It can sometimes feel like PC gaming is in a somewhat rough spot. Many games being released for the platform are landing in the form of lacklustre ports with poor optimisation, meaning that even PC gamers with the latest and greatest hardware are being left out in the cold in many cases.
Even with that being said, though, for many, PC remains the best platform on which to play thanks to its extensive customisation options, superior graphical capabilities (assuming you’ve got a top-of-the-range machine, of course) and huge software library. That library is set to expand even further soon, so here are the best PC games July 2023 has to offer.
Gylt (July 6th)
Remember Google Stadia? Despite the streaming platform at one stage being the greatest hope for Google’s gaming wing, its memory is quickly being swept aside to make way for newer and more exciting initiatives. After Stadia’s cancellation, many began to worry about what might happen to some of its more promising exclusives, but it looks like their developers have plans for them, or at least that’s the case for Gylt, a survival horror game created by Tequila Works for Stadia. It’s headed to PC in July.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie (July 7th)
The long-awaited conclusion to both the Erebonia and Crossbell arcs of the Trails series (which is itself a spinoff series of The Legend of Heroes – it’s complicated) arrives on July 7th. Three protagonists – Lloyd Bannings, longtime Cold Steel protagonist Rean Schwarzer, and the mysterious “C” – will take the lead in this story, which will see them taking on a new and terrifying threat after the events of Trails of Cold Steel IV. Gameplay-wise, of course, you can expect the classic Cold Steel mixture of JRPG combat and overworld exploration.
Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals (July 12th)
The original Oxenfree was arguably one of the defining “choices matter” narrative adventure games, and Oxenfree 2 is likely to offer similar thrills. If you loved Oxenfree, it stands to reason you should check this one out as well; although you’ll still get a complete story if you haven’t experienced the original, it’s a great game, so we’d recommend heading back and taking a look at it. This game has some new features to offer, including a walkie-talkie that lets you remotely converse with characters and a new landscape to explore.
Exoprimal (July 14th)
Exoprimal is Capcom’s live-service hat that it’s throwing into the ring to compete with the glut of team-based shooters out there right now. The unique hook in this one is dinosaurs, which is, we admit, a pretty darn strong hook; it’s hard not to feel excited about a game that puts you in an Iron Man exosuit to go fight giant lizards. Still, we’ve been burned before, and recent failures like Gotham Knights and Redfall have us a touch worried about this one. If anyone can pull it off, though, it’s Capcom!
Earth Defender (July 14th)
The developer of Earth Defender is, rather ominously, called Nobody Cares, so let’s hope that somebody did care about this rather promising-looking twin-stick shooter, which hits Early Access on July 14th. It promises a savage, randomly-generated world full of threats to fight, and a range of automated defences to deploy in order to help you fight them. This won’t be one for the faint of heart, but if you’re after a challenge, apply here.
Jagged Alliance 3 (July 14th)
July 14th really is a good day to be a PC gamer, especially if you’re a fan of the long-running (and sadly recently neglected) Jagged Alliance series. The third game in the franchise, which enjoys the involvement of original creator Ian Currie, arrives on July 14th, and it’s not even in Early Access or anything; it’s a fully-fledged release that should be content and feature-complete on launch, offering a character-based RPG experience complete with in-depth tactical turn-based combat.
Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore (July 18th)
Social survival can be a difficult genre to get right. You’ve got to make sure that there’s enough content to keep people who want to largely keep themselves to themselves interested while also balancing the PvP and PvE experiences for groups. Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore is another game that’s hoping to strike that perfect balance, and when it hits Early Access on July 18th, we’ll be able to see whether it succeeds or not.
Immortals of Aveum (July 20th)
Immortals of Aveum is that rarest of beasts: a modern shooter that isn’t multiplayer and doesn’t appear to be a boomer shooter. You are Jak, a battlemage tasked with protecting the world of Lucium from encroaching threats. In order to do so, you have access to wide-ranging magic trees that can be upgraded and augmented, allowing you to use a play style that suits you to combat the game’s many enemies and hazards.
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening (July 20th)
If there’s one platform that isn’t short of grand strategy and tactical RPG experiences, it’s PC, but the Nobunaga’s Ambition series has carved out a nice little niche for itself, so let’s hope Awakening can continue to find a way to coexist with its bigger neighbours. As ever, you will play as Nobunaga himself, who’s attempting to unify Japan during the Warring States period, and you’ll encounter grand strategy gameplay combined with tactical battles.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series (July 27th)
Ah, doesn’t it make you feel nostalgic to see “A Telltale Series” in a game’s title again? Well, truth be told, we’re a bit concerned about this one. Telltale developed a reputation for itself during its later years, one that bespoke poor management and rushed project deadlines, so we’re hoping that The Expanse doesn’t suffer from the same issues when its first episode arrives on July 27th. If this one’s ready for primetime, it could be a really great narrative adventure.
