Hopefully golfing and Legos can fill in for the lack of No Man's Sky.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way: No Man’s Sky has been pushed back. What should have been the crown jewel in June’s release schedule is now set for August. So if you had completely ignored the rest of June because you imagined you’d be flying around distant galaxies right about now, let us show you the rest of the field in what should still be a compelling mix of titles across the console and PC spectrum. Also, the last game on this list might still scratch your intergalactic itch, so keep reading for the best games to play in June!
Dangerous Golf
Starting with the most bizarre release of the month (and maybe the year), we have an all-new golfing game from the team that brought you Burnout. But instead of carefully choosing your club or licking your fingers in order to check the wind direction, you are asked to simply smack the hell out of a golf ball while indoors. Points are earned by breaking as much stuff as virtually possible, aided by some of that sweet aftertouch tech borrowed from the Burnout series. What looks thin on paper actually has a surprising amount of depth and replayability, as each level is sort of like a mission in Hitman, whereby there are multiple paths you can take to reach the same conclusion, giving you plenty of reason to go back again and again.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Remember Mirror's’ Edge? It’s OK if you don't, as the original came out eight years ago and – for those that didn’t immediately get motion sick – the game left a tepid impression on the gaming world. Still, EA is squeezing blood out of this parkour turnip, moving the game’s linear structure into an open world, filled with more enemies, quests, and places to run and jump. Running and jumping (and rolling and falling to your death) are still the main ways to get around in this crazy futuristic world, but now you are some sort of hero that the world depends on. Who knows? While the game has a lot to prove, it still looks gorgeous, and the world EA DICE has built is a compelling dystopia worth checking out.
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
Japanese role playing games are having a bit of a resurgence, with both Persona and Final Fantasy set to launch new entries by the end of the year. But if you’re looking for something a little different and with a bit more action, check out the HD remake of Odin Sphere, subtitled “Leifthrasir.” Don’t let the cutesy graphics and flashy colors deter you, as the always-deep gameplay and sometimes-challenging platforming are both well-tuned. There is a fun combo system and plenty of stats to manage, if you’re into spending time in menus and reading text between your battles. This one definitely isn’t for everyone, but for those that have never heard of the original or miss the golden era of PlayStation RPGs, this should be on your radar.
Umbrella Corps
Capcom has tried this before. Sticking Resident Evil in a genre it doesn’t quite fit into has proved costly, with bad titles like Dead Aim and Outbreak poisoning what was already an oddly unbalanced lineage. Still, the team at Capcom believes that a squad-based third-person shooter is exactly what the franchise needs and is going to deliver something pretty unique this month. It’s a player-vs-player deathmatch game with a fun twist: zombies rage in every game. So while you’re dealing with the humans that want to kill you, there will be plenty of zombies that also want to kill you. Some cool gadgets allow you to turn the zombies on your enemies while traversing the map, or even turn them into meat shields to absorb a few blows. Also, there will not be a single-player campaign, so make sure your friends are on board before you pick it up.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
It wouldn’t be a financial quarter without a new Lego game, and this time they are returning to the Star Wars universe. The Force Awakens is getting the blocky treatment, with the beloved style of humor and hijinks the series is now known for. But rolling around as BB-8 does sound kind of fun, and there is a new cover system for the shooting aspects of the game, so that’s a nice upgrade. Yes, there will most certainly be a Lego game for every Star Wars movie from here until eternity, and while you can wait for the inevitable Star Wars Trilogy that will wrap up episodes seven, eight, and nine, children cannot. The Lego series continues to work in all the right ways, game after game, so this one might end up being the best in the franchise come June 28th.