July is shaping up to be a wild ride for indie game fans. Whether you’re into cozy life sims, pixel-art brawlers, or story-driven horror, this month’s lineup has something waiting to pull you in. It’s a mix of long-anticipated sequels, weird experimental ideas, and projects packed with heart from small studios around the world. Here’s your handpicked guide to the most interesting indie games releasing in July 2025; all worth a spot on your radar.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game
Escape to the idyllic Shire in Tales of the Shire, a cozy Hobbit life simulator from Wētā Workshop. Create your own Hobbit and help Bywater flourish into an official village within Hobbiton. Decorate your Hobbit hole with charming furniture and tend to a bountiful garden. Fish, forage, and cook delicious meals to share with friends, fostering relationships within the community. Explore the Shire’s picturesque landscapes, uncover hidden treasures, and meet familiar faces. Embrace the simple pleasures and experience the joy of Hobbit life as you bring the community together.
Release Date: 29 Jul, 2025
Developer: Wētā Workshop
Publisher: Private Division
Ratatan
Get ready to groove in Ratatan, a rhythm roguelike action game arriving this July! Journey to Rataport, a vibrant island where the Ratatan and their friends dream of meeting the Goddess in “The Everafter.” Battle through hordes of enemies in intense, side-scrolling action, commanding over 100 characters to the beat of a catchy soundtrack. With online co-op for up to 4 players, coordinate your rhythmic attacks, mastering positioning and retreat. Experience the charm of 2D animation as you and your friends embark on this delightful and heartfelt adventure!
Release Date: 24 Jul, 2025
Developer: TVT Co. Ltd., Ratata Arts
Publisher: Game Source Entertainment
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound
From the creators of Blasphemous comes NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, a thrilling side-scrolling adventure that blends classic Ninja Gaiden gameplay with modern intensity. When a demonic invasion threatens Hayabusa Village, young ninja Kenji Mozu must rise to the challenge. Forced to ally with the Black Spider Clan, Kenji and the assassin Kumori wield forbidden power through Ninja Fusion. Experience meticulously crafted pixel art, brutal combat, and a deep, interconnected story in this reimagined universe. Master challenging mechanics and become the ultimate ninja in this love letter to retro gaming.
Release Date: 31 Jul, 2025
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Dotemu, Joystick
Little Fighter 2 Remastered
Rediscover the exhilarating mayhem of childhood with Little Fighter 2 Remastered! This enhanced edition of the beloved classic boasts completely redrawn, high-resolution graphics, bringing a vibrant new look to your favorite characters and stages. Jump into fast-paced, side-scrolling brawls with improved stability and enjoy seamless 8-player local network battles. Relive the nostalgia with enhanced visuals and a smoother, more reliable combat experience. Get ready for future content additions, including new characters and levels, ensuring the fight never ends! Little Fighter 2 Remastered blends classic charm with modern polish for an unprecedented thrill.
Release Date: 18 Jul, 2025
Developer: Little Fighter Co Pty Ltd, Marti Wong
Publisher: Little Fighter Co Pty Ltd
Luto
Descend into the suffocating darkness of Luto, a psychological horror game exploring themes of loss and despair. Trapped within the confines of a single home, players will grapple with the protagonist’s fractured psyche as they attempt to escape. Each failed attempt only plunges you deeper into a labyrinthine reality, blurring the lines between what is real and what is imagined. Face unsettling terrors that prey on your senses and uncover the many faces of a truth you may not want to see. Will you succumb to the darkness, or find a way to break free?
Release Date: 22 Jul, 2025
Developer: Broken Bird Games
Publisher: Broken Bird Games, Selecta Play, Astrolabe Games
One-Eyed Likho
Delve into the grim world of One-Eyed Likho, a chilling first-person horror adventure steeped in Slavic folklore. Set in a twisted, greyscale rendition of 19th-century Russia, you must confront the embodiment of misfortune itself: the Likho. Inspired by a dark fairy tale, you’ll explore unsettling landscapes, solve fire-based puzzles, and uncover hidden secrets to escape your own evil fate. Can you outwit the one-eyed crone and rewrite your destiny? Prepare for a haunting journey filled with psychological dread and supernatural encounters.
Release Date: 28 Jul, 2025
Developer: Morteshka
Publisher: Morteshka
Mycopunk
Get ready for Mycopunk, a ridiculously fun mission-based co-op shooter launching this July! You and your crew of ragtag robot rejects, the New Atlas Hazard Crew, are humanity’s last hope against a galaxy-wide fungal catastrophe. Accept contracts from the shady SAXON corporation and dive into dangerous planet-side missions. Customize your arsenal with a wild grid-based upgrade system, turning simple tools into sci-fi super-weapons. Combine unique abilities and synergistic builds to strategically dismantle hordes of fungal foes. Relax between missions in your orbital dropship, play games, and get to know your crewmates – including the insectoid veteran, Roachard Cox.
Release Date: 10 Jul, 2025
Developer: Pigeons at Play
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson
A musical apocalypse is upon us! Dive into the whimsically off-tuned world of Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson, where Rob, a friendly musician, must thwart the evil Rick Riffson’s plan to control all music. Explore vibrant, musical biomes, battle devilish goons and monster-instrument hybrids in turn-based combat. Collect mighty riffs to build your deck, unleash crescendo attacks, and customize your instrument with unique add-ons. Team up with Rob’s zany friends in a story full of puns and pixel-art charm in this musically wholesome RPG adventure!
Release Date: 17 Jul, 2025
Developer: Ritual Studios
Publisher: Playdigious Originals
The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily
In The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily, players command Duchess Scarlet’s rebellion against a corrupt Empire in this voxel-based, turn-based strategy game. Falsely accused of regicide, Scarlet, aided by the resourceful Lily and revolutionary streaming technology, weaponizes manipulation and diversion to challenge overwhelming odds. Capture enemy commanders, forge alliances, and cultivate trust to unlock powerful “Unison Skills.” Your choices shape Scarlet and Lily’s destinies, determining who joins their fight and the ultimate fate of the Empire. Featuring character design by Rolua, prepare for a story rich with strategic depth and compelling character bonds.
Release Date: 24 Jul, 2025
Developer: One or Eight, Alliance Arts
Publisher: Alliance Arts
Animal Shelter 2
Welcome back to the heartwarming world of Animal Shelter 2! More animals await your care in this immersive simulation. Provide food, water, a clean environment, and most importantly, love! Expand your shelter and hire staff to help manage the workload, but remember, managing people has its own challenges. Team up with friends in co-op mode to find the perfect forever homes for your furry companions. Interact with potential adopters, and consider each animal’s traits to ensure a perfect match. Maintain and upgrade your shelter amidst a beautiful, picturesque environment.
Release Date: 23 Jul, 2025
Developer: Games Incubator
Publisher: Games Incubator, PlayWay S.A.
Steal The Pig
Prepare for hilarious heists and chaotic co-op in Steal The Pig!, a physics-based platformer where two thieves attempt to pilfer a most unwilling pig. Teamwork is key as you navigate trap-filled levels, solve brain-bending puzzles, and try your best not to wake your precious cargo – or let it escape! Play solo, in local split-screen, or online with a friend. Discover quirky mini-games, collect a wardrobe of costumes, and embrace the unpredictable fun that arises from realistic physics. Just remember, a sleepy pig is a happy pig!
Release Date: 11 Jul, 2025
Developer: BAA Games
Publisher: BAA Games
Dust Raiders
Everything went wrong. Your refinery is lost, your friend is gone, and a deadly Sawblade attack left you with nothing. Now, in the lawless wasteland of Dust Raiders, you must rebuild. Scavenge for scrap, assemble a crew, and prepare for the approaching Great Storm. Engage in tactical vehicular combat, manage a dynamic economy where supply and demand dictate survival, and customize your rides to conquer the wastes. Explore vast, hostile areas, complete quests, and fight to reclaim what was lost in this gripping post-apocalyptic adventure.
Release Date: 17 Jul, 2025
Developer: Vixa Games
Publisher: Games Operators
Let Them Trade
As appointed by the king, your task is to cultivate a prosperous kingdom in Let Them Trade. Establish thriving cities, strategically placing buildings to optimize resource production and citizen happiness. Manage each city’s budget, oversee autonomous trade, and collect taxes to expand your domain. Protect your burgeoning economy from pesky bandits, upgrade your castle, and cleverly trade goods for maximum profit. Enjoy a relaxing, real-time-with-pause experience, tinkering with the economy at your own pace and watching your charming wooden world flourish.
Release Date: 24 Jul, 2025
Developer: Spaceflower
Publisher: ByteRockers’ Games
Everdeep Aurora
In the wake of a cataclysmic meteor shower that’s forced humanity underground, Everdeep Aurora invites players on an emotional, exploratory journey. Assume the role of Shell, a feline child searching for her missing mother. Drill through a vibrant, tile-based world and unearth the secrets of the Everdeep. Navigate complex puzzles, engage with peculiar characters, and uncover hidden caverns in this 16-bit-inspired adventure. Your choices shape Shell’s path, leading to multiple endings and a deeper understanding of this mysterious subterranean world. Discover the truth hidden beneath the surface!
Release Date: 10 Jul, 2025
Developer: Nautilus Games
Publisher: Ysbryd Games
Kaizen: A Factory Story
Step into 1986 Japan as David Sugimoto in Kaizen: A Factory Story. You’re not the jet-setting executive you imagined; instead, you’re building automated production lines in a Matsuzawa factory. From the creators of Opus Magnum and SpaceChem, this open-ended puzzle game challenges you to optimize designs for iconic 80s products like calculators and arcade machines. Weld, rivet, cut, and drill your way to the most efficient solutions, sharing your creations with the world. Need a break? Dive into Pachi-Sol, a pachinko-themed solitaire diversion!
Release Date: 14 Jul, 2025
Developer: Coincidence
Publisher: Astra Logical
Advent NEON®
Get ready for a rush of adrenaline in Advent NEON®, a hyperactive 2D action platformer dripping with 90s arcade vibes! As Neon, you’ll blaze through Neopolis, unleashing wicked-fast attack chains and omnidirectional dashes against hordes of rogue robots to reclaim your creator’s body. Master the art of time-freezing to outmaneuver enemies and build up Resonance, transforming into a powerhouse of critical hits. Skilled players can maintain 100% power, shredding through levels and leaving a trail of robotic wreckage in their wake. Prepare for buttery smooth movement and unparalleled speed!
Release Date: 19 Jul, 2025
Developer: CryoGX
Publisher: CryoGX
Becoming Saint
Stake your claim in 14th century Italy! In Becoming Saint, you’ll choose your doctrine and preach across the land in this unique real-time strategy roguelike. Manage resources, make impactful choices that define your spiritual and political traits, and lead followers into strategic, small-scale battles to convert city-states. Unlock up to 16 diverse units with unique abilities and synergies. Can you master the art of persuasion and military might, navigating the turmoil of medieval Italy to achieve Sainthood, or will your ambitions meet an early end? Every death brings new challenges and strategic opportunities!
Release Date: 15 Jul, 2025
Developer: Open Lab Games
Publisher: Firesquid, 2P Games
From village-building Hobbits to rhythm-fueled roguelikes and bleak horror tales, July’s indie lineup offers more than just variety it’s overflowing with personality. Whether you’re looking to chill, get scared, laugh with friends, or test your reflexes, there’s something here for every kind of player. Add these to your wishlist, keep an eye on release dates, and get ready to jump into some of the most creative games you’ll play all year.
