Video game releases for July 2016

Below are some of the big video game releases for the month of July 2016. Be sure to check out the list we put together of our most anticipated games of 2016 and 25 games for the summer of 2016. Here are the free games you get with your Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus subscriptions for the month of July.

What are you looking forward to playing? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

Note: Only games with specific dates are listed below. Some games are announced for July but have no firm release date.

July 1:

The Banner Saga 2 (Xbox One) — Unlike the first game, console players will not have to wait two years to play this sequel, which was released on PC earlier this year. Developer Stoic Studios plans on the third entry releasing on all platforms simultaneously. Both games have been well received critically; Polygon scored The Banner Saga 2 an 8, calling it "a well crafted, gut-wrenching tale." The PlayStation 4 version of the game will be released on July 5.

July 12:

7th Dragon III Code: VFD (Nintendo 3DS) — The sequel to the Japan-only role-playing game 7th Dragon 2020-II is making its way to North America with time travel and dragons, who doesn't love that? Players will explore numerous dungeons across three time periods, the mythical kingdom of Atlantis, futuristic capital of the land of Eden and present-day Tokyo.

Ghostbusters (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — Brought to you by California-based FireForge Games, Ghostbusters will feature an all-new cast, but not the cast from the new movie premiering on July 15.

Read our review.

Necropolis (Windows PC) — "A diabolical dungeon delve" is the tagline for the Dark Souls-inspired third-person rougelike. Check out the trailer and read Mike McCain's elevator pitch for the game. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game have a tentative summer 2016 release date.

Read our review.

Song of the Deep (PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC) — "Throughout development we've tried to create moments of awe-inducing wonder," said Brian Hastings, chief creative officer at Insomniac Games. Song of the Deep is a side-scrolling, undersea adventure rooted in Irish mythology. It stars Merryn, the daughter of a fisherman who goes missing at sea. In an attempt to find her father, she constructs a makeshift submarine and journeys to the deep to find him. It's the first game to be published by GameStop, which is expanding its efforts to bring titles from independent studios to retail. The physical release of the game will only be available at GameStop.

Read our review.

Videoball (Linux, Mac, PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — "It's sort of like an episode of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares," said Tim Rogers on his studio's approach to Videoball.

Read our review.

July 15:

Monster Hunter Generations (Nintendo 3DS) — You can hunt some monsters with up to four friends in the demo, available June 30. Here is 10 minutes of gameplay and an explanation of the two new combat additions, style and hunter arts.

Read our review.

July 19:

I Am Setsuna (PlayStation 4 and Windows PC) — Inspired by Chrono Trigger and other classic Squaresoft role-playing games, I Am Setsuna is developed by new studio Tokyo RPG Factory. The winter-set RPG features a battle system similar to older Final Fantasy games, several dungeons to explore and tons of villagers to befriend. Check out the E3 2016 trailer.

July 26:

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force (PlayStation 4) — Much like you, I was disappointed to find out this was not the long-awaited sequel to Advent Rising. The game, which features a score by Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, is an expanded remaster of Compile Heart's turn-based role-playing game Fairy Fencer F. The story follows a young protagonist named Fang who pulls an ancient weapon from a stone and becomes a warrior — you know, like you do. We'll get that Advent Rising sequel some day, we just have to believe.

Update: The Banner Saga 2 has been moved up to July 1 on Xbox One and July 5 on PlayStation 4. We've edited the article to reflect this.

Polygon Video: The most anticipated games of 2016

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