Uncover the Best New PC Games for June 2020: Beyond the Hype
Navigating the vast and ever-expanding world of PC gaming can often feel overwhelming, especially when the industry fixates on games years away. Many enthusiasts find themselves caught between the dazzling promises of future blockbusters and the immediate desire for fresh, engaging experiences right now. However, you do not need to wait for a distant release date to enjoy truly compelling gameplay. The truth is, June 2020 delivered an impressive array of new PC games, offering a rich tapestry of genres and experiences that are available for you to dive into today.
As highlighted in the video above, this month was surprisingly packed with diverse titles, ranging from high-octane shooters to intricate strategy games and immersive narrative adventures. We understand the challenge of sifting through countless announcements and early access offerings to find what genuinely resonates. This article will expand upon some of the most exciting new PC games for June 2020, offering deeper insights and context to help you discover your next obsession. We will explore each game in more detail, covering their unique mechanics, potential appeal, and why they stand out amidst the busy gaming landscape.
Valorant: A Tactical Shooter with Character Flair
Riot Games’ Valorant quickly became one of the most talked-about new PC games for June 2020, blending the intense precision of Counter-Strike with the vibrant, ability-driven combat of Overwatch. This free-to-play tactical shooter demands sharp aim and strategic team coordination, challenging players to master both gunplay and character-specific powers. However, unlike traditional twitch shooters where raw reflexes dominate, Valorant introduces “agents” with unique abilities, allowing for creative plays and clever outmaneuvering of opponents. This strategic layer adds significant depth, making every match a dynamic encounter.
While a precise headshot remains paramount, the inclusion of teleports, super jumps, and area-denial abilities fundamentally shifts the rhythm and tone of engagements. For instance, a player might use a smoke screen to cover an advance or deploy a defensive wall to block a chokepoint, adding layers of tactical decision-making. The game offers a compelling experience without any upfront cost, relying on cosmetic sales for monetization. During its beta phase, Valorant captivated many players, including younger members of the Rock Paper Shotgun team, proving its addictive qualities. If you appreciate competitive play and enjoy outsmarting your rivals with clever tactics, Valorant is definitely worth exploring.
Disintegration: A Fresh Blend of FPS and RTS
Disintegration presented an intriguing genre hybrid, marking the debut title from V1 Interactive, a studio helmed by Marcus Lehto, the former creative art director for Bungie. Lehto is renowned for shaping iconic worlds and machinery, so expectations for this game’s aesthetic were naturally high. However, Disintegration is more than just another sci-fi first-person shooter; it dares to combine aerial combat with real-time strategy elements, offering a genuinely unique gameplay loop. Players command a squad of ground soldiers from a hovering gravcycle, directing their movements and abilities while simultaneously engaging in aerial dogfights.
This innovative setup requires players to master dual roles: acting as both a commanding officer and an agile combat pilot. You must strike a delicate balance, strategically positioning your ground troops to secure objectives while personally dodging and countering airborne threats. However, such a bold genre fusion sometimes risks alienating both FPS and RTS purists. Despite this potential challenge, initial impressions from Gamescom highlighted the game’s captivating sci-fi landscapes and engaging mechanics, suggesting it could carve out a distinct niche. For players looking for something genuinely different among new PC games, Disintegration offered a compelling proposition.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker: The Art of Galactic Demolition
Where many PC games celebrate the construction of magnificent starships, Hardspace: Shipbreaker offers a starkly contrasting, yet equally captivating, experience: their methodical deconstruction. In this zero-gravity salvaging simulation, players assume the role of a “cutter,” tasked with meticulously dismantling colossal spacecraft. You utilize specialized laser cutters to precisely slice out valuable components and a grappling hook to remove hull plating, likening the process to peeling a giant, intricate metal orange. This concept elevates salvaging into a detailed, puzzle-like endeavor.
The game masterfully incorporates extreme danger into its core mechanics; every cut and pull carries the risk of catastrophic failure. For example, accidentally severing a fuel pipe can trigger a massive explosion, obliterating the ship and yourself in moments. Alternatively, puncturing the wrong section might cause sudden decompression, sending you hurtling into the void of space. Hardspace: Shipbreaker cleverly positions space itself as the primary antagonist, demanding careful planning and execution from players. The game entered early access on June 16th, providing a unique and challenging take on space-based simulation, appealing to those who enjoy intricate, high-stakes tasks.
Command & Conquer Remastered Collection: A Return to RTS Glory
Finally, EA delivered on years of fan requests with the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection, breathing new life into two seminal real-time strategy games: Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert. This comprehensive package also includes their three original expansion packs and even missions previously exclusive to console versions, offering an expansive blast from the past. The entire collection received a stunning 4K HD remaster, yet thoughtfully includes an option to instantly toggle back to the classic graphics with a single button press, catering to both nostalgia and modern aesthetics.
Beyond the visual overhaul, the collection’s legendary soundtracks, which truly defined mid-90s gaming, have been meticulously remastered. Over 20 iconic tracks were re-recorded by the original composer, Frank Klepacki, alongside The Tiberian Sons, ensuring an authentic yet enhanced audio experience. This collection stands as a genuine love letter to the franchise’s heritage, even featuring a bonus archive of B-roll footage from those wonderfully cheesy live-action cutscenes. Furthermore, it modernizes the gameplay with a new user interface, integrated online matchmaking, and full modding support, making it a must-have for both veterans and newcomers to the world of classic PC games.
Tainted Grail: Conquest – A Dark Fantasy RPG with Roguelike Twists
Tainted Grail, an RPG experience rooted in a highly successful tabletop game, made its PC debut, translating its dark fantasy narrative into a handsome isometric world. The original tabletop version famously stormed Kickstarter in 2018, amassing close to £5 million, which clearly demonstrated the strong appeal of its lore and mechanics. The PC adaptation features a unique combat system, demanding players stitch together powerful combos from a deck of battle cards, adding a strategic element to every encounter. This card-based combat system received a significant visual makeover since its Alpha release, now showcasing dinky 3D models that make the transition from world exploration to battle much smoother.
The early access release of Tainted Grail focused heavily on its innovative Conquest Mode, which ingeniously blends the main campaign’s mechanics with popular roguelike elements. Players navigate randomly generated mazes filled with rich narrative encounters, all while building up a persistent village. This village then offers crucial support and upgrades for future “runs,” creating a compelling loop of progression and challenge. The ambition to develop two substantial game modes simultaneously is considerable, yet it promises a rich and replayable experience. Players were able to test this intriguing blend of narrative and roguelike mechanics from June 25th, adding another strong contender to the list of new PC games.
The Almost Gone: Unraveling a Limbo Mystery
The Almost Gone captivated many with its unique narrative-driven puzzle gameplay, where players assume the role of someone suspended between life and death. To uncover the mystery of how you arrived in this ethereal limbo, you must meticulously spin and prod a series of exquisitely detailed dioramas. This mechanic effectively transforms each scene into a multi-faceted puzzle box, requiring players to manipulate their perspective to reveal hidden clues and pathways. The game’s premise revolves around piecing together fragmented memories and environments to solve the central enigma.
Despite the macabre topic of being trapped between realms, the game’s “diddy models” and minimalist art style create an unexpectedly cute and engaging aesthetic. It offers a deeply reflective experience, focusing on atmosphere and story rather than action. While not designed for big laughs, The Almost Gone promised a deeply moving and thought-provoking journey. The game launched on June 25th, providing an emotionally resonant puzzle experience that stands out among other narrative-focused PC games.
Beyond Blue: Dive into the Ocean’s Wonders
Beyond Blue, another standout from our Indies Uncovered series, offers a serene and awe-inspiring underwater exploration game. Developed by E-Line Media, the studio previously impressed the BBC with their 2015 game, Never Alone, leading to an invitation to work on “Blue Planet: The Video Game.” The result is Beyond Blue, an educational yet captivating experience designed to immerse players in the extraordinary lives of ocean creatures. As Mirai, a deep-sea explorer and scientist, you journey through the vastness of the ocean, encountering everything from playful dolphins to majestic sperm whales and even the striking Chilean Devil Ray.
This game prioritizes discovery and wonder over danger; players will not contend with aggressive marine life or perilous environmental threats. Instead, the only real concern is succumbing to a “sedative-like state” from the sheer tranquility and beauty of the underwater world. Beyond Blue serves as an interactive documentary, providing profound insights into our planet’s largest and least understood ecosystem. It is an ideal title for those who appreciate peaceful exploration, scientific discovery, and want to learn more about the ocean’s incredible biodiversity, making it a unique entry among new PC games.
Danger Scavenger: Cyberpunk Roguelike Shooting
Danger Scavenger plunges players into a dystopian cyberpunk universe, where massive corporations wield absolute control over a world strikingly similar to our own. This twin-stick shooter ups the ante by setting the action atop the dizzying heights of colossal skyscrapers, providing a visually impressive and vertically oriented battlefield. The game allows for considerable strategic flexibility; each of the playable scavengers possesses distinct skills and playstyles, empowering players to approach combat in various ways. You can choose to charge in with guns blazing or adopt a more tactical approach, utilizing specific abilities to clear floors.
While the core loop of looting and shooting might not reinvent the genre, Danger Scavenger promises a highly entertaining and action-packed experience. Its roguelike elements ensure high replayability, as players navigate procedurally generated environments and face ever-escalating challenges. The game looks like a good time for fans of fast-paced, twin-stick action in a rich cyberpunk setting. Gamers were able to discover its fast-paced action and strategic depth in the middle of June, cementing its place as an exciting addition to the roster of new PC games.
Waking: A Meditative Journey Through Inner Demons
Waking presents a deeply personal and emotionally resonant experience, setting itself apart from typical action-adventure games. As a player, you lie in a coma in a hospital bed, physically trapped yet battling inner demons within a randomly generated dreamscape. This meditative, soul-searching premise should not be mistaken for a walk in the park; the developer has likened its combat challenge to that of Dark Souls, albeit with a unique telekinetic style. Instead of conventional weapons, your attacks mostly rely on mental powers, which presents an interesting twist on difficult combat encounters.
However, the potential for tears in Waking stems less from its difficulty and more from its profound emotional depth. The game encourages players to draw upon their own memories and life experiences, reflecting on existence and confronting personal fears within its narrative framework. This innovative concept aims to create a uniquely introspective experience, one that developers hope will resonate deeply with players. Waking is certainly an interesting entry among new PC games, appealing to those who seek a challenging game with a strong narrative and psychological themes.
Desperados III: Masterful Real-Time Stealth Tactics
Desperados III, affectionately known as “The Good, The Bad, and The Sneaky,” marks a glorious return to the real-time stealth tactics genre, harkening back to the beloved 2001 classic. This time, the acclaimed studio Mimimi, known for their excellent Shadow Tactics, takes the reins, promising a proper cowboy romp filled with strategic depth. Players utilize a diverse selection of character powers to outsmart bandits, employing coordinated team takedowns by freezing time to execute ingenious plans. The game masterfully incorporates audacious assassinations within expansive levels, drawing significant inspiration from the Hitman series’ intricate design.
The ability to mind control a chicken, if that’s your particular brand of chaos, perfectly encapsulates the game’s blend of serious strategy and delightful absurdity. All of this unfolds within a gorgeous isometric world, which creates the sensation of having a miniature Westworld living inside your PC. A demo for Desperados III was available on GOG, highly recommended for anyone with an interest in cowboys or classic real-time tactics games like Commandos and the original Desperados. This genre truly deserves more recognition, and Desperados III stands out as a brilliant example, making it one of the most anticipated new PC games of 2020.
Notable Steam Arrivals in June 2020
Beyond the brand-new releases, June 2020 also welcomed several critically acclaimed titles to Steam for the very first time, expanding their reach to a wider audience of PC games enthusiasts. Sea of Thieves, once an Epic exclusive, marked a significant return to form for Rare, evolving into a truly special online pirate adventure since its initial launch. Its arrival on Steam provided a new opportunity for players to embark on swashbuckling journeys with friends across the open seas.
Similarly, Satisfactory and Outer Wilds, both previously Epic exclusives, made their much-anticipated Steam debuts. Satisfactory offers an incredibly deep and engaging experience for those who love building impossibly vast production lines and managing complex industrial logistics. On the other hand, Outer Wilds, hailed by many as a game of the year in 2019, challenges players to solve the mysteries of a collapsing universe within a tight time loop before everything goes “kaboom,” offering a unique and unforgettable narrative experience. Furthermore, narrative-heavy titles like Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human also became available on Steam, catering to players who enjoy cinematic adventures, even if the writing might be considered divisive by some. These additions significantly enriched the diverse catalog of PC games available on the platform.
