7 Major Games Releasing This Week: Dawnwalker, Onimusha, NBA 2K27 and More

The September Gaming Rush Begins With The Blood of Dawnwalker, Onimusha: Way of the Sword and Several Major New Releases

Xbox's official weekly release roundup lists major launches including The Blood of Dawnwalker, Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game, NBA 2K27 and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, alongside a large collection of smaller PC and console releases.

For players looking for something new this week, there is a surprisingly wide selection. The lineup covers dark fantasy, samurai action, basketball, fighting games, life simulation, horror and action RPGs.

The biggest releases are not limited to one platform either. Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC players all have major games to watch as September begins.

Here are the most important games releasing this week and why they deserve attention.

The Blood of Dawnwalker — September 2

One of the biggest releases of the week is The Blood of Dawnwalker, the new dark fantasy RPG from Rebel Wolves.

According to Xbox's official listing, the game arrives on September 2 for Xbox Series X|S and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

The game takes players into a fictional version of 14th-century Europe during a period devastated by war and the Black Death.

That historical setting becomes the foundation for a supernatural story when vampires emerge from the shadows and attempt to seize control.

Players take the role of Coen, a young man who has become a Dawnwalker. He exists between humanity and the supernatural world, giving players a central choice between preserving his humanity and embracing cursed powers.

The game's premise is particularly interesting because the player is not simply fighting monsters.

The story is built around difficult choices involving family, power and survival.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is therefore one of the week's biggest releases for players looking for a new single-player fantasy adventure.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword — September 3/4

Capcom is finally bringing the Onimusha series back with Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

The game is scheduled for release during the week, with Xbox listing September 3 while Capcom's official release-date announcement states Friday, September 4. The difference reflects platform and regional release timing, so players should check their local storefront for the exact unlock time.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is particularly important because it represents the return of the classic swordplay franchise after more than two decades.

Capcom describes the game as a swordplay action experience set in Edo-period Kyoto.

The city has been transformed by mysterious clouds of Malice, creating a dark fantasy version of historic Japan.

Players control a samurai equipped with the Oni Gauntlet, a supernatural weapon capable of defeating the Genma.

These enemies are monstrous creatures from another world, turning the game's historical setting into a dangerous supernatural battlefield.

The game is being released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Capcom originally announced those platforms when revealing the project.

The return of Onimusha gives action fans one of the week's most recognizable franchises to watch.

NBA 2K27 — September 3

Basketball fans have another major release arriving this week with NBA 2K27.

Xbox lists the game for September 3 on Xbox Series X|S.

The latest entry continues the franchise's focus on MyCAREER, MyTEAM and MyNBA while expanding its broader online basketball experience.

The City also returns as a major part of the experience, with players able to build their MyPLAYER and compete across different modes.

Players can also team up with friends through Crew and compete in locations such as The REC and Park.

For players who follow annual sports releases, NBA 2K27 is one of the most commercially significant launches of the week.

The game also arrives at an important point in the annual sports calendar, when players are looking for the latest rosters, gameplay systems and online content before the new NBA season.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — September 3

Avatar fans have a very different type of release to look forward to.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game launches on September 3 for Xbox Series X|S, with Xbox Play Anywhere support.

The fighting game features 12 playable characters and supports several different modes.

These include:

Offline Versus
Online Versus
Story
Arcade
Training
Spectator
Art Gallery

The game also uses hand-drawn 2D animation designed around the visual identity of the Avatar universe.

That makes it particularly interesting for fans who want a competitive fighting game rather than another adventure or RPG.

The combination of recognizable characters, elemental abilities and traditional fighting-game systems could also give it a strong multiplayer audience.

NHL 27 — September 4

Sports fans are not limited to basketball this week.

EA Sports NHL 27 arrives on September 4, with the Deluxe Edition offering seven days of early access according to Xbox's official release listing.

One of the game's major presentation features is its focus on authentic NHL arenas.

Xbox highlights real-world goal songs, new pregame introductions and an overhauled crowd system designed to make each arena feel more connected to its actual team.

The game also aims to make the identity of each NHL team more visible through the presentation, broadcast and atmosphere.

For hockey fans, that makes NHL 27 another significant annual sports release arriving at the start of September.

Halloween — September 4

Horror fans also have a major release to watch.

Halloween is scheduled for September 4, with the Deluxe Edition offering early access according to Xbox's release information.

The game is an asymmetrical horror experience set during Halloween night in 1978.

Players can take the role of Michael Myers or attempt to survive as one of the game's heroes.

That setup puts Halloween into the same broad multiplayer horror space as other asymmetrical survival games, but the famous setting and characters give it a strong identity.

For fans of classic horror franchises, this could be one of the more interesting releases of the week.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault — September 2

The week also has an interesting option for players who prefer action RPGs with roguelike elements.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault reaches its 1.0 release on September 2, with Xbox listing it for Game Pass and handheld platforms as well as PC.

The game combines dungeon exploration with shop management.

Players venture into dangerous areas to collect valuable relics and then return to town to sell their discoveries.

Those profits can be reinvested into the shop and the surrounding community.

This creates a gameplay loop that mixes combat, exploration, economy and progression.

It is a very different experience from the large AAA releases arriving during the same week, which could make it particularly attractive to players searching for something smaller and more system-driven.

Crimson Moon — September 1

Another notable release is Crimson Moon, arriving September 1.

The game combines supernatural combat with cooperative play.

Xbox describes a world where the city of Gildenarch has been overrun by demons, undead creatures, vampires and other supernatural threats.

Players take the role of a Nephilim, a human-angel hybrid equipped with supernatural powers and weapons.

Crimson Moon can be played alone or cooperatively, giving it additional appeal for players looking for a multiplayer action experience.

Its September 1 release also means it arrives before several of the week's larger launches.

Why This Week Matters for Gamers

The most interesting thing about this release window is its variety.

Players who want a large fantasy RPG can look toward The Blood of Dawnwalker.

Fans of fast sword combat have Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

Sports fans have NBA 2K27 and NHL 27.

Avatar followers get a new fighting game.

Horror players have Halloween.

And players who prefer more compact systems-driven experiences can explore Moonlighter 2 or Crimson Moon.

This variety is a sign that the gaming industry is entering a much busier part of the year.

The release calendar is also becoming increasingly crowded as publishers move toward the final months of 2026.

For players, that means September is likely to become an important month for new releases, major updates and additional announcements.

What Should You Play First?

There is no single answer because the biggest release depends heavily on the type of game you enjoy.

For RPG fans, The Blood of Dawnwalker is arguably the most interesting new release.

For action fans, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is the standout.

For competitive multiplayer players, NBA 2K27 and Avatar Legends offer very different experiences.

For horror fans, Halloween deserves attention.

And for players who want something less conventional, Moonlighter 2 provides a combination of dungeon crawling and shop management.

The important point is that gamers have plenty of choices as September begins.

The week of August 31 through September 4 is one of the strongest release windows at the beginning of September.

The Blood of Dawnwalker, Onimusha: Way of the Sword and NBA 2K27 are the biggest names in the lineup, while Avatar Legends, NHL 27 and Halloween give players more major options across different genres.

Meanwhile, games such as Moonlighter 2 and Crimson Moon provide alternatives for players looking beyond the biggest franchises.

With the holiday gaming season approaching, this is only the beginning of a much busier release period.

For gamers who have been waiting for something new to play, September is starting with plenty of options.