What’s Geeky in September 2024?

I don’t know who decided this, but apparently, September is now “Spooky Season.” I’m not complaining—in fact, we’re all very excited.

What would the beginning of Spooky Season be without a spin-off TV series about a witch in the MCU, a new Elder Scrolls game, and a new novel by T. J. Klune. There’s just so much to get excited about.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Movies and TV Shows

September 4^th:

Slow Horses, season 4

Apple TV+

Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) and his team of MI5 rejects are being watched by the new head of MI5, Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas), all while a bomb has gone off in London. If that wasn’t enough, former superstar spy and now loser River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) has been approached by the very dangerous Frank Harkness (Hugo Weaving), all while trying to protect his elderly grandfather (Jonathan Pryce).

September 5^th:

Apollo 13: Survival

Netflix

With their stoic line of “Houston, we’ve got a problem,” the crew of the Apollo 13 suffered a catastrophic explosion while in space. This Netflix documentary, showing real footage of the astronauts and the NASA command center, tells the story of courage and ingenuity in a race against the clock to save the astronauts and bring them home.

September 6^th:

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

In Theaters

After Lydia Deetz’s (Winona Ryder) rebellious daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) finds the model of the town of Winter River in their old house’s attic and gets sucked into the afterlife, it’s up to Lydia and her mom Delia (Catherine O’Hara) to summon the zany demon Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to help get Astrid back in this sequel to the beloved cult classic.

September 13^th:

Transformers One

In Theaters

On Planet Cybertron, long before they were at war, Optimus Prime and Megatron were best friends. But when they are both given the power to transform, these two quickly find themselves on opposite sides of a revolution: the Transformers versus the Decepticons. Starring Scarlet Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, and Jon Hamm.

The Killer’s Game

In Theaters

Hitman Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) has just learned that he has a terminal illness and so pays for a contract on his own life. But when the doctor calls with the good news that there was a mix-up at the hospital and that Joe isn’t about to die, he has a little trouble calling off his own assassination. Starring Terry Crews, Ben Kingsley, and Sofia Boutella.

Subservience

VOD and Digital

A struggling father (Michele Morrone) purchases a domestic SIM (realistic android played by Megan Fox) to help take care of his young daughter and sick wife. But as the SIM gains a measure of awareness and feelings for her owner, she turns deadly.

Uglies

Netflix

Based on the best-selling novel, in the future teenagers are referred to as “Uglies” until they receive cosmetic surgery at 16 and become the “Pretties.” But when Tally’s (Joey King) friend skips on her procedure, Tally embarks on a journey that leads to a group in the wilderness that is dedicated to rebelling against forced surgery and the society that demands it.

September 17^th:

Hauntology

Limited Release

When Venus’s (Jaidyn Triplett) sister Jazmin (Samantha Russell) stops them from running away from home, she decides to tell her sister stories. These stories of their haunted town at first seem silly. But the characters in these stories of ghosts and demons have more in common with Venus than they had realized.

September 18^th:

Agatha All Along

Disney +

Following the events of WandaVision, Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), formerly a powerful witch, now finds herself powerless and trapped in the town of Westview, New Jersey. With the help of goth teen Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata), Agatha breaks free and begins to form her own coven and, together, face the trials of the legendary Witches’ Road. Starring Joe Locke, Okwui Okpokwasili, Debra Jo Rupp, Patti LuPone, and Aubrey Plaza.

September 19^th:

The Penguin, season 1

HBO Max

This spin-off of 2022’s The Batman, shows the rise of Oswald Cobb (Colin Farrell) to become the dreaded Penguin, the kingpin of Gotham’s Underworld. After the death of Carmine Falcone, the control of his empire is up for grabs between Penguin and Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti). Starring Rhenzy Feliz, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mark Strong, and Clancy Brown.

September 20^th:

Omni Loop

Limited Release

Quantum Physicist Zoya (Mary-Louise Parker) is having a bad week, one that she’s been reliving over and over again so many times that she’s lost count. Not only is she about to die (again and again) but she has a black hole that is slowly growing in her chest. But the time loop changes when Zoya meets a gifted student named Paula (Ayo Edebiri) who might be able to change everything.

September 27^th:

The Wild Robot

In Theaters

Robot Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) wakes up on a remote and wild island with no idea who she is, why she is there, or how she is going to survive the harsh landscape. Her only hope is to befriend the island’s animal inhabitants, who only begin to trust her after she tries to care for an orphaned gosling. But how will her new home respond when her past comes back for her? Starring Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, and Catherine O’Hara.

Megalopolis

In Theaters

The futuristic city of New Rome is divided between the city’s corrupt mayor, Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), and a young idealist, Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), an architect who dreams of a building a better city without corruption and decadence. Between them stands Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), who has yet to decide between her father and the man she loves.

September 29^th:

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon—The Book of Carol

AMC

This highly anticipated sequel to TWD: Daryl Dixon sees Daryl (Norman Reedus) struggling with his decision to stay in France while Carol (Melissa McBride) goes on a journey across the Atlantic to find her friend. All while Genet’s (Anne Charrier) movement gains traction, setting off a collision course between Pouvoir and the Union of Hope over the future of post-apocalyptic France.

Video Games

September 3^rd:

The Casting of Frank Stone 

(PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)

In the summer of 1980, four friends set out to make the ultimate horror film set in an abandoned steel mill that was the site of several gruesome murders committed by the infamous Frank Stone. The player’s decisions change the course of this paranormal story and see if you can’t make it out of the murder mill alive.

September 4^th:

Age of Mythology: Retold 

(PC, Xbox Series X) 

It’s a fantasy/historical Age of Empires spin-off! Help your people grow and prosper with the help of mythological creators as varied as the Nidhogg dragon, centaurs, trolls, cyclops, and more. Play with friends or against the advanced AI on randomly generated maps that lead to almost endless replayability.

September 6^th:

Astro Bot 

(PS5) 

You play as the adorable titular character exploring 80 levels spread across six galaxies and 50 planets. Rescue your fellow stranded bots with 15 attachable upgrades and have fun exploring.

September 9^th:

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 

(PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) 

40k fans, rejoice! Set a century after the first game, you play as the genetically enhanced super-soldier, Demetrion Titus, who must prove his loyalty to the Imperium by leading a squad against the endless swarms of Tyranid invaders in this grim-dark action-adventure game.

September 10^th:

The Elder Scrolls: Castles 

(Android, iOS) 

This spiritual successor to Fallout: Shelter sees you build and customize a castle from the ground up as a king or queen. Rule your subjects wisely, equip and send heroes out on quests for resources, and maximize your castle’s output or face the wrath of your subjects or worse… the emperor.

Yars Rising

(PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) 

As the young hacker Emi Kimura, play your way through the classic Atari videogame titles as you solve a sci-fi mystery about the shadowy QoTech corporation and your own connection to a distant alien race in this 2D action-adventure.

September 12^th:

Wild Bastards

(PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) 

The Wild Bastards used to be the most feared outlaw gang in the galaxy. That is until they were killed off by the puritanical Jebediah Chaste. Now the final two members have teamed up with the sentient spaceship Drifter to resurrect their dead gang members and flee to the mythical Homestead in this FPS.

September 13^th:

Demonschool 

(PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) 

Fight big monstrous enemies from the human and demon worlds as Faye and her misfit cast of friends and companions. Navigate the rigors of college life and demonic possession in the RPG set on a mysterious island.

Funko Fusion

(PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) 

Well, this was bound to happen sooner or later. Play as some of your favorite characters from across TV shows, movies, comics, games, and more as you explore your favorite fandoms in Funko Pop form as you try to save the Funko Pop toy factory from the forces of evil.

September 17^th:

The Plucky Squire

(PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) 

Jump off the page and explore the world as a storybook squire named Jot is kicked out of his own storybook by the villainous sorcerer Humgrump (who has just learned that he’s the villain of the story and thus doomed to fail). Fight battles and solve puzzles in the 2D and 3D worlds as you try to save your friends and restore the book’s happy ending.

September 18^th:

UFO 50

(PC) 

UFO 50 is a collection of 50 all-new games from a variety of genres: RPG, roguelite, puzzle games, shoot ‘em ups, platformers, and more. Each one is brand new and is a complete game (not a micro or minigame) in a stunning homage to the 8-bit games of the 80s but with elements modernized for a unique experience.

September 19^th:

God of War Ragnarök 

(PC) 

Finally available on PC, the sequel to the 2018 God of War sees Kratos and his son, Atreus, journey to the Nine Realms as they seek to heal their old wounds and find their place in the prophecy of Loki. All while Odin marshals his forces for the last war.

September 20^th:

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble

(PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) 

This pixel-art, side-scrolling adventure allows you to journey across the iconic locations of the three classic Karate Kid movies as you play as Danny LaRusso, Mr. Miyagi, Ali Mills, or Kumiko as you fight for dominance over Miyagi-Do Karate forever.

September 24^th:

Ara: History Untold

(PC) 

From the makers of Civilization 5 comes a new 4x strategy game that hopes to redefine the historical strategy game genre. To do this, they’re giving a lot more representation to people from around the world and including much larger swaths of history that haven’t been explored before in games.

GreedFall 2: The Dying World 

(PC) (early access)

I am so pumped for this game. GreedFall 2 is set three years before the first game where you play as a native Teer Fradeean who has been taken from their home and brought to the world of the Old Continent. Gather a new party of heroes, explore new nations and empires, and free your people from this diseased and corrupted world.

September 25^th:

Lollipop Chainsaw: RePop

(PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X)

Now with modern graphics, jump back into the shoes of the legendary zombie slayer and cheerleader, Juliet Starling, as she wields her trusty chainsaw against her former schoolmates, now the undead, in San Romero High School.

September 26^th:

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2

(PS4, PS5, Switch)

The earth has been broken up into pieces again. This time the massive, planet-shattering Gaiarch came from below. As the Commander who saved Earth from the Dark Tyrant, it’s now your job to rescue your teammates and assemble a team to take the fight to the Gaiarch and other massive enemies.

The Legend of Zelda – Echoes of Wisdom

(Switch)

Link has gone missing, all while the people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts that have appeared in the sky. This is the beginning of a brand new mission, this time with the power and wisdom of none other than Princess Zelda, herself.

September 29^th:

Reynatis

(PC, PS4, PS5, Switch)

This JRPG is set in the real-life city of Shibuya, Tokyo (which has been recreated in the game in painstaking detail) where an oppressed wizard named Marin Kirizumi collides with an officer of the law named Sari Nishijima. While the two use their magic against each other, a new darkness threatens to descend on the city.

Books:

September 3^rd:

• The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart–Book 1 in The Holy Covenant, Epic Fantasy
• Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker–Fantasy, Horror
• The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison–SciFi, Historical
• Mountain of Fire by Jason Cordova–Book 13 in Black Tide Rising, SciFi, Action Adventure
• Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise–SciFi, Mystery, LGBTQ
• Rebel by David Weber and Richard Fox–Book 2 in Ascent to Empire, SciFi, Space Opera
• The Loss of the Burying Ground by J. Anderson Coats–YA, SciFi, Fantasy
• The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic–YA, Fantasy, SciFi
• Shadows of Perl by J. Elle–Book 2 in The House of Marionne, YA, Fantasy, Romance
• Songlight by Moira Buffini–YA, SciFi, Action Adventure
• The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs–YA, SciFi, Horror

September 10^th:

• The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow–Book 1 in The False Goddess Trilogy, Epic Fantasy, Horror
• Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune–Fantasy, Paranormal. LGBTQ
• Splinter & Ash by Marieke Nijkamp–Kids, Fantasy, LGBTQ
• This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher–Fantasy Romance, Action Adventure
• Warlords of Wyrdwood by R.J. Barker–Book 2 in Forester, Fantasy
• Antarctica Station by A.G. Riddle–SciFi, Thriller
• Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken–SciFi, Dystopian
• Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell–SciFi, Magical Realism
• Till the Last Beat of My Heart by Louangie Bou-Montes–YA, SciFi Fantasy, LGBTQ

September 17^th:

• An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson–Dark Fantasy, Horror
• Accidental Demons by Clare Edge–Kids, Fantasy
• Bringer of Dust by J.M. Miro–Book 2 in Talents Trilogy, Epic Fantasy, Historical
• Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik–Fantasy, Action Adventure
• A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft–Dark Fantasy, LGBTQ
• The Land of the Living and the Dead by Shauna Lawless–Book 3 in Gael Song, Epic Fantasy, Folklore
• Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood–Fantasy, Paranormal
• The Escher Man by T.R. Napper–SciFi, Action Adventure
• Exodus by Peter F. Hamilton–SciFi, Space Opera
• The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman–Book 2 in The Isles of the Gods, YA, SciFi, Fantasy
• Night Owls by A R. Vishny–YA, Fantasy, Romance
• Ruin Road by Lamar Giles–YA, Fantasy, Horror
• Seasons of Flesh and Flame by A.G. Howard–YA, SciFi, Steampunk
• We Are Hunted by Tomi Oyemakinde–YA, SciFi Fantasy

September 24^th:

• But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo–Dark Fantasy, LGBTQ
• Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman–Book 2 in Dungeon Crawler Carl, Fantasy
• Eerie Legends by Ricardo Diseno and Steve Mockus–Fantasy, Folklore
• In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King–Fantasy, Historical
• The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry–Epic Fantasy, Action Adventure
• A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan–Book 1 in Age of Wrath, Epic Fantasy, Folklore
• The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner–Fantasy, Mystery
• Darkside by Michael Mammay–Book 4 in Planetside, SciFi, Mystery
• Rumor Has It by Cat Rambo–Book 3 in The Disco Space Opera, SciFi, Action Adventure
• Space Oddity by Catherynne M. Valente–SciFi, Space Opera
• The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig–YA, Dark Fantasy, Folklore
• This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska–YA, Folklore, LGBTQ

That’s September

That’s September, folks!

We’ve got a lot of stuff to look forward to this month and even more stuff to look forward to next month. Sign up for Geek Alerts to be the first one to hear all about it.

Keep it Geeky!