Feature: Nintendo Life eShop Selects (July 2025)
By Another month in the books, another instalment of eShop Selects arriving to usher in the next.
Greetings, everyone — it’s time for your monthly dose of eShop Selects, this round covering July 2025. As ever, we’re spotlighting the cream of the crop — the finest digital exclusives you might have let slip by on both Switch 1 and Switch 2. Because, believe it or not, titles other than Donkey Kong Bananza have actually launched!
A Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase has already painted an encouraging picture for both systems, so let’s quickly recap the rules — July delivered a strong haul; writers and contributors each picked their personal top three eShop exclusives from our reviewed July 2025 releases. Rank positions were assigned inverse scores (1st place = most points, 3rd = least), tallied up, and the highest combined total formed this month’s podium.
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Hold up — whatever you’re smashing through the floorboards for, come back and see the outcome!
Honourable mentions
Before the big reveal, we’re aware that Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is absent; review copies for its Switch debut didn’t arrive until launch (the 31st). Rest assured, we’re working flat-out to bring you verdicts, which is why it’s missing for now.
Nine other titles were eligible, all landing 7/10 or higher. Here’s what narrowly missed the cut:
- Arcade Archives 2 Air Combat 22 | Review: 7/10
- Dear me, I was… | Review: 8/10
- Handy Hockey | Review: 7/10
- Misc. A Tiny Tale | Review: 7/10
- System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster | Review: 9/10
- The Wandering Village | Review: 7/10
3rd Place – Time Flies
A surreal little curiosity we’ve followed ever since its Day of the Devs teaser years back. Time Flies is an existential story starring a housefly cursed with mere minutes to exist. What can they squeeze into that blink of an eye? Absolutely whatever they desire.
Turns out, flies do get tipsy, lay down beats, or even become bearable companions. Oh — and we’re not claiming the launch timing, right after Mario Paint dropped on NSO (complete with fly swatting mini-game), is cosmic coincidence, but the visuals couldn’t be more alike.
Compact, charming and a worthy 8/10 download for Switch.
2nd Place – Monument Valley 3
You’d think the Monument Valley collection would have turned up on Switch sooner, yet 2025 marks its debut on the portable pair. Fortunately, the newest chapter, Monument Valley III, followed soon after — and it’s every bit as dazzling.
Missing touchscreen input might sting a little, yet the brain-bending perspective puzzles are every inch as inventive. Add gorgeous palettes and jaw-dropping scenery that bend reality, and every level gleams. It’s maybe the gentlest in the trilogy, but still essential.
Peek at our review; it confidently secured an 8/10.
1st Place – Patapon 1+2 Replay
July contained an undisputed victor: the PSP cult classic returns through Bandai Namco’s broad revival — cue the chants of ‘pata-pata-pon-pon!’ Hail the champion, Patapon 1+2 Replay, singled out by all but a single team member.
If the series is new to you, picture an unseen god beating war drums to command tiny oddball warriors. Tap the rhythm and your troops attack, defend, charge, or retreat. Every beat lodges itself in your skull forever; mix in new quality-of-life tweaks and both games have never felt smoother.
We scored the package 7/10 , yet its infectious rhythm has marched straight into our souls.
< Nintendo eShop Selects - June 2025
Does our ranking sit right with you? Cast your vote in the poll below and share your own highlights from last month’s eShop in the comments.
How we decide our eShop Selects top three: When each calendar page flips, Nintendo Life editors choose their personal podium from an in-house shortlist. To be eligible, a game must have shipped as a digital-only release on Nintendo Switch eShop that same month and already be reviewed by the site. Qualification is based on review score.
After compiling that list, staff cast three votes — first pick earns 3 pts, second 2 pts, third 1 pt. Totals decide the final top three, and the highest scorer lifts the monthly crown.