a lot of video games comes out every month. If you see the game release calendar a thwap with the old broom a few huge AAA games would probably fall to the floor like anvils. They would raise a cloud overshadowing the arrival of smaller games – potentially great ones even from developers you may have heard of and new indie creators. Like some that might end up on your GOTY list.
We don’t want to pass up on these games (and you’d probably love to know more about them, wouldn’t you?), so each month we’ll be rounding up a handful of notable game launches you should know about. Stay tuned towards the end of each month for our next series of video game deep cuts.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective will be re-released this month on consoles and PC, news that still fills me with joy. In case you haven’t heard of this game until now, it’s a gem that originally launched in North America in 2011 for the Nintendo DS and in 2012 for iOS. While originally made for touchscreens, the HD remaster has been adapted for controllers. Funny detail: this cartoony animated game runs on the RE Engine, the same one that powers graphical powerhouses full of lifelike visuals, such as Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 redo.
For lovers of Phoenix Wright: Ace lawyer, the shared DNA is clear; after all, they share the same director and composer, and I can assure you that the writing style is funny and the tunes catchy. However, the starting point couldn’t be more different. You play as a ghost who, in order to prevent terrible things from happening, can possess everyday objects to cause a distraction. These are undoubtedly high stakes scenarios, but it’s a pretty chill game to play. Can’t wait to dive back in, though I’m buying it in part to listen to the soundtrack.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective‘s HD remaster launches on June 30 Nintendo switch, Playstation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. There is a free demo to play on every platform.
Crime Hour
Crime Hour is an ambitious puzzle game for Nintendo Switch and PC. As the title suggests, you solve crimes and time plays a major role. And by time I mean time travel of course. To solve some cases, you have to visit different eras to change the course of events in the past, present or future.
That premise is not entirely original in itself, but the package for Crime Hour really stands out. It uses color sparingly and relies on its high-contrast visual style to emphasize clues – a smart design choice, as you’ll be looking for hidden objects. I’m not going to lie, I love the monotonous newspaper-like look of each era’s map. And big props to the performers, who packed So lots of detail in each card.
Crime Hour launches on June 30 on Nintendo Switch in digital form, with a physical edition will be coming to GameStop at a later date. The game debuts on Windows PC on July 21.
Killer frequency
Killer frequency is both a clever twist on the ’80s slasher formula and a tribute. In this first-person experience, you play as a radio host for a call-in show whose callers all have the same problem: someone is out to kill them. Yes, one by one, apparently.
Your job, to help them escape death, is way above your salary scale. Nevertheless, you must be resourceful and use clues scattered around the radio station to help them escape death and thwart the killer’s plans. For each caller, you make dialogue choices and hold them on the line hoping they get away. Judging by the looks of the trailer, things don’t always end well.
Killer frequency is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X; in VR for the Meta quest 2 and QuestPro; and further Nintendo switch (which oddly costs $10 more than the other versions).
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code
From the minds behind whodunit murder mystery visual novel Danganronpa and Spike Chunsoft (who is responsible for many other cult hits) is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch Master Detective Archives: Rain Code.
You are part of the WDO, the World Detective Organization, a sleazy gang whose mission is to eradicate mysteries. Yes, screw mysteries! In this visual novel with hidden object elements, you will search for clues and use each character’s “forensic powers” to solve cases. Apparently the WCO is an “extra privileged” organization, but some of the characters don’t know why they are in it. For some reason I feel like the WDO can create more mysteries than it can solve in one game. Bonus reason for my excitement: voice actor SungWon Cho (aka ProZD) lent his voice one of the detectives“Number one.”
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code will launch on June 30 Nintendo switch.
Dordogne
Dordogne is a place in France, I recently learned. It is also the name of a beautiful looking game published by Focus Entertainment and developed by studios Umanimation and Un Je Ne Sais Quoi. Dordogne (the game) came out earlier this month for every modern console, including PC. For Xbox Game Pass subscribers, it’s available on that service for free.
I think it’ll be hard to find anyone who doesn’t find his 3D-meets-watercolor art style appealing, but luckily there seems to be a lot more to this than just visual panache. It tells the charming story of a girl who revisits the Dordogne, where she spent time as a child with her grandmother, who is presumed dead. There she sadly realises: she is losing grip on her precious memories; the places she traveled to and the things she did with her grandmother no longer resonate in the same way. You’ll have to find a way to get them back.
Dordogne is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
Pekoe
Cats. Teahouses. Cats who own teahouses. Cats who have teahouses and make tea for other cats. Cats that have teahouses that make tea for other cats that drink tea and chat while you make their drinks.
I just cheekily described part of the gameplay loop of Pekoe, a charming game that wears its Animal Crossing inspiration proudly and loudly. It is launched via Steam early access later in June, and the trailer may have already sold you. You can create your cozy tea house the way you want, and improve your craft as a tea maker to make all your feline customers happy. There’s not a bad vibe to be seen within 100 miles of this game’s chill setting.
There’s no better way to describe this game than healthy. If that’s up your alley, there are a ton of other games you might like to check out from the recent ones Healthy instantlya showcase of indie games.