What’s Geeky in June 2023?

Summer is here and that means sipping lemonade, relaxing by the pool, and… SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS!

That’s right, we are at the beginning of the summer blockbuster season and—oh, boy—do we have some cool stuff coming your way. From the return of Captain Kirk on TV, to a video game about a crime-solving DJ, and to a new book by Brandon Sanderson, there’s plenty for all of us to get excited about.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Movies/TV shows:

June 2^nd:

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Miles Morales is back for an all-new movie in theaters! If being Brooklyn’s only Spider-Man wasn’t hard enough, Miles has been asked by Gwen Stacy to help a secret “Spider-Society” of Spider-Men and -Women from across the multiverse in their quest to stop Jonathan Ohnn, aka “The Spot,” from destroying everything.

But even worse than the teleporting supervillain is the leader of the Spider-Society, Miguel O’Hara, the “ninja-vampire” Spider-Man who doesn’t agree, and doesn’t like, Miles.

June 9^th:

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, must join forces with Optimus Primal, leader of the Maximals, in order to stop a deadly planet-eating transformer called Unicron and his army of Terrorcons in this new movie in theaters. But the Autobots and Maximals won’t fight alone, as they are joined by an ex-military electronics expert named Noah and an artifact researcher named Elena.

The Secret Kingdom

When Peter and his sister Verity fall through the floorboards of their new house, they never expected it would lead them to a group of armored pangolins who want to siblings to go on a quest to restart the Clock of the Citadel. Together with a pangolin guide, a dragon guardian, and a two-headed tortoise, the pair will have to take on the sinister evil known only as the Shroud in this limited-release movie from Australia.

Heroes of the Golden Mask

On the run from the law, an American thief and orphan named Charlie travels back in time to the Chinese kingdom of Sanxingdui in this new movie in theaters, where he must join forces with a group of heroes trying to stop a deadly conqueror. Meanwhile, Charlie also secretly schemes to steal the priceless golden masks that give the heroes their powers to pay off his debt to a dangerous mobster.

June 15^th:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, season 2

Captain Pike is back with his motley crew of space explorers to visit new civilizations and new alien worlds in this hit show on Parmount and Parmount+. Along the way to freeing Number One, Spock will drink with Klingons, Kirk will help save the day, and we will get to see a guest appearance of Mariner and Boimler from Star Trek: Lower Decks.

June 16^th:

The Flash

Barry, better known as the fastest man alive, aka “The Flash,” has discovered a way to race backwards in time and save his mom from dying in this new DC Universe movie in theaters. But by doing so, he has changed reality and now General Zod returns to destroy an Earth with no superheroes to stop him. That is unless Barry can coax a very different (yet very familiar) Batman out of retirement and free an imprisoned Kryptonian named Cara.

Elemental

In a world populated by the four elements, Wade (a water element) and Ember (a fire element) will meet and fall in love, even though they cannot touch in this new Disney movie in theaters. But in a city where the elements “do not mix,” they will have to work against a bigoted society and their own families to make their relationship work… and to save their world from destruction.

Asteroid City

A new movie by Wes Anderson about a quirky family of oddballs who stop for a simple stargazing adventure in the fictional American desert town of Asteroid City. What was supposed to be a short stop for everyone in town turns much longer after the town is visited by an alien starship and the government quarantines the area to find out why.

Outlander, season 7

Returning for a seventh season, the hit Starz show will follow the Fraser clan as they are torn apart by the American Revolution. Having narrowly avoided capture, Jamie Fraser will return to save his wife, Claire—a time traveling woman who once served as a nurse during WWII—from hanging in the gallows for a crime she did not commit.

Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King

The shonen anime on Netflix about a young man born without magic in a world that is full of it returns for a brand new movie. Asta and his friends will face off against a resurrected Wizard King, Conrad Leto, who plans to use the Imperial Sword to bring back three other Wizards in order to take over the Clover Kingdom.

June 21^st:

Secret Invasion

This new series from Disney+ features Nick Fury, formerly of S.H.I.E.L.D., trying to stop an invasion by a militant faction of the shapeshifting Skrull. Together with his allies, including the Skrull Talos who has made a life for himself on Earth, Fury will bring the fight to an alien invader who can look like anyone.

June 22^nd:

Skull Island

This Netflix animated show from Powerhouse Animation Studios (the studio behind Castlevania) follows three shipwrecked explorers trapped on an island with a band of evil mercenaries and titanic pre-historic creatures. But in order to survive, the trio will have to face their fears and the gigantic king of Skull Island, Kong.

June 29^th:

Susie Searches

An awkward college student with a true crime podcast decides to solve a real-life kidnapping in this new movie in theaters. Having saved the missing teen, and glowing in the interviews and media coverage that followed, Susie now has to get to work cleaning up the mess she made. Because not only did Susie rescue the young man… she also kidnapped him in the first place.

The Witcher, season 3, part 1

The end of the world is coming on the third season of the hit Netflix show, and at the center of it is a young woman trained as a Witcher. But as Ciri is being pursued by the fearsome Wild Hunt and magical assassins, Geralt and Yennifer are caught up in the machinations of mage politics while the Empire of Nilfgaard plots… and waits.

Many of us were sad to hear that Henry Cavill was leaving the franchise, but the showrunners have promised us a great send-off for our favorite brooding monster hunter.

June 30^th:

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

This new movie in theaters features Indiana Jones teaming up with his goddaughter to steal back a dial from the US government. Also looking for the dial is the sinister ex-Nazi Jurgen Voller, who seeks to manipulate the dial’s control of time for his own purposes.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

When the awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman breaks her mother’s number 1 rule and goes into the water, she discovers that she is descended from the fearsome warrior-queens, the Krakens, and is destined to fight to protect the oceans from the vain and powerful mermaids in this new movie from DreamWorks Animation.

One problem: Chelsea, the beautiful and popular girl at Oceanside High, just so happens to be a mermaid. Now, if Ruby wants to protect everyone she loves, she’ll have to get big… really big.

Nimona

A knight is sent to kill a dragon. Seems pretty standard, right? But not if that dragon happens to be a pink shapeshifter named Nimona who can change into any creature or monster that she wants, and definitely not if she teams up with the knight who was sent to kill her in this new movie on Netflix.

Video Games

June 1^st:

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection

Switch, PC

This all-in-one bundle of all three Etrian Odyssey games allows you to play as the leader of a guild of adventurers, seeking treasure and excitement in the deadly labyrinth. Now with new and improved graphics and soundtrack, as well as new mechanics that will allow you to map out your adventures.

Killer Frequency

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, Quest, PS 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC\

A killer is on the loose in the town of Gallows Creek and you, the DJ at a local radio station, are the only one who can stop him. Gather vital clues, solve puzzles to make sure that all of your callers survive the night, and put on some great 80’s tunes as you play cat-and-mouse with the Whistling Man.

SkateBIRD

PS 5, PS 4

Play as a tiny little bird in this skateboarding game where you can grind on household items in bird-sized skating parks. Impress bigger birds, who will come to watch your moves, and they’ll invite you out to other parks and introduce you to more perks.

June 2^nd:

Street Fighter 6

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PS 4, PC

Capcom’s iconic fighting game is back for a new era of fighting games in three overarching game modes: Fighting Ground, World Tour, and Battle Hub. Take control of your favorite characters, like Chun-Li or Ryu, or all new ones as you duke it out in solo matches or online with your friends.

We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PS 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

This remaster of the classic game sees you rolling a big ball, the katamari, and collected all sorts of things that stuck to it until the ball gets bigger and bigger until you can go into space and collect stuff there. In addition to enhanced graphics, play around with the selfie mode or even take up the katamari and roll it around as the King of the Cosmos.

June 6^th:

Diablo IV

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PS 4, Xbox One, PC

Lilith, the daughter of Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred, has been summoned by a dark ritual and now stands ready to bathe the world of Sanctuary in evil. Play on your own or join others as you pick your class, including the return of the fan-favorite Druid and Necromancer, and pick a fight with the woman who makes the Lords of Hell tremble.

June 8^th:

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie

Switch, PC

As a young woman named Polly, you have returned home to look for your missing mother only to be transported to another world—Reverie—where not only are you a goddess named Harmony who will choose the fate of both worlds, but you can also see into the future. What future humanity has is entirely up to you.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie will be available for Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on June 22^nd.

June 13^th:

Dordogne

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PS 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

In this vibrant and beautifully animated game, you play as Mimi as she remembers her childhood memories of adventures in the French town of Dordogne with her grandmother. By collecting sights and sounds, and recording them all in a journal, Mimi is able to uncover lost family secrets and relive the time she shared with her late grandmother.

June 15^th:

Jack Jeanne

Switch

Kisa has been given an extraordinary opportunity to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress by enrolling in the prestigious Univeil Drama School. But there’s a catch to her admission: not only must she land a lead role in the final performance but she must also keep her identity as a girl a secret.

Layers of Fear (2023)

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

One of the definitive classics in psychological horror games has now been rebuilt with Unreal Engine 5. Crawl through a crumbling Victorian mansion as you confront your past in this unsettling horror game where the house keeps changing around you.

June 16^th:

Park Beyond

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

As the Visioneer, you are the creative force behind creating, managing, and crafting successful theme parks. By letting your imagination run wild, you can create the greatest roller coasters in the world, perfect your ride placement, and decorate and customize your park with limitless options.

June 20^th:

Aliens: Dark Descent

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PS 4, Xbox One, PC

Command a squad of hardened Colonial Marines as you face off in real-time against the Weyland-Yutani Corporation rogue agents, the iconic Xenomorphs, and a new threat never before seen in the Aliens Universe.

Crash Team Rumble

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PS 4, Xbox One

This 4v4 team-based competition game sees you and your friends play as the iconic heroes and villains from Crash Bandicoot as you compete to capture more Wumpa fruit than your opponents. Each hero has their own unique skills and abilities to help you win.

June 22^nd:

Final Fantasy XVI

PS 5

Clive Rosfield has been on a path of revenge for some time. Yet now, in the first fully-fledged Action RPG of the Final Fantasy Series, Clive will have to set his revenge aside in order to free mankind from its horrible fate but using his deadly Eikonic powers.

June 23^rd:

Sonic Origins Plus

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, PS 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

This all-new multi-game collection allows you to experience the classic Sonic the Hedgehog games released on the SEGA Genesis platform. Sixteen classic titles, now in one timeless collection.

June 27^th:

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

PS 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC

This remake of a beloved classic sees you begin your life in Forgotten Valley, where your father and his friend Takakura once dreamed of running a farm. Fulfill your father’s legacy as you live the carefree life of a farmer, befriend the nearby villagers, hunt for ancient treasures, and watch your own child grow up before your very eyes. What kind of life will they choose?

June 30^th:

Crime O’Clock

Switch, PC

Prevent crimes before they happen in this fun game where you can investigate clues with the help of your ability to rewind time. But even though you are stopping murders, thefts, hacking and more, there seems to be a disturbing common thread among all of these crimes over the centuries…

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

PS 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

From the mind of Shu Takumi, the man who created Ace Attorney, comes the rerelease of a puzzle game where you play a ghost trying to solve the mystery of your own murder. Now with high-resolution graphics, all-new features, and tons of enhanced gameplay.

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code

Switch

In a city drenched in rain and neon lights, you play as Yumi, a detective-in-training with amnesia who is being haunted by the spirit Shinigami. Together, the two of them will work with the Master Detectives of the World Detective Organization to uncover and solve a host of unsolved mysteries.

Books

June 6^th:

• Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea—Kids, Fantasy
• Fermi’s Question by John Cramer—Book 2 of Einstein’s Bridge, Sci-Fi
• The Kingdom Over the Sea by Zohra Nabi—Kids, Fantasy
• The Grimoire of Grave Fates by Margaret Owen—Kids, Fantasy, LGBTQ
• The Not-So-Chosen-One by Andrew Auseon—Book 1 of Spellbinders, Kids, Fantasy, Comedy
• Rhymer by Gregory Frost—Book 1 of Rhymer Trilogy, Military Fantasy
• He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Lost in the Void by Liselle Sambury—Book 3 of Tales of Eternia, Kids, Fantasy, Superheroes
• Rebel Undercover by Lisa McMann—Book 3 of The Forgotten Five, Kids, Fantasy, Superheroes
• SubOrbital 7 by John Shirley—Military Sci-Fi
• Translation State by Ann Leckie—Space Opera
• Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thompson—Book 1 of Greenwild, Kids, Fantasy
• The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson—YA, Dystopian, Sci-Fi
• Grace the Cove Dragon by Maddy Mara—Book 10 of Dragon Girls, Kids, Fantasy
• The Warning by Kristy Acevedo—Book 1 of The Warning, YA, Dystopian, Sci-Fi
• Endless Vessel by Charles Soule—Sci-Fi, Thriller
• The Ruby Code by Jessica Khoury—Kids, Sci-Fi, Mystery

June 8^th:

• Neon and the Unicorn Hunters by Sibeal Pounder—eBook, Kids, Fantasy, Comedy
• Fablehouse by Emma Norry—eBook, Kids, Fantasy
• Zip-Zap Giraffe by Jem Packer—eBook, Kids, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Superheroes
• The Yawnicorn by Emily Hamilton—Kids, Fantasy

June 13^th:

• Something Close to Magic by Emma Mills—YA, Urban Fantasy, Romantic
• Mia Mayhem and the Wild Garden by Kara West—Book 13 of Mia Mayhem, Kids, Fantasy, Superheroes
• Larger Than Life by Trish Granted—Book 8 of Jeanie & Genie
• Legends and Liars by Morgan Rhodes—Book 2 of Echoes and Empires, YA, Fantasy
• Savage Crowns by Matt Wallace—Book 3 of Savage Rebellion, Dark Fantasy, Military
• The Evergreen Heir by A.K. Mulford—Book 4 of The Five Crowns of Okrith, Fantasy, LGBTQ
• The Surviving Sky by Kritika H. Rao—Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic
• Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara—Fantasy, Folklore, Romantic

June 20^th:

• And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong—YA, Dark Fantasy
• The Book of Gems by Fran Wilde—Book 3 of Gem Universe, Epic Fantasy
• Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik—Book 3 of Starlight’s Shadow Trilogy, Space Opera, Military, Crime
• Loki: Journey Into Mystery by Katherine Locke—eBook, Marvel, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Marvel Superheroes
• The Wicked Unseen by Gigi Griffis—YA, Horror, LGBTQ
• The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson—Book 2 of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, Fantasy, Romantic, LGBTQ
• Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool—YA, Romance, Sci-Fi, Steampunk

June 21^st:

• Dance of the Starlit Sea by Kiana Krystle—YA, Fantasy, Romance, Mythology

June 27^th:

• The Scorpion Queen by Mina Fears—YA, Dark Fantasy
• The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson—Book 2 of Secret Projects, Epic Fantasy
• Robosoldiers by Stephan Lawson—Sci-Fi, Military
• The Ghosts of Trappist by K.B. Wagers—Book 3 of A NeoG Novel, Sci-Fi, Military
• Conjure Island by Eden Royce—Kids, Fantasy
• Gods of the Wyrdwood by R.J. Barker—Fantasy
• Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton—YA, Epic Fantasy, Romantic
• Manga, Murder and Mystery: The Boy Detectives of Japan’s Lost Generation by Mimi Okabe—eBook, Fantasy, Manga

That’s June

That’s June, folks!

We’ve got a lot of stuff to look forward to this month and even more stuff to look forward to next month. Sign up for Geek Alerts to be the first one to hear all about it.

Keep it Geeky!