Top 5 Games of August to Look Out For, Release Dates Included for Pikmin 3, Saints Row 4, and More

August is just around the corner, and with it comes the last batch of summer games that developers and publishers are readying for release. It looks as though the summer is going out strong, as several big franchises  release new entries and several hot new games (as well as a game based on the Edward Snowden Saga) drop on consoles, handhelds, and PC. To help out gamers we bring you the top 5 games of August to look out for.

5. Pikmin 3 (Wii U, August 4)- This game has been a long time coming, and early reviews of the game indicate that it is the critical hit that Nintendo has been awaiting eagerly to help the Wii U stand out. Now hopefully those few who own a Wii U can pick up the game and make it commercially successful. Gamers should also look out for potential DLC for the game as well.

4. Madden NFL 25 (PS3, Xbox 360, August 27)- While a lot of the focus towards this game has been for the next-gen versions set to be released later this month, the Madden series always has been a solid franchise for American Football, and should be a sneak preview of what gamers can expect from the next-gen Madden games, as well as their favorite football teams heading into the season.

3. Saints Row 4 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, August 20)- This open world game may invite comparison to the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 5, but Saints Row 4 is more like that series' deranged cousin. Saints Row will feature aliens, superpowers, a dubstep gun, and enough madness to get the game banned in Australia. Players should check this out if they want an open-world adventure mixed with comic book-like shenanigans.

2. Splinter Cell: Blacklist (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U, August 20)- Sam Fisher returns as everyone's favorite covert operative, who gets a new set of baddies to take down in three distinct styles no less. The game will feature the return of multiplayer mode Spies vs Mercs, and will offer players the chance to stealthy sneak past enemies, take them down with guns blazing, or try a mixture of both.

1.Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn (PC, PS3, August 27)- In what is essentially a redo for Square Enix, Final Fantasy 14 gets revamped and polished up into something that hopefully makes up for the utter failure that was the original Final Fantasy 14. The beta program has been a smash hit, so the audience is there for the game, and we could see a new MMORPG contender make a name for itself in the crowded landscape of that genre.