June is set to be dominated by the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, which arrives alongside a flood of re-releases, remasters, and more. And while that’s undoubtedly going to grab most of the spotlight, plenty of us won’t be jumping aboard just yet; mostly because, let’s be honest, it’s not exactly cheap.
That’s where we come in. As always, we’re here to highlight some of the coolest indie games hitting digital shelves this month. It’s a mixed bunch, but we’ve dug up some genuinely intriguing titles worth your time. Strangely enough, a couple of them are even tied to major film franchises, which is a rare and welcome twist. Let’s dive in.
Midnight Mayhem – 3rd June
Midnight Mayhem has you and a bunch of other survivors trying to get through the night as an invisible monster hunts you down. The good news is that the monster is controlled by another player; the bad news is that the monster constantly gets new abilities, so you never know what you need to defend against. It seems like pure chaos and fear, and we’re totally here for it.
Ultra Mega Cats – 3rd June
Ultra Mega Cats seems to be aiming to be Risk of Rain meets cats. That means it’s a third-person shooter where you get to choose from multiple different cats, shoot a lot of things to try and survive, and overcome the evils in the world. Actually, you’re trying to break out of jail in this one, so that’s a nice change of space. The game looks cool, and there is also a demo available now!
Dune: Awakening – 10th June
Dune: Awakening is a massive multiplayer survival game set on the harsh, iconic desert world of Arrakis – the legendary backdrop of Dune. You’ll need to scavenge resources, build futuristic space buildings, and navigate the ever-shifting sands. You will also need to figure out how to navigate faction dynamics, form alliances with other players, and avoid the massive sandworms, too.
Tron: Catalyst – 17th June
Tron: Catalyst is the next game from Bithell Games, the team behind incredible story-based puzzle games like Thomas Was Alone and John Wick: Hex. Tron: Catalyst lets you enjoy a mix of story and action as you take control of Exo, a special program which wields the Glitch as a weapon. You’ll even get to muck about with Light Cycles.
Battle Train – 18th June
Battle Train is a roguelike deckbuilder where you’re in charge of a train (yes, a literal battle train) and it’s every bit as fun as it sounds. Set within the framework of a deadly game show, you’ll face off against eccentric hosts and rival contestants, all while trying to ensure your train is the last one rolling at the end of each round. It looks delightful and has a real “90s Saturday morning cartoon” kind of vibe.
Crown Gambit – 18th June
Crown Gambit is an interactive fiction game where you must try to find out who killed the king. It’s got a beautiful Grimdark art style that makes it look like a deeply twisted pop-up book, and it’s all about trying to make the right decisions and survive through not only the politics of it all, but also some card fights as well.
Outrider Mako – 23rd June
Finally, there’s Outrider Mako, a 2D action game where you take down enemies by jumping on them and explore the mysterious Mayoi World. This strange realm is packed with gods and monsters, and it’s your job to track down the items the gods desire and deliver them in charming little packages. It looks wonderfully odd and full of personality – we’ve got high hopes for this one.
