Every month, it seems like rumours that the PS4 will be discontinued swirl ever more violently. Despite the fact that Sony hasn’t announced anything officially, and has projected that its revenue won’t mainly consist of PS5 games until 2025, people continue to predict the PS4’s demise with increasing certainty.
Of course, we know better; the PS4 is still very much going strong, and although July 2023 isn’t promising to be the last-gen console’s best month for releases, there’s still plenty to sink your teeth into, especially if you’re a fan of smaller or more niche releases. Here are the best PS4 games you can play in July 2023.
Gimmick! Special Edition (July 6th)
Do you remember Gimmick!? If not, you’re not alone – it was never actually released in the West (apart from a strange and brief run in Scandinavia in 1993), so this remaster will likely be the first chance you’ve had to experience this slice of NES history. Gimmick! is an adorable platformer starring the world’s cutest protagonist, who can create stars that serve as both weapons and platforms. What follows is a creative platforming odyssey that will take all of your brainpower to complete.
Gylt (July 6th)
If Google Stadia is a sinking ship (which it very much is, given that it was discontinued earlier this year), then it’s time for developers and publishers to start jumping onto life rafts, here represented by other platforms. Gylt, an intriguing survival horror revolving around childhood guilt (see what they did there?), is heading to PS4 in July, so you’ll be able to check this one out if the Stadia revolution somehow passed you by.
Scarf (July 6th)
Having previously been PC-exclusive, the whimsical adventure Scarf is heading to PS4 on July 6th, and it looks pretty darn cute. If you’re a fan of games like Rime and Journey, as well as the works of Team Ico, you’ll probably want to give this one a look. It’s got everything you love from those games; a protagonist with a distinctive garment, lots of ancient ruins to explore, and an oblique narrative that unfolds as you play.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie (July 7th)
The PlayStation console line has always been excellent for those who want to enjoy high-quality JRPGs, and that reputation is being further upheld by the arrival of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie in July. If you’ve been religiously following the Trails of Cold Steel games, then you’ll probably already know that you want to play this one, but if not, it’s definitely worth heading back and checking those out before you get into this.
Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals (July 12th)
Oxenfree 2 belongs to a rather curious genre, which is to say narrative adventure games that place much more of an emphasis on character and story than they do on gameplay. You may not find too many head-scratching puzzles or taxing platforming sections here, but you will find a rich story that unfolds as you explore the mysterious town of Camena, trying to discover the source of radio interference (spoiler: it’s probably supernatural).
Exoprimal (July 14th)
Although Exoprimal’s PlayStation Store page lists it exclusively for PS5, the release date trailer on the PlayStation YouTube channel specifically lists a release for PS4 as well, which means you’ll definitely get to play Capcom’s dino-slaying mech suit game on Sony’s last-gen console. This one looks like it could be a lot of fun, but it’ll have to avoid the pitfalls of a public sceptical towards live-service games and a slew of recent failures in that very business model.
WWE 2K23: Revel with Wyatt DLC pack (July 19th)
Okay, okay, so this isn’t actually a full game release; it’s a DLC pack bringing more Superstars to WWE 2K23. Still, this was a well-received wrestling game that appears to be continuing 2K’s redemption arc, so why not spotlight some of its extra content? Superstars on their way to the game with this pack include Bray Wyatt (naturally), Joe Gacy, and Blair Davenport, as well as Zeus and Valhalla.
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening (July 20th)
If the Nobunaga’s Ambition series has passed you by up until this point, then Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening should be the perfect way to experience it. Mixing larger-scale strategic decision-making with moment-to-moment tactical battles, Nobunaga’s Ambition puts you in the shoes of Oda Nobunaga, who famously unified Japan and dissolved the Ashikaga Shogunate in the 16th century.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series (July 27th)
The first episode of Telltale’s new series drops on July 27th, and it’s fair to say that the feeling in the air is one of anticipation mixed with dread. Telltale’s track record isn’t exactly spotless, but there’s a lot of hope that after management shifts and a refocusing of project priorities, The Expanse could represent real sea change for Telltale. Let’s hope so, because when this studio is at its best, it tells some of the most electrifying stories around.
F1 Manager 2023 (July 31st)
Few games do exactly what they say on the tin quite like F1 Manager 2023. As the name suggests, you’ll get to play the role of a Formula One manager, overseeing every element of your team to make sure it’s successful both on and off the track. New additions include the Race Replay feature, which lets you revisit moments from the 2023 season and try to rewrite them, as well as lots of smaller tweaks to systems and mechanics.