Latest Features
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th July)
Unbullievabull!
Can you believe we're basically in the middle of July already? Madness... Well anyway, days of the year be damned, it's time to play some games. It's been a relatively quiet one this week, arguably boosted by the strange and ominous 'Emio' trailer posted by Nintendo, indicating that the company may be dipping its toes back into the...
Feature Legendary Starfy 101 - A Brief History Of TOSE's Adorable Platforming Star
Now playable on Nintendo Switch
With all three GBA Starfy games — which were originally released only in Japan — now available to play on Switch with a Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription, we're updating and republishing this brief introduction to the little star which originally went live a whopping 15 years ago. Enjoy! Since...
Talking Point The Switch eShop Could Be Great With These Few Tweaks
Get with the times
If you head onto the Switch eShop now, chances are you probably won’t have a good time. Unless you go into it knowing what you want to buy ahead of time, the significant slowdown and copious shovelware making up the majority of the ‘Recent Releases’ section will likely be enough to scare you off long before you discover...
Feature Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Lands On Switch Today In A Port Two Years In The Making
Smoke me a kipper
Originally launching nearly five years after Ace Combat: Infinity and four years after the 3DS release Assault Horizon Legacy+, 2019's Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown was the first game in the mainline series for over a decade and brought the series back to Strangereal, the franchise's fictionalised Earth stand-in. Now, five years...
Feature Nintendo Switch Sports Basketball - A Slam Dunk Or A Missed Shot?
Sixth man
It's been almost two years since Nintendo Switch Sports' last major update with the addition of Golf. The patch left us feeling decidedly "whelmed" — it was a nice add-on, but nothing special after having played Wii Sports and its Resort follow-up. With Basketball, the latest sport to join the roster, we expected more of the same. And,...
Soapbox Has Nintendo Set A Precedent That 'Switch 2' Can't Hope To Match?
The highest of bars
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Gavin ponders what 'success' looks like for systems with impossibly popular predecessors... Looking back at Nintendo's home console hardware sales over the past four decades,...
Feature TMNT: Splintered Fate Dev Talks Crafting A Radical Roguelike And How Hades "Opened Our Eyes"
Divine inspiration
TMNT fans were eating well back in 2023. Shredder's Revenge landed a totally tubular DLC, Mutant Mayhem was one of the franchise's best films in decades, and completely out of the blue Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate popped out of its shell on Apple Arcade. This roguelike from developer Super Evil Megacorp took the...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects & Readers' Choice (June 2024)
Our picks for the best eShop games in May
We're now well into July, which means it's time to look back and survey the last month's worth of Switch eShop releases and pick our favourite. It was a relatively quiet month on the Switch front, with Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD being the big new physical releases, although the...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Urban Champion
Urban brawl..?
Hello there! Welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we dive into this week's content, let's see how things panned out last time. We looked at DK: King of Swing for the Game Boy Advance in what turned out to be a pretty solid contest. In the end, Europe took home the trophy with 50% of the vote. North America settled...
Soapbox How Does Your Personality Affect Your Gaming?
Personality, passion, profession, play
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Nathan considers how his analytical mind and love of data influence his recreation time... I’m the oldest of four brothers. Over the past four years...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th July)
To hell with it
The working week is over and it's time to settle in for the weekend. Welcome back to another edition of What Are You Playing! What's been going on in the world of Nintendo recently, then? Well, we got a boatload of NSO drops as Nintendo served up a whopping seven additions to the NES library including Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Urban...
Feature Where Does 'Echoes Of Wisdom' Fit In The Zelda Timeline? Here Are 3 Theories
Let's do the timeline again
Much to our shame, it took approximately 30 seconds of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom reveal trailer for us to start thinking about the dreaded timeline. In the weeks since, we'd wager that a similar thought has appeared in the minds of most Zelda fans out there. Whether that was a happy thought or an "Oh god,...
Feature "It Is Both Exciting And A Bit Terrifying" - Nightdive Studios On Reviving 'The Thing'
"We were working on getting the rights to this game for several years"
2002's The Thing is widely regarded as one of the best horror games based on an existing media franchise. Many licensed horror games are sadly relegated to genres that require a specific setup, such as asymmetrical multiplayer or short VR experiences, but The Thing — a...
Talking Point What Games Are You Nervous To Replay In Case They Don't Hold Up?
Past masters
We often use the word 'evergreen' to describe a game which never gets old. Despite the passage of time, there's a stratum of untouchables that still feel as vital in the hands as the day they were released. Personal preferences and nostalgia will always, always come into play, but games like Super Mario Bros. 3 or Super Mario World?...
Feature What Review Score Would You Give Luigi's Mansion 2 HD?
Cleanin' up?
Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is out now, offering fans of the original a new way to experience the game with cleaner visuals, better controls, and strong use of the Switch's motion controls and HD rumble. The wonderful PJ O'Reilly took the game for a spin for our official review and came away feeling pretty impressed, awarding it a score of...
Feature "A New Surprise On Every Page" - How Kids Helped Shape 'The Plucky Squire'
"My son calls it ‘The Plucky Square’”
“It's a new adventure,” is what James Turner, co-director of the absolutely delightful The Plucky Squire, told us when we asked him what it was like to leave Game Freak and The Pokémon Company. Before forming his own game studio, All Possible Futures, with Jonathan Biddle, Turner was most well-known...
Poll What's Your Switch Game Of The Year Of 2024 So Far?
We've hit the halfway point
We're halfway through 2024 already, and you know what that means? It's time to look back at 2024 so far and talk about our favourite games of the year. In 2024, we're entering the twilight years of the Switch, so first-party offerings have been a little more muted for the first six months. But there's still been plenty...
Hands On 'Reggie: The Game' Is A Promising, Gravity-Defying Platformer That Oozes Charm
Note: No relation to NoA's ex-President
Playing around with gravity in platformers isn't anything new; Super Mario Galaxy is a prime example of the concept done right, but Limbo also performed a commendable job during the latter stages of its short campaign. Being able to manipulate gravity throughout an entire game, though? That's a pretty new one...
Poll Box Art Brawl - DK: King Of Swing
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
We are back, back, back with another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we swing into this week's match-up, let's take a look at what went down last time when we looked at two regional covers for Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Despite a duo of swanky designs being on display, it was Europe and North America's dark, moodier cover that...
Feature 54 Switch Ports We'd Love To See Before The Generation's Out
Infinite requests
Since 2017, we've seen a huge number of ports come to Switch, many of which seemed like impossibilities beforehand. Surprises like Doom (2016), which turned up in the system's launch year, and 2019's Witcher 3 showed that while clever optimisation was required, Nintendo's console could deliver perfectly playable and utterly...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (29th June)
M-M-M-Maaaaarioooooo
Right then folks, the weekend's here, which means it's time to shake off the stress accumulated by the working week and settle down for some sweet gaming. In the world of Nintendo, this week saw the launch of Luigi's Mansion 2 HD for the Switch; a game that has undoubtedly caused a bit of controversy surrounding its price...
Hands On SteamWorld Heist II Expands On A Beloved 3DS Title, But Is It What Fans Really Want?
Sail and strategise
Is there any genre SteamWorld is afraid to tackle? Starting life as an RTS in SteamWorld Tower Defense, Image & Form’s long-running anthology series has been to space, the Wild West and it’s even taken on the form of a fairy tale. And while Dig, the Metroidvania-style series, is arguably the most popular, many have a soft...
Talking Point Is Shovel Knight Now A Retro Gaming Icon?
Let's dig in
Shovel Knight is the very definition of an indie darling. Bursting onto the scene in 2014, Yacht Club Games’ slick, throwback platformer caught the imagination of gamers both old and new. Its stunning aesthetic, tight controls, and humorous writing made it a must-play, while its ample secrets, tough but never punishing difficulty, and...
Hands On Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition - All The Trappings Of A Game Night Great
Best of the NES
Nintendo recently invited us to go hands-on with Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition ahead of its 18th July release date. Below, both Zion and Jim have shared what they made of it. First up, let's hear from Zion... When Nintendo first revealed the upcoming Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition for Switch back in
Feature “Obsessively” Learning From Nintendo & How Lemmings, ChuChu Rocket Inspired Tempopo
"When you play it, you feel connected, not judged"
Developer Witch Beam isn't ready to rest on its laurels. After creating two wildly different games — the twin-stick shooter Assault Android Cactus and the BAFTA award-winning, heartfelt puzzler Unpacking — it's ready to move back to the outside and go with something even more relaxing. We were...
Talking Point Could Another Nintendo Series Take Over The 'Traditional' Zelda Template?
The next Link in the chain
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Nathan considers the two-forks Zelda conundrum and wonders if another Nintendo series might take on the old-school Zelda mantle... Perhaps the most surprising...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Primed for battle
Hello everyone, and welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we get cracking with this week's battle, let's see how things panned out last time. We looked at Turok 2: Seeds of Evil for the N64 and golly gosh, was it a close one. It seemed many of you weren't too keen on either design, but ultimately, it was the...
Soapbox 'Switch 2' Is Nintendo's Chance To Adopt The PC Feature It's Desperate To Take For A Spin
No need to reinvent the wheel
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Francisco considers a little Joy-Con addition that could help set the upcoming "Switch successor" apart... Nintendo can’t resist an enticing hardware innovation...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (22nd June)
Getting primed
Summer's here, everyone! Except if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case, Winter's here, everyone! After a quiet month or so, it's been a busy week in Nintendo land thanks to the June Direct which delivered above and beyond what many of us expected to see three months into Switch's eighth year, with its successor waiting...
Soapbox Marvel Vs. Capcom Was The Unsung Hero Of The June Nintendo Direct
To me, my X-Men
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Jim shines a light on an already dazzling Direct drop... It took me a few hours to come down after the June Nintendo Direct. The showcase was stacked. In the moment, it felt like...
Feature 9 'Mature' Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch Online's New N64 App
Rated M for 'MOAAAAAR'
The arrival of Rareware's classic Perfect Dark and Acclaim's Turok: Dinosaur Hunter via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack was a very welcome announcement in the June 2024 Nintendo Direct. Both titles are the first entries in Nintendo's new, separate N64 app with a 'MATURE 17+' label. Following on from the Japanese...
Round Up Limited Run Games Showcase 2024 - Every Switch Announcement & Physical
Fear Effect! Tomba! Penny's Big Breakaway!
You thought the Nintendo Direct was the last big showcase of June? Oh no. Physical game specialists Limited Run Games held its annual summer showcase earlier today with LRG3 2024 — cheekily named after E3 (RIP). And with a nostalgic opening, it really set the tone for the whole show. The 30-minute...
Hands On Can Lord Of The Rings Spice Up A Stale Genre With 'Tales Of The Shire'?
"Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable?"
Right at the beginning of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, ‘adventure’ is a bit of a dirty word. When the wizard Gandalf first meets the timid Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving, tobacco-smoking Hobbit, he asks, “I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very...
Feature 25 Things You Might Have Missed In The Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Reveal Trailer
From familiar faces to creative controls
Our initial reaction to The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom reveal at the June Nintendo Direct was something along the lines of "Ahhhh-WHHHAAAAAAAAA". If you had asked us for some of the game's distinguishing features after that first watch, we'd probably be able to mutter, "Hero Zelda, er, magic rod,"...
Soapbox Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Won't Be The Franchise's 'BOTW Moment', And That's Okay
Keeping expectations in check
When Nintendo closed out its latest Direct presentation with the full reveal of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the world briefly got a little bit louder as fans celebrated the glorious return of one of the company’s most revered franchises. Finally, after its initial announcement back in 2017, Prime 4 is scheduled to launch...
Hands On 'The Plucky Squire' - Wit And Charm Enough To Make Nintendo Jealous
Child's play
Walking into the Devolver’s booth for The Plucky Squire at Summer Game Fest Play Days, we felt like we were going back to our childhood. There was a huge, colourful mural on the wall, depicting All Possible Future’s upcoming adventure game in front of us. A cute, cosy couch was positioned to our left; soft plush, and a deep...
Hands On 'Hello Kitty Island Adventure' Was By Far Our Biggest Surprise Of Summer Game Fest
So much more than "Sanrio meets Animal Crossing"
“One World, Connecting Smiles.” That’s the tagline Sanrio, the company responsible for creating Hello Kitty, established back in 2021. Its brand is all about 'Minna Nakayoku', which means 'all of us friends' or 'Getting Along Together'. Unity, friendship, and love encompass the world of Sanrio,...
Reaction A Direct That Delivered, And Shows That Switch Still Has Plenty Of Pep
How would you rate it?
Well, well, that was a packed one, wasn't it? We've gotta be honest, expectations were sensibly low around these parts. For every wild card dream we had of a new Mario & Luigi or that 2D Zelda we've been hoping Grezzo would make as a follow-up to Link's Awakening, there was a wise voice in our ear warning us to be...
Hands On Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Is Much More Than A Pretty Picture
The host with the Baramost
Square Enix recently invited us to check out the upcoming Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake — both at its London HQ and at Summer Game Fest — to see how it plays. Below, both Jim and Alana have some detailed thoughts on their time with the game. First up, Jim paints us a picture... Square Enix's Dragon Quest III HD-2D...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance?
I'm Vengeance
Last week saw the release of the updated Vengeance form of Shin Megami Tensei V, one of the finest RPGs to appear on Switch or anywhere else over the last few years. In our original review we called it "the best entry yet in this dark, engrossing series," awarding it 9/10. This follow-up, however, takes things up a gear and...
Talking Point What We Expect From The Upcoming June Nintendo Direct
Update: It's coming tomorrow!
Update: Well, there it is! The June 2024 Nintendo Direct has finally been confirmed for Tuesday 18th June. Read on to find out what Team NL expects/hopes to see, now with Alana's thoughts added thanks to her return from Summer Game Fest... <related ids="160754"> In a rather unusual move for Nintendo, company...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Turok 2: Seeds Of Evil
Life, uh, finds a way
We are back for another edition of Box Art Brawl! Are you ready to rank some covers? Last time saw a mega match-up between three regional variants for Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge in celebration of five games in the series landing on NSO. Unsurprisingly, it was the colourful Japanese variant that walked away with the win,...
Feature 16 Great Late-Gen Nintendo Games - Maybe There's Life In The Ol' Switch Yet
Fashionably late
Yes, yes - we know Nintendo Switch is old now. There comes a time in each console's life when the games start to dry up and we look to the future, and the Switch is very much in the autumn of its years. Back in May, two months into its eighth year, Nintendo said a new hardware announcement is coming at some point before April next...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (15th June)
Praise the sun
It's the weekend once again folks, which means it's time to shake off the stress and responsibilities of the week and wind down with a bit of gaming. Bliss. Before we get cracking with what we're playing, however, let's just recap some of the top stories of the week, hm? First up, Summer Game Fest was a whole thing, and you can check...
Talking Point Is Summer Game Fest Really Missing Nintendo's Presence?
Nontendo
Let me get this out of the way – being at Summer Game Fest was amazing. The people were amazing. The variety of games, both big and small, were amazing. I was lucky enough to go to E3 twice back when I wrote for a different site, and I would take the laid-back vibes, the layout, and the ability to socialise at my own pace any day of the...
Soapbox Game Boy Tetris' True Genius Was Teaching A Generation How To Play Video Games
Building gaming literacy one tetromino at a time
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Tim thinks back on 35 years of Tetris on the Game Boy and considers how it taught a generation — multiple generations, in fact — how to play...
Round Up Every Nintendo Switch Game We Played At Summer Game Fest 2024
Hands-on impressions of over a dozen games
Summer Game Fest is over for another year, and it was a pretty jam-packed event. There are still plenty of stuff to come out of the show over the coming weeks, but what did we get up to while we were in Downtown Los Angeles for a week? Well, we'll spare you the details of the refreshing drinks and poolside...
Hands On 'Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure' Is A Rubix Cube Zelda-Like, And We Love It
Disadventure
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure really sets itself apart from other puzzle games. We’ve seen plenty of sliding-tile puzzlers over the years, but Furniture & Mattress’ adventure is defined by its framing. It’s not an RPG, but it absolutely feels like one in many different ways. You have to use weapons to defeat certain...
Hands On 'LEGO Horizon' Builds A Welcome Entry Point To Sony's Series
Building Zero Dawn
While rumors for LEGO Horizon Adventures had been making the rounds the week leading up to Summer Game Fest, we never could have imagined we’d see the Nintendo Switch logo appear at the end of its hilarious reveal at the live show. PC, for sure, but Aloy on Nintendo? This made us wipe our eyes in amazement, as other than the...
Hands On 'Gris' Devs Are Ready To Make Us Cry Again With The Beautiful 'Neva'
Cry me a Neva
Just two games in, and Nomada Studio has already established a brand for itself. GRIS, the developer’s first game, explores the five stages of grief beautifully, allowing colour to paint a grey world of pain – it’s a stunning piece of art and a game that’s almost guaranteed to make you cry. The studio’s next project, Neva,...
