Published: July 4, 2026. Release information sourced from Nintendo’s official announcements, and Nintendo Central. All dates confirmed at time of publication and subject to change.
July 2026: Nintendo Switch 2’s Busiest Month Yet
Nintendo has been delivering a steady cadence of new Switch 2 releases throughout 2026, and July is shaping up to be the most packed month of the year so far. Nintendo Switch 2 gamers have six big releases to look forward to in July 2026. From the long-awaited Splatoon spin-off to beloved Final Fantasy classics and the return of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in a new edition, there is something for nearly every type of Switch gamer this month. Here is everything confirmed for July 2026, with context on what each release means.
July 2, 2026 — Rhythm Heaven Groove (Switch 1 / Switch 2 Backwards Compatible)
Rhythm Heaven Groove is releasing for the OG Switch on July 2. It will be playable on Switch 2 through backward compatibility, but it is not getting a native release for Nintendo’s newest console. This is an important distinction: Rhythm Heaven Groove is a Switch 1 title, which means it falls within the scope of Switch 1 emulation on Android handhelds. For players who own Rhythm Heaven Groove on Switch 1, this is potentially playable via Eden on Android — subject to the usual caveat that newer releases take time for the emulation community to verify and optimise. We will update our compatibility notes once community testing has been completed.
July 10 — Digimon Story: Time Stranger
The six highest-profile games coming to the Switch 2 in July are Digimon Story: Time Stranger on July 10. This is a Switch 2 exclusive JRPG entry in the long-running Digimon Story series. The franchise has a dedicated fanbase, and a Switch 2-exclusive release signals Bandai Namco’s commitment to the platform. As a Switch 2 exclusive, it is not accessible via Switch 1 emulation on Android handhelds.
July 16 — Moss: The Forgotten Relic
Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a compilation of the two Moss games, which were previously VR-exclusive titles. The Moss games earned critical acclaim in their VR format, and it will be interesting to see if that translates to the more traditional release that’s on the way for July 16. The transition from VR-exclusive to a standard handheld release is a genuine curiosity — the Moss games were praised for their intimate scale and tactile puzzle design, which may translate surprisingly well to handheld play without VR immersion.
July 23 — Splatoon Raiders (Switch 2 Exclusive)
The headliner of July 2026 is unquestionably Splatoon Raiders. Of course, the headlining new Switch 2 game for July 2026 is undoubtedly Splatoon Raiders. Splatoon Raiders is a campaign-focused Splatoon spin-off with co-op support that looks like it will be a fresh way to experience the franchise while fans wait for the inevitable Splatoon 4.
As covered in our June 2026 Nintendo Direct recap, Splatoon Raiders casts players as a mechanic exploring the Spirhalite islands with the Deep Cut trio, using mechanical gadgets and inky weapons in PvE scenarios rather than the franchise’s traditional competitive multiplayer format. This is Nintendo’s most ambitious Splatoon experiment since the franchise launched, and its July release makes it one of the most anticipated Switch 2 titles of the year.
Splatoon Raiders is a Switch 2 exclusive and will not be playable via Switch 1 emulation on Android handhelds.
July 23 — Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game
Also releasing July 23 alongside Splatoon Raiders, Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game brings the beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra universes into a platform fighter format. The timing alongside Splatoon Raiders makes July 23 a notably busy single day for Switch 2 releases.
July 23 — Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Remaster arrives on Switch 2 July 23. This is a port of a game that has been available on multiple platforms for over a decade, but a native Switch 2 version makes it readily accessible on Nintendo’s latest hardware for the first time. Final Fantasy X remains one of the most beloved JRPGs ever made, and its remaster holds up exceptionally well. For players who have never experienced Tidus and Yuna’s journey, this is a strong entry point.
Worth noting: FFX/X-2 HD Remaster has previously been available for Switch 1 and is well-supported on Switch 1 emulation via Eden on Android handhelds. If you own the Switch 1 version, you can play it legally on your Android handheld today without waiting for the Switch 2 version.
July 30 — Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Closing out July is Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s Switch 2 Edition. The latest Nintendo Direct confirmed that the Xenoblade Chronicles games are coming to the Switch 2, with the first game already available on the platform. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 joins the Xenoblade Switch 2 Edition treatment confirmed during the June 2026 Direct, bringing enhanced performance and potentially improved visuals to one of the Switch’s most expansive JRPGs. The original Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on Switch 1 has improved significantly on Eden in 2026 following the January v0.1.0 update’s graphical fixes — Switch 1 owners can already enjoy it on Android emulation in improved form.
What This Means for Switch 1 Emulation
July 2026 reinforces a pattern we have noted throughout the year: the Switch 2’s exclusive titles (Splatoon Raiders, Digimon Story: Time Stranger) are inaccessible via Switch 1 emulation, while ports and remasters of older titles (Final Fantasy X, Moss) often have Switch 1 versions already playable on Android handhelds. Rhythm Heaven Groove as a Switch 1 title is the most directly relevant release this month for Android emulation users — watch for community compatibility reports in the coming weeks as testing progresses.
