Latest Features - Page 3
Feature The Road To Silksong: Remembering Seven Years Of Hope, Hype, And Clown Makeup
Nothing but Hornet
In case you somehow missed it, today is Hollow Knight: Silksong Eve Eve. Yes, it's a term that I've just made up, but I've been waiting for this one for the past seven years, so you'll have to forgive me for counting down the days as if I'm on the run up to Christmas. Team Cherry's surprise announcement two weeks ago might have...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give 'Kirby & The Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World'?
Ludicrously long titles are so hot right now
Kirby landed on Nintendo's latest console last week, a few months ahead of his upcoming Switch 2 exclusive Kirby Air Riders in November. The updated version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land followed on from the snazzy Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of a Switch 1 game released in July, the (similarly)...
Opinion HD-2D Might Be Old News, But Octopath 0's City Building Has Me Buzzing
Pixel by pixel
Given that I love RPGs, I’m sure it’s no surprise that I’m very excited for Octopath Traveler 0. What might shock you, however, is that it’s not the return to Osterra, or the excellent turn-based combat, or even the prospect of another new HD-2D game that has me jazzed, nope (I still love all of these things, though, be...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (August 2025)
Our top eShop games on Switch and Switch 2 in August!
We're dreaming of crisp leaves, hot chocolate, and video games by the fire right now. Autumn approaches, but we have one more summer month to look back on in this edition of eShop Selects! August has been a bountiful one, with an Indie World dropping some surprise hits and announcements. So...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Harvest Moon (SNES)
Legen-dairy
Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last time, we looked at Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol, in celebration of the launch of the original game on NSO for Switch 2. And let's be honest, we all knew which would win this one. Yes, with 77% of the vote, the far superior US variant won in a landslide. Good job. This...
Talking Point Would Drag x Drive Be Better With Miis Or Non-Mouse Control Options?
Drab x Drive
August is nearly over, and we've had two first-party releases this month: Kirby and the Long Title Nintendo Employees Are Obliged to Say in its Entirety and Drag x Drive. The Kirby revamp just came out (and it's very good) while Drag and Drive (
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (30th August)
Or have you Forgotten?
The weekend has crept up on us once again, so it's time to kick back with a game or two. Before we get to our plans, however, let's look back on all the Nintendo news that happened this week. Honestly, it was a rather quiet one. Nintendo launched a series of stop-motion Mario shorts and the kid-focused Hello, Mario! app in...
"I return to a childlike state to destroy and release my stress!"
Gust Corporation's Atelier series has been on the go now since 1997. Yes, that 1997, the one that was ages ago. Traditionally, this is one RPG franchise that's never been a massive mover in the West. It didn't officially see the light of day over here until 2004, after which, I think...
Opinion No One Told Me 'Chibi-Robo' Is Traumatising
Just your very presence makes everyone happy, happy... happy?
Editor's note. Spoilers for a 20-year-old game inbound... I’ve spent 20 years “awww-ing” over the delightful character of Chibi-Robo despite having never played any of his games. This cute little robot is just joy incarnate – tiny and helpful with gormless black eyes. Whether it...
Feature Nintendo's New App Reminds Me Of A Universal Truth: It Feels Good To Squash Mario's Face
The nose to the right, the eyes to the left
There are three things that you should know about me before we dive into this feature. 1) I am, to all intents and purposes, a 'grown-up'. 2) I do not have any children, nor any tiny relatives to test this app on. 3) I'm a sucker for a bit of N64 nostalgia. Keeping these first two points in mind, you...
Opinion We Need To Talk About X Games
X and why?
Most of the time, I'm pretty oblivious to game name trends. It's normally only when someone points out to me that all AAA games have names like 'Chronicle of Shadows: Rebirth', that I start to see that formula used everywhere — like when you find a trendy new pair of shoes that you swear you've never seen before, only to wear them out...
"It's a homage to my mum and my childhood"
Everyone remembers the first animated movie that scared them. For me, it was The Fox and the Hound — probably not the first movie in Disney's canon that anyone remembers, but it was one of my brother's favourites, so it was on regular rotation. Which means that the bear attack towards the end of the movie...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol
Power corDS
It's time to plug into another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last time, we matched up a trio of covers for the SNES classic, Super Adventure Island, with the three regions opting for vastly different designs. The disparity wasn't enough to drastically split the vote, mind you, as the golden Japanese variant walked away with a comfortable...
Opinion Silksong's Big 'Anticlimactic' Premiere Was Absolutely Perfect
No webs to spin
Six years. Much has been said in the last six years about Team Cherry's near radio silence on Hollow Knight: Silksong. Promises from Microsoft about the game coming out "in the next 12 months" in 2022. No playable demo since E3 2019. No Kickstarter updates. And a furore of hungry fans whipping themselves into a frenzy and building an...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (23rd August)
Take the day OFF
Well folks, it's the weekend once again, which means it's time to get some gaming done! But first, a recap. This week, Capcom launched an intriguing 30th anniversary website for Resident Evil, though there's not much on there right now beyond some cool artwork. Gamescom also happened, which means we got some really cool...
Feature What's It Like To Attend Gamescom 2025?
Das Ist Wunderbar?
I’ve never been to Gamescom before. I’ve heard all the rumours, though. Gamescom is obviously an event I’ve been aware of for a very long time and it appears to have been growing in stature as of late – even Nintendo decided to return this year after skipping the show in 2024. If you’ve been to the show before, then...
Review 8BitDo Arcade Controller For Switch + Switch 2 - The Best Way To Play Street Fighter 6
8BitDid it again
If you’re into fighting games, chances are you’ve probably seen – or maybe even used – a bunch of leverless arcade controllers. They’re taking the fighting scene by storm, and now 8BitDo, one of the most consistent accessory manufacturers in the business, has launched its own Arcade Controller for the Switch, Switch 2, and...
Review Turtle Beach Airlite Fit For Nintendo Switch 2 - A No-Frills, All-Round Solid Bargain Headset
A budget beauty?
Between everyone at Nintendo Life, we've already got quite the heady (thanks) collection of gaming headsets for Switch 2 since the new console launched. You can find our in our Best Nintendo Switch 2 Gaming Headsets guide. However, one thing that we don't have a whole lot of choice on, and especially if you're looking for any sort...
Preview Sakurai's Kirby Air Riders Is A Kaleidoscopic Adrenaline Rush
Watch out, Mario Kart World
Kirby has the ability to put everyone in a good mood, right? I mean, I've been in a lovely mood thanks to the pink puffball (and Nintendo), as I was lucky enough to go hands-on with the upcoming racer Kirby Air Riders for the Nintendo Switch 2 at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. As a surprising sequel to Kirby Air Ride on...
Round Up Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 - Every Switch 1 & 2 Announcement & Trailer
Indiana Jones! He-Man! Absolum!
Wrapping up the summer of gaming in Cologne, Gamescom 2025 has kicked off with Opening Night Live, a two-plus-hour showcase of new game announcements and updates. And, well, things started off strong for the hybrid consoles, but as the show progressed, the announcements slowed down. That didn't stop us from getting a...
I got loyalty (& mech pilot skills) inside my DNA
When Nintendo Life reviewed the original Daemon X Machina back in 2019, Chris Scullion called it "a solid mech action game that controls well and gives the player a generous helping of customisation options." However, he noted that mission structure, performance, and overall story were lacking, which...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Drag x Drive?
Brag or dive?
The Nintendo first-party releases keep coming, and the first of two for August has wheeled onto the Switch 2. Drag x Drive has been out for a few days now, and it has proven to be a divisive one. Pairing up wheelchair basketball with the Joy-Con 2's Mouse Mode, we actually had a fairly good time with Drag x Drive, with the wonderful...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Super Adventure Island (SNES)
Super duper
Hello, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last week, we looked at WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ for the GBA – a true classic and one of our favourites here at NL Towers. North America and Europe joined forced against Japan and, uh... Oh, poor Japan. The western design won with a whopping 91% of the vote! We quite like...
Feature 32 Games We're Dying To See On Switch 2
We'd give our right Joy-Con 2
The first months of Switch 2's life have seen plenty of multiplatform games arrive on Nintendo's newest console — winners like Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky, Apex Legends, and Yakuza 0 to name a handful — and its extra power affords devs the chance to bring newer, bigger, more ambitious games to the platform where...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (16th August)
Excelsior!
The freakin' weekend is finally upon us, and we've got games to play! Before we get into our plans, though, let's recap the week. It was a pretty quiet one in Nintendo Land, with not so much as a whiff of a Direct — which is weird, after the last three weeks of showcases. Nintendo revealed an all-new Mario Kart World event in Japan,...
Anniversary n-Space & Nintendo's M-Rated GameCube Gem Is 20 Years Old
I ain't afraid of no Geist
Everyone, we like to believe, has made a secret list for every single console they've ever owned, of weird and/or experimental stuff they either want to, or wished they had, played. Sometimes you get round to them, sometimes you don't. You know the sort of thing. For me, on GameCube specifically, things like Cubivore come...
Feature "Unsettling Yet Captivating" - SHUTEN ORDER Creators Talk Cult Religion And Dismemberment
"I thought it would be impossible to partner with a publisher"
Creator Kazutaka Kodaka – known for Danganronpa, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code, and more – has cultivated quite the reputation for his wild, engrossing video game stories, but the upcoming SHUTEN ORDER might just be one of his boldest yet. Launching on 5th September 2025 on...
First Impressions Pokémon Legends: Z-A Is An Attempt To Catch The Hardcore Again
Smooth sailing on Switch 2
Pokémon Legends: Arceus isn’t a perfect game by any means, but that didn't stop it from syphoning all of my free time when it launched back in 2022. This was the first time in a while where I truly felt the desire to “catch 'em all”. While Arceus still borrowed a lot from the mainline games, it did enough to make...
Guide Best Pixel Art Nintendo Switch Games
Our pick of impeccable pixels
Updated this list with the wonderful Until Then and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound! Of all the art styles in video games, none has a stronger chokehold on developers and players alike than the humble pixel. Whether it's a fantastically detailed modern take on what is possible in pixels, or something made in homage to NES and...
Talking Point Where On Earth Are The Switch 2 Soundtracks On Nintendo Music?
For the Melody Motorway
Ohhhhh, Zeebraaaa, Zeebraaaaa, ZEEBRAAAAA!~ Here I am, tapping out once again to the Zebra Bananza theme. It's a song fit for Carnival, a blend of styles from all across Latin America — the Brazilian Samba, the Cuban Salsa, the Argentinian Tango. Every time DK beats his chest and transforms into the buffest Zebra you've...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
Vote!
Welcome, cover fans, to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we head into this week's match-up, let's have a quick reminder of what went down last weekend. It was a one-on-one face-off for the GBA's The Hobbit, which saw the gloomy North American/European cover go up against the colourful Japanese variant. Somewhat surprisingly to us, it...
Opinion Metroid II Doesn't Care If Samus Lives Or Dies
An existential crisis courtesy of the Game Boy
I recently started playing Metroid II: Return of Samus for the first time. I’m not sure why. Maybe it was a way of staving off my intense cravings for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which as of writing still doesn’t have a launch date more concrete than the vague '2025' window Nintendo revealed over a...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th August)
Is that a UFO?
Ahoy, there! The weekend is here, so it's time to kick back with some games. But first, let's quickly recap the week, hm? We had a pretty banging Indie World showcase, so that was pretty cool, with lots of really neat announcements and shadow drops. Elsewhere, Nintendo announced a new range of Mario products for younglings, including...
Talking Point Nintendo Is Laser-Targeting Your Toddlers With This New 'My Mario' Line
Full-on Disney mode engaged
Of the big three platform holders, Nintendo is the 'family-friendly' one. Did you know that? Of course you did - you're an intelligent human being. And over the course of the Switch generation, with all the company's eggs now in a single console basket, Nintendo has diversified its business, leaning into non-gaming areas...
Opinion We Really Don't Need A Donkey Kong Timeline
Lore of the Swings
From the moment Nintendo revealed Pauline's presence in Donkey Kong Bananza, I knew one thing for certain: I was going to be writing a feature on the DK timeline in the next two months. Look, you know I love Bananza. DK and Pauline have such a wholesome little relationship, I adored hearing the same senile rant from Cranky on...
Talking Point Nintendo Indie World Showcase Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
It's Nintendo's Indie World, we're all just living in it
Nintendo is going absolutely crazy as tomorrow, 7th August 2025, we're getting our second video game showcase for the Switch 2 and Switch. And it's an Indie World. Indie World showcases are always a nice surprise, and given that this is the first for the Switch 2 gen, we might well be seeing...
You could be my flamingo
Following the release of the Elves 2 Pro, accessory manufacturer Gulikit is back with the, uh, Elves 2. Yes, this is a cheaper model ($29.99 / £29.99) of the Saturn-inspired wireless pad for the Switch and Switch 2; one that shirks some of the more advanced customisation options of its slightly elder sibling while adding in...
Feature What We Expect From Nintendo For Super Mario Bros.' 40th Anniversary
Four decades of 1-1
Five years ago, Nintendo made an appropriately big thing of Super Mario Bros.' 35th anniversary, with a bespoke Direct broadcast featuring a bunch of new games and, naturally, merch celebrating the Famicom release of video gaming's most famous platformer on 13th September 1985. Half a decade on and the 40th anniversary is just...
Opinion Donkey Kong Bananza's Delightful World Map Is Another Nintendo Banger
Mario's miniature marvels
There's a lot of fun to be had in smashing the place to tiny little voxel pieces in Donkey Kong Bananza, it's easily its biggest draw. People have been into the sweet catharsis of wanton destruction since way back before there were even people. Probably. However, the one thing that's caught my attention most whilst playing...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (July 2025)
Our picks for the best eShop games on Switch and Switch 2 in July!
Another month down, another eShop Selects to welcome in the new one. Yes, hello folks, it's your regularly scheduled eShop Selects, this time for July 2025. As always, we're looking at the best of the rest — the best eShop exclusives you may have missed on Switch 1 and Switch 2...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: The Hobbit (GBA)
This Ori That
Assemble your best team of warriors, kings, wizards and burglars, because it's time to embark on a Box Art Brawl adventure. But before Gandalf comes a-knocking, let's take a look at what went down last week, when we matched up two different covers for Blast Corps. In the battle of East and West, Japan came out on top, with the badass...
Hands On Forget The Name, Square Enix's New Action RPG Is A Lovely HD-2D Take On SNES-Era Zelda
A Link to the Millennium
Two of my favourite games growing up were The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Secret of Mana. Lush green worlds, curious — and sometimes cute — enemies, and fluid action combat for the time; as someone who had largely only played turn-based RPGs for the first eight years of their life, the SNES era of action RPGs...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (2nd August)
Another weekend with the King of Swing
Welcome to August, folks! Let's kick things off right with a fresh edition of What Are You Playing. It was Direct week over in Nintendo Land, with a Partner Showcase delivering us 25 minutes of... meh. There were some big hitters that we're pleased to see (Persona 3 Reload, Octopath Traveler 0,
Opinion Can We Stop Comparing Donkey Kong Bananza's Tactile Thrills To Odyssey Now?
My favourite one is both
Note. This article contains minor, non-narrative spoilers (specifically, Bananza forms and mid-game layers). Did you know there was a U-turn jump in Bananza? I just realised this morning! He does a roll jump (that can be chained into another air roll) and lands with a sonar splash. I'm not exactly sure how useful it is but...
Reaction Switch 2 Needed A Partner Showcase With Pep; This Wasn't It
Re-Pac-ed and Replanted?
I'm not one to be disappointed often, especially with Directs. Yes, even Partner Showcases — some of the best Directs have been these third-party lead ones, with June 2022's Mini Partner Showcase ranking pretty highly for me. Today's Partner Showcase was not one of those, which maybe hit a little harder because this was...
Feature Nintendo Partner Direct Predictions - What Do You Expect To See?
Well, howdy
There's a new Nintendo Direct coming very soon, and it's a Partner Showcase, which means it's time for third parties to shine. Since launch, we've seen some big hitters from publishers like Capcom (Street Fighter 6), CD Projekt (Cyberpunk), and SEGA (Yakuza 0), but despite a
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Super Mario Party Jamboree TV?
NS2 Edition Hyper Partying Redux Deluxe ++
With Donkey Kong still basking in the limelight a couple of weeks after the excellent Bananza launched, you might have missed Nintendo's second first-party Switch 2 release to hit the eShop in as many weeks. Sure, it's more of an addendum to 2024's Super Mario Party Jamboree, but we consider the original...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Blast Corps
Hardcorps
Welcome back to the Brawl, my friends! Last week, North America and Europe duked it out over Weaponlord on the Super NES, with NA giving their EU PALs a good wholloping and taking home 85% of the vote. Today, we're looking back at Rare's Blast Corps, a delightful piece of nonsense from Twycross' 64-bit masters which saw you destroying...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (26th July)
I'm gonna wreck it
Here we are once more at the end of July. DK arrived on Switch 2 over a week ago and it seems that most people are absolutely loving Bananza - most, but not all, unfortunately! Nearly 1 in 10 players responding in our poll say they're getting sick when playing the game. The exact cause is up for debate, with the camera's...
Going Beyond the Horizon
Falcom is one of the most influential and long-standing Japanese developers out there. Pioneering the action RPG space with the Ys series, it's recently become more well-known for its continent-spanning epic turn-based series, Trails. On 15th January 2026, the series' 13th entry, Trails Beyond the Horizon, will be launching...
