19 Indie Games To Get Excited About In July 2022
July 2022 looks like it could be a special one for indie games. Here’s 19 indie games we think you should keep your eye on throughout the month.
I keep hearing and reading the same sentiment: “2022 doesn’t have any games”. Sure, the AAA titles and usual Holiday stalwarts seems to be MIA but indie games are certainly kicking ass this year. Putting together this monthly list of indie games (and those titles from indie publishers) every month is certainly eye opening to the quality that’s releasing every single month.
July 2022 is no different. Some long awaited ports for indie game classics, some of this year’s most creative endeavours and some really exciting projects are landing this month. No matter if you enjoy visual novels, chilled exploration games, indie horrors, point and click adventures or oddball, one-of-a-kind experiences, this July 2022 has it all.
Without further ado, here are 19 indie games to get excited about in July 2022.
MADiSON by Bloodious Games – July 8th, 2022
Horror indie games have been closing the gap in production values to their AAA counterparts over the past few years with a few titles giving the likes of Resident Evil a run for their money. MADiSON, a title from Bloodious Games, looks like it will continue that trend when it brings a spiral of spine chilling madness to PC and consoles on July 8th. To date, there has been nothing positive things said about the game. In it, you play a character called Luca who is being tortured by the demon MADiSON who is forcing them to finish a gory ritual that was started decades earlier. Alongside the game’s main narrative, you’ll also meet characters that have their own disturbing story to tell. Not one for the faint of heart, MADiSON arrives on PC via Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and Nintendo Switch on July 8th, 2022. Perp Games are even brining a physical edition which you can order here.
Monument Valley 1 & 2: Panoramic Edition by ustwo Games – July 12th, 2022
It feels a little daft putting Monument Valley on a list of indie games to spotlight, given the fact that the first game alone was downloaded more than 10 million times since it was released in 2015. The versions being released in July 2022 are new, however. Moving from mobile devices to PC for the first time, The Panoramic Collection of both the original Monument Valley and its sequel, Monument Valley 2, ditch the restrictive view of their mobile counterparts to give us a full screen experience. We already know these wildly successful indie games are excellent. We’ll be able to revisit them on July 12th. Wishlist Monument Valley: Panoramic Edition & Monument Valley 2: Panoramic Edition now.
Mothmen 1966 by LCB Game Studio – July 14th, 2022
One of my favourite games from the EGX 2021 show floor was Mothmen 1966. In my write up, I described it as evocative, tense and “one to keep your eye on”. The first in a planned series of interactive fiction games called “Pixel Pulp”, this game is a collaboration between novelist Nico Saraintaris and artist Fernando Martinez Ruppel. They’ve combined their considerable talents to create pulpy stories with Spectrum inspired art work in quite an impactful way. I was very impressed by what I played a year ago and I’m very interested in how the finished product shapes up when the game launches on PC via Steam and consoles on July 14th.
Stray by Bluetwelve Studio – July 19th, 2022
Stray, or as some have dubbed it, “The Cat Game”, is going to take this month by storm. A game that has been in a handful of Sony State of Play shows, being seen by millions of people, Stray is likely the most highly anticipated title on this list of indie games. In Stray, you play as a cat that’s exploring a futuristic dystopian city in which humanity has seemingly gone extinct. The only signs of life in this city are a race of robots, one of which, B12, you’ll be enlisting the help of to solve puzzles and aid in exploration. Stray is launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam on July 19th. This game is also headed to the PlayStation Plus Premium tier for subscribers.
As Dusk Falls by INTERIOR/NIGHT – July 19th, 2022
As Dusk Falls seems like what you’d get if you blended Heavy Rain with the likes of Erica. An original narrative game, this game presents itself like an interactive visual novel, complemented by some talented voice actors. Playable in online co-op or in single player, As Dusk Falls has players navigate the tangled lives of two families as they intertwine over three decades. Each player can make decisions that will impact on a character’s life while also revealing the player’s values and priorities. It feels like As Dusk Falls has the potential to expand the interactive narrative genre in some interesting ways, especially around approachability. By allowing players to use their phones to play the game, as well as being part of Xbox Game Pass, means that this is certainly going to find its intended audience of gamers and non-gamers alike. Check out As Dusk Falls when it launches on Xbox consoles and PC via Steam on July 19th.
Severed Steel by Greylock Studio – 20th to 22nd of July 2022
Originally released in in 2021 on PC, Severed Steel is a stylish, fast paced and exciting first person shooter from Digerati and Greylock Studio. In our review of the PC version, we said “Itâs fast, itâs frenetic, itâs vibrant and by golly, is it fun.” and that “Thereâs no greater pleasure in somersaulting over goons to air out their brain cases in glorious voxel violence“. This fluid and destructive shooter is headed to consoles during July 2022. The only compromise of the PC version will be a lack of the level editor that will be missing from the console version. As a compromise, a few of the best user-created levels will be added as a bonus for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series versions. Severed Steel will launch for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on July 20th, Switch on July 21st, and Xbox Series and Xbox One on July 22nd.
Wayward Strand by Ghost Pattern – July 21st, 2022
I’ve been looking forward to Wayward Strand for a very long time and I’m personally very excited about the game finally launching in July 2022. In this game, you play as the young girl Casey Beaumaris. It’s the summer of 1978 and instead of being out enjoying her school holidays, she’s volunteering at an airborne hospital at the behest of her mother. Aboard this hospital airship are a diverse, eclectic cast of characters, each of which has a story to tell that may or may not entwine with a wider lattice of stories. The unique aspect of Wayward Strand is that time passes for everyone aboard the airship at the same pace – for the player, Casey and the cast of characters you can interact with. The patients and nurses go about their lives, moving of their own accord, and it’s up to the player (sic. Casey) to choose who they talk too and when which decides which stories they’ll get involved in. There’s no way to experience everything that Wayward Strand has to offer in one playthrough, and every attempt at the game can be different if you change your approach. It’s a very cool concept. Make sure to keep Wayward Strand on you radar for when it launches on Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox One and Series and PC via Steam on July 21st, 2022.
Loopmancer by eBrain Studio – July 14th, 2022
What’s Loopmancer? It’s 2046 and you’re playing as the skilled detective Xiang Zixu, working in the futuristic Dragon City. The game begins as Zixu is killed while investigating the disappearance of a famous journalist. Waking from what feels like a nightmare, Zixu gets a call from their colleague who tells them they have a new case: the disappearance of a famous journalist. Intrigued? Yeah, me too. A 3D platformer roguelite action game, Loopmancer has you slashing and cutting your way through bad folk as you investigate your case but also why you’ve come back from the dead in a loop. Our man Rossko had some hands on time with Loopmancer a while back and said “Iâm super excited to see the rest of the game. Iâm invested in the story now and Iâm intrigued to see where it goes next”. That wait is almost over as Loopmancer is launching on PC via Steam and Epic Game Store on July 14th, 2022. A console release is planned for the future.
Time on Frog Island by Half Past Yellow – July 12th, 2022
There you are, sailing around, minding your own business when a savage storm descends and trashes your boat on the rocks of a nearby island. You awake on this mysterious island that’s filled with frogs. Yup, frogs. That’s the set up for ‘Time on Frog Island’, a sandbox trading and crafting game where the aim is to rebuild your ship and find a way off the island. You can play this game at your own pace as you meet a cast of charming characters, solve puzzles and find treasure in order to trade your way to a fully functioning ship again. This game looks beautifully quaint and quirky and looks to be a great addition to the wholesome survival/trading genre that has exploded this past few years. Check out Time on Frog Island when it launches on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox consoles on July 12th, 2022.
Lord Winklebottom Investigates by Cave Monsters – July 28th, 2022
I’m calling it now – the point and click genre is about to have one hell of a year. Yes, that’s partly because Monkey Island is making a return but that’s also because the witty, irreverent ‘Lord Winklebottom Investigates’ launches in just a few weeks. Disclaimer: I backed this game on Kickstarter. I did so because I was absolutely blown away by what I played of this game back in 2019 at EGX. I had also interviewed the game’s creator Charlotte Sutherland (an interview that was unfortunately lost during the ‘Great Hack of 2020’) and her passion and vision for this game was so clear and exciting, I felt compelled to back it. A traditional point and click adventure set in the 1920’s, you play as the titular giraffe detective Winklebottom. Alongside his companion Dr Frumple, a hippo, the pair must solve the mysterious murder of an Axolotl. It’s funny, it’s smart and it’s releasing on PC via Steam, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch on July 28th.
Bear and Breakfast by Gummy Cat – July 28th, 2022
If I’m honest, the pun in the title of “Bear and Breakfast” would be enough for it to feature on this indie games list alone. The fact that it looks like an engrossing, highly customisable and enjoyable management sim cum adventure game is just a bonus. The experience promises to be laid back, allowing us to be build our B+B+B (bear, bed and breakfast) at our own pace – but there’s also mentions of secrets to uncover. “As your business expands so do the mysteries of the forest, and Hank soon finds himself uncovering a plot deeper than the wilderness itself”. My interest? It is piqued. Piqued, I tell you. Bear and Breakfast is rising from its hibernation on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch on July 28th.
Endling – Extinction is Forever by Herobeat Studios – July 19th, 2022.
I’ve had my eye on Endling for a long time because I truly believe this game has a chance to make some cultural impact. Sure, there are a number of games out there where you play as wolves, foxes and the like. The important difference here is that in Endling – Extinction is Forever, you play as the last mother fox on Earth. It’s your role to protect the 3 fox cubs that depend on your guidance and protection from the hostile and dangerous world that has driven the species to the edge of existence. There’s no doubt that this title will be quite emotive – I don’t know if I’ll be able to deal with the deaths of any of those fox cubs – but I’m really quite excited to get stuck into the stealthy action of Endling – Extinction is Forever when it launches on PC via Steam, Epic Game Store, GOG and consoles on July 19th, 2022.
Sweet Transit by Ernestas NorvaiĊĦas – July 28th, 2022
Where we’re going, we don’t need roads. What we will need however is track. You see, Sweet Transit from Team 17 and developer Ernestas NorvaiĊĦas, is a unique city builder that’s built around the construction of rail roads. Aside from walking, the only mode of transportation in this game is by train. Using the rails, you’ll have to create intricate paths of expansion, supplying your civilians with what they need while growing your industry and making sure everything is done as economically as possible. Sweet Transit is a quirky spin on the traditional city builder that looks quite involved and engrossing. We’ll be able to board this particular game when it launches into Early Access on PC via Steam on July 28th, 2022.
Hell Pie by Sluggerfly – July 21st, 2022
In the 3D platformer Hell Pie, you play as a demon called Nate. Nate is the “demon of bad taste”, the 8th deadly sin. It’s the devils birthday and Nate has been given the task of rounding up the ingredients for Satanâs infamous birthday pie. The Hell Pie, if you will. Using his âpetâ angel Nugget that doubles as a living grappling hook, Nate will have to traverse 4 large worlds, defeat those that stand in his way and collect those ingredients. To me, Hell Pie seems like a modern interpretation of Conker: Live and Reloaded. It’s mature, violent and obscene, but it seems like it’s playing on a lot of 3D platforming mechanics that many people my age (y’know, Millennials) grew up on. We’ll be able to cook up this Hell Pie when this title launches on PC via Steam and consoles on July 21st.
TombStar by Andy Sum & Marcus Grambau – July 20th, 2022
Sci-fi and Western themes should be a marriage made in heaven but it feels rare that these thematic elements ever come together in a really satisfying way. Based on everything we’ve seen about TombStar, the next game from the makers of Crossy Road and publishers No More Robots, it appears that this is one of these rare times when the futuristic and Western themes blend in a very brain-tickling way. A top-down shooter with roguelike elements, this game has you play as three gun-slinging heroes exploring the planet TombStar to take on the notorious Grimheart Gang. In order to do so, you’ll have to make use of a dynamic arsenal and the unique abilities of each characters. As you do, you’ll learn the motivations of why the three protagonists want to take down the Grimheart Gang and their leader King Killcard. TombStar looks to be packed with potential and I very much doubt this is going to buck No More Robot’s trend of publishing top quality indie games. Check it out when it launches on July 20th on Steam.
Immortality by Half Mermaid Productions – July 26th, 2022
After Sam Barlow took the industry by storm with his FMV evolving indie games ‘Her Story’ and ‘Telling Lies‘, I think a fair chunk of the industry were eagerly waiting whatever came next. That next project, in collaboration with Allan Scott, Amelia Gray, and Barry Gifford, is ‘Immortal’. Once again, the game centres around viewing and investigating video footage. In this instance, it’s content from the three unreleased films starring the fictional actress Marissa Marcel. Marcel is missing and the solution to the mystery around her disappearance lies somewhere in clips from her movies, as well as behind-the-scenes production footage and television and interview clips. It’s your job to put it all together. To put it bluntly: Immortal looks fantastic. July 26th. Write it in your calendars and make sure to check the game out which it hits PC via Steam, GOG and Xbox Series consoles.
Witch Strandings by Strange Scaffold – July 7th, 2022
I think it’s fair to say when Hideo Kojima talked about inventing a new type of genre – the ‘strand’ game – that many of us kind of scoffed at it. I’ll admit I did. 5 million copies of Death Stranding sold later and it seems that the ‘strand’ genre is here to stay. Witch Strandings, a new strand-like game from Strange Scaffold (El Paso, Elsewhere, An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs), is the latest game to centre around that premise of connecting people and places and it looks to be very promising. In this game you play as a strand of light that’s exploring a dark fantasy land that has been ravaged by a witch. Your aim is to find your way through this land, connecting allies and carrying resources to nurture transformed creatures to reach your overall goal: confront the Witch. A unique aspect of Witch Strandings is the way you’ll be traversing this world. Taken from the game’s Steam page: “Whether swiping your mouse quickly to move through raging rapids, or inching forward to avoid being swallowed by quicksand, a unique cursor control method makes your journey a physical experience“. The game launches on July 7th on PC via Steam. I think this might be a sleeper hit of 2022.
Endlight by Bigpants – July 2022
Of all the indie games on this list, Endlight is the most difficult to describe. When I played it at EGX last year, I described it as “a shifting, chaotic kaleidoscope of shapes and sound that I believe you experience rather than simply play”. In it, you fly through surreal landscapes aiming to thread the needle on target hoops. All the while, the surrounding visage will be twisting and shifting, like an acid trip in a geometry text book. It’s certainly something unique and there’s hints about something deeper here too. I’ve been waiting to dive back into Endlight since I got my hands on it a year ago. The game is scheduled to release sometime this month on PC via Steam.
Arcadegeddon by Illfonic – July 8th, 2022
The first self-published title from Illfonic, the developers behind Predator: Hunting Grounds and the upcoming Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, Arcadegeddon is a multiplayer title that blends PVP and PVE experiences while you attempt to save a beloved Arcade. A greedy corporate giant, Fun Fun Co., are attempting to take over Gilly’s arcade by infecting a metagame with a virus. It’s your job to fight back against this virus. Arcadegeddon looks to be fast and frenetic and will likely thrive if it finds the right audience. For PlayStation gamers, that’ll likely be much easier as this title is scheduled to be one of the indie games included with PlayStation Plus titles for July 2022. The game is also launching on PC via Epic Games Store. Make sure to check it out.
As you can tell from this list, July 2022 is shaping up to be an incredibly promising one for indie games. Have we missed a game on your radar? Is there an indie game you want to bring to our attention? Hit up the comments section.
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