Latest Features
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Diddy Kong Racing
Monkey business
We are back for another edition of Box Art Brawl, and it's a good one this week. Last time, to celebrate all things Sonic for his 35th anniversary, we matched up every Sonic game on Switch, leading to a beefy nine poll options! Sonic Origins Plus came out on top with 33% of the vote, Sonic Mania Plus landed in second with
Feature The Master Of Multiplayer - Finally Playing N64's Only 8-Player Game
Nintendo's friend machine
The N64 is 30 years old! This week, we're running a series of articles celebrating the 64-bit machine, its industry-shaping software, and its effect on a generation of gamers. Today, George meets new people with Nintendo's multiplayer marvel. What follows is an epic session, concluding with the system's only eight-player...
Talking Point Have You Bought A 1TB Micro SD Express Card Yet?
This is one steep bill...but it's worth it?
Switch 2 recently turned one year old, and we asked you lovely NL readers what your essentials were - the games and accessories you've found indispensable after a year with the console. With an impending price increase on 1st September, and with hardware
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th June)
Do a barrel roll!
Well done folks; you made it through another week. For those in Europe at the moment, that's a mighty fine achievement considering how bloody hot it's been the past few days. We hope you've been keeping cool and safe! This week, Sonic celebrated his 35th anniversary with a few key announcements. First, a couple of "new"...
Feature My Parents Bought An N64 To Stay Sane With A Nightmare Newborn (Me)
"We didn't play it for recreation, we played it as therapy"
The N64 is 30 years old! This week, we're running a series of articles celebrating the 64-bit machine, its industry-shaping software, and its effect on a generation of gamers. Today, Jim tackles a tough couple of interviewees... What sounds come to mind when you think back to 1998?...
Feature 10 N64 Games We Played In A Wondrous Alternate Timeline
Warp pipe dreams
The N64 is 30 years old! This week, we're running a series of articles celebrating the 64-bit machine, its industry-shaping software, and its effect on a generation of gamers. Today, we're imagining what might have been if the sliding doors hadn't opened for PS1 and totally changed the game... While the N64 era marked a downturn...
Feature I Lent Out My N64 Like A (Deku) Dealer
Trading quest
The N64 is 30 years old! This week, we're running a series of articles celebrating the 64-bit machine, its industry-shaping software, and its effect on a generation of gamers. Today, Omar remembers the wonders of carting around consoles before Nintendo added a carry handle... Do you remember blowing the dust from a cart to try to...
Community "All-Consuming, Joyous, Heartbreaking" - Your Nintendo 64 Memories
Grab your Controller Pak
The N64 is 30 years old! This week, we're running a series of articles celebrating the 64-bit machine, its industry-shaping software, and its effect on a generation of gamers... Three decades ago to the day, players were sitting down with Super Mario 64 on their new console for the very first time. Launching in Japan on...
Feature In The Zone - Our Favourite Sonic The Hedgehog Levels, Music & Memories
Special stages
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of gaming's most enduring characters. He's been through multiple eras and designs over the course of a 35-year career, starring in a huge number of games, and branching out from his bread-and-butter platformers with spin-offs in many other gaming genres. And he's not going anywhere, as the massive success of...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Sonic The Hedgehog 35th Anniversary Switch Showdown
Which runs rings around the rest?
Hello folks, and welcome to a very special edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we get into the weeds with this one, let's see how last week's brawl concluded. We looked at Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D to celebrate the announcement of the upcoming remake, and we honestly weren't quite sure how this one would pan out. In...
Opinion 30 Years On, I've Finally Come Around On The N64 Pad
C, it's good
The N64 turns 30 on 23rd June 2026. To celebrate, we'll be running a series of articles celebrating the 64-bit machine and its industry-shaping software over the next week or so. Today, it might have taken the best part of 30 years, but Ollie has finally seen the light when it comes to the system's revolutionary yet undeniably odd...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (20th June)
Be there or be Square
After last week's showcase shenanigans, we've welcomed a slightly quieter one here at Nintendo Life. We started the Ocarina of Time remake sleuthing as a new description appeared online, and ran through some of the game's funniest moments that we can't wait to revisit. Switch 1 & 2 got
Review Brook Wingman P5S - Use (Almost) Any Controller On Switch 2
Yes, even the Steam Controller
There’s a good chance you’ve never considered the possibility of using first-party controllers on other platforms. Generally, you use the pad that comes with the console, and that's it. But what if you could break down boundaries and have total freedom of which controller to use? The Brook Wingman P5S may be the...
Get to the drop ship
System Era Softworks’ Astroneer launched nearly 10 years ago, and its charming galactic sandbox remains a gem of the survival genre. With its accessible, cartoony spin on freeform adventure, Astroneer invited you to explore colourful worlds, uncover secrets, and hoover up resources while reshaping the environment around you...
Feature Seven Hilarious Ocarina Of Time Moments I Can't Wait To See In The Zelda Remake
WHOOOOAH!
Since the announcement of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2, the desire to go back and experience the original in preparation has proven overwhelming for some of us. It didn't take long until I booted the NSO version up again, N64 pad grasped in my mitts, ready to step out of Kokiri Forest once again. The game is...
Feature "Why Is Falco So Thick In This Game?" - Lost In Space With Star Fox Zero
THREE pilots, TWO controllers, ONE Arwing, ZERO mission
With the return of Team Star Fox imminently upon us, folks are feeling pretty torn about the series retreading old ground instead of forging a new chapter in Nintendo’s long-running rail shooter. And while that may be disappointing to some, there are at least a few interesting additions to...
Poll Will You Be Replaying Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Before The Remake Arrives?
Fairy 'nuff
Sitting in our Monday meeting, a theme emerged when answering the standard question, "Play any games over the weekend?" Following on from last week's announcement (and months of rumours), we've all got Ocarina of Time on the brain. Jim and Ollie have been replaying via NSO, and the rest of us have only resisted the urge thanks to other...
Talking Point Starter Pack - What Are Your Nintendo Switch 2 Essentials?
Switchy world
Switch 2 has been out for over a year now, and a good percentage of Nintendo Lifers have picked one up in the last 365 days. However, it's also quite possible you haven't jumped on Nintendo's latest console just yet. With Switch 1's colossal library, not to mention the great games on other consoles (we're reliably informed they do...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D (3DS)
Deku Tree-D
In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule... another Box Art Brawl is being waged. Yes, we're back again, and we have a doozy for you this week. But first, let's look back at what went down last time. We looked at Rayman 3D for the uhhh... 3DS. As expected, the more action-packed North American design won the day with a whopping 77% of the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th June)
Direct inspiration?
What a week, eh? With every other showcase under the sun taking place last week, we knew it was only a matter of time before Nintendo followed suit. And follow it did. This week's Nintendo Direct revealed first looks at the likes of Ocarina of Time, Xenoblade
Talking Point Switch 2 Console Special Editions - What Would You Like To See?
Spice, Spice, baby
Switch 2 has been on shelves for over a year now - still early days if it lasts anything like as long as its predecessor. Compared to the popping colours of the Switch 1's Joy-Con, though, the younger console launched with a more subdued hue. Certainly, the hallmark red-blue stylings are present and correct, but concealed along...
Feature Six Things That Need To Change In The Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake
And one that MUST stay the same
Until earlier this year, I'd not really considered what I'd want to see in a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. After all, the 2011 3DS version did a pretty good job at updating the 1998 original, and so I'd operated under the assumption that it wouldn't be a thing again for a long, long time. Alas, it's real. Ocarina of...
Preview Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis Sees An "Unfettered" Lara Put The Survivor Era Behind Her
"It’s a blue sky horizon ahead of her"
The Tomb Raider series is one of the longest-lasting in the video game industry, going all the way back to 1996. It has graced many different platforms, including Nintendo ones. And with the increased power of the Switch 2, lots of others are coming over too, including the recently released Rise of the Tomb...
Preview Yep, Rhythm Paradise Groove Is Another Rhythm Heaven Game (Good)
Paradissonant
To some, the concept of Rhythm Paradise (or Rhythm Heaven as it likes to be called) is a bit of a hard sell. It’s a rhythm game with the most simplistic controls imaginable, often just a single button, coupled with some simple animations to go along with it. I don’t blame anyone for being a bit sceptical, to be honest, and in...
Talking Point What Do You Think Of Link's New Ocarina Of Time Design?
Links of the Past
It might not have been the biggest surprise out there (thanks, leaks), but yesterday's Direct brought with it the news that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake is real, and it's launching at some point this year. The
Hands On 'Xenoblade Chronicles' On Switch 2 Is A Nice Improvement Over 'X'
"Coming through!"
When I first booted up the Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, something almost immediately felt very wrong. The visuals, while certainly crisp, were upscaled in a way that meant almost all textures had this sort of blurry, smeary effect, especially environmental details, but also within character faces...
Gallery Here's How The Star Fox Demo Compares To The N64 Original
Nice to Meteo
Star Fox surprised us with a free demo during today’s Nintendo Direct, featuring the prologue cutscene, the tutorial, and the Meteo stage. Going hands-on with the game allows us to compare the remake more directly to the Nintendo 64 original, such as a look at Meteo's differences in the screenshots below: [image
Reaction A Direct That Picked Up Pace For A Breathtaking Finish
It's about Time
Look, I love Rhythm Heaven, but I understand why you'd frontload your niche little Switch 1 swansong in the biggest Nintendo Direct since September last year. First-party-wise, that was followed up by some Pokémon Pokopia update and DLC, then another look at Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave with a September date. A limited-time Swi
Opinion By Definition, Pokémon TCG Is No Longer A Hobby
All work and no play
A couple of months ago, I opened a pack of Pokémon cards and pulled the super-rare 'Secret Illustration Rare' (SIR) Charizard card. There’s even a video someone gave me of them rushing up to the commotion. “The $600 Charizard!” you can hear me yelling in the footage. My friends were cheering. It was awesome. But...
Talking Point Nintendo Direct June 2026 Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
Take the hype train
A Nintendo Direct? In June? Who could have possibly guessed!? Yes, Nintendo has announced its next presentation, promising 50-ish minutes of full-fat Direct goodness followed by an hour and a half of Nintendo Treehouse. With Star Fox, Rhythm Heaven Groove, and Splatoon Raiders coming in the near future, it's probably safe to...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (May 2026)
Our picks for the best eShop games on Switch 1 & 2 in May
And we're back for the latest round of eShop Selects, looking back at last month's eShop-only releases and picking our top three favourites. Plenty of games came out in May, although many of them also got day-and-date physical releases, so we only had six games that met our threshold this...
Opinion Mario Kart World Deserves Its Flowers, So Let's Stop Comparing It To MK8 Deluxe
I'm a Fire Flower, twisted Fire Flower
Sometimes, when I wind the window down in my car, I think about Mario Kart World. I’m sitting alone in the driver’s seat, radio playing some mid-2000s indie or alt-rock, a breeze blowing through my hair. It might be a quiet morning, the traffic light but the sun bright and warm. I could be admiring the...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Rayman 3D
Ray Tracing
Walk this Ray, it's time for another edition of Box Art Brawl. Last week, we matched up three covers for the GameCube's excellent WarioWare, Inc: Mega Party Game$!, and you lot were clearly on the same page as us, crowning the North American design the best of the bunch with 76% of the vote. Poor old Europe and Japan had to split the...
Feature Switch 2, Year One - How Closely Did Nintendo Follow Its Own Playbook?
Super Mario Spreadsheet Revisited
Exactly two years ago, I made a bold prediction of every first-party Switch 2 release over the first five years of its lifespan. My forecast wasn’t based on leaked insider information or baseless speculation. Instead, I crunched the numbers (check out the full breakdown here) to find trends and repeated...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th June)
Finally, Fantasy
Everyone ready for a spot of What Are You Playing? Oh, go on then! Showcase season is officially upon us, folks. This week's PlayStation State of Play brought some nice Switch 2 announcements, including a new Rayman game, a Tomb Raider remaster
Feature Nintendo Switch 2: Year One - Looking Back, How Would You Rate It So Far?
Switch 2 365
5th June 2026 marks the first anniversary of Switch 2, the console we had known was coming for many months — years, even — before Nintendo officially unveiled it in January 2025. With US tariffs, global economic uncertainty, RAM-ageddon, and rising prices affecting all the platform holders, it's been a challenging period for the...
Talking Point One Year On, How Pristine Is Your Switch 2?
Scratch that
If you picked up a Switch 2 on launch day, then you've been caring for your console for almost a whole year now. Compared to those launch-day Switch 1s that some of us still have kicking around, I know that a measly 364 days is small potatoes, but it's still a mighty long time to keep your tech in tip-top condition. And that's the...
Hands On Rayman Legends Retold - Somehow, Legends Returned, But...Why?
"We wanted to be the foundation for the future"
I have played through Rayman Legends four times in my life. I got it on PS Vita at launch back in 2013 and loved it. I played the Definitive Edition on Switch when that launched in 2017 and loved it. I went back to the original on Wii U when I finally got my hands on the system in 2022 and loved it. I...
Poll Box Art Brawl: WarioWare, Inc: Mega Party Game$!
WAH
VOTE! Think fast, it's time for another edition of Box Art Brawl. Last time, to celebrate the arrival of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, we took a look at where the solo series all began as we compared three covers for the NES' Yoshi. The European Mario & Yoshi design walked away with the win in that one, receiving 48% of the vote and leaving...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (30th May)
Burrowing In
With another week of heatwave under our belts (here in the UK, at least), it's time for a much cooler edition of What Are You Playing. While there were no mega busters this week, there was a steady stream of Nintendo news to keep us all entertained. There was a bunch of Dragon Quest news from the 40th anniversary stream, including the...
Opinion It Took Me Nearly 20 Years To Fall Into Mario Galaxy's Orbit
Just one click away
The Launch Stars in Super Mario Galaxy are pure cinema, from that spinning wind-up with the quick arpeggio to that compressed pause before a cannon-blast hurl into an arc unknown. And that camera work! As you trace an unseen thread through space, leaving a gleaming contrail of light and delight before the zoom-out to best catch...
Feature "When I Saw Animal Crossing, I Felt It Was 'FREE'" - Yu Suzuki Talks Shenmue III Enhanced
Plus Switch 2 performance targets from ININ
Video game designer, director, and overall legend Yu Suzuki — he of Hang-On, Out Run, and Virtua Fighter fame — needs no introduction, especially to arcade-era, blue-sky Sega fans. Shenmue, his epic action adventure series, probably doesn't either, but seeing as the upcoming Shenmue III Enhanced marks...
Book Review Fatal Fury / Garou Densetsu: The Ultimate History - Another Bitmap Beauty
Oh Mai
Over the years, the Switch has become home to several Fatal Fury ports, including a couple of cheeky additions to the SNES Switch Online library. So if you’re someone who has yet to dive into the series or perhaps fancy picking up an entry or two, it might be wise to brush up on your Fatal Fury history to really appreciate what it is...
Opinion Yoshi And The Mysterious Book Completely Wastes Its Best Mechanic
This could have been an all-timer
I had a pretty decent time with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. It’s a charming experience filled with wonder and imagination, but thanks to the repetitive, overly-simplified structure, that imagination is never afforded enough space to really shine. I tolerated this, however, and had a good time discovering the...
Round Up 12 Switch 1 & 2* Games We Played At BitSummit 2026 - Here's What We Thought
*Hiccups/dev kits permitting
I’ve covered a lot of gaming conventions in my time. Innumerable PAXes, E3 once, and a few Tokyo Game Shows. None of them match the immaculate vibes of BitSummit, Japan’s indie gaming convention. From developers fresh out of University to seasoned vets striking out on their own, an infectious enthusiasm for this...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Yoshi And The Mysterious Book?
Sweet little mystery?
The latest adventure of T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas hit Switch 2 earlier this week, and we're sure the biggest Yoshi fans among you have been spending this weekend with it. It seems to have gone down well with plenty of critics, currently flutter-jumping with an impressive 81 on Metacritic. In our review of Yoshi and the...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Yoshi (NES)
Eggcelent choice
Mlem. Howdy partners! Hop on board your nearest dinosaur, because it's time to set off on another edition of Box Art Brawl. Last time, we went virtual, as we took a look at Galactic Pinball for the Virtual Boy. There were just two options to choose between, and it wasn't even close. North America walked away with a staggering 71%...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (23rd May)
A new challenger approaches
Welcome to the weekend! No megaton announcements over the past seven days, but plenty going on. Nintendo revealed a new mobile game and released a Switch 2 exclusive, The Pokémon Company is looking to use government ID to combat TCG scalping in Japan,
Opinion Replaying Games Is Better Than Playing Games
Daily constitutional
Between 3D All-Stars and the N64 app, I've always got a version of Super Mario 64 downloaded, ready to boot up and triple jump and belly slide before that seamless curl back into a pit-a-pat run as I head towards Jolly Roger Bay, to hear its progression of pure melody to underwater synth and finally that drum beat drop in the...
Review Mobapad M12-HD Controllers For Switch 2 - A Clear Step Above Nintendo's Joy-Con 2
Handheld fans rejoice
As much as the Switch 2 improved upon its predecessor in terms of design and comfort, it’s still plagued by Joy-Con controllers that, for me at least, feel far too dinky when held. It might be my age talking, but using the console in handheld mode has caused occasional pain in my palms and wrists that makes it difficult for...
