This Week in Gaming (Week 33)

As we enter the middle of August, this week’s major upcoming release is a 4X space strategy game, where your goal is to rule the galaxy. If that’s not your cup of tea, then maybe a fast-paced military RTS or a tactical FPS shooter might be more of your thing. Alternatively you could be cleaning up other people’s mess, build a massive production line or kick an inflated pig’s bladder around a field. In other words, half of this week’s release is some kind of strategy game.

Sins of a Solar Empire II / This week’s major release / Thursday 15 August

Sins of a Solar Empire II is the sequel to the critically acclaimed space strategy game that seamlessly blends real-time battle tactics with the depth of 4X. As both emperor and battle commander you must lead one of six playable factions to victory against the threat of extinction! There are no turns. There is no battle mode. There is no strategic mode. It’s all one mode and it’s all in real-time. Steam Link

Operation: Polygon Storm / Monday 12 August
A fastpaced, military tug-of-war game with minimal micromanagement. Choose and deploy from a mix of specialized military units to overwhelm the enemy. Experiment with a huge variety of unit compositions, synergies, abilities, and upgrades to lead your army to victory! Steam LinkLevel Zero: Extraction / Tuesday 13 August / Early Access
Tactical extraction shooter meets immersive survival horror. Play as rival mercenaries fighting for loot, or as alien monsters hunting humans from the shadows. Solo or with friends, experience this unique dark take on asymmetrical PvPvE multiplayer. Steam LinkCrime Scene Cleaner / Wednesday 14 August
Once you get tangled with the mob, you will forever be a part of the mob. At least they pay a decent salary and all you have to do is clean up after their dirty work, but you know what you’re doing. So clean crime scenes, earn as much money as you can, and get ready for the next mission. Steam Linkshapez 2 / Thursday 15 August / Early Access
Dive into a factory-building game where the focus is on just that—building huge factories! Construct sprawling multi-level factories and min-max your layouts without limits. Shapez 2 is tailor-made for enthusiasts who crave the thrill of optimizing production lines and perfecting automation. Steam LinkEA Sports Madden NFL 25 / Friday 16 August

Hit like you mean it with FieldSENSE powered by BOOM Tech. Experience how the new physics-informed dynamic tackling system unlocks realistic collisions & new gameplay animations on both sides of the ball. With a reengineered Hit Stick, perfect hit indicator, a new Ball Carrier Balance System, and physics-driven dives, trucks and stiff arms, timing has never been more important as each interaction reflects true-to-life motion and physical outcomes. Steam Link