Latest Features
A Link to the Present
In the remainder of 2016 we'll re-share some of our favourite feature articles from the year. This article considers the bigger picture behind the design decisions in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, based on some extended playtime with the E3 build at Nintendo UK's HQ. This was originally published on 29th June, back...
Feature The Nintendo Life Game of the Year Awards 2016
Reader and staff choices
It's the season for end of year awards, and now it's time to reveal the Nintendo Life winners for the best games on Nintendo hardware in 2016. Thousands of votes have been cast in the Reader Awards, while our staff have also pitched in with their choices. The results are interesting, with the community results naturally...
Feature Nintendo Life's 12 Days of Christmas - Day Three
Third day's the charm
In this video series Alex takes a look at a wealth of wonderful Nintendo-themed goodies, unboxing one parcel at a time over the course of twelve days. If you fancy picking up what Alex unboxed today, click here.
Feature A Year in Development - Drinkbox Studios on Finding a Cutting Edge with Severed
"Working with Nintendo to launch Severed was a really positive experience"
In this series of features we invite 'Nindies' to share thoughts on their experiences in 2016. In this entry we chat to David Rusak, Producer and Designer at Drinkbox Studios. We consider the creation of Severed as the studio's follow-up release after the critically-acclaimed...
Feature Nintendo Life's 12 Days of Christmas - Day Two
The sequel
In this video series Alex takes a look at a wealth of wonderful Nintendo-themed goodies, unboxing one parcel at a time over the course of twelve days. If you fancy picking up what Alex unboxed today, click here.
Feature Nintendo Life's 12 Days of Christmas - Day One
Let the unwrap-athon begin
In this video series Alex takes a look at a wealth of wonderful Nintendo-themed goodies, unboxing one parcel at a time over the course of twelve days. If you fancy picking up what Alex unboxed today, click here.
Feature A Year in Development - Jools Watsham on the Journey From Renegade Kid to Atooi
"I look forward to bringing more retro-inspired goodness"
In this series of features we invite 'Nindies' to share thoughts on their experiences in 2016. In this entry Jools Watsham outlines a year in which Renegade Kid closed and he went in a new direction with Atooi. Wow, 2016 has been a very busy year – full of many ups and many downs. Let's...
Feature 30 Essential Wii U eShop Games
Because it's cold outside
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful. And since we've got no place to go, Let it download, let it download, let it download. (Tsk, must do better, Ed.) So yeah, we're too much into the festive spirit to really make that opening 'bit' work, but in any case we thought the timing was good for...
Feature The Nindie Christmas Celebration - Pocket Card Jockey
Giddyup
If there was ever a game to represent this most cruel, brilliant, and baffling of years, Pocket Card Jockey is it. Game Freak's most recent non-Pokémon venture makes little sense: You're a horseracing jockey, but really you're a Solitaire player... but really you're an animal husbandry novice. That this strange brew of strategy, quick...
Feature A Year in Development - A Letter from 13AM Games
"We can't wait to let you know what we've been up to for next year"
In this series of features we invite 'Nindies' to share thoughts on their experiences in 2016. In this entry Dave Proctor from 13AM Games shares an end-of-year letter with Nintendo Life's readers. Dear Nintendo Life Readers, Gosh, I can't believe 2016 is coming to an end. I'm...
Editorial The Nintendo Switch 'Power' Debate is Likely Missing the Point
Sensible expectations from gamers, and Nintendo, are key
Just as was the case in the build-up to the Wii U's launch, plenty are debating the graphical grunt of the Nintendo Switch; it's a valid thing to argue about, in a sense, as a system's capabilities play a key part in the kinds of games it can deliver. The debate has centred on two sets of...
Hardware Famicom Classic Mini Review
The NES Classic Mini's Eastern relation
With the NES Classic Mini currently proving to be quite hard to find at retail right now, chances are that the thought of sourcing its Japanese sibling may have crossed your mind. Released at the same time and boasting a design which imitates that of the system that started it all – 1983's "Family Computer",...
Ninterview Channy and Kimberly, Sharing A Love for All Things Nintendo Through Animation
Tributes to the likes of Switch, Star Fox and now Pokemon Sun & Moon
We often like to share the best of fan-made creations here on Nintendo Life, whether it's artwork, music, live-action videos or animations. One YouTube channel that's had a bit of love from us is Channy & Kimberly, which emerged this year and achieved some success with its...
Editorial Rediscovering the Simple Pleasures of 2D Platformers on Wii U
What mascots do best
Heading towards the festive period I often revisit older games, favourites that have perhaps been untouched for a year or two. That's certainly the case this year, where relatively few recent blockbusters (on any platform) have been tempting enough to make me part from my cash. There's also a bit of premature nostalgia at play,...
Hardware Hyperkin SupaBoy S Review
It's back, but is it better?
The industry's passion for "new" retro hardware has been growing steadily over the past few years, and the launch of the NES Classic Mini finally signals Nintendo's entry into this niche yet vibrant sector of the market. Given the astonishing success of that venture it is almost inevitable that we'll see a SNES Classic...
Talking Point The Leaps and Falls of Super Mario Run's Launch
Records broken, positive press, negative user reviews, connection issues
Last week Super Mario Run was released after what seemed like an age of waiting, particularly for investors demanding that Nintendo make a big move on mobile. Though we had Miitomo earlier in the year, and of course Pokémon GO succeeding for Niantic and The Pokémon Company,...
Feature It's Time to Vote for Your Nintendo Life Overall Game of the Year
The final reckoning
With 2016 drawing to a close it's time to look back and reflect on a year of Nintendo gaming. Part of this is through Game of the Year awards, of course, and last week we opened the voting for the Reader Awards. Lots of you took part, and now it's time to choose your Overall Game of the Year. Last week you voted in categories...
Guide Collecting Zygarde's Cores for the Complete Forme in Pokémon Sun and Moon
Gotta find 'em all
Zygarde was one of the great mysteries towards the end of the last generation, with new forms being introduced and no game to tie them together, but Pokémon Sun and Moon finally provide the first time that these forms are usable in a main game. Getting these forms is a convoluted process where, once given the Zygarde Cube, you...
Guide The Best Nintendo Gifts For The Holiday Season (US Edition)
Some last minute treats
It's that time of year when we look forward to the Holidays on the one hand, and suffer sweaty brows on the other as we fret over late gift purchases. What to get your Nintendo-obsessed loved one this festive season? What gift will be good enough? Well, don't fret, we've looked around the web to find a range of gifts that...
Guide The Best Nintendo Gifts For The Holiday Season (UK Edition)
Tis the season to be generous
It's that time of year when we look forward to the Holidays on the one hand, and suffer sweaty brows on the other as we fret over late gift purchases. What to get your Nintendo-obsessed loved one this festive season? What gift will be good enough? Well, don't panic, we've looked around the web to find a range of gifts...
Feature An Android User's Weird Alternatives to Super Mario Run
Take that, Apple!
Super Mario Run is out - yay! It's only available to roughly half the world's smart device owning population - boo! Yes, of course, the plumber's first mobile game is only on iOS right now, with Android owners having to wait until 2017. It's a bitter mushroom to swallow. Android users can get around this, though. As an 'Android...
Video Happy Birthday Pit! - The 30th Anniversary of Kid Icarus
Another NES classic marks three decades
Mark your calendars, because on Monday, 19th December, another classic NES game has an anniversary. In 2016 there have been a long list of games that turned 30, including the likes of The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest and
Guide Super Mario Run Tips And Tricks
Helping you to take the money and run
Hold the phone! The most super of all video game plumbers makes his debut on (gasp) iOS this week with the rather lovely Super Mario Run (check out our full thoughts on the game in our full review). Since we've played a boatload of it already, we thought it'd be swell to key you in early on how to make the most...
Feature The Wii U's Journey - Four Years of Excellence, Failure and Indifference
It wasn't to be
The Wii U is now just over four years old, passing the milestone most recently on 8th December (for the Japanese release). This is the point when it should be contemplating a steady step back, still accumulating quality games while the 'next generation' starts to loom. That would be the norm, but the gaming industry - like the...
A minimalist trip down memory lane
We've seen lots of attractive coffee table art books aimed at retro gaming fans in recent times, which is no bad thing. Joining the ranks is a publication simply titled 8-Bit Art Book - by Ear Books - which pays homage to the visual quality of classic games spanning from 1975 to the early '90s. The author Stephan...
Editorial As Games Jump to Nintendo Switch, We See How Quickly the Industry Moves On
The Wii U is only just over four years old, but is almost last-gen
The Wii U doesn't have too many big-name games still confirmed to be on the way, especially from third-parties. As a result the cancellation of Yooka-Laylee on the platform has led to quite a reaction, which I suspect is partly reflective of some wider frustrations. First of all,...
Talking Point Nintendo Will Rely on Switch Word of Mouth Due to Strange Presentation Timing
A very Nintendo move, it must be said
Nintendo is gearing up to kick off 2017 with a bang, unveiling the Switch in detail on 12th / 13th January, in the process ensuring that early-year momentum and attention goes its way. With a March release and so little officially known about it, that seems like a smart way to go. Oddly, however, Nintendo has...
Feature It's Time to Vote for Your Nintendo Life Game of the Year Awards
Your say on the best Wii U and 3DS games of 2016
As 2016 draws to an end it's that time once again - Game of the Year Awards. We're continuing with tradition in having both Staff and Community awards; the latter are entirely in your hands. As in previous years you can vote through a series of polls. In each category we've created longlists; now, of...
Talking Point The Nintendo Switch Has the Potential to Deliver the Ultimate Virtual Console
An opportunity for a special retro experience
Over the past decade or so Nintendo has made significant strides in its online / download stores, with the eShop platform becoming vital for both 3DS and Wii U. Those stores both learnt lessons from their predecessors - on Wii and DSi - in terms of becoming more accessible and rewarding for Indies, while...
Feature The Nindie Christmas Celebration - Affordable Space Adventures Edition
A journey best shared
With Christmas just around the corner, many a Nintendo gamer is perhaps asking "what should I buy?" Alas, there isn't a whole lot to look forward to in terms of new releases, so in this series we'll be spotlighting a menagerie of quality indie games that have shown up on the eShop over the years. In this edition, Tom Whitehead...
Poll How Important is the Virtual Console, and GameCube, for the Nintendo Switch?
If the rumours are true...
As part of the big January unveiling, or perhaps not long after, we'd expect the eShop (or new equivalent) to get a big push for the Nintendo Switch. We already know of multiple 'Nindie' developers that are actively working on projects, and considering the growth in importance of downloads it's inevitable that the new...
Preview Running Wild in Super Mario Run
Born to run?
Considering the fact that the Super Mario series started out as a precision platformer, it seems mad to think that this formula could translate into a mobile app with only a single input. As such we picked up the game with few expectations and a healthy dose of scepticism, but thankfully our fears were allayed. Super Mario Run has...
Talking Point The Nintendo Switch Pitch - A Jack of All Trades
Tough to predict whether Nintendo's next-gen system will take off
As we get closer to the early January online event that should blow the lid off more Nintendo Switch details, most of which will have probably been leaked with varying degrees of accuracy beforehand, opinions are starting to crystallise. The flashy millennial-filled reveal trailer...
Hardware Review Retro-Bit x 8Bitdo RB8-64 Bluetooth Controller
Three pronged thriller?
8Bitdo's replica controllers have gained quite a reputation with retro gamers who are keen to get that authentic feel but also wish to benefit from modern conveniences such as the absence of annoying wires and the ability to recharge the internal battery. We've already seen excellent variants on the NES and SNES controllers,...
Feature The Nindie Christmas Celebration - Runbow Edition
Mitch Vogel on one of the multiplayer highlights of the eShop
With Christmas just around the corner, many a Nintendo gamer is perhaps asking "what should I buy?" Alas, there isn't a whole lot to look forward to in terms of new releases, so in this series we'll be spotlighting a menagerie of quality indie games that have shown up on the eShop over...
Feature 10 Essential Wii U And 3DS Platformers
Jump to it
Not long ago we picked out 10 RPG gems that we think are pretty much indispensable for fans of the genre that own a 3DS. Now, with the recent release of Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, we thought it was high time to look at the best of the platforming genre. To do the word 'essential' justice, though, this list takes in both the Wii U...
Feature Xenoblade Chronicles X - One Year Later
Musing on Mira
In this article Gonçalo "Shiryu" Lopes shares his personal reflections on Xenoblade Chronicles X, the enthralling Wii U title. Exactly one year ago Wii U owners were given a unique opportunity to escape reality by embarking on the extremely difficult assignment: to beat extinction against all odds on Planet Mira. But Xenoblade...
Poll The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Share Your Thoughts on the Latest Footage
Has it left you breathless?
The Game Awards are done for another year, once again doing a solid job of showing and teasing major games, while throwing in some some unpredictable moments. For example in one performance rap duo Run the Jewels seemed to utter the line "I will punch a baby bear", which is a novel way to get some free press from a PETA...
Feature The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Five Things We Still Want to See
Some of which may be glimpsed during The Game Awards
Back in late 2014, such innocent times, we got a good look at what is now The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild during The Game Awards. It was an enjoyable segment, during which Eiji Aonuma and Shigeru Miyamoto showed a decent amount of off-screen footage, though the game has certainly changed a...
Guide Getting To Grips With EV Training In Pokémon Sun And Moon
Worth the effort
Next week is the 2016 European International Championships at the ExCel in London, and many people are still getting to grips with the new system for training and even the new Pokémon in Sun and Moon. While Individual Values haven't changed much - beyond Hyper Training, anyway - how you get Effort Values has altered from Pokémon X...
Feature Super Mario Maker FAQs - The Key Differences between the Wii U and 3DS Versions
Aside from screen size
Perhaps due to the limited userbase and sales potential on the Wii U, Nintendo is bringing a couple of its notable home console releases of recent times to the 3DS, no doubt necessitating some technical wizardry in the process. The first of these is Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, which delivers a portable version of the...
Soapbox Nintendo, the NES Mini and Ongoing Stock Problems
Damien and Tom weigh in on the issues, and the possible reasons for them
When it comes to product releases, particularly hardware or accessory related, Nintendo's reputation is currently suffering. After the missteps with amiibo in late 2014 and into the Summer of 2015, this year has seen Nintendo make a mess of the NES Mini launch and, in North...
Super Mario Run is also trying new things with the bankable franchise
When New Super Mario Bros. came out on DS, the excitement was palpable. After all, it was the first 2D Mario platformer in about 15 years, which seems amazing to consider nowadays. Some of you may raise your eyebrows at that statement, and may argue that it's incorrect, but let's...
Guide Getting Started In Pokémon Sun and Moon
Become the best trainer in Alola with these handy tips and tricks
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, two of the most anticipated games of this year, are finally here. Our reviewer praised the game highly for its new mechanics and its strengthening of Pokémon fundamentals. However, if you've just gotten the game, you might be a bit confused about...
Book Review Super Mario Adventures
A wonderfully bizarre tour of the Mushroom Kingdom
He's undoubtedly one of the most recognisable faces ever to grace the box art of a video game, but aside from his blue-collar occupation and a dislike for turtles, fans in the early '90s didn't know a whole lot about Super Mario himself. Beyond the pixels onscreen and information found buried within...
Hardware Classics SNK Neo Geo AES
The future is now (even more expensive)
The SNES and Mega Drive / Genesis may have dominated the console landscape in the early '90s, but they were by no means the most powerful machines of their era. That distinction goes to SNK's Neo Geo AES, often described as the "Rolls-Royce" of game consoles. It's a good analogy to make, as the machine was...
Guide The Top Nintendo Black Friday 2016 Deals in the US
Grab yourself a bargain!
It's that time, once again, when shoppers around the world prepare to brave the crowds in search of bargains. The Black Friday festivities are mostly based in crowded stores, though plenty of deals can also be hunted down online. For gamers, it's often a time of year for stocking up on goodies ahead of the festive season;...
Guide The Top Nintendo Black Friday 2016 Deals in the UK
Grab yourself a bargain
It's that time, once again, for Black Friday, when shoppers around the world prepare to brave the crowds in search of bargains. Though originally an American tradition, like Big Macs and over-sized soft drinks it's been exported around the world, for better and worse. A lot of UK bricks-and-mortar stores try and avoid the...
Soapbox In The Wii U's Final Days, Let's Be Thankful For Lego Dimensions
Keeping the dream alive
With production coming to an end, big-name releases drying up and previously-confirmed titles getting cancelled left, right and center, Wii U owners have every right to feel a bit glum at the moment. Switch is coming early nex
Talking Point What We'd Like To See In Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo Switch
Assuming it's a port…
With all the hype that the Nintendo Switch is generating, it's only natural to speculate on what titles the system will offer upon its launch. If Nintendo's upcoming console could learn anything from the launch of the Wii U, it's that launch titles do indeed matter. This can also mean ensuring popular titles that consumers...