Summer is in full swing with all the fun and heat that comes with it. Whether you’re staying cool or soaking in some rays, dev teams are still working on their games. There are always plenty of opportunities to stay in, maybe, crank up the AC, and have a nice chill session of gaming. With so many choices to choose from, the selection is about to grow this month as the season continues. While you’re deciding what kind of experience you’re searching for, here are some awesome indie games to strongly consider for some heated days of gaming over some cool drinks.
Just King
Medieval stories are everywhere and they can be very fun to explore. A lot of times you’re fighting for a kingdom, trying to rule a kingdom, or trying to take over one. In Just King by VISH, it’s looking to be the latter. The game has you leading a group of colorful pixel warriors on a quest across a medieval fantasy world. You’ll be able to put together a party of some of the most traditional classes as you come up with the perfect balance. This will be important as you try to overthrow the various kings and defeat their armies to take the kingdoms for yourself.
Just King will release for PC on July 7.
Neon Blight
Even with all the ways gaming has transformed, it can still be so satisfying to play fast and engaging. One of the best ways to do that is by playing some arcade style games calling back to the days of putting coins in slots. The good news is that dev teams like Bleeding Tapes are keeping arcade-style games alive with titles like Neon Blight. Once again heading back into the cyberpunk future, you’re playing as a lone fighter living in an old city underneath a brand new megacity. You’ll need to fight through cyberspace just to survive as you take on new missions, and pick up all the weapons you can carry.
Neon Blight will release for PC on July 11.
XEL
There RPGs of all shapes and sizes taking place in a new and unusual fantasy world. You never know what you’re going to get with these games and you’re encouraged to just explore. Depending on what is driving you forward, you can get a huge mixed bag of experiences as you try to understand the world. This is what you’ll need to do in XEL by Tiny Roar. As Reid, you wake up with no memory of who you are and where you came from. From a zoomed out perspective, you’ll be leading Reid across plains, ruins, deserts, and more. Make as many friends as you and prepare to encounter some dangerous foes.
XEL will release for PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox on July 12.
Time on Frog Island
When life and work is bearing down on you, it’s nice to escape to a place that’s peaceful. The beauty of sim-like games allow you to experience idyllic lifestyles without any pressure weighing you down. A good way to start off such a situation is by mysteriously arriving in a relaxing place full of friendly creatures. This is how Half Past Yellow chooses to begin in Time On Frog Island. As a lone sea captain, you wash up on an unknown island full of frogs. As you explore and learn about your surroundings, you’ll have a lot of opportunities to start a new life and activities to keep you busy as you meet your amphibian neighbors.
Time on Frog Island will release for PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox on July 12.
Loopmancer
It can be very tricky to write a time-travel story without losing track of things. Everything needs to be mapped out so that you don’t end up with plotlines the size of planets. A common aspect of time-travel is the idea of being stuck in a loop which has some interesting game applications. It appears that eBrain Studio is trying to apply it to their upcoming Loopmancer. In this different punk future, you’re playing as the private investigator Xiang Zixu who is the best at what he does. However, things take a left turn when he dies only to wake up at the start of his latest case. Fight through waves of enemies, upgrade your cybernetics, and fight the best timeline forward.
Loopmancer will release for PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox on July 14.
Stray
Animals are the best. These creatures we share the planet with are beautiful, pure, and some of the best companions a person can have. Among them all are the popular dogs and cats. Unfortunately, despite how loved they are, many roam the cities without homes and need to fend for themselves. You follow such a story in Stray by Blue Twelve Studio. You play as a lone kitten that has separated from their family. Lost in a huge futuristic city, the cat must make their way through using cat-like athletics and stealth to stay alive. This will lead them on a journey to uncover a huge mystery as they look for their family.
Stray will release for PC, and PlayStation on July 19.
Ex-Zodiac
The classic games are classic for a reason and are still played frequently today. While some persevere based on nostalgia, others continue to be regarded as well designed games. Among them are the original Star Fox games which have inspired many space shooters. It even led to the creation of Ben Hickling’s Ex-Zodiac. With retro flair, you find yourself once again in a starship as the ace pilot Kyuu. Her mission is simple: To liberate all the planets of the Sanzaru Star system. Conveniently, all of her goals can be accomplished from the pilot’s seat, but that doesn’t stop it from being an exciting space adventure.
Ex-Zodiac will release for PC, and Switch on July 21.
Legendary Knight
There are few words that carry the same amount of impact as “legendary”. It’s become very popular in gaming with many tiers systems using it to mark the higher ranks. But, Websat Game is using it to add some punch to the title Legendary Knight. As a little pixel knight, you’ll need to take your oversized sword on a monster-slaying quest to save a whole town. You’ll need to fight through caves and dungeons to take on the giant boss monsters holding the villagers hostage. Save who you can to get more help in terms of getting stronger and collecting items.
Legendary Knight will release for PC on July 28.
