Latest Features
Feature Can't Buy Super Mario 64 On Switch Anymore? Psst! The N64 Original Is Better
EON discusses Super 64: PAL Edition
As you'll no doubt have heard, Super Mario 3D All-Stars — the 3D Mario collection that bundles Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy in a single Switch cartridge (or download) — will no longer be available to buy
Talking Point Should It Be Easier To Customise A Nintendo Switch?
You bought it, you break it
It's almost the dictionary definition of a first world problem, I know, but I've been having an awful time lately trying to make my Switch cute. Sure, there are a ton of Joy-Con colourways that I could drop at least 70 quid on, but the issue is that they aren't cute. Forgive me for being the kind of gal who wants lovely...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 27th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It's the end of another busy week! We've crossed into a new season and territories across the globe are losing hours all over the place. In the last seven days we've found out Reggie is stepping down from GameStop's board of directors, we've seen old games continuing to sell for silly money, and — mo
Guide Monster Hunter Rise Sub-Camp Locations
Where to find all the Sub-camps in Monster Hunter Rise
Sub-camps in Monster Hunter Rise are super useful, you can access your item storage and fast travel to them whenever you want — as long as you don’t have a Basarios up your bum. You’d be mad not to take advantage of them, frankly. In this Sub-camp location guide we'll take you through the...
All the idea, no gear
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, we're running a series of features looking at a specific aspect — a theme, character, mechanic, location, memory or something else entirely — from each of the mainline Zelda games. Today, Gavin struggles to gather the necessary items to get his multiplayer quests...
Feature Should You Buy Harvest Moon: One World, Or Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town?
We did a direct compare and contrast to answer that question for you!
Right, farming fans and friends: let's get it out of the way. Harvest Moon is not Harvest Moon. The series known as Bokujo Monogatari in Japan was translated as "Harvest Moon" when it came out back in 1997, and that title stuck with the series until 2013, when Natsume - the...
Talking Point Are You A 'Complete-In-Box' Or 'Loose Cart' Retro Gamer?
'Cause you never quite know where the CIBs is at
Many many moons ago, I used to have a hard rule when it came to buying secondhand games: CIB, or on yer bike. You can tell it was years ago, because back then we called them 'secondhand', not 'preowned'. You see, I was the type of kid who would keep not only the pamphlets and warranty cards that came...
Talking Point Are There Too Many Harvest Moon-Likes On The Market?
Raking in the profit
This is my new game, "FrankenFarm" Ova Magica. Monster Harvest. Coral Island. Castaway Paradise. Kitaria Fables. Littlewood. No, those aren't the potential titles for my upcoming heavy metal album - those are just a few of the recently-announced, released, or funded farming games I can think of, and that's far fr
Feature Zelda: The Minish Cap Is All About Seeing Things From A New Perspective
It's no small thing
I've always dreamed of a wearable Big Bird hat To celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, we're running a series of features looking at a specific aspect — a theme, character, mechanic, location, memory or something else entirely — from each of the mainline Zelda games. Today, Kate graps her (Minish) cap and...
Feature The Bloodthirsty History Of Monster Hunter, From Sony PlayStation To Nintendo Switch
In the hunt for knowledge? You've come to the right place
Monster Hunter is Capcom’s second-best-selling video game franchise. It’s bigger than Street Fighter, it’s bigger than Devil May Cry, and it’s bigger than Mega Man. However, it could be argued that Monster Hunter has had a rocky road leading up to the monumental success of Monster...
Talking Point One Year On, What's Still Missing From Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
O Brewster, where art thou?
After a long, tiring old year, Animal Crossing: New Horizons needs a shot. No, not the shot in the arm currently being rolled out across the planet with varying degrees of alacrity — we're talking about a caffeine shot from the series' purveyor of finest roasted bean juice, Brewster. The damn fine coffee of everyone's...
Feature Resident Evil At 25 - A Shambling Corpse Never Felt More Alive
It just won’t die
It’s now been twenty-five years since S.T.A.R.S. members Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield first burst through the front doors of the Spencer Mansion and found themselves standing in one of gaming’s most iconic opening areas. Resident Evil’s fixed camera angles revealed the full scale of that grand hall, as well as the...
Feature 10 Pokémon Spin-Offs You May Have Forgotten About
We explore some of Pokémon’s lesser-known adventures
When main Pokémon entries continuously bring in millions of sales every time, it’s hardly surprising that Nintendo’s hit series has so many spin-offs. Since Pocket Monsters: Red and Green arrived in Jap
Soapbox How One Large Vegetable Highlights The Issue With Japan-Only Merch
I want the Big Turnip
While perusing news on the upcoming release of Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town - a game I am reviewing, and a series I love - I stumbled upon something special: a limited edition turnip plushie, available only in Japan. I... love the big turnip... And, you see, the thing is, I want the Big Turnip. But more than just...
Gallery Animal Crossing: New Horizons - A Year In Pictures
NL readers look back on 365 days of Animal Crossing
Whether it seems like yesterday or not is a matter of perspective, but Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched one year ago today. And what a year it's been! Nintendo's life sim ended up becoming a significant coping mechanism for many people throughout 2020; a social outlet and positive focal...
Soapbox I Somehow Bought Over $800 Of Animal Crossing Crap In One Year
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, stop foolin' me.
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. Today, Alan grabs his accountant visor and tots up how much money he wasted wisely invested in the Bank of Nook over the past year. On the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 20th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week draws to a close and the weekend beckons. Over the past seven days some little-known minnow in Nintendo's IP portfolio received an anniversary update, we got a glimpse of what a hypothetical raytraced Breath of the Wild could look like in 8K, and we're gearing up for yet
Soapbox One Year On, Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is History
Learn from the past
I wish for vaccines If you asked me the question, "where were you when you found out about 9/11", then my answer is "in a car park in Loughborough". I remember it crisp and clear: the gravel underfoot, the way my mum's voice trembled a little when I asked her, with childlike sincerity, if there would be a World War Three. "I...
Feature Plants Vs. Zombies Producer On Bringing EA's Frostbite Engine To Switch
"From the onset, we maintained that this was not just going to be a simple port"
From a fan's point of view, EA's support of Switch has had its ups and downs since Nintendo's hybrid console launched four years ago. Solid releases such as Burnout Paradise Remastered and Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered show that the publisher isn't averse to...
Soapbox Life Is Strange Belongs On Switch. So Why Isn't It?
Nintendo's console seems like a great fit
The Square Enix Direct Presents stream went up just a few hours ago, and despite knowing that we'd be left disappointed, a few of us at Nintendo Life tuned in, hoping to hear about games coming to Switch. Balan Wonderworld was featured, but we already knew about that, and the only other Switch game was...
Feature Zelda: The Wind Waker Proved We Don't Always Know What We Want
The Legend of Celda: Backlash Backtrack
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, we're running a series of features looking at a specific aspect — a theme, character, mechanic, location, memory or something else entirely — from each of the mainline Zelda games. Today, Alex thinks back to Space World 2001 and the shock he...
Soapbox This Accessibility App For Animal Crossing: New Horizons Shows How Companies Must Do Better
Gamer Biggy is able to play the game with the use of a touchscreen
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. Today, Kate asks why the games industry is still so far behind in accessibility features. It's something you never have to think...
Talking Point Is Zelda An RPG, Or Not?
The eternal question
There's one question that has plagued mankind for what feels like an eternity. No, it's not the meaning of life. It's not even the question of why a buttered slice of bread always falls face down when you drop it. We are talking, of course, about that age-old quandary: Is The Legend of Zelda an RPG? Wikipedia, everyone's...
Feature The Brilliance Of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages & Seasons Forced Nintendo To Up Its Game
Flagship titles
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, we're running a series of features looking at a specific aspect — a theme, character, mechanic, location, memory or something else entirely — from each of the mainline Zelda games. Today, Gavin ponders how the Oracle games demonstrated just how well outside developers had...
Feature Clockwork Aquario Developers On The Restoration Of Westone's Lost Arcade Gem
We speak to the team, including Wonder Boy creator Ryuichi Nishizawa
For video game fans who have been playing in arcades and at home for several decades now, the topic of preservation has become a pressing one in recent years. As ageing technology inevitably fails and we sadly begin losing the creators who were there at the dawn of digital...
Feature A Brief History Of Nintendo’s Home Hardware Add-Ons
A multi-format menagerie
Nintendo’s handheld console upgrades were so common for so long you could practically set your watch by them: the leap from Game Boy to Game Boy Color via the Pocket; the GBA’s evolution from its original battery powered form to the blazing intensity of the Micro’s beautiful screen; the more recent range of DSis, XL
Feature Zelda: Majora's Mask Is A Testament To What Nintendo Is Capable Of When It Gets Weird
You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, we're running a series of features looking at a specific aspect — a theme, character, mechanic, location, memory or something else entirely — from each of the mainline Zelda games. Today, Kate explores the philosophy and tragedy behind...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 13th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
With news of an upcoming Build-A-Bear Animal Crossing collection and all the MAR10 Day celebrations, it's been another busy week in the world of Nintendo. Let's relax with some chatter about our gaming plans, shall we? Members of the Nintendo Life team have done just that below, so feel free to give our...
Soapbox It's Time To Normalise Giving Up On Games Early
Real gamers quit
Ganon, you say? Hm, not sure I've met him, sorry Back in the day, a single video game would set you back a decent chunk of change. Most people would get just a couple a year, like Charlie Bucket and his single birthday chocolate bar, and they'd have a grand old time rinsing those games of content. I'm not here to say "games these...
Random Forget Fat Pikachu - We're All About Wide Link
What a good boy
What's that you've got there? A triangle? Good job! If you're ever having a bit of an off day, may we recommend looking through old Zelda key art? Whether you have a few manuals from the old games lying around, or you just want to browse the Zeldapedia galleries, it's something that always cheers us up. This is Link and Ganon...
Community Send Us Your Screenshots To Celebrate One Year Of Animal Crossing: New Horizons
#ACNHYear1
It's coming up on one year since Nintendo dropped Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch. Yes, it's nearly 365 days since so many of us took that first flight to Tom Nook's deserted island and made a new life for ourselves. Depending on the day, that year either feels like it's flown by or has dragged interminably thanks to certain...
Soapbox I'm Tired Of Ports And Remakes - Where Are All Nintendo's New Ideas?
I don't want to relive the 2000s! Once was enough!
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. Having argued a defence of March 31st yesterday, Kate decides to take on another hot topic: Why is Nintendo so focused on remaking old games?...
Soapbox There Might Be A Bright Side To Mario's March 31st Doomsday, After All
The termination of various Super Mario games looms, but it's not all bad news
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Kate argues that Mario's Doomsday might not be as bad an event as you think... Let's begin with a tally of...
"We inspire each other way more than any outside influences could"
Last month, Swedish developer Tarsier Studios released Little Nightmares II on Switch and other platforms. The sequel to the team's previous horror-themed puzzle-platformer (which arrived on Switch in 2018 as Little Nightmares: Complete Edition), this second adventure follows Six and...
Soapbox Why Do People Love Games Like Stardew Valley And Animal Crossing?
Playing games shouldn't feel like work, right?
One of my favourite things to do after a long day of nine-to-five work is crack open a beer, get cosy on the sofa, and play two to five hours of a game where I have a nine-to-five job. It seems ludicrous to spend my free time doing exactly what I do in my non-free time, and yet, here I am - one of...
Feature Panic Button And Respawn On The Challenge Of Bringing Apex Legends On Switch
"Any port of a live service game is a true miracle"
The free-to-play battle royal, Apex Legends launches on Switch this week on March 9th, and we were thrilled when we learned the master porters, Panic Button assisted Apex developers Respawn Entertainment with the mission. To learn more about the interworkings of Panic Button, the challenge of...
Talking Point Here's Why You Shouldn't Be Worried About The Rumoured Switch Pro's 720p Screen
When "just enough" is "good enough"
The "Switch Pro" is on its way – at least, that's what a report from Bloomberg is telling us. The outlet has spoken to a source close to Nintendo's production line and has stated that an updated version of the console is coming soon, boasting a 7-inch, OLED panel with a 720p resolution. While it's also being r
Memory Pak Taking My First Starter Pokémon All The Way To The Elite Four
Making my parents proud by beating a video game
My first Pokémon was a Chikorita named Chicky, and I loved that tiny green horse-thing with all my heart. I came to Pokémon a little later than many of my friends and peers, having missed out on Pokémon Red and Blue by not owning a Game Boy, but I spent many hours watching others wander around...
Feature People Are Sharing Their First Four Zelda Screenshots On Switch, And We Wanted To Join In
Let's just delete all the ones of Link's bum in those rubber tights real quick
It's been 4 years (and a few days) since the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, alongside the Nintendo Switch itself. Despite not being a particularly big anniversary, it's been celebrated nonetheless by fans and game critics alike. The latest birthday...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 6th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
With fresh "Switch Pro" rumours and confirmation that Nintendo has no intention of backing down from its decision to wipe Mario from existence at the end of the month, it's been quite the rollercoaster week. Thankfully, it's now time for us to have a breather and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Me
Feature Why Zelda: Link’s Awakening Is Literally My Dream Game
What's reality anyway?
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, we're running a series of features looking at a specific aspect — a theme, character, mechanic, location, memory or something else entirely — from each of the mainline Zelda games. Today, Stu gets all dreamy about one of his favourite entries in the franchise...
Soapbox The Nintendo Switch Was My Companion As I Travelled The World
Reflecting on four turbulent years with my steadfast console companion
Not my actual suitcase - mine had way more shoes, and no pliers (why do they have pliers?) When the Nintendo Switch came out in early 2017, I was adrift. I had moved out of London, I had gone freelance a few months before, and I was what people at the time called a "digital...
Preview Story of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town Is Not Quite As Pioneering As We'd Hoped
Can the series keep up with Stardew Valley?
How does Story of Seasons continue to innovate when Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing have done so much to develop the 25-year-old formula? Well, with Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town, the answer is twofold: one - borrow the ideas of Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, and two - change things for...
Feature Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story Is A Fun Documentary With Some Critical Flaws
An entertaining mini-series that misses some key beats
"When you think of video games, the very first thing that comes to your mind is Nintendo." Minutes in, Tommy Tallarico sums it up perfectly. Anyone who’s ever heard relatives calling a random console "The Nintendo" can attest to this statement. Nintendo’s history is well recorded but, for...
Feature Capcom On Monster Hunter Rise's Rampage, Wirebug Exploration And Alien Wyverns
"This is the first time that we're using the RE engine for a Monster Hunter title"
Our readers may have felt a bit left out after the Monster Hunter series skipped Nintendo platforms with Monster Hunter World back in 2018, but all of that is about to change as the latest entry in the series, Monster Hunter Rise is hitting Nintendo Switch on March...
Feature Forget Saving Hyrule, Zelda: Ocarina of Time Is All About Fishing For Me
Lure of the wild
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, we're running a series of features looking at a specific aspect — a theme, character, mechanic, location, memory or something else entirely — from each of the mainline Zelda games. Today, Kerry admits that she didn't always stick to the proposed path when playing one of...
Feature After Fire Emblem And Famicom Detective Club, What Comes Next From Nintendo's Vault?
Raiders Of The Lost Games
Between the eclectic selection of NES and SNES games served up as part of everyone’s Nintendo Switch Online subscription, Fire Emblem's long-awaited (if time-limited) English language release thirty years after its Japanese debut, and the upcoming remake of their Disc System adventure game Famicom Detective Club, it
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - February 2021
February's best Switch eShop games!
Can you believe we're already two months into the year?! Well, thankfully, no matter how quickly time passes by, the Switch eShop seems to offer up dose after dose of great digital content to enjoy and February was no different. These awards aim to celebrate the best of Nintendo's digital store, giving some love...
Memory Pak When Harvest Moon Taught Me About Death
You can't just save scum this one away
Welcome to the latest instalment in our new column, Memory Pak, where we're going to be doing a deep-dive into some of the most memorable moments in gaming – good and bad. We hope you've got some tissues ready because this one's going to be a bit of a weepy. People play Harvest Moon games for their...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 27th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Phew! With news of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes – and a new open-world Pokémon game, too – it was a super busy end to the week. Thankfully, though, it's now time to relax and have a chat about our weekend plans. Members of the Nintendo Life team have done just that below, so feel free to give our...