Mortal Shell 2 finally drops this Thursday, August 20, and your wallet is about to have a very bad week. The soulslike sequel is just one of several reasons to clear your schedule and your hard drive this week. The Epic Games Store Savings Sale is wrapping up with 90% discounts, there are free games up for grabs across every major platform, and a stack of new releases are competing for your attention. We’ve sifted through the noise to bring you the deals and launches worth your time — and your money.

Mortal Shell 2: The Soulslike Sequel Arrives August 20

Cold Symmetry’s follow-up to the 2020 cult hit Mortal Shell is shaping up to be one of the biggest indie releases of the summer. Mortal Shell 2 launches August 20 at 1:00 PM UTC on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam — and it’s priced at a very reasonable $49.99 for the Standard Edition.

What’s changed from the original? Almost everything. The sequel moves to an interconnected open world with over 60 dungeons, drops the stamina system entirely for unrestricted combat, and introduces eight playable Shells — each with unique abilities and lost memories to uncover. The combat is described as “agile yet grounded,” rewarding players who master posture-breaking and critical strikes over button mashing.

Early impressions from the open beta have been overwhelmingly positive. Players who completed the prologue during the beta window earned a Flayed Harbinger skin and a prologue skip for the full game — a nice reward for early adopters.

Which Edition Should You Buy?

There are three editions to choose from:

1. Standard Edition ($49.99) — The base game. If you just want to play, this is the one.
2. Devout Edition ($59.99) — Includes up to 72 hours of early access and the exclusive Obsidian skin set for all eight Shells. Worth it if you want to play before everyone else.
3. Revered Edition (PS5 physical only) — SteelBook case, art book, fine art prints, and the Obsidian and Skeletal Harbinger skins, all in a collector’s box. For the diehards.

Devout Edition early access is already live, so if you pre-ordered that version, you can jump in right now. For everyone else, Thursday is the day.

Epic Games Store Savings Sale: Last Chance for 90% Off

The Epic Games Store Savings Sale runs through August 20 — that’s this Thursday — and some of the discounts are genuinely absurd. If you’ve been sleeping on your Epic wishlist, now is the time to wake up.

Best Epic Deals Right Now

1. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands — $2.49 (95% off) — A massive open-world tactical shooter for less than the price of a gumball. If you’ve never played it, this is a steal.
2. Need for Speed Most Wanted — $1.99 (90% off) — One of the most beloved racing games ever made, now cheaper than a pack of gum.
3. Need for Speed Payback Deluxe Edition — $2.99 (90% off) — The full Deluxe package with all extras for three bucks.
4. Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator Supporter Edition — $3.49 (90% off) — Includes the Supporter Pack with extra content and car customization. Surprisingly addictive.
5. SimCity 3000 Unlimited — $1.24 (75% off) — A classic city-builder for barely more than a dollar. Nostalgia has never been cheaper.

The sale ends August 20, so you’ve got a couple of days to browse. Pro tip: sort by discount percentage and scroll — there are buried gems at 80-90% off that barely anyone talks about.

Free Games You Can Claim Right Now

If spending money isn’t your thing (no judgment), there’s a solid batch of free games available across platforms this August:

1. Halo: Campaign Evolved — Free Armor Skin — Redeem code ZS75-7UM8-C2BL-JE3D-4BFZ at Halo Waypoint for a free armor style. Available through August 27.
2. Prime Gaming drops — Amazon Prime members get a rotating selection of free games throughout August. Check the Prime Gaming hub weekly for new additions.
3. Epic Games Store weekly freebies — Epic gives away at least one free game every week. Keep an eye on Thursdays for the next rotation.
4. PlayStation Plus monthly games — PS Plus subscribers get their August lineup of free monthly titles. Check the PlayStation Store for the current offerings.

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls — The Fighting Game of the Summer

If you haven’t heard of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls yet, you will. Developed by Arc System Works — the studio behind Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, and Dragon Ball FighterZ — this 4v4 tag fighter launched August 6 and has been getting rave reviews. DualShockers called it “the best Marvel fighting game in over a decade.”

The game sits somewhere between a traditional 1v1 fighter and a chaotic 4v4 brawler. You pick a team of four Marvel characters who share a single health bar, and the extra fighters become available as the match progresses. The result is fast, flashy, and surprisingly accessible — newcomers can pull off impressive combos by mashing the right buttons, while veterans can dig into deep combo systems and meter management.

Episode Mode features a story written by comic book writer Kieron Gillen, and the Survival mode adds a roguelite twist to the fighting formula. It’s available on PC and PlayStation 5.

More Gaming Deals Worth Grabbing

Beyond the Epic sale, here are a few other deals and drops worth your attention this week:

1. Steam summer deals are still running — Check the Steam store for ongoing discounts across thousands of titles. Sorting by Top Sellers and filtering by your wishlist is the fastest way to find hidden gems.
2. Grounded 2 hits PS5 early access — Obsidian’s survival-craft sequel launches on PS5 alongside the Into the Abyss update. If you’re into base-building and co-op, this is a strong pick.
3. Mafia: Old Country DLC — $10 — The sleeper hit gets a meaningful expansion at a fair price. Worth it if you played the base game.
4. Dawn of the Machine (Quake 30th Anniversary) — FREE — A free expansion celebrating 30 years of Quake. Download it. Thank us later.

The Bottom Line

This is one of the best weeks for gaming deals we’ve seen in a while. Between Mortal Shell 2’s launch, the Epic sale’s final days, free games across every platform, and Marvel Tokon already dominating the fighting game scene, there’s something for every type of player.

The smart move? Grab the Epic deals before Thursday, download the free stuff, and save your budget for Mortal Shell 2. Your backlog won’t know what hit it.

Looking for more gaming content? Check out our guides to the best gaming headsets under $100 and our breakdown of August 2026’s biggest game releases. Want to stay protected while gaming online? NordVPN is currently 75% off its 2-year plan — perfect for secure gaming sessions.