Usual June Blends Hades Action with Crystal Crabs and Ghosts

What Is Usual June?

Usual June is a single-player, third-person action-adventure game published by Finji. It blends Hades-esque combat mechanics with supernatural elements, including crystal crabs and ghosts, positioning itself as a classic-style action-adventure title in a market dominated by live service and roguelike games.

The game addresses a gap in the current market for traditional, narrative-driven action-adventure experiences. According to the source material, the genre has "fallen by the wayside a tad" in favor of live service models and highly replayable genres like roguelikes and deckbuilders. Usual June aims to fill that void with a combat system reminiscent of the critically acclaimed game Hades, combined with a Halloween-appropriate aesthetic featuring spectral enemies and crystalline creatures.

Usual June is a Finji-published action-adventure game that applies Hades-like combat to a supernatural setting filled with crystal crabs and ghosts, targeting players who miss classic single-player genre experiences.

Key Facts

The following table presents the known factual anchors for Usual June based exclusively on the source material. Where specific data is not provided in the source, this is explicitly stated.

Usual June's published specifications confirm a Finji-published action-adventure title with Hades-inspired combat, while its release date, price, and platform availability remain unspecified in the source material.

Why Is Usual June Notable in the Current Gaming Market?

Usual June is notable because it represents a return to the traditional action-adventure format during an era dominated by live service games and infinite roguelikes. The source material explicitly notes that the "humble action adventure game has fallen by the wayside a tad" in the modern gaming landscape.

The game's design combines familiar action mechanics with a distinctive supernatural theme. The source describes it as "a quite classic one of those" action-adventure games, suggesting a deliberate adherence to genre conventions rather than innovation for its own sake. The inclusion of crystal crabs and ghosts as central elements differentiates it from standard fantasy or sci-fi action titles, and the source speculates it "might end up being a Halloween regular" due to its thematic content.

Usual June is notable for reviving the classic action-adventure format with Hades-esque combat and a ghost-and-crystal-crab theme that positions it as a potential Halloween gaming staple.

How Does Usual June's Combat Compare to Hades?

Usual June's combat is described as "Hades-esque," indicating a direct stylistic and mechanical comparison to Supergiant Games' Hades. The source material does not provide specific mechanical details, but the comparison implies a fast-paced, action-oriented combat system with similar pacing and player feedback.

The source material does not elaborate on specific combat mechanics, such as dodge systems, weapon variety, or progression mechanics. What is known is that the game applies this Hades-inspired combat framework to a third-person perspective, distinguishing it from Hades' isometric view. The combination of "Hades-esque action" with "crystal crabs and ghosts" suggests that combat encounters will involve both physical crystalline enemies and ethereal spectral foes, requiring varied tactical approaches.

Usual June applies Hades-esque action combat to a third-person perspective, featuring encounters with crystal crabs and ghosts, though specific mechanical details are not disclosed in the source.

Who Is This For?

Usual June is designed for players who have been "hungry for an action adventure game" and who miss the traditional single-player, narrative-driven experiences that have become less common. The source material's author explicitly expresses this craving, positioning the game as an answer to that specific player need.

The ideal user is a gamer who enjoys action combat systems similar to Hades but prefers a third-person perspective and a more classic adventure structure. The Halloween-appropriate theme of ghosts and crystal crabs also suggests appeal for players who enjoy seasonal or supernatural gaming experiences. The game appears suited for those who find the "live service and infinite roguelikes and deckbuilders" genres overrepresented and desire a more contained, classic experience.

Usual June is intended for players seeking a classic single-player action-adventure experience with Hades-inspired combat and a supernatural Halloween-appropriate theme, filling a market gap left by live service and roguelike dominance.

Common Questions

Who is writing for Usual June?

Cara Ellison, who previously wrote for Rock Paper Shotgun, is a writer on Usual June. This is disclosed in the source material as a disclaimer, noting her past association with the publication covering the game.

What makes Usual June a potential Halloween game?

The source speculates that Usual June "might end up being a Halloween regular" due to its supernatural elements, specifically the presence of crystal crabs and ghosts. These thematic components align with traditional Halloween gaming aesthetics and seasonal play patterns.

What genre gap does Usual June address?

Usual June addresses the decline of the "humble action adventure game," which the source notes has "fallen by the wayside" in an era focused on live service models, infinite roguelikes, and deckbuilders. It offers a classic-style alternative to these dominant genres.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on a single source: the Rock Paper Shotgun article titled "Usual June Blends Hades Action with Crystal Crabs and Ghosts," originally published at the URL provided in the source material. The source article was written by an unnamed author who expressed a personal craving for action-adventure games.

All facts, quotes, and attributions in this article are derived directly from that source. No external data, statistics, or specifications were added. Where the source lacks specific information (such as release date, price, or platforms), this article explicitly states that the data is not specified in the source.

This article was last updated on May 20, 2025.