Summer is upon us (according to some definitions, at least), and so the temptation to leave your gaming consoles behind and go outside might be strong.
When it comes to the gaming calendar, June is traditionally not a month during which big releases grace our shelves, and that’s certainly the case this year, too.
Even still, you’ll find plenty of electronic entertainment to keep you occupied this June if you’re not the sort to seek the sun and warmth of the outdoors.
Here are the best games heading your way across all systems in June 2024!
Destiny 2: The Final Shape (PC, PlayStation, Xbox – June 4th)
If you’re a Destiny 2 player, you’re probably already excited for the next instalment in this ongoing looter-shooter saga, and it’s landing in early June.
This expansion promises the ability to combine different elements into your own subclass, allowing you greater control over what you want your Guardian to be.
Of course, a new campaign is also waiting for you to uncover it, as well as new areas, new powers, and lots more. It wouldn’t be a Destiny 2 expansion without all of this, now would it?
Whether or not this one undoes the rather lukewarm reception to previous expansion Lightfall remains to be seen, but it should provide a good talking point for Bungie aficionados nonetheless.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S – June 4th)
As bizarre and outlandish as this sounds, it’s real, and it’s finally being released for PC and current-generation consoles on the same day as the new Destiny 2 expansion drops.
Much like games like Dead by Daylight or Friday the 13th, Killer Klowns is an asymmetric horror game in which players take the role of either the titular clowns or the humans trying to survive their onslaught.
The Klowns possess crazy weapons and abilities, and you’ll have to use them if you want to secure your quarry, especially since the humans will be hunting for all of the tools and weapons they can find.
It’s a strange idea for a game, but we’re in Killer Klowns’ corner (or perhaps that should be “korner”) just because of how weird it is.
V Rising (PlayStation 5 – June 11th)
V Rising is already available on PC (having spent a couple of years in Early Access before being released in May), but it’s coming to PlayStation 5 in June.
If you’ve played V Rising on PC, then you’ll already know what you’re in for on PlayStation 5; a vampire-themed survival game that has you building bases and challenging vampire lords for supremacy.
The console version promises some extra DualSense loveliness thanks to the haptic feedback function of the PS5’s controller, so it’s set to be extra-immersive.
If you haven’t checked this one out yet, then the PS5 seems like the perfect environment in which to do so.
Still Wakes the Deep (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S – June 18th)
The Chinese Room is a somewhat controversial developer. Those who like the studio’s output say its games are peerless narrative adventures, while detractors claim they’re barely interactive “walking simulators”.
If you’re in the latter camp, Still Wakes the Deep is unlikely to convert you, but those in the former camp will likely find a terrifying (if somewhat uninteractive) horror adventure to uncover.
Still Wakes the Deep won’t offer any brain-bending puzzles or frenetic combat, but it will likely boast masterfully-built atmosphere and a compelling story.
It’ll be releasing on Xbox Game Pass on day one as well, so if you’re not feeling up to buying Still Wakes the Deep, you can take a look at it via your subscription.
Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch – June 21st)
The original Shin Megami Tensei V was released exclusively for Switch back in late 2021 and garnered broadly positive reviews, which meant that an expanded re-release was pretty much an inevitability.
Lo and behold, that’s exactly what Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance represents; it’s a bigger, more beautiful version of Shin Megami Tensei V that packs in extra content and that will be available across other platforms.
You can choose to play through the original SMT V campaign if you like, but there’s also an additional route with extra changes that you can embark on if you prefer.
Add to that all of the DLC that was released for the original game, plus some new gameplay mechanics and quality of life features, and this is looking like the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (PC, PlayStation, Xbox – June 21st)
Perhaps the reason that June is looking particularly clear this year has to do with the release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, a major expansion for From Software’s excellent 2022 open-world adventure.
Shadow of the Erdtree takes players to the Land of Shadow, an area beset by the flame of a figure known as Messmer, in order to search for Miquella.
This being Elden Ring, the story and its implications probably won’t become clear until repeated playthroughs and archaeological expeditions by the community, but we’ll definitely be getting new bosses, new build options, and more.
If you loved Elden Ring, then Shadow of the Erdtree looks like it’s pretty much going to be a no-brainer, so you’d better clear your schedule for late June and most of July.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD (Nintendo Switch – June 27th)
It’s always nice to see a game escaping the 3DS exclusivity prison, especially since it’s technically no longer possible to buy non-used 3DS games.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 makes the jump from 3DS to Switch on June 27th, complete with updated visuals, refined gameplay mechanics, and the multiplayer mode that delighted in the original release.
Hopefully, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD finds some success on Switch and leads to re-releases for other forgotten Switch classics; after all, it’s crazy that mainline Zelda, Mario, and Metroid games, among others, are no longer playable in any form on modern hardware.
