July may not be the most significant month for gaming releases, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of great games to look forward to, no matter what system you’re playing on.
Generally speaking, summer represents a bit of a break from the major triple-A releases that tend to congregate around spring and autumn, making this the perfect chance to either catch up on your backlog or check out some of the smaller and more interesting releases coming this month.
Here are the best games coming your way in July 2024!
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (PC, PlayStation, Xbox Series X/S – July 2nd)
2021’s Endwalker provided the perfect full stop for a decade of storytelling in Final Fantasy XIV, but it turns out that full stop was just a comma.
Dawntrail is set to provide the basis for another ten years of adventuring, and it’s got a breezier and decidedly less apocalyptic tone than its predecessor, although that doesn’t mean the stakes aren’t still high.
Expect a grand new narrative to experience alongside your former Scions of the Seventh Dawn friends, as well as new dungeons, bosses, and much more.
The First Descendant (PC, PlayStation, Xbox – July 2nd)
If Final Fantasy XIV doesn’t float your boat but you’re still in the mood for some online action, then perhaps Nexon’s The First Descendant will tickle your fancy.
In essence, The First Descendant is ploughing the same furrow as games like Genshin Impact or Warframe, although it’s a looter-shooter rather than a Breath of the Wild-inspired action RPG or…whatever the heck Warframe is.
Early previews are promising; the game seems to have a solid core combat loop, although its monetisation model has been criticised. Let’s hope the gameplay makes up for that.
Zenless Zone Zero (PC, PlayStation 5 – July 4th)
Speaking of Genshin Impact, here’s the latest game from that game’s developer HoYoverse (formerly known as miHoYo), and if you love HoYoverse’s previous games, there’s no reason you won’t like this too.
Zenless Zone Zero looks to transport HoYoverse’s typical gacha-loaded, highly polished action RPG fun to a post-apocalyptic setting with plenty of Jet Set Radio-inspired style.
If you prefer your action RPGs with a dollop of character action-inspired combat rather than Genshin’s floaty elemental affair, then this one is very definitely for you, and hey – it’s free to play, so why not give it a shot?
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak (PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch – July 5th)
If you’ve never encountered the Legend of Heroes franchise, you may not know just how popular these games are, but they have a loyal and dedicated fanbase who will almost certainly be awaiting this next instalment with bated breath.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak tells the story of bounty hunter Van Arkride, shifting the action’s focus to the Calvard Republic and marking the beginning of a brand new story arc.
It’ll be exciting to see how this one ties into the wider Trails world and whether any characters from other Trails titles make an appearance.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (PC, PlayStation, Xbox – July 18th)
The newest Soulslike (or Souls-lite, as the developers have called it) action RPG from the creators of Ashen officially launches later in July, so if Elden Ring is proving a little too tough, this might be your first port of call.
While certain Soulslike elements will be retained in Flintlock, the game is a much more dynamic affair than Souls games usually are, with an emphasis on mobility and crazy combos rather than deliberate, weighty duels.
If you’ve ever found yourself wishing that Soulslike games had more direct stories and more modern gaming trappings, then it looks like you’ll get a kick out of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn.
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (Nintendo Switch – July 18th)
Speedrunners are fascinating, aren’t they? Watching them at work is like watching master craftsmen; they can achieve things in games we never knew were possible.
This month, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is giving you the chance to join the hallowed ranks of the speedrunners, packing in lots of challenges themed around some of Nintendo’s most iconic games.
Whether you’re sprinting through Super Mario Bros as fast as you can or trying to get through Metroid’s labyrinthine hallways in record time, this one promises to be lots of fun.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (PC, PlayStation, Xbox – July 19th)
This rather strange-looking title from Capcom bills itself as a “unique Japanese-inspired single-player Kagura Action Strategy game”, blending hack-and-slash combat with tower defence.
During the day, you must set up your defences as best you can, and at night, you’ll be visited by grotesque monsters known as the Seethe, which you must use your defences to push back.
You’ll also be able to use your sword skills to help villagers defend themselves and their villages from the demons, so if you like a more hands-on approach to tower defence games, this one’s for you.
F1 Manager 2024 (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch – July 23rd)
Few games summarise the experience they offer better than F1 Manager 2024; you know exactly what you’re getting when you pick this one up off the shelf.
True to form, F1 Manager 2024 looks like it will offer the chance to manage your very own Formula One team, leading them to glory from relative obscurity.
This year’s entry will even give you the chance to create your own team for the first time in franchise history, which is a pretty exciting prospect if you’re a racing fanatic.
Earth Defence Force 6 (PC, PlayStation – July 25th)
Earth Defence Force walked so that Helldivers 2 could run. That’s slightly unfair, actually; while there are certainly similarities between the two, they’ve got entirely different tones and fulfil completely different fantasies.
If you’re a fan of Attack on Titan, you’ll definitely get a kick out of Earth Defence Force 6, as it marries the hopeless and slightly histrionic tone of that anime (slash manga) with over-the-top B-movie aesthetics and monsters.
Helldivers 2 may be the more sober and satirical game of the two, but Earth Defence Force 6 promises plenty of campy thrills. Just don’t expect the same level of polish as Arrowhead’s game.
