Latest Features - Page 7
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (24th May)
Ready..? Fight!
Well folks, the weekend is finally here... Wait, what do you mean it only feels like yesterday when we did our last What Are You Playing? Yeah... time flies, huh? The Switch 2 will be here before you know it! Anyway, this week saw the release of four new titles for the Game Boy app on Nintendo Switch Online, which is awesome. We...
Feature Universal Won't Say Anything About A Zelda Theme Park, But They Don't Have To
Let's use the Lens of Truth
He's waiting for his chance We were fortunate enough to have spent the past few days at Epic Universe, a brand-new Universal theme park located in Orlando, Florida. There’s no surprise that Super Nintendo World is the portion that had our full attention, and we’re happy to report it does a wonderful job transporting...
"I'm an absolutist when it comes to preservation"
As far as the 'Average Joe' on the high street is concerned, the physical games market is practically dead and buried right now. Store shelves are emptier than ever, the usually reliable supermarket chains often no longer stock them, and we're rapidly heading into a future in which the majority of...
First Impressions We've Played Three SEGA Games On Switch 2
Yakuza 0! RAIDOU Remastered! Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S!
Sega has positioned itself as a staunch early supporter of the Switch 2, offering up three key titles on day one and three more to follow later on. While we've yet to experience the full lineup, Sega invited us to check out a trio of launch-period titles in what marked our first extended experience...
Talking Point The Switch 2 Pre-Order Situation Sucks, But Can Nintendo Do Anything About It?
503sier said than done
We're a little over two weeks out from the launch of a new console and after eight years of Switch 1, there are plenty of Nintendo fans eager to get going with the next generation. If retailer website chaos is any indicator, demand for the next Switch has been very strong and Nintendo will be encouraged to see the enthusiasm...
Feature 'Tales Of Tuscany' Dev's Goal Is To "Let Players Do Whatever They Want"
"It doesn't take itself too seriously... the inspiration is basically my life"
At PAX East, we had a chance to sit down with the lively Nico Papalia and Top Hat Studios - developer of Athenian Rhapsody, and its newly-announced prequel, Tales of Tuscany (releasing on “whatever you play games on,” including Switch, in 2026). We wanted to learn a...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: F-Zero X
X-treme
Hello folks, we're back with another edition of Box Art Brawl! Right, first of all, what happened last time..? Oh yes, we looked at Mario Party 3 for the N64! Heh, this wasn't even remotely close, with Japan's variant winning the day with 84% of the vote. North America managed 13%, with Europe lagging behind with a mere 3%. This week,...
Feature The Long & Rainbow Road To 'Mario Kart World' Part 2 - Second Lap
Double Dash, DS, Wii
And we're back for another lap of Mario Kart history as we slipstream our way to the chequered flag and Mario Kart World on 5th June. Having looked back at the first three instalments in Mario's karting chronicles, today we're accelerating on to the GameCube, DS, and two-duct-taped-GameCubes entries, as the series went online...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (17th May)
What's that coming over the hill?
Howdy partners! It's time for another good old natter about our weekend gaming plans. Before we dive into what we're all up to, however, let's look back on the week's highlights. There were a couple of big Switch 2 drops as Nintendo revealed the console's final tech specs, announced what we can expect from its free...
Opinion I Hope Trails In The Sky 1st Chapter Doesn't Make A 'Big' Remake Mistake
Bigger isn't always better
Of all the RPGs I love, the Trails series is probably the one I have the hardest time recommending. A mix of platform availability, game length, and sheer number of titles is enough to scare anyone away, and even when someone does get into the series, there’s the inevitable onslaught of questions as they try and navigate...
Talking Point Are You Ghosting Switch 1 To Save Yourself For Switch 2?
The best is yet to come
2nd April 2025 will go down as a big day in Nintendo history for a lot of reasons. For one, it was when Nintendo finally lifted the lid on Switch 2, showcasing the console, its games and the all-important price and release date. It was also when, for some of us, our Switch 1 playtime tanked. The new console may have ignited...
Talking Point How Can The Next Animal Crossing Improve Crafting?
Tools of the trade
If you happen to live in the UK, then you’ll know that the weather this week has been pretty glorious – mostly. So, as I was out on one of my evening walks with the dog, I gazed out toward the horizon as the sun was setting. Crepuscular rays pierced through the clouds and trees, butterflies erratically flip-flopped around my...
Feature 7 Switch Games We Played At PAX East 2025 - Here's What We Thought
Plenty of new Switch (2) offerings
PAX East 2025 just finished up this past weekend, and Nintendo Life was there sampling lots of juicy upcoming Switch releases. Yes, there's plenty to look forward to with the old Switch, even as the new Switch looms in the distance. So we're sharing our hands-on impressions of some of the games we had a chance to...
Talking Point Are You Excited At All For Switch 2 GameChat?
Student lounge around
It's been nearly six weeks since the Switch 2 Direct, and we're now only three-and-a-half more away from the system's launch. Overall, we were pretty impressed with the hour-long presentation Nintendo assembled to officially pull back the curtain at the start of April. Yes, some mixed messaging and unanswered questions could...
Video Switch 2's Mouse Controls Are Nothing New For Nintendo
A mousehold name
Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 has been accused of not being especially revolutionary, which is mostly fair. It’s more of an evolution of a concept that works rather than a vast departure, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of ideas. The big kahuna of new additions in my eyes is the mouse controls, allowing for a veritable...
Opinion Nintendo's Forgotten The Game With The Most 'Switch 2 Edition' Potential
It should be the first Pik
We all assumed that Nintendo would pull some re-release magic with the Switch 2, giving us a chance to play our favourite titles again, only this time at a slightly higher resolution and perhaps with some quality of life improvements thrown in to boot. It was a no brainer given that Sony did exactly that with the PS5 and...
Back Page Mario Kart World's Roster Is Full Of Deep Cuts, So Where Are These Guys?
All around me are familiar faces
In the magazine business, the Back Page is where you'd find all the weird goofs that we couldn't fit in anywhere else. Some may call it "filler"; we prefer "a whole page to make terrible jokes that are tangentially related to the content of the mag". We don't have pages on the internet, but we still love terrible...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Mario Party 3
Let's roll
We are back with another edition of Box Art Brawl! Are you ready to rank some cover art? Last time, we took a look at 1080° Avalanche for the GameCube, and the results were an absolute blowout. The European / North American design took a staggering win, claiming 80% of the vote and leaving the Japanese variant with the remaining 20%...
Feature The Long & Rainbow Road To 'Mario Kart World', From SNES To Switch 2
Lap 1 - SMK, MK64 & Super Circuit
We're just weeks away from a brand new Mario Kart, and to say we're excited is a sizeable understatement. The Booster Course Pass, which arrived in waves starting in 2022, breathed life into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but the base mechanics beneath are the same MK8 we've been playing since May 2014 on Wii U. Don't get us...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (10th May)
Break out the banjo
Say hello to the weekend folks, because it's here. Before we get into what we're playing, however, let's just recap the week so far. Nintendo released its latest financial data, confirming that it is forecasting a total of 15 million Switch 2 sales within the next fiscal year. It also reconfirmed its upcoming slate of games,...
"Nintendo was very supportive"
When Cyberpunk 2077 first launched back in 2020, it had more than its fair share of issues. Nevertheless, largely thanks to CD Projekt Red's excellent Witcher 3 port, there was a part of us that thought, "Man, it would be great to play this on a Switch one day." This feeling only strengthened as time went on and the...
"How do we make this better?"
Looking back at anything you loved as a kid can bring on a sense of trepidation. Books, films, games - viewed through a modern lens, decades-old efforts may not stand up to scrutiny. Tired tropes and dated dialogue that can come as a smack in our 21st-century chops. Progress is natural — we like to think we're a...
Feature From BOTW To TOTK - How The Switch Helped Me Overcome Mental Illness And Thrive
Dr. Nintendo offered more than pills
May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the US. With Switch 2 drawing near, today Tim shares a personal journey he's been on throughout the Switch generation... If the Switch’s eight-year-long lifecycle has led you to existential 'then and now' thoughts, I’m right there with you. It was my life-changing...
Talking Point With Prices Rising, Are Your Gaming Habits Changing?
Feeling the squeeze
If there’s one thing we can all agree on in 2025, it’s that gaming is becoming a pretty expensive hobby. Not that it was ever ‘cheap’, of course, but recent price hikes have caused quite a stir within the community, perhaps most notably that of Mario Kart World on the upcoming Switch 2. With the physical edition set at...
Opinion Switch 2 Finally Gives Star Wars Outlaws A Second Chance
Hoth Take
It's May 4th, Star Wars Day. Or, as we refer to it at Nintendo Life Towers, Oh-god-Jim's-going-to-bang-on-about-Star-Wars-again Day. Heh, it's true, I am a fiend for all things from a Galaxy Far, Far Away, and, if I'm being honest, that has sometimes meant that I'm a little more keen to see the Light Side than embrace the more realistic...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: 1080° Avalanche
Or 'Silverstorm', if you like
Hello folks, and welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl. Last week, we looked at Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones for the GBA in celebration of its addition to Nintendo Switch Online. Hoo boy, it was a close one too. In the end, North America and Europe triumphed over Japan with 51% of the vote, but really, this...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (April 2025)
Our picks for the top Switch 1 eShop games of April
Ready for better, brighter weather (at least in the northern hemisphere) and eShop Selects? Us too! Admittedly, our eyes are firmly set on the near future. The Nintendo Switch 2 is just over a month away, and that means a whole slew of big, new games are waiting for us. It's safe to say, things...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (3rd May)
Invaders must die
We're another week closer to the Switch 2, folks! We can't almost taste the new cartridges... (bleugh!) Anyway, let's see what's been going on this week. First up, we had the big 20.0.0 update on Switch, which added both Virtual Game Cards and GameShare, along with a few other minor bits and bobs. On a similar topic, it seems more...
Talking Point Will You Be Buying Any Game-Key Card Switch 2 Games?
Oh boycott
The death of physical media has been looming for decades now, essentially since the internet made digital downloads a viable option for purchasing games - or purchasing your licences to play games. While Nintendo got involved relatively quickly (for Nintendo, at least) with WiiWare and Virtual Console digital downloads, there's still...
Opinion Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Best Gameplay Feature Is Straight Out Of Mario's Playbook
QTE in the place to be
If you've been paying any attention whatsoever to upcoming and newly released games of late, you'll no doubt already know all about Sandfall Interactive's stunning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Indeed, this very writer slapped a 10/10 score on the new RPG over at our sister siter Pure Xbox, so yeah, it's quite good, is this...
Talking Point Which Nintendo Series Are You Most Excited To See Return On Switch 2?
Playing favourites
We're on the cusp of a new console generation and naturally thoughts are turning to games we know are coming and games we know must be coming. News flash: Nintendo is making another one of those Mario games. They seem to go down well? So far, only Mario Kart and Donkey Kong have been confirmed for brand new, Switch 2-specific...
Opinion Switch's Secret Best Couch Multiplayer Game Won't Be Playable On Switch 2
Don’t let this gem disappear unloved into the long dark night
After eight years of articles and YouTube content covering the Switch, you might think there are no surprises left to uncover, but I'm here to say that the very best couch multiplayer on the system – a game by Nintendo themselves – was completely missed by seemingly everyone on the...
Poll After One Month, How Often Are You Actually Using 'Nintendo Today'?
Old news?
It has been such a busy few weeks in the world of Nintendo that when asked, "How long has Nintendo Today! been out for?", our answers could range anywhere from three days to three years. In truth, the daily news app launched one month ago today, on 27th March 2025. That means we've had a full 31 days to see the calendar in action, set our...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Tactical decision
Howdy partners! We are back with another edition of Box Art Brawl. Last week, we matched up a duo of delightful designs for Pikmin on GameCube, though the competition wasn't even close. The classic North American / European variant walked away with a commanding win, taking 74% and leaving the colourful Japanese design with the...
Poll GameStop Offers A Tempting Switch 2 Trade-In Deal, But Is It Really Worth It?
Out with the old?
Buying a new console on or close to its launch date (or, in some cases, at any point during its lifespan) can be exceptionally costly. It's often a good option, then, to flog your current-gen console and get a discount off your next hardware purchase, especially if the new one is backwards compatible. In the case of the Switch 2,...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (26th April)
Zero dawn
Can you believe we're now less than 40 days away from the launch of the Switch 2? Gosh, it feels like yesterday we were sat peering at blurry photos of the motherboard, and now here we are. In the meantime, we have some games to play, but let's first recap some of the most interesting stories from this week. First up, it appears that the...
Poll So, Did You Manage To Get A Switch 2 Pre-Order In? (North America)
A pre-orderly fashion
Well, Switch 2 pre-orders are finally live across North America and we're interested in getting a sense of how it's been for Nintendo fans on the ground in the US and Canada. Following a 15-day delay from the planned date, Switch 2 pre-orders went live at retailers across North America at 9pm ET / 12am ET. Europeans have been...
Exclusive Shin'en Talks 'Fast Fusion' On Switch 2, Reveals First-Look Trailer
"This will make your hands sweaty!"
Believe it or not, when the Nintendo Switch first launched back in March 2017, those first couple of months weren't exactly packed to the rafters with new releases. Folks had The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to keep them busy, of course, but beyond that, big tentpole releases seemed few and far between. As...
Opinion Steam Deck Fans Are Seriously Underestimating The Switch 2
And the comparisons are missing one key point
When the Switch launched in 2017, it was in a league of its own. Literally. Shrinking a no-compromise, home console experience into a portable device that could also double as a dedicated home console was an entirely new concept. Overnight, Nintendo had created another of those blue oceans that they so...
Feature 27 GameCube Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch 2 NSO
Born to Play... on Switch 2
Despite somewhat meagre sales when compared to the rest of the Nintendo console line-up (Wii U notwithstanding), the GameCube is widely considered to be one of the very best in terms of its games catalogue. Indeed, several titles from the GameCube – including Metroid Prime, Pikmin, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Pikmin - "A Moment Of Sheer Panic That I Can’t Quite Describe"
I am compelled—I must approach it
Captain's log, stardate 202504.21. Following our last Catch-up Crew mission to Shadow Moses Island, the crew has enjoyed extended shore leave having (re)acquainted ourselves with Metal Gear Solid. Our new assignment takes us to the M-class world of PNF-404. However, ship instruments indicate that we haven't left...
Community Did We Miss A Great Switch Game? Give Us Your Recommendations
The ones that got away
We're approaching a brand new hardware generation, so naturally, it's time to look back and stress about all of those great Switch 1 games we haven't played. Yep, it's time for us to ask you lovely lot to tell us about the Games We Missed. With backwards compatibility coming to the Switch 2, and a whole host of gems on the...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Pikmin (GameCube)
Pik your winner
Hello everyone – welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last time, we looked at Survival Kids for the Game Boy Color in celebration of the new Switch 2 release from publisher Konami. In the end, although North America's variant is certainly nice enough, Europe and Japan won the day confidently with 71% of the vote. This...
Opinion It's Time To Get Rid Of Fall Damage
Free faller
Falling. It hurts, right? We’ve all tripped up over nothing while walking and scraped our knees, or tripped up the stairs and landed face-first. It’s not fun. It’s embarrassing, it's painful, and it stands as a persistent reminder that I am the most clumsy of human beings. There’s a reason we can't jump off of buildings and...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (19th April)
Whatever will we Pik?
You wait six months for a Nintendo Direct and then three come along in a matter of weeks! There's no rest in the world of Nintendo at the moment, and we're excited about it. This week's showcase put Mario Kart World in the spotlight. The presentation didn't have all that much newness to show, but we got a better idea of
Feature The Switch 2 Sticks Might Not Be Hall Effect, But They Feel Fantastic
So smooth
One of the disappointments to come from the recent avalanche of Switch 2 information was the confirmation that the new Joy-Con 2 controllers would not use Hall Effect magnet technology. Of course, it does make sense, in a way, since the Switch 2 is already utilising magnets to attach the Joy-Con to the console, so although it would be...
Gallery These 'Lunar Remastered Collection' Goodies Remind Us Of The Good Old Days
When the moon hits your eye...
At the end of this week, fans of classic turn-based RPGs, charming characters, and a hefty dose of cheesy '90s humour will be celebrating, as the Lunar Remastered Collection launches on Switch (and other platforms). Lunar is one of those series that, if you're in JRPG circles, you've almost definitely heard of, even...
Feature "I Can't Believe This Is Happening" - The Game Kitchen On Reviving Ninja Gaiden
"We had a lot of creative freedom"
After rinsing through Blasphemous 2 in 2023, we immediately turned our attention to the future and began to dream about what a potential third game in the series might look like. How little we knew. Of course, another Blasphemous may still be on the cards at some point, but for now, developer The Game Kitchen has...
Hands On Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound - A Slick, Bloody Return To The Series' 2D Roots
Slice 'n' dice
It’s been a long time since we were last graced with a proper 2D Ninja Gaiden game, so you can imagine our shock when Dotemu revealed Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a brand-new side-scrolling action title from Blasphemous developer The Game Kitchen, currently scheduled to launch in Summer 2025. We recently went hands-on with the game in...
Opinion It's Been 20 Years Since I Was This Excited For A Mario Kart
Double dash it all
It's been a busy couple of weeks in the Nintendoverse, and we're all a bit excited around these parts. Despite some bumps in the road around pricing, if you look past all the noise and the Nintendo-like messaging that can present more questions than it answers, the software looks per-itty good. Sure, for multiplatform gamer
