Hey there! The summer is nearly over, and gaming’s money season is about to kick into high gear. As always, we’re here to let you know what to keep your eye on this month. No need to keep you waiting, let’s get into it. Remember, if any of these sound interesting, we’re encouraging you to do a little digging. Go watch some videos, read up, and make a decision. We just want to point you in the right direction.

FIFA 15 (XB1, 360, PS3, PS4, PC) – The beautiful game returns. A host of AI improvements and some slick UI refinement promise to satisfy the diehard FIFA fans. A huge plus is the Premier league branding. With all 20 league stadiums recreated, and over 200 player scans, the authenticity will be through the roof. Goalie AI has been revamped after many requests from fans, and animations have been greatly improved. There is really no reason not to buy this game if you like FIFA. None.

Hyrule Warriors (Wii U) – Here’s some math for you. Dynasty Warriors + Zelda – Playstation + Wii U = Hyrule Warriors. Get ready to fight hundreds of mindless foes using screen clearing attacks with the Hyrule gang. Link, Zelda, Midna and others will defend the kingdom like you’ve never seen. I’m contemplating getting this for my kids. I think it would be fun to play with them.

NHL 15 (XB1, 360, PS3, PS4) – NHL is back sporting an all new commentary team, as well as a new partnership with NBC Sports. 9,000 individual crowd models ensure that the NHL crowd will be more realistic than ever before. The gameplay has been more than solid in recent years, so these cosmetic improvements should strengthen what is normally a quality title.

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor (XB1, 360, PS3, PS4, PC) – A 1 week boost to the release date lands this title at the very end of the month, as opposed to the ridiculously crowded October slate. This adventure/RPG title is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit properties. The story is wholly original, and it’s centered around Talion and his quest to avenge his slain family, as well as avenge his own death. This game has had my attention for a while, even as someone who is not familiar with the movies it is based upon. RPG fans should definitely look out for it.

Sims 4 (PC, Mac) – It’s the Sims man. You love them or you hate them. This time around, the new Create-a-Sim tool will ensure you make the exact Sim you want to. Drag that belly out and make him a beer drinker. Give her the round booty you wish you had. Manipulate your sim’s face with more detail than ever before. Clothing options have also been greatly expanded, much to fans delight. All signs point to Sims fans sinking hundreds of hours in their fictional worlds as usual.

Dance Central Spotlight (XB1) – The party comes to XBox One! Dancers can design their own playlist from a library of downloadable dance tracks. Songs now feature multiple step tracks and challenge levels, adding some variety to your routines this time around. No word on whether or not rhythm will be available for purchase as DLC.

Naruto Storm: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution (PS3, 360, PC) – Hey Naruto fans. Does 100 playable characters spanning the entire Naruto and Naruto Shippuden anime arcs sound good? How about an entirely new character designed by the manga creator Masashi Kishimoto? How about Combination Ultimate Jutsu attacks that allow characters to combine powers? I thought so.

Quick Hits

Velocity 2x arrives on the PS4 and Vita this month. It’s a nice mix of flying and ground missions, with a heavy emphasis on speed. Look for a review from us soon. Warframe finally arrives on the XBox One this month, so ninjas rejoice! Don’t Starve: Giant Edition lands on the Vita this month. Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes expansion will arrive soon, as well as the Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Ivory King DLC. Finally, PS4 and PC title The Vanishing of Ethan Carter will see release towards the end of the month. That last title is one you should definitely look out for if you’re into horror games.

Free Games

XBox Games With Gold is giving members Super Time Force, and rolling over Crimson Dragon from August for another month. As for the 360, Microsoft is offering Halo: Reach and Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine. PS Plus is offering Sportsfriend and Velocity 2X for the PS4. For the PS3 you’ll get PS All Stars Battle Royale and Hoard, while Vita members get Joe Danger and TxK.

Well everyone, there you go. That’s your September. Somehow I feel like I’m missing something though. Maybe I’ll figure out what it is sometime soon. If I do, I’ll let you know.