless of where you play. One thing is for certain, it's going to be an action-packed weekend to end July and start up August for anyone that decides to boot up these new releases.