Latest Features
-
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (May 2025)
Our favourite Switch 1 eShop games released in May
The summer is here, the Switch 2 is almost here, and that means it's eShop Selects time for May. This is our very last Switch 1 edition of our monthly feature — but don't worry, things aren't changing with the release of a new console. You'll still be getting your monthly dose of eShop hidden...
-
Feature Farewell, Nintendo Switch - It's Finally Time To Bid Our Old Friend 'Adieu'
Don't think twice, it's all right
It's time to say goodbye. Well, not really. The massively popular Switch will live on in a way few other Nintendo consoles have done thanks to backwards compatibility, a host of free upgrades to existing games, and a Switch 2 form factor that keeps everything about the previous console. As generational jumps go, it...
-
Poll Box Art Brawl: Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes (Dreamcast)
I wanna take you for a riiiiide ♫
Hello folks, and welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl! So last time, to celebrate its addition to Nintendo Switch Online, we looked at Kirby's Star Stacker for the Game Boy. Gosh, just how many Kirby games are there..? Crikey. Anyway, the western design really struck a chord with folks, so North...
-
Feature The Long & Rainbow Road To 'Mario Kart World' Part 4 - Victory Lap
Encore - MK Tour, Live: Home Circuit, and more
Last week, we wrapped up our overview of all the main Mario Karts ahead of Mario Kart World's launch next week(!). However, outside of those occasionally numbered mainline karters, there's another small selection of games tied to the series, directly or otherwise. So, to finish up properly, we thought...
-
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (31st May)
So long, Switch 1
It's finally upon us, the last weekend before Switch 2. We have one last chance to throw our backlogs a concerned look before a line-up of launch games gets added to the pile, so let's go out with one last hurrah, shall we? You'd think that this week would have been a little 'quiet before the storm' vibes, but there's actually...
-
"It is a very firmly anti-AI sort of game"
I first caught wind of Date Everything! last year, when an animated trailer showcased a dating sim unlike anything I'd ever seen. What do you mean a humanoid fridge, grand piano, and front door can woo me? And, more pressingly, how are they all so hot? As it turns out, that title is both an invitation and...
-
Poll With One Week To Go, What Are Your Switch 2 Launch-Day Plans?
Seven days
We're exactly one week away from the launch of Nintendo's next console. As you might expect on a site called Nintendo Life, we're quite excited for that new hardware smell. With global pre-order shenanigans going on since the 2nd April reveal, everyone's had plenty of time to budget, make decisions, and plan out exactly how they want to...
-
Feature "The Yoyo Was Special" - Finding The GBA Magic In 'Pipistrello And The Cursed Yoyo'
Scoot over, Ness
We've had our eyes on this long-lost GBA-looking adventure ever since we first discovered it at Gamescom back in 2024. The combat, movement, and visuals instantly reminded us of the handheld Zelda entries, but instead of a sword, the main protagonist uses a yoyo to dispatch foes and solve loads of puzzles. You've also got a spunky,...
-
Opinion Splatoon Brought Me Back To Online Multiplayer, But Octo Valley Shines Brightest
It's basically good in all possible ways
Back in 2015, which is apparently 10 years go now, the shooter genre was packed full of heavy-hitting, very serious, macho video games about firing bullets into people. This was the year, after all, that brought us Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (one of the best ones) and the incredibly shiny Star Wars...
-
Feature Donkey Kong Country 'Mine Cart Madness' Helped Me Face My Fear Of Roller Coasters
I guess you could say I "yearn for the mines" now
I’m absolutely terrified of roller coasters. The lack of control you have, the speed, high heights, twists and turns - all this makes for something I’ve never been able to convince myself is worth the thrill. It was easy to get over my fear of flying in aeroplanes as there’s always something...
-
Opinion Upgraded For Switch 2, ARMS Deserves A Second Shot At Greatness
Stretching it?
With the release date of the Switch 2 now so close I can barely sit still on the toilet, I've been having a little wonder to myself about what stuff, besides that new console smell and a brand new Mario Kart game, has got me most excited for my latest child's arrival. That's right, my consoles are my children. Stay off my property...
-
Opinion Not Enough People Are Talking About This Early GOTY Contender
Centennial masterpiece
Warning: This article delves into spoiler territory for The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy. If you've yet to play the game and want to go in blind, we recommend you come back at another time... I’m not a fan of tactical RPGs… is what I would have told you before I played The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy...
-
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Kirby's Star Stacker (Game Boy)
Kirb your enthusiasm
We are back, back, back with another edition of Box Art Brawl! It was a biggie last time, with a pair of F-Zero X covers facing off against each other. That's not to say it was a close-fought competition, mind you. The character-focused Japanese cover walked away with a comfortable win, taking 84% of the vote and leaving...
-
Feature Limited Run Talks Switch 2 Game-Key Cards, Huge Carts & Difficult Pitches
No plans for Game-Key Cards "on titles where we are the manufacturer and publisher"
Raidou Remastered CE isn’t a standard, numbered Limited Run Games release, but we were still surprised to see that the Switch 2 Collector’s Edition they're offering retails for a whopping $249.99 USD and doesn't include a full game on a cartridge. This edition...
-
Gallery An Intimate Look Inside Nintendo's Latest Theme Park - Universal Epic Universe
Lots of Kong, but still needs more Dixie
Now that multiple Nintendo theme parks have been built (with potentially more coming down the road), it's likely on the minds of many whether they should save up the large amount of funds to make a trip out for this. While we can't make that decision for you, we've written in the past about the overall...
-
Feature The Long & Rainbow Road To 'Mario Kart World' Part 3 - Final Lap
MK7, MK8, Deluxe & DLC
And we're back, once again, on the road to Mario Kart World - and we're in the final stretch. On the two previous laps we've looked at every console Mario Kart game from the Super NES up to the Wii. For this final go-round, we're looking at two console entries which span a massive 14-year period. MK8 got some significant...
-
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (24th May)
Ready..? Fight!
Well folks, the weekend is finally here... Wait, what do you mean it only feels like yesterday when we did our last What Are You Playing? Yeah... time flies, huh? The Switch 2 will be here before you know it! Anyway, this week saw the release of four new titles for the Game Boy app on Nintendo Switch Online, which is awesome. We...
-
Feature Universal Won't Say Anything About A Zelda Theme Park, But They Don't Have To
Let's use the Lens of Truth
He's waiting for his chance We were fortunate enough to have spent the past few days at Epic Universe, a brand-new Universal theme park located in Orlando, Florida. There’s no surprise that Super Nintendo World is the portion that had our full attention, and we’re happy to report it does a wonderful job transporting...
-
"I'm an absolutist when it comes to preservation"
As far as the 'Average Joe' on the high street is concerned, the physical games market is practically dead and buried right now. Store shelves are emptier than ever, the usually reliable supermarket chains often no longer stock them, and we're rapidly heading into a future in which the majority of...
-
First Impressions We've Played Three SEGA Games On Switch 2
Yakuza 0! RAIDOU Remastered! Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S!
Sega has positioned itself as a staunch early er of the Switch 2, offering up three key titles on day one and three more to follow later on. While we've yet to experience the full lineup, Sega invited us to check out a trio of launch-period titles in what marked our first extended experience...
-
Talking Point The Switch 2 Pre-Order Situation Sucks, But Can Nintendo Do Anything About It?
503sier said than done
We're a little over two weeks out from the launch of a new console and after eight years of Switch 1, there are plenty of Nintendo fans eager to get going with the next generation. If retailer website chaos is any indicator, demand for the next Switch has been very strong and Nintendo will be encouraged to see the enthusiasm...
-
Feature 'Tales Of Tuscany' Dev's Goal Is To "Let Players Do Whatever They Want"
"It doesn't take itself too seriously... the inspiration is basically my life"
At PAX East, we had a chance to sit down with the lively Nico Papalia and Top Hat Studios - developer of Athenian Rhapsody, and its newly-announced prequel, Tales of Tuscany (releasing on “whatever you play games on,” including Switch, in 2026). We wanted to learn a...
-
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: F-Zero X
X-treme
Hello folks, we're back with another edition of Box Art Brawl! Right, first of all, what happened last time..? Oh yes, we looked at Mario Party 3 for the N64! Heh, this wasn't even remotely close, with Japan's variant winning the day with 84% of the vote. North America managed 13%, with Europe lagging behind with a mere 3%. This week,...
-
Feature The Long & Rainbow Road To 'Mario Kart World' Part 2 - Second Lap
Double Dash, DS, Wii
And we're back for another lap of Mario Kart history as we slipstream our way to the chequered flag and Mario Kart World on 5th June. Having looked back at the first three instalments in Mario's karting chronicles, today we're accelerating on to the GameCube, DS, and two-duct-taped-GameCubes entries, as the series went online...
-
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (17th May)
What's that coming over the hill?
Howdy partners! It's time for another good old natter about our weekend gaming plans. Before we dive into what we're all up to, however, let's look back on the week's highlights. There were a couple of big Switch 2 drops as Nintendo revealed the console's final tech specs, announced what we can expect from its free...
-
Opinion I Hope Trails In The Sky 1st Chapter Doesn't Make A 'Big' Remake Mistake
Bigger isn't always better
Of all the RPGs I love, the Trails series is probably the one I have the hardest time recommending. A mix of platform availability, game length, and sheer number of titles is enough to scare anyone away, and even when someone does get into the series, there’s the inevitable onslaught of questions as they try and navigate...
-
Talking Point Are You Ghosting Switch 1 To Save Yourself For Switch 2?
The best is yet to come
2nd April 2025 will go down as a big day in Nintendo history for a lot of reasons. For one, it was when Nintendo finally lifted the lid on Switch 2, showcasing the console, its games and the all-important price and release date. It was also when, for some of us, our Switch 1 playtime tanked. The new console may have ignited...
-
Talking Point How Can The Next Animal Crossing Improve Crafting?
Tools of the trade
If you happen to live in the UK, then you’ll know that the weather this week has been pretty glorious – mostly. So, as I was out on one of my evening walks with the dog, I gazed out toward the horizon as the sun was setting. Crepuscular rays pierced through the clouds and trees, butterflies erratically flip-flopped around my...
-
Feature 7 Switch Games We Played At PAX East 2025 - Here's What We Thought
Plenty of new Switch (2) offerings
PAX East 2025 just finished up this past weekend, and Nintendo Life was there sampling lots of juicy Switch releases. Yes, there's plenty to look forward to with the old Switch, even as the new Switch looms in the distance. So we're sharing our hands-on impressions of some of the games we had a chance to...
-
Talking Point Are You Excited At All For Switch 2 GameChat?
Student lounge around
It's been nearly six weeks since the Switch 2 Direct, and we're now only three-and-a-half more away from the system's launch. Overall, we were pretty impressed with the hour-long presentation Nintendo assembled to officially pull back the curtain at the start of April. Yes, some mixed messaging and unanswered questions could...
-
Video Switch 2's Mouse Controls Are Nothing New For Nintendo
A mousehold name
Nintendo’s Switch 2 has been accused of not being especially revolutionary, which is mostly fair. It’s more of an evolution of a concept that works rather than a vast departure, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of ideas. The big kahuna of new additions in my eyes is the mouse controls, allowing for a veritable...
-
Opinion Nintendo's Forgotten The Game With The Most 'Switch 2 Edition' Potential
It should be the first Pik
We all assumed that Nintendo would pull some re-release magic with the Switch 2, giving us a chance to play our favourite titles again, only this time at a slightly higher resolution and perhaps with some quality of life improvements thrown in to boot. It was a no brainer given that Sony did exactly that with the PS5 and...
-
Back Page Mario Kart World's Roster Is Full Of Deep Cuts, So Where Are These Guys?
All around me are familiar faces
In the magazine business, the Back Page is where you'd find all the weird goofs that we couldn't fit in anywhere else. Some may call it "filler"; we prefer "a whole page to make terrible jokes that are tangentially related to the content of the mag". We don't have pages on the internet, but we still love terrible...
-
Poll Box Art Brawl: Mario Party 3
Let's roll
We are back with another edition of Box Art Brawl! Are you ready to rank some cover art? Last time, we took a look at 1080° Avalanche for the GameCube, and the results were an absolute blowout. The European / North American design took a staggering win, claiming 80% of the vote and leaving the Japanese variant with the remaining 20%...
-
Feature The Long & Rainbow Road To 'Mario Kart World', From SNES To Switch 2
Lap 1 - SMK, MK64 & Super Circuit
We're just weeks away from a brand new Mario Kart, and to say we're excited is a sizeable understatement. The Booster Course , which arrived in waves starting in 2022, breathed life into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but the base mechanics beneath are the same MK8 we've been playing since May 2014 on Wii U. Don't get us...
-
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (10th May)
Break out the banjo
Say hello to the weekend folks, because it's here. Before we get into what we're playing, however, let's just recap the week so far. Nintendo released its latest financial data, confirming that it is forecasting a total of 15 million Switch 2 sales within the next fiscal year. It also reconfirmed its slate of games,...
-
"Nintendo was very ive"
When Cyberpunk 2077 first launched back in 2020, it had more than its fair share of issues. Nevertheless, largely thanks to CD Projekt Red's excellent Witcher 3 port, there was a part of us that thought, "Man, it would be great to play this on a Switch one day." This feeling only strengthened as time went on and the...
-
"How do we make this better?"
Looking back at anything you loved as a kid can bring on a sense of trepidation. Books, films, games - viewed through a modern lens, decades-old efforts may not stand up to scrutiny. Tired tropes and dated dialogue that can come as a smack in our 21st-century chops. Progress is natural — we like to think we're a...
-
Feature From BOTW To TOTK - How The Switch Helped Me Overcome Mental Illness And Thrive
Dr. Nintendo offered more than pills
May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the US. With Switch 2 drawing near, today Tim shares a personal journey he's been on throughout the Switch generation... If the Switch’s eight-year-long lifecycle has led you to existential 'then and now' thoughts, I’m right there with you. It was my life-changing...
-
Talking Point With Prices Rising, Are Your Gaming Habits Changing?
Feeling the squeeze
If there’s one thing we can all agree on in 2025, it’s that gaming is becoming a pretty expensive hobby. Not that it was ever ‘cheap’, of course, but recent price hikes have caused quite a stir within the community, perhaps most notably that of Mario Kart World on the Switch 2. With the physical edition set at...
-
Opinion Switch 2 Finally Gives Star Wars Outlaws A Second Chance
Hoth Take
It's May 4th, Star Wars Day. Or, as we refer to it at Nintendo Life Towers, Oh-god-Jim's-going-to-bang-on-about-Star-Wars-again Day. Heh, it's true, I am a fiend for all things from a Galaxy Far, Far Away, and, if I'm being honest, that has sometimes meant that I'm a little more keen to see the Light Side than embrace the more realistic...
-
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: 1080° Avalanche
Or 'Silverstorm', if you like
Hello folks, and welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl. Last week, we looked at Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones for the GBA in celebration of its addition to Nintendo Switch Online. Hoo boy, it was a close one too. In the end, North America and Europe triumphed over Japan with 51% of the vote, but really, this...
-
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (April 2025)
Our picks for the top Switch 1 eShop games of April
Ready for better, brighter weather (at least in the northern hemisphere) and eShop Selects? Us too! ittedly, our eyes are firmly set on the near future. The Nintendo Switch 2 is just over a month away, and that means a whole slew of big, new games are waiting for us. It's safe to say, things...
-
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (3rd May)
Invaders must die
We're another week closer to the Switch 2, folks! We can't almost taste the new cartridges... (bleugh!) Anyway, let's see what's been going on this week. First up, we had the big 20.0.0 update on Switch, which added both Virtual Game Cards and GameShare, along with a few other minor bits and bobs. On a similar topic, it seems more...
-
Editorial Gamers, The People And Sites You Love, Before It's Too Late
Forever
Well, we've come to the end of a week that's seen the end of two gaming institutions as we've known them for many years. The departure of Dan Ryckert and Jeff Grubb from Giant Bomb on Thursday was swiftly followed by news of layoffs at Polygon following the site's sale to Valnet (owner of Screen Rant). Seeing these top-tier creators and
-
Talking Point Will You Be Buying Any Game-Key Card Switch 2 Games?
Oh boycott
The death of physical media has been looming for decades now, essentially since the internet made digital s a viable option for purchasing games - or purchasing your licences to play games. While Nintendo got involved relatively quickly (for Nintendo, at least) with WiiWare and Virtual Console digital s, there's still...
-
Opinion Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Best Gameplay Feature Is Straight Out Of Mario's Playbook
QTE in the place to be
If you've been paying any attention whatsoever to and newly released games of late, you'll no doubt already know all about Sandfall Interactive's stunning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Indeed, this very writer slapped a 10/10 score on the new RPG over at our sister siter Pure Xbox, so yeah, it's quite good, is this...
-
Talking Point Which Nintendo Series Are You Most Excited To See Return On Switch 2?
Playing favourites
We're on the cusp of a new console generation and naturally thoughts are turning to games we know are coming and games we know must be coming. News flash: Nintendo is making another one of those Mario games. They seem to go down well? So far, only Mario Kart and Donkey Kong have been confirmed for brand new, Switch 2-specific...
-
Opinion Switch's Secret Best Couch Multiplayer Game Won't Be Playable On Switch 2
Don’t let this gem disappear unloved into the long dark night
After eight years of articles and YouTube content covering the Switch, you might think there are no surprises left to uncover, but I'm here to say that the very best couch multiplayer on the system – a game by Nintendo themselves – was completely missed by seemingly everyone on the...
-
Poll After One Month, How Often Are You Actually Using 'Nintendo Today'?
Old news?
It has been such a busy few weeks in the world of Nintendo that when asked, "How long has Nintendo Today! been out for?", our answers could range anywhere from three days to three years. In truth, the daily news app launched one month ago today, on 27th March 2025. That means we've had a full 31 days to see the calendar in action, set our...
