The new 'Splatoon Raiders' and the return of the pirate 'Assassin's Creed', among the five big video games of July
The month's novelties evoke players' nostalgia and will keep them company during the hottest days
After the big presentations in June and learning what the future of video games will offer, we look at the shorter term and review the most imminent releases. Action, rhythm, nostalgia and fantastic creatures: there's something for everyone! And we haven't forgotten about the frantic trains of Denshattack!, by the Catalan developers Undercoders, which were supposed to arrive in June, but have suffered delays until this July 15.
The Rhythm Heaven saga returns after a decade without any signs of life. The new installment maintains the franchise's classic pillar and brings together a collection of over 80 musical microgames in which rhythm is key when pressing buttons. The major novelties of this installment are the variety of artistic styles that mix the multiplayer option and an unprecedented mode similar to an RPG adventure. The package, with the return of Japanese musician and composer Tsunku and a reduced price, kicks off the summer calendar with force.
Considered one of the highlights of Ubisoft's saga, Edward Kenway's pirate adventure returns totally revamped. The original Black Flag (2013) captivated audiences mainly thanks to the freedom it offered on the open sea, spectacular naval battles, and a rogue tone that broke away from the rigidity of the more classic Assassin’s Creed titles. This remake maintains the original's Caribbean charisma, but updates it to modern technical standards. In short, a golden opportunity to sing sea shanties again with next-generation graphics.
One of the most controversial phenomena of recent times will have its definitive launch. After accumulating more than 25 million units sold in its early access period, Palworld officially arrives at its version 1.0. Popularly known as the “Pokémon with firearms”, the game has experienced a genuine head-on collision with Nintendo and Game Freak's saga due to the evident design similarities of some of its creatures. Legal disputes and plagiarism accusations aside, this final release consolidates its formula, adds inédit content to the end of the game, and strengthens server stability.
Nintendo's most popular ink universe makes the leap to the new generation with a completely new installment that breaks the established scheme of the franchise and moves away from the usual competitive multiplayer formula, focused on territorial paint wars. Splatoon Raiders proposes a completely different gameplay, with a more narrative adventure format designed mainly for a single player. The action takes the player through a conglomerate of islands, a very summery setting with more open areas to explore, frenetic encounters, treasures, and colossal final enemies. The title is a branch of a saga with a track record. Nintendo takes the opportunity to expand its universe and demonstrate the technical muscle of the Switch 2.
If more doses of nostalgia were needed, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved is also arriving, the first installment of the saga born in 2001 from Bungie. The original title is part of the history of first-person shooter video games, and it became one of Xbox's great flagships at the beginning of the millennium. More than two decades later, the primeval adventure returns with a complete makeover. Halo: Campaign Evolved puts the player behind the eyes of the iconic super-soldier in his first campaign, in which he discovers the mysterious alien ring, but in an absolute visual reconstruction adapted to modern times. It is news that, despite the open debate about the exclusivity of Microsoft games, for the first time in history Halo will also be playable on a Sony console.
Extra level!
Beyond the big releases, we cannot forget about the local scene or the most relevant ports and updates:
Postponed proposals and local harvest
Catalan indie Denshattack! up finally on the 15th, but also other proposals that have been seen for the fairs in the territory. The small Alicante studio BBear Studio releases the frustrating co-op on July 24th An Eggstremely Hard Game, in which two geese must transport an egg without breaking it. On July 2nd, it also lands Hyperwired, by Sidralgames (Zaragoza), with its retro proposal of a spaceship with a plug hanging from the back.
Doll with Japanese stamp
The Xenoblade Chronicles saga releases its second improved installment for Switch 2 on July 30, with an eye on the new Xenoblade Genesis for 2027. A port of Digimon Story: Time Stranger also arrives on Nintendo's console on July 10, a title greatly celebrated by fans of digital creatures originally released last October. Finally, on July 23, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is also released on the big N's hybrid.
Handcrafted and adapted works
Further away, from the Czech Republic, comes a very original proposal from the Attu Games couple. Scarlet Deer Inn (July 21) recounts a dark medieval tale with art made entirely from artisanal embroidery. On the other hand, on the 16th, Moss: The Forgotten Relic, which adapts the two acclaimed virtual reality adventures Moss and Moss: Book II to be able to play on traditional screens without the need for glasses.
One last serving of action and terror
Two of the best games of 2025 receive a new expansion this month. Doom: The Dark Ages presents Revelations on the 7th, inviting the player to a chilling icy territory and giving them a new and lethal spear. Also being released is The Alters: Last Variable on the 13th, which introduces a new narrative arc of about 20 hours to the science fiction title. On the other hand, there is a new proposal for fans of the Lovecraft universe with The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu (July 15).