@Angelic_Lapras_King how much were the Pikmin ones going for? I have one but not that bothered about it and would have sold it if I’d known it went for silly money 🤣

I also have the squishy Metroid one, although it’s opened and I also have the other one for Samus Returns. Might have to check what they go for too.

Welp! I have so many wishlisted with sales ending today - even just the ones under £4 probably totals over 20. Could be a busy night...

Two recommendations:

• Cuphead
• Dark Souls
  I do not play either of these games to relax.

Glad to see a Resident Evil on here, even if the bad Cloud port was chosen. Nothing gets my heart racing more than a Resident Evil game, but 4 in particular is almost exhausting for me to play sometimes.

@jonathangcohen
It really feels like the first and second boss should've been swapped since their difficulties are reversed. I had much the same frustration on the first one.

@slipperygerik I'm pretty sure there was a restock in the US

@LEGEND_MARIOID yeah, there's a fair few games I've held off on — waiting to see what, if anything, eventually happens with the Switch's successor (back compat/ performance boost would be the absolute dream), otherwise I'll just end up getting them on PS5

Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne was my stressful little bundle of joy. The punishment really brought out the machochist in me. I enjoyed the torture and am a life time fan of punishmen- SMT.

As expected. This game already looked bad in the trailers. I'll wait for this Mutant Mayhem game

@Andee That is a very good point. It may well stay in wishlist limbo for some time for that exact reason. Which would be a shame.

That’s sucks, this turtles series is what really got me into the franchise, shame they couldn’t do it justice.

Since this list seems to focus on games that are frantic or panic-inducing rather than just outright stressful, I'd throw in Just Shapes and Beats, #RaceDieRun, and pretty much anything from Platinum, as they all had me constantly fighting the urge to button mash while attempting to keep up with their absurd pace.

Good list. Hades comes to mind!

Sounds like the reviewer experienced what the kids are calling skill issue. Some of the complaints are things the reviewer just didn't figure out. For example the reviewer claims the game never indicates when you have to look up or down, yet at the bottom of the screen it does just that, there's a green arrow pointing exactly where to go when at a contact point. And moving and interacting are only two different inputs if you aren't paying attention, you can press x while moving to use the contact function instead of going back to the menu. I will admit the game is a bit clunky, but it has an early PlayStation Suda charm to it. It in no way deserves a 3 Nintendo Life should have put a reviewer more used to Suda games on this. In conclusion I give the reviewer a 3 for skill issue

I mean Fortnite’s basically a kids game so sure

Stardew Valley is pretty stressful to me. I need those days to be longer! Too much to get done, not enough time.

Thanks. A list of things for me to NOT buy then! Haha. This said, I think I find Yoshi's Island the least stressful of that lot. That one has no stress memories from the original playthrough on the snes or replays on the Switch, but it is the hardest Yoshi game by far.

Ugh why can't the US get this restock?

Been waiting to play this forever... Is the switch experience not as good as playing it elsewhere?

I think somethings wrong with that Yoshi lol

Well I guess when you make a game for children you gotta have childish rules

You guys are crazy if you think Dark Souls isn't stressful. Every step forward in that game is an opportunity for a new enemy or trap to catch you by surprise. Your options are to slowly inch toward the next bonfire while checking over your shoulder every few seconds or to full on sprint through the game and hope you can figure out where you're going before something catches you. That's not even getting into the oppressive atmosphere, heartpounding boss battles, random invasions, or how easy it is to accidentally kill npcs by missing or completing their questlines.

Special shout out to Cult of The Lamb. That was Stress: The Game for me.

Ugh definitely overcooked I cannot play more than a round or two with the kids

I had a feeling this would come, but of course the day I don't look they restock! But thanks Nintendo Life. I've not been collecting Amiibos that long, but I managed to get most of what I wanted including an extra Daisy for my daughter! Expensive day!

Really cool they restocked Gold Shovel Knight!!

@darkswabber Nothing will stop those kind of people from playing online games like this. People need to grow a backbone and just not let it bother them/ignore it. Those people do crap like that to get negative responses and attention, don't give it to them

I cannot imagine more relaxing game than Pikmin 4.

I didn’t know Subnautica was what it apparently is. That’s going on the wishlist.
There’s quite a few surprising entries here, but everyone gets stressed differently, so that’s cool.
I think Tumbleseed is very stressful.

Stress-seekers! A few tips to up the thrillz:
1. Limit necessities - water, food, shelter, sleep - without these essentials, even the most pathetic challenge becomes a grueling ordeal.

2. Multitask with added stressors - Got a big exam in the morning? Skip studying until the last minute and then fire up a game during. Even the cosy My Melody Inhales Gentle Breezes(not an actual game) will test you as that feeling of subverting critical responsibility sets your synapses on fire.

3. Occlude your senses- That last boss go down a little too easy? Mix some soap and water, spray it directly into your eyes and try that boss on for size now.(don’t do this)

4. Pair with extreme sports- Ever try and beat a game while catching thirty feet of vert? Just because the 90s is over doesn’t mean we can’t all revel in extremes.

Alright, that’s plenty of that…really curious to see everyone’s stressful games. Thanks for the list, Gavin!

Um…where is Breath of the Wild? Every time I hear something that sounds like a guardian I start having a heart attack now
Also I still wanna try Dread

Licensed games in western companies always being treated as pure merchandise. What a waste.

Playing this on Series X at the moment via Game Pass. I definitely wouldn't pay full price for such a short game, but I'll happily play it via subscription. Hopefully, they do more deals with MS in future.

Back to the game, it does feel a bit annoying that it doesn't "save" your clues into the ingame notebook.

@DarkTron Which Diddy is the 'hot' one (or are they both)?

Same question for Rosalina. I prefer the SKU with Luma to the one without.

Well if we’re adding NSO games on here then hands down both Pilotwings games are utterly brutal. The final mission on the SNES version is nearly impossible!

Then there’s the remaster of Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (made easier with save states but SO obscure when collecting the Talismans). The music keeps you on edge and you WILL get lost.

Cuphead might also be the most stressful game I have ever played. Period.

The thought of my dear Samus in Fortnite makes me retch.

No Metroid 🤬 Try harder next time, Nintendo.

Seeing the original Yoshi's Island on this list made me realize that every Yoshi game since (except the GBA games) is incredibly easy by comparison.

A large part of why Nintendo's IPs have a unique cultural cache is BECAUSE they are so incredibly protective and picky about it.

This has always been their strategy, and when it comes to the value of their IP, which third parties and merchandise manufacturers continue to clamor for desperately, it has been working for decades.

Loosening that up might be profitable in the short term, but you don't stick around for literal centuries, becoming one of the most powerful entertainment companies ever, by focusing on the short term.

@Starkiller987 Or just pick up a portable PC. Runs this and many others that stuggle on the switch at 60fps. (Dont get me wrong I still love the switch both for the 1st party/exclusives and even indie titles that I want physicals off)

I’ll wait for a hopeful upgraded version

If I still played Fortnite, I’d select an option to turn off all emotes. I enjoy playing online for the challenge but loathe it for the human interaction. Let me pretend I’m playing by myself with the most advanced bots ever created.

Great list, but I personally think Pikmin 2 is much more stressful than Pikmin 4.

Especially those late-game caves.

I just came here expecting to see Metroid Dread and Tetris 99, and was not disappointed.
I'd add F-Zero 99.
Good list!

@tobsesta99 I thought Cruisin' Blast was awesome! I just don't like the aesthetics here (and I reckon it's more from the source material than Raw Thrills.)

Good thing there's not an option to turn off the dog in Duck Hunt.

Oh, the memories when they bought Accolade inc., and then, Test Drive series (since 6 and related spin offs) starting with that colorful armadillo logo, until when they decided change armadillo for Atari

https://youtu.be/J7GHXGeJ_Qg?si=Jj0HlUvzohHetWYw

@gojiguy As an avid bullet hell/shmup player and 80s kid I echo the 1cc sentiment, but have also put a lot of time in on this game. My local arcade has it and my daughter loves it. While it is a fun button masher I do find myself loosing interest rather quickly no matter how well I'm doing. Maybe I'm not fully invested, my ADD, or it's just me, but I figured I'd chime in since our approach to this type of game is similar. Honestly, Ill probably buy it, simply, to have another fun multi player game with the kid, but will certainly wait for the price to plummet.