Latest Features
Feature Digging Through Nintendo Patents
Ideas that surfaced or sank without trace
The recent discovery of a patent for Joy-Con controllers with hinges set tongues wagging with speculation as to what it could mean for Switch and potential future directions for the platform. Will Switch ‘Pro’ feature a curved screen? Is the angle of the two parts measured and translated into the game?...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 28th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Yet another week has been and gone, this time bringing with it all sorts of confusion surrounding the possibility of stick drift on the new Switch Lite and a bizarre case of an eShop game being removed against the developer's wishes, but we've finally reached the weekend. And it's time to get in some game...
Talking Point Mario Kart Tour Is Certainly Dividing Opinion, But Why?
Lover or fighter?
A brief glance through the comments section in our review for Mario Kart Tour is enough to suggest that the reception of the world's premier karting series on mobile has been polarising, to say the least. Our view, as you'll know from the review, is that it's a fun mobile interpretation of the series once you acclimatise to the...
Feature The Worst Box Art Of All Time - 10 Terrible Game Covers
Our picks for the lowest of the low
You may be familiar with our weekend Box Art Brawl series where we pit regional versions of the same game against each other in a gladiatorial poll to find out which has the best cover art. That's all well and good, but there are a great many terrible examples that will never experience the glory of combat in our...
Talking Point Mario Kart Tour Promises World Travel And A Nostalgia Trip To Boot
Tapping into your memories
Some games transcend mere consoles. While multiplayer classics like GoldenEye 007 remain forever trapped in the amber of their original system, others hop between hardware and grow into something uncontainable and unbounded by numbers and subtitles. Mario Kart is one such series. When someone asks if you fancy some...
Feature One Man's Quest To Catalogue Every Moai In Video Games
"Why do this? It's the thrill of the chase!"
Video games of all flavours are filled with real-world items that pop up time and again all over the place. Coins, rings, stars - these things are part of the vocabulary of games to the point that we don't really notice them any more, and it's usually the same with level furniture and background features...
Feature How Significant Is Britain's Influence On Pokémon Sword And Shield?
United Kingdom of Great Litten and Noivern Ireland
We’re only a couple of months away from the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield and the games’ trailers have given us plenty to get excited about. For us, the very best thing about Sword and Shield is that they’re set in the UK-inspired Galar Region. As a British site, we've always imagined...
Feature 10 Strangest Moments In Captain N: The Game Master
Celebrating the cult Saturday morning Nintendo cartoon’s 30th birthday
Super Smash Bros.? Pffft, garbage. The Marvel Cinematic Universe? Complete trash. Project X Zone? Hmmm, we appreciate your thinking but even so, nope. The greatest crossover of all time turned 30 years old this month and none of you selfish sods even noticed. We’re talking,...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 21st)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It's the weekend! After a long week of unhappy Super Smash Bros. players and excitement surrounding an uppity, overly-English Pokémon bird, we've finally reached the point where we can sit down and have a good old gaming session or two. Some of the hardworking Nintendo Life team have shared their thoughts...
Feature A Look To The Past - All The Legend Of Zelda Remasters And Remakes
Wielding the Remaster Sword
From the moment of its first reveal the Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening captured Zelda fans’ attention with its eye-catching diorama aesthetic and reimagining of a classic. The Game Boy original transposed the top-down style of A Link to the Past on Su
Gallery Unboxing Zelda: Link's Awakening Limited Edition On Switch
Ta Da Da Da!
Nintendo is really spoiling us with these limited editions lately. Astral Chain had a pretty special packaging (and one that was sadly exclusive to Europe) and Zelda: Link's Awakening is getting similar treatment. Inside the limited edition package for this Switch remake you get a steelbook case shaped like a Game Boy (complete with...
Feature Getting Reacquainted With Zelda: Link's Awakening, An Irreverent And Silly Classic
"It was like we were making a parody of Zelda"
The Switch is getting its second Zelda game, but it perhaps wasn't one that people were expecting. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was the franchise's first serious foray into the handheld arena (if you don't include the 1989 Game & Watch release, that is) and remains a beloved entry in the...
Feature Uncovering The Unlikely Story Of The World's Worst Controller In The Power Of Glove
"It's so bad"
To a complete outsider, the notion of creating a documentary about a failed video game peripheral from 30 years ago might seem pointless, if not downright silly. But the Power Glove is so much more than a device which simply struggled to find its audience and meekly withdrew into the night; it has become an iconic piece of gaming...
Hardware Nintendo Switch Lite Review - Half A Switch, But That's More Than Enough For Some
Smaller, brighter, slimmer, stronger?
Given its penchant for iterating and refreshing its hardware, the arrival of Nintendo's Switch Lite feels inevitable rather than surprising. What's perhaps a little more unexpected is how this new machine gleefully jettisons the key element that the original console was arguably sold on – its ability to...
Feature How A Joke Hatched Gaming's Most Horrible Goose
"Geese are just funny"
Ever since it was first announced, Untitled Goose Game has enjoyed hugely positive reaction from all quarters - it's a rare thing to get excited about merch for a game we hadn't even played at the time, but there's something about this obnoxious goose and his stealthy slapstick antics which strikes a chord with us (and, it...
Guide Pokémon GO Type Chart: Advantages And Weaknesses Explained For All 18 Types
Your best options for super effective attacks & maximum resistance (also applies to mainline games)
Rock, paper, scissors. The idea that certain player choices are more or less effective against others has been a cornerstone of game design for generations. But what if your hand could also turn into a dragon, or a tsunami, or a formless supernatural...
Feature The Best Nintendo Switch Games Of PAX West 2019
Luigi's Mansion 3! Super Meat Boy Forever! Haven! Windjammers 2!
The Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle is one of the biggest expositions of gaming on the planet, and we were there, hunting out the best Nintendo-related games for your viewing pleasure. The only stipulations were that it couldn’t have already been released before PAX, and it had to be...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 14th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Yet another week has flown by, this time full of Switch controller LED light revelations and stories of what might just be the very first time anyone has managed to reach the Switch's maximum playtime for a single game. We're feeling more than ready to sit down for some gaming over the weekend, and as usual,...
Feature Twirlbound On Pine's Open World And The Inevitable Zelda Comparisons
"Our game world and game structure is vastly different"
Now confirmed to arrive on Switch on 10th October, open world adventure Pine puts you in control of a young human named Hue and pits you against tribes and animals in an emergent simulation where territory is constantly shifting, survival is a struggle and there's always something new to...
Hands On Overland Is A Game Where You Don't Always Get To Save The Dog
"We broke most strategy game rules"
Overland has been in development for a long time now. Developer Finji – which began life back in 2006 when it was founded by Adam and Rebekah Saltsman – has been involved in several major releases over the years, including (deep breath) Canabalt, Gravity Hook, Hundreds, Feist, Panoramical, Runaway Toad and...
Hands On The More We Play Streets Of Rage 4, The More We Like It
Dust off your knuckles
Boy, the streets sure have been quiet the last 25 years. That’s roughly the length of time since Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, and Big McLargehuge roamed the streets taming, titulary speaking, the “rage”. Streets of Rage 4, similar to retro franchise revivals like Mega Man 9 and Sonic Mania before it,
Hardware Review Exlene GameCube Controllers For Nintendo Switch
What makes them so special?
People love to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with GameCube-style controllers, and that's a fact that hasn't been lost on third-party peripheral makers. Exlene is one such manufacturer, and it has come up with two GameCube-style pads for Switch that aim to scratch that itch for people who are in the market for a decent...
Hands On The Most Fun Game At PAX Was About Helping People Move Out
Making the move
Here are the most dreaded five words in the English language: “Can you help me move?” So hey, why not make a video game about it? Australian developer SMG is doing just that with its upcoming Switch game, titled Moving Out. It takes the concept of helping people move and puts it on its head... and its side, and its face, and...
Talking Point Please Nintendo, Can We Get These Things In Switch Firmware Version 10?
Five reasonable requests for future firmware
A new firmware update for Switch has dropped and we’ve spent a good amount of time today examining the minutiae of Version 9.0.0. The jump from v8.1.0 has brought a few minor enhancements along with it, including the ability to search for specific articles in the News Channel, use a QR Code to interface...
Feature 20 Dreamcast Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch
20 games to mark 20 years
The Dreamcast turns 20 in North America today - yes, 9/9/99 was now two decades ago - and in honour of the occasion we're republishing this article from last November when the console reached the same milestone in its homeland. Enjoy! The Sega Dreamcast turns 20 today – it launched on November 27th, 1998 in Japan – and...
Feature So Long, James Bowden - You And Your Hat Shall Be Missed
Nintendo UK's Community Manager moves on
That's Mr Bowden in the purple hat, if you hadn't guessed All good things must come to an end, and for Nintendo UK Community Manager James Bowden, the end is nigh. The man famous for his fetching line in headgear is leaving Nintendo UK and moving onto pastures new, and we couldn't bear the thought of him...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - August 2019
August's best Switch eShop games!
Yet another month has flown by (a month and a week, in fact) and the Switch eShop is as busy, confusing, and fun as ever. You know what that means: it's time for this month's Nintendo Life eShop Selects! These awards aim to celebrate the best of Nintendo's digital store, giving some love and attention to the games...
Feature Beamdog On Bringing Baldur's Gate And Classic D&D RPGs To Switch
"Anyone that’s sick of codes in a box is going to be in for a treat"
There was a ripple of excitement amongst old-school RPG fans at the end of May when it was announced that a raft of D&D classics were heading to consoles, including your favourite Nintendo handheld hybrid. Beamdog, the developer behind the Enhanced Editions of Baldur's Gate,...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 7th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Well, that's another week down, and this one was full of Metacritic review bombing drama, SNES games galore, and only a bloomin' Nintendo Direct. Phwoar. So, it's absolutely time for us to sit b
Talking Point So, What's This New Nintendo Switch 'Ring' Thing All About?
Another Wii Fit hoop-la, or something different?
Last night Nintendo dropped a mysterious trailer for some new software and bit of kit that has the internet buzzing. A Nintendo Direct presentation was broadcast less than 48 hours ago, but there's more?! The fact that this 'new experience for Nintendo Switch' wasn't included in the Direct is...
Feature Puzzle Quest Creator On Remastering A Classic For Nintendo Switch
"We’ve been very careful not to break the feeling of the original game"
Back in 2007, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords on Nintendo DS was an innovative blend of match-3 and RPG mechanics which created an entirely new take on the puzzle genre and went on to influence a swathe of hybrids in a similar vein. Publishers D3 Go! have now announced...
Hands On Trust Us, You Guys Are Really Going To Dig Shovel Knight Dig
It rocks, honestly
You know what Shovel Knight needs? More digging. At least that’s what developers Yacht Club Games and Nitrome (developer of Bomb Chicken) seem to have on their minds with their recent announcement of Shovel Knight Dig, a Shovel Knight spin-off game for the Nintendo Switch, promised to fans early next year. Unlike the spry...
Hands On Sayonara Wild Hearts Is Pop Perfection In Video Game Form
Say goodbye to your eShop credit when this launches
“Sayonara” is Japanese for “goodbye". Alright, you probably didn’t need help with that one. On the other hand, with Sayonara Wild Hearts, a new video game on the Nintendo Switch developed by Swedish developer Simogo, you’ll probably need some help, both to understand it and to master it...
Feature Dragon Quest XI S Developers On Bringing The Definitive Edition To Switch
"The entire history of the series is packed into this game"
On the 27th September Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition arrives on Switch after debuting on other platforms over two years ago. Japanese gamers were lucky enough to get the game on Nintendo 3DS (with a special feature that had both 3D and classic 2D views of...
Feature Where Does Nintendo Switch Fit In The PS5 And Xbox Project Scarlett Next-Gen War?
Industry experts give their verdict on a growing power gap
With sales of over 40 million units since 2017 and a raft of amazing exclusive and cross-platform titles to its name, the Nintendo Switch is arguably the console of the moment. Pulling together its handheld and domestic interests into a single machine was definitely a gamble for Nintendo,...
Talking Point Should We Expect A Nintendo Direct In September?
All signs point to 'very probably'
Update: Lo and behold, a Nintendo Direct only went and got announced for September, didn't it? Original Article: Looking at Switch's upcoming slate for the remaining months of 2019, there's a fair amount games we here at Nintendo Life Towers are going to have to cram in before we can even start thinking about the...
Feature A Guide To Shopping In Japan's Retro Gaming Paradise, Akihabara
The promised land
For readers of Nintendo Life, Akihabara will almost certainly need no introduction. It has for decades been the bastion of Japanese gaming and otaku culture, a sprawling metropolis of stores packed with gaming treasures which we just can’t find back home. The sheer amount of gaming stores to explore have made the trip to...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 31st)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
We did it, folks! We've made it to another weekend and this time there's a pretty major release to be getting stuck into. You can probably guess what most of us are playing this time around, but we've shared our plans with you below regardless. As always, we'd love for you to join in the fun and leave your own...
Soapbox Mario Kart Tour Looks Lousy With F2P Trappings, But That’s All Right
Keep those currencies and timers where they belong!
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. Here, Gavin grits his teeth and discusses how he's absolutely fine with the free-to-play aspects of the upcoming mobile Mario Kart. The latest entry...
Feature Has A Decades-Old Super Mario 64 Mystery Finally Been Cleared Up?
L is NOT and was never real, according to new sources
There's something about the very best video games which inspires obsession over the smallest details. Whether it involves (over)analysing a blurry texture, trying to decipher a muffled audio clip or simply experim
Talking Point With Overwatch Apparently Switch-Bound, The Future's Bright For Blizzard And Nintendo
Crafting a relationship
News that an officially-licenced Overwatch carry case for Nintendo Switch is available suggests an announcement on the horizon that many of us have expected – Overwatch is Switch-bound. While it's not yet confirmed, it would be a cruel joke to put out licensed accessories for a console you can't play the game on. Winner of...
Feature Pokémon World Championships 2019: Bidding Farewell To The Nintendo 3DS
A report from the front line
Pokémon is an ever-changing beast, but there is currently one constant: The Pokémon World Championships. This year was the 16th event and it was the biggest one to date, with over 8,000 people in attendance. This did cause some delays in starting the Opening Ceremony as people were still outside, but after that,...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 24th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week has slipped by as we descend inevitably into the clutches of 2020. Things kicked off with the Nintendo Indie World Showcase which featured some cracking 'available now on Switch eShop' games such as Superhot and Hotline Miami Collection. We got
Poll How Do You Pronounce These Nintendo-Related Words?
Let’s call the whole thing off
As British film critic Mark Kermode often says, we should never make fun of people for mispronouncing words because — more often than not — it means they learned it through reading. This holds true whether they were found in a book or a video game, and many of us as kids gleaned new vocabulary from instruction...
Hands On We've Played Witcher 3 On Nintendo Switch, And It's A Work Of Magic
"It’s the same as you’ll find on other platforms, how it looks and feels"
Switch has the pick of extraordinary, open-world RPGs. With Nintendo’s own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim from Bethesda, both story-led and user-guided experiences are gloriously catered for. While Switch gamers may have held out...
Poll Have You Ever Had Problems With Nintendo Hardware?
Is Joy-Con drift just a blip on Nintendo’s score sheet?
With Joy-Con drift making headlines again over the past month thanks to lawsuits filed in the US, it’s easy to see the phenomenon as a potential disaster for Nintendo. Many gamers have had absolutely no problems with Switch's detachable controllers, but a huge percentage have encountered...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 17th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week has been and gone, this time bringing with it hints at SNES games coming to Switch and the revelation that Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma teased the upcoming Zelda: Link's Awakening remake years ago! Well... As we've finally reached the weekend, it's time once again to sit back, relax, and chat...
Feature Inti Creates On Mega Man, Working With Nintendo And Staying True To Its Japanese Roots
"We don’t really know what really appeals to people outside the Japanese market"
Inti Creates is arguably one of the most talented game developers working in Japan today. The company – formed by ex-Capcom staff – has produced self-made hits like Azure Striker Gunvolt and Gal*Gun, but has also worked extensively with other firms to produce...
Soapbox To Me, Mario Maker 2 Is Nintendo's Best, And Most Disappointing, Sequel Ever
Super Mario Paradox
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. Here Gavin discusses how Super Mario Maker 2 is giving him mixed emotions... The Nintendo first party flavour of the month may well be Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but due to my...
Exclusive Ahead Of Snooker 19's Switch Launch Next Week, We Find Out Why It's So Special
Developer Lab42 spills the beans
Ripstone Games has confirmed that it will publish Lab42's Snooker 19 on the Nintendo Switch eShop on August 23rd, with a price of £29.99 / €34.99 / $34.99. Pre-orders for the physical version of the game are also open now. Snooker 19 showcases 128 of the world’s top snooker players, including the likes of...