Don't Skip These Video Games: 8 Hot Titles You Should Buy in July (2024)

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

• Release Date: July 2, 2024

• Rating: T

Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix’s acclaimed and adored MMORPG, gets a beefy new expansion this month. In Dawntrail, players journey to Tural to compete in a succession ritual, with the expansion as a whole serving as a comfy vacation of sorts following the events of the last expansion, Endwalker. Dawntrail introduces new zones, raises the level cap, and debuts two new character classes to master (the Viper and Pictomancer).

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Release Date: July 2, 2024

• Rating: M

Become a Descendant in this cooperative shooter from Nexon. Battle against supernatural encroachers with a robust selection of class-based characters, each with unique perks and special abilities. Think Destiny, with a bit of Warframe sprinkled in. Play solo or in teams of four and take down massive monsters, all while amassing new gear and armaments for character growth. The First Descendant offers cross-play and cross-progression between all platforms, and it is also free to play.

• Platforms: Android, iOS, PC, PS5

• Release Date: July 4, 2024

• Rating: T

With Zenless Zone Zero, Hoyoverse takes us to a post-apocalyptic near-future, where monster-filled Hollows are swallowing up the city of New Eridu. Play as a professional Proxy and link the city to these Hollows. Build a squad, engage in synergistic, fast-paced action to take down the monstrous threat, and soak in the bombastic visuals and music Hoyoverse games are known for. Zenless Zone Zero is a free-to-play title, with gacha-recruiting elements similar to those in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5

• Release Date: July 11, 2024

• Rating: E10

The Princess Maker series features unique child-rearing simulation games that let you raise a divine child as your own. They offer numerous educational and extracurricular opportunities for your princess and dynamic social situations that help shape the girl’s experience as she develops. There are dozens of endings to unlock based on your princess’s education, reputation, and skills. Princess Maker 2 Regeneration features enhanced visuals and redrawn artwork, just in time for the series’ 30-year anniversary.

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5

• Release Date: July 15, 2024

• Rating: T

This brutal roguelike RPG pits your party of tragic heroes against the encroaching apocalypse. Darkest Dungeon II refines the turn-based combat of the original while introducing more impactful decision-making that adds even more tension to every moment of the adventure. Expeditions can be as short as 30 minutes or as long as multi-hour affairs that stretch your resources thin and your party to its breaking point. Darkest Dungeon II is already out on PC but arrives on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS5 this month.

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

• Release Date: July 18, 2024

• Rating: E

Embrace Japanese mysticism and side-scrolling action platforming. Play as a fox spirit and use your magical bo staff to navigate the dream-like landscapes, encounter charming yokai, and face down monstrous threats. Unlock shapeshifting powers for your staff to create new paths through this expansive Metroid-inspired world.

• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

• Release Date: July 18, 2024

• Rating: M

The Gods and their armies of the dead have been unleashed onto the world, bringing the realm of Kian to its knees. Play as an elite member of the Coalition army on a quest for vengeance against these destructive Gods. Master melee weaponry, firearms, and magic in this Souls-like action RPG.

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Release Date: July 19, 2024

• Rating: T

This unique single-player action-strategy game is set on a defiled mountain steeped in Japanese mysticism. Purify neighboring villages as the sword-wielding Soh and protect the sacred Maiden from the encroaching evil known as the Seethe. You don’t fight alone, however. Command and direct the villagers and take advantage of their unique abilities to develop strategies, counter the waves of evil, and survive until dawn.

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