Upcoming Indie Games Releasing in July 2026
- Narukoopa
- Jun 24
- 8 min read
I did it on time! After publishing June’s upcoming indies article nearly two weeks into June, I was determined to not make a similar mistake again. I have, however, managed to double my workload.
There are a lot of cool indie games releasing in July. Like, a lot. Seriously, it’s insane. When drafting the June article I ended up with seven games initially. This time around I started with twenty three.
As you can imagine, trying to cut that down into five was extremely difficult, but it also felt painfully unfair because loads of these games deserved their own showcase. So I’ve decided to do something different for July.
What you are about to read is part 1 of my upcoming indies entry for July. This article covers games releasing in the first half of the month, with part 2 going over the second half. That way I can show you guys more really cool indie games while also being reasonable with myself and my workload.
I’ve also made this list a lot more varied than last month, since that one was basically all just cosy games. This list is a bit more action-packed, with a couple of interesting oddballs thrown into the mix. I hope you enjoy it!
Cosmodrill
Cosmodrill is a 2D sci-fi game that sees you teleported to an unknown star system filled with mysterious artifacts, alien creatures and spacefaring pirates. Upon arrival you come across emergency signals originating from nearby space stations, and it is up to you to investigate these signals.
Doing so is no straightforward endeavour, as in order to reach these far-out places, you must upgrade your ship. Well, technically your ship is a massive drill, capable of drilling into asteroids, as well as planets. This is actually a major part of the gameplay loop, as in order to progress you need to dig. Digging garners you the resources needed to acquire upgrades that will allow you to travel further and drill deeper.
Judging from footage, digging into planets looks incredibly satisfying. Despite that, you can find all manner of things deep underground. Resources and minerals to improve your craft, lava and other hazardous environments, alien structures, and space worms which will chase you out of the planet.
Throughout the cosmos you have asteroid fields, some of which are conjoined by electrically charged plasma, black holes which are as imposing as they imply, and space stations that are currently taken over by pirates. Combat is another aspect of Cosmodrill’s gameplay loop, and it consists of drilling into your enemies until they explode. Very nice.
The further you progress, the more challenging things become, as planets turn out more dangerous and enemies become more threatening, which is why upgrading and collecting as many resources as possible are important.
Overall it looks like a very entertaining experience that has a noticeable retro arcade feel to it. Altogether there are five biomes to explore, and given the variety of gameplay features on offer, it looks like something that can easily keep you occupied for a few hours. It releases on Steam on the 6th of July.
Backyard Baseball
Backyard Baseball is an arcade sports game belonging to a franchise that is actually nearly 30 years old now. This new entry is a return for the series, one that features upgraded gameplay, visuals and new game modes, while still retaining the humour and charm that made it popular in its heyday.
I will admit, I am not familiar with this series; in fact I have never heard of it, but it was very popular. Very much a kids game made by the people who made classics like Putt-Putt and Freddi Fish - those I do know and played extensively when I was a kid.
In terms of what kind of game it is… it’s baseball, hence the name. Only it centres around a group of kids playing in the backyard of a house. There are different modes you can play that spice things up, some of which are new, and also power ups that provide a twist in how the game is played.
Backyard Baseball presents itself as a highly accessible experience thanks to its accessibility options and varied game modes that provide something for every kind of player. If you have no clue how to play baseball, that won’t matter here, whereas if you are an expert and are looking for a challenge, this game will be able to provide that too.
There’s online multiplayer as well, including local split screen, and the developers have made it clear that there won’t be any microtransactions in any aspect of the game. All that’s promised is a reimagined entry to the series that respects what came before it.
I realise how artificial I might sound talking about this game, and that is because I know nothing of this series, so I do apologise for that. Despite that, I can imagine how happy people who played this when they were children must be feeling right now.
Even I can tell this looks like a love letter, and I can see the boatload of charm that radiates from it by just looking at the screenshots. This one comes out on Steam on the 9th of July, with versions for Xbox, PS5 and Switch coming later this Summer.
Something to Drink?
You know how there is a simulator for everything? Well, every time I make that statement it becomes more and more true. Introducing Something to Drink? A bartender simulator. You make drinks for your local patrons and learn about who they are and what makes them tick.
There is quite a bit of depth to it, however. Let's start with the drinks. Bartending is not a simple case of pouring vodka into a glass and calling it a day; though some people might want just that. Making drinks is a fine art. Creating the right blend of mixes and crafting the perfect drink that’ll satisfy the customer’s needs.
I’m making it sound more pompous than it actually is. The game’s challenge stems from filling out complex orders. Customers will have a specific drink in mind, and it’s up to you to figure out how to make it. Think of it as conjuring the right potion. It’s basically alchemy.
Outside of drinks you will be interacting with your guests, and these can range from ordinary people, to those with difficult circumstances, as well as the arrogant customers who are there to cause a scene. It’s your bar, so you have to handle whatever situation comes your way.
Making choices and diffusing tense situations are just some of the things you will be doing in this game, and sometimes events will be thrown at you that need to be dealt with at a moment’s notice. You are basically both bartender and security guard.
Nevertheless, Something to Drink has plenty of layers to it that earn it a spot on this list. The pixelated art style gives it a timeless feel, and there is a wide selection of drinks to choose from, so I can only imagine just how varied and complex drink orders can become. This one will be arriving on Steam on the 13th of July.
Ascend to ZERO
Rogue-likes are becoming more and more popular as the years go by, and nowhere is this more true than in the indie scene. Because of how saturated the market is for this type of game, it can be difficult making something that stands out in the sea of rogue-likes.
Ascend to ZERO, however, might have what it takes. Taking place in a futuristic sci-fi world under threat, you play as Chrono Child, the last human on Earth who also has the ability to manipulate time. This unique skill is an important part of what makes you special, and it serves an important role in how the game plays.
On each run you are on a timer, and if that timer runs out, you will fail. Freezing time serves two purposes: stopping that failure from happening, and engaging in combat. Like any other rogue-like, you must always be on your toes, as taking even a small bit of damage can have a major impact on your performance.
Which is why being able to freeze time makes for an interesting twist in the formula. Feeling cornered? No worries, just freeze time, zoom around behind the group of enemies and surprise them. It’s a much more interesting idea for dodging enemies than having a simple ‘dash’ mechanic.
You are given multiple options in how you fight enemies, both in regards to skills and also weapons. Whether you want to go guns blazing and shoot all your enemies from afar, or go up close and personal with a sword and slash them to pieces, you are given plenty of freedom. Throw time manipulation into the mix and you have a promising game in your hands.
I will be honest and say that there isn’t a whole lot of information around for Ascend to ZERO. The store page is a bit barebones and the trailers’ main focus is the fast-paced action, which, granted, looks pretty awesome. Visually the game looks very charming as well.
If we want to learn more, I suppose we’ll just have to experience it for ourselves. This one will be available on PC on the 13th of July.
Flux Empyrean
I’ll admit, this one is pretty strange, and it’s hard to tell what kind of game it is supposed to be, but after watching the trailer for it, I just had to include it. Flux Empyrean is a surrealist take on the end of the world. You play as the last human, waking up on a boat in the middle of the sea trying to make sense of everything around you.
It is a game about learning. Uncovering pieces of the past and exploring remnants of forgotten civilisations, Flux Empyrean is a game about mystery and discovery. In some ways it takes notes from titles such as Talos Principle, just without the very complex puzzles.
Here, however, you are given a lot of freedom to go at your own pace. Whichever direction you choose to sail in is up to you. Knowing how to sail and not get lost is difficult, so you must learn to use the constellations to guide you across the sea.
Throughout the world you will find all kinds of places of interest, each containing notes or records of conversations from a bygone era. Uncovering the past is a puzzle in and of itself, and it’s something that is integral to experience as a whole. One discovery might grant you more context for something you found previously, and it’s up to you to piece it all together.
There is no handholding in Flux Empyrean. No stated objectives or arrows telling you where to go. How much you end up enjoying it will be entirely dependent on how much you are willing to invest in it, but the game promises that that investment is worth it.
This type of game is right up my alley. It looks relaxing, but also incredibly thought-provoking at the same time. We need more experimental games like this, and I can’t wait to give it a go when it releases on the 14th of July on PC.
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