5 Games to Look Forward to in July

After all the excitement from June's E3 conferences, July is going to be a relatively quiet month for gaming. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything worth playing. There are a few titles that warrant anticipation. Let’s take a look at some interesting releases coming up next month.

Song of the Deep

Release Date: July 12

A Metroidvania-style game, Song of the Deep follows the story of a girl who crafts a submarine to seek out her missing fisherman father. Inspired by Irish mythology, the game emphasizes puzzles and exploration as opposed to combat, though it does contain some of the latter.

The game will include storybook inserts designed to make it look like a children’s book -- and there are plans to release a children’s book alongside it, as well. The game's developers are collaborating with GameStop to release physical copies alongside digital ones for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

I Am Setsuna

Release Date: July 19

Square Enix’s new Japanese role playing game has been called a “return to the golden era of JRPGs.” I Am Setsuna contains an air of nostalgia to older JRPGs.

It follows Setsuna, a girl who has been named a sacrifice by her people in order to protect them. The battle system is inspired by Chrono Trigger, and the game boasts some truly beautiful visuals. It will be available on PlayStation 4, PS Vita, and Windows.

The Banner Saga 2

Release Date: July 26

Although the PC and Mac versions of The Banner Saga 2 were released on April 19, July 26 will see a release for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. So far, the tactical RPG has garnered an 82% on Metacritic and some stellar reviews.

The 2D hand-drawn Viking saga boasts a new race called the Horseborn and improved combat. Those who played Banner Saga will find the second installment influenced by their past game choices. If you did not play the first game, the second will start out with automatic choices made for you.

Batman: Return to Arkham

Release Date: July 26

Return to Arkham combines the remastered versions of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, along with all the old downloadable content from the original games. The new bundle has improved graphics and changed environments and models. It will release for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

We Happy Few

Release Date: July 26

We Happy Few got its start with a successful Kickstarter campaign. Set in an alternative, war-ravaged version of 1960s England, the game’s objective is survival. Characters must blend in among the “delusionally happy people” of an eerie, dystopian city called Wellington Wells.

Playable characters are designed to be morally ambiguous -- and if you die, you must start the game over in an entirely new, procedurally generated version of the city. On July 26, the game will see an Xbox game preview and will also launch on Steam Early Access.

What other games are you excited for in July? Let me know down in the comments!