Press start: Best new game releases July and August

Donkey Kong Bananza, Shadow Labyrinth, Tales Of The Shire: A Lord Of The Rings Game, Killing Floor 3 and Mafia: The Old Country are just some of the incredible video games coming your way over the next month.

Whether you have a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, you’re a PC gamer or you have a console from a previous generation, you’ll find something you’ll love in our round up of the best new video game picks.

Don’t forget, if you want to download any of these games directly to your console or computer, with a Virgin Media Broadband package for gamers, you’ll be set up to dominate the competition with a fast, stable connection. Find out more here.

Here’s all you need to know about the best game releases in July and August 2025…

Available on Switch 2 now

The Nintendo Switch 2 finally arrived last month – and that means a slew of thrilling new games are set to join its roster this year. One example is Donkey Kong Bananza, the first major instalment in the iconic Donkey Kong franchise for more than a decade. Players take control of our titular gorilla to complete missions, solve puzzles and fight enemies, while smashing everything in your path along the way (obv) to retrieve Golden Bananas that have been stolen by a villainous gang of apes in this action-packed 3D adventure. Bring. It. On.

Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch now

Everyone loves the adorable little ghost-chomper Pac-Man. Which is what makes this genre-twisting alternate take to the Pac-Man world so unsettling. In the 2D action platformer, players take control of “Swordsman No. 8” where, upon waking on a mysterious alien planet, you join forces with floating yellow orb Puck and become the instrument of its will. Eek. Together you’ll discover new powers and consume your enemies to become the ultimate apex predator, while unearthing the secrets of an age-old intergalactic conflict.

Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S from Thursday 24 July

As you’d expect from the producers behind award-winning titles Assetto Corsa Competizione and Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night, this isn’t your typical soulslike action-adventure game. You navigate the war-torn ancient world of China’s Ming Dynasty as Bai Wuchang, a female pirate who is suffering from amnesia and awakens to a plague epidemic known as Feathering. Featuring stunning visuals, the broad combat system packs a punch with 25 powerful weapons and 40 diverse spells rooted in Taoist ritual and folklore; when combined with Wuchang’s fast-paced techniques, you can adapt to enemy threats skilfully and in real time. 

Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S from Thursday 24 July

At last! After nearly a decade’s wait, a new flesh-chomping chapter is coming to legendary horror franchise Killing Floor and we can’t wait to sink our teeth into it. As part of the rebel group Nightfall, you’re tasked with saving humanity from a terrifying army of bioengineered monsters (aka ZEDs). No pressure then... While the impressive upgrades include more dynamic enemies, new environmental traps, greater customisation and a fully integrated mod system, the third instalment stays true to the game’s roots with all the exhilarating, gun-wielding action that makes Killing Floor one of the best first-person shooter zombie games around.

Available on PC, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 from Friday 25 July

Special Agent Kaname Date and his trusty partner, the AI-ball Aiba, are back in action to solve another crime in this direct sequel to AI: The Somnium Files. It’s set shortly after the events of the first game, as tragedy strikes Tokyo once more when internet sensation Iris Sagan is abducted by aliens and forced to participate in The Third Eye Game. In a race against time to save the day, players can relive the investigative and dream-like blend of gameplay that this puzzle mystery series is known for, while enjoying the addition of an escape room section in which you control Iris as she tries to break out of the deadly game. Good luck!

Available on PS5 from Friday 25 July

What happens when you’re kidnapped from your timeline and left in the 25th century with prehistoric dinosaurs and hostile forces around every corner? Violet Sinclair is about to find out in this third-person action horror that’ll leave you breathless. On your one-woman mission, players must navigate the mysterious Aion Bioengineering Complex, which harbours a sinister conspiracy, and escape its horrors during an evacuation protocol. Expect adrenaline-pumping melee and ranged combat tactics, mind-boggling puzzles, strategic inventory management and heart-stopping gameplay that’s perfect for thrill-seekers.

Available on PC, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch from Tuesday 29 July 

It might be the middle of summer but we’re already daydreaming about days spent snuggled up indoors. If you can’t wait for the new season to roll around then Tales Of The Shire is the delightful (Miruvor) tonic that you’re looking for. Head back to Middle-earth in this heart-warming life sim where a cosy adventure awaits in the Shire, as you create your own hobbit and manage your day-to-day life with tasks like decorating your own hobbit hole, foraging wild fruits and herbs, trading with the townsfolk, tending to your garden and much more. We’ll see you there!

Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch from Thursday 7 August

We’re throwing it back to the 1980s with this collection of arcade games that have been given a modern makeover to mark the franchise’s 40th anniversary. It features 18 versions across all seven arcade games, and pioneering retro titles including Gradius, Life Force and Salamander III have been upgraded with new and improved features including save states, a gallery feature and a Training mode where you can adjust restart points, loop counts, and power-up statuses, as well as a rewind feature so you can play as much as you want without spending all your pocket money. Result!

Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S from Friday 8 August

It’s the start of the 20th century and you’re at the centre of the Sicilian Mafia’s brutal underworld, willing to do whatever it takes to ascend to the top of the empire. That’s the premise of The Old Country, the latest Mafia instalment and prequel to the original game. Players take control of criminal novice Enzo Favara and immerse themselves in a merciless open-world fight for survival that’s packed with rich storytelling and life-or-death combat, as you uncover the cutthroat world of organised crime. Remember: it’s not personal, it’s strictly business.

Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 from Thursday 14 August

Huddle up! There’s a thrilling new chapter in the Madden NFL universe and you’ve been drafted in to become the league’s next MVP. So what’s the latest edition bringing to the gridiron field? As well as a dynamic weather system, there are new player-specific traits, mechanics and playstyles that match real-life players and coaches. Plus, developers have collaborated with all 32 NFL teams to bring you the most authentic gameplay ever, with team-specific field art, mascots, sounds and motion graphics. Available in two editions, this is the series’ most explosive instalment to date.

• Mecha BREAK (Xbox Series X/S, PC) – Wednesday 2 July

• EA Sports College Football 26 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – Monday 7 July

• Missile Command Delta (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch) – Tuesday 8 July

• Patapon 1+2 Replay (PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC) – Friday 11 July

• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch) – Friday 11 July

• Edens Zero (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – Tuesday 15 July

• The Wandering Village (Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 17 July

• The Drifter (PC) – Thursday 17 July

• Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV (Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 24 July

• WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 24 July

• Killing Floor 3 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 24 July

• No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files (PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 25 July

• Wild Hearts S (Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 25 July

• Relicbound (PC) – Monday 28 July

• Grounded 2 (PC, Xbox Series X/S) – Tuesday 29 July

• Tales Of The Shire (PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox Series X/S) – Tuesday 29 July

• Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 31 July

• Code Violet (PS5) – July TBC

• Sword Of The Sea (PC, PS5) – Tuesday 19 August

• Dying Light: The Beast (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – Friday 22 August

• Gears Of War: Reloaded (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – Tuesday 26 August

• Story Of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (PC, Nintendo Switch) – Wednesday 27 August

• Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 28 August

• Super Robot Wars Y (PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 28 August

• Kirby And The Forgotten Land (Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 28 August

• Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance (PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – Friday 29 August

• Lost Soul Aside (PC, PS5) – Friday 29 August

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