Upcoming Indie Games Releasing in July 2026 - Part 2
- Narukoopa
- Jul 14
- 7 min read
This is a continuation of the first Upcoming Indie Games article for July, containing five more games releasing in the second half of the month. Since there isn’t much need of an introduction here, I’ll save the waffling and just get straight into the games!
Link to part 1: https://narukoopa.wixsite.com/narukoopareviews/post/upcoming-indie-games-releasing-in-july-2026
D-topia
Starting with something very different, D-topia is a sci-fi puzzle game developed by Marumittu Games and published by Annapurna Interactive, who usually have a really good eye when it comes to unique indie games, so this one is very much on my radar.
You play as a residential facilitator, which is a fancy way of saying mechanic. You're a new employee assigned to The Utopia Project, an initiative set on creating a perfect utopia where everybody is happy and at peace.
A project such as this requires technical maintenance, which is where you come in. You are commissioned jobs that ensure the continued operation of the facility and keep the residents in their idyllic state.
This is where D-topia’s puzzles come into play, as each problem you need to fix has its own procedure that needs to take place in order to operate smoothly. Despite their nature, the game insists that it’s a relaxed, casual experience. They’re less complex challenges, but instead fun obstacles to overcome.
This doesn’t come across as a surprise because visually and tonally the game does come across as laid back. You are in a paradise after all. There’s cute gardens, majestic water ways and there’s a cat!
Beyond puzzles, there’s a story to be followed that, from the looks of things, looks to delve into the philosophical side of the spectrum. It asks an interesting question: if everyone is happy, how do you find your purpose?
When you’re sent on these jobs, you will meet the people who requested these fixes, and each one you meet has their own story. They might have personal issues that they might reveal to you, and you will be asked to give your opinion on them. What kinds of impacts will you have on these people?
It’s certainly an intriguing idea, and I look forward to seeing more of it. D-topia releases on the 14th of July on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.
Pimbolas
Now for something amusing, Pimbolas is something that I knew belonged in this article from the moment I saw it. It’s an arcade, table football game that sees you duking it out in a variety of stadiums against your friends or bots.
The emphasis is on an arcadey approach, however, as you can equip yourself with a wide array of power ups ranging from fireballs, to explosive bombs to planet balls. These are just three examples, there are loads on offer here.
Pimbolas is going all in on the fun and zany. Does it make any sense that they are playing in the arctic or on a beach? No, but does anyone care? Absolutely not, throw in some crabs and see what happens. Or drop a frozen ball that freezes players on contact, even though the whole point is to make contact with the ball.
Everything about it screams light-hearted charm. At the end of the day, it’s table football. It keeps you occupied for an hour or so. It’s a social activity. Pimbolas decides to take it to the next level and fully embraces its video gamey nature. You can even customise your players; they can be aliens, sunflowers, or fish.
I’m really excited for this one. It’s a shame that the multiplayer is only local, though. It would be nice if there were online multiplayer options as well. Nevertheless, it comes out on July 16th (my birthday mind you) on PC.
Lifted
Lifted is an indie take on the Tomb Raider/Uncharted experience mixed in with a bit of 80s nostalgia. It’s a comedic adventure game that sees Ari and his professor travelling through time in search of ‘the lost Tiara’.
It’s the professor’s idea - he wants to impress the woman he loves, so he solicits his student with the promise of extra credit. He does the thinking and planning, while Ari does the hard labour. Also in your company is Julius who is a chinchilla, because why not.
Your adventure takes you to many places, and each level is defined by a set time period. One such example is the Caribbean in 1712, which has you facing off pirates. Other levels include periods such as Ancient Egypt.
What stands out the most to me about Lifted is the presentation. As I said before, the game has a distinct 80s feel to it, and you can tell that from the trailer immediately. There’s a strong Back to the Future vibe, but with the gameplay akin to something like Tomb Raider, just without the shooting.
Lifted is primarily an adventure game that’s driven by its narrative. This means platforming elements with some environmental puzzles to solve, interspersed with intense sequences that rally up the pacing.
Visually it is very colourful, and you can tell it’s a game meant for younger audiences, but, because of its clear on-display inspirations, it has that broader appeal. It’s just a fun, grandiose adventure, one whose production seems notably high quality. Lifted releases on PC, PS5 and Nintendo Switch on the 22nd of July.
Gurei
Those looking for a bit of a challenge may very well be satisfied with this one. Gurei is a 2D action game centred around precise combat and epic boss fights. Yes I used the word epic unironically, writing is hard so please forgive me.
You play as Rei, a human spirit who is hellbent on defeating the Kami, mystical creatures who hold great power. It’s this power that Rei is searching for, as each boss fight you beat makes you a stronger force to be reckoned with.
This, however, is a double edged sword, as you aren’t the only one becoming more powerful. The Kami are already not to be trifled with, but the further you progress, the bigger of a threat they become.
Here is where the game gets interesting. You are given the freedom to approach these boss fights in any order you choose. There are a number of things to consider with this. As I mentioned before, each Kami you kill grants you a new ability, and that ability might be the exact thing you need to defeat the next one.
But they also get stronger after each fight, so if you left a specific one for last because you struggled with him before, now he’s going to be significantly harder to defeat. It’s a balancing act. Knowing what order of bosses to fight that works for you and your play style.
It’s a surprisingly complex system, and it’s what made Gurei stand out to me. It’s also gorgeous to look at. It may be mostly black and white, but when colour does appear it’s a beautiful contrast. The environments and characters are all inspired by Japanese mythology and it all looks fantastic.
There isn’t much detail on the story, other than that you are between the human and spirit worlds. There are characters you can interact with that provide their own commentary and unique personalities. Regardless, the setting looks really interesting, even if it’s not the core focus.
If this one stands out to you, you’ll be able to play it for yourself on the 23rd of July. Currently only available on PC, but hopefully there will be console ports soon.
My Infamous Dungeon
Now for something truly unique. My Infamous Dungeon is a rogue-like tower defense game that sees you playing as an evil overlord trying to take over the realm. Conquer towns throughout the overworld, steal treasure and upgrade your army while fighting the forces of good.
The core gameplay loop revolves around building a dungeon to take on Saint Million, the Hero King who will stop at nothing to defeat you. You must set up traps, hire all manner of creatures and utilise the two effectively to stop Saint Million in his tracks.
You are given complete control in when and how you wish to engage with him. Spending time coming up with powerful combinations, upgrading your monsters and building your dungeon in such a way to stand a chance against him are all essential aspects to consider.
Each run is different depending on what skills you obtain and in what way you design your dungeon. In between combat encounters you are extending your reach in the overworld, taking whatever resources you can find and increasing your notoriety.
It reminds me of Dungeon Keeper in some ways. It’s fully embracing the “It’s good to be bad” mantra, but in a way that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The visual aesthetic reflects its light-hearted nature through its cutesy character designs and bright colour scheme.
Speaking of designs, there are a wide variety of creatures at your disposal. You have wolves, dragons, snakes, spiders, skeletons, ghosts, and plenty more. These all come from their own clans that you can recruit. You’re an evil force that embraces diversity, and that’s cool! My Infamous Dungeon releases on the 28th of July for PC only.
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