Nintendo Life’s eShop Selects: The Best Games on the Nintendo Switch eShop in July

It’s the beginning of a new month, and that means it’s time for Nintendo Life’s eShop Selects. We’re already well into August, and as the summer draws to a close in the northern hemisphere, the eShop line-up for August is looking hot. But before we dive into August, let’s take a look back at the top games that the eShop offered us in July. July served up a feast of games on the digital storefront, so let’s not waste any time and get into it.

Honourable Mentions

The Nintendo Switch has become a haven for rereleases and ports, especially those of the retro variety. Many of the honourable mentions this month fall into that category. One standout is Nobunaga’s Ambition, a historic series getting a rare English release. While the Switch version may not be the best, it’s still a worthwhile experience for strategy game fans. Another noteworthy mention is the rerelease of the Famicom platformer Gimmick! (known as Mr. Gimmick in Scandinavia). This fantastic remaster stands out as one of the best-looking and best-sounding NES games of its time. It may be challenging, but the inclusion of art galleries, rewind, and save states by BitWave Games makes it accessible to retro enthusiasts. We gave it an 8/10 when we revisited it.

Another game that deserves recognition is Oxenfree II: Lost Signals by Night School Studio. Despite multiple delays, the quality of this sequel remains exceptional. It takes everything that made the first game great and improves upon it with a smaller cast of characters and better pacing. The writing, voice acting, and overall presentation are top-notch. If you enjoyed the first game, you’ll fall in love with the characters and be eager to unravel the new mystery. We awarded it a sublime 9/10 at NL Towers.

Lastly, we have Venba by Team Visai. This game follows a family who has immigrated from India to Canada, exploring their journey of adjustment through food. Venba, the lead character, wants her son to embrace his heritage while understanding the challenges of fitting in. The heartwarming story and the incredible dishes make for a beautiful tale that will resonate with everyone. Regardless of your background, Venba will leave you with plenty to think about. We gave it an 8/10, making it the star of this month’s eShop line-up.

What was your favorite eShop game last month?

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist Of Salburg (Switch eShop) – 8%

Gimmick! Special Edition (Switch eShop) – 16%

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes – Definitive Edition (Switch eShop) – 15%

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening (Switch eShop) – 3%

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals (Switch eShop) – 25%

Patrick’s Parabox (Switch eShop) – 13%

PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe (Switch eShop) – 2%

Venba (Switch eShop) – 2%

Something else (comment below) – 16%

How we decide our eShop Selects top three:

At the end of each month, the Nintendo Life staff votes on their favorite titles from a list selected by the editorial team. To qualify for the list, games must have been released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch eShop and reviewed on Nintendo Life. Each staff member votes for their top three games, with points assigned based on their choices. The top three games with the highest points make it onto the list, and the game with the most points is crowned that month’s winner.