It’s now a week into June and some of the biggest games of the month are already out of the gates. It’s going to be a busy month for gaming, with big reveals expected at several upcoming industry events. Summer Game Fest kicks off on June 8th, while the Xbox Games Showcase is set for June 11th. June’s heavy hitters include the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XVI, which includes real-time action-based combat for the first time in the series. Final Fantasy has so far maintained its turn-based traditions. While that may divide the series’ loyal fan base, Final Fantasy XVI still retains its deep lore, recurring characters, and epic scale. The game arrives on June 22nd as a timed exclusive on PS5.
Diablo IV, which is available now on all major platforms, also has a lot to live up to. The Diablo series has inspired countless quality dungeon RPGs over the years, but perhaps it’s gotten a little lost. With Diablo III looking like a shift in tone and tenor from the series’ roots, and Diablo Immortal leaving a bad taste in your mouth with its focus on microtransactions, the franchise’s fourth main entry has its work cut out for it.
Looks like the theme for June is sequels. Street Fighter 6 is also back, with its roster of famous fighters and a new story-focused World Tour mode. F1 23 was also released this month, to serve as a useful companion to the current Formula 1 world championship. But that’s not all – here are our picks for the eight greatest games for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox One. Series S/X and Nintendo Switch in June 2023.
street fighter 6
When: June 2
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Capcom’s latest title, Street Fighter 6 is finally here. The latest entry in the Street Fighter series features three game modes. Fighting Ground will pit you against opponents with a new Drive Gauge system for resource management, real-time commentary and three control options – Classic, Dynamic and Modern. You can also experience the single player story mode, World Tour, and explore the colorful world of Metro City.
If you want to fight other players, you can also head over to Battle Hub, one of the three game modes in Street Fighter 6. Battle Hub also features classic Capcom arcade titles and lets you meet and communicate with other players . . There is Street Fighter 6 DLC in the works, which means we’ll see new characters arrive in the coming months, including Rashid, AKI, Ed, and Akuma.
Diablo IV
When: June 6
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
As the never-ending war between High Heaven and Burning Hell rages on in Sanctuary, a hero rises from the ashes, hoping to save the lands from ruin. Choose from five main classes – Druid, Barbarian, Sorcerer, Rogue and Necromancer – and rebel against the rising evil that is Lilith, Queen of the Succubi, a horned demon who ushers in an age of darkness and misery. She explores dangerous dungeons and slays hordes of bloodthirsty minions, hoping to defeat world bosses and gain rare and beneficial items. Add it to your arsenal and evolve your playstyle over time to strike fear into sacrilegious foes. Summon the undead to do your bidding, transform into a bear to put an end to nuisances, or cast magical spells – they’re all devilishly fun!
The character creation screen lets you tinker with tons of variations, from eye color, tattoos, jewelry, head shape, accessories, hairstyle, and more – none of which are limited by the class you’ve chosen. Skill trees are a common place in RPGs these days, with Diablo IV offering plenty of passive, offensive, and defensive skills to choose from and gradually develop. Marking the first open-world Diablo game, Blizzard has massive plans that include multiple seasons, battle passes, and two expansions that are already in development.
Amnesia: The Bunker
When: June 6
Where: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Initially slated for May 23, Amnesia: The Bunker has been pushed back to June. The Amnesia series is known for delivering chills and thrills, and its slow, deliberate games are considered some of the scariest ever made. The series typically puts you in the shoes of a troubled, powerless protagonist, trying to survive with the bare minimum means available to him. In addition to deep, personal and scary stories, the scares come from the very grounded nature of the gameplay. But, Amnesia: The Bunker is taking a slightly different route this time around.
Set in a gruesome World War I bunker, the game, released on June 6, lets players use a variety of period-appropriate weapons and tools to navigate the titular bunker and survive the horrors within. Light is once again a key mechanic and her friend in the game, while darkness is her enemy. You play as a French soldier, Henri Clément, armed with a revolver and a dynamo flashlight, trying to find the exit. The developers at Frictional Games promised a lot of player action and possible playstyles, both of which affect the outcome of the game.
F1 23
When: June 16
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Codemasters have established themselves as masters of the racing genre and their long line of F1 games offer a consistently authentic flavor of Formula 1 racing. It’s therefore an easy bet to say that the sixteenth entry in the series, F1 23, will likely be worthy company. for the ongoing 2023 world championship.
This time around, the story mode, dubbed “Braking Point”, will be returning to the series after its debut in F1 2021. Some familiar characters from the mode also return. There are a number of changes to the driving mechanics and game interface, which will now mirror real-life F1 broadcasts. Of course, F1 23 is also adding new circuits to its already rich track roster, including the street circuit that winds through the iconic Las Vegas Strip just in time for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix scheduled for later this year.
Crash Team Rumble
When: June 20th
Where: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Crash Team Rumble is a highly anticipated game that brings together beloved characters from the iconic Crash Bandicoot franchise in one thrilling racing experience. In this action-packed kart racing game, players can choose from a diverse roster of characters including Crash, Coco, Cortex and a host of other fan favorites, each with their own unique abilities and personalities.
Characters are divided into three roles – Marker, Blocker and Booster. The 4v4 online multiplayer game will have you collecting Wumpa Fruit while also defending the opposing team’s drop zone. The first team to reach the target score wins. Simple enough. But with some new rules, the game promises to offer a unique multiplayer experience. The Activision-published game won’t have a story mode of any kind, developer Toys for Bob previously confirmed.
Aliens: Dark Descent
When: June 20th
Where: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Developed by French studio Tindalos Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment, you’ll see Xenomorphs like Facehuggers, Pretorians, Alien Queens and more stalking their prey in Aliens: Dark Descent. In this contemporary strategy game, even the sound design elicits primal dread as your character infiltrates open levels and annihilates enemies.
Having landed on the planet Lethe, the Squadron Behavior System ensures that your Marines intuitively react to your orders, where you manage your squadron as a unit. Xenomorphs are bred to learn and adapt to your manners and conduct in this real-time squad-based tactical action game. Avoiding detection will also be an important trick to learn. “Roll over, play dead, heel.”
Along with combat skills and resource management, the game will also require you to keep your Marine unit sane and healthy. If or when one of them dies in combat, your character will face the consequences of it. Whether you can return to your ship (hopefully with as many Marines alive as possible) will largely depend on your strategic thinking, planning and time management skills. So your test will be to build the perfect team using the five different classes of marines, with various specializations, to survive.
Final Fantasy XVI
When: June 22
Where: PS5
Set in the medieval-inspired world of Valisthea, Final Fantasy XVI puts you in the shoes of Clive Rosfield, First Shield of Rosaria, a sworn warrior who must navigate a war-torn world divided into two continents. His story unfolds in three crucial segments-his teens, his twenties, and his thirties-all aimed at highlighting his situation and complicated relationship with his brother. Being an open-world game, you’ll need a map for navigation, as well as a fast travel mechanic to return to previously visited locations and Chocobos to roam around.
Ditching the turn-based combat of previous iterations, fights in Final Fantasy 16 take place in real-time, filled with flashy animations and elemental effects you get from defeating spirit beings called Eikons – similar to the Grafted Dragon of Elden Ring. They are further expanded into large-scale cinematic battles where the Eikons face each other with QTE prompts popping up occasionally. All roads lead to a hideout, where you can rest and visit shops to buy weapons and consumables, or head to the blacksmith to upgrade weaponry. Using the Arete Stone, Clive can also open up a unique realm, which serves as a virtual training area for refining attacks.
Watch the Final Fantasy XVI gameplay trailer, available June 22
Final Fantasy XVI describes the story of its protagonist in three segments – his adolescence, his twenties and his thirties.
Photo credit: Square Enix
AEW: Fight Forever
When: June 29
Where: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Switch
Developer Yuke’s previously announced that AEW: Fight Forever would be the first title officially licensed by All Elite Wrestling. This wrestling simulator features over 10 game modes – including but not limited to – singles, tag-team, 4-way, ladder, casino battle royale and takedown count anywhere. You’ll be able to customize your fighter’s outfit, their teams, move sets, and even their entrances.
AEW: Fight Forever will feature characters like Chris Jericho, Hikaru Shida, Darby Allin, Bryan Danielson, Jungle Boy, Kenny Omega, Nyla Rose, Thunder Rosa, Ruby Soho, CM Punk, and former WCW Champion Sting. You’ll also be able to choose from 40 weapons and join online co-op mode with other players. These tag team matches will allow you to perform a sequence of tricks with your teammates, according to the game’s developer.