Top 10 Best Games Releasing in July

As July arrives, it brings with it tons of upcoming phenomenal titles! And my wife and I have decided to make a list for the 10 most exciting ones. It was a tough battle of splitting straws as we figured out who wanted to write about what game, but we’ve finally made it and it’s ready for you to dive in! We hope you find tons of new titles to look forward to.

Ravva and the Phantom Library

Release Date: 6th of July
Genres: Retro, platformer, action
Developer: Galope Studios
Publisher: Galope Studios

The first one releasing on my list of games I'm most excited for is Ravva and the Phantom Library! In this adorable retro-inspired title, you'll play as Ravva, a little owl hero who is attempting to escape the Phantom Library alongside his summoned companions. The only way through is by beating the worlds inside the haunted books!

I had never heard of this series before, but it didn't take long for me to fall head-over-heels for this upcoming entry. The fantastic graphics, smooth-looking gameplay, and interesting story sold me instantaneously! I am definitely getting this one.

OXENFREE II: The Lost Signal

Release Date: 12th of July
Genres: Thriller, supernatural, 2D
Developer: Night School Studio
Publisher: Netflix

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals starts off five years after the event of the first entry. This time around, Riley will return to her hometown, Camena, to investigate the mysterious radio signals. Although it is a follow-up to the original, it's not necessary to have played it as it plays fine as a standalone title. 

I'm going to be honest here: I’ve always been very interested in OXENFREE, but I've not ever found the right time to buy it. But seeing how there's a second entry, well... what better excuse to get it? This title has received an immense amount of praise for its narrative, and truly, I don't think it's a surprise when even the trailers alone are captivating!

Viewfinder

Release Date: 18th of July
Genres: Puzzle, first-person, surreal
Developer: Sad Owl Studios
Publisher: Thunderful Publishing

Those who watched this year's events and saw the Day of the Dev showcase must surely remember this fantastic puzzle platformer title, Viewfinder. In it, you'll reshape reality to solve challenges using your camera so that you may uncover the narrative mystery! It looks absolutely trippy, inventive, and fun.

I am a big, big fan of puzzle titles like these, and the idea of altering reality to pass to the next challenge is so exciting! Anything with secrets and nuanced contraptions will always be welcomed. It reminds me a lot of another similar and fantastic game, Superliminal. If you like puzzles, I couldn't recommend it more that you at least check out the trailer!

Street of Secrets

Release Date: 19th of July
Genres: Hidden object, hand-drawn, relaxing
Developer: Snkl Studio
Publisher: Snkl Studio
Check out the demo here!

Street of Secrets is an adorable upcoming hidden object title where you'll go through five different houses and search for 500 secrets! Unravel the secrets of the house owners while you find all sorts of adorable Halloween and Lovecraftian things!

I'll admit it: I'm in a bit of a hidden object craze at the moment. Ever since I got my hands on Hidden Through Time, I feel like I can't stop myself from wishlisting even more games from the genre! And, truth be told, even if I wasn't in the middle of a hidden-object-obsession, I'd probably have still want this game as desperately as I do! I mean, what Halloween fan wouldn't?!

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

Release Date: 27th of July
Genres: 3D platformer, adventure, wholesome
Developer: Chibig, Talpa Games, Undercoders
Publisher: Chibig

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is an upcoming wholesome 3D platformer by the same creators of the charming titles Summer in Mara and Mail Mole! This time around, however, Koa's going to go through a more chibi-looking adventure as she'll jump and sprint her way through many different settings.

I've been following this game like an annoying mosquito for months. The colours, the gameplay, Koa's design... it's just too cute to not want it! I absolutely love platformers, and this one looks fantastically energised. It's just what I'll need on an unstill Saturday!

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That’s it for my five, so now I’ll leave you with my lovely wife next! But I do want to make a note that there are many more than just 10 cool games upcoming this month, we just had to keep it short. 

Artura Dawn

It’s been a while since I do one of these most anticipated games — likely more than a whole year! With this in mind, I’m thrilled to be back and ready to bring you more games to make your wallet suffer. With that said, here are the five games I’m most looking forward to throughout the month! And yes, I did fight my wife to include some of these on my side of the article.

Devil's Dive

Release Date: 7th of July
Genres: Action Roguelike, Action
Developer: 1984pxls
Publisher: 1984pxls

The Devil has been usurped from the depths of Hell, and now, you must dive back down deeper into the underworld to defeat the usurpers and reclaim your title of lord. But the fight won't be easy, and once you die, you'll be returned whence you come, though you'll be able to dive once again, even stronger than before.

Devil's Dive is an absolute charmer of a title. The graphics and soundtrack alone are already great, but the gameplay looks like an interesting mix of precision and combat, forcing you to manoeuvre the usurpers properly, with various bosses showcased! Though we may not know much about the game in its current state, I look forward to trying it out more when it releases!

Catch & Cook: Fishing Adventure

Release Date: 14th of July
Genres: Adventure, Fishing
Developer: Campfire Studio
Publisher: Campfire Studio
Check out the demo here!

In Catch & Cook: Fishing Adventure, you play as both a fisherman and restaurant owner as you set out to the depths and go fishing either for ingredients or treasure and cook to earn money!

As a Thalassophobe that has suffered at the hand of Super Mario 64's Maw-Ray, it might come as a shocker that I'd pick Catch & Cook: Fishing Adventure as one of my most-anticipated titles. But honestly, the atmosphere, graphics, and overall feel of the game seem great, and I can't wait to learn more about the title.

Mr. Run and Jump

Release Date: 25th of July
Genres: Side Scroller, Precision Platformer
Developer: Graphite Lab
Publisher: Atari
Check out the demo here!

Not to be confused with Nintendo's Mr. Game and Watch, Mr. Run and Jump is an Atari-published precision platformer by Graphite Lab, the creators of Kombinera! With a demo available to pick up and try, run through a neon world and collect the gems and dodge perilous obstacles!

I played and reviewed Kombinera last year, and I loved it — it broke me and made me cry, but that's a big reason why I like the soulslike genre anyway. Now, the new Mr. Run and Jump is definitely in my sights for upcoming games that I can't wait to try out; if it's half as good as either Kombinera or Celeste, I'm already sold.

Remnant II

Release Date: 25th of July
Genres: Action, Adventure
Developer: Gunfire Games
Publisher: Gearbox Publishing

Remnant II is the sequel to the Remnant: From the Ashes, a soulslike third-person shooter that was widely loved by fans and critics alike back in 2019. Play alone or with up to two other friends to face against an evil that seeks to destroy reality itself!

Truth be told, I never did get around to playing Remnant: From the Ashes because I didn't ever buy it until I got it from Humble Bundle. I definitely intend to play it, but that's also in large part because I'm very excited to experience the new entry — Remnant II — with my wife when it comes out!

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Release Date: 26th of July
Genres: Adventure, 3D Platformer
Developer: Insomniac Games, Nixxes Software
Publisher: PlayStation PC LLC

Nominated as 2022's Game of the Year in The Game Awards, this beautiful title brings Ratchet & Clank to PC for the very first time! This is PlayStation's latest PC release for their previously exclusive titles, with gorgeous visuals, PC features like ultrawide resolutions and enhancing software, and everything you could ever want!

This should come as no surprise to anyone — whether you know my not-so-secret addiction to platforming titles or not, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a no-brainer for any anticipation list coming out in July. I'd originally bought a PlayStation 5 to play God of War: Ragnarok, but soon thereafter, I bought Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart to give the game a shot. I never got around to playing it, and now I'm eternally grateful for that!

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And that’s it for our most anticipated games of the month! July’s shaping up to be a great month for gaming, and we can’t wait to find even more titles to enjoy! Can you guess which of the games I won through arm-wrestling power? As always, feel free to let us know in the comments below which games you’re looking forward to, and see you next month!