Historically speaking, July has often been a very slow month for video games, because it’s not near any major holiday that gives people a little extra cash or requires them to go out and buy gifts. But a slow month or not, there’s always a new game being released each month, and July this year actually has quite a few exciting titles to mention. These summer releases are definitely worth keeping an eye on as their debuts approach. That said, it’s worth noting that some of these games weren’t originally supposed to be July titles, but they were delayed and pushed back into it. Not that it makes a difference, ultimately.
Worth special consideration is Sony, who has been releasing a number of big titles this summer. Their latest first-party developed game, Ghost of Tsushima, is right around the corner, and Death Stranding, which was previously PS4 exclusive, will finally be arriving on PC. As far as other companies are concerned, Nintendo is releasing a handful of titles exclusive to the Switch, including a new entry in the Paper Mario series and a sequel to the cult-classic Deadly Premonition. Some of the major titles coming out this July are actually remasters or remakes, which includes the Switch port of Catherine: Fully Body and THQ Nordic’s remaster of PS2-era sandbox game and old-school favorite, Destroy All Humans!
While there are of course more games than just these coming out in July, we’ve decided to talk about these titles in particular because they are some of the most noteworthy across all the different platforms. If you’d like to learn a bit more detail about a few of the various games we’ve mentioned thus far, just keep reading!
Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise (Switch) – July 17
A decidedly bizarre entry in the realm of cult classics, Deadly Premonition is admittedly a bit worn and even clunky, but beneath all of that lies a compelling and even charming adventure that really capitalizes on that strangeness of Twin Peaks, though with a bit of influence from the creative and unknowable mind of Hidetaka Suehiro. Deadly Premonition is without a doubt the game Suehiro owes most of his popularity to, which may make it a little strange that we had to wait so long to get a sequel. That said, this July we finally get that sequel in the form of Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise, which will continue detective Francis York Morgan’s storyline. Set in 2019, FBI agent Aaliyah Davis is investigating an old case in Boston, which of course just so happens to be connected to a 2005 case in New Orleans that was headed by the well-known detective Morgan. Gameplay will include control of both of these characters as you unravel the connection between both them and the case that is being investigated.
Paper Mario: The Origami King (Switch) — July 17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmrJe5MQjv4
With so many Nintendo games in general and Mario games in particular, it’s easy for some series to slip into the cracks. That said, Nintendo revealed a pleasant surprise for fans of the Paper Mario spinoff when they announced Paper Mario: The Origami King. Just like every other entry in the series, the premise is a little silly (but when is it not in a Mario game?). The papercraft Mushroom Kingdom has enveloped in chaos thanks to the evil king Olly, who has kidnapped Princess Peach (big shocker) and taken control of Bowser’s army. With a common enemy to face, both Mario and Bowser team up with the aid of King Olly’s sister, Olivia, to take down the origami empire of the evil king. Aside from this amusing premise, Paper Mario: The Origami King will seemingly offer a new take on the type of gameplay the series has traditionally offered before. The game will feature a new ring-based battle system that combines old school turn-based combat with puzzle-solving ability, certainly making for an interesting take on typical Mario gameplay.
Ghost of Tsushima (PS4) — July 17
Definitely one of the most anticipated games of the month, Ghosts of Tsushima is an open-world action-adventure that takes place in Japan’s 13th century. During this chaotic period, you will be in control of Jin Sakai, one of the few Samurai that is still around, defending the island of Tsushima against the invasion of the Mongol empire. This title has been building a great deal of excitement and hype ever since it was announced back in 2017, along with its developer Sucker Punch of Infamous and Sly Cooper renown. Unfortunately, we’ve gotten very few looks at Ghost of Tsushima’s story, world, and combat throughout the years, even now when it is so close to launch. That being the case, there’s still a whole lot of things we don’t actually know about the game, but with only a week or two until we can see what it’s really capable of, we don’t have long to wait.
Other Titles Being Released This Month
As we said before, there are other games being released this month, but of course we don’t have time to cover all of them. That said, we can still give you a nifty little list of the majority of games that are coming out this month, regardless of how hyped their release is.
Release Date | Game | Platforms | Pre-Order |
July 1 | Trackmania | PC | N/A |
July 3 | Marvel’s Iron Man VR | PS4 | N/A |
July 7 | Catherine: Full Body | Switch | Amazon |
July 10 | Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 | PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC | N/A |
Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing In Disguise | Switch | Eshop | |
F1 2020 | PS4, Xbox One, PC | N/A | |
July 14 | Death Stranding | PC | Steam |
July 17 | Ghost of Tsushima | PS4 | PlayStation Store |
Paper Mario: The Origami King | Switch | Amazon | |
July 28 | Destroy All Humans! (Remake) | PS4, Xbox One, PC | Amazon |
Samurai Shodown NeoGeo Collection | PS4, Switch, PC | N/A | |
July 31 | Fairy Tail | PS4, Xbox One, Switch | Amazon |