Open-worlds can feel overexposed nowadays, although that mostly has to do with the scale of these projects. If someone buys and plays a Steam open-world game, that will probably be their life for a few weeks, if not a couple of months. Cycle through 5 sandboxes, and suddenly, you have spent a whole year with the genre. The AAA scene also loves these types of releases, so they get the most attention.
The thing is, open-worlds are not that common, at least not when compared to other genres. Heck, August 2025 does not have a huge open-world game in the vein of something like Death Stranding 2 or the upcoming Ghost of Yotei. So, does that mean no noteworthy releases are coming to Steam during this month? No, but we will need to look beyond the AAA space.
We are only considering Steam games that are tagged as open-world on the store. So, Echoes of the End has been left out since we could not confirm whether it is open-world or not. Also, Mafia: The Old Country has ditched the franchise's open-world aspect.
The RPG – Skyrim-Lite
August 7, 2025
The RPG
- Released
- August 7, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Dionysus Acroreites
- Publisher(s)
- Catoptric Games
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, RPG, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC
Hey, not every open-world game needs to take itself seriously. Sometimes, a silly romp that pokes fun at the genre's heavyweights serves as a nice change of pace from the norm, and The RPG seems set to be that project for August 2025. Yes, the title is on the nose, but it highlights what type of experience Dionysus Acroreites is trying to deliver.
Firstly, the game seeks to be beginner-friendly by simplifying or straight-up removing elements that are synonymous with both RPGs and open-worlds, which means no inventory management or survival mechanics. The art style is reminiscent of Supraland, so expect a cartoony lighthearted aesthetic; that said, the visuals look impressive, as long as you are into this type of vibe. The RPG has exploration, witty dialogue, first-person combat, a curated dungeon, and deep, dark secrets.
Out And About – Farming Life Sim
August 7, 2025
Out and About
- Released
- August 7, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Yaldi Games
- Publisher(s)
- Yaldi Games
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Open-World, Farming
- Platform(s)
- PC
Nowadays, life can be pretty exhausting and frustrating. At its best, gaming can temporarily push aside those feelings, replacing them with peace, satisfaction, and relaxation. Personally, I experience that primarily when playing over-the-top action games that just let me destroy everything, but everyone has their preferences. If you are the type who loves to get lost in a cozy open-world, Out and About might just be the game for you, as it looks pretty darn awesome from everything that has been shown so far.
Out and About has a demo on Steam, too!
Yes, farming/life sims are very common nowadays, to the point that every other week seems to produce another slow-life diversion driven by quirky characters, vibrant visuals, and a bouncy soundtrack. These projects will continue to come out because they are simply popular, and Out and About brings a few unique twists. For one, the game is somewhat educational, as it contains information on stuff like plants and food recipes. Foraging is the main focus here, so you should get to explore a pretty dense forest.
Best Farming Simulation Games Of The 2020s, Ranked
So far, the 2020s have had no shortage of amazing farming simulation titles, thanks to the genre's explosion in popularity.
Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi – Zelda-Like
August 21, 2025
Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi
- Released
- August 21, 2025
- Developer(s)
- MarsLit Games
- Publisher(s)
- Neon Doctrine
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action RPG, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC
Wearing its Zelda and Studio Ghibli inspirations loudly and proudly, Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi seems fantastic from the available footage, which shows a game that blends stylized visuals with puzzles, fast-paced combat, and dungeon-based exploration. Atarassia is under siege by the Void, causing monsters to spread across the land. Lili has no real desire to step up as a hero, but she is eventually convinced to follow in her mother's Guardian footsteps by a monk named Said. Working together, they set out to fight monsters, solve brain-teasers, clear dungeons, and save the world.
Honestly, Altheia looks almost too good to be true, so it might be wise to keep expectations slightly in check until a few reviews come out. That said, Neon Doctrine and Game Seer Publishing have pretty solid track records for games, even though they specialize in small indie-ish releases and do not have a lot of big projects under their belts.
The Knightling – Action-Adventure
August 28, 2025
The Knightling
- Released
- August 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Twirlbound
- Publisher(s)
- Saber Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
If forced to pick one upcoming Steam open-world game that appears destined to be August's standout release, The Knightling is the most likely candidate. The title is named after the protagonist, who goes on a quest to try and learn what happened to Sir Lionstone, who went on an adventure and never came back. You travel across Clesseia's four regions, engaging in what seems to be creative and free-flowing combat built around a shield rather than a sword.
Progression seems to revolve around abilities rather than loot, as the Knightling (and player) will gradually fine-tune their skills as they become more experienced with the shield. The latter also seems to be central to the traversal system, and you will be sliding all over the world to get to places faster. Twirlbound is a fairly small studio in the grand scheme of things, but the developer's Pine was a respectable indie attempt at crafting an open-world, even if it came with its share of shortcomings. Saber Interactive's involvement as a publisher will hopefully result in a more well-rounded and superior game.
Best Open-World Games That Everyone Should Play
There's a reason that open-world games are so popular, and while there are countless choices available, these genre entries are must-play experiences.