Latest Features
Book Review Neo Geo: A Visual History
The future is now
We'll spare you the traditional spiel about how the Neo Geo was the pinnacle of gaming back in the '90s – if you own a Switch then chances are you're already intimately familiar with the amazing library of this beast, thanks to the fact that Japanese firm Hamster has been pumping out a stream of Neo Geo titles on the Switch eShop...
Feature RIVE: Ultimate Edition Is Coming This Month With New Features And Improvements
It really will be the "ultimate" edition of the game
Two Tribes has confirmed that its manic shooter RIVE is coming to the Switch eShop on November 17th, and it will be the best version of the game yet. For starters, it will offer a new Copilot Mode so you can play with a friend. This is a exclusive mode for the Switch version that allows two...
Deals Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For November And December
Lots to look forward to!
Can you believe it's November already? It's a great time to be a Switch owner; we've recently seen the release of Super Mario Odyssey and Fire Emblem Warriors and there's still lots more to look forward to in the coming months - certainly enough to keep you occupied until Santa comes knocking at the end...
Feature Ten Nintendo Switch Games That Are Perfect for Halloween
Tricks and treats
It is Halloween / All Hallows' Eve / mild vandalism night as we publish this, a rather fun occasion in which dressing up and eating an unhealthy amount of sweets / candy is not only allowed, it's practically mandatory. Of course, it's all about spooky experiences, or alternatively finding something suitably themed that won't...
Feature Ten 3DS Games That Are Perfect for Halloween
Spookiness in three dimensions
It's nearly Halloween / All Hallows' Eve / mild vandalism night, so that means everything is spooky. Well, if you want it to be, or you could hide upstairs with all the lights out until the trick or treaters are all gone - your call. Anyway, it's a time for scary games. Or those with grisly themes. Or cute ones...
Analysis Switch Drives Impressive Sales as Nintendo Delivers Q2 Profits
Revenues from mobile also play their part
As you've likely already seen, Nintendo has increased its forecast for Switch hardware sales and delivered some impressive results in its Q2 reports. Let's break the results down. Starting off with net sales, at 374,041 million Yen ($3293 millionUSD, approximately) it's a number that's easily the highest...
Feature Adapting to Day-To-Day Life in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
More impressions about the latest entry in the Animal Crossing family
While the rest of the world waits until late November for the official release of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on iOS and Google Play devices, your humble scribe – who happens to be located in Australia – has now had a few more days to adapt to life in this new world. With the...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Halloween Edition
Yeah, we all know the answer...
A couple of weeks ago we brought WGAYPTW™ back here on Nintendo Life, and everyone seemed to have a jolly time. With Halloween right around the corner it's time to pick it up once again. Of course, a certain incredible game is out now, so plenty will be playing that - but it's the spookiest time of the year and...
Feature Our First Steps in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Initial impressions from our resident Animal Crossing expert
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp had its big Nintendo Direct reveal, and what we saw was a title that – in various respects – is rather close to the experience in the main games. Smaller in scope and with some mobile elements, of course, but the iOS / Google Play title has nevertheless...
Guide How to Download Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Early on iOS and Android
An early welcome
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp may only be due at the end of November, but it's already available in Australia; you can even grab it yourself right now if you're willing to jump through a few hoops. Thankfully, we're here to make that process a little easier. Here's how you can get Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on your iOS or...
Feature We Almost Got Golf Story On The Wii U
"It kind of got out of hand, with too many ideas"
Golf Story has proven to be one of the Switch's big indie hits of 2017, but incredibly we could have experienced the game a lot sooner, had fate not intervened. Sidebar Games' Andrew Newey - who constitutes 50 percent of the game's development team - has been speaking to Red Bull Games about the...
Feature Five Things We Expect from the Animal Crossing Mobile Direct
Cuteness being one
Nintendo, to date, has released three core smart device games as part of its mobile strategy (plus the Switch Parental Controls and Nintendo Switch Online apps) but Animal Crossing is arguably the best fit yet. Miitomo was a spin on social media that somewhat lost steam, Super Mario Run gained some early momentum...
Talking Point An Era Ends As Nintendo Continues to Ignore 3D on the 3DS
First-party games ignore the once important feature
When it comes to playing habits on the 3DS there are three distinct camps of gamers - those that leave the 3D slider up, some that alternate and adjust the setting depending on the game, and others that prefer viewing their screens in 2D. This scribe has always been in the first camp, cranking the...
Talking Point The Nintendo Switch is Modernising, But Has a Long Way to Go
Slow and steady wins the race?
This week brought us the latest notable update to the Nintendo Switch system, taking us to version 4.0.0; there was also an update to the Joy-Con controllers that does... something. It was a notable update in that it added a few major changes - the main additions were the ability to capture the last 30 seconds of...
Hardware Review The Super Famicom Mini Is For Hardcore Collectors Only
Turning Japanese?
Not all micro-consoles are created equal, the SNES Classic Mini being the perfect example of this (not-so-universal) truth. The western versions may have the same game selection but the North American and European editions showcase radically different case designs, which has led to some particularly dedicated Nintendo fans buying...
Exclusive Game Freak Explains Why We Should All Play Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Riding Mantine, new Pokemon, Mewtwo and more
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon aren't far away on 3DS, and the more we learn about the new titles the clearer it gets that they're offering more than minor expansions. The Pokémon Company and Game Freak have emphasised that there'll be an expansive storyline, and in a new twist to previous expansions...
Soapbox Breath Of The Wild Is Amazing, But Is It The 3D Zelda That Enthusiasts Expected?
Now hold your Eponas…
In this Soapbox article, Nintendo Life contributor Arjun talks about Breath of the Wild and its nature as a '3D Zelda game'. Before I begin, let me clarify one thing - Breath of the Wild is one of the best games I have ever played. Pun intended, it truly is a breath of fresh air when it comes to video games in general, and...
Editorial Nintendo's Surprising Fanbase is a Major Strength, Which Bodes Well for Switch
Gaming for all
As a '90s kid I was only really aware of two main groups of gamers - kids and teenagers. It was a pre-internet age, so the points of reference were limited, but I doubt I was that far off. 'Gaming' had been a thing in the '70s and '80s, of course, but a rapid expansion of the industry - after Atari somewhat went off a cliff - was...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - The Triumphant(?) Return
Because there are so many games to play
A little while ago a Nintendo Life regular sent us an email to ask where the 'What Games Are You Playing This Weekend' (WGAYPTW™) series had gone. Of course, our chums over at Push Square have never stopped doing it, but we drifted away from the series a few years ago here on Nintendo Life. Why? Partly...
Feature Going Deeper With The Flame in the Flood on Nintendo Switch
Post apocalyptic survival with a difference
We're heading into another busy period of enticing releases on the Switch eShop, and The Flame in the Flood is certainly one to consider seriously. A 'rogue-lite' with a focus on survival in a post apocalyptic world may sound rote and by the numbers, but the game is more innovative than the description...
Feature The Biggest Nintendo Switch eShop Games of 2017 - Fall / Winter Edition
It's tough to pick a shortlist
Recently we published our Fall / Winter edition of the 'Biggest Nintendo Switch Retail Games of 2017', which was relatively easy to put together. With less than three months left in the year there are only so many titles still coming, and in the retail space picking out 20 overall didn't leave many behind. Now,...
Feature Keeping Our Eyes Wide Open for Dimension Drive on Nintendo Switch
2Awesome Studio tells us about its screen hopping shooter
The Switch eShop's library of upcoming games continues to grow, but one game due relatively soon that needs to stay on the radar is Dimension Drive. Confirmed earlier in the year and currently in the final steps to securing a full release date, it's a shoot 'em up that aims to add its...
Feature We Try Out Upcoming Switch eShop Titles from Merge Games
Including The Count Lucanor and The Long Reach
While a little bare at launch, Nintendo Switch’s library of eShop titles has exploded in recent weeks, now making it a virtual hotspot for new and exclusive releases. Joining the party with a few titles of its own is Merge Games, a game publisher that has been working with a number of different indie...
Preview Fire Emblem Warriors Could Be The Best Musou Game Yet
A perfect tactical mix
Despite its incredible popularity in Japan, Koei Tecmo's Warriors (or, if you prefer, Musou) series has never really captured western hearts and minds in quite the same way. To the outside observer, the series appears to be little more than mindless button-bashing, with no tactical nuance or depth. As fans of the franchise...
Feature Japanese Dev Legend Tak Fujii On His Switch Music Exclusive Gal Metal
"My dream is about increasing real band players from playing the game"
Tak Fujii is one of the most established and charismatic figures in the Japanese gaming industry today. He spent twenty years at Konami in Chicago and Tokyo, filled roles such as sound designer, director and producer, as well as playing guitar on the incredible Castlevania:...
Watch The Nintendo World Championships 2017 - Live!
Who'll become world champion?
Here's a bit of a fun stream for the weekend, as we have the Nintendo World Championships out of New York. We know that Metroid: Samus Returns will feature, but apart from that Nintendo has kept tight-lipped about the line-up. Let's see what happens! <liveblog id="the_nintendo_world_championships_2017_-_live"...
Feature The Biggest Nintendo Switch Retail Games of 2017 - Fall / Winter Edition
From Mario, to DOOM, and more besides
We're heading into what is known by some as the 'silly season' in the games industry. Publishers are understandably eager to get in on the Holiday gravy train, and as a result we have an influx of games to consider. Therefore, it's a good time for our Nintendo Switch Fall / Winter edition of the 'biggest games'...
Feature Four Horses Discusses the Process of Bringing Kid Tripp to the Switch
Not kidding around
Not long ago Kid Tripp arrived on the 3DS eShop, an auto-running platformer that offers snappy but challenging stages. Some balked at its mobile origins but that was to do it a discredit; in our view it's a well-constructed and fun game. Four Horses produced that version and is now working on a Switch port, so we caught up with...
Exclusive A First Look at Plague Road on Nintendo Switch
Turn-based combat and strategy in an apocalyptic world
Regular readers of our sister-site Push Square probably know the name Luc Bernard, a British game designer well known for highly stylised and intriguing games. A recent project through Arcade Distillery - a studio with some familiar names in its roster - is Plague Road, and pleasingly it's...
Feature VooFoo Studios On Why It's Full Speed Ahead for Mantis Burn Racing on Switch
"Switch is going from strength to strength"
There have been a lot of download game announcements for the Switch eShop in recent weeks, with Mantis Burn Racing being one in the pack; its developer VooFoo Studios may be familiar to some eShop veterans as it brought us Pure Chess on the Wii U and 3DS eShop. This latest project is a top-down...
Video An Unboxing of the Super Famicom Classic Mini
A super part of the family
In Japan, 5th October marks the release of the Super Famicom Classic Mini. Following the SNES Classic Edition / Mini last week, the “Sufami Mini” is now ready to buy! It too comes with 21 games, though the lineup is slightly different. Don't worry, importers, Star Fox 2 is included. As for outward appearances, it's...
Guide Where To Find All The Upgrades In Metroid: Samus Returns
Upgrade path
Like any Metroid game before it, Metroid: Samus Returns is full of secrets, passages and loot for the famous bounty hunter to find. Your progression through the game is tied to finding these items as you'll invariably encounter doors, passageways and environmental hazard that necessitate the locating of these gadgets. To...
Feature Zoink Games on Flipping Death, Fe, and Making the Move to Nintendo Switch
"We’re really heading towards some exciting times"
The Wii U eShop brought us plenty of memorable games, and one example was Stick it to The Man by Zoink Games. The Swedish studio earned plenty of fans with its unique art style and comedic storytelling, giving Switch owners good news when Flipping Death was confirmed for the...
Poll The Switch eShop is Hot, But Is It Time for an Overhaul of Its User Interface?
Yes, in our view
The Switch eShop seems to be going from strength to strength in recent weeks and months. After a first few months of curation - as declared by Nintendo in a pre-launch Nindies Showcase - the shackles have come off and more developers have been able to release content on the store. Yes, there's been a little bit of dross and games...
Feature 20 Games That Aren't On The SNES Classic Mini, But Really Should Be
How does our wishlist compare to yours?
There’s a lot to like about the SNES Classic Mini, with the compact box offering plenty of plug-and-play 16-bit goodness. Save states and the new rewind feature are good additions, and the inclusion of a second controller (unlike with the NES mini) is welcome. It has an impressive line up of games too, with...
Feature Learn More About Indie Pogo, a Quirky Brawler Featuring Iconic Nindies
Aiming for funding through Kickstarter
Indie Pogo, from developer Lowe Bros. Studios, is not only a love letter to Nintendo fighting institution Super Smash Bros. and similar brawlers, but is also the ultimate indie game collaboration; it features characters from many popular indie (and 'Nindie') games. The Kickstarter for the project is well under...
Deals Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For October And November
Super Mario Odyssey, Fire Emblem Warriors, Skyrim and lots more!
Can you believe it's October already? It's a great time to be a Switch owner; we've recently seen the release of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Pokkén Tournament DX and there's still lots more to look forward to in the coming months. So, what's on the horizon...
Feature From the Show Floor - A Chat With CIRCLE Entertainment / Flyhigh Works at TGS
"Nintendo trusts us, which is a precious thing"
Last week we went along to the Tokyo Game Show, Japan's best known and most popular games expo. Various publishers went all-in with live events and streams, such as Sony, Capcom and more, while Nintendo still opted for a low-key approach. It offered some support, however, for smaller publishers and...
Deals Got Your SNES Classic Mini? Then Check Out These Essential Accessories
Because everyone needs a wireless pad, right?
So you've got your SNES Classic Edition Mini - consider yourself to be one of the lucky ones. But getting the micro console itself is just the start of your journey. Here are some amazing accessories to go with your Super NES Classic Edition that will enhance your experience exponentially...
Poll Nintendo's Switch Arcade Archives - Is It the Retro Gaming You Want?
They're fresh options, but questions remain over a Switch VC
Nintendo often finds a way to surprise its fans and throw a curveball, and so in the most recent Nintendo Direct it didn't unveil the Switch Virtual Console, as such, but the 'Arcade Archives' series. It started this week with Arcade Archives Mario Bros., and the following are still on the...
Hardware SNES Classic Mini Review - The Perfect Link To The Past
Now you're playing with miniature power
When the NES Classic Mini was first announced, it caused shockwaves in the world of Nintendo (and gave this very site one of its busiest days in terms of traffic, fact fans). The resultant stock shortages soured what was, in all honesty, a dream hardware release for the company. While Nintendo certainly wasn't...
Hands On RiME Lights Up On Nintendo Switch
Time to shine
RiME is a secluded, visually stunning adventure arriving on Switch soon. If you managed to miss its original release a few months back on various systems, then that may end up becoming a blessing in disguise. Undocked the game lights up the screen, lending its art-style nicely to the Switch screen. Tequila Works may have...
Feature Fulfilling A Lifelong Dream Of Attending The Tokyo Game Show
Roland Ingram reports from TGS 2017
Finally, I had made it to the Tokyo Game Show. Back when it started in 1996, I would have given anything to come here. Nowadays the gaming scene has changed. It's not all about a few big players revealing consoles destined to rule the living room. Now we have a nerfed, consoleless Sega and a catch-all Sony nodding...
Editorial The SNES Classic Mini, Star Fox, and Downsides to Being a Mega Drive Kid
Going back to the beginning
Late last week I remembered that the SNES Mini was right around the corner, after it had somewhat drifted out of my mind. The past month has been somewhat busy and chaotic on both a personal and professional level, with Nintendo having the audacity to release a system that's selling rather well. With the silly season of...
Feature We Breeze Through Shu on Switch and Chat to Its Lead Designer
"We're looking to learn from it, understand what's possible"
The Switch has seen plenty of indies find success on the platform since the console's launch back in March. Now Coatsink Studios is aiming to contribute to this by bringing 2D platformer Shu to the Switch, with the previously released Caverns of the Nightjars DLC included in a purchase...
Gallery Cosplay At The Tokyo Game Show 2017
Bayonetta! Link! Mario! Tingle!
The Tokyo Game Show isn't just home to all the latest and greatest video games - like pretty much any gaming event these days, it also attracts hordes of cosplayers dressed as their favourite video game characters. This year's event has seen a bumper turn-out of Links, Marios, Princess Peaches and even Tingles, and...
Feature Tokyo Game Show - A Nintendo Switch Publisher's Perspective
Flyhigh Works and CIRCLE on their big push with Nintendo's system
This weekend is one of the most anticipated periods in the Japanese gaming calendar, with the Tokyo Game Show halls being open to thousands of eager members of the public. Among the world's most popular and renowned expo events, it's a significant part of game promotion and reveals in...
Talking Point Nintendo Switch and Third-Parties - Let's Be Realistic
It's exciting, but don't get carried away
The past few months has brought a steady stream of good news for Nintendo Switch owners. For fans of the eShop it's been a terrific period, with lots of varied and talented developers confirming their games for the hardware. We've also - gradually - seen an increase in third-party support from the big...
First Impressions Hell in a Handbasket - DOOM on Nintendo Switch
Big, dumb, and lots of fun
Now, with the Bethesda published 2016 iteration coming to the Nintendo Switch later this year, DOOM can be small and dumb, while still having its trademark 'BFG'. We got our chance to try out id Software’s upcoming port of its DOOM franchise reboot at a Bethesda event earlier this month; look, we know what questions you...