These are the biggest titles to watch out for in July.
If you're looking for something new to play this summer, July is chock-full of awesome games to jump into and take for a test drive. There's no better time to let a game take you to a faraway place than when it's sweltering outside and you're enjoying the A/C inside, after all.
This month, we're looking at a handful of some seriously sweet games you won't want to miss. Be ready to add them to your wishlist and pony up some cash to take them for a test drive. From journeying with the legendary hero Link to exploring the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in the Ukraine, here are some of July's hottest games.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Originally released on the Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has a new lease on life with Skyward Sword HD for the Nintendo Switch. Ten years later, anyone who missed out on this colorful adventure now has a chance to dive back in with new graphics and refined controls. It follows Hero of Time Link as a knight in training who must rescue Princess Zelda, who's been taken away into the clouds by a terrifying tornado, the work of the Demon King Demise. It's a decidedly different Zelda than players may be used to, but it's very much worth checking out, especially with all of its improvements.
System: Nintendo Switch
Release date: July 16
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
The long-running Monster Hunter series returns with a second installment for the Monster Hunter Stories continuity. A bit more lighthearted and Pokemon-like than the prior games, it explores the disappearance of Rathalos around the world. As the Rider, players befriend monsters by taking eggs they find throughout the game world and hatching, naming, and riding them around. They then join the player in battle. It's a turn-based affair that's a lot less chaotic than Monster Hunter fans may be used to, but that's much of its charm. Finding and interacting with all the monsters is a great reason to jump in, even if you've exhausted all the other Monster Hunter entries, because this one is perfect for both veterans and newbies alike.
System: Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: July 9
Cris Tales
If you've been looking for a colorful new RPG with exciting new elements, Cris Tales should catch your eye. It follows a young girl named Crisbell, who lives in an orphanage. She meets a talking frog named Matias who eventually helps to unlock powerful, time-altering abilities within her. She must use them to stop the Empress of the Ages, who's bent on destroying the Crystallis Kingdom. Crisbell can use her time powers to battle her enemies by moving forward and backward in time. She can also see the environment around her in real time as it was in the past, as it is in the present, and as it will be in the future. It's an exciting spin on familiar systems that looks well worth the wait (it's been in development for some time), so keep an eye out for it as it lands in July.
System: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia
Release date: July 20
Chernobylite
The Chernobyl disaster that took place 30 years ago was a tragedy like no other, but it's also a fascinating subject for a video game. Chernobylite places players in the shoes of a physicist formerly employed at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, who has lost their loved one during the disaster. They return 30 years later in an effort to find them, despite encountering "Stalkers" in the exclusion zone in the Uktraine as well as other hostile military characters. There are also a variety of other terrifying dangers in the form of supernatural creatures spawned due to the "chernobylite" created as a result of the radiation in the area. It's a survival game that will force you to keep all your wits about you, and its 3D scan of the real-world Chernobyl area is a huge reason to get invested.
System: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC
Release date: July
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Have some other awesome July games in mind and want to chat about them with others? Join the official SteelSeries Discord to jump in and discuss with plenty of other gamers.
