Here are the best games coming out in July

Hard to believe the year is halfway over. E3 2018 whizzed by and we’re careening into the end of summer. Heck, it’ll be Fall before you know it, when some of the biggest games in town hit stores and the leaves turn yellow. But in the dead of summer, new releases tends to get a little quirkier. Here’s a selection of some of the best in case you need to stay cool during that Summer heat.

Octopath Traveler

The latest JRPG for the Nintendo Switch is a Square Enix project that features eight different protagonists and plenty of different roads to travel. It also sports a gorgeous and nostalgic art style that’ll have you pining for the good old Super Nintendo days, when Earthbound and Chrono Trigger were the new hotness. There’s a lengthy demo available now if this looks like something you’d be into.

Pool Panic

You think you know pool? You don’t know anything yet. Pool Panic is a wild twist on the classic game that turns the entire universe into a pool table. You’ll take up the mantle of a curious cue ball, navigating mini putt courses, dungeons, parks, and more. Pool is just the beginning in this irreverent and colorful creation from Adult Swim Games.

Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 and 2

The Mega Man X series was some of the best the platforming games had to offer. Pricey gems for collectors, you can now grab them all in one place with the Legacy Collection. Well, two. There are two volumes, equally available for download. Show those Mavericks who’s the real robot master.

Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-MARS-Tered

Red Faction: Guerrilla originally debuted back in 2009 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It made quite a splash for some players, but didn’t go beyond a cult audience. The third-person shooter developed by Volition lets you wreck things around you in the name of freedom. The game is being re-released with a fresh new coat of paint and various improvements, so if you missed out on it the first time this is the perfect opportunity to get your ass to Mars! 

Tempest 4000

This action-packed take on Jeff Minter’s classic tube shooter looks as frenetic as it does gorgeous. After some legal tensions, it seems Minter and Atari are ready to give fans the game they’ve salivated for. Take control of “The Claw” as you zip back and forth across the colorful vector graphics. It’s got 100 levels, three game modes, and plenty of ways to humble you. If we’re lucky, this game will also become a Nine Inch Nails video. 

The Banner Saga 3

The third installment in Stoic’s acclaimed tactical role-playing game series is the final chapter of The Banner Saga. With gorgeous animation, mature storytelling, and turn-based strategy elements, it’ll no doubt be a viking voyage worth immersing yourself in.