This post was updated July 9 at 9:00 p.m.

New video games are sure to satisfy during the dog days of summer.

While this season encourages many to soak up the sun, others would prefer to enjoy the comfort of their own homes. From classic slasher retellings to new fantastical odysseys, upcoming video game releases will keep homebodies booked and busy.

Read on for the Daily Bruin’s hottest video game recommendations to brighten your summer.

“Atlas Fallen” (Focus Entertainment)

Sci-fi fans are getting ready to surf the sand dunes with “Atlas Fallen.”

On Aug. 10, Focus Entertainment is bringing “Atlas Fallen,” a new mythical adventure game, to the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. The gameplay is an action roleplay in which players hunt monsters with powerful combat and sand-powered abilities. The world is set in a desert landscape with towering dunes and a plethora of monsters that incorporate moving sands into their designs.

Additionally, players will have access to the Gauntlet, an ancient weapon allowing manipulation of sand, which allows them to control Essence in their surroundings. Essence, the lifeblood of everything in the Atlas world, is vital to the realm, as it allows players to manipulate organic life and every particle in the world. Essence is found in all objects and structures and allows players to manipulate them by reassembling or destroying them. Since the lifeblood is found in grains of sand, players are able to manipulate the element with the Gauntlet.

For example, players can wield sand to form weapons for combat. Sand manipulation techniques can also be used to create abilities like being able to dash, raise objects and crush other items. Outside of combat, players will be able to explore the world of “Atlas Fallen” and interact with non-playable characters while uncovering more about the secrets of Essence and the Gauntlet.

Finally, players will be given a daring adventure fit for summer beach days.

– Harbaksh Kaur

[Related: Video game preview: Latest installments breathe new life into popular franchises this spring]

“Immortals of Aveum” (Electronic Arts)

Players will be transported to a magical realm this summer where they stand between good and evil.

Releasing Aug. 22 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, “Immortals of Aveum” follows the main character Jak, who uses his recently acquired magical powers to save the world from doom. The first-person shooter game revolves around the Everwar, an ongoing battle for dominance over magic between Lucium and Rasharn, home of the Immortals and a wicked dictator, respectively. Jak has joined forces with the Immortals, individuals capable of wielding magic, and is using his new powers to fight against Rasharn.

The gameplay of “Immortals of Aveum” was designed by Bret Robbins, the creative director of the “Call of Duty” franchise. Adopting a battle style similar to the military shooter game, “Aveum” includes three different ranges and styles of attacks and commands that are sent via a magical sending stone, similar to a military radio. However, the vibrancy of the game sets it apart from any military first-person shooter game – the magic attacks use bold primary colors to distance themselves from the real world.

Players can learn 25 different spells that fit into the three categories of force, chaos and life. Force magic is blue and used for long-range attacks, and chaos is red and resembles a shotgun blast. Lastly, life is green and shoots a line of continuous magic. The terrain also boasts over 12 different biomes with an abundance of different species inspired by Earth’s own endangered creatures.

Through heroic battles and ancient quests, gamers will be able to reach Aveum this summer.

– Harbaksh Kaur

[Related: Influenced by his education journey, Aidan Strong redefines what video games can be]

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (Gun Media)

A classic horror film is slashing its way to gaming platforms.

Based on the 1974 picture of the same name, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” will be released Aug. 18 on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The general storyline takes place before the movie but still follows a similar premise of a group of young adults arriving on an isolated farm belonging to a family of cannibals.

Featuring a third-person asymmetrical design, the game divides seven players into one team of four Victims and another team of three chainsaw-wielding murderers known as the Family. The Victims are seeking ways to survive as they are being hunted by the Family. Moreover, the game pays homage to its namesake while adding some surprises by including two familiar locations alongside a brand new one.

Comprising nine films, one novelization, several comic books and another video game, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is one of the most successful horror franchises. Its ever-present influence has also extended to different games, such as “Mortal Kombat X,” “Dead by Daylight” and the “Call of Duty” series. With an additional reinterpretation of this story, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” continues to reap fresh blood.

Whether as the Victims or the Family, gamers will be on the run all summer long.

– Sanjana Chadive