July 2023 has come, so it’s time to publish the next part of our guide – here is a list of the most interesting projects in July 2023, which are worth playing. Also, be sure to pay attention to the reviews of new projects, which can be found in the reviews section, and, of course, the previous issues of our monthly guide via the links:
The top of the best games of July – part 1 – in chronological order:
TrackMania (2020)
- Developer: Nadeo
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Platforms: PC (Epic Games Store, UPlay)
- Release Date: July 1, 2023
- Genre: Racing arcade
Before us is a remake of the classic TrackMania Nations, which they plan to develop according to the service model, constantly providing users with new content. The game was created for fans of crazy arcade racing, where cars travel at great speed along the walls and jump over the abyss.
Developers focus on e-sports, but nobody forgot about seasonal campaigns and the advanced track editor.
Doubts: To get the full version of the game, you need to buy a three-year membership card.
Moonray
- Developer: Everything is Full of Gods
- Publisher: Everything is Full of Gods
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
- Release Date: July 2, 2023 (PC)
- Genre: Action-RPG
A role-playing game with action elements from the 3rd person, the action of which takes place in a sci-fi world with powerful injections of surrealism.
A certain deity sends the hero on a crusade to restore the sacred element and gain control of the planet.
In mechanics, the game resembles Dark Souls, has an atmospheric soundtrack and a strange visual style with unusual effects.
Doubts: The graphics look as if we are faced with a cross between a conceptual technodem and a budget three-dimensional indie for two pennies.
Marvel’s Iron Man VR
- Developer: Camouflaj
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platforms: PS4
- Release Date: July 3, 2023
- Genre: VR FPS
A cute VR project that recreates in detail the feeling of flying and shooting inside a steel suit by Tony Stark. The developers are trying to surprise the players by adding moments that are unique or significant for franchise fans, such as dressing up as Iron Man right in the air and saving a burning plane.
Camouflaj studio has been working on the game for three years, so something really interesting should be waiting for us, and not just a quick-fix on the knee hack under license.
Doubts: The studio may run out of ideas in the middle of the game, which often happens in licensed games and VR projects.
Catherine: Full Body for Nintendo Switch
- Developer: ATLUS
- Publisher: ATLUS
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: July 7, 2023
- Genre: Adventure, Puzzle, Horror
A very unusual gloomy adventure from the creators of Persona tells a non-linear story about a guy named Vincent, who is afraid to tie his life in marriage, and then accidentally cheats on his girlfriend Katerina with a fatal blonde with the same name.
In addition, in his life there is another pretty beauty named Rina …
Exhausted by fear, the character tries to get out of his nightmares, which resemble huge pyramids of cubes with traps, where he is pursued by cruel demons.
The Full Body version, which was previously released on the PS4, added a light mode, where traps are simplified and a timer is disabled.
In a portable format it should play perfectly.
Doubts: None.
Superliminal for PS4 and Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Pillow Castle Games
- Publisher: Pillow Castle Games
- Platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: July 7, 2023
- Genre: Adventure
The practically revolutionary Portal-style game offers 20 minutes of unique gameplay, where an unusual look at things can open the way ahead … literally, but then it becomes a classic walking simulator that takes 1 hour to complete. The PS4 and Nintendo Switch version is already out in early July.
A review of the original for PC can be found here.
Doubts: All the same problems with the second half of the game as in the PC version.
Kingdom majestic
- Developer: Noi / Raw Fury
- Publisher: Microids
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: July 14, 2023
- Genre: RTS / Adventure / Horror
A real indie find combining real-time strategy, horror and adventure, where you need to strengthen the fortress as a king, build a ship and escape from the island, which is gradually capturing darkness, and acquire boxed compilations with your subjects. It will include Kingdom New Lands and Kingdom Two Crowns with all the additional content.
Doubts: None.
Shakedown: Hawaii
- Developer: Vblank Entertainment
- Publisher: Vblank Entertainment
- Platforms: Nintendo Wii, Wii U
- Release Date: July 9, 2023 (Wii), August 2023 (Wii U)
- Genre: Action, Sandbox
The 16-bit spiritual heir to Retro City Rampage offers to build his empire and seize power on the island. The project has already managed to go out on all modern systems and get good marks from both the press and the players, and now the developers are suddenly porting fun action in the open world to Nintendo Wii and Wii U.
Doubts: It’s not clear who the port is made for – most players have long switched to more modern systems, such as Nintendo Switch.
F1 2023
- Developer: Codemasters
- Publisher: Codemasters
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Google Stadia
- Release Date: July 10, 2023
- Genre: racing simulator
The continuation of the annual royal racing simulator offers a new “MyTeam” mode, which allows you to create your own dream team with a driver, assistants, car engine manufacturer, sponsor and so on and take part in competitions with digitized versions of iconic reality pilots.
An interesting main career is expected, the F2 championship, 22 runs, including Zandvoort and Hanoi, all teams from official competitions, a two-player game mode on one screen and several casual options at will – for those who do not want to strain.
Doubts: Nothing yet.
Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris
- Developer: Aquria
- Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Release Date: July 10, 2023
- Genre: Action-RPG
A quick role-playing action based on the popular anime “Sword Art Online: Alicization” tells the story of Kirito, who ended up in the Underworld – an obscure virtual universe where NPCs behave like living people and a hero, along with other characters, armed with weapons and magic, set off towards adventures. Huge monsters and epic landscapes are included.
Doubts: The game is made by the creators of The Caligula Effect, so there are concerns about the quality of the product.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2
- Developer: Inti Creates
- Publisher: Inti Creates
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: July 10, 2023
- Genre: Action / Adventure
Castlevania creator Koji Igarashi returns with a new game in the Bloodstained series – Curse of the Moon 2. A fresh design that combines classic 2D adventure and dark 8-bit aesthetics with modern game design.
Starring several characters at once: armed with a katana Zangets, who vowed to make his way to a demonic stronghold, joins a pretty exorcist girl Dominic, who controls healing magic and a huge spear, shooter Robert, who prefers grenades and powerful guns, as well as Hachi – a creature in huge magic armor.
In addition, in Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2, you can play as Miriam, Alfred and Gibel.
Each new character adds abilities and ways to go through the numerous stages of the game. And you can even play in a co-op with a friend.
Doubts: After Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and especially Ori and the Will of the Wisps, I don’t feel like going back to the NES level pixel graphics …
Void Terrarium / void tRrLM ();
- Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
- Publisher: NIS America
- Platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: July 2023
- Genre: RPG / Adventure / Simulator
An atmospheric role-playing adventure with elements of tamagotchi in the world of post-apocalypse, in which the planet is covered with poisonous air and toxic spores fly around, destroying humanity.
You play as a small robot. You have to explore the gloomy world in search of food and resources.
One day, a character suddenly finds a living girl named Toriko. To protect the last person on Earth from a destructive atmosphere, he builds a protective terrarium for her.
Doubts: The idea is interesting, but no matter how it slides to a dull survivor.
Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise
- Developer: Toybox Games
- Publisher: Rising Star Games
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: July 10, 2023
- Genre: Action / Adventure / Horror
The unexpected return of the cult horror adventure offers two main characters at once.
The plot, divided into two parts, develops both in the past and in the present. In the first case, we play for the hero of the first part of the FBI agent, Francis York Morgan, who investigates the atrocities in the quiet town of Le Carré in 2005.
In the second, for investigator Aalaya Davis, who is trying to solve a bad case in Boston in 2019.
The development manager and screenwriter is Hidetaka “SWERY” Suehiro, so we look forward to the game.
Doubts: Graphics not far from the first part.
NASCAR Heat 5
- Developer: 704Games Company
- Publisher: Motorsport Games
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Release Date: July 10, 2023
- Genre: racing simulator
Another official video game based on the popular racing series promises a detailed simulation and the authentic atmosphere of a sporting event. This time it is proposed to become the champion of NASCAR Cup 2023.
Among the promised features are all official teams, drivers and cars from the three national NASCAR series, as well as the Xtreme Dirt Tour, participating in races on 39 tracks.
Career mode, quick races, a new test session mode, full car setup and multiplayer (online for 40 players and with a split screen) are included.
Developers focus on weak computers, so the game should fly everywhere.
Doubts: The graphics look outdated, and the Nascar races themselves are very specific entertainment for fans of spectacular crashes. The latter in the game are clearly not planned, which narrows the circle of potential buyers.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
- Developer: Marvelous
- Publisher: Marvelous / XSEED Games
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: July 14, 2023
- Genre: Simulator with elements of strategy and adventure
The popular game with Game Boy Advance returns as a full remake for PC and Nintendo Switch. In addition to completely redone graphics, the developers promise to tighten the gameplay, improve management and make a new, better translation into English.
Doubts: After Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the game looks like a project from the 3DS era.
Death stranding
- Developer: Kojima Productions
- Publisher: 505 Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store)
- Release Date: July 14, 2023
- Genre: Action / Adventure with elements of horror
The best game of 2019 with a very unusual concept and unique world is finally coming to PC. Hideo Kojima Studio updated the graphic capabilities of the project, adding support for native 4K resolution, 240 Hz, ultra-wide screens, as well as many bonus bonuses to the cult game Half-Life 2.
Before us is not a lazy port, but a full-fledged adaptation that looks just amazing.
Doubts: None.
To be continued…
Material prepared by: Mikhail Shaginyan (ACE) and Denis Korolev (Skyerist)
Read also: Is the war at Lucasfilm close to ending? Kennedy lost to numbers, details of a Star Wars reboot plan.
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