Timeline
Wednesday29th Oct 2025
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A Ranked Battles Season 2 Start Date And Rewards Revealed
What does the Delphox say?
The first Ranked Battles Season is almost at an end in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and The Pokémon Company is wasting no time in teeing up what's around the corner. Ranked Battles Season 2 kicks off on 6th November at 6am UTC and will reward all those that reach Rank K or higher with a Delphoxite Mega Stone — which, as you...
News Award Winning Photo Puzzler 'Viewfinder' Snaps Up December Switch Release Date
For reel
Ever since Viewfinder was first announced for Switch earlier this summer, we've been eager to find out how the award-winning photo puzzle game would hold up on the Nintendo hybrid. Well, today we learned that we don't have long to wait. Thunderful and Sad Owl Games have announced that Viewfinder will arrive on the Switch eShop on 3rd...
Review Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (Switch 2) - Rounds Out The Erdrick Trilogy In Style
Erdrick of the tale
After its initial announcement of the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Square Enix took a few years before it shared any further significant information on the project, which led some at the time to wonder if it had been cancelled or was facing development issues behind the scenes. When the company finally broke the silence and...
News Survival Horror 'The Florist' Looks Like Classic Resident Evil In All The Right Ways
Well, except one
Capcom doesn't seem to be in any rush to put its classic Resident Evil games on the Switch or Switch 2. And when we say 'classic', we're primarily talking about the original PS1 trilogy, maybe Code: Veronica, Outbreak, Survivor, etc... With that in mind, developer Unclear Games is looking to fill the gap with
News Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Soundtrack Is Scoring A Gorgeous Vinyl Release Next Year
B-Sidon
Well this is music to our ears! Nintendo has announced that it's teaming up with Laced Records to give the Breath of the Wild soundtrack the vinyl treatment next year in two stunning collections. We'll start with the biggie. A 130-track 8 LP box set is now available to pre-order from both Laced Audio and the My Nintendo Store for £145 /...
News Monster Hunter Wilds Sales Hit The Brakes So Hard Last Quarter, Even 'Rise' Outsold It
Rise and shine
Capcom has today shared its latest financial results for Q2 of FY2025/26, and the software sales numbers have left us rubbing our eyes and pulling a double take — is that the four-year-old Monster Hunter Rise putting up more new sales than Monster Hunter Wilds? The answer is yes, yes it is. As noted by our friends over at
News The Binding Of Isaac Is Heading To Switch 2 With A Full Physical Release
Repent!
Publisher Nicalis and developer Edmund McMillan have announced that The Binding of Isaac: Repentance+ will be heading to the Switch 2 in Q1 2026. The release will boast the full game alongside key expansions and improvements, plus full cooperative play via online connection. If that's not enough, Repentance+ will also benefit from a full...
News Rune Factory 4 Director Hopes To Bring His Next Farming Sim To Consoles
Live on Kickstarter now
Rune Factory 4 director Shinichi Manabe is currently hard at work creating a new farming sim alongside writer Takanori Tsuji, and it's now live on Kickstarter. Farnia Village is currently eyeing a release on Steam, but Manabe-san also states that a console release may be on the cards at some point in the future: "The game...
News Two Classic Donkey Kong Icons May Soon Join Bananza As Unlockable Figures
They're back! Sort of...
Eagle-eyed Donkey Kong Bananza fans have spotted an advertisement for the game's next event, and it sounds like the rewards will be quite familiar to those who played Donkey Kong 64 back in the day. Yes, as spotted by X user @upachan64 (thanks, Gaming Reinvented), both Lanky Kong and Chunky Kong appear to be entering the...
News The First Review For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Is In
An epic RPG adventure awaits, Hero
It's an incredibly exciting week for old school RPG fans, with Square Enix releasing Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake on the Switch, Switch 2 and multiple other platforms. This reimagined package comes loaded with not only the trademark HD-2D visuals, but also new features, new locations and new story content...
News SpongeBob's New Game Joins In On The Halloween Fun With A Ghostly Switch 2 Demo
Here's a teaser...
There was recently news about the upcoming release SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide getting a demo on select platforms, and ahead of Halloween, it's now officially available on the Switch 2 eShop. You'll apparently be able to access the first levels of the game as SpongeBob and Patrick, and also some new abilities...
News Microsoft On Its Gaming Business Going Forward: "We Want To Be Everywhere"
"Gaming's competition is not other gaming"
Last month, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer reiterated how Xbox would support Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 players going forward, and now the tech giant's Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella has chimed in. Speaking to TBPN recently about this "shifting" business model, Nadella mentioned how the company wants to...
News Super Mario 3D All-Stars Updated To Version 1.1.4, Improves Gameplay On Switch 2
Download it now
Nintendo has been updating all sorts of first-party titles since the release of the Switch 2 in June, and today it's rolled out an update for its limited-time release, Super Mario 3D All-Stars. According to the official patch notes on Nintendo's support page, Version 1.1.4 addresses "several issues" to improve gameplay on the new...
News YouTube Is Working With Nintendo To Make Its App Available On Switch 2
Update: YouTube says it's still on the way
[Sun 8th Jun, 2025 04:25 BST]: Switch 2 supports existing apps and games, but out of the gate you might experience some issues. If you've been trying to access YouTube on your new Nintendo system you'll receive a notice about how the software is unable to start. In case you're wondering if it will make a...
Tuesday28th Oct 2025
News Vampire Survivors' Latest Free Crossover Will Surely Be Its Most Addictive Yet
Poker face
Remember how much time you have sunk into Vampire Survivors? How about all the hours you've put into Balatro? What if they were... in the same game? Yep, you guessed it, Vampire Survivors is crossing over with Balatro in the new 'Ante Chamber' free expansion. This one arrives on most platforms today, but we'll have to wait a little...
News Vintage Shooter 'Mouse: P.I. For Hire' Blasts Onto Switch 2 In March 2026
Yep, this looks awesome
Developer Fumi Games and publisher PlaySide Studios have announced that the vintage noir FPS title Mouse: P.I. for Hire will be launching on the Switch 2 on 19th March 2026. Utilising the talents of voice actor Troy Baker in the starring role, Mouse showcases stunningly authentic rubber hose animation as you explore a...
News 'Art Of Rally' Dev's Gorgeous Off-Road Follow-Up Drives Onto Switch 2 Next Year
Buckle up
Back in 2021, Funselektor Labs brought us art of rally, a super sweet driving sim that packed an unexpected depth under the hood. Next year, the team will be following it up with over the hill, an equally gorgeous-looking driver that's all about trekking off the beaten path. The really exciting news? It's coming to Switch 2. While art of...
Mini Review Simon The Sorcerer Origins (Switch) - A Faithful Return To A Classic Adventure Series
Simon says spells
If you're an adventure game fan of a certain age, you’ll have a place in your heart for Simon the Sorcerer. Part of the first major wave of point-and-click adventures back in the late '80s and early '90s, Simon offered a goofy British counterpart to Monkey Island’s swashbuckling comedy. The series now returns with a faithfully...
News Tired Of Cosy Cat Games? You'll Think Again When You See This Cute Little Postman
Paws for thought
The Switch eShop is home to its fair share of cosy cat games, but in how many of them is the cat a cute little postie? Do we hear 'gap in the market'? Catto's Post Office is coming to fill that exact niche. This one arrived on Steam back in August, and publisher Cult Games has today announced that it is pouncing onto the eShop on...
News Bandai Namco Is Looking To Revamp 'Shadow Labyrinth' In An Upcoming Update
Difficulty levels and better checkpoints in the works
Shadow Labyrinth is a pretty good game; we should know, we gave it a 7/10 in our review. But many folks have, understandably, criticised it for its often punishing difficulty and stingy checkpoint system. So, to address this, Bandai Namco has announced update 1.1.0, an upcoming patch that looks...
Some Wild Hearts
Acclaimed indie developer Simogo is celebrating its 15th birthday today, but it feels like we're the one getting presents. Fans of the Swedish studio are going to be thrilled with the projects the team has revealed, so buckle up. First up (thanks, VGC!) are Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes and
Back Page I Was The Louvre Heist Thief, But I Was Just Trying To Steal Their 3DSes
C'est tout un gros malentendu!
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...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Is Confident Mario Will Be Around For "A Long Time To Come"
"It’s a given that Super Mario will constantly evolve"
It's incredible to think how much Super Mario has evolved since those early days back in the '80s. Starting as a simple, albeit incredibly intuitive 2D platformer, Mario has since developed the ability to fly, shoot water from F.L.U.D.D, traverse the literal depths of space, and transform...
Guide Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment: All Playable Characters & How To Unlock Them
Choose your fighter(s)!
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is finally here, we've played and completed it, and can now relax and revel in the knowledge that is the game's full roster of playable pugilists. So, in order to help our fellow Moblin-smashing pals out, we've put together the following guide to all playable fighters in Age of...
PSA You Might Need To Free Up Some Space For Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment
It's a beast
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is just around the corner, launching on the Switch 2 on 6th November 2025. It's yet another arrow in the console's quiver, but if you're considering purchasing a digital copy next week, then you might want to take a look at how much storage you have remaining and consider making some room...
Review Once Upon A Katamari (Switch) – A Roll-'Em-Up Revival Done Right
A star is born
The core gameplay conceit of the Katamari series — rolling up everything you see into a giant ball of wriggling debris, one object at a time — almost feels like it shouldn’t work. Yet Once Upon a Katamari manages to turn mess into something meditative, pulling you into a satisfyingly tactile flow state where hoovering stuff up...
Rumour Sonic Prime Studio Reportedly Working On Crash Bandicoot Animation For Netflix
Crash might be back
Crash Bandicoot has been revitalised over the past decade, and there are now reports Netflix has greenlit a new animated series. According to What's on Netflix, this new series will apparently be created by WildBrain Studios, the same team behind Sonic Prime. Sonic's show had a three-season run, with 23 episodes in total between...
Poll So, Will You Be Getting Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment?
Out on Switch 2 next week
Switch 2 has got off to a strong start with heavy hitters like Mario Kart, Donkey Kong and more recently Pokémon. Next up, it's Zelda's turn in the brand new release Hyrule Warriors: Age of
News 3D Fighting Series 'Battle Arena Toshinden' Is Getting Revived For Modern Platforms
Including ports of the first three games
We've got some exciting news for fighting game fans this week. Edia is teaming up with Takara Tomy to revive the 3D fighting game series Battle Arena Toshinden on modern platforms. This includes Battle Arena Toshinden (1995), Battle Arena Toshinden 2 (1995), and
News Nintendo Updates Its Music App With Another DS Soundtrack
Welcome back, New Super Mario Bros.
The Switch Online mobile app Nintendo Music has been updated with another Super Mario-themed soundtrack. This time, it's the New Super Mario Bros. album from the DS generation. This platformer was originally released in 2006, and the update today features "all tracks" from this title. This includes 60 tracks in...
News Boo! Mario's Halloween Switch Online Icons Are Now Available
Get 'em while you can
We're officially in the spooky season, and apart from an eShop sale, it appears Nintendo will also be offering some Halloween icons. These icons will be made available on 28th October, and you'll need to have a Switch Online membership to redeem them. As you can see, there's Mario dressed up as a pumpkin, and the rest of the...
Monday27th Oct 2025
Reminder Room For More Pokémon? A New Horizons Series Arrives On iPlayer Today
From Z-A and beyond
Not content with only releasing a new mainline game and tickets to the upcoming pop-up store in October, The Pokémon Company is bringing even more monster-catching content to the UK in the coming weeks with a new series of the Pokémon Horizons anime. Part one of the third season, subtitled 'Rising Hope', will arrive on BBC...
News Level-5 Flexes Its Upcoming Titles In New Anniversary Art
More games teased for the future
Level-5 is celebrating its 27th anniversary tomorrow (28th October), and to mark the occasion, company president Akihiro Hino has shared a sweet piece of new birthday art. The illustration packs in characters from Layton, Inazuma Eleven, DECAPOLICE, Fantasy Life and even Holy Horror Mansion — about which we still...
News Two Point Museum Goes Wild With The 'Zooseum' DLC Expansion This Winter
Rawr
Two Point Museum is just about to launch on the Switch 2, and to celebrate, Sega has announced another new DLC expansion scheduled to launch this winter. Dubbed 'Zooseum', it's essentially, well... a zoo. It's a brand new location that will no doubt introduce a smorgasbord of interesting creatures to care for as you look to expand your...
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A Scored US' Biggest Physical Game Launch Since TOTK
Link cable
Pokémon Legends: Z-A might not have flown off the shelves quite as fast as its series predecessors around the world, but that's not to say that its launch has been anything to scoff at. In fact, it has put up the US' biggest physical game launch in over two years. That's according to Circana's Mat Piscatella on Bluesky, who noted that...
News Takaya Imamura's Comment On Super Mario Odyssey's 8th Anniversary Makes Us Feel Very Old
"It's unbelievable"
Eight years ago today, a little game called Super Mario Odyssey launched on the Nintendo Switch. We've said so much over the years about this incredible entry from Nintendo, we won't go over it all again here. But a recent post from ex-Nintendo developer Takaya Imamura caught our eye and we simply felt compelled to highlight it,...
News EA Staff Are Reportedly Less Than Happy With Their Much-Hyped AI "Helpers"
EA's internal chatbot, ReefGPT, is making life harder, not easier
Despite the negative press and questions surrounding the ethical use of training data, Generative AI is making a significant impact on game development, with many of the industry's major players now utilising the technology to help create and enhan
Review Two Point Museum (Switch 2) - Probably The Best Game In The Series, But No Mouse Mode?
It belongs in a museum
Universities and hospitals: they’re well-known money spinners (assuming you ignore socialised healthcare) and make perfect sense for a management sim. What doesn’t strike me as such a lucrative institution is a museum. I went to a lot of them as a child specifically because it was a cheap day out, and as I rocket closer...
News "Go Tell Nintendo" - Ex-Blizzard President Responds After Xbox Calls Exclusives "Antiquated"
"Nintendo has continually dominated with outstanding games"
Xbox has been making headlines recently with the news that Halo: Campaign Evolved would be making its way to the PS5 in addition to Xbox Series X|S. Halo had always seemed like the last bastion of exclusivity for Microsoft's platform, and now that it's going multi-platform in 2026, it...
News Team Zombie Gobbles Up A Win In Splatoon 3's Splatoween Splatfest
Monster mash
Nintendo has announced that the next seasonal Splatfest is right around the corner, with Splatoon 3's Splatoween event returning next month. Running from 25th-26th October (depending on your region), this event will see the return of the monster-based teams, with us all once again having to decide between Team Zombie, Skeleton, and...
"It took time for us to convey the concept clearly to Retro"
Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective launches this month, and it includes plenty of insight into how Retro Studios and Nintendo worked together on the famous trilogy, as recounted by series producer Kensuke Tanabe. As spotted by our friends over at
UK Charts Pokémon Legends: Z-A Is The Smallest Retail Launch Since 'Let's Go!' In Europe
Sales roughly 28% lower than Arceus
We're back with another look at the UK boxed charts and, surprising no one, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has maintained its lead in the second week, with original Switch sales now starting to outpace Switch 2. Heck, with 150 million+ consoles out in the wild, we expected nothing less. However, according to Chris Dring...
Sunday26th Oct 2025
Opinion One Year On, Every Positive 'Pokémon TCG Pocket' Update Still Comes With A Catch
A flip-flopping Magikarp
About a year ago, I reviewed Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket here at Nintendo Life, awarding it a respectable 7/10, largely because collecting ‘mons from that initial set of packs felt kinetic and exciting. Sure, there was far too much monetisation in the form of multiple different currencies, and the battles lacked a...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Interest-Ing
Hello hello, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last time, we looked at Hey You, Pikachu! for the N64, and although neither version was particularly popular, it was the North American version that won the day with 61% of the vote. This week, we're back with the Metroid franchise with Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, the...
News Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted Has Been Updated, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Another patch is on the way
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted launched for the Switch and Switch 2 this week, and PopCap has already rolled out some updates. These patches will be arriving on both platforms soon. First up, is Patch 1.2. Here are all the changes for this patch, including updates to graphics, the Vs Mode, gameplay, audio and more. Here's...
Saturday25th Oct 2025
News Fire Emblem Shadows Gets A Free Update Adding New Story, Map And More
Play through 'Book 2 episodes 1-4' today
In case you missed it, Nintendo shadow-dropped the new mobile game Fire Emblem Shadows in September. If you haven't given this free-to-play title a go just yet, now might be the time to take a look. A new story "and more" has been added in a free update. Book 2 - Wolf Brother adds episodes 1-4. You can...
Book Review Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective - Stunning Art, Though Lacking Context
The real logbook
It often feels like Metroid fans are starved for new goodies these days; doubly so for fans of Retro Studios’ Prime series. Yet just over a month before the highly anticipated fourth mainline entry for Switch and Switch 2, you can get your hands on an absolutely stunning hardback art book from Piggyback covering the first three...
Guide Best Pokémon Games Of All Time
Where does Legends: Z-A rank?
Updated with Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest mainline entry. Enjoy! Ranking the best Pokémon games is no easy feat given that many of them are considered among the best games of their particular hardware generation. Then you have to consider just how many spin-off Pokémon games have come out over the last 30 years...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (25th October)
Baller
Hello folks, and welcome to that wondrous occasion commonly known as 'The Weekend'. Before we dive into what we're playing, let's quickly recap this week. First up, Masahiro Sakurai presented another hour-long Direct for Kirby Air Riders, and it was a doozy. We've compiled all the major announcements in one place, so be sure to check it out...
News Sakurai Confirms Day One Update For Kirby Air Riders On Switch 2
Launching this November
Although there are no current plans for Kirby Air Riders DLC, during the recent broadcast, game director Masahiro Sakurai has confirmed there will be a day one update. Yes, like many other games nowadays, this patch will apparently be adding some of the "things" discussed during the latest broadcast. Masahiro Sakurai:...
