Umbrius

After months away, I finally returned to Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE last week and saw it through to the end. I’m so glad I did. The truth revealed in the final chapters was earth-shattering and left me feeling wistful and a little heartbroken. Yuma and Shinigami ended up meaning more to me than I expected, and their farewell has stayed with me in that quiet way certain game endings do.

After closing the book (of death) on such a big, twist-filled mystery, I’ve found myself drawn to shorter, more self-contained experiences for a little while. I started Neva on Friday night and made it through the second chapter of Summer and the first major boss fight. It was an adrenaline-pumping encounter, epic in both scope and setting. I love the way Neva juxtaposes elemental enormity with relational intimacy. Somehow it manages to feel both vast and personal at the same time.

Alongside Neva, I continue to dip into Hello Kitty Island Adventure for my sim fix and Donkey Kong Bananza for my platforming fix. Both have been great companions as I shift gears between heavier narrative moments.

Once I finish Neva, I’ll likely move on to a couple of other short palate cleansers before starting my next longer game. I’m really looking forward to settling into Sea of Stars. A classics-inspired turn-based RPG with gorgeous pixel art feels perfect for the Christmas season.

Happy gaming, everyone!

After a few days in Miami Beach last week, I found myself picking up Donkey Kong Bananza for the first time in months. (I reached the Divide.) I knew that I had synced with the kaleidoscopic, frenetic vibe of Miami when Bananza suddenly felt like the perfect game again. Something about the city’s neon energy made Kong’s chaotic momentum feel just right. As I had hoped.

Since I cleared Hogwarts Legacy a week or so ago and opened up a spot in my narrative-driven rotation, I also dove back into Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE. I originally paused it after 40 hours when the enhanced Switch 2 edition of Hogwarts arrived in June, and it feels good to be back in Kanai Ward, solving mysteries under the eternal drizzle. (And, boy, had I missed the delightful banter between the unhinged, morbid Shinigami and the sweet, sincere Yuma Kokohead!) I really do believe in making a concerted effort to finish the games I start, even if I return to them after months-long hiatuses.

I guess you could say Miami helpfully jolted me back into two neon adventures I had abandoned.

This weekend, I’ll be bouncing between Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Donkey Kong Bananza, and RAIN CODE. A colorful little trio for late November.

Happy gaming, everyone!

@Ganner Thank you so much for the kind words. I felt that same pang of regret near the end of Hogwarts Legacy. It really captures that classic Potter feeling of not wanting the school year to end. And its reminder that our capacity for emotional pain is tied to our capacity for joy, and that certain kinds of suffering (like grief) are legitimate because they come from love, resonated with me at this particular point in my life.

I also reread the Harry Potter books for the first time in about twenty years while playing, and the two experiences enhanced each other in the best way. Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts. It added something special to closing out my playthrough.

This weekend feels like a turning point in my gaming year. I finally closed the book on my playthrough of Hogwarts Legacy, ending at 96% completion and 145 hours. It was the right place to stop. I didn’t want to burn out on a world I had come to love so deeply. And Professor Weasley’s “well done, indeed” upon reviewing my Field Guide progress was all the validation I needed. A marvelous journey, start to finish. Here’s hoping for the eventual release of the planned sequel on Switch 2 in the not-too-distant future.

In happier surprises, Hello Kitty Island Adventure dropped its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade without warning, and I bought the $9.99 upgrade instantly. The game looks noticeably crisper and runs more smoothly on the newer hardware, even if the occasional stutter still intrudes. Mostly I’m thrilled that the Hello Kitty rug in Dear Daniel’s apartment has finally stopped flickering in and out of the astral plane. A blessing.

I’m heading to Miami Beach for the next several days, so my gaming will match the setting. I plan to revisit Donkey Kong Bananza and give it another chance, now that I’m in the right mindset for something tropical and energetic. The same thing happened with me and Super Mario Odyssey years ago. I bounced off at first, came back later, realized how brilliant it was, and chased down every Power Moon in sight (and not in sight). I’m hoping Bananza will click in the same way.

Happy gaming, everyone!

@rgbobs Oh my gosh, thank you for informing me that Tiny Lands 2 has released! Tiny Lands is a game that my family and I love to play collectively on the big screen at holiday gatherings. (You don’t even have to pick up a controller to play! Even Mom and Dad tend to join in.) With Thanksgiving just around the corner in the U.S., this will be perfect!

This weekend, I’m deep in the endgame of Hogwarts Legacy, sitting at 91% completion and torn between the urge to see it through and the reluctance to let go. I keep telling myself I’ll wrap up the main story and move on, yet I find myself wandering the castle corridors at midnight, still pausing to marvel at the lighting, still chasing down stray Field Guide Pages and Collection Chests like they’re Horcruxes of my own lost time. It’s rare for a game world to feel this hard to leave.

Alongside the spellwork, Hello Kitty Island Adventure continues to charm me in that soft, serotonin way, easily my favorite life sim at the moment. After the latest Animal Crossing update announcement I tried revisiting my island… but nothing stirred. Maybe the Switch 2 edition and related updates will change that. For now, though, it’s Hello Kitty who holds the crown in the cozy realm.

And in physical-collection news, ANTONBLAST and Monument Valley: The Trilogy both arrived this week, hot on the heels of Pizza Tower. Wario-esque mayhem and meditative minimalism, two extremes of handheld bliss, ready for their turn when I finally put down my wand.

Happy gaming, everyone!

A bit of a breather from Little Nightmares this week (I needed to escape the Maw’s clutches for a spell), but I dove back into Hogwarts Legacy in a major way — currently sitting at 83% completion and hoping to wrap up my journey soon. That’s where my focus lies this weekend. For whatever reason, that is the world that’s calling me. And after the week I’ve had pushing myself beyond the limits of my comfort zone, immersing myself in that enchanted landscape feels like just the medicine I need.

Also picked up a few carted treasures: Bye Sweet Carole (Don Bluth vibes galore!) and, in an unexpected stroke of luck, pre-owned copies of A Hat in Time and Sayonara Wild Hearts during some GameStop hunts. A good week for magical worlds and physical finds.

Wishing everyone a great weekend of gaming — or whatever else brings you contentment.

Most of my efforts this week have focused on Little Nightmares: Complete Edition (Switch 1 cart, played on Switch 2). I’ve now made it several chapters in — just left the Kitchen and caught my first glimpse of the massive vessel whose grim bowels I’ve been crawling through.

I play only at night — to heighten the atmosphere, of course — but I do prefer to have my husband beside me on the couch. Things get especially unnerving when he inevitably nods off, though, leaving me to face the Maw’s horrors alone. Still, I’m hoping to finish the game this weekend… depending on just how frightening it gets.

Also picked up Pizza Tower physically for Switch. It’s already tucked into the backlog like pepperoni inside a calzone.

Wishing you all a great weekend!

Just wanted to thank the reviewer for a fair and well-considered write-up. I have the physical version preordered and am still very much looking forward to experiencing Bye Sweet Carole for myself — especially now with my expectations thoughtfully adjusted.

Though I’ve long enjoyed horror films, this season marks my inaugural foray into the world of horror video games — and it’s already clear that the interactivity makes everything that much more frightening and immersive. (I think I always knew that, which is probably why I stayed away as long as I did!) I’m currently playing through Little Nightmares (on Switch, naturally!), and it’s been the perfect eerie, atmospheric entry point. Here’s hoping Bye Sweet Carole builds on that momentum with its own storybook sense of dread.

I thought I was done.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World had been conquered — 100% completion, credits rolled. I even said, rather publicly, that I was ready to move on.

But something kept tugging at me. Not just a vague feeling, but a very real one: the treasury wasn’t complete. And somehow, that mattered more than I expected. I couldn’t leave this magical world with its final secrets still locked away.

As the days passed, I found myself slipping back in — collecting the remaining unlockables, listening to just one more track, discovering new paths in early levels I thought I’d exhausted. Before I knew it, I was sitting at 104% and debating whether to take on the final, final boss for the coveted 106%.

Larger adventures like Hogwarts Legacy didn’t quite make sense this week — not with so many urgent tasks vying for attention as I prepare to launch my private psychotherapy practice next week. But Nikoderiko? Somehow, it did. It’s the kind of game that lends itself to focused, bite-sized sessions.

I also picked up Little Nightmares III (Switch 1), though I won’t be diving in just yet. I have yet to play through Little Nightmares: Complete Edition (!), but I plan to do so before October is up. It’s satisfying to have the trilogy physically on Switch.

And in a sweet little turn, my husband’s former boss (a buttoned-up, no-nonsense type) recently reached out (through my husband) for Switch game recommendations after buying a Lite on impulse. His first pick? Breath of the Wild, naturally — and I have to admit, I felt a tiny pang of pride seeing it pop up on my friends list. The evangelism continues.

Edit: Nikoderiko’s big baddie Baron Grimbald went down for the second and final time this morning. 106% achieved.

@AgentGuapo Guilty as charged. But the collector and the enthusiast in me are both louder than the critic — especially where Dragon Quest is concerned. And believe me, I’ve cycled through all five stages of grief when it comes to Game-Key Cards. Denial, anger, bargaining… I’ve been there. But at some point, you have to face the tide: they’re here, and they’re not going anywhere. That said, I’m not picking them up reflexively. I only go for a Game-Key Card if the game is either action-oriented — where technical enhancements genuinely improve playability — or if it belongs to a series I hold especially dear, like Dragon Quest. Case in point: I’m getting Little Nightmares III on Switch 1, not Switch 2. Format decisions like these are always considered and deliberate, not kneejerk.

Such a stacked month! Planning to pick up Little Nightmares III (Switch), Bye Sweet Carole, Once Upon a Katamari, and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (Switch for physical preservation, Switch 2 for technical enhancements). Waiting for the physical release of Yooka-Replaylee on Dec. 18, but, honestly, playing that game over Christmas sounds absolutely perfect.

@Yalloo Oh wow, that’s wild — I hadn’t realized the “final” final battle doesn’t even get you all the way to 106%! I was teetering on the edge of chasing it down, but that might be the push I needed to call it here. Honestly, I did have a great time, but only because I treated 100% completion as the finish line. Any more than that and I might’ve burned out. Sorry to hear it left you cold — it really is a strange mix of charm and steel. Curious what you moved on to afterward?

I finally hit 100% completion in Nikoderiko: The Magical World – Director’s Cut, after nabbing the very last collectible — a cursed “O” tile in the Secret World level Frost Flight (if you know, you know). That single tile was the last thing standing between me and a full clear. I nearly lost my sanity — hand cramping, soul fraying — but then came the perfect run. And with it, the joy of a clean, complete save file. I know The Final Battle unlocks 106% and a secret ending, but I haven’t decided if I’m chasing that particular dragon just yet. Savoring the summit for now.

Don’t let the plush aesthetic fool you: Nikoderiko may look like a breezy romp, but it hides a steel core. There’s real precision platforming beneath the whimsy — and if you go for full completion, prepare to sweat.

In other news, I caved and double-dipped on PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC for Switch 2. Last week I swore I couldn’t justify the Game-Key Card… and then bought it anyway. I’m finding that if the Switch 2 version offers meaningful enhancements — especially in action-heavy genres — I might just bite. But it’s not just action games that tempt me: if a new entry in a beloved series comes out in that format — even if it’s turn-based — I might still go for it. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is one such title. I need to preserve it cart-complete in my library, where it’ll nestle next to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, but I also don’t want to miss out on the Switch 2’s rendering of those dazzling HD-2D graphics. It’s a compromise, yes — but one I’m increasingly willing to make for the titles that matter most.

Also picked up Marsupilami: Hoobadventure (I needed my next colorful 2D fix!) and the Super Mario Galaxy + Galaxy 2 physical bundle. Yes, I already own them on Wii. But this set immortalizes two of the greatest platformers ever made in a modern, hyper-polished form. A must-have, if you ask me.

So that’s me this week: celebrating a major completion and pondering the ethics of double-dipping — all while eyeing a slightly quieter release window ahead.

It’s been a rich week of exploration in Hogwarts Legacy on Switch 2. I completed the Second Trial and am now preparing for the Third. Bagged my first thestral and wrapped up “The Man Behind the Moons” — which has, predictably, turned me into a door-unlocking fiend across the Highlands. Sitting at 76% overall completion and loving every minute of it.

On the platforming side, I’m closing in on the end of Nikoderiko: The Magical World – Director’s Cut (currently 83% complete and deep within the Cobring Base). The difficulty has ramped up, but this vibrant, classically inspired technicolor adventure continues to charm. I even grabbed a physical copy of Marsupilami: Hoobadventure, which may be the last true DKC-like I haven’t yet played — well, unless you count the still-unfinished Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair lurking in my backlog…

Meanwhile, over in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, major milestone: Dear Daniel, Mimmy, Ruby, and Baku are now official residents. My Sweet Piano (I can’t with that name) has just parachuted into Friendship Island, so the wooing resumes.

Collecting note: I picked up PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC for Nintendo Switch. I originally wanted the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, but couldn’t justify the Game-Key Card format. Since I already own PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC for Switch, I’ve decided that a rule of format continuity applies — when a series begins in physical form on Nintendo Switch in my library, it stays there.

Wishing everyone a magical weekend in their own corners of the gaming world!

This weekend, I’m diving back into Hogwarts Legacy and pushing past a big milestone: I’ve just crossed 75% overall completion and am about to embark on the Second Trial.

A highlight of the last stretch was learning my first Unforgivable Curse — Crucio. I’ll admit, a delicious shiver runs down my spine every time I hear my character, Thalen Thorne (a handsome and scholarly Ravenclaw), whisper the forbidden incantation. There’s something transgressive and intoxicating about wielding magic that the game itself warns you away from.

I’m also taking my time to savor the world before the late-game rush sets in: finishing side quests, upgrading gear, and clearing out some of the castle’s more obscure secrets. I want to be well-prepared when the story crescendos.

Over on Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Dear Daniel (such a heartthrob!) has finally taken up residence on the island, and I can sense other dominos are about to fall. The recent Wheatflour Wonderland DLC seems to have introduced a few bugs into the main game — here’s hoping for a hotfix soon so the island can keep running smoothly!

And in collecting news, I added a physical copy of Eternights to my shelf this week — a satisfying addition to my ever-growing Switch library.

Happy gaming, everyone!

I continue to be fully drawn into Hogwarts Legacy on Switch 2, though my focus lately has shifted more toward slow, intentional exploration than story progression. I’ve reached the cusp of the Second Trial and hit 70% overall completion, thanks to a lot of wandering off the beaten path. The Highlands are rich with secrets, and I’ve been savoring every hidden nook and forgotten ruin.

The shift into autumn has breathed new life into my cozy gaming habits. In Hello Kitty Island Adventure, I’ve redoubled my efforts to woo visitors into becoming permanent residents. Dear Daniel is nearly ready to clinch at 4 stars, while Mimmy, Baku, Berry, and Ruby remain interested but elusive. One day, they’ll all unpack their suitcases. I believe.

Meanwhile, the Scholastic Celebration event has been a tiny joy. Collecting pencil boxes — chock full of those marshmallow-like erasers that never actually erased anything but only ever created giant smears all over your homework — has tapped directly into something nostalgic.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and playful weekend in their respective worlds.

This weekend, I’m fully immersed in Hogwarts Legacy on Switch 2. I had put down the Switch 1 version after about 7 hours due to its subpar (but still commendable) graphical presentation, which made it difficult to stay engaged. On Switch 2, the experience is crisp, smooth, and finally a joy to explore.

For my platforming fix, I’m splitting time between Nikoderiko: The Magical World – Director’s Cut (running much better on Switch 2, even without a patch) and Super Mario 3D World, which I’m aiming to 100% by replaying every stage with each character. I’m currently in World Castle, eyeing Champion’s Road with a mix of awe and quiet terror.

A fellow poster also reminded me to revisit Hello Kitty Island Adventure, where I’m still hoping to convince all my friends to settle down on my island for good.

Also, I had a dream last night that I played Hollow Knight for the first time. It was challenging, but I loved it. Maybe that’s a sign.

Hope everyone’s gaming weekend is treating them well!

A release date for Coffee Talk Tokyo would be appreciated.

@jolteon23 Think Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. What pairs better with increasingly sunny days and rising temperatures than a snow cone? 🥶

Been loving this game (in some ways, the ultimate “cozy game”), and I’m looking forward to exploring an even bigger world!

Just wanted to say how much I appreciated this piece. I’m a licensed therapist, and I’ve been through my own struggles with anxiety and depression — and honestly, the Switch played a bigger role in my healing than I ever expected. Its library was a source of comfort, connection, and even purpose during a really hard stretch. In contrast to the dominant narrative that games cause or worsen mental health issues, my experience — like yours — shows just how powerfully they can support healing. Thanks for sharing your story so openly. It really matters.

I’m looking forward to receiving my pre-order for the standard physical edition of Neva on Friday! Awesome publisher.

Great to see the retail physical release of The Messenger make the chart. I picked up a copy myself over the weekend.

As much as I long for a new entry in the Donkey Kong Country series, I had a marvelous time journeying to 100% in DKCR HD over the last several weeks.

Awesome news! Been waiting for these two to make their way to the Valley. Disney Dreamlight Valley is the gift that keeps on giving. I may stray from it at times, but I always come back home to the Valley — even when I think I’m well and truly “over it.” A perennial, casual favorite.

Merry Christmas to the Nintendo Life staff and community! This site, for me, is the home of joy on the Internet, and I’m so grateful for its existence. Happy gaming and cheers to a fun-filled 2025!

NAIAD… finally!

Been waiting for this news!

I'm guessing another paid expansion is incoming, just in time for the holidays. And I still haven't completed the first one, A Rift in Time.

In every presentation of the game thus far, it always looked like it needed A LOT of refinement.

What was wrong with the title of the game? I rather like it.

Looking forward to receiving my physical copy of COCOON. What a game, it blew me away. What’s another week and change?

Could not be more excited for this title, probably my most anticipated game of the latter half of 2024. Now playing through Dragon Quest XI on Switch (my first Dragon Quest) as I continue to fall more deeply in love with the RPG genre as a whole.

Big thanks to Nintendo and Mario (Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door) for helping me build my confidence as a player of turn-based RPGs.

Nintendo Switch sales juggernaut TOO BIG TO RIG!

I just want more news about the recently announced MMPR project.

Have now invested 165 hours in this wonderful game (breeding all of the flowers was an entire game unto itself, and, boy, what an undertaking), and just recently returned to it after a hiatus that began last Christmas. The above-described fixes and updates come at the perfect time. Of course, Skies of Azoria would have brought a great many players back to the game, so it all makes sense. So glad they are taking such care with this gem of a title.

Take my money!

@CazSonOfCaz Ha, should have said that’s what clinched me.

They had me at synthwave.

Would be more than happy with HD remakes of the original DKC trilogy if a brand-new DKC or 3D entry isn't in the cards.

Thanks for the tantalizing review! Switch's already excellent catalog of puzzle games keeps getting richer.

Please let it include an update for the Switch home screen icon, which unfortunately represents nothing of the game’s beautiful visuals.

Oh, yes. Insta-buy.

Booted up Princess Peach: Showtime! again this afternoon after finishing the main campaign a week or two ago. Great game! Fun to relive all the big dramatic stage moments! Peach has got legs!

@-wc- So funny, I have been wracking my brain to come up with a pithy name for this specific visual style — observable in games such as Ori and the Will of the Wisps, The Last Campfire, OMNO, and now Astor: Blade of the Monolith — but “hooded robot with a magic sword in Utah” will do just fine.

@Ballyglunin Was looking for this comment. Wylde Flowers is stupendous, a definite cozy staple.

Will buy on 70% discount down the road.

Why do I detest working IRL while at the same time exhibiting a mania for task completion in my gaming life? (Pulls out own hair)

Gonna wait for a physical edition, but this is one I want to pick up for sure!

@species8472 Love the Voyager reference