Guide Zelda: Breath Of The Wild: Star Fragments - How To Farm Quickly
There's a star in the night sky
News The Switch Mini Isn't Real Yet, But These Mock-Ups Sure Are Convincing
Is this what a new Switch design could look like?
News - April, 2017
Sunday30th Apr 2017
Editorial The Ongoing Pleasures of Nintendo Switch Boxes, Cartridges and (Occasionally) Manuals
For the collectors
We're now nearly two months into the lifespan of the Nintendo Switch, and those that have jumped into the system will have their own buying habits. The eShop offers the usual full-priced retail downloads, though for some it'll be a virtual location for focusing on download-only games. As always, then, we have three camps of...
Rumour Super Mario/Rabbids Crossover Still in Works for Nintendo Switch
Expected for an E3 announcement?
Remember before the Switch launched and there were rumours of Ubisoft releasing a Mario/Rabbids crossover for the system? Well its surfaced again from known Nintendo leaker Emily Rogers, who has given more details on the supposed 2017 game. In her latest blog post, she responds to a reader question about the...
Play The First NLife Battle Tournament in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - To the Battlefield!
No mercy...
As you may have seen earlier this weekend we had a Grand Prix tournament here on Nintendo Life, but now all in the community with a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can scrap it out in the game's new Battle Mode. NLife Battle Time (Code 4737-8576-9515) - starts on 30th April at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK / 4pm CET - Six hour runtime...
Saturday29th Apr 2017
Rumour Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga DX Partnering Up for 3DS eShop
"I have fury!"
According to new data found in the 3DS eShop server, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga DX could be making its way to the handheld for a surprise re-release / remaster. This information comes from "well known" hacker @SciresM who has previous history with id information confirming
News Reggie Fils-Aime Discusses NES Mini Demand and Apologises to Those That Missed Out
2.3 million sold, but it could have been more
The NES Classic Edition is currently not in production, leaving plenty of Nintendo fans around the world disappointed. As we've discussed here on Nintendo Life, the launch and proceeding shipments of this nostalgic mini console was baffling to both economists and consumers alike, with supply not getting...
News Nintendo States That Support for the 3DS Family of Systems Remains Strong
More games coming following reveal of New 2DS XL
Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé recently spoke with IGN regarding the company's continued support of the Nintendo 3DS line. As we've seen in the recent Nintendo financial briefing the 3DS continues to do well, so it's only natural to see the big N continue to support rather...
Play The First NLife Grand Prix in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Join the Race!
Drift into our Tournament
As you may have seen this week we're running two tournaments in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; the first one is the NLife Grand Prix. Simply search for the code or name (details below) in the online Tournament menu and join in! NLife Grand Prix (Code 4698-2634-6539) - starts at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK / 4pm CET - Six...
Friday28th Apr 2017
Shrine Get!
eShop veterans CIRCLE Entertainment have kicked off the Switch era with a bang, starting with the excellent rhythm game VOEZ and continuing with the colourful overhead action of Kamiko. Developed by Japanese indie team Skipmore — responsible for Fairune and its sequel on the 3DS eShop — Kamiko sports a gorgeous pixel-art aesthetic,...
News New Nintendo 2DS XL Announced, Releases 28th July
Surprise!
Nintendo today announced a new version of the 2DS, the 2DS XL, taking the kid-centric handheld from its wedge form factor to the more familiar clamshell-style design of the 3DS line. The surprise new console releases on 28th July worldwide, with a US price of $149. The New 2DS XL also features dual rear cameras and a single front-facing...
News Capcom Wants You To Know That It's Taking The Nintendo Switch Very Seriously
Also has a "major" unannounced title on the way this financial year
Capcom's latest financial presentation contains some pieces of information that should be of considerable interest to Nintendo fans. First up, the company is aiming to push multiplatform development in as big way over the next financial year, and that includes supporting the...
Poll What Do You Think of the New Nintendo 2DS XL?
Out of left-field
Yesterday we published an editorial chewing over some of the figures and implications of Nintendo's financial reports, with a headline point related to Nintendo's continuing confidence in the 3DS. Estimating six million hardware sales for the portable and a whopping 40 million software sales, we tried to consider how the company...
News Surprise, Nintendo Isn't Hosting An E3 Press Conference This Year
More information coming soon
Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima has announced during the Financial Results Briefing that Nintendo will not be hosting an E3 Press Conference during the event this year. This continues Nintendo's trend of opting for a digital presentation instead, while still maintaining a showfloor presence at the event. From the...
Video This Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Player Ain't Got No Time For Shrine Puzzles
Skip to the end
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild may be light on dungeons, but it makes up for that with loads of shrines, the vast majority of which contain a puzzle which must be solved before they can be considered complete. Some of these puzzles are actually quite tricky, but like so much of the game, they can be overcome by "exploiting"...
Gallery Here's What The New Nintendo 2DS XL Looks Like From Almost Every Angle
Plus: Bonus lifestyle photography with child actors!
Nintendo surprised everyone this morning with the announcement that it is about to release a new model of the popular 2DS system. Dubbed the New Nintendo 2DS XL, the console features a classic clamshell design, amiibo support and a MicroSD card slot, and is sure to keep the 3DS line alive...
News New Splatoon 2 Squid Sisters Stories Chapter Reveals Drifting Relationship
A kraken in the connection
Nintendo has released the first full chapter in their Splatoon 2 themed publication, Squid Sisters Stories. We previously reported a sense of conflict in the prologue, but now it appears a different drift occurred in the relationship. The first full chapter in the story continues: The final Splatfest rocketed the Squid...
News Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 Outed By Korean Rating, Nintendo Release Uncertain
Includes Mega Man 7 and the two WiiWare outings
The Korean Game Rating Board has just issued a rating for Mega Man Legacy Collection 2, which will, according to the description, include Mega Man 7, Mega Man 8, Mega Man 9 and Mega Man 10. This collection follows in the footsteps of the 2015 original, which was released on the 3DS as well as other...
News New Nintendo Selects 3DS Games Coming to Australia
New line launches 11th May
If you're from the land down under and like saving pennies, then you'll be pleased to learn that four new Nintendo Selects titles will be added to the Nintendo 3DS lineup in Australia, with each game being available to purchase for AU $29.95. Below you can find each game as well as a brief description provided by...
News Nintendo Reveals A New ARMS Character, And It's An Odd One
"He can shrink and stretch at will with his elastic body!"
Another addition to the ARMS roster has been revealed. We present to you Helix, who can be described as a shiny green amorphous blob, but Nintendo has opted to give him a better description, saying "he can shrink and stretch at will with his elastic body!" In his brief reveal trailer -...
News Quirky 3DS RPG Miitopia Lands on 28th July
Restore the stolen faces of the citizens of Miitopia
We brought the news earlier this month that the quirky 3DS RPG Miitopia would be getting localised for a Western release, and in today's New 2DS XL unveiling video it was revealed that the quirk RPG will be released on 28th July. It is now listed for $39.99 on Nintendo of America's website and is...
News Tekken Producer Katsuhiro Harada Too Busy To Study Switch Hardware For Possible Port
"We couldn't even buy it - it was sold out every time we went to look"
Not so long ago we reported that Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada was "surprised" by the Nintendo Switch, a possible indication that he and his team had been frozen out of pre-release access to the new machine. With Tekken 7 arriving on PS4, Xbox One and PC this June, Game
News 1-2-Switch, Snipperclips and Super Bomberman R All Had Positive Launches on Nintendo Switch
It's not just about Breath of the Wild
Based upon March sales the Nintendo Switch only had one million+-selling game - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Yet with 2.74 consoles shipped some other titles also clocked up reasonable numbers, something Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima highlighted in his recent investor briefing. First of all...
News Dragon Quest "Bubble Slime" New Nintendo 2DS XL Revealed for Japan
Releases alongside Dragon Quest XI
Nintendo sure doesn't waste any time. Despite only revealing its new console to the world this morning, it has already announced a themed New Nintendo 2DS variant: the "Bubble Slime" New Nintendo 2DS. As of right now, the console is region exclusive to Japan, where it will be known as the New Nintendo 2DS LL. It...
Play The First Nintendo Life Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Community Event - Here are the Rules!
Get the tournament codes and details ahead of the weekend's racing
Happy Mario Kart 8 Deluxe day! Yep, the racer is here, and plenty of us will be clearing cups, trying out Battle Mode and hopping into online races. Some of you may also recall that earlier in the week we started voting for community online tournaments, and now we have the results...
News Elliot Quest Arrives on the 3DS eShop on 11th May
Rebuilt for the 3DS
In Spring last year PlayEveryWare shared its goal to bring Elliot Quest to the 3DS eShop by Fall 2016; it may have taken a little longer than expected, but the retro-styled adventure game does now have a release date for the portable in North America and Europe - 11th May. We were big fans of the original release on the Wii U...
News Nintendo To Publish "Two To Three" Smartphone Titles Per Year
Aiming to "maximize the number of people who have access to Nintendo IP"
During the Financial Results Briefing, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima shared a few details on Nintendo's smart-device business model moving forward. One of the topics discussed include the plans to release two to three mobile titles each year, although no titles were...
Thursday27th Apr 2017
Nintendo Download 27th April (North America)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! Puyo Puyo Tetris! Kamiko! Tumbleseed! More!
It's that time again, dear readers, for details of the goodies coming in the North American Nintendo Download Update. The headline is clearly the latest first-party blockbuster on Switch, but we also have a keenly priced puzzle gem and a few download-only options on the system. The Wii...
News Nintendo Switch Smashes Target With 2.74 Million Hardware Sales in March
Nintendo projects 10 million system sales in this financial year
As expected Nintendo has published its annual financial reports, and the initial documentation gives some sense of how strong the Nintendo launch has been. The sales in March have surpassed expectations, though the projected sales for this current financial year are perhaps best...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is Still Due to Arrive in 2017, Which is Nice
Now it's Switch time!
Within Nintendo's Earnings Release for the Fiscal Year Ended March 2017, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 by Monolith Soft has been given reconfirmation of its 2017 release in Japan and the West. While no additional launch information, such as a quarter for release, is mentioned, it is good to see a popular open-world series not yet...
News Zelda: Breath of the Wild Pushes Switch and Wii U Sales, 3DS Has Multiple Million-Sellers
A breath of life
The hit game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has sold around 3.84 million copies between the Nintendo Switch and Wii U versions, a notable cross-platform success considering the circumstances of a new system launch and its ailing predecessor. Specifically, Breath of Wild sold 2.76 million units on the Switch and 1.08...
Talking Point As Nintendo Switch Looks to Rapidly Overtake Wii U Sales, 3DS Lives On
Nintendo backs both systems, but needs improvement in mobile and amiibo
As we await full publication of Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima's annual financial results presentation, early snippets from journalists on the ground in Japan suggest it won't pull up any trees. There's confirmation of unannounced games still to be revealed for Switch this...
Nintendo Download 27th April (Europe)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! Puyo Puyo Tetris! Kamiko! More!
The European Nintendo Download Update is live, and this week includes two Switch retail titles and the same number of download-only releases; tempting options all-round. The New 3DS gets a port of a previous Wii U title, while multiplayer shenanigans come to the now last-gen home console. On top...
News Nintendo Beats Profit Projections as Switch and Pokémon Sales Lift Company
Offers a bright outlook for current year
As expected Nintendo has begun the roll-out of its financial reports, so far in the form of the formal documentation outlining sales and profit margins. In the coming days we should see manuscripts of President Tatsumi Kimishima's presentation and an investor Q & A. For now, however, we have a set of...
News Nintendo Remains Tight-Lipped On SNES Classic Mini Rumours
No news is good news?
2016's NES Classic Mini was a shock success for Nintendo, and almost from the moment it was announced many speculated that the company would, in the fullness of time, follow up with a SNES version. The NES Classic Mini is now officially discontinued, apparently because a SNES edi
News ARMS Secures Cover on Edge Magazine in the UK
Can do any 'arm
In recent months Nintendo has secured some solid print publicity for its major releases, including a substantial cover and set of features for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild through Game Informer in the US. Now the well-respected and popular Edge magazine - in the UK - has given prominence to ARMS in its current issue, a...
News Super Mario Run Close To 150 Million Downloads, But Has Earned Less Than Fire Emblem: Heroes
Despite fewer downloads, Fire Emblem: Heroes has higher revenue
During the annual financial results briefing Q&A, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima has pointed out a few details concerning Nintendo's hit free-to-start and free-to-play mobile games, Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem: Heroes. While pointing to Super Mario Run's success, he noted...
News Pokémon Drives 3DS Sales Increase, With Another Six Million Systems Expected to Ship This Year
3DS software sales totals expected to beat those of the Switch
The 3DS isn't finished yet, based upon its recent performance and Nintendo's estimates for the current financial year. The system may be slowly winding down, but the extraordinary sales of Pokémon Sun and Moon, in particular, helped drive the portable's sales trends upwards and...
News Nintendo Veteran Genyo Takeda Is Retiring As A Company Director
Ko Shiota gets a promotion
Nintendo has released a notice regarding the impending retirement of 68-year-old Genyo Takeda, Representative Director and "Technology Fellow" of Nintendo. Takeda is one of Nintendo's longest-serving staffers, having joined the company in 1971. He and his team at R&D3 came up with many technical innovations during the...
Video The Top Ten Best Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tracks
According to Alex and Arekkz Gaming, anyway
Well, if you want to know what this video is about, the headline sure clears that up. Our video man Alex has teamed up with his chum Arekkz Gaming to put together a top 10 list of race tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is sure to fire everyone up (and hopefully in a good way). This writer would...
Gallery Kirby's 25th Birthday Is Celebrated With Special Events In Tokyo
For he's a jolly pink fellow
As we all know, Kirby turns 25 this year. To mark this momentous milestone, Nintendo has arranged various events in Tokyo which will run through the rest of the month and into early May. Two of them started today. One can be found in Ueno's Yamashiroya toy store and comes complete with cake and message board. As you...
News My Nintendo Adds an Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers 'Calendar'
It's actually just a wallpaper with dates on
Buried within Nintendo of America's download update press release today was the following nugget on a new My Nintendo reward available in the region - a calendar designed with Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers in mind. My Nintendo in North America is offering a May calendar featuring the...
Video Rapper Mega Ran Enters A Spooky Game Boy World In His Latest Track
Take me to church
Mega Ran - friend of Nintendo Life and nerdcore rapper extraordinaire - is back with a new video for his song "Church" which we thought we'd share as it's been done with a 1989 Nintendo Game Boy style which even people who aren't fans of this genre of music should enjoy. You might also recognise the sample from Super Mario World in...
News Nnooo Considering Switch Ports Of Mallow Drops And Armed With Wings: Rearmed
Currently being "assessed for suitability"
Australian firm Nnooo is bringing Mallow Drops and Armed With Wings: Rearmed to consoles, and has stated that Switch versions are currently being "assessed for suitability". You can see the two titles in action below. Nnooo is famous for developing titles such as Pop Plus: Solo, escapeVektor: Chapter...
Wednesday26th Apr 2017
Feature The Growing Pains of Curation on the Nintendo Switch eShop
"Nintendo’s solution to shovelware is broken"
After stepping into the new world of download gaming back on the Wii with its 'WiiWare' service, Nintendo was well on the way to embracing the medium. In some aspects it was a trailblazer with that first service, though tough entry requirements - combining policy and system limitations with rules such...
News Super Mario Happy Meal Toys Now Available at McDonald's in the US
Boost your tat and salt intake - Bowser approves
Earlier this month it emerged that a new batch of Super Mario Happy Meal toys were coming to the US, and now the range is live. From now until 22nd May in the country Nintendo fans can get one of eight toys along with an inexpensive bit of grub at McDonald's. Each of the toys has a 'special...
News LAN Play in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is Only Truly Suitable for Competitions and Events
Everyone bring their adapter!
Back when we published our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe preview, focused on the Battle Mode, we mentioned the presence of a LAN multiplayer option. It was notable because, while standard local wireless play supports eight players, LAN allows the full complement of 12 players that you normally get in online matches. We quipped...
Video Here's What's Inside Zelda: Breath Of The Wild's "Impossible" Treasure Chest
The one you were never meant to open
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is packed with secrets to find, many of which are hidden away off the beaten track, encouraging players to explore in order to locate them. However, one treasure chest has remained off-limits for even the most dedicated Zelda player. Located in the middle of a little inlet...
Poll Do You Think Call Of Duty: WWII Will Come To Switch, And Would You Want It If It Did?
War is hell
Today Activision is hosting a livestream event to officially lift the lid on this year's Call of Duty entry. After the last few instalments pushed the action further and further into the future, the company has decided to turn back the clock and return to World War II, the conflict in which the very first Call of Duty game was based.
News GameStop Confirms Nintendo Switch Stock Now In US Stores With Trade-In Credit Deal
"Perfect timing" ahead of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launch
As you've probably noticed, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is out this week - the re-release / expansion has been critically acclaimed; as we argued in our own review it takes a brilliant Wii U game and makes it even better. It should in theory help boost Nintendo Switch hardware sales, but the system's...
Feature What We Expect From Nintendo's Annual Financial Reports
E3 teases, sales, an insight into the big N's confidence in Switch and more
On 27th April Nintendo will publish its 'Fiscal Year Earnings Release' - understandably that phrase may not fill you with giddy excitement, but it's more interesting than it sounds. Typically these year-end results and reports, due to their importance and timing, reveal some...
News Fire Emblem Echoes and Nintendo Switch Lead the Way in Japanese Charts
Switch sales increase once again
You know it's the middle of the week when the Media Create chart results emerge in Japan, and in recent times they've brought happy news for Nintendo fans. That trend continues this week, with a major release on 3DS and hardware positives to consider. Starting with software we have Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of...
Weirdness 35-Year-Old Review Of Game & Watch Title Octopus Surfaces Online
Back in time
If like this humble scribe you grew up with gaming magazines, you'll probably remember when the Internet really became easy to access and you found yourself straying away from these paper-based curiosities to online news and reviews. Considering that many of the web's biggest gaming sites were founded in the '90s or the "Naughties",...
News Ratalaika Games Bringing 0000 And League Of Evil To Nintendo Switch
Two more promising eShop titles on the way
Ratalaika Games has revealed that it is bringing two new titles to the Switch eShop: 0000 and League of Evil. 0000 has already been confirmed for release on the 3DS but the Switch version is going to be a bit more special. The gameplay is based around jumping to the music and Ratalaika has stated that it's...
Rumour Vivendi To "Accelerate Expansion" In Video Games, Ubisoft The Main Target
French giant looking to turn around recent poor results
French media company Vivendi is looking to make some key acquisitions this year to combat investor concerns regarding its recent mixed results, poor share performance and general lack of long-term strategy, according to sources which have spoken to news site Reuters. These sources claim that...
Video Bask in the Giddy Drama of the Disgaea 5 Complete Opening Movie
That music...
We know that Disgaea 5 Complete will be a colourful, fantastical arrival on Nintendo Switch in late May, but for those new to the series we suspect there'll be some eye-opening moments. Take the opening movie, for example, which is about as bombastic as gaming intros get. Just check it out below, and enjoy that music. Nintendo UK...
Tuesday25th Apr 2017
Video How Well Does Virtual Reality Work On The Nintendo Switch?
Virtual Boy Ver. 2
Ever since the Switch was unveiled fans of the Big N have wondered if one day we might see a Virtual Reality headset released for the diminutively sized handheld / home console hybrid. We've explored many of the questions surrounding how VR might work on the Nintendo Switch, but still we could imagine Nintendo giving it a go one...
News Fan-Made Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Lego Set Builds Up Support
Block busting
There are Lego sets for many of the media world's biggest properties, including Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter - and, via Lego Dimensions, Sonic the Hedgehog. Nintendo has thus far been reluctant to allow the Danish toy maker to leverage its IP, although it has allowed K'NEX Mario toys in the past. The chances of us seeing...
News Gawk at 'Classic Sonic' Dashing Through Green Hill Zone in Sonic Forces
Oh Sonic, you have us dreaming again
It's a bit of an unfair myth that Sonic hasn't had good games in recent times, but a fair comment is that the mascot hasn't had many great games. Can Sonic Forces - coming to Nintendo Switch and other systems later this year - buck that trend? Well, we hope so. A bit like the concept of Sonic Generations, this...
News Analyst Firm Macquarie Predicts Impressive Nintendo Switch Sales in the Coming Year
And Monster Hunter 5, apparently
After a positive start that's prompted some external sales projections and - reportedly - manufacturing to go up a gear, there have been strong early signs for the Nintendo Switch. Of course, firm facts and figures are due from Nintendo on 27th April with its annual financial reports, so we have little time left for...
Video Super Bomberman R Update Sacrifices Resolution for a Tasty Framerate
Controlled explosion
Super Bomberman R has, it seems, been relatively successful for Konami. Sure, some of us have been slightly mortified by its high retail price, but it was generally well received - we had a lot of fun with it - and is clearly popular enough to earn further backing. After all, its recent version 1.3 update has
News New Nobunaga's Ambition Title Confirmed For Nintendo Switch
Famitsu spills the beans
Japanese publication Famitsu has revealed that a new entry in the popular Nobunaga's Ambition series is coming to the Nintendo Switch. More details will be revealed in this week's issue, but we know that the title will also hit PS4 and PC. Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence has already been ported to Nintendo's new...
Soapbox All The Video Game Magazines You Grew Up With Were Rubbish
Japan had it so much better, thinks Ian Cortina
All the video game magazines you and I grew up with were crap. We were robbed. Dealt a poor hand. Okay, that might be a little extreme, they were not crap per se - we just never had it as good as our friends in Japan. Sure, many a mag tried and came very close - Super Play immediately springs to mind...
News Super Mario Run Version 2.1.0 Is Now Live
Achievements! More Buildings! More Toads!
Super Mario Run has been out for a little while now, on both Android and iOS, and while it hasn't perhaps been the home run that may have been expected from the famed plumber's debut on smart devices, it's still seen pretty decent success. Nintendo may have stated that major content updates won't be coming...
News New Splatoon 2 Squid Sisters Stories Prologue Hints At Simmering Sibling Rivalry
A ink-redibly foreboding story
Nintendo has released a new prologue for the Squid Sisters Stories. The Squid Sisters Stories is an online publication, featuring "top-secret intel" on Callie and Marie, created to help promote Splatoon 2. The introduction goes a little something like this: One of our researchers monitoring the Squid Sisters...
News Super Mario Kart Started Life As An F-Zero Multiplayer Prototype
Mario Kart got boost power!
Super Nintendo launch game F-Zero was an impressive feat of development at the time. With its use of Mode 7 visuals it made for a compelling single-player futuristic racing experience that is enjoyable to play even today. It's a shame that the franchise appears to be pretty much dormant now with the last entries being...
Video Get Ready For Some Retro-Style RPG Goodness In This English Kamiko Trailer
Brush up on Japanese Shinto beliefs
The Western launch of retro-styled action RPG Kamiko is only two days away now. Priced at only £4.49 in the UK and $4.99 in North America, this looks like a winner for fans of Fairune and Fairune 2 on the 3DS Shop. To celebrate the lovely folks at Flyhigh Works have put together a promotional trailer which they...
Video Developers Show Gameplay Footage of Minecraft: Switch Edition
Yep, it's Minecraft
Minecraft is one of those games that seems like it'll never go away; a new port is made for essentially every platform that can feasibly run it. Still, even if it's expected to be more of the same, Minecraft: Switch Edition is a hotly anticipated release for Nintendo's new platform, and for good reason. The Joy-Con will allow for...
News Fire Emblem Heroes Adds Characters from Path of Radiance
The strongest of the Heroes?
Such is the nature of mobile games, we suspect a decent percentage of players have now moved on from Fire Emblem Heroes on mobile. For those still enjoying the game, though, new additions and campaigns have been regular occurrences; even better, they tap into series favourites that are otherwise easily overlooked. The...
News Jakks Pacific Cites Splatoon 2 Toys as Part of 2017 Plans
Toy maker highlights the launch of the Switch as a boost to its business
Jakks Pacific is a brand that'll be familiar to plenty of parents, responsible for a range of popular toys including the 'World of Nintendo' range. In recent years the toy maker has continually refreshed the Nintendo line-up, with some 2016 additions including figures related...
News Nintendo Confirms Splatoon 2 'Exhibition Tournament' for E3 2017
Splat that
With Nintendo due to reveal its annual financial results on 27th April, we're getting to the point where it typically outlines its E3 plans - well, Nintendo of America is teasing details early. We're hopeful of a big E3, and it seems a live event is on the cards - a Splatoon 2 'Exhibition Tournament' is coming to the expo. [tweet This...
Video Indie Roguelike TumbleSeed Works Surprisingly Well as a Co-Op Game
HD Rumble in the tumble
Playing single-player games in a co-op fashion isn't a new idea for those playing the Switch, but most of the time it's monstrously impractical. That's not the case for upcoming Switch game TumbleSeed that employs its controls so simply that a Joy-Con per person is not only a reality, but it's a lot of fun. The difficulty...
Video Japanese Clothing Brand EDITMODE On How It Began Working Officially With Nintendo
Plus a tour of sleepy Kyoto and loads of gaming merchandise
If you like video game-branded clothing then chances are you'll already know about EDITMODE, which - via its King of Games brand - produces some of the finest official Nintendo clothing available right now. In the latest episode of toco toco - a YouTube show which focuses on Japanese...
News Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Developer on How the Remake Began
"We didn't really envision the reception to be that positive"
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap was an excellent recent addition to the Switch eShop, bringing a forgotten classic to new audiences with a shiny, new coat of paint. It was a passion project headed by a small team, and Siliconera recently got a chance to sit down with Omar Cornut—the...
Monday24th Apr 2017
News Rainway App Promises 60fps Streaming Of PC Games To Consoles Like The Nintendo Switch
"Practically any modern PC is compatible"
Developer Andrew Sampson has revealed that his new app will allow console fans - including Switch owners - to stream PC games at 60fps to their systems. Dubbed Rainway, the app will run via a web browser and will be entirely free of charge to use. No additional hardware is required, just a GPU that supports...
Review Puyo Puyo Tetris (Switch)
Switching up the Tetris formula
Tetris is a classic almost as old as gaming, having first released in 1984 before making its first appearance on Nintendo hardware in 1988. Puyo Puyo is comparatively new, but has a legacy all its own. Back in 2014, Sonic Team got the idea of fusing the two popular franchises into something new, and thus Puyo Puyo...
News Tantalus Spent "Several Months" Convincing Nintendo It Could Handle Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
"We are fortunate that we got that opportunity"
Australian studio Tantalus Media has been around since 1994 and found early fame by porting Sega titles like Manx TT and House of the Dead to the Saturn, but more recently the company has gained recognition for its Wii U work, specifically the ports of Mass Effect 3, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and The...
News Stardock CEO Says Nintendo Switch Doesn't Need Third Party Support To Succeed
"Haven't seen a lot of third party success stories" on Nintendo systems
It's no secret that the Nintendo Switch has got off to a great start, with 2.4 million consoles reportedly shifted during March. Of course as always with a Nintendo hardware launch, a large list of third party supporters that claim they will develop compelling games for the new...
Video Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Glitch Allows You To Ride A Guardian Through The Sky
Sky walking
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the gift that keeps on giving; not only does the game contain enough content and secrets to keep Switch and Wii U owners glued to their consoles for months, it also offers up some interesting quirks and glitches, many of which are focused on manipulating objects for air travel. Riding a mine...
News Breath of the NES Fan Game Makes Progress, Plans to Survive Potential Nintendo Takedown
"I don’t feel the need to be bound to BOTW’s exact structure"
Since Nintendo showed off a rather neat 2D prototype that was used in the development of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it's been tempting to fantasize about Nintendo releasing it in some form; it'd be an awesome potential surprise in the Expansion Pass, perhaps. There's...
News Zelda: Breath of the Wild Director and Producer Leave Message For Fans in Official Guide
"A desire to keep evolving and growing"
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been a critical hit, cementing itself as one of the best reviewed games of all time. Helmed by director Hidemaro Fujibayashi and long-time series producer Eiji Aonuma, the duo were key in the development cycle of the game and with that the success that followed. In...
"Buy lots of things and build up your points, something good will happen"
It's not out until the end of the year, but if you're a hardcore Zelda fan then chances are you're already scrambling for your credit card upon hearing the news that Medicom is releasing a Zelda: Breath of the Wild Link figure as part of its Real Action Heroes range. This 1/6...
Random Some People Will Go To Great Lengths To Bring Pokémon Games Back From The Dead
Never give up
Like so many things in life, retro games often get better with age. However, if they're not properly cared for then they can fall into pretty bad shape physically - especially cartridges, which contain multiple components such as chips and back-up batteries. You might assume that when a cartridge reaches a certain state of disrepair...
News Infinite Minigolf Will Tee Up on the Nintendo Switch eShop
Zen Studios has the balls to support Nintendo's system
Zen Studios didn't always release every game promptly on the Wii U eShop, but the publisher / developer did back the system longer than most. It's evidently keen to stay on board with Nintendo, too, confirming that Infinite Minigolf will come to the Nintendo Switch eShop alongside equivalent...
News Square Enix Has a Café In Tokyo, and It's Sold Out
A fantasy filled menu, Chocobo parking extra
It's been well documented that Akihabara has one of the largest clusters of game, anime and technology shops in Tokyo, the capital and largest city in Japan. You could spend from morning til midnight just walking up and down the many streets and shopping for classic games, new games, DVDs and Blu-Rays,...
News No, Axiom Verge Isn't Actually Confirmed for Nintendo Switch
It's still '100% up to Nintendo of America'
Earlier today a number of our readers tipped us off on a report that Axiom Verge developer Tom Happ had stated the game was 'in the works' for a retail release on Nintendo Switch. That wording wasn't entirely clear, however, as we wondered whether a desire to bring the game to Switch had been...
News 505 Games Releases Showcase Trailer for Portal Knights
Craft your adventure. Forge your hero.
505 Games, well known for publishing such popular titles as Rocket League and the Cooking Mama series, has released a trailer for its latest release - the Keen Games-developed Portal Knights. The video explains the premise of the sandbox-action RPG whilst going into great detail, showcasing exactly what is in...
Play The First Nintendo Life Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Community Event - Vote for the Rules!
Choose items, speed class and the good things in life
Happy Mario Kart 8 Deluxe week! Ok, that's not catchy, but in any case this is the week that the all-in-one-slightly-revamped racer lands on the Nintendo Switch. Veterans on this website may recall, too, that the Wii U original featured in a few 'community play' events back in the day, a period...
Sunday23rd Apr 2017
Review The Jackbox Party Pack 3 (Switch eShop)
A Party Everywhere You Go... With Wi-Fi
The Nintendo Switch is chock full of potential multiplayer gaming memories already, however one game with many more possibilities is The Jackbox Party Pack 3. If you're unfamiliar with the series, The Jackbox Party Pack is an exciting collection of accessible games that up to 8 people can play. It's quite...
News The Legend of Zelda Custom Chess Set Now Available
Take all my Rupees
Popular board game manufacturer USAopoly has once again gone above and beyond showing its love for The Legend of Zelda series with a beautiful custom chess set. Taking its main inspiration from Ocarina of Time, the pieces all resemble the main characters - with Link as King for the heroes and Ganondorf as the Dark King for the...
Saturday22nd Apr 2017
Random Switch Actress 'Karen' Embraces her Nintendo Meme
"We're drinking Karen, we're having conversations"
Many wonderful things came from Nintendo's first look at the Switch in a 'preview' in October 2016, One that nobody expected was the introduction of Switch enthusiast "Karen". In her debut she can be seen playing Super Mario Odyssey before being interrupted by her friends on the roof across the...
News 650+ Target Stores Get a Mario Kart Makeover in North America
3.. 2.. 1.. GO!
In celebration of the upcoming release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Target has announced a Mario Kart themed makeover for 650+ of its stores in North America. From Mario Kart shopping carts to Mario and Luigi's heads as bollards (those massive and spherical traffic posts often seen outside the stores), Target is making sure everybody...
Friday21st Apr 2017
Feature 30 Games We Might Get On The SNES Mini Classic Edition
And some more which we'd love but probably won't get!
As exciting as it is, it came as no surprise to hear about Nintendo's plans to release a SNES Mini Classic Edition in time for the holiday season this year. The NES Mini was a tremendous success and flew off the shelves as soon as stock arrived - you could argue that Nintendo did everything...
Video The Problem with the Joy-Con Steering Wheels and How to Fix It
Triggered
We've been trying out the newest addition to the Switch's line up of accessories, the appropriately named Joy-Con Wheel Pair made by Nintendo themselves. As comfortable as they are and for all the advantages of having something chunkier to wrap the tiny controllers in for those with bigger hands, there's a big problem with them. As soon...
Review Mr. Shifty (Switch eShop)
SHIFT+DELETE
There's a brief message at the bottom of every game page on the Switch eShop. In short, it's a disclaimer that is designed to protect Nintendo and other developers from liability in the event that players suffer from a seizure caused by gameplay. You've probably seen the message, and you've probably ignored it. You probably also haven't...
News Here Are The Players Lining Up For NBA Playgrounds On Switch
Full roster of basketball legends revealed
The spirit of NBA Jam is set to live on in NBA Playgrounds, a new title from Saber Interactive, the team behind Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Quake Champions. It's coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC this May at a digital price point of around $20, and the developer has just...
News NPD Results Highlight Record-Breaking Nintendo Switch Launch
"March 2017 will go down in history books"
Last week Nintendo got ahead of the NPD results to highlight the impressive success of the Nintendo Switch launch in the US - among the statistics shared was an attach-rate technically above 100% for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, allied with over 900,000 console sales making the system Nintendo...
Gallery Here's What Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Retail Packaging Looks Like, Inside And Out
Under the hood
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hits store shelves next week but we've been lucky enough to get our hands on it before then, and we're pleased to confirm it's one of the best games on the Switch. As well as sharing our critical opinion of this welcome remaster we thought you might like to take a look inside the retail packaging for the game. As...
Video Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as an 'Ultimate' Handheld Release - Digital Foundry Weighs In
The technical breakdown
Though its release is still a week away, plenty of reviews and opinions on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are now live - for our part we loved it. In our review we remarked that performance and visuals do the job nicely on the upcoming Switch version, though as always Digital Foundry has outlined the specifics in an analysis video...
Review Fatal Fury (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Hungry like the wolf
While SNK's premier fighting game series is King of Fighters, the company tested the waters of the one-on-one combat genre with 1991's Fatal Fury, a title designed by none other than Takashi Nishiyama, the man behind Capcom's original 1987 Street Fighter. Street Fighter II was the game which kickstarted interest in this style of...
News Your Classic Splatoon amiibo Will be Supported in Splatoon 2
Stay fresh!
While we are sure that Nintendo would like you to buy the new range of Splatoon amiibo along with your copy of Splatoon 2 for the Nintendo Switch later this year, it's good to know that the range of amiibo released alongside Splatoon will continue to be supported too. In the original game you could tap an Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, or...
News Adorable Kirby Accessories Added to Official Japanese Anniversary Website
Did someone say Warp Star headphones?
After last week's Nintendo Direct reminded us all that 2017 will be Kirby's 25th anniversary, it's no surprise that more merchandise is being created to celebrate the landmark. Over on the official Japanese anniversary website more goods have been added, all displaying colourful style for the pink puffball...
News Official Nintendo UK Store Embraces Luigi Meme in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Listing
Get a free 'Dare to Stare' t-shirt
With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now just a week away, the official Nintendo UK store has unveiled an updated pre-order option for those that love the 'Death Stare' Luigi meme. As always it's the approach NUK takes to complete with being undercut on the likes of Amazon. In this listing the standard retail price - £49.99...
News Today's Super Bomberman R Update Includes Four Battle Mode Stages And Two Accessories
Characters from Konami titles coming in future update
Konami has released details on today's Super Bomberman R 1.3 update, which was confirmed yesterday. Despite initial reports claiming that only one new stage would be introduced, we're actually getting four new battle mode levels and two new accessories. You can also access a 60fps battle mode...
News Retro-Style Action RPG Kamiko Hits the Switch eShop In The West Next Week
For a bargain price, too
Skipmore's pixel-rich Switch eShop title Kamiko is getting its release in the West next week, on 27th April. Priced at only £4.49 in the UK and $4.99 in North America, this looks like a winner for fans of Fairune and Fairune 2 on the 3DS Shop. Are you ready to wield your weapon bestowed by the gods and open the gates...
Video Fire Emblem Echoes' Alm And Celica amiibo Get Liberated From Their Packaging
The amiibo keep on coming
Fire Emblem Echoes proves that there's life in the 3DS yet, and the game is being accompanied by some fresh amiibo, too. Our pal NintenDaan has gotten his hands on the new Alm and Celica amiibo, and has duly unboxed these figures for your viewing pleasure. Aside from Alm's rather goofy expression - he looks like he's...
News Nintendo Unveils Starfish Mainstage Arena for Splatoon 2
"Considered a bit of a holy site for devotees of rock music"
The Splatoon IP has forged a passionate fanbase in various ways, and one feature that's captured fans is the music. The soundtrack of the first game was so well received that numerous live concerts and events took place in Japan and also featured a few times in the West. Splatoon 2 will...
News Silicon Studio Extends Support For Its YEBIS Post Processing Effects Middleware To Switch
Graphics package used in Dark Souls III and Dragon Ball Xenoverse
Silicon Studio has revealed that its post processing effects middleware graphics package YEBIS now supports the Nintendo Switch. YEBIS - now up to version 3 - allows developers to add glare, depth of field, motion blur and anti-aliasing effects to their games, amongst other things...
News Satoshi Ishida Hints at the Upcoming Kirby Multiplayer Game
An action fighting game?
Kirby: Planet Robobot was a standout release on the 3DS last year, polishing the gameplay of Kirby: Triple Deluxe even further while adding in some interesting new elements. As per series tradition, Planet Robobot also had some fun minigames that offered something a bit different form the core gameplay, and both are being...
News Japanese eShop Sale Celebrates Kirby's 25 Anniversary
Only available for four days and in Japan
From 27th April to the 30th April, Japanese Nintendo fans will have access to an eShop sale for many Kirby classics, with many games available at 25% off. As of right now, this sale is only confirmed for the Japanese eShop, but Nintendo of Europe and America often announce promotions like these as they go...
Thursday20th Apr 2017
Random Nintendo Officially States Ganondorf's Last Name
At last, you can now greet him formally
When you create a fictional multiverse as rich and diverse as that of Zelda's then deciding what is and isn't canon can be a tricky process (as was evidenced when one of our former staffers got into a particularly heated debate with Nintendo PR about the Zelda timeline at an official press event many moons...
Review Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)
Hitting top gear
Opting for enhanced and expanded deluxe / director's cut / remastered / Game of the Year editions of last-gen games is a well-worn tactic in the early days of a new console. Some of the most enjoyable games on PS4 and Xbox One are high quality re-releases, taking a top-notch title and sprucing it up for a new generation with all of...
News These Splatoon 2 Switch Accessories Certainly Are Quite Fresh
Gotta love that front cover
Japanese firm Keys Factory is releasing a range of Splatoon 2 accessories alongside the game later this year. These include Joy-Con covers in both soft-touch silicon and hard-feel plastic, neoprene pouches and - perhaps most exciting of all - flip-down screen covers very much like the ones seen on tablets like the iPad...
Deals Get in the Race With These Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Accessories and More
Play Mario Kart in style
The release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is only a short way off now, and it might be the first time a lot of Switch owners have played this game as not everyone had the Wii U. Still, current owners of the non-deluxe version will no doubt be delighted by the new-found portability, new characters and of course the all-important...
Nintendo Download 20th April (North America)
Wonder Boy! Fatal Fury! Urban Trial Freestyle 2! More!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the Nintendo Download Update details for North America. This week's listing includes a rather pleasing arrival in Switch, a quality sequel on 3DS and some quirky choices across various platforms. Let's get to the details, shall we? Nintendo Switch eShop:...
News Escape 2042: The Truth Defenders Is A New Release For The Monochrome Game Boy
Also available on the Sega Genesis and Dreamcast
The original Game Boy was launched way back in 1989 but despite its advanced age it's still getting new software - albeit of the unofficial variety. OrionSoft has just released Escape 2042: The Truth Defenders for the monochrome console, a "futuristic fast-paced platformer game" which takes place in...
Nintendo Download 20th April (Europe)
Wonder Boy! Fata Fury! Discounts! More!
The Nintendo Download Update is now live in Europe, so we have the details of what awaits in the Switch, 3DS and Wii U eShop. There are a couple of tempting options on the Switch, in particular, while some discounts on Wii U and 3DS may prove tempting - let's get to it. Nintendo Switch eShop: Wonder Boy: The...
News ARMS Brawler Mechanica Is A Normal Human In A Mech Suit
"Mechanica itself is the brainless ARMS belly girls!"
The colourful roster of fighters in upcoming Switch game ARMS trade blows using extendable weaponised arms, but what if by some chance you weren't born with such stretchy arms? (or, in a more horrific interpretation, weren't willing to have your perfectly good arms chopped off to be replaced by...
News Nicalis Teases a Binding of Isaac amiibo
Shh, no tears
It's rather fascinating to think how far The Binding of Isaac has come on Nintendo platforms. After being initially denied from the Nintendo ecosystem a few years back due to controversial content in the game, it later went on to make an appearance on both 3DS and Wii U, with the most recent and complete edition making an appearance on...
News Preorders Are Open For The New Figma Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Samus Aran
Coming this October
Toy manufacturer Good Smile has opened preorders for its forthcoming Figma Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Samus Aran figure. Due for release on October 31st, this limited edition figure features plenty of articulation and comes with a morph ball and interchangeable arm cannon.
News Rayman 3 and Rayman Advance Arrive on the North American Wii U VC Tomorrow
Yes, it's still kicking
When it comes to the Nintendo Switch, the Virtual Console is still largely a big question mark. We do know that a retro game will be given out each month with Nintendo's upcoming paid online service, but beyond that, details around the Switch Virtual Console have been quite scarce. Fortunately, the Wii U and 3DS VC's are...
Review Sky Force Anniversary (Wii U eShop)
Clear skies and minimal turbulence
Shoot-em-ups are at the very core of what video games are all about. From Space Invaders to Galaga, Raiden and beyond, their simplistic design and addictive gameplay have an enduring appeal that keeps players coming back for more. Polish developer Infinite Dreams stepped into the fray way back in 2004 with its...
News Super Bomberman R Is Getting A Free Content Update This Week
One new stage and difficulty tweaks
Konami has announced that Super Bomberman R will be updated to version 1.3 this Friday. The update - which will be entirely free of charge - brings with it a brand new stage. The other changes include tweaks to the difficulty level and "general improvement to the operations". Are you still playing Super...
News Japanese Release Of Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star Comes With English Subtitles
Thank goodness for region-free gaming
The fact that the Switch is region-free is good news for JRPG fans, it would seem. We already know that the Japanese version of Disgaea 5 Complete is fully playable in English, and now the Amazon Japan page for Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star has confirmed an English language option for that game, too: Supports...
News Senran Kagura Nintendo Switch Title Will Have a 'Charmingly Stupid' Story
Also 'pure and wholesome', apparently
Among the various Nintendo Direct shenanigans earlier this month, the Japanese broadcast included the unveiling of a 'Senran Kagura' game coming to the eShop in Japan. The advert for it put HD Rumble front and centre and, well, it's quite something. Series producer Kenichiro Takaki spoke about the eShop...
News ESA Publication Lists Pokémon Sun and Moon Among Best Selling Games of 2016
Only Nintendo games to make the list
Today, the ESA posted their annual Essential Facts publication online. This publication gives many statistical figures and facts based on the gaming industry from 2017. From the demographics behind video game purchases to the best selling games of 2017, this publication details it all. Speaking of the best...
Video SEGA Releases Handy Puyo Puyo Tetris Tutorials
Stack 'em up
Puyo Puyo Tetris is just days away from its Western release on the Nintendo Switch, and in recent times SEGA has been uploading some handy tutorial videos to help you prepare for its arrival. Considering the fact this writer continually gets battered by the CPU in the demo, watching these is certainly a good idea. You can see the full...
Wednesday19th Apr 2017
Review Metal Slug (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
The original Super Vehicle
Of all the titles released during the Neo Geo's surprisingly long lifespan, Metal Slug arguably stands out as one of the most famous and beloved. Released in 1996 - a time when the traditional run-and-gun arcade shooter was on the wane - this debut release dazzled with its superb visuals, excellent animation and tight...
Rumour SNES Classic Mini Coming Later This Year
Coming this Christmas
Nintendo is apparently working on a successor to the NES Classic Mini, if reports from Eurogamer are to be believed. Speaking to sources close to Nintendo, Eurogamer is reporting that Nintendo is already hard at work on the "Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System", which is expected to launch this...
Guide All the Nintendo Easter Eggs in LEGO City: Undercover
Here we go
When LEGO City: Undercover launched for the Wii U back in 2013, it was chock full of surprises for Nintendo fans eager to launch into the console's first open-world adventure game. With the game making the leap to both current-gen and competing platforms, there was some fear that the game's numerous easter eggs, many of which are cheeky...
News Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment Wii U And 3DS Release Dates Revealed
Spooky
Yacht Club Games has confirmed the North American release dates for the Specter of Torment DLC for Shovel Knight on 3DS and Wii U. As previously stated, the update will be free to download for those who already own one of these versions. The Wii U update goes live on April 21st, while the 3DS update is up on the 25th. The update is...
Random Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Players Just Can't Stop Throwing Poor Cuccos Into Lava
Bird-brained
Cuccos have been part of the Legend of Zelda series for years, so you'd think they'd be given a fair degree of respect. However, that isn't the case with the birds in Breath of the Wild - in fact, some players are hell-bent on making these poor creatures suffer as much as possible. Cuccos, as we already know, possess incredible power...
News Minecraft On Switch Compares Well To Other Versions, Wii U World Transfers Being Worked On
60fps world-building
Thanks to a recent Microsoft livestream we've now got a few details on how the upcoming Switch version of Minecraft compares to other versions on the market, and the good news is that it will comfortably outshine the Wii U edition. First up, the devs behind the port have revealed that Nintendo's console is very easy to work...
News Nintendo Switch Sales Remain Strong in Japan
Monster Hunter XX (Double Cross) also maintains momentum
The weekly Japanese chart results are out to remind us that it's the middle of the week, and it's been a quiet period in the country. That said, the lack of change hasn't been too negative for Nintendo. Starting with software, no new releases have performed particularly well, leaving Switch...
Video It Looks Like The Controversial Fire Hopping Trick Has Been Removed From Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Hot hot hot
When Mario Kart 8 was released on the Wii U competitive players were quick to seek out tactics which would give them an advantage over their rivals, and one such sneaky trick was "fire hopping", which allowed players to shave seconds off each lap. Nintendo didn't address this trick with a patch, forcing many to use it when playing...
News Bandai Namco Files a Patent for Pac-Man Maker
Hmm...
It seems like a rather odd oversight that it took Nintendo so many years to finally put out a level editor for the Super Mario series, but when it finally got around to it, the final result was something to remember. Super Mario Maker was a fantastic success on the Wii U (and on the 3DS to a certain extent), offering gamers the chance at...
News Fast RMX Version 1.2 Is Now Live
Time Attack! Online friend matches!
Fast RMX was one of the stand out titles in the Nintendo Switch launch line up, bringing high-speed, futuristic racing to fill in a gap left behind by a certain dormant Nintendo franchise. As a port of the Wii U's excellent Fast Racing NEO, this enhanced edition brings all the DLC and some additional stages, along...
News Super Nintendo Games, "Legend" And "Iron Commando", Seek Re-release
Piko Interactive seeks to republish Arcade Zone's finest
You might remember Arcade Zone's "Legend" for the Super Nintendo, a game that cult magazine Super Play issue #22 reviewed with a conclusion of "Skillfully crafted with cracking graphics and some novel touches (...)", despite failing to bring anything new to the sidescrolling brawler formula...
News Casting Call - Fan Translation of Legend of Xanadu Now Holding Auditions
Looking for a Few Good Men and Women
Role-playing games are likely the most beloved genre of the 16-bit era. The graphics hold up well in many cases, and the storylines can still be engaging. There were a few problems with RPGs in the 1980s and 1990s though. Many games had low print runs, making them hard to find back then, and sometimes
Tuesday18th Apr 2017
News The Switch Mini Isn't Real Yet, But These Mock-Ups Sure Are Convincing
Is this what a new Switch design could look like?
Last week we reported on a statement from analyst firm Citigroup which suggested that Nintendo will eventually release a "Switch Mini" to cater for younger players, just as it did with the 2DS a few years back. NeoGAF user jts has taken this prediction rather literally, and has created a series of...
Review Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (Switch eShop)
Return to Monster Land
The Sega Master System may have lost out to the NES in terms of pure commercial success and depth of software, but it nevertheless had its fair share of amazing games - and 1989's Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap must surely rank at the top of the list. A massively influential and innovative title, it combined platform action...
News A Decades-Old Cheat Can Be Used To Finish Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap In Minutes
Retro revival
One of the most impressive things about Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is that it contains the 8-bit original as well as a neatly-remastered update with HD visuals and fantastic audio. In fact, the team at Lizardcube were so committed to achieving an authentic result that they carried over the password system used in the 8-bit original,...
News Nintendo Switch OS Version 2.2.0 Is Now Live
Wow, look at those patch notes
Nintendo has done an effective job of creating a well-crafted OS with the Nintendo Switch, but with each passing day, it seems that fans are getting more eager for additional features. When will we be able to watch Netflix on it? How much longer till the Virtual Console launches? What about the web browser that's...
Weirdness You Can Play and Win in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Without Touching the Controller
The smart & furious
Smart Steering is an addition to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that many would consider a good thing, especially for younger or inexperience players. It nudges you in the right direction so you don't go careening off the edge of the track with reckless abandon, but upon closer inspection is can even be used to play the game for you. When...
Video Here's How To Totally Break The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Oops
Given the incredible scope of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the many ways in which the game engine can pushed in different directions, it should come as little surprise to learn that it's possible to totally break the game if you so wish. One Japanese player has discovered that if you use the flying mine cart trick during the...
Guide How To Get Rich Quick In Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
In the money
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap may have RPG-like features such as pick-ups, shops and gear to collect, but it doesn't allow you to level up like a typical role-playing adventure - instead, the player is expected to use coins to purchase more powerful weapons and stronger armour in order to deal with tougher enemies and boss characters...
News US Federal Trade Commission Warns Against Nintendo Switch 'Emulator' Scams
Wait "until you’re able to buy the real one yourself"
Whenever a new product comes out some look for a cheaper or even free way to enjoy it without spending out on the real thing. Scammers often tap into those desires, and have naturally done so with the Nintendo Switch. We suspect most reading these pages know better than to click on links...
Video Here's Exactly What's New And Different In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Just in case you were still wondering
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a classic double-dip, offering the same core game we played on the Wii U a few years back but with a few welcome embellishments. If you've been under a rock for the past few months and don't know exactly what's new in this particular re-release, then allow Nintendo to educate you. This...
Video Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Player Discovers A New Way To Chart The Oceans, Fast
Everybody's going surfing
A Russian Zelda: Breath of the Wild player has discovered a new way to get around in the game using rafts, Magnesis and a mine cart. In a variation on the flying mine cart trick we reported on a while back, this trick involves placing the cart on one of the many rafts in the game and then using your Magnesis Rune to push...
News Evergreen Nintendo Switch Titles Stay in UK Charts as Yooka-Laylee Makes a Mark
Playtonic's game fares relatively well on PS4
The UK charts are out following this week's Bank Holiday, and the results are relatively predictable, with an absence of major retail releases allowing established titles to shift around in the top 40. Perhaps most notable, albeit irrelevant from a Nintendo perspective, is that the retail version of...
News Arzest Emerges as Developer of Hey! Pikmin
Oh...Pikmin
Hey! Pikmin, the 2D platforming portable take on the much-respected series, is heading to the 3DS in July. Of course some have wondered about its status within the series, though the name and style has always implied it's a portable spin-off as opposed to 'Pikmin 4'. That impression has only been solidified by the news of the game's...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Will Last About Three Hours on the Switch's Handheld Mode
Roughly on par with Breath of the Wild
When it comes to the Switch's main hardware, one of the sticking points for some seems to be that the battery life is a little less than ideal. Perhaps two to six hours won't last on the longest of car rides, but considering the kind of games that can be run on the Switch, it's certainly something that can be...
Random This Nintendo Switch Case Looks Like It Could Withstand Pretty Much Anything
Love that automatic pressure equalization valve
We've covered some of the best cases to protect your Nintendo Switch and only yesterday we took a look at WaterField's premium offerings. They may be lovely cases, but they might not be tough enough for everyone. This is where Pelican's affectionat
Video Check Out This New Trailer for Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers
Looks like it's shaping up nicely
Street Fighter II was a pivotal moment in the game industry when it released in 1991, arguably acting as the catalyst that would bring the fighting genre into mainstream appeal. After that initial release, the game received approximately ten bazillion ports, and a special edition is naturally due out on the Switch...
Video Direct Your Eyes to All Eight New Battle Arenas in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
A Switch for the better
Mario Kart 8 had one major flaw that nearly everyone agreed on; the battle mode was rushed and whilst mechanically it was fine the recycling of small tracks as playgrounds as opposed to purpose-built arenas was a tremendous shame. Thankfully that's a thing of the past with the new maps in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch,...
Review Blue-Collar Astronaut (Wii U eShop)
In space, no one seems to tip
Are you tired of dead-end, earthbound employment? Do you long to break free of the crushing gravity of workaday life? Are you finally ready to float freely in the high-salary stratosphere? Well, dear reader, if you're dead set on those lofty goals, we don't have anything to offer; but if you're after a more modest...
News Donkey Kong, Pokémon Red and Green Nominated for the World Video Game Hall of Fame
Games that started history
Shigeru Miyamoto's arcade hit, Donkey Kong, has been nominated for the 2017 addition to the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Additionally, The Pokémon Company International released a statement on its website announcing that Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, originally released in 1996 on the Nintendo Game Boy, have also...
Interview Mega Ran on His UK Tour, Chip-Hop and Taking a Famicom and Switch on the Road
"I feel like we're really building something solid in the UK"
North American hip-hop artist Random, AKA Mega Ran, is well known on the music scene thanks to his cutting edge retro-styled beats. Since the creation of his alter-ego Mega Ran, this former teacher has become one of the premier artists in hip-hop's nerdcore genre, released multiple...
News Layton's Mystery Journey is Coming to 3DS in Japan on 20th July
That reminds us of a puzzle!
Update: In happy news, it's been confirmed that this is due for a Fall / Autumn in North America and Europe. Original Article: After flirting with the idea for a dramatic change of direction in the Layton series after its first six releases on DS, 3DS and some smart devices, Level-5 shifted towards a more subtle...
Monday17th Apr 2017
Video Let's See How Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch Compares to the Wii U Original
360 progressive difference
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may not be a wholly new game, or really that much different from its original Wii U version at all, but nevertheless we were promised a solid 1080p 60fps experience from this souped-up version of Mario Kart 8, so we've pitted the two releases side-by-side in the video above. Naturally YouTube does an...
"Remember that even Zelda stutters"
Indie title Mr. Shifty is all about dashing through walls and taking out enemies in style, but if you've downloaded the Switch version then you may be finding that you're having trouble doing that due to the game's inconsistent frame rate. When the action hots up, the game drops frames quite dramatically, which...
Talking Point Nintendo Needs to Learn Lessons From Its NES Mini Mistakes
A simple product turned into a messy saga
Based upon the various decent emulators out there, it's not hard to run NES games. They're 30+ years old, and in this modern era of GPUs and accessible operating systems people are playing 8-bit games on a dizzying range of devices. Some of us, of course, spend decent money for official ROMs from Nintendo,...
News UK Retailer Exploits NES Classic Demand By Asking More Than Three Times The Retail Price
£190 gets you the discontinued console of your dreams
Even before Nintendo discontinued the NES Classic, the value of the micro-console on the secondary market was far greater than its suggested retail price. Scalpers on sites like eBay were demanding astronomical amounts for the system, but prices appeared to have settled down recently, perhaps...
Accessory Review Waterfield Design Cases for Nintendo Switch
A pouch, a CitySlicker, a Multiplayer Pro, oh my!
When it comes to premium cases for things, WaterField Design have got the market cornered as far as portable Nintendo consoles go. A few years ago we reviewed the handmade cases for the Nintendo 3DS and now it's time to turn to those on offer for the Nintendo Switch. Just as before the cases on...
Sunday16th Apr 2017
News Splatoon's New Manga Serialization Launches in Coro Coro on 15th May
An inkredible manga announcement
In celebration of the upcoming Nintendo Switch game Splatoon 2, Coro Coro Comics revealed in the latest issue of the magazine that a new Splatoon manga will launch in next month's issue; a full preview was also given. The author of this new series, Sankichi Hinodeya, released a one-shot comic for Splatoon 2 in March,...
News Namco Museum Cover Art Hints At Physical Release On Switch
Gotta get physical
The recent Nintendo Direct announced that Namco Museum would be making its way to the Nintendo Switch eShop this summer, but no mention was made of a physical release. However, the Namco Museum page features box art for the game, something that would be unnecessary for a purely digital release. Furthermore, the official press...
News Make Your Own Snipperclips Diorama With Nintendo's Help
A true 3D game experience
Nintendo has published a new page on its 'Play Nintendo' website encouraging fans to make their own Snipperclips - Cut it out, together! diorama; they provide printable designs as well as instructions for how to make it. You can find more details here. If you've played Snipperclips and found it enjoyable, or if you want a...
Saturday15th Apr 2017
Preview Battle Mode is Back On Form in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Back with a vengeance
We had one major complaint with Mario Kart 8 when we reviewed it on Wii U - its so-called Battle Mode was lazy and barely worth a look. It simply took place on Grand Prix tracks, so you'd drive around unaware of where your foes were (as a track map wasn't added until a post-launch update), which was a vacuous and pointless...
News Japanese Super Mario Website Has Updated Character Profiles and Mario Kart History
Even Waluigi makes it into the spotlight
Nintendo recently updated its character profile and Mario Kart history pages on the Japanese Super Mario portal website. Unfortunately these new descriptions are currently only available in Japanese, but it's easy to enjoy the artwork and design. In a neat touch you can listen to character sound effects in...
News Italian Discontinuation of the NES Mini Seals Its Fate
Our favourite Italian plumber is saddened
In yet another confirmation that wraps up the final applicable region, the NES Mini has reportedly been confirmed as discontinued in Italy. Following North America, Japan and Australia, this marks Europe as the fourth
Friday14th Apr 2017
News SuperData Says Nintendo Sold 2.4 Million Switch Consoles Worldwide in March
Now predicted to sell 7.2 million consoles in 2017
The research firm SuperData has released its analysis of Nintendo Switch sales in March, reporting that 2.4 million units were sold worldwide according to its information. Nintendo's original estimates for the financial year (launch up to the end of March) was two million units. SuperData also...
News The Switch Is The Fastest-Selling Video Game System In Nintendo History
Breath of the Wild becomes the fastest-selling launch game and Zelda game
Nintendo of America has released a press release regarding their March sales of the Nintendo Switch as well as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The Nintendo Switch sold more than 906,000 units in March, compared to the Wii U launch period during which only 890,000...
News Citigroup Analysts Predict Nintendo Will Release a Mini-Switch in 2019
"We think smaller children could struggle"
The Switch is off to a flying start, selling more than 906,000 units in North America alone, yet analysts are already predicting that an alternative version of the console could be released in two years' time. According to Citigroup, its analysts predict that Nintendo is likely to release a smaller-sized...
News The Famicom Classic Edition Has Now Also Been Discontinued
No new information on the NES Classic Edition production in Europe
As we reported earlier, the NES Classic Edition has been discontinued in North America. It also appears, via an update on the official website, that the same has occurred for the Famicom Classic Edition in Japan. A message on the site says: This product has ended production for...
News The FAST RMX Update Has Almost Crossed the Finish Line
Arrives on 18th/19th April
FAST RMX has already been an early stand-out on the Switch eShop, delivering high quality futuristic racing and also showcasing the potential graphical grunt the system has over its predecessor. Shin'en Multimedia has been working on an update to add a bit more content, too, and it's almost ready. It'll bring two headline...
News The Pokémon Company Reports a 2016 Retail Revenue of $3.3 Billion
Pokémon used Pay Day! It's Super Effective!
2016 marked the 20th anniversary of Pokémon, and what a celebration it was. From two new main series Pokémon games on the Nintendo 3DS – Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon – as well as the release of the augmented reality game Pokémon GO, the Pokémon franchise had a good year. Just how good? The...
News Nintendo Publishes Interview With Pocket Rumble Developer
Discusses inspiration, mechanics and multiplayer features
Nintendo UK recently spoke with Christian Stewart of Cardboard Robot Games to discuss the upcoming Switch release of Pocket Rumble. In this interview, he shares the inspiration behind the style of game, some of the game mechanics present and comparisons of the Joy-Con to the original Neo Geo...
News NES Mini Also Discontinued in Australia
Another one bites the dust
Recently, we have reported that both the NES Classic Edition in North America as well as the Famicom Classic Edition in Japan have been discontinued. Now, a Nintendo of Australia representative has told Vooks that the diminutive system has also been discontinued in Australia. We can confirm that we are no longer...
Thursday13th Apr 2017
News Nintendo Has Discontinued The NES Classic Edition in North America
No information available for other regions
Earlier this year there was chatter online around the potential discontinuation of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe); some retailers in Scandinavia, for example, suggested they'd been told no more stock was coming, but...
News 'Senran Kagura' Game Heading For Nintendo Switch
HD Rumble confirmed for... oh dear...
If you were like us glued to your screen in our live-blog, know that the Western versions of the latest Nintendo Direct omitted one very crucial fact: 'Senran Kagura' is coming to the Switch with HD Rumble used to simulate, erm... well, please watch the video where series producer Kenichiro Takaki explains the...
News Monster Hunter Stories is Coming to the West
Spin a yarn this Fall
Today Nintendo and Capcom announced Monster Hunter Stories would be releasing in Europe and the US this Fall. Stories released in Japan last October to critical acclaim, as is expected for nearly any release in the franchise in its native country. Monster Hunter enjoys a smaller, but equally loyal following in the West. That...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 12th April 2017
Games, amiibo, more games...
Nintendo may have given the longest slots of this week's Direct broadcast to ARMS and Splatoon 2, as expected, but there was plenty more to dive into. Across 3DS and Switch segments we saw a range of games, old and new, and there were even some accessory announcements to throw in; amiibo, of course, made their mark. All...
News Standalone Nintendo Switch Dock Set Available From May 19th
Time to Switch docks
It's previously been announced by Nintendo that the company will start selling the Nintendo Switch dock as a standalone item, however further information on stock and supply has been thin to say the least. Until today you're only option was to buy just the dock unit itself from the Official Store, listed for $59.99, which is...
News Behold The Bulky Joy-Con AA Battery Pack
Now you'll never be out of charge
In the rush to cover all the Nintendo Direct news coming out last night, we only briefly touched on this. In addition to the Neon Yellow Joy-Con, which will be released alongside ARMS, and the possibility of buying a standalone Switch dock, Nintendo also sneaked in the unveiling of the Joy-Con AA battery pack into...
News New Splatoon, Legend of Zelda and Super Smash Bros. amiibo Announced
Wallets groan
The amiibo train steamrolls on, for Nintendo have announced 12 new amiibo coming to store shelves this summer in its latest Nintendo Direct. New The Legend of Zelda amiibo: First up is an arguably strange choice - more Zelda amiibo! To be specific, this includes three versions of Link from past The Legend of Zelda games Majora's...
News Payday 2 Announced For Nintendo Switch
It feels good to be bad
Today during Nintendo's Direct Presentation for Nintendo Switch and 3DS titles a surprise announcement was for co-op shooter Payday 2 on the Switch. Going so far as to say that there would four-player co-operative play, this will be an exciting addition to the Nintendo Switch library, as it's previously been a hit on other...
News My Nintendo Gets a Fresh Batch of Rewards
The new Nintendo Direct wasn't our only gift from Nintendo
My Nintendo has added new rewards as a celebration of the upcoming Spring holiday season with Yoshi, of course, leading the way in North America. Similarly there's 'Springtime Fun' in Europe that also includes some Pikmin 3 discounts. For North America, you can find the following rewards on...
News These Neon Yellow Joy-Con Will Go Perfectly With ARMS
Another fun colour option
During the Nintendo Direct today it was revealed that ARMS would be released on 16th June along with Neon Yellow Joy-Con which hit stores on the same day. Matching Joy-Con straps will also be available. There's not too much to say about this other than they are a perfect match for the brightly coloured palette of ARMS. Now...
Nintendo Download 13th April (North America)
Kirby! Mr Shifty! Jackbox Party! BOXBOY! Much more!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. A couple of titles arrived after the Nintendo Direct on 12th April, and in addition to those there are some other gems on the list. The Nintendo Switch gets three enticing releases along with a demo, while...
News New Kirby Titles Releasing In Honor Of 25th Anniversary
You're going to need to bring some friends
Today on the Nintendo Direct showcasing 3DS and Nintendo Switch titles, not one, not two, but three new Kirby titles were announced for the Nintendo 3DS. Retaining the stereotype that Nintendo likes to mark the end of its console support with a multitude of Kirby titles. The first of which is releasing...
News Monopoly Coming To Nintendo Switch With HD Rumble Dice Rolling
Pass go and collect $200
In last night's Nintendo Direct it was revealed that Ubisoft would be bringing the classic board game Monopoly to Nintendo Switch, it will go on sale in Autumn/Fall. You can of course play at home on the TV screen or on-the-go in tabletop mode. The game makes good use of the Joy-Con capabilities and players can feel the...
News Four New ARMS Fighters Were 'Leaked' in Yesterday's Nintendo Direct
Hidden in plain sight
When it's not Ganondorf hiding inside a magnifying glass, apparently it's four brand new fighters for Nintendo's upcoming fighter ARMS. That's right, right under our very noses four totally unannounced characters were slipped into the Direct unintentionally, or possibly even purposefully. You can see all four of these...
News Yo-kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters Will Spook the North American Market This Fall
Aims to be the 'definitive version'
The Yo-kai Watch series may not have hit the sales heights in the West that it regularly achieves in Japan, but it has been building a fanbase nonetheless. Localisation has been a little slow, however, and North America is often getting titles ahead of the PAL market. That may end up being the case again with...
News Rayman Legends Will Support Co-Op Across Two Separate Nintendo Switch Systems
Kung Foot mode also expanded
When it comes to 2D platformers on the Wii U and determining the best in class, Rayman Legends is undoubtedly in the conversation. Smooth, gorgeous and a lot of fun, it was a high point on the system and is still a delight to play. We're rather looking forward to its arrival on Nintendo Switch, then, in the predictable...
News The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch Bundle Isn't Fake, But Is Exclusive to Russia
Ok then...
Yesterday, prior to the Nintendo Direct, we reported on a rumoured Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch bundle that was apparently listed on the Russian web store - only visible in the country or via a web proxy. We wondered whether it was some Photoshop hijinks to raise hopes ahead of the Direct, though it seemed to have some
News Namco Museum Is Coming To Nintendo Switch This Summer
Pac-Man, Galaga, Rolling Thunder, Splatterhouse and more!
During the recent Nintendo Direct presentation it was revealed that Namco Museum would be coming to the Nintendo Switch this Summer. It will retail for $29.99 in North America. Ten games are included in the package, including classics such as Pac-Man, Galaga, Splatterhouse, Rolling Thunder,...
News Hey! Pikmin will Launch with New amiibo on 28th July
Olimar will finally crash land onto your Nintendo 3DS!
Once again, Captain Olimar finds himself crash landing onto a planet inhabited by Pikmin. It's up to you to team up once again with the Pikmin to overcome the many puzzles and enemies present; you'll need all the Pikmin help you can get to gather treasure and refuel his ship to return home!...
News Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition Lands On 11th May
Build anything anywhere
Today's Nintendo Direct presentation included plenty of details, including the release date of Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition. Releasing digitally on 11th May, a physical version will be released at a later date. The game will include an exclusive Nintendo texture-pack which was included in the Wii U version of the...
Nintendo Download 13th April (Europe)
Team Kirby! Mr. Shifty! Jackbox Party Pack 3! Puyo demo! More!
The Download Update is live in Europe, and we have the details thanks to a bit of eShop browsing and help from the always generous Daan Koopman. It's a pretty decent line-up once again, with a high-profile 3DS arrival and some tempting Switch downloads; there's a solid batch of...
News Nintendo Shows Off 2D Gameplay Footage From Sonic Forces
Talking 'bout our Generations
It could be a rather good year for Sonic fans that happen to own a Switch - Sonic Mania is due in the Summer, and then Sonic Forces will also come to the system in the Holiday season. Though the Wii and Wii U had exclusive Sonic games of varying quality, it's great to see the mainline multi-platform titles coming to...
News The Quirky Miitopia is Getting Localised to 3DS in the West
It's all about Mii
Miitopia is a fascinating game, as it delivers a surprisingly deep and complex RPG with a cast made up in its entirety of Mii characters. The core concept is that you can have the game use your collection of Mii characters, so you can have as bizarre a quest as you like. The good news is that it's not going to be limited to...
News RPG Maker Fes is Coming to the West in June
Create and share your own RPG on the Nintendo 3DS!
RPG Maker Fes, released in Japan last year, will finally launch on the Nintendo 3DS in North America on 27th June and Europe on 23rd June. In February, we had the opportunity to play an early English build and were very impressed by what we played. RPG fans can build, play and share their worlds...
Soapbox ARMS is the New Splatoon for the Nintendo Switch Generation
It's like an onion
ARMS has layers. Many, many layers. That is at least if the latest Nintendo Direct is to be believed. What started out as an apparently straightforward and limited beat-em-up with motion controls has rapidly been extrapolated into something far grander than we think many people expected. Sound familiar? Sounds just like how...
News Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training Finally Arrives On 3DS In Europe On 28th July
Can you stay focused?
We're honestly not sure what happened to Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training: Can you stay focused? in Europe back in the day; it was all set to arrive in the region in 2013 but then that didn't happen for 'reasons'. Japanese and North American gamers have had a while to work on their concentration skills, but the good news...
News Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star Coming to Switch 25th July
Saber and friends make the switch
In a surprise announcement during today's Nintendo Direct, XSEED revealed the Warriors-style beat-em-up, Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star, which released on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita earlier this year will be heading to the Switch on 25th July in North America, and 21st July in Europe. For those unfamiliar,...
News Project Mekuru is a First-Party Multiplayer Title Heading to the Switch eShop
A simplistic tile-flipping Bomberman?
Nintendo has a decent track record in releasing a small number of interesting download-only games, and it'll be aiming to deliver again with Project Mekuru on Nintendo Switch; naturally that's not the final name. Either locally or online four players run around flipping tiles, also triggering explosions to take...
News THQ Nordic is Bringing Sine Mora EX and Battle Chasers: Nightwar to Switch eShop
Battle Chasers is not a timed exclusive, though
The Switch eShop is certainly picking up steam with some tempting announcements, and today's Nintendo Direct added to the line-up with a couple of titles being published by THQ Nordic. First up was Sine Mora EX, which had previously been spotted this week in a rating - this is an adjusted take on the...
News ARMS Punches Its Way Onto Switch On 16th June
Mix and match your arms
In today's Nintendo Direct it was revealed that ARMS will be released in stores on 16th June. That's about when we expected it to be released, but it's great to get the final confirmation. One of the biggest features in the upcoming fighting game is the ability to equip two types of customizable ARMS per fighter. These ARMS...
News Splatoon 2 Splats on Switch on 21st July
New modes and amiibos in tow
During today's Nintendo Direct we got a ton of new info on Splatoon 2. The biggest news of all was the announcement of a solid release date of 21st July. It's a bit earlier than we expected, but we aren't complaining. The most exciting bit of news in our humble opinion was the addition of a new mode dubbed Salmon Run, in...
News BYE-BYE BOXBOY! Says Farewell to the Trilogy in North America
Series trilogy demo now available on the Nintendo 3DS eShop
The BoxBoy! trilogy says its final goodbye as BYE-BYE BOXBOY! is now available in North America on the Nintendo 3DS eShop; it arrived in Europe in late March. Featuring creative new puzzles and gameplay mechanics, this one has HAL Laboratory put in all of its creativity into this last game...
News Celebrate Spring With The Pokémon GO Eggstravaganza Event
Earn more Candy for every Pokémon hatched from an Egg!
Niantic, Inc. and The Pokémon Company welcome the arrival of Spring today with Pokémon GO's next in-game celebration, the Pokémon GO Eggstravaganza. From 13th April at 9pm BST to 20th April at 9pm BST, Trainers will be able to find a greater variety of Pokémon from 2 km Eggs. Trainers will...
News Ever Oasis Journeys to 3DS Owners on 23rd June
Embark on a fantastic voyage
Nintendo today announced Ever Oasis, developed by Grezzo, best known for The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes as well as some high-profile remakes is releasing on 23rd June. The game was first revealed at E3 2016, though Nintendo has been typically silent on the game since then. Few revelations about the new IP came...
Wednesday12th Apr 2017
News Zelda: Breath of the Wild Update 1.1.2 Makes For A More Pleasant Gaming Experience
The best just keeps getting better
Just when you thought that it couldn't get any better playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, here comes an update to make things even more "pleasant". When you boot up the game next you should hopefully receive update 1.1.2, which offers the following benefits according to Nintendo's own patch notes:...
Feature What We Expect From the Nintendo Direct - 12th April
ARMS and Splatoon 2 will be the focus, but small surprises seem likely
Nintendo has a pattern of hosting a Direct or 'info drop' in the month of April, with the slot far enough away from the all-encompassing E3 to be a useful launching point for some interesting announcements. It'll also be the first Direct since the 3rd March hardware launch of...
Live Blog Watch the ARMS & Splatoon 2 Nintendo Direct - Live!
Also featuring other 3DS and Switch games
Ladies and gentlemen, we...are...live! This is the main event of the day, this is the moment you've all been waiting for... It's time! In the blue corner we have the undefeated, undisputed, freshest champion, Splatoon 2! In the red corner we have the rookie, the new challenger, the new kid on the block,...
News Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia File Size and DLC Details Emerge in Japan
Lots and lots of extras
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is out in the West in late May, but it's out on 20th April in Japan. As a result the marketing and details announced for the country have stepped up a gear and plenty of information has emerged. First of all, below is a rather flashy trailer showcasing a range of classes, with familiar...
Poll Where Do You Currently Stand on ARMS and Splatoon 2?
Thoughts before this evening's Nintendo Direct
We're now mere hours away from the latest Nintendo Direct and we hope Nintendo don't pull any punches when it comes to details on forthcoming Switch titles ARMS and Splatoon 2. Whilst the Direct is scheduled to cover upcoming 3DS titles and other Switch releases (*cough* Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
News Florida Officials Ban Inflatable Mario And Maybe Even Freedom of Speech
Will the lawsuit turn out to be full of hot air?
You'd have thought a innocent 9-foot inflatable Mario wouldn't offend anyone, but city officials in Orange Park, Florida have taken umbrage with the one that Scott Fisher, owner of Gone Broke Gaming erected outside his business to help increase the store's visibility and bring in more customers. The...
News Nintendo Switch and Monster Hunter XX Lead Japanese Charts Once Again
Mario Sports Superstars creeps past 50,000 sales
The Media Create results are available, as is the norm for a Wednesday, and they bring more positives for Nintendo in what is generally a quiet week for releases. Starting with software, the highest new entry in the top 20 is LEGO Worlds on PS4, but that's in fifth place with just 11,578 sales...
Rumour Russian Nintendo Store Leaks Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle
Possibly, if it's not an elaborate fake
We're honestly not 100% sure if this isn't an elaborate fake, but we'll leave it to you to make your own minds up. This Reddit thread makes a convincing argument for the existence of a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle for the Nintendo Switch. The theory is that this will be announced later today in the
News Nintendo Starts Paying Out to Switch and 3DS Hack Tipsters
The never-ending battle
Late last year we told you about Nintendo's rather intriguing "Bug Bounty" programme, which was offering monetary rewards for tip-offs to security vulnerabilities on 3DS; when the Switch launched the official website was updated to include the new system, too. The programme seems to have sprung to life, and it's an...
Hits PS4 and 3DS on 29th July in the country
Dragon Quest XI has been an intriguing title; back when the Switch was still 'NX' it was one of the first games 'confirmed' for the system, before Square Enix initially back-pedalled. It was then made official for the Switch once again, with the title also coming to PS4 and in a rather different form on...
News Get Colourful With A Splatoon-Themed Casio Baby-G Watch
Now that's a smart watch!
While players like Apple, Samsung and LG are fighting between themselves to come up with the best smartwatch solution, it's refreshing that Casio are staying old school with their new Baby-G series which have a Splatoon theme. These funky colourful seemingly indestructible watches come in two designs. The white Baby-G...
Video Capcom TV Shows Off a Whole Lot of Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers
Including crazy colour customisation options
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is one of a few enticing titles due in May, and will hopefully make a mark at retail for the Nintendo Switch. Capcom's retro reimagining / remaster / sequel-thing looks rather fun, and could certainly appeal to gamers old enough to remember the 'original' and...
News Classic Neo Geo Racer 'Over Top' Speeds Into View
Coming to Switch eShop soon
The lovely folks over at HAMSTER have been treating us to some Neo Geo classics on the Nintendo Switch eShop while we await Nintendo's own reboot of the Virtual Console. One of the lesser known games in the Neo Geo library, called Over Top, will be coming out on 27th April in Europe priced at £6.29 - according to the...
Gallery ARMS Already Has Loads of Cool Fan-Art
Knock Out!
One modern way to check how your new brand new IP is tracking is by taking a moment to look at the wonderfully talented Nintendo community and see how much fan-art is being created. If we think back a few years it was Splatoon that had a very impressive amount of pre-launch fan art that suggested the game was going to be a hit with fans,...
News Fatal Fury Punches Onto The Switch eShop Next Week
The original SNK arcade brawler
We brought you the news that Over Top is headed to the Neo Geo roster on the Switch eShop only this morning, but now the European eShop's Coming Soon page has been refreshed and we can see that Fatal Fury will be the Neo Geo game for next week. It will cost £6.29 and be available for download on the 20th April; the...
News Show Off Your Fairy Fashion With The Latest Miitomo Update
Folklore in the forest!
Nintendo is still plugging away and keeping its first smart device game Miitomo fresh with new content. If you check in today you can grab the latest items in the Miitomo Drop stage, "Folklore in the forest! Fairy Fashion #2". Here's what items are on offer: Butterfly fairy top (set) Butterfly fairy shorts (set) Butterfly...
Tuesday11th Apr 2017
Review LEGO City: Undercover (Switch)
Chasing more sales
LEGO City: Undercover, understandably, was considered a big deal by Nintendo when it came to the Wii U exclusively back in early 2013. While it was a welcome arrival, it struggled - like various other titles - to arrest the early slump in system sales, and though Nintendo published the title it was evidently not locked down...
News That Bayonetta Countdown, Unsurprisingly, Was for a PC Port
Shoots up the Steam charts
When SEGA published the old '8-bit Bayonetta' game as a freebie on Steam for April Fools' Day, the safe assumption was that a related countdown was for a PC port of the original. Of course, the nature of countdowns meant that fantasies could be voiced, such as the prospect of Bayonetta 3. Well, those of us awaiting that...
News 3DS Update 11.4.0-37 Brings Even More Stability To Nintendo's Incredibly Stable Handheld
User experience enhanced too
A new 3DS firmware update, known lovingly as 11.4.0-37, has just gone live; yes - you guessed it - it's all about the stability. In addition to this you might see some small changes to the user experience: Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user...
Video We've Found 66 References to Classic Zelda Games in Breath of the Wild
Some are more obvious than others
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is rife with content. So rife in fact we've managed to find and source 66 references to characters, locations, and other elements from previous games in The Legend of Zelda series, but given just how many there are we're certain there are others we've missed. Check out the...
News Super Mario Level Up! is an Intriguing New Board Game From USAopoly
Includes a 3D game board and deck of cards
Nintendo has licensed quite a few board games and sets over the years - we have themed Monopoly, checkers and chess boards for various franchises, and more keep coming. Now USAopoly has unveiled what seems to be a relatively unique game - Super Mario Level Up!. It looks quite intriguing, with a '3D' board...
News Sine Mora EX Is On Its Way To The Nintendo Switch
Ready for a bit of bullet hell?
If you're a bit of a shmup fan then you will likely be over the moon to hear that THQ Nordic is planning to bring Sine Mora EX to the Nintendo Switch. The game has recently received a rating from Brazil's answer to ESRB. Previously released - in non-EX form - on platforms like PS3, Vita and PC, it's a stylish shooter...
News Check Out These Limited Time Micro SD Card Deals From Amazon
Boost that storage
As is the norm with Nintendo hardware, the Switch has enough internal memory for a decent number of Indie downloads and one or two retail games, but it can fill up quickly. Those looking for affordable storage upgrades may be interested in some limited period deals on Amazon, as they should help keep download fans well stocked for...
Video Updated Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Trailer Aims for Top Gear
We know the karts don't have gears, please understand
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is getting closer, a nice early opportunity to enjoy plenty of karting goodness early on in the lifecycle of the Nintendo Switch. Wii U owners may have seen it all before, apart from the new Battle Modes and arenas, but there's no denying that with all of the former DLC thrown...
Video Zoink Games Outlines More Details on Flipping Death for Nintendo Switch
Is still exploring further releases on the system, too
During the Nintendo Switch Nindie Showcase there was the first reveal of Flipping Death, the next title from Zoink Games. The studio is well known among Wii U eShop aficionados for Stick it to the Man, and this new title certainly shares some aesthetic similarities. We chatted to Zoink CEO and...
Video Get a Good Look at the Awesome Cast of Disgaea 5 Complete
It's very, VERY Japanese, which is marvellous
We don't always get all of the best games out of Japan, though the region-free nature of the Switch means we can buy games from the Japanese eShop if we please. Yet fully localised versions are always welcome, and we're looking forward to the late May arrival of Disgaea 5 Complete in North America and...
News Dust Off the 3DS, The Spring National StreetPass Weekend Is Happening This Weekend
Collect up to six StreetPass tags this weekend
Apologies for the provocative headline, of course not everyone has abandoned their humble 3DS in favour of the mighty Nintendo Switch just yet! The birds are tweeting, the sun is shining, we've all done a bit of house cleaning; yes, it's finally Spring time. To celebrate Nintendo is running another...
Monday10th Apr 2017
News Nintendo Direct Confirmed For 12th April - Focused on Splatoon 2, ARMS and More
Both Nintendo Switch and 3DS on the agenda
We thought there'd be an information drop ahead of June and all of the E3 madness, and so it's been proven with the announcement of a new Nintendo Direct. It'll be "focused mainly on ARMS and Splatoon 2", but will also have broader information on upcoming Switch and 3DS games. It's all going down on 12th...
News The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe File Size Speeds Into View
Should fit snugly on your Switch
The release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch is just around the corner now, 28th April to be precise. One of the biggest selling points with the Switch version is the portability, however it's also got a fully fleshed out Battle Mode - unlike the more basic offering in the Wii U version - and you can also...
Talking Point PS4 Pro and Xbox Scorpio Draw Battle Lines, But Nintendo Goes Its Own Way With Switch
Nintendo's bubble exists outside the 4K wars
These are strange times in the game console industry. It used to be that major rivals would release gaming machines that simply plugged into your TV and they'd battle against each other for around five years before upping the ante with new technology. Systems didn't always go head to head in terms of...
News SwitchCharge Smashes Its Funding Goal
Will you be boosting your Switch battery life?
Here at Nintendo Life we absolutely adore the portability of the Nintendo Switch; being able to play epic games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild outside is a revelation. The only thing which might spoil your fun is the short battery life on demanding titles such as this. We recently...
News I Am Setsuna's Switch Exclusive Update, Temporal Battle Arena, Arrives Very Soon
Gets a slightly better trailer, too
A while ago Square Enix posted a rather disappointing teaser trailer for the upcoming free update in I Am Setsuna - Temporal Battle Arena. It's a mode in which you can put your party up against others and, if you win the battle, earn some extra rewards. The good news is that the free content - which is exclusive...
News Unreleased NES Game, Mystery World Dizzy, Finally Gets Released
Just in time for Dizzy's 30th birthday
If you grew up in the UK in the '80s it is likely you played a Dizzy game at one time or another. These budget titles by Codemasters were some of the best games that you could buy for your home computer. Like all good mascots Dizzy made the leap over to consoles too, and 1991 saw the release of The Fantastic...
News LEGO City: Undercover Sells Best on Switch in UK as Yo-kai Watch 2 Endures Poor Launch
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild continues to sell well, too
Last week brought some notable releases to the UK market, and there are a couple of positive Nintendo Switch stories that are sadly joined by a bit of a flop on 3DS. First of all, top spot goes to Persona 5 on PS4, which has been generating a lot of hype that has evidently paid...
News A New Mythical Pokémon For Sun and Moon is a Mysterious Marshmallow, It Seems
Number 802
The Pokédex keeps growing, and as with previous generational releases Pokémon Sun and Moon have delivered their fair share of brand new 'mon. Mid-gen arrivals also continue, as this past weekend The Pokémon Company teased a new Pocket Monster that'll tie in with the next movie for the franchise - Pokémon! I Choose You! It seems to be...
News Headup Games is Bringing The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ to Europe as a Switch Retail Release
The start of a "strategic alliance" with Nicalis
Whenever we cover release details for Nicalis titles, in particular anything going to retail such as The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ and Cave Story+, 'in North America' should be an assumed add-on. The logistical challenges and realities of retail distribution has meant that early efforts from the...
News Bitmap Books Flies Past Kickstarter Target for Super Nintendo Visual Compendium
Bitmap Books is now Playing With Super Power
We are big fans of Bitmap Books' previous Visual Compendiums, so it is exciting to see that the next Kickstarter campaign is dedicated to everyone's favourite 16-bit machine of wonders, the almighty and all-conquering Super Nintendo. While in Europe Sega put up an impressive fight with the equally...
News Snake Pass Slithers To The Top Of European Switch Download Charts
"A piece of hiss-tory"
We recently noted how well Snake Pass was doing in the UK download charts for Switch, but it seems the slithery physics platformer has established full European dominance. In a recent press release from Sumo Digital we learned that Snake Pass has secured the number one spot in various versions of the European Nintendo Switch...
Sunday9th Apr 2017
Guide Zelda: Breath Of The Wild: Guardians - How To Kill Guardians
Hunting the Hunters
As their name suggests, the Guardians found in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are not supposed to be killing machines that threaten civilisation. We won't go into the story here, but even if you only have a passing knowledge of the game you're likely aware of players that are in constant fear of these mechanised foes...
Saturday8th Apr 2017
News Super Nintendo's 'Unholy Night' Pre-Orders Are Now Live
Ex-SNK-developed fighter gets back up after Kickstarter KO
After a disastrous Kickstarter campaign that managed to raise only half the needed funds to publish Unholy Knight on the Super Nintendo later this year, it seemed like NU-GAIA's ambitious Super Nintendo one-on-one fighter was heading for an early retirement. So it was surprising to find out...
News Fighter Kirby Announced for First 4 Figures Range
Pre-orders go live 11th April
Makers of high-end collectibles First 4 Figures has announced Fighter Kirby will be its latest product. Originally featured in Kirby Super Star, the SNES figure sees Fighter Kirby performing an emphatic kick in his trademark pose. As with the all First 4 Figure statues there will be a regular version and an exclusive...
Friday7th Apr 2017
Guide Zelda: Breath Of The Wild: Star Fragments - How To Farm Quickly
There's a star in the night sky
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is packed with secrets and hidden features, some of which are so subtle you may not even notice them until you've passed 50 hours of gameplay (like us). Star Fragments are one such element; these are precious items which fall from the night sky and can be used in some unique...
News Square Enix Veteran and Chrono Trigger Director Teases Nintendo Switch Project
"Top secret mission starts!"
It seems that Square Enix currently has the hots for the Nintendo Switch, with the company eager to be seen as supportive of the hardware. Just recently company President Yosuke Matsuda was quoted as saying the company was actively working on new projects for the system while exploring various ports, and now another...
Poll What Wii U Ports Would You Like to Play on Nintendo Switch?
Filling out the release schedule
The Nintendo Switch has had a retail release this week, albeit one that may not set too many pulses racing - LEGO City: Undercover. We're still rattling through it for review, but it's interesting in that it's a port of a former Wii U exclusive; we should probably expect that to be a trend over the next year or two...
Review Alpha Mission II (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Vertically challenging
As one of the earliest titles for the Neo Geo, Alpha Mission II doesn't exactly dazzle in terms of presentation. Smooth scrolling and some catchy tunes aside, it looks like a relic of the 1980s rather than an example of how SNK's Neo Geo hardware revolutionised the arcade and home console arena in the '90s. However, beyond the...
News Early Stock Market Activity Suggests Switch Could Be A Bigger Hit Than The Wii
But worries remain regarding Nintendo's ability to meet demand
The success of the Nintendo Switch has caused a flurry of activity on the Japanese stock market, leading analysts to speculate that the console could outperform the Wii, Nintendo's most successful home system of all time. According to Bloomberg Quint, since the Switch went on sale at...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Composer Confirms Soundtrack Is Practically Complete
Billed as one of the biggest projects in gaming right now
The Xenoblade Chronicles series is one that has gained strong momentum over the years for its scale, storytelling and music. With the hotly-anticipated sequel in development and currently without a solid release date beyond "2017", it's encouraging to hear that composer Yasunori Mitsuda has...
News Darksiders: Warmastered Edition Confirmed For May 23rd Release On Wii U
"Contrary to a couple of online rumours, Wii U version is on its way"
THQ Nordic has confirmed that the Wii U version of Darksiders: Warmastered Edition is still on its way, despite rumours that it had been canned. The updated version of Darksiders will launch worldwide on May 23rd, with a price of $19.99 / £14.99. Here's the full PR: Contrary...
News Dylan Cuthbert Talks About Star Fox, The 'Old' Sequel ROM and Working at Nintendo
Q-Games had a 3DS re-make demo of the original Star Fox pushed back
Dylan Cuthbert is a familiar name among Nintendo aficionados - he was a key figure at Argonaut Software and with the development of the original Star Fox on SNES, and has produced some excellent titles over the last 15 years through his own studio Q-Games. Just recently Cuthbert...
News Meet Li'l Judd, A New Judge in Splatoon 2
Dawww
Anybody who spent time with Splatoon will be immediately familiar with Judd, the unbiased tuxedo cat who had the final say on the winning team of each Turf War. When he wasn't judging games, you could also find Judd taking a nap around Inkopolis, and he'd even give you some coins if you'd been performing well in battle. Based on the Global...
Review Urban Trial Freestyle 2 (3DS eShop)
BMXcellent
2D BMX games have been relatively popular since the turn of the century - take RedLynx's excellent Trials series, for instance. Urban Trial Freestyle, released on the 3DS eShop almost four years ago at this point, was clearly inspired by those games, but managed to bring some extra ideas of its own to the table to create a unique and fun...
"We'd definitely love to keep working with Nintendo"
Yesterday Sumo Digital - the talented chaps behind Snake Pass, which launched recently on multiple consoles, including Switch - held an AMA session on Reddit which covered a wide range of topics. One of the first questions was regarding the possibility of a performance-boosting patch aimed at the...
News Choice Provisions Got Runner3 Running on Switch in Just One Day
"It's been smooth sailing ever since!"
Much noise has been made over the past couple months about how the Nintendo Switch is a significantly more developer friendly console than the Wii U or 3DS. It's a bit more powerful, the architecture is more PC friendly, and there's support for many widely used engines like Unreal. We already saw an example of...
Thursday6th Apr 2017
Video The Top Five Nintendo Switch Co-Op Games So Far
There's already loads of them
The Nintendo Switch may not have been out for very long, but already we're seeing a wealth of games supporting co-op play thanks most likely to the flexibility and appeal of the Joy-Con controllers. Make sure you check out the video above where we look at the top five of these games that are out there for you to...
Review Graceful Explosion Machine (Switch eShop)
Quite a GEM
Nowadays, it seems to be rather common for developers to lose focus of what they set out to do when they start making a particular game. In an attempt to include "something for everyone" or to make the gameplay as diverse and interesting as possible, a game can often get bogged down by unnecessary distractions and additional content that...
News Square Enix is Considering More Nintendo Switch Releases
It's not just a fantasy
Square Enix may have only just released I Am Setsuna for the Nintendo Switch, yet it's already looking at bringing across more games to the console. In conversation with website Trendy, Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda had some positive things to say about the Nintendo Switch; a translation on Siliconera says that "in...
News Super Mario Happy Meal Toys Are Headed To McDonald's In North America
Munch munch munch
Nintendo has enjoyed a long-lasting relationship with fast food giant McDonald's - those of you old enough will no doubt recall the iconic Super Mario Bros. 3 Happy Meal toy range from the early '90s. More recently the two companies have collaborated on a series of fresh toy ranges, and we've just heard that North American burger...
Video Let's See How LEGO City: Undercover on Switch Stacks Up Against the Wii U Original
Facelift or faceplant?
LEGO City: Undercover enjoyed its long loading time in the sun as a Wii U exclusive, but now the game is going full multi-platform. To see how the Switch port of the game stands up we decided to pit it side-by-side against the original on Wii U. Make sure you check out the video above where you can see both versions of the...
Nintendo Download 6th April (North America)
Graceful Explosion Machine! LEGO City: Undercover! Animal Gods! More!
It's Nintendo Download Update time, dear readers, and the North American line-up includes three download-only options on the Switch along with a retail release and demo. The Wii U is quite well served too, including two Virtual Console release, while the 3DS also has a couple of...
Review Tank Troopers (3DS eShop)
Destroy everything
Where would video games be without Tanks? Strong and durable, able to blast incoming enemy threats into oblivion and completely flatten any landmark in sight. The sense of fearlessness a tank provides is arguably unrivalled; games about tanks have been prominent throughout the ages. Anyone who has ever played a video game will...
Reminder Fire Emblem My Nintendo Rewards Arrive in North America, Metroid in Europe
Insert your own 'Club Nintendo was better' comments
Ah, My Nintendo, the download-only reward programme that struggles to find love - to be fair, considering how cool Club Nintendo was once upon a time, it's on a hiding to nothing. In any case, earlier this month it updated with some new Rewards; as the initiative is so exciting we'd actually...
Nintendo Download 6th April (Europe)
LEGO City Undercover! Graceful Explosion Machine! Yo-kai Watch 2! More!
The Download Update is here for another week in Europe; the formal press release was slow to roll out (again), so we teamed up with the ever-generous Daan Koopman and NL user KJ85. There are some highly promising releases on the Switch, while the 3DS and Wii U aren't left behind...
Random Watch a Rather Unfortunate Snowboarding Attempt in Zelda: Breath of the Wild
'Tis only a flesh wound
One of the welcome (and rather odd) additions to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was that of shield surfing, wherein you can ride any shield in your inventory down any slope for some radical boarding action. It's admittedly an easily forgotten feature with the breadth of things to do in the game, but it can be fun...
News Nintendo Is "Getting With The Times" When It Comes To Indies On Switch, Says Image & Form
Switch is "pretty darn close" to PS4 and Xbox One power, too
Nintendo's pretty tight with Indies at present, but it wasn't always that way. During the Wii era, the company made some odd choices which pushed smaller developers away, and while attempts were made to patch things up on Wii U and 3DS, issues with the eShop submission process continued to...
News Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Has Gone Gold
See you on April 18th!
We've been extensively covering the likes of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap over the past few weeks, and it won't be long now until the game is live on the eShop. The charming platformer will be a reimagining of the Master System classic, featuring an eye catching new hand-drawn art style, while also paying homage to the origi
Video Retro-Style Action RPG Kamiko Looks A Safe Bet For Western Switch Release
From the developer of Fairune
Skipmore's forthcoming pixel-rich Switch title Kamiko looks set for a western release, if the latest Japanese trailer is anything to go by. The short clip includes the logo of Circle Entertainment at the end, a company famous for localising Japanese games for western release. The game sees players controlling one of...
News My Nintendo Offers Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Wallpaper in North America
Yours for 50 Platinum points
It seems Nintendo is getting a taste for giving us wallpapers through My Nintendo - we tried the Snipperclips - Cut it out, together! file on our phone, and it wasn't bad. Nintendo of America is now offering an equivalent for Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, though no equivalent is available yet in Europe. As...
Wednesday5th Apr 2017
Guide Zelda: Breath Of The Wild: Best Horse - Where To Find The Lord Of The Mountain
If you're gonna ride, ride in style
The Hyrule seen in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is big. Really big. Fast-travel is a boon when you need to get around in a jiffy, but for those times when you're exploring uncharted portions of the map where no Shrines exist, you really need to get yourself a decent mount. Horses can be found in...
News SwitchCharge Is A Case Which Gives Your Nintendo Switch 12 Hours Of Stamina
12,000mAh, 12 hours of use
The Nintendo Switch's battery life isn't terrible by current standards, but it could certainly be better. Three to five hours just isn't enough for many people, which is why the SwitchCharge case might do very well indeed. Developed by a UK company called InDemand Design, the SwitchCharge is on Indiegogo as we speak and...
Video Here's How Lego City: Undercover On Switch Compares To The PS4 Version
Not too shabby, to be honest
Lego City: Undercover is the next big Switch retail release, and despite the age of the title it's well worth getting excited about - it was easily one of the stand-out games on the Wii U, horrendous load times notwithstanding. While it was intended to be a Nintendo exclusive Lego City: Undercover also came to the PS4,...
News Nintendo Switch Teardown Suggests Production Cost Is Around $260 Per Unit
Not quite as cheap as (micro) chips
The cost of the Nintendo Switch has been a bone of contention since it was first announced, with some complaining that it was simply too expensive to be successful. The resultant bumper sales may have disproved that stance a little, but fresh evidence would suggest that the production cost of each unit is actually...
News A New Patch Is Live for Lego City Undercover
And it's not 13 GB!
Many of you will no doubt remember the panic that erupted about a week ago, where an evidently misprinted box for Lego City Undercover mentioned that the game would require an eye-watering 13 GB install to play. Fortunately, WB was quick to dismiss this, though perhaps an update of that size might've been useful. All the same,...
Video One Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Player Has Discovered The Ultimate Way To Paraglide
Thinking outside the (metal) box
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild continues to offer up some pretty amazing secrets, and the latest one we've seen involves a pretty unique way of getting around Hyrule. YouTuber mety333 has posted footage of a unusual flying machine created from a metal box and a mine cart, both found in the Death Mountain...
Video NBA Jam Fans Might Like the Look of NBA Playgrounds, Coming to Nintendo Switch
A slam dunk?
When Nintendo had its Switch Nindies Showcase shortly before the console launched and then produced a crowded infographic, we picked through the many logos to provide a breakdown of downloads due in 2017. A couple of games on there were mysteries, frankly, including NBA Playgrounds. Well, now we can actually see what it's all about,...
News Aonuma Says That Open World Is Here to Stay in Zelda Games
Finally moving past Ocarina of Time?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was truly a groundbreaking game for the Zelda series, bringing the previously non-linear gameplay into an almost completely free style that was coined as "open air". Still, the traditional Zelda formula is one that's still beloved by many fans of the series, and now that...
News Cars 3: Driven To Win Will Be Screeching Onto Nintendo Switch And Wii U
A "pick and play" party title, apparently
The Cars 3 video game will be coming to Nintendo consoles, it has been confirmed. Developed by Disney Infinity studio Avalanche Software - which was saved from extinction by Warner Bros. Interactive - Cars 3: Driven to Win will follow the events of the forthcoming movie. The game will be coming to P
News Mario Sports Superstars Has Modest Japanese Launch as Nintendo Switch Tops Hardware Chart
Monster Hunter XX (Double Cross) still leads software
It's the middle of the week, which means we have the Media Create chart results out of Japan showing the top-selling games and systems in the country. There are a few new releases across various systems, though nothing has changed in the number one spots. Starting with software we still have...
News Switch Anti-Grav Racer Redout Could Be Making An Unscheduled Pitstop, According To Amazon
Pushed back to the end of the year
It looks like Switch racer Redout has been hit with a delay, as retailer Amazon has pushed its release date back to the end of the year. The game was scheduled for a Q2 release but we've not heard anything else since the launch of the console. Amazon now lists the North American release date as December 29th.
News AeternoBlade 2 Shifts to Consoles, Including Nintendo Switch, as Original Artistic Team Resigns
Crowdfunding campaign planned
AeternoBlade was an ambitious Metroidvania / action release on the 3DS eShop, albeit one that wasn't loved by everyone, so it was interesting news back in 2015 when developer Corecell confirmed a sequel. It rather fell off the radar since then, however, and a recent update suggests it's had a troubled development. The...
Feature From BIT.TRIP to Runner3 - The Nintendo Journey of Choice Provisions
"Nintendo platforms have always been CommanderVideo's home"
When Runner3 was announced as a Nintendo Switch exclusive this writer's eyebrows went up a fair amount - it's not particularly common for download games to be exclusive nowadays, much less so from studios with a track record of multiple cross-platform successes. Yet here we are - it's an...
News Neo Geo Shooter Alpha Mission II Joins The Switch eShop Ranks This Week
A Neo Geo game that's not a fighter!
Hamster is launching Alpha Mission II on the Switch eShop this week as part of its ACA Neo Geo range, it has been revealed. Known as ASO II: The Last Guardian in Japan, this 1991 vertically-scrolling shooter was one of the earliest titles for SNK's console, and served as a sequel to the 1985 arcade original. It...
News David Wise Talks Humble Beginnings, Snake Pass & Nintendo
"Originally I wanted to be somebody like Phil Collins"
The video game industry has been blessed with some incredible musical talents over the years, with ex-Rare composer David Wise being a standout; there's a strong chance you you will have heard his work. Having created acclaimed scores for games like Battletoads, Wizards & Warriors and Donkey...
Tuesday4th Apr 2017
Round Up Yooka-Laylee's Scores Are In, And Critics Appear Divided
A return to form or a step backwards?
Yooka-Laylee isn't out on the Nintendo Switch yet, but it launches on other platforms very soon - so soon, in fact, that reviews have just gone live. As one of Kickstarter's most successful video game campaigns there was a lot of expectation surrounding this title, the debut of Playtonic Games - a studio made...
News Lego City Undercover Still Has Ridiculous Load Times on Switch
*groans*
Lego City Undercover was certainly a bright spot in the Wii U's library, bringing fun, open world gameplay to the classic Lego template. Still, it wasn't a perfect game by any means, and one aspect that received universal negativity was the positively heinous load times that continuously plagued it. Essentially, if you re-entered the...
Review Has-Been Heroes (Switch)
Past its prime
After working on the Trine trilogy of physics-based adventure games, it's safe to say that Frozenbyte knows its way around the fantasy genre. Continuing in the grand tradition of sending three adventurers off on a harrowing quest, Nintendo Switch has now been graced with Has-Been Heroes, an RPG that blends elements of the roguelike...
Feature The Biggest Nintendo Switch Retail Games of 2017 - Spring Edition
Big games on little cartridges
The Spring season is upon us, and with the Nintendo Switch out in the wild and settling into a groove we thought it was a good time to revive our 'Biggest Games' lists, which previously started to get a tad stretched for Wii U and 3DS. Such is the relative richness of the Switch line-up that we're back to separate...
News Sega Countdown Site Teases Bayonetta News Next Week
Could we be getting Bayonetta 3?
Sega has launched a countdown site for what appears to be another entry in the Bayonetta series. Visit this URL and you'll be presented with a mostly black screen along with days, hours and minutes counting down. In the background, it's possible to make out Bayonetta's iconic gun-packing high-heels. At the time of...
News Cave Story+ Launches on the Switch on 20th June
Digitally and physically
For quite some time now, Nicalis has been not-so-subtly hinting that Cave Story would be making its way over to the Switch. And while it may be the case that the game is available on loads of others platforms already—not to mention the fact that the game is literally available for free—it still stands to reason that...
Video Digital Foundry Puts Version 1.1.1 of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to the Test
A nice improvement on Switch, less so on Wii U
It's been clear for a few days that the update to version 1.1.1 in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has improved performance on the Switch, with various videos showcasing key areas. If you like seeing solid numbers on your framerate, though, Digital Foundry has now jumped into the fray. The...
News Party Golf All Set To Tee Off On The Nintendo Switch
100 modes, 8 players, randomly generated levels
Giant Margarita has confirmed that it is bringing Party Golf to the Nintendo Switch. This local multiplayer title has already been confirmed for Steam and PS4 release, and features 100 different game modes and randomly-generated stages. The object is to get to the hole before the other players, and...
News Fresh Data Shows That Four Out Of Five Pokémon GO Players Have Given Up Hunting
Not so effective?
Pokémon GO was the stand-out smartphone title of 2016 with millions of active users at launch, but new figures show that four out of every five players has given up on the app altogether, with daily active user totals being a mere shadow of what they were in July last year when it first launched on iOS and Android. According to a...
News Nintendo Switch eShop Adds Charts Listing to Show What's Hot in the Download Store
Snake Pass leads the way early on
The Nintendo Switch eShop has a relatively clean and simple layout early on, but it has had a small tweak this week with the addition of a 'Charts' tab. Unlike the Wii U and 3DS eShop equivalents it doesn't allow you to filter between current and all-time bestsellers, but does show the sorts of games that are...
One against three in a cartoon battle of epic proportions
Developer Ankama has revealed that it is bringing Abraca: Imagic Games to the Nintendo Switch this May. Billed as local multiplayer party game, the title places one player in the shoes of the hero - a prince or princess - and the other three players as the bad guys. The former must make...
News Samurai Shodown IV Will Be Hacking And Slashing At The Euro Switch eShop Next Week
Ippon!
Hamster's not slowing things down when it comes to Neo Geo titles on the Switch eShop, and the next big release is Samurai Shodown IV, which has been confirmed for European release on April 13th. This weapons-based fighter is considered to be one of the best entries in the long-running Samuari Shodown franchise, and Hamster appears to be...
News Australian Distributor Claims Switch Version Of RiME Has Been Pushed Back To Q3 2017
Worth the wait?
RiME arrives on PS4, Xbox One and PC on May 26th, but it looks like Switch owners might have to wait longer than expected to get their hands on the puzzle adventure. According to Australian distributor Five Star Games, the title has been pushed back to Q3 2017, which runs from July to September. It was previously common knowledge...
News An Official Shovel Knight Art Book Is in the Making
Launching late this summer
Shovel Knight was one of the breakout Nindie hits of the last generation, offering a near-perfect retro adventure that keeps on giving to this very day. Part of the game's charm comes from the 8-bit art style that simultaneously calls back to days gone by, while also bringing something new to the table by doing things that...
Interview The Story of Snake Pass' Origin from Creator Seb Liese
Don't pass it up
Snake Pass is undoubtedly an original idea, but we weren't satisfied with just knowing it was different, we wanted to find out how it came to be. That's why in the video above we hooked up with the founder of Snake Pass' concept Seb Liese at EGX Rezzed to chat about how this whole idea came to be. What did you think of the unusual...
Monday3rd Apr 2017
News Forget Scratched Screens And Joy-Con Problems, "Warp-Gate" Is The New Nintendo Switch Issue
Some users reporting bending consoles - is the dock to blame?
New technology often comes with teething troubles, and the Switch is no exception. We've already had widespread reports regarding disconnection problems with the left-hand Joy-Con controller as well as complaints that the Switch dock is actually scratching the screen of the console...
Feature One Month of Nintendo Switch - Five Improvements We Want to See
Going to the next level
The Nintendo Switch has now been out in the wild for over a month, and overall it's fair to say that it's picked up solid momentum. Sales and demand have been high, retailers and analysts have talked positively about its prospects, and a mix of interesting download titles along with (arguably) one of the greatest games of...
News Nintendo's Harshest Critic Thinks Switch Will Outsell Microsoft's Scorpio
"You just can't compare Gears of War to Zelda"
Michael Pachter's name isn't one you hear uttered all that much around Nintendo Life these days; while we've reported on his (often divisive) opinions in the past (and even interviewed the guy) we decided, like so many Nintendo-centric sites, to ease off coverage during the Wii U era, during which he...
News Unity Update Adds Native Nintendo Switch Support for Developers
Making life a little easier
The Nintendo Switch has been supported by Unity from the start, we knew that already, but nevertheless there's been a small step forward in the latest update. The blog post for version 5.6 of Unity has outlined native Switch support, which should allow for quicker and easier porting processes and smoother testing of...
News PETA Calls Out Nintendo Over Inaccurate Portrayal Of Milking In 1-2-Switch
"You've taken all the cruelty out of milking"
The milking game in 1-2-Switch is one of the package's highlights, offering plenty of scope for embarrassment, hilarity and dirty jokes, all in a safe family environment. However, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has taken issue with this segment of the title, claiming that it lacks...
Talking Point One Month of Nintendo Switch - Early Momentum Brings Optimism
Nintendo now heads into a critical period to sustain early success
The Nintendo Switch launch hasn't been a flop. That might seem to be a peculiar standard to target, but let's consider the scenario before the system arrived. Counterbalancing excitement about the console and its concept, prior to launch, there were equally valid concerns that had...
News Realistic Puddles Are Reason #243 That Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Is Awesome
Why does it always rain on me?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Despite the fact that players have invested countless man hours into the game since launch, cool things are still being discovered - and the latest involves the title's realistic weather system. As you'll be aware if you've been trying to...
Repetitive Evil
The original Resident Evil was primarily responsible for creating the term "survival horror", and although for a while it seemed like Capcom had forgotten its roots there's no denying that the company created something incredible. It's no surprise, then, that other companies tried their hand at survival horror games too - Konami...
News Choo-Choo! Nintendo 64 Densha de Go! 64 Gets Translated to English
All aboard the translation hype train!
Don't feel bad if you never heard of Taito's Densha de Go! series before; as video games go, it's the kind of series that comes to mind when one wants to give examples of what a niche title is. Train enthusiasts however will know all about the series whose name translates to "Go By Train!". Like most of Taito's...
News Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch Keep Selling in the UK to Defy Limited Hardware Stock
Maybe some just look at the box
The Nintendo Switch is relatively elusive in the UK at the moment with most respected retailers currently without stock online, though some bricks-and-mortar stores have a small number of units left. Though systems sold out slower in the country than in others such as the US, they've nevertheless been quite hard to...
News The Fall Part 2: Unbound is Confirmed for Nintendo Switch But Isn't Coming to Wii U
A new story trailer sets the scene
The Fall was an intriguing title on Wii U, overcoming some flaws thanks to its creativity and spin on sci-fi storytelling tropes. It was good news, then, when developer Over The Moon confirmed that the sequel - The Fall Part 2: Unbound - would still come to Wii U in 2017. Unfortunately that version is no longer on...
News Hearthstone On Switch Is "A Good Discussion Worth Having", According To The Game's Designer
In the cards?
Hearthstone has been a massive success for Blizzard on computers, phones and tablets, and given that the Nintendo Switch has a large touchscreen display, one would assume that it would make the ideal platform for the title's console debut. The bad news is that Blizzard doesn't seem to be working on a Switch port at the moment, but the...
Video Saber Rider Footage Appears, Still Coming To 3DS In Case You'd Forgotten
Shown running on a Sega Dreamcast, too
The Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs saga isn't over yet, despite delays, reboots and a general lack of media attention. The title originally began life in 2014 as a 3D action game based on the cult cartoon show from the '80s, but efforts were scaled back in 2015 when a
Interview SteamWorld Dig 2 Was Announced Years Before the Nintendo Switch
Digging with Dorothy
SteamWorld Dig was a bit of a success to say the least when it was first released back in 2013, and with any luck the developers will see similar success with the direct sequel, SteamWorld Dig 2 on the Switch. We caught up with Image & Form Games at EGX Rezzed to chat about the upcoming game, and community manager Julius...
News New Splatoon 2 Stage Unveiled - Humpback Pump Track
Features Jellyfish riding BMX...
This past weekend brought the ESL Go4Splatoon European Grand Final, in which teams splatted it out for the crown and Nintendo Switch consoles as prizes. Also of note at the event, though, was a brief reveal of a new track for Splatoon 2 - Humpback Pump Track. A brief glimpse is below (if the video doesn't auto-play...
Sunday2nd Apr 2017
Guide Zelda: Breath Of The Wild: Dragon Parts - How To Farm
Imagine, dragons
One of the mysteries that has left players scratching their heads in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is that of the game's dragons. The three dragons appear in the sky seemingly at random and are the key to some of the hardest-to-find upgrade parts. Fortunately, we've found the best way to track down each of these elusive...
Saturday1st Apr 2017
Exclusive 'Operation Mario' Used to Plug Nintendo's Press Leaks Ahead of E3
So says an anonymous source
In the year leading up to the big reveal of the Nintendo Switch there were a substantial number of leaks and rumours, many of which turned out to be correct. Nintendo, known for being so stringent with secrets in the past, was seeing many of its surprises splattered online well before they were officially aired. It seems...
Feature The Best Nintendo April Fools' Day Gags of 2017
Breath of the Wild jelly beans, retro Fire Emblem and more
Well, 1st April has come and the joke articles, social media posts and GIFs have done the rounds. For our part we decided to make fun of Nintendo's inability to keep meaningful secrets over the past year, making up some nonsense about a Mario-themed operation to plug the gaps and stop leaks...
News The Yooka-Laylee Rap Tries to be the Best and Worst Thing All at Once
The spirit of the DK rap lives on
The DK Rap is iconic, well known for being pretty awful while also being loved by plenty of retro gamers. It was typical Rare, and so the freshly revealed Yooka-Laylee rap is perhaps 'typical Playtonic'. It's no secret that many of the leading developers in the Playtonic team have lucrative histories at Rare, and...
Feature Thirty Years Ago, Little Mac Became a Champion in Punch-Out!!
To be the Man, you've got to beat the Super Macho Man
Another game is passing the 30 year mark. After all, in 1987 the NES was available worldwide, with lots of titles being released - Punch Out!! being one of them. Originally made as a prize giveaway for a Famicom Open Golf contest in Japan in 1987, it was a home conversion of the arcade games...
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