We’re back again with ten new picks for the new month of game releases. June was a stacked month with pretty much hit after hit, both Street Fighter 6 and Diablo IV have brought in solid new entries into their franchises, Crash Team Rumble has been a blast to play with and against friends, and Final Fantasy XVI has blown audiences away with its massive action set pieces. Now that July is here, we’ve got ten more exciting picks for you to get hyped about. From sequels and new IPs by acclaimed developers, Nintendo, Capcom and Telltale, to some interesting indie horrors, and exclusives. Let’s not delay any further, here are the ten gaming recommendations for July.
Synapse
Our first pick is the action-packed PS VR2 exclusive, Synapse. Developed by award-winning VR developers nDreams, enter a mind-breaking world full of danger as you use a combination of weapons to defeat the twisted products of the enemy’s mind. Dive into the mind, when Synapse releases on July 4th exclusively on PS VR2.
Launch, levitate, and smash your enemies through destructible environments using motion controls and eye-tracking-assisted aiming.
From the award-winning team behind Fracked, Phantom: Covert Ops, and Far Cry VR. Take on the role of a mind-breaking operative tasked with entering the subconscious of a notorious enemy of the state. Battle his twisted creations as you evolve and master your own combat style. Become an unstoppable force with Synapse’s dual-wielding combat, using 1:1 telekinesis in one hand and deadly weaponry in the other. Harness this lethal combination and master your own combat style as you dive deeper into a surreal world.
Explore an evolved version of the run-and-cover gunplay found in Fracked, as you master and evolve your own combat style and abilities and become truly unstoppable. Synapse’s transformative gameplay has been crafted to take full advantage of the PlayStation VR2, delivering an unforgettable experience for Sony’s next-generation headset. Traverse through mesmerising mindscapes designed with the PS VR2’s stunning 4K HDR display. Feel every moment of adrenaline-fuelled action through the PS VR2’s Sense controllers, adaptive triggers, and headset feedback. Dive into Insanity with the next generation of immersive VR action.
Gylt
Next up is the survival horror Gylt, originally exclusive to Google Stadia but now coming to both PC and consoles. Set in a creepy and melancholic world, Gylt is an eerie story mixing fantasy and reality in a surrealist place where your nightmares become reality. Gylt releases on July 6th for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Shape your fears… Fear the shapes.
Embark on a journey where you face your worst fears and are confronted with the emotional impact of your actions in this narrative adventure game with puzzles, stealth and action. Hide from terrible creatures or confront them as you find your way through the challenges of this wicked world. You can avoid the fierce monsters that stalk you by using tools to distract them, through sound or visual lures. Set in a fictional old mining town in the state of Maine. Play as Sally, a little girl living in Bethelwood in search of her missing cousin Emily.
After being chased by a group of bullies, Sally is dragged into a twisted version of her town where her fears and worse memories are presented in a wicked and very real way. While investigating and running from the horrors of this nightmarish world, enjoy a haunting soundtrack composed by Cris Velasco (God of War, Bloodborne, Darksiders 3). Get to understand the world surrounding you and discover the mystery behind Emily’s disappearance in July 2023.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
Our next pick is Night School Studio’s long-awaited sequel, OXENFREE II: Lost Signals. Five years after the events of OXENFREE, Riley returns to her hometown of Camena to investigate mysterious radio signals. Continue the adventure on July 12th for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
Return to the world of OXENFREE and prevent another portal from opening.
OXENFREE II: Lost Signals is the mind-bending follow-up to the critically-acclaimed narrative adventure game OXENFREE. In the small coastal town of Camena, unnaturally occurring electromagnetic waves are suddenly causing interference with electrical and radio equipment. Reluctantly, Riley Poverly returns to her hometown to investigate the mystery, but what she finds is more than she bargained for.
As you play, you’ll shape every step of the story through your choices. Shape everything through your conversations and dialogue choices. Forge a deep friendship with an old acquaintance from high school or opt to ignore a lost fisherman in need. Your choices impact who Riley becomes, your relationships, and the story options available to you at every turn. For newcomers, OXENFREE II: Lost Signals can be played as a standalone story. Fans of the original can continue the story with Riley as a mysterious cult known as Parentage is trying to open a new portal to pull something out. Who are they? What do they want? Are they trying to contact ghosts?
Ghostly signals are piercing through the frequencies of Camena. Tap into the eerie sounds and static using OXENFREE‘s signature radio mechanic. You’ll communicate with the supernatural, manipulate the world, and travel to the past by tuning into time tears: unnatural fissures in the time-space continuum. Use an all-new walkie-talkie conversation system to chat with contacts and uncover useful insights about the mysteries of Camena. Ask for info, check in with the locals, or completely ignore them. It’s your call to make. And, it has consequences. Your future was on the line in OXENFREE and those stakes are even higher in OXENFREE II: Lost Signals. Explore, climb, and rappel across Camena’s beautifully treacherous landscape. Take risks and see where it takes you. It might be dangerous. But it could also save the future. Not only for Riley but for everyone.
Exoprimal
If you’re looking for a new cooperative shooter experience as well as something involving dinosaurs, Exoprimal may be for you. In the newest online team-based action game developed by Capcom, put on an exosuit and fight some dinosaurs with friends. Team up in this crazy new IP on July 14th for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
With a selection of different exosuits at your disposal, you and your team will battle history’s most ferocious beasts.
In the year 2040, sudden dinosaur outbreaks have engulfed the globe in a crisis that threatens humanity’s very existence. Luckily the Aibius corporation has developed an advanced AI called Leviathan to predict future outbreaks. With the help of Leviathan and Aibius’s revolutionary exosuits, gives humanity a fighting chance to stem the tide of the saurian swarms. Enjoy the story mode as you investigate the cause of the outbreaks and how to prevent any more from occurring. Alongside the main narrative, go up against other players in Dino Survival, where two squads of five race to complete objectives before their rivals win. The missions for Dino Survival will change based on player and story progression. Players can unlock story sequences by playing Dino Survival and also earn rewards such as experience points to increase player and exosuit levels.
The exosuits in Exoprimal are cutting-edge equipment developed to combat the dinosaur threat. There are three types of exosuits. The Assault class focuses on dealing damage to enemies close, medium, and long range. Although exact loadouts differ, each Assault exosuit is equipped with weapons and abilities tailored to its effective combat range. The Tank class specializes in protecting allies by drawing enemy attacks and absorbing damage. Tank exosuits will form your team’s first line of defence when holding back the massive hordes of relentless dinosaurs. The Support class uses a variety of abilities to ensure the team’s survival. They’re able to repair allies and use a range of buffing and debuffing abilities. Exofighters can change exosuits at any time, even during battle, by performing a suit change. Take advantage of this flexibility to alter your team composition on the fly and complete your objectives.
Invector: Rhythm Galaxy
Looking for another rhythm game to master, then Invector: Rhythm Galaxy is for you. From Warner Music Group and award-winning indie game studio, Hello There Games comes the next exciting chapter of the critically acclaimed rhythm game series. Turn up the volume and light up the stars when Invector: Rhythm Galaxy releases July 14th on PC, it will also come to consoles sometime in 2023.
Discover fresh new music from tomorrow’s biggest stars on a cosmic trip where every note guides your way.
From the success of AVICII Invector, Hello Games has given the Invector IP an extension with the new entry having an entirely new soundtrack. That means new breathtaking celestial worlds to explore on numerous new tracks from artists including PinkPantheress, Charlie Puth, Duran Duran, and more. Unlike most rhythm games, Invector combines sci-fi with rhythm gameplay by having the player pilot a spacecraft on intergalactic fretboards while hitting the right notes on time. Alongside this, Invector: Rhythm Galaxy has small interludes where the player can glide between meteors, stars and neon skies. Play solo and master the beat of all 40 tracks or share this cosmic experience with up to 4 friends in local multiplayer. After completing every track, why not up the ante, with Invector: Rhythm Galaxy‘s range of difficulty levels to choose from, offering a fun challenge for players of all skill levels.
My Friendly Neighborhood
Time to return to the world of horror, though this one might be more friendlier than others…maybe. Coming from the PC Gaming Show, My Friendly Neighbourhood is a non-linear survival horror that lets you explore the set of a Sesame Street-like children’s show that’s filled with killer puppets. Sit back and try to relax when My Friendly Neighbourhood releases on July 18th for PC.
Something scary is happening with everyone’s favourite Saturday morning puppet show, The Friendly Neighborhood!
In My Friendly Neighborhood, take control of Gordon, a repairman sent by the city to get to the bottom of a disturbing broadcast coming from the set of The Friendly Neighborhood studio. As Gordon arrives on the scene, he soon discovers that the once-friendly puppets have become a lot less welcoming. Step into his shoes and try to survive the ordeal by fending off the ferocious friends. Solve a plethora of playtime puzzles turned perilous, and uncover the dastardly truth at the heart of this terrifying tale.
My Friendly Neighborhood promises a mix of action and adventure with a colourful cast of puppet friends turned monstrous. You will be pursued by the not-so-friendly puppets, but luckily you can fight back. Use unique weapons like the Rolodexer that lets you shoot your ABCs at the colourful puppets. Due to the non-linear nature of the game, you can explore most of the environment in whatever order. Explore the main sets of the show, go behind the scenes in Ray’s workshop to the cardboard crayon halls. If you’re tired of the numerous horror games that rely on gore more than solid scares, then maybe it’s time for you to explore My Friendly Neighborhood.
Punch Club 2: Fast Forward
Now it’s back to sequel city with Punch Club 2: Fast Forward. The original fighting management simulator had you train your fighter in the backdrop of the 80s, the sequel takes players to a cyberpunk-themed dystopian future. Manage your future fighter on July 20th for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Life in the rat race is fast-paced, time-consuming and requires effective management to survive, Punch Club 2 is the same
Step into a world where everyone eats slime, corruption is rife and everyone wants to fight you. Get up from the confines of your overbearing mother’s garage and begin your training…again. Train to be the best and become the fabled ‘dark fist’ people whisper about. Use your hard-earned talents and questionable brawn to unravel a mystery involving your missing father. If not you can always strive to be humanity’s saviour, the one who uncovers the super secrets of the Goodness Corporation. Regardless, Punch Club 2 uses the choose-your-own-adventure format for storytelling, making every playthrough unique and memorable.
Punch Club 2‘s neon dystopia throws you into an adventure filled with hilarity, 80’s nostalgia and punching, lots of punching. At its core, Punch Club 2 is a tycoon-type game in which your primary objective is to morph a bog-standard fighter into a million-dollar mean machine. Between bouts in the ring or out on the street, go to the gym, learn a myriad of advanced fighting styles, and unravel a mystery that goes beyond the confines of your mother’s basement. Manage your time and funds, whilst climbing to the top of the fighting leagues. Solve crimes working for the police, mob, mafia and about anyone else you cross paths with. Completing quests will give you access to new fighting schools, moves, dollars, and much more.
Pikmin 4
For fellow Nintendo fans and lovers of cute and more friendly games, Pikmin 4 is here and ready to be played. In the newest instalment play as a space traveller stranded on a peculiar far away planet awaiting rescue. Luckily the planet is inhabited by friendly tiny plant-like creatures to aid you with rescuing your crew. Pikmin 4 releases July 21st exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
With the help of the Pikmin and Oatchi. search for your missing crewmates while exploring the planet
Navigate the terrain with the new and old species of Pikmin. Grow, gather and guide them to help you tackle different tasks whether they are big or small. In Pikmin 4, explore, hunt for treasure in vast open areas, battle wild critters, solve puzzles and rescue the stranded travellers together. A new addition to Pikmin 4 is Oatchi, the adorable rescue pup. He’ll join you on your adventure, helping you get through obstacles, transporting heavy objects and giving you and a whole host of Pikmin a ride on his back. Oatchi can also learn to jump, doggy-paddle, swiftly rush enemies and more. With the help of Oatchi and the Pikmin, no challenge is too big!
The Pikmin can be used to conquer any and all challenges, however, you can only take three types with you at any one time. As you progress through your adventure, you’ll discover useful raw materials that can craft helpful gear and more. One important material is Sparklium, which is used to power up your spaceship and expand your search for stranded travellers. Pikmin 4 also contains challenging areas in the form of Cavernous caves, containing puzzling challenges, strange creatures and powerful bosses. Time flows differently in these dark, dank depths, so descend and explore at your own pace.
Looking for even more of a challenge? Then test your mettle in night expeditions fraught with danger and more aggressive creatures. In these missions, defend structures containing glow sap, a precious substance that enemy critters are eager to get their paws on. Use the new Glow Pikmin that have adapted to the darkness and use their combined strength to keep creatures at bay until sunrise.
Remnant 2
Another sequel pick is Remnant 2, the sequel to gunfire games’ action-packed shooter Remnant: From The Ashes. In the sequel continue the fight against deadly creatures from terrifying worlds. Load up and take down some god-like bosses when Remnant 2 releases on July 25th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. Players who buy the ultimate edition are able to play the game early on July 22nd.
Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself!
Taking place roughly two decades after the events of R:FTA, Ward 13 is relatively safe and has been expanding beyond its initial confines. Unfortunately, the Root continues to invade other worlds causing the player to return to the fight. Explore new and old worlds with a new design caused by the Root’s influence. Whether that’s in Root-infested ruins or a derelict spacecraft that arrived from a black hole, they will all contain many dangers for players to take on. R:FTA was known for containing random elements to its world layouts, NPC’s, items and so on making each playthrough feel fresh. Remant 2 is upping the ante by randomising entire biomes to present different enemies, bosses and stories with each playthrough.
Similar to its predecessor, Remnant 2 is a third-person shooter with a mix of melee and soulsborne mechanics. There are four archetypes, each with unique Skills. The Challenger is the tank/melee fighter equipped with heavier armour and is able to absorb more fatal hits. The Handler has a dog companion who can attack enemies, draw aggro and even automatically revive you. The Gunslinger is the damage dealer, who can auto-target enemies and reload faster. The Medic can heal allies alongside creating shields. There’s also an Expanded Archetype system that provides players with unique passive bonuses and stunning powers. Multiple Archetypes can be unlocked during play, levelled up, and equipped together for a variety of play styles.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series
Finally, our last pick is from acclaimed storytellers, Telltale Games with their newest episodic game, The Expanse: A Telltale Series. Experience the exciting universe of The Expanse like never before. Explore the dangerous and uncharted edges of the Belt when it releases July 27th for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Explore shipwrecks in zero-g environments as you look for the big score
Immerse yourself in the role of Camina Drummer, the Executive Officer aboard the Artemis, a scavenging ship hunting for a big score in the outer regions of the Belt. Tackle tense relationships and powerful personalities within your crew as you make tough decisions that will decide everyone’s fate. Scavenge wrecked ships in zero-g environments, and use mag boots to walk on walls and ceilings. As you fly through sections of ships and the open expanse of space, interact with objects in the world and converse with members of the crew in the largest and most immersive exploration of any Telltale game to date.
Contend with the unforgiving brutality of space, the politics of a corrupt solar system, the animosities of your crew, and Drummer’s own conflicting responsibilities to the people she cares about and The Belt she has sworn to protect. There is no right or wrong path, only your choices and the consequences they unleash. Like in past games from Telltale, The Expanse is episodic, launching with one episode available. Corresponding episodes will release every two weeks after launch and the entirety of the game will consist of five episodes. For the deluxe edition owners, a bonus episode will be available sometime in the future.
Have any other games you’ve got your eye on during July? Let us know in the comments down below!
