June is always a huge month for the gaming industry regardless of the actual games coming out. Even without E3, June 2022 will be no exception, as Microsoft and Sony have already announced showcases, The Game Award's Summer Game Fest will return for a third year, and Nintendo is likely to announce a mid-June Direct in the coming weeks.
The following weeks are sure to be filled with exciting announcements, but even beyond those, there are a variety of exciting games coming to all platforms. While the last two months have been fairly quiet and marked more by delays than new releases, June is turning things around with a variety of indie and AAA games launching soon.
Card Shark
Releasing June 2 for PC and Nintendo Switch
Published by Devolver Digital, Card Shark looks to be a unique game where players enter a stylish version of 18th-century France based on rococo and baroque art. Gameplay consists of playing cards and using tricks to win what would otherwise be games of chance to gain money and information. While CBR's preview criticized Card Shark's early demo for story and gameplay issues, it will be interesting to see if the final product addresses any of the game's issues.
Mario Strikers: Battle League
Releasing June 10 for Nintendo Switch
The latest entry in the Mario sports franchise is Mario Strikers: Battle League, which brings Nintendo's beloved mascot back onto the pitch for the first time since the Wii era. In it, players can pick from a roster of Mario characters to compete in five-on-five matches, with each having their own strengths, weaknesses, and stats. Like other Mario sports games, Battle League combines traditional elements of soccer with chaotic and quirky elements like banana peels that further separate the gameplay from that of traditional soccer sims.
The Quarry
Releasing June 10 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
In this interactive drama survival-horror game, players will take control of nine teenagers spending a night at Hackett's Quarry while being hunted by locals and a mysterious creature. Depending on the player's choices, The Quarry's story and outcome will change, with each character potentially dying in a variety of ways. It also promotes subsequent replays with collectible cards depicting the characters' potential fates and a Death Rewind feature that allows players to undo three character deaths in later playthroughs (a feature those who preorder the game can use from the start). Perhaps most interestingly, though, is The Quarry's Movie Mode, which allows players to skip gameplay elements like shooting and quick-time events altogether.
Fall Guys
Releasing June 21 for PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch
Though Fall Guys has been around for nearly two years now, the game is receiving some major ports and changes this month that will, hopefully, give the battle royale the second wind it's needed for a while now. In addition to the long-awaited next-gen versions and ports, the game is going free-to-play and will support cross-platform play, making it easier than ever to jump in and enjoy with friends. Fall Guys pits players against one another in a variety of mini-games where they must try and survive, with the last players standing being crowned the winner.
Sonic Origins
Releasing June 23 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch
Fans of Sonic the Hedgehog will want to check out Sonic Origins, which brings Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles to modern consoles with some twists. In addition to original games, Origins adds new formats, modes, and missions that allow players to experience these classic games in new ways. While the collection has received some criticism for its confusing DLC and Sega's decision to delist the games included from digital storefronts, Sonic Origins itself is sure to delight those who played the games back in the day, as well as newer fans who want to see where the Blue Blur started.
Capcom Fighting Collection
Releasing June 24 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch
Another compilation of classic titles, Capcom Fighting Collection is giving fans the perfect opportunity to revisit or try out a mix of popular and overlooked titles. The collection bundles 10 games: Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge, Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire, Vampire Hunter 2: Darkstalkers' Revenge, Vampire Savior 2: The Lord of Vampire, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix, Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness, Red Earth, and Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition. This marks the first time the entire Darkstalkers series is available outside of Japan, as well as the first time Red Earth is playable outside of arcades.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Releasing June 24 for Nintendo Switch
Nintendo surprised fans during its February Direct by announcing a follow-up to both 2017's Fire Emblem Warriors and 2019's Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Three Hopes is set to tell a new story on the continent of Fódlan, this time using Dynasty Warriors-style hack-and-slash gameplay in place of the series' traditional turn-based strategy. The game will focus on Shez, a new protagonist who sides with one of the three house leaders to oppose Three Houses protagonist Byleth. Between the new designs for most returning characters (including the house leaders and all students) and different routes, Three Hopes is sure to provide a lot of story and gameplay for fans of the long-running series.
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
Releasing June 30 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
It's been several years since Cuphead's DLC was announced, but after several delays related to development needs and the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is finally releasing soon. With it, the notoriously difficult run-and-gun shooter will gain a new storyline, levels, weapons, charms, and (most importantly) a new playable character: Ms. Chalice. The Cuphead franchise has come a long way since its humble indie game origins, and this DLC looks to be a great celebration of where it all began.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Releasing June 30 for PC and Nintendo Switch
A year after Monster Hunter Rise's launch on Nintendo Switch and several months after its PC port, the game is getting its first paid-DLC expansion. Sunbreak will add variety of new monsters and features, from Western-inspired creatures to the Switch Skill Swap mechanic. Rise has been huge for Capcom and the Monster Hunter franchise, continuing to grow the once-niche series into a mainstream success, and Sunbreak looks set to revive interest in the game, bringing back fans that may have moved on or gone back to Monster Hunter World.