Latest Features
Feature 20 Dreamcast Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch
20 games to mark 20 years
The Dreamcast turns 20 in North America today - yes, 9/9/99 was now two decades ago - and in honour of the occasion we're republishing this article from last November when the console reached the same milestone in its homeland. Enjoy! The Sega Dreamcast turns 20 today – it launched on November 27th, 1998 in Japan – and...
Feature So Long, James Bowden - You And Your Hat Shall Be Missed
Nintendo UK's Community Manager moves on
That's Mr Bowden in the purple hat, if you hadn't guessed All good things must come to an end, and for Nintendo UK Community Manager James Bowden, the end is nigh. The man famous for his fetching line in headgear is leaving Nintendo UK and moving onto pastures new, and we couldn't bear the thought of him...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - August 2019
August's best Switch eShop games!
Yet another month has flown by (a month and a week, in fact) and the Switch eShop is as busy, confusing, and fun as ever. You know what that means: it's time for this month's Nintendo Life eShop Selects! These awards aim to celebrate the best of Nintendo's digital store, giving some love and attention to the games...
Feature Beamdog On Bringing Baldur's Gate And Classic D&D RPGs To Switch
"Anyone that’s sick of codes in a box is going to be in for a treat"
There was a ripple of excitement amongst old-school RPG fans at the end of May when it was announced that a raft of D&D classics were heading to consoles, including your favourite Nintendo handheld hybrid. Beamdog, the developer behind the Enhanced Editions of Baldur's Gate,...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 7th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Well, that's another week down, and this one was full of Metacritic review bombing drama, SNES games galore, and only a bloomin' Nintendo Direct. Phwoar. So, it's absolutely time for us to sit b
Talking Point So, What's This New Nintendo Switch 'Ring' Thing All About?
Another Wii Fit hoop-la, or something different?
Last night Nintendo dropped a mysterious trailer for some new software and bit of kit that has the internet buzzing. A Nintendo Direct presentation was broadcast less than 48 hours ago, but there's more?! The fact that this 'new experience for Nintendo Switch' wasn't included in the Direct is...
Feature Puzzle Quest Creator On Remastering A Classic For Nintendo Switch
"We’ve been very careful not to break the feeling of the original game"
Back in 2007, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords on Nintendo DS was an innovative blend of match-3 and RPG mechanics which created an entirely new take on the puzzle genre and went on to influence a swathe of hybrids in a similar vein. Publishers D3 Go! have now announced...
Hands On Trust Us, You Guys Are Really Going To Dig Shovel Knight Dig
It rocks, honestly
You know what Shovel Knight needs? More digging. At least that’s what developers Yacht Club Games and Nitrome (developer of Bomb Chicken) seem to have on their minds with their recent announcement of Shovel Knight Dig, a Shovel Knight spin-off game for the Nintendo Switch, promised to fans early next year. Unlike the spry...
Hands On Sayonara Wild Hearts Is Pop Perfection In Video Game Form
Say goodbye to your eShop credit when this launches
“Sayonara” is Japanese for “goodbye". Alright, you probably didn’t need help with that one. On the other hand, with Sayonara Wild Hearts, a new video game on the Nintendo Switch developed by Swedish developer Simogo, you’ll probably need some help, both to understand it and to master it...
Feature Dragon Quest XI S Developers On Bringing The Definitive Edition To Switch
"The entire history of the series is packed into this game"
On the 27th September Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition arrives on Switch after debuting on other platforms over two years ago. Japanese gamers were lucky enough to get the game on Nintendo 3DS (with a special feature that had both 3D and classic 2D views of...
Feature Where Does Nintendo Switch Fit In The PS5 And Xbox Project Scarlett Next-Gen War?
Industry experts give their verdict on a growing power gap
With sales of over 40 million units since 2017 and a raft of amazing exclusive and cross-platform titles to its name, the Nintendo Switch is arguably the console of the moment. Pulling together its handheld and domestic interests into a single machine was definitely a gamble for Nintendo,...
Talking Point Should We Expect A Nintendo Direct In September?
All signs point to 'very probably'
Update: Lo and behold, a Nintendo Direct only went and got announced for September, didn't it? Original Article: Looking at Switch's upcoming slate for the remaining months of 2019, there's a fair amount games we here at Nintendo Life Towers are going to have to cram in before we can even start thinking about the...
Feature A Guide To Shopping In Japan's Retro Gaming Paradise, Akihabara
The promised land
For readers of Nintendo Life, Akihabara will almost certainly need no introduction. It has for decades been the bastion of Japanese gaming and otaku culture, a sprawling metropolis of stores packed with gaming treasures which we just can’t find back home. The sheer amount of gaming stores to explore have made the trip to...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 31st)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
We did it, folks! We've made it to another weekend and this time there's a pretty major release to be getting stuck into. You can probably guess what most of us are playing this time around, but we've shared our plans with you below regardless. As always, we'd love for you to join in the fun and leave your own...
Soapbox Mario Kart Tour Looks Lousy With F2P Trappings, But That’s All Right
Keep those currencies and timers where they belong!
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. Here, Gavin grits his teeth and discusses how he's absolutely fine with the free-to-play aspects of the upcoming mobile Mario Kart. The latest entry...
Feature Has A Decades-Old Super Mario 64 Mystery Finally Been Cleared Up?
L is NOT and was never real, according to new sources
There's something about the very best video games which inspires obsession over the smallest details. Whether it involves (over)analysing a blurry texture, trying to decipher a muffled audio clip or simply experim
Talking Point With Overwatch Apparently Switch-Bound, The Future's Bright For Blizzard And Nintendo
Crafting a relationship
News that an officially-licenced Overwatch carry case for Nintendo Switch is available suggests an announcement on the horizon that many of us have expected – Overwatch is Switch-bound. While it's not yet confirmed, it would be a cruel joke to put out licensed accessories for a console you can't play the game on. Winner of...
Feature Pokémon World Championships 2019: Bidding Farewell To The Nintendo 3DS
A report from the front line
Pokémon is an ever-changing beast, but there is currently one constant: The Pokémon World Championships. This year was the 16th event and it was the biggest one to date, with over 8,000 people in attendance. This did cause some delays in starting the Opening Ceremony as people were still outside, but after that,...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 24th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week has slipped by as we descend inevitably into the clutches of 2020. Things kicked off with the Nintendo Indie World Showcase which featured some cracking 'available now on Switch eShop' games such as Superhot and Hotline Miami Collection. We got
Poll How Do You Pronounce These Nintendo-Related Words?
Let’s call the whole thing off
As British film critic Mark Kermode often says, we should never make fun of people for mispronouncing words because — more often than not — it means they learned it through reading. This holds true whether they were found in a book or a video game, and many of us as kids gleaned new vocabulary from instruction...
Hands On We've Played Witcher 3 On Nintendo Switch, And It's A Work Of Magic
"It’s the same as you’ll find on other platforms, how it looks and feels"
Switch has the pick of extraordinary, open-world RPGs. With Nintendo’s own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim from Bethesda, both story-led and user-guided experiences are gloriously catered for. While Switch gamers may have held out...
Poll Have You Ever Had Problems With Nintendo Hardware?
Is Joy-Con drift just a blip on Nintendo’s score sheet?
With Joy-Con drift making headlines again over the past month thanks to lawsuits filed in the US, it’s easy to see the phenomenon as a potential disaster for Nintendo. Many gamers have had absolutely no problems with Switch's detachable controllers, but a huge percentage have encountered...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 17th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week has been and gone, this time bringing with it hints at SNES games coming to Switch and the revelation that Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma teased the upcoming Zelda: Link's Awakening remake years ago! Well... As we've finally reached the weekend, it's time once again to sit back, relax, and chat...
Feature Inti Creates On Mega Man, Working With Nintendo And Staying True To Its Japanese Roots
"We don’t really know what really appeals to people outside the Japanese market"
Inti Creates is arguably one of the most talented game developers working in Japan today. The company – formed by ex-Capcom staff – has produced self-made hits like Azure Striker Gunvolt and Gal*Gun, but has also worked extensively with other firms to produce...
Soapbox To Me, Mario Maker 2 Is Nintendo's Best, And Most Disappointing, Sequel Ever
Super Mario Paradox
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. Here Gavin discusses how Super Mario Maker 2 is giving him mixed emotions... The Nintendo first party flavour of the month may well be Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but due to my...
Exclusive Ahead Of Snooker 19's Switch Launch Next Week, We Find Out Why It's So Special
Developer Lab42 spills the beans
Ripstone Games has confirmed that it will publish Lab42's Snooker 19 on the Nintendo Switch eShop on August 23rd, with a price of £29.99 / €34.99 / $34.99. Pre-orders for the physical version of the game are also open now. Snooker 19 showcases 128 of the world’s top snooker players, including the likes of...
Feature WayForward On River City Girls, Its "Crazy Interpretation" Of The Kunio-kun Brand
Let's hear it for the girls
River City Girls, as you might have already guessed, isn't your average Kunio-kun entry. It swaps out the series' heroes for heroines and has been created by WayForward, overseen by the talented team at Arc System Works. With the River City Girls due to arrive early on in September, the game's director, Adam Tierney, was...
Feature Frogwares On Porting The Sinking City's Open World Lovecraftian Horror To Switch
"We are really happy with how the game looks and plays on the Switch"
Combining detective mystery, supernatural Lovecraftian horror and good old fashioned action adventure into one wet and slimy noir-ish tale, The Sinking City released on other platforms back in June and was announced at E3 to be coming to Switch "later this year". Developer...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 10th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
This week has been packed to the brim with exciting Pokémon news, angry Zelda fans, and pretty much everything in between, but we've finally reached the weekend. As such, it's time to relax, gather round, and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Feel free to read through our entries below, vote in our poll,...
Feature Rogue Legacy Lead Designer Makes A Super Mario Maker 2 Course
Answer the challenge of Cellar Door Games' Teddy Lee
Welcome back to our ongoing Super Nindie Maker 2 series where game developers create Super Mario Maker 2 levels for the pleasure of you lovely people. In the previous feature we received a bumper crop of crafty courses from Playtonic Games and before that we had a tight autoscroll A
Hands On Enter The Gungeon's Physical Edition Is Sure To Brighten Up Your Gaming Shelves
Pew! Pew!
Devolver Digitial and Dodge Roll's twin-stick roguelike Enter The Gungeon launched on Switch all the way back at the end of 2017 and has finally received a physical release thanks to Nighthawk Interactive and Special Reserve Games. Beyond the case and game card (which includes the full game, all of its previously released DLC, and an...
Feature 7Levels On Jet Kave Adventure And Its Donkey Kong Country Inspiration
Jet Kave Radio
Revealed earlier this month, 7Levels' upcoming Switch exclusive Jet Kave Adventure channels the classic gameplay of the Donkey Kong Country series, with colourful environments, chunky mechanics and madcap action. Mixing prehistory with a pinch of sci-fi (resulting in what the trailer dubs 's
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - July 2019
July's best Switch eShop games!
Yet another month has flown by and, as is usually the case, plenty of cracking games found their way to the Nintendo Switch eShop in that time. But which ones are really worth checking out? These awards aim to celebrate the best of Nintendo's digital store, giving some love and attention to the games that could so...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 3rd)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Here we are at the end of yet another week. The last few days brought us the inclusion of Dragon Quest's Hero in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the final major update for Splatoon 2, and a gas canister that has its very own pro
Feature Yooka-Laylee Devs Make Super Mario Maker 2 Courses
Play four levels from Playtonic Games!
Next up in our Super Nindie Maker 2 series, we're lucky enough to have a bumper offering from Playtonic Games. Following on from the opening gambit courtesy of Shovel Knight designer Mike Herbster, the developers behind Yooka-Laylee and its upcoming 2.5D sequel Yooka-Laylee and The Impossible Lair have cooked
Talking Point Are Retro Repro Firms Exploiting Demand With Shoddy Products?
Gleylancer is the latest to disappoint
Given that many of retro gaming's most collectable items now sell for hundreds (and occasionally thousands) of dollars, it's unsurprisingly that enterprising companies are turning their hand to officially-licenced reprints to satisfy demand and make a quick buck in the process. The latest example of this is...
Talking Point Nintendo Switch Online’s Appeal Is Growing, But There's A Long Way To Go
Game Trials and exclusive content are a step in the right direction
We received an email in our personal inbox the other day – Nintendo was offering 50 points (the My Nintendo Platinum Points rather than eShop coins, unfortunately) in return for completing a survey about Nintendo Switch Online. It seems that the company is seeking hard feedback...
Soapbox Should I Wait For Switch 'Pro' Or Is The 'New' Switch SKU Worth An Upgrade?
Robbery and battery
The long-rumoured Switch Lite is taking Nintendo’s hybrid console concept, dumping the ‘hybrid’ bit and going full ‘PlayStation Vita’. Leaving aside the fact that you should never go full PlayStation Vita (can we expect Nintendo to swiftly pull all support, disown the console and leave it to third parties to fill it...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 27th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Yet another week has flown by, this time full of newly discovered Zelda: Breath of the Wild glitches and an awful lot of discussion surrounding Joy-Con drift, but now we can sit back, relax, and talk about our weekend gaming plans. Members of team Nintendo Life have done just that below, and we'd love for you...
Feature Pokémon's Dark History In 11 Shocking Moments
"Nintendo turned me into an evil, occult Pokémon character"
Pokémon is a worldwide phenomenon. Since its inception in the '90s, it has spawned an endless series of video games, movies, merchandise and even a massively successful smartphone game in the form of Pokémon GO – and this year, we'll get to play Pokémon Sword and Shield on our...
Guide Where To Pre-Order The New Joy-Con: Purple/Orange And Blue/Neon Yellow
We *need* that purple one
On 4th October, fancy new Joy-Con controllers for your Nintendo Switch will be released into the wild. If you're hoping to pick up a pair for yourself, here's where you'll find them. At the time of writing, the new pairs have appeared on both Amazon and Play-Asia; we'll make sure to update this guide with more stores (such...
Soapbox Sorry Nintendo, Joy-Con Drift Means I Won't Buy Switch Lite At Launch
Stuck with the stick?
Nintendo's Joy-Con headache is only just beginning, with the company now facing a class-action lawsuit relating to the drifting analogue sticks on its innovative Switch controllers. The company has issued a statement on the matter, and – g
Feature Shovel Knight Level Designer Makes A Super Mario Maker 2 Course
Play a course by Shovel Knight designer Michael Herbster!
Welcome, one and all, to the first in our 'Super Nindie Maker 2' series showcasing developer-created Super Mario Maker 2 courses! Since the game released a little while ago some of Switch's finest developers have been beavering away on courses of all varieties for your delectation and we'll...
Preview Astral Chain Mixes Bayonetta, Wonderful 101 And Metal Gear Rising, And You'll Love It
Trust us on this one
You’d think it’d be a little easier to relax when you’re lounging inside a hotel suite playing a video game, Platinum Games’ Astral Chain, to be exact. High above Comic-Con, Seagulls were flying face level to the glass panes of the room, while sailboats were lazily drifting off in the San Diego bay; yet all anyone could...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 20th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
What a week it's been! Nintendo revealed a Switch revision with improved battery life, locked in the release date for Luigi's Mansion 3 and announced two new sets of Joy-Con. On the third-party front, we found
Hardware Review The EON Super 64 Gives Your N64 HDMI Output, But Is It Really Worth $150?
Plug-and-play HD for your Nintendo 64
We're big fans of EON here at Nintendo Life. The company has already produced some amazing GameCube HDMI adapters in the form of the GCHD and GCHD Mk II, both of which harness the console's digital output to give a crisp picture without the need for pesky internal modification. However, for its next trick, EON...
Video 25 Wonderful Switch Games Yet To Come In 2019 And Beyond
A laundry list of loveliness
Unlike the Wii U days, it's hard to keep track of all the delicious vittles that are coming in the form of games for the Nintendo Switch. Naturally we remember some of the bigger names, but it's just too damned many to be able to recall completely without a spreadsheet and a very dull Saturday night. Well lucky for you...
Feature Yooka-Laylee's Audio Identity Is More Than Just Famous Ex-Rare Composers And Soggy Socks
"There’s quite a lot of pressure on us to start matching Dave and Grant"
When you think Rare and video game music, then chances are two names will spring instantly to mind: David Wise and Grant Kirkhope. These two massively influential composers are behind some of the company's greatest soundtracks and are now in huge demand as freelance...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 13th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Welcome folks to yet another weekend - and what a week we've had! The official reveal (finally) of the Nintendo Switch Lite kept the NL team super busy this week - you can catch up on everything you need to know right here - but now it's time for us to talk about our weekend plans. Which games will you be...
Soapbox Nintendo Switch Lite Might Not Be For You, But It Will Be A Smash Hit With My Family
R.I.P. 3DS?
We can already imagine the various hot takes on tech gadget blogs all over the world following the announcement of the Nintendo Switch Lite. Headlines like "Nintendo Switch Lite Sucks As It Has No TV Out" and "Is The Nintendo Switch Lite Even A Switch?" will surely be the order of the day. Sure, there are some compromises here to get...