September overwhelmed us with new games. And many of them were excellent. So the chances are that some great games slipped under your radar.
We’re here to help with that. Our ‘Games You Might Have Missed’ series looks at lesser-known titles, indie gems and games that otherwise didn’t get the attention they deserved. They’ve all been played and loved by us, and so if you’re looking for something to play that might not quite sit within the mainstream, we’re here to help.
Want more hidden gems? You can see our previous Games You Might Have Missed features by clicking here.
Airoheart
- Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
- Release date: 30th September
- For fans of: Old-school Zelda and top-down adventures
You’re probably looking at that screenshot and thinking… “isn’t that Link to the Past?”. It’s not, but it may as well be. Airoheart wears its inspirations on its sleeve and doesn’t try to hide them. Thankfully, with a unique story (and tougher enemies) it manages to avoid feeling like a rip-off and has plenty of its own charm. We’re still working our way through, so look out for a review soon, but we’re confident that fans of old-school Zelda games will love this.
Check latest prices of Airoheart
Dome Keeper
- Available on PC
- Release date: 27th September
- For fans of: Spelunky, roguelikes, wave-based defence
Dome Keeper manages to be both incredibly simple yet so very enjoyable. Trapped in a dome on an unknown planet, your goal is to protect yourself from incoming waves of hostile aliens. Doing that means improving your dome’s defences and weapons – and that requires digging underground to find resources. You’ll find yourself utterly engrossed in a loop of mining and defending. And since it’s a roguelike, you’ll keep jumping back in again and again.
Read our review of Dome Keeper
Moonscars
- Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
- Release date: 27th September
- For fans of: 2D action games, Soulslikes
Moonscars isn’t for everyone, but if you like tough-as-nails experiences, then there’s a lot to like about this 2D Soulslike. Not least is its gorgeous and moody art style, often monochrome except for a dash of red. It’s striking, and accompanied by a foreboding soundtrack, it sets the scene perfectly. Of course, it’s the gameplay that’ll keep you coming back for more which, once you’ve accepted that death is part of the package, is utterly engrossing.
Potion Permit
- Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
- Release date: 22nd September
- For fans of: Stardew Valley, the Atelier series
Potion Permit has completely taken us by surprise, and if you’re a fan of chilled-out adventure games, this should absolutely be at the top of your list of things to check out. Of all the games we played in September, this is one that we can see ourselves going back to most, thanks to its open-ended gameplay loop and satisfying quest design. You see, it casts you as a chemist arriving in a small village. You’ll have to gain the villagers’ trust by healing their ailments, and that means collecting ingredients, wandering out into the world and battling various enemies that lurk there.
Read our review of Potion Permit
NeverAwake
- Available on PC
- Release date: 28th September
- For fans of: twin-stick shooters
We love a good twin-stick shooter, but NeverAwake stands out from the crowd thanks to its unique gameplay elements and absolutely fantastic enemy design. Trust us: this is a fantastic-looking game – and there’s so much of it to stick your teeth into. You have over 80 stages to make your way through, and with leaderboards, you’ll be keen to jump into them again and again. We couldn’t get enough.
The DioField Chronicle
- Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
- Release date: 22nd September
- For fans of: old-school JRPGs, strategic battle systems
The DioField Chronicle isn’t exactly an indie title, coming from Square Enix. But with several Square Enix games launching in the space of a few weeks, chances are this one might have slipped under your radar. And if you’re a fan of RPGs, it’s one you really should pay attention to. Its story is interesting, and it looks great, but it’s The DioField Chronicle‘s ‘Real Time Tactical Battle’ system that’s the real draw. Battles are fun and engaging, and challenge you to think fast about the skills available to you. It works really well, and we hope we see it in more games in the future.
Read our review of The DioField Chronicle
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Justice Sucks
- Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
- Release date: 8th September
- For fans of: stealth, puzzles, killing people with Roombas (?)
Ever wanted to be a killer robot vacuum cleaner? Of course you have. And Justice Sucks lets you live out that dream. Taking on the role of Dusty, the said vacuum cleaner, you become a vigilante, taking out criminals in the heat of a crime scene. You can hack the environment around you, causing chandeliers to fall on them, radios to electrocute them, and more. And when you’re done, hoover up their bones and blood. So grim. So satisfying. This is a lot of fun.
Read our review of Justice Sucks
Hokko Life
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
- Release date: 27th September
- For fans of: Animal Crossing, life sims
Hokko Life has a lot in common with Animal Crossing, and so if that type of cosy life sim is your jam, you’ll find yourself right at home here. It’s the usual scenario: you find yourself arriving in an unknown, small town, and it’s up to you to build a life for yourself. It’s more mission-led than some, and you’ll be guided through the first hours of the game by fixing up houses, gathering flowers and cutting down trees. It’s pretty and relaxing, and it’s the type of game you’ll keep going back to.
Wylde Flowers
- Available on PC and Switch
- Release date: 20th September
- For fans of: cosy games, farming/life sims, spookiness
Yes, it’s another life sim, but Wylde Flowers has an unexpected twist: you’re a witch! A young adult used to her life in the city, you arrive in a small town to help your grandma with her farm. Or so you think. But after only a couple of days, a big family secret is dropped on you: your grandma’s a witch. And so are you. And so, along with farming and getting to know the people in town, you can hover over your cauldron, creating spells, and flying around on a broom. Perfect for cosy Halloween feels.
Q.U.B.E. 10th Anniversary
- Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
- Release date: 14th September
- For fans of: Q.U.B.E, first person puzzle games
Q.U.B.E. isn’t new. As if the ’10th Anniversary’ moniker doesn’t give it away, it’s been around for a decade. But this brand new release gives it a facelift, making the first-person puzzle game look better than ever. There’s a new chapter of content, too, so even if you have played before it’s well worth jumping back into. You’ll use a special pair of gloves to manipulate cubes around you, figuring out how to pass through the environment in a series of puzzles that get more difficult as you progress.
