The Biggest July 2023 Video Game Releases

Nihon Falcom's Trails series is considered JRPG royalty these days. Its most dedicated followers wait on bated breath for news of upcoming sequels, prequels, and spinoffs - come July 7, they'll finally be able to experience an entry in the long-running series that was once a Japan exclusive. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie follows the grand adventures of three individuals - Rean Schwarzer, Lloyd Bannings, and a mysterious masked figure simply named "C." Thanks to this game's "Crossroads" system, you'll be able to instantly switch between them at any time to see how their stories unfold and intertwine with the other characters' journeys. Once it's time to hop into battle, epic tactical combat encounters unfold with the use of "Arts," "Brave Orders," and the brand new "United Front" system that lets you utilize the combined strength of your party members to dish out a devastating assault or deliver more crucial support.

The original Oxenfree turned heads as it dived into the world of the supernatural within the confines of a 2.5D platformer. OXENFREE II: Lost Signals takes place five years after its predecessor with a new story that follows the return of Riley as she investigates strange radio signals emanating from her hometown of "Camena." Meaningful conversations that give you crucial dialogue choices to consider, the addition of a walkie-talkie that'll let you chat with your allies from just about anywhere, and that same satisfying gameplay loop from the first game all add up to make this sequel worthy of being considered a sleeper hit for this month's game releases.

Koei Tecmo is a massive favorite among JRPG fans solely because of the Japanese gaming publisher's Atelier franchise. Many fans of that series most likely never played the very first game in the series, sadly. Those same fans can remedy that problem by checking out Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg, making the PS1 original available for a much more refined rendition. The gist of this game is a "leisure adventure RPG" that follows a troubled student who must complete numerous tasks so she can graduate in five years from the "Royal Academy of Magic." Improving her alchemy skills, picking up the resources needed to create random items, and linking up with friends to fend off monsters during turn-based battles define this upcoming remake. Side note - getting the Digital Deluxe version of this game gives you access to the original version titled Atelier Marie Plus: The Alchemist of Salburg.

Yes, we wish we had a Dino Crisis remake here instead too! But we're not going to outright ignore this Capcom multiplayer release that also happens to feature an army of rampaging dinos. After checking out the beta periods for this original IP, we've grown a bit warmer to what's being presented here. For the uninitiated, Exoprimal gives players several class-based "Exosuits" to choose from in a bid to wipe out different dinosaur types. You and your mechanized teammates will have to make use of some unique offense- and defense-based abilities if you have any hope of completing objectives faster than the enemy team. PvE and PvP madness will quickly erupt as you take the fight to your reptilian foes and attempt to halt the progress of the enemy team's escorted item.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

Old-school PC gamers that have a place in their heart for tactical turn-based strategy games must have some familiarity with the Jagged Alliance series. The franchise got its start in 1995 and the last time it received a release was back in 2018. So to say that the impending launch of Jagged Alliance 3 would be a massive understatement. Armchair army commanders need to keep an eye on this one - you'll get a ton of mileage out of managing a squad of mercenaries from a pool of 40 characters (which include familiar series faces such as Vicki Waters, Ivan Dolvich, and Fidel Dahan). Battling, looting, salvaging, customizing, training, and controlling territories make up the gamut of activities that will keep you occupied in this military strategy game. We're hyped to hop into Jagged Alliance 3's online co-op mode so we can dominate the campaign with a friend!

We have a feeling that anyone reading this list right now probably came across this clever puzzler on their timeline. And now it's set to drop much sooner than you probably expected. Viewfinder is a game all about perception as you move around in first-person to redefine and reshape the reality of your world. This single-player first-person experience sees players utilizing photographs, paintings, sketches, screenshots, and postcards in order to make their way deeper into varied environments. Prepare to have a mind trip as you match up the entirety of a painting within some barriers and proceed to walk through that very same painting as it opens a new path to explore.

If this game looks and sounds familiar to you, you probably played it extensively back on the Nintendo DS or initially came across its HD re-release on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Now it's coming back for a third time in its most refined version to date with Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes - Definitive Edition. The medieval fantasy themes present in this game are paired off with a wild amalgamation of RPG, turn-based strategy, and puzzle mechanics to great effect. Epic solo and multiplayer duels play out as you activate crucial combos with the aid of valuable units, artifacts, and spells. This Definitive Edition is pretty much a full-fledged remake that puts forth even more high-resolution graphics, improved audio, and all the previously released DLC that lets you tackle multiplayer sessions as the bad guys on the side of "Chaos."

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom turned out to be one of the biggest exclusive games of the year and certainly the Nintendo Switch's shining gem of 2023 thus far. Now another major Switch exclusive is set to drop during the warmer months of 2023 and it's the fourth mainline entry in the real-time strategy series focused on loyal plant-like creatures. Pikmin 4 sees a custom-made member of the "Rescue Corps" set out across a mysterious new planet in hopes of finding and saving the stranded Captain Olimar. Pikmin fans should have a good idea of what's going on here - commanding different species of "Pikmin" to help you fend off opposing beasts, solve puzzles, and carry heavy objects are a part of the game plan. New features include a new ice-type Pikmin that can freeze enemies and bodies of water, plus a new dog-like companion that can transport you and your Pikmin across assorted rivers.

Find out more about this game right here.

Next up on this list of July 2023 video game releases is a sequel to one of the better "Soulsborne" games out there. If you played Remnant: From the Ashes, then you must have taken a liking to its focus on ranged combat in a downtrodden world full of rampaging beasts that give you a hell of a challenge. Remnant II revisits that concept as players can play solo or participate in three-player co-op treks to prevent the extinction of humanity as a whole. You'll peruse through the dark and dreary hubs of "Ward 13" and "The Labyrinth" with your chosen character archetype, which consists of the "Challenger," "Handler," "Gunslinger," and more. Remnant II is setting itself up to be the perfect title for gaming masochists that enjoy the high difficulty that comes with a Soulsborne experience.

Double Dragon is back baby, yessir! And it's going to great lengths to stick to its 2D retro pixelated art style and classic side-scrolling beat 'em up action. Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragon features the return of Billy, Jimmy, and Marian, plus it marks the debut of Uncle Matin as another one of the main playable protagonists in this 2D brawler set in the year of 19XX. Rougelite elements come into play as you can rely on randomized purchasable upgrades, save your currency to revive your fallen buddies, and even choose the order of your mission playthrough. We're hyped to hop into this one just so we can pull off those tag team assists since you can seamlessly switch between your two chosen characters (local co-op looks like a total blast, too!). And we're also ready to see who the nine other unlockable characters are!

Telltale Games is back! And they're working on some new adventure games since that's what the once defunct development studio is masters at making. In conjunction with fellow developer Deck Nine, Telltale's next game is a playable prequel to the science fiction TV series based on the novels authored by James S. A. Corey. The Expanse: A Telltale Series' first episode will kick off the spacefaring events that transpire in the life of Camina Drummer, who finds herself getting into plenty of trouble within "The Belt" aboard the "Artemis" spaceship. You'll have to make major decisions, create beneficial alliances, come to grips with your broken relationships, and map out the rest of your journey across The Expanse's four follow-up episodes (which will come out every two weeks).

Disney Illusion Island is setting itself up to be one of the most fun family-friendly titles on this list of July 2023 video game releases. This gorgeously animated 2D side-scrolling platformer features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy in an adventure that's all about retrieving three magical books as they trek through the island of "Monoth." You can hop into this one solo or with three other local friends for a whole lot of running, jumping, swinging, and item collecting across a bevy of stages that change up their art design and enemy layout as you make your way deeper into the game. This Nintendo Switch exclusive is being described as a Mickey-themed "Metroidvania," so we're all in on this one!

To cap off this list of July 2023 video game releases, we're going to showcase a title that's a new and improved version of a sports management simulator that F1 fans can't get enough of. F1 Manager 2023 gives you the chance to become the boss of your own F1 racing team once again and lets you build it from a collection of top-notch drivers and reliable staff members. When it comes to new features, fans can look forward to the new race replay system that lets them recreate iconic moments from their very own season. Deep team management sessions go hand in hand with plenty of menu navigation, plus you'll get to keep a close eye on the track during actual racing competitions. Speaking of racing, the Losail International Circuit of the Qatar Grand Prix and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit of the brand new Las Vegas Grand Prix will be included in this sequel.