Guide Best amiibo For Nintendo Switch
Fab-looking figures offering the best bang for your buck
Guide Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - All Ferronis Hulk Locations
How to find every Ferronis Hulk in the game
News Raunchy Rhythm Title 'Massage Freaks' Delayed Indefinitely After Online Backlash
The publisher has not provided a specific reason for the delay
News Nintendo Releases Another Update For Switch (Version 14.1.2), Here Are The Details
The "bad words list" has been updated, again
News - 2022, Week 30
Sunday31st Jul 2022
Poll How Do You Feel About Wave 2 Of The Mario Kart 8 Booster Course Pack?
Kart's content
The second wave of the new Booster Course tracks for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be here next week, and we're feeling hyped to try out some new races (and a little disappointed that some of them look more like Mario Kart Tour tracks than Mario Kart 8 tracks). In the spirit of hype, we're trying to gauge how people are feeling about this...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Is Already Switch eShop's Top Seller, Unsurprisingly
Switch players are "really feeling it"
It's the launch weekend for Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and although there was a lot of demand for the physical versions of the game, it seems plenty of people are still picking up the digital version of the title. For some, these purchases may have even been due to the delays associated with the fancier...
News Nintendo DS Firmware 'Prototype' Reveals System's Unique Boot Up Sound Effect
It even works on "real hardware"
Nintendo preservation website Forest of Illusion has managed to acquire another rare piece of gaming history. It's been able to archive a Japan prototype of the Nintendo DS X4 firmware - recovered from an X4 prototype unit. According to the source, "just about every aspect of this version is different from the final...
News Sega Genesis Mini 2 Stock Expected To Be In Short Supply Locally
Global semiconductor shortages are to blame
If you're hoping to secure a Sega Genesis Mini 2 when it arrives in North America this October, you might want to act fast. This system, loaded with over 50 classic games including Sega CD titles, is expected to be in short supply. Ars Technica reached out to Sega's main office and received confirmation...
News Nightdive Apparently Has "A Few More" FPS Remasters On The Way
According to the studio's CEO
Nightdive Studios has been responsible for some outstanding first-person shooter revivals in recent years and unsurprisingly more are on the way. Studio CEO, Stephen Kick, recently responded to a viral tweet focused on first-person shooters of the '90s - noting how the studio has already remastered four of the games in...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Castlevania: Circle Of The Moon
A grave encounter
Hello folks, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! In last week's edition, Metroid Prime - one of the greatest console games of all time - entered the ring. As we'd predicted, it was a pretty close battle, but Japan's more action-packed (if you can call it that) design just managed to beat out North America and Europe's...
News PowerA Is Releasing Another Zelda Themed Switch Controller (US)
With a "Link Watercolor" finish
PowerA is still releasing themed Nintendo Switch controllers on a regular basis, and the latest one for the US features Link from The Legend of Zelda series. It appears this same themed controller has previously been released across Europe. This design is another 'Enhanced Wireless Controller' titled 'Link...
Saturday30th Jul 2022
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Datamine Might Have Leaked Details About Future DLC Tracks
A possible outline of the next Booster Course waves
Not long after the first wave of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass arrived, an individual known as 'fishguy6564' was able to crack the DLC and apparently work out what Mario Kart game each of the future DLC tracks would be based on. The original upload revealed the Turnip Cup would have...
Feature Backlog Club: Hollow Knight Does Things That Other Games Wouldn't. That's Why It's So Good
A game about bugs?! In this economy????
This article is part of our new experimental series, Backlog Club, where we (Nintendo Life!) pick a game that's likely to be on our list of "games we should get around to playing", and then we (NL + you!) spend the next month playing that game. Read part one of our Hollow Knight playthrough here! This is the...
Feature SEGA's Astonishing GameCube Rebound Following Defeat In The Console Wars
How SEGA turned its fortunes around and made friends with Nintendo
For gamers old enough to remember the turn of the century, the console landscape looked very different from how it does today. Everyone was excited for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo was getting the GameCube ready to succeed the Nintendo 64. Microsoft's Xbox was also in development...
News Former Nintendo Employee Claims He Saved The Company From Repeated "EVO Embarrassment"
Nintendo Minute co-host Kit made sure Smash returned
Nintendo has always worked in mysterious ways, and there was one point in its lifespan when it actively tried to stop a Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament going ahead at the professional fighting event EVO in 2013. It resulted in a lot of negative press for the company at the time and didn't help...
News Taito & M2 Bringing Shmup Collection 'Ray'z Arcade Chronology' To Switch
Update: Localisation & HD Collection confirmed
Update #2 [Sat 30th Jul, 2022 17:15 BST]: ININ Games has confirmed it will release Ray'z Arcade Chronology and also RayStorm x RayCrisis HD Collection on the Switch here in the west. There's no release date just yet and ININ will be handling publishing duties of both games digitally (via Gematsu). The...
Poll Digimon Survive Is Finally Available, Will You Be Getting It?
Go on, tell us
Well, after a long wait it's finally here - no, we're not talking about Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the focus here is instead on Bandai Namco's new Digimon Survive game. After a lengthy development cycle and multiple delays, the game has now been released across multiple systems including the Nintendo Switch. At this point in time, there...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 30th)
Chronicling the weekend
As we reach the end of yet another week in the year 2022, we also sit at the cusp of the eighth month of the year! In the news this week, Nintendo finally unveiled Wave 2 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass. Bandai Namco has asked Digimon Survive fans on social media to not spoil th
News Adventure Academia: The Fractured Continent Locks In A Western Release
"Coming soon" to Switch
Japanese video game developer Acquire - known for series like Akiba's Trip and assisting on projects such as Octopath Traveler, has announced its cute Class of Heroes-themed strategy RPG Adventure Academia: The Fractured Continent will be receiving a local release. It's coming to Switch "soon" thanks to the assistance of...
Friday29th Jul 2022
Guide Xenoblade Chronicles 3 All Heroes And Classes - How To Unlock And Upgrade
Ultimate Team
Warning: There are major spoilers for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 ahead. As you play through Xenoblade Chronicles 3's campaign, take on specific hero and side quests, gather information at colonies and explore the enormous world of Aionios, you'll discover and unlock a bunch of brand new heroes to aid you in your Ouroboros journey. In...
Guide Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - All Ferronis Hulk Locations
How to find every Ferronis Hulk in the game
Whilst travelling throughout Aionios in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, you'll find disused Ferronis Hulks that can be rebooted by charging them up with ether cylinders. It's worth taking the time out to find these rare locations as they provide handy rest spots for fast travel, give you two containers full of...
Guide Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - All Rest Spot Locations
Every rest spot in the game located
Rest Spots in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are locations which can be used as fast travel points, much like any other point of interest or landmark you uncover on the world map. However, rest spots are doubly useful in that they also provide you with access to cooking, upgrading gems, levelling up with your excess XP,...
Climb every mountain
As you explore the world of Aionios in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, you'll very quickly find areas that you can't access for various reasons, such as purple sections of wall you are unable to climb, steep sandbanks that your party can't navigate, rope slides you can't ride or poisonous areas that kill you in short order. In this...
Guide Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Do You Need To Play The Previous Xenoblade Games First?
How much do you need to know before diving into XC3?
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an absolute thrill ride that we reckon is the best entry yet in Monolith Soft's epic franchise. But do you need to be well-versed in the complex lore of the Xenoblade series and should you have played the game's predecessors before jumping into this brand-new adventure?...
Guide Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - All Meal Recipes, Effects & Where To Find Them
Eat before you beat
During your adventures throughout Aionios, you'll need to chow down on some of Manana's phenomenally tasty cooking in order to temporarily make use of the various boons that meals grant you while you're out in the field. Meals in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 gift you boosts to your rate of XP/CP accruement as well as to the amount of...
News The Creator Of Fire Emblem Has Released A Brand New Strategy RPG On Steam
Vestaria Saga II is out now
Shouzou Kaga has a pretty hefty resume under his belt. This is the man who created the Fire Emblem series, after all! Kaga worked with Intelligent Systems from the very first game's inception — Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light — right up until 1999's Fire Emblem: Thracia 776. That's six Fire Emblem...
Guide Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - How To Unlock The Nopon Coin Xchange
The SkillSkills to pay the BillsBills
In Xenoblade Chronicles 3 you'll find Nopon traders dotted all around Aionios, mostly at rest spots and Feronnis Hulk sites. Early on in the game you'll meet SkillSkill, who gives you a long-term quest to find 19 other traders to mark off his list. There's no need to go wild hunting these guys down, you'll...
News Nintendo Launches Huge Switch eShop Multiplayer Sale With Up To 80% Off (North America)
Savings on Super Mario Party, Hyrule Warriors, and more
Nintendo wants us all to enjoy summer with our families, as it's kicked off its next big sale — and it's all about multiplayer games. From now until 7th August at 11:59pm PDT, Switch owners can head on over to the eShop to get huge discounts on multiple games that you can either play with or...
News Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge Lands Physical Release Today
Totally tubular!
After playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge non-stop for the last month, you would think that we would have exhausted our excitement by now, but today's physical release has us itching to buy the game again. Shredder's Revenge is now available in two physical formats: standard and special edition. The former of...
News Zelda-Inspired Turn-Based RPG 'Gale of Windoria' Coming To Switch Next Month
Because you can never have enough dungeons
The turn-based RPG market has really soared on Switch this year and the Zelda-inspired title, Gale of Windoria looks set to capitalise on the genre's success when it releases on August 4th. Apart from that Wind Waker-esque name, the game is rendered in a classical top-down pixel art style that immediately...
Guide Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Collectopaedia Cards - How To Get Affinity And XP Rewards
Playing fetch
The Collectopaedia Card system is a mechanic that becomes available early in the first chapter of Xenoblade Chronicles 3. In this guide we'll take you through the Collectopaedia Card basics, including what they do exactly and how to use them effectively. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Collectopaedia Card Guide: What Are Collectopaedia...
News Say Hello To Time Extension, The Newest Member Of Our Network
If you like classic gaming, you'll love this...
As you'll no doubt be aware, Nintendo Life is just one of three sites we operate here at Hookshot Media. We also operate Push Square and Pure Xbox, but it's been quite some time since we launched an entirely new site – but that changed this week. Say hello to Time Extension, the newest member of the...
Random This Giant Inteleon Plush Is The Most Threatening Pokémon Merch Ever
It's the eyes!
The starter trio for Pokémon Sword & Shield are a pretty unusual bunch. You have Rillaboom, a taiko-drumming gorilla; Cinderace, a soccer-playing bunny; and lastly, Inteleon, a secret agent. Inteleon quickly became a pretty meme-able Pokémon back when the games were released in 2019, but we think it's time to give this lanky...
News Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Minecraft amiibo Launching This September
Take a look at Steve & Alex
Nintendo is still busy producing amiibo for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the next batch as you might recall are Steve and Alex from Mojang's survival, crafting and building game Minecraft. Earlier this year in February, these amiibo were delayed due to "logistics and production" issues, but now
News Watch This Side-By-Side Comparison Of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 2's Returning Courses
Let's-a Go HD!
The much-anticipated Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 2 will be officially racing onto Switch on August 4th. Yesterday's announcement revealed which new tracks will be part of the DLC, showcasing both the classic remasters and an entirely new course, Sky-High Sundae. The re
Video Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Wave 2 DLC Reveal - Here's What We Thought
Arriving on Switch next week
We've been wondering all month when Nintendo was going to reveal the 'Wave 2' DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and it's now finally lifted the lid on the next batch of tracks. For this next wave, we're getting the Turnip Cup and Propeller Cup. That's eight tracks all up, including one new one. Players can expect to race on...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Character Designer Shares Celebratory Illustration
Happy launch day!
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has finally launched on the Nintendo Switch and it seems everyone is in a rather celebratory mood. Despite a surprisingly short period of time from the game's initial announcement to the eventual launch day (made even shorter back in April, if you remember!), fans have understandably been counting down the...
Talking Point What's The Highlight Of Your Game Collection?
The things we'll never trade in
Everyone plays games differently. Some of us buy nothing but digital games, preferring to be able to play whatever we want, wherever we want; others meticulously collect every single physical release they can get their mitts on, before prices skyrocket for a second-hand copy on eBay. But one thing most of us have in...
News Nintendo's Official Magazine For Summer 2022 Gets English Digital Release
Poolside reading anyone?
Nintendo's official magazine is once again gracing our screens, this time with the Summer 2022 edition. And, for the first time since the publication started in 2020, you can read the magazine in English as excerpts have been translated and shared online! This summer's issue sees Kirby take pride of place on the front...
Random Super Mario World Is One Billion Seconds Old Today
One billion candles, then?
We celebrate video game anniversaries all the time here at Nintendo Life. Who doesn't like a birthday or anniversary? Now, we all know Super Mario World is going to be 32 years old in November this year (who remembers playing it when it first came out?), but it's already reached another milestone in digits. Blogger Supper...
News Sky: Children Of Light Promises 'One-Of-A-Kind' Experience With Singer AURORA
Coming Fall 2022
thatgamecompany, the publisher behind Journey, Flower and, more recently, Sky: Children of Light, has announced that it will be collaborating with singer/songwriter AURORA on a project later this year. While the specifics of the project are as yet unknown, thatgamecompany shared a teaser trailer (found above) which makes the most...
News Surprisingly Cute Spider Platformer 'Webbed' Is Super Rare's Next Physical Release
Web developer
Once upon a time, there were two little spiders in love. They span webs together, wiggled their little spider legs, and generally had a nice time. Until one day, a bird came along... and stole one of the spiders away. Now, it's up to the non-eaten spidey to find their lost love, if they haven't been turned into bird doo doo already...
Random Nintendo Got Its Own Question Wrong At An Official Splatoon Quiz
Nintendon't know
Given that the developer of Nintendo's hit multiplayer franchise Splatoon is, uh... Nintendo, you would think that the publisher would know pretty much everything there is to know about it. Well, not quite... As reported by Automaton, Nintendo hosted a Zenkoku Issei Splatoon Quiz (Nationwide Splatoon Quiz) in Japan between July...
News Supply Chain Struggles Reported By Switch Manufacturing Partner
Nintendo has declined to comment
Hosiden Corp, an Osaka-based company responsible for assembling Nintendo Switch consoles, has withdrawn its projected sales forecast for the year and is citing difficulties with the procurement of important components as the reason. Bloomberg reported this withdrawal, which could potentially spell future troubles...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's New DLC Course Is Coming To Mario Kart Tour On Mobile
Play it for free
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe yesterday revealed its second wave of DLC - unveiling another eight courses across two cups. There are seven existing tracks in this next batch and one new one - the sweet-themed course, Sky-High Sundae. If you did miss it in the initial announcement, Nintendo has also confirmed this track will eventually be...
News Analogue Pocket's Major Beta Update Is Live, Here's What's New
Memories! OpenFPGA! SpaceWar!
Analogue's major beta update to its handheld console, the Analogue Pocket, is finally live for users to download, and introduces much anticipated additions to the experience including Memories, Libraries, and openFPGA, Analogue's developer program. Detailed in an announcement post from Analogue itself, the biggest...
Random These Fan-Made Pokémon Bookmarks Will Munch On Your Favourite Novels
I choose you!
It will come as no surprise to find out that here at Nintendo Life we love Pokémon, but like many part-time trainers, we also love a good book. It's often difficult to bridge between these two worlds, but these Pokémon bookmarks from Moko's Makery on Etsy manage to do just that. As flagged on Twitter by @PokemonBeWillin, seeing your...
News Nintendo Announces Return To BitSummit, Will Showcase 7 Indie Titles
Nintendo's booth is back for the first time in three years
Nintendo is always hosting special indie world game presentations, and now, for the first time in three years, its booth will be returning to Japan's largest indie game event 'BitSummit X-Roads' next month from 6th August to 7th August. It will be held in Kyoto City, with the first day a...
News Can You See John Cena In This Official Fortnite Release Trailer?
Yes, you can now see him
Wrestler-turned-actor John Cena is the latest in a long line of famous faces to be given his own Fortnite skin and Epic Games has released an official reveal trailer to mark his reveal. Played like one of Cena's iconic ring entrances, the trailer gives us a first real look at the new skin alongside some new accessories...
News Nintendo Celebrates Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Launch With New Noah & Mio Trailers
Now available
Well, believe it or not - Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is finally being released around the globe on the Nintendo Switch. The reviews are already in, and so far, many are saying it's the highlight of Monolith Soft's RPG series. Here on Nintendo Life, we awarded it 10/10 in our own review - calling it an epic, and emotionally-charged...
Thursday28th Jul 2022
Guide Best amiibo For Nintendo Switch
Fab-looking figures offering the best bang for your buck
So, you've picked yourself or a family member up a new Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED and you're curious about all those little amiibo figures that interact with the games. If you’re new to Switch, it can be tough to know where to start. The full roster of amiibo is daunting...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC - Booster Course Pass Wave 2 Confirmed For Next Week
About time, too!
Nintendo has finally confirmed that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass Wave 2 will be launching on August 4th, 2022. After weeks (or maybe even months) of speculation, we now know exactly which courses will be featured in the next release. These include Kalimari Desert, Waluigi Pinball, Mushroom Gorge, and debut track...
News Outer Wilds On Switch "Is Still Happening"
"We were a bit over-optimistic on the time frame"
In today's Annapurna Interactive Showcase, the developers of the gorgeous, stupidly incredible Outer Wilds said that the game is still coming to Switch. "You did not collectively hallucinate our announcement of Outer Wilds for the Nintendo Switch," said Mobius' spokesperson in the showcase. "It's...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3's Day One Update Is Out Now, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Version 1.1.0 is here
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 launches tomorrow, and before many get their hands on the game, the RPG's day one patch is now available. The changes are reasonably minor and mainly focused on the Expansion Pass and in-game menu accessibility, as well as standard bug fixes, but it ensures keen adventurers will be all set to explore...
News Bandai Namco Asks Digimon Survive Players To Not Spoil The Story For Others
Don't spoil "Chapter 5 onward for the first two months"
We've seen companies like Atlus and Capcom release video guidelines for new games to prevent spoilers from ruining the fun for everyone, and now it's Bandai Namco's turn. The next Digimon game, Digimon Survive, launches this week, and Bandai Namco has released a special message via social media...
News Here's Your First Look At Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's New Course, Sky-High Sundae
Re-freeze after use
Today's long-awaited Mario Kart announcement finally pulled into the pitstop! Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 2 has arrived and brought with it a host of iconic circuits that we have never had to chance to race on Switch. One of the new additions, however, is Sky-High Sundae — an entirely original track that will...
News Cuphead Version 1.3.3 Is Now Available, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
The game receives its first DLC-focused update
A little over two weeks after the release of Cuphead's long-awaited DLC, The Delicious Last Course, Studio MDHR has released a new update focused on the DLC. The patch is mainly to do with bug fixes, though minor updates have also been made to the gameplay in terms of animation and audio. The full...
News Asmodee Pulls eShop Release 'Pandemic' & Ends Switch Online Multiplayer In Catan
Direct hit!
We're used to new content updates for Switch games, but the publisher and developer Asmodee Digital seems to be doing things a little bit differently. In its latest message on social media, it's announced that "online multiplayer" will be disabled in the Switch version of Catan next month on 4th August. This action is described as a...
Random This Fan's Enormous Nintendo Collection Makes All Others Look Tiny
Years in the making
We at Nintendo Life love a good collection, but YouTuber Nintendo Downunder has truly blown us away. In a video uploaded yesterday, the mega fan shows off his collection of Nintendo consoles, games and accessories which is enough to keep even the biggest fan's jaw firmly on the floor for a long time. The video is the creator's...
Japanese Charts Live A Live Sales Come To Life As This Week's Best-Selling Game
The Super Famicom remake tops the charts
The monster has been slain! In this week's Japanese charts — shared by Gematsu and published in Famitsu — Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak has lost the top spot courtesy of a group of people all from different time periods. Live A Live, Square Enix's HD-2D remake of its 1994 cult classic, has stormed into...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3's World Is 'Five Times Larger' Than Predecessor's, Says Monolith Soft
I would walk 500 miles...
Drumming up excitement for a game release is no easy business, but Nintendo and Monolith Soft have made it their mission to release a small amount of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 info almost every day for at least the past few months With the game releasing tomorrow, today's teaser can only be assumed to be the final one — and...
News Nintendo's Squid Research Lab Shows Off Another Brand For Splatoon 3
'Skalop' returns
Splatoon has a lot of detailed lore and in the lead-up to the release of Splatoon 3, Nintendo's Squid Research Lab has been sharing also sorts of details about the Inklings, Octolings, weapons, maps, music and even the brands in the game. In the latest social media update, the lab has officially confirmed the return of 'Skalop'...
News Monolith Soft Made Custom Flutes To Create Xenoblade Chronicles 3's "Unique Sound"
Master crafters
The music of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has rightly gained lots of attention since the game was announced. With a team helmed by legendary JRPG composer Yasunori Mitsuda (of Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, and Chrono Cross fame), and made up of Xenoblade series veterans ACE, Kenji Hiramatsu, and Manami Kiyota, there's no doubt the music will...
Random These Animal Crossing Paper Flowers Are Blooming Marvellous
Their scent may be a little off
If (like us) you have been maintaining your daily dose of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, then these ornamental flower pots could be just for you. Created by Mabel Low (@Papersynthesis), these paper flowers are designed to look just like those that you inevitably spent so much time intricately planning and planting on...
News Capcom's Mega Man Series Has Now Sold 38 Million Units Worldwide
More mega sales
Capcom's blue bomber series Mega Man continues to grow in sales - with the company's latest financial results for the 1st quarter of fiscal year 2022 revealing the franchise has now shifted 38 million units worldwide since its original debut in 1987. As highlighted by the Mega Man news site Rockman-Corner, the franchise grew an...
News You Can Now Play Steam Games Using Your Retro Switch Controllers
Retro is the way forward
Steam received a brand new update yesterday that might interest some of you who own one (or multiple) of the Switch's retro controllers. VGC reports that Valve's digital platform now supports the NES, SNES, N64, and Mega Drive / Genesis controllers. So you can play classics like Glover, multiple Mega Drive games, Chrono...
News Bowser, New Planets Take Centre Stage In Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope Interview
New characters, stages, and weapons!
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is set to release on 20th October, and while that still seems like a long way away, Ubisoft is making sure it doesn't feel light-years away. Today, the developer published a video interview with the game's lead producer, Xavier Manzanares, which gives more details about some of the...
News Jupiter Announces "International Version" Of Its New Picross Game For Switch
Launching in Japan this August
If you can't get enough of Jupiter's Picross titles for the Nintendo Switch, the good news is another one is on the way. Following on from the release of its Sega Picross compilation and various other themed Picross releases over the years, it's now announced Picross X: Picbits vs. Uzboross is getting an international...
Nintendo Download 28th July (North America)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3! Digimon Survive! Strange Horticulture!
The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy! Switch eShop - Highlights: Xenoblade...
News Minecraft Expands Its Square-Shaped World With SpongeBob DLC
Are you ready kids?
After the release of a Lightyear add-on last month, Minecraft is continuing down the entertainment route with their latest SpongeBob SquarePants DLC — and it's now available from the Minecraft Marketplace. The latest addition to the popular block-building franchise allows you to explore Bikini Bottom as a host of characters...
Gallery A Closer Look At Pokémon GO's Gorgeous Trading Card Game Expansion
Including those lovely full art cards
The latest expansion to arrive in the Pokémon Trading Card Game is here, this time celebrating the mega-hit that is Pokémon GO. The Pokémon Company was kind enough to give us a look at some of the products on offer, so we thought it best to share a closer look with you lovely lot, too. This new and special...
Nintendo Download 28th July (Europe)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3! Azure Striker Gunvolt 3! MADiSON!
The latest Nintendo Download update for Europe has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy! Switch Retail eShop - New Releases: MADiSON...
News Blooming Brilliant Floral Deduction Game 'Strange Horticulture' Is Out On Switch Today
Plant evidence
It's hard to say just how good Strange Horticulture is. The pitch on paper seems so specific — an occult puzzle game themed around flowers — that it's hard to imagine how it could be fun to thoroughly examine a plant's leaf shape to make sure that you're not going to accidentally poison a customer. Or... maybe purposefully poison...
Random N64 Cart Album Composer Returns With A Funky GBA Follow-Up
Transport yourself back in time
Remute is back with another unique album release, but this time on a different console. The musician released an album on an N64 cartridge earlier this year, and he's followed this release up with a fantastic-sounding GBA cartridge. Yep, your tiny little Game Boy Micro (or whatever model of GBA, but we're going extra...
News A Full Remake Of Frogware's 'Sherlock Holmes The Awakened' Is In The Works
Cthulhu rises
Developer Frogwares has announced that it is working on a remake of its 2006 adventure game Sherlock Holmes The Awakened, a curious cross-over that sees Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson tackle a series of strange disappearances relating to H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. The project is said to be a 'massive remake...
News Fight Your Exes In Thirsty Suitors, Punch-Kicking Its Way To Nintendo Switch
Scott Pilgrim meets Jet Set Radio
We've been watching with envy as Falcon Age studio Outerloop's vibrant South-Asian narrative game, Thirsty Suitors, has been showing off its gorgeously goofy ex-fighting action RPG through their publisher, Annapurna. We assumed we weren't going to see it on Switch — but how wrong we were, as today's Annapurna...
News From The Makers Of Abzu, 'The Pathless' Flies To Switch This Winter
'Cus it's a game about birds, get it?
Cor, this Annapurna Interactive Showcase today was full of bangers. We're not used to so many Switch announcements! One of those bangers is The Pathless, a gorgeous bird-friend simulator in which you play as The Hunter, an archer who teams up with their eagle companion to attempt to save the world through...
News Pretty Perspective Puzzler 'Maquette' Is Coming To The Nintendo Switch
Wheels within wheels
Dolls houses, Superliminal, Gorogoa, and Disney World. What do you get if you mash them all up? You get one very excited and confused 8-year-old, and you get Maquette, an Annapurna-published game that came out on PC and PlayStation in 2021. The core puzzley concept of Maquette is recursion — you know, things-within-things,...
News Look Forward To Poignant Narrative Game 'Hindsight' This August
TIme to polish up them peepers
Hindsight looks great, but... they really should have released it in 2020, so they could say "Hindsight is 2020", and then everyone would have said "wow" and "that is so clever". Then again, finding out that this heartwrenching game about the past is coming out next week is the next best thing. In the vein of other,...
Wednesday27th Jul 2022
Round Up The Reviews Are In For Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Did everyone really feel it?
It's almost time to dive into the world of Aionios. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 launches this Friday, and reviews for Monolith Soft's massive JRPG dropped yesterday. And it sounds like fans are in for a treat. Many of you will be dodging spoilers following the game leaking online last weekend, but if there's one thing we...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Maintenance Is Due Tomorrow, And Fans Are Speculating
Is Wave 2 coming soon?
Ever since the release of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass: Wave 1 (quite the mouthful, we know) back in March, we have been eagerly awaiting news of when the second wave is likely to drop. While there has been no official word from Nintendo, planned maintenance in the game for tomorrow has got us hopeful. News of...
Review Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 (Switch) - Another Cracking Mega Man Zero-Alike
Capturing lightning in a bottle again
Way back in 2014, Inti Creates—of Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX fame—made waves in the action platforming space when it released Azure Striker Gunvolt, a clear successor to its previous work on the Blue Bomber. Though that initial release was kinda similar to older Mega Man games, this franchise has evolved...
News Nintendo Switch Sports Version 1.2.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
The free summer update has arrived
Nintendo Switch Sports has released its second free update today. Some of the highlights include functionality for the Leg Strap accessory in soccer, new moves in volleyball and some minor adjustments to bowling. 'S Rank' and 'Infinity Rank' have also been added in this update. Here are the full patch notes,...
Video Digital Foundry's Technical Analysis Of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 On Switch
And it's the most impressive Xenoblade yet
If there's one area that the Xenoblade series has struggled with on Switch, it's performance and resolution — especially in handheld mode. But the folks at Digital Foundry have some pleasant news to deliver regarding Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the latest game in the series which releases this Friday...
News There's A Brand New Game Boy Platformer Coming Out This Summer
Pre-orders for Lost Terminal are now available
PixelHeart, the publisher behind Guns of Mercy and Liberated, has announced that its next game is to be compatible with Game Boy systems. Yes, you read that correctly, a brand new game is coming to the Game Boy in 2022. Developed by Maxime Schutz, Lost Terminal is an underworld-set platformer and it...
News Nintendo Switch Sports Adds Matt And Other Returning Mii Opponents To Offline Mode
Return of the Matt
Have you ever been so enraged by the abilities of your CPU Mii opponents in Wii Sports that you wanted nothing more than to engage them in sword combat? Well, today's your lucky day! A button code has been added to Nintendo Switch Sports, and it lets you do just that. Seemingly included in the game's latest update, you can now...
News Designing The Characters For Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Was Apparently 'Hellish'
Monolith Soft devs spill the beans
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is almost out and - according to a whole bunch of media outlets - is a pretty good game. We're often guilty of not sufficiently appreciating the work that goes into creating such a massive title, so it's always fun to get insight from game developers on how they approach aspects like game...
News Nintendo Switch Sports Datamine Uncovers A Bunch Of Upcoming Costumes
Switch Sports: Cyberpunk?
Nintendo just recently released a new update for Nintendo Switch Sports, bringing the game up to version 1.2.0. While the update introduced some welcome additions including Leg Strap functionality for soccer and new moves for volleyball, it seems a whole bunch of future goodies have been hidden away in the backend, ready to...
Random GQ Calls Video Game Patches "Laziness", And People Are Not Impressed
Kids these days, with their patches and their bug fixes
The recent topic of film hot takes has been the news that pulpy Netflix horror show Stranger Things has been retconned in post-release edits, with the directors admitting to tweaking older episodes to keep everything plot-hole free. An article on British GQ tackled the topic by immediately...
News Capcom Reports Incredible Sales For Its Key Franchises
Monster Hunter gains solid ground
Capcom has presented its Q1 financial report for FY2022, highlighting some seriously impressive cumulative sales for its key franchises. Despite reporting a downturn in sales and profits YoY (due in part to the launch of Resident Evil Village during the same period in 2021), Capcom's catalog sales grew steadily...
News 'A Tale Of Paper: Refolded' Is Little Nightmares Meets Paper Mario, Out On Switch This Year
A refolded remaster
After only a very short time, A Tale of Paper is receiving a remaster. Titled A Tale of Paper: Refolded, the game will be releasing on Xbox Series consoles, Xbox One and PC on 19th August, with a Switch eShop (and PS5) release confirmed for later in the year, Gematsu reports. You would be forgiven for forgetting about A Tale of...
News Disney Dreamlight Valley Showcases Its Stardew Valley Inspirations In New Trailer
It's a whole new world
The upcoming free-to-play life sim Disney Dreamlight Valley looks to be a cosy time — even if you are saving the titular location from some kind of evil — and developer Gameloft has shared a brand new trailer for the game which showcases some of those lovely vibes. Our sister site Push Square reported on the trailer...
News Playing Games Probably Won't Make You Feel Worse... Or Better, Says New Oxford Uni Study
Good news! Or bad news? News!!
A study performed by professors and researchers at the University of Oxford has found that playing video games is unlikely to affect the well-being of the player, either positively or negatively. This finding comes after China announced a three-hour-per-week limit to online video gaming for its younger citizens out of...
Random These Classical Art Figurines Are Animal Crossing-Level Trolling
Redd, take notes
Usually, when we report on figurines, the bits of plastic in question have something to do with games. Not so with GoodSmile's latest bouquet of lads, who are all figures from iconic statues and paintings, from the Venus de Milo to The Thinker. What's remarkable about them is the photos. Someone at GoodSmile has clearly had a whale...
News Xbox Remaster 'Toy Soldiers HD' Delayed For The Third Time On Switch
Third time's the charm?
Toy Soldiers HD, an upcoming remaster of the Xbox Live Arcade game, just can't seem to catch a break. After being announced in May 2021 for an August 2021 release, the game was delayed until October of the same year owing to leaderboard issues. The developers said at the time that they were "absolutely positive" th
News Visual Novel Compilation Gets Its First Ever Western Localisation In September
Romance is definitely on the cards
Publisher Idea Factory has announced that Amnesia: Later x Crowd will be launching on Switch on September 20th, 2022, marking the first official western localisation for the visual novel compilation. It'll be joined by Amnesia: Memories on the same day, and fans will be given the option of purchasing both games...
News Streets Of Rage Composer Yuzo Koshiro To Give Special Performance At Kyoto Game Show
BitSummit takes place in early August
Kyoto-based indie game festival BitSummit is celebrating its 10th birthday this year, and in advance of the event taking place on the first weekend of August (6th-7th), they've been announcing some of the acts and appearances that attendees will be able to witness. One of these acts is composer Yuzo Koshiro...
Tuesday26th Jul 2022
Review Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch) - An Epic, Emotionally-Charged Masterpiece
From Here to Eternity
The Xenoblade Chronicles 3 key art promises a hell of a lot. You know the shot, that jaw-dropping vista with its deep blue skies and lush green fields, this time joined by an impossible rock formation looming large on the horizon as the silhouettes of a band of heroes you've yet to meet look on. It's an image that exudes the...
News Nintendo Releases Another Update For Switch (Version 14.1.2), Here Are The Details
The "bad words list" has been updated, again
Following on from a Switch Online mobile app update earlier today, it seems Nintendo has now rolled out another "rebootless" update for Switch firmware Version 14.1.2. Nintendo dataminer OatmealDome has once again revealed what's going on behind the scenes. Keep in mind, that unlike regular updates,...
News Nintendo Has Updated Its Switch Online App To Version 2.2.0, See What's Included
New friend request options, new iOS requirements
Nintendo has released a new update for the Switch Online mobile application, designed for use with Android and iOS devices. There's no mention of stability improvements or anything like that, but there have been some noticeable improvements to friend request features. Users can now send friend quests...
News Super Smash Bros. Composer Kenichi Okuma Has Passed Away, Aged 56
Sakurai offers his condolences
There's some incredibly sad news coming out of the Super Smash Bros. community today, with the unfortunate announcement on Twitter that composer Kenichi Okuma has passed away at the age of 56. Okuma passed away last week on 22nd July after a battle with esophageal cancer. He was best known as the composer and arranger...
Watch This 90-Minute Deep Dive Into Two Of The Most Underrated Zeldas Is Well Worth The Time
No, it's not Triforce Heroes and that Tingle spin-off
Everyone's got an opinion on The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. But the real cool nerds are the ones that have opinions on Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, the pair of Wind Waker sequels that used every single mechanic on the DS to great effect. To put it another way, Phantom Hourglass and...
Feature Dynamax Ain’t That Bad - Pokemon’s Recent Battle Mechanics Ranked
VGC pro Wolfe Glick talks Mega Evolutions, Z-Moves, and Dynamax
From Generation III onward, Game Freak has altered Pokémon’s core battle mechanics in some way or another. Double Battles and the Physical/Special move split fundamentally changed the way people play Pokémon both casually and competitively, but it’s the latter three — Mega...
News Disney Wants Its New Kart Racer To Provide A "Fair" Free-To-Play Experience
You won't have to pay-to-win, apparently
If you're a fan of the kart racing genre, you've probably already got your eye on Gameloft's upcoming free-to-play title Disney Speedstorm, coming to Switch and multiple other platforms later this year. If you are concerned about the pay-to-win elements, there's apparently no need to worry. Speaking to...
News No, Monster Hunter Paradise Probably Isn't The Title Of The Next Entry
"Discord leak" was just a placeholder
Capcom released Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak at the end of last month, and while it's got a full roadmap planned for this new DLC, over the weekend there were reports of the 'Monster Hunter 6' title and platforms leaking on Discord. Following on from the Capcom leaks in 2020 (making mention of Monster Hunter...
News New Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Fashion Merch Revealed
My merch is my power!
SuperGroupies, the Japanese fashion brand known for its official anime and gaming-inspired merchandise, has revealed a new range of items inspired by the world of Kingdom Hearts to celebrate the franchise's 20th anniversary. (Thanks, GoNintendo!) Taking influence from Sora, Riku, Kairi, Roxas, Axel, Xion, Ventus, Aqua and...
News Ecco The Dolphin Devs Are Offering Money To Anyone Who Can Beat Them In Their New Game
And it only costs $2 to buy!
Starship combat game Space War Arena is looking for new players at any cost. Well, almost any cost. Specifically, $100, which will be given to any players who can beat the developers at the game. Space War Arena is made by the original Ecco the Dolphin team, but has yet to meet the same level of cult appreciation. "So,...
News Fangamer's New Hades Merch Includes A Zagreus Switch Controller And Fancy Art
Hell yeah
[Update: Tue 26th Jul, 2022 19:00 BST] Fangamer's new Hades merch line is now live, which means we can have a look at what's on offer. We've got: Cerberus plush — $32 Dusa talking plush (see below for examples) --$32 Underworld triptych print set — $179 Hades character pins (Zagreus, Megaera, Thanatos, Nyx) — $10 each, $18 for...
News "Cozy Indie RPG" Bound By Blades Is Bringing Crafting And Combat To Switch
A boss rush game for people who find boss rush games too hard
A new RPG is coming to the Nintendo Switch, and this one sounds like it might be a little different. Bound By Blades bills itself as "the first cozy boss rush game", and, you know, we honestly can't challenge them on it. Boss rushes don't tend to be the snuggly relaxing kind of game, so...
Video The Unsolved amiibo Dilemma - Boxed Or Unboxed?
Tell us what you do
One burning question that we still haven't got to the bottom of here on Nintendo Life is how to display amiibo figures. Do you keep them in the box or do you take them out of the box and put the model on your shelf. As fantastic as they look in the box, they're arguably better out of it. And if you take them out, you can scan...
News Kirby And The Forgotten Land Developer Shares The Origins Of Mouthful Mode
'Whatever shape he takes, he's still very cute'
Remember when the internet collectively lost its mind over the first images of mouthful mode from Kirby and the Forgotten Land? There was something about seeing everyone's favourite peckish pink puff-ball inhaling a car before proceeding to cruise the streets that seemed to provide a much-needed...
News "Hard-As-Nails" Platformer RITE Is Jumping Onto Switch Soon
Super Celeste Meat
If you finished Celeste with all strawberries and your fingers intact, then you'll be happy to know that another mega-tough platformer is on its way to Switch. It's called RITE, and it stars an adorable little mouse... thing called a Nim, who has to weave his way through axes, saws, spikes, and other obstacles to reach the end of...
News Cozy, Witchy Farming Sim 'Wylde Flowers' Confirms 2022 Release Date
Hardcore cottagecore
The Australian developer Studio Drydock has confirmed that Wylde Flowers, an award-winning, fully-voice-acted life and farming sim with witchy elements, will be coming to the Nintendo Switch later this year. Wylde Flowers is a game that prides itself on the diversity of its cast of characters, and won an Apple Design Award for...
Random Speedrunner Challenges Himself To Beat Nintendogs World Record
Mostly out of spite
Anyone who's ever had a dog knows what a pain it is to try to train a puppy. They're constantly peeing and yelling, and they would much rather chew on all your delicious belongings than learn a bunch of useless commands. As it turns out — according to the Nintendogs speedrun, at least — the answer is twofold: One, give your...
News Fall Guys Event 'Clan Of Yeetus' Starts This Week
Stop, hammer time
Epic Games has announced the next event in its battle royale platformer, Fall Guys, titled 'Clan Of Yeetus'. The event will be starting later on this week and will run from 28th July until 1st August. Rather than introducing new courses, the event will see some of the game's classic routes awash with giant hammers which we are...
Monday25th Jul 2022
News Raunchy Rhythm Title 'Massage Freaks' Delayed Indefinitely After Online Backlash
The publisher has not provided a specific reason for the delay
Just recently, we reported that a rather raunchy rhythm game called Massage Freaks would be making its way to the Nintendo Switch very soon on August 4th. Well, it looks like that won't be happening anymore, as extensive online backlash has resulted in publisher qureate delaying the...
Random Pokémon Artist Reportedly Designed Blaziken To Test Fan Reception
Did you shove it in a PC box?
As the evolved form of one of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire's starter Pokémon, Blaziken has become one of the most well known creatures since the franchise's creation. Apparently, however, long-time Pokémon artist Ken Sugimori designed Blaziken specifically to push the envelope and test whether audiences would accept a...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Has Leaked And Is Fully Playable On The Steam Deck
Oh dear...
Just last week, we reported that it seemed like copies of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 had been spotted out in the wild. Users have posted photos of the game on sites like ResetEra, no doubt prompting many fans to go on blackout in an effort to avoid potential spoilers. Now, it looks like the game has most definitely leaked, with so
Mini Review Severed Steel (Switch) - A Heart-Pounding FPS That Makes You Feel Like John Wick
Get equipped with: Time Stopper
Following movies like The Raid and John Wick, the genre of ‘solo badass fighting endless amounts of enemies’ has skyrocketed in popularity. Almost parallel to that style of film, the genre has also become prevalent in games thanks to the likes of Sifu and Superhot with their intense trial and error gameplay; where...
News Lord Of The Rings: Gollum Has Been Delayed On All Platforms
Switch version could be pushed even further
Back in May, it was announced that The Lord of the Rings: Gollum would be launching on September 1st, 2022. While certainly good news, it was clarified at the time that the Switch version would arrive "later in the year", with no specific release date attached to it. Now, it's been confirmed that the game...
News More Tactics Ogre: Reborn Details Leak Online, Is A Switch Release Coming?
Will Denam's return land on the Switch?
Despite never receiving an official announcement, Tactics Ogre: Reborn has undergone various information leaks since rumours began to circulate back in April. A further leak today from the Playstation Price comparison site, PS Deals, seems to confirm the game's release date as well as showing some new...
UK Charts Live A Live Proves A Hit With Its Western Debut
Remake debuts at No. 6
The latest UK charts are in and it's a solid outing for Square-Enix's RPG remake Live A Live, with the newly released title coming in at number six. Indeed, for long-time fans of the once Japan exclusive SNES game, its presence in the UK top ten might be cause for a few arm pinches just to check we're not dreaming! If you...
News Roller Champions "Isn't Getting Cancelled", Says Ubisoft
Rumours suggested that it was on the way out
[Update: Mon 25th Jul, 2022 20:30 BST] Ubisoft has posted a statement, saying that the game "isn't getting cancelled" and that "Ubisoft fully supports it", with the development team "making sure we focus on what our players have told us needs improvement". The team have said that they will be extending...
News Capcom Showcases Gameplay From Monster Hunter: Rise Title Update
The ferocious 'Lucent Nargacuga' makes its debut
With the launch of the Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak expansion at the end of June, fans of the franchise have hopefully had enough time to really get to grips with the new content and slay a few pesky monsters. With this in mind, Capcom has now shared some footage of what's to come, with the rather...
Random Lucas Pope Jokes About Papers, Please Coming To Consoles In "2031"
The game is coming to mobile in August
Lucas Pope has only released two full-length games — Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn — but across those two games, Pope has roughly ten billion awards. The man is basically buried under BAFTAs and GOTYs, so it's no wonder that it's been a while since we've heard about what's next, other than a...
News The Nintendo Store Is Down For Maintenance For Three Days (UK)
Could it be something to do with Xenoblade's release?
Earlier in the month, we reported on several EU countries losing access to My Nintendo as the site went down for maintenance for "a few weeks". Now, it seems that the UK My Nintendo site has followed suit, although only for three days. Xenoblade fans may once again be suspicious of the timing...
News Sonic Frontiers Will Be Playable For The Public At EGX In September (UK)
Get hands-on with Sonic's latest outing
Sega and ReedPop have announced that the upcoming Sonic Frontiers will be playable for attendees at EGX London in September, ahead of the game's official release later in the year. It will mark the first instance in which the game will be playable for the public in the UK. Previously, media outlets who...
News Kirby And The Forgotten Land Is Now The Most Successful Kirby Game In UK Chart History
Now that's an impressive mouthful
After a stellar release earlier this year, Kirby and the Forgotten Land has now become the most successful game in the Kirby franchise. The report comes courtesy of GamesIndustry.biz head Christopher Dring, who yesterday tweeted of the game's success as based on the number of boxed sales.
News "Bean Bone Update" Adds Among Us To Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator
The first of many crossovers
We hope you haven't eaten much today, because it's time for a word salad: Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator's free "Bean Bone Update" will add delicious Among Us organs to the game. Did you follow all that, or do you feel like you're having a stroke? Allow us to explain: Among Us, the popular social deduction game...
News Funko Pop Teams Up With Ex-LEGO Developers To Make "AAA" Video Games
A plastic dream team
Funko Pop seems to be one of those polarising brands — you either own enough of them to create your own plastic multiverse of your favourite pop culture characters, or you would be more than happy to melt down the parade of dead-eyed figurines that fill the shelves of your local game shops, if arson wasn't "technically" a...
News Let's Get Emotional With This 'Heartfelt' Vocal Track From Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Melancholy melodies
Would it really be a working day here at Nintendo Life without reporting on the release of a new track from the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 soundtrack? We are so close now to the release of Monolith Soft's upcoming sequel on 29th July, but if this date still feels too far away, then boy do we have some tunes for you. The latest...
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