Latest Features
Talking Point Will Nintendo Wring One More Holiday From Switch Before Revealing New Hardware?
The clock is ticking
Today, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa started a stopwatch that puts an official deadline on the reveal of the Switch successor — he says it's coming "this fiscal year," which means FY2025, which means between now and April 2025. It's important to remember that this specifically refers to the reveal of the upcoming...
Soapbox 'Revenge Of The Sith' On DS Is Still Top-Tier Star Wars Gaming
Heart Palpatinetions
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 celebrates Revenge of the Fifth with a DS throwback... You felt it, didn't you? A disturbance in the Force. Over on Coruscant, Darth Sidious has called for the execution...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects & Readers' Choice (April 2024)
Our picks for the best eShop games in April
It's that time — welcome back to our monthly eShop Selects feature! This time, we're covering April — somehow, we're already in May. As mentioned last month, we've made another change to the piece. Now you'll be voting for your favourite hidden gem for the current month within this piece, rather than...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Mario Paint (SNES)
Vincent van Goomba
Hey folks, and welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl! We had a veritable doozy last week when we checked out Pokémon Yellow Version for the humble Game Boy; truly one of the standout titles in the gargantuan franchise. It was a good ol' duel in which North America and Europe teamed up against Japan, and we must admit...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (4th May)
May the Fourth be with you
Hello there. Happy Star Wars Day, folks! With a glass of blue milk in hand, let's kick off the weekend's celebrations with another edition of What Are You Playing. This week in the world of Nintendo, we heard yet more 'Switch 2' rumours and asked whether you'd like to see your Joy-Con carry over to the next model. We also...
Feature Best Underwater Levels On Nintendo Switch
Making a splash
We're fast approaching summer, and there's no better time of year to go for a dip in the ocean. Of course, if you're reading this on 2nd May 2024, then you probably know that Nintendo is offering its own virtual "dip" in the ocean in Endless Ocean: Luminous, the surprise new game in the Endless Ocean series. And while we might not...
Talking Point Would You Want To Reuse Your Joy-Con On 'Switch 2'?
Pros and 'Cons
Last week the Switch 2 beacons were lit once again as Spanish outlet Vandal reported to have more information regarding Nintendo's next hardware, specifically to do with a new, magnetic Joy-Con model. Another report just d
Soapbox During A Mental Health Crisis, It Wasn't Cosy Games That Helped
Get me behind the wheel
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we'll be running several features focused on how video games of all types have helped us through periods when we were struggling with our mental health. Today, Richard shares how racing games helped restore him during a difficult period... I tense up whenever I take a corner in...
Poll Are You Bothered By The Frame Rate For Paper Mario: TTYD On Switch?
The ol' 30 vs. 60
One of the most talked-about points raised during the recent round of previews for Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door on Switch was the game's frame rate. In case you missed it, the remake will run at 30fps in both docked and handheld mode. Now, you might wonder why this is supposedly such a big deal, but those who played the 2004...
Feature "It's Fun, So It's Okay!" - Celebrating Takashi Tezuka's Astonishing 40-Year Nintendo Career
A look back at a glittering catalogue
Takashi Tezuka seems like a good laugh, the kind of chap who knows how to have fun. Despite all the Master-Sword-waving and PR-related hijinx from fellow Nintendo luminary Shigeru Miyamoto over the years, you still get the impression he's merciless in the workplace — an exacting, intimidating,...
Hands On Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Is More Of The Glorious, Unhinged Same
And that's fine by us
After playing Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for two hours, we’d hoped to be able to deliver a smorgasbord of details regarding new additions, performance improvements, and story nuggets, but truth be told, Sega’s preview session felt very much geared toward those who might be playing for the first time over on PS5 or...
Soapbox 20 Years On, Pikmin 2's Waterwraith Remains Nintendo's Scariest Moment
H2Oh no
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 is reliving a childhood trauma to mark Pikmin 2's 20th anniversary... To the casual observer, Pikmin must seem like a pretty relaxed experience. Everything is colourful. The characters...
Community 28 Switch Games We Missed, As Recommended By You Lovely People
Part 8 - Missed hits
Welcome back to Part VIII of our 'Games We Missed' series. With so many Switch games large and small releasing every week, we're eager to highlight great ones which slipped through our net — and thanks to you lovely people, this bi-annual feature can do just that. As always, we asked you to send us nominations for Switch...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th April)
Jump up, Superstar Saga
Another week is almost over, which means it's once again time to kick back, relax, and play some games. Before we do, however, let's just do a quick recap of some of the stories from this week. First up, Nintendo expanded the NSO service with two N64 games, which is always welcome in our book. We also got our first proper...
Hands On Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Unfolds Gloriously On Switch
Smoothing out the creases
It’s been nearly 20 years since we first set foot on the cobbled streets of Rogueport, the hub town of GameCube favourite Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Back in 2004, the seedy streets of the criminal town felt like nothing else in a Mario game – suspicious characters roam the streets, puddles pool on the...
Feature Why Play Final Fantasy VII Remake When You Could Play FFVII 'Demake'?
"more than just pirate versions"
You’re probably aware of Square Enix’s lengthy and somewhat lavish efforts to remake the 1997 game Final Fantasy VII. The second instalment of this ambitious remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, was released just recently, and we’re still likely to be years away from any sort of conclusion. But you might not be...
Community Played A Switch Game Gem We Missed? Send Us Your Recommendations
Reader recs
That's right, it's time for another edition of 'Help, Please Help - Too Many Switch Games!' For a few years now we've been running bi-annual Games We Missed round-ups where you lovely lot nominate great Switch games that we weren't able to review. We do our best to cover as much as possible, but with so many brilliant things hitting the...
Feature 10 Game Boy Deep Cuts That Aren’t On Nintendo Switch Online
And should be
The Game Boy turns 35 years old today, and we've been running features over the past couple of days celebrating the handheld and its games. Today, Nile digs up 10 lesser-known gems in the system's remarkable library. 35 years ago, the Game Boy changed handheld gaming – not because it was powerful, but because it wasn’t. Premised...
Feature Can We Track Down Every Cart In Our Top 50 Game Boy List In One Week?
Collection Quest GB
The Game Boy turns 35 years old today, 21st April 2024, and we've run several features over the past few days celebrating the system and its games. Today, George goes on an epic quest to see if he can acquire the 50 finest GB games — as ranked by you — in physical form with just 100 pounds sterling in his pocket... I’ve...
Feature Meet Four Developers Making Brand-New Game Boy Titles In 2024
35 years and stronger than ever
The Game Boy turns 35 years old on 21st April 2024, and we'll be running several features over the next few days celebrating the system and its games. Today, George speaks with four talented individuals keeping the candle burning for the DMG-001 in the 21st century... The humble Game Boy may be turning 35, but that...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (20th April)
Totally rad(s)!
The weekend has rolled around once again and we are eager to play some games! Before we do that, however, let's take a look back at the week just gone. The big news this week was Nintendo's first Indie World of the year which didn't bring us that game but did provide plenty of goodies including Little Kitty, Big City, Teenage Mutant...
Feature Evolving With Pokémon: How The Games Helped Me Navigate A Confused Childhood
This coping mechanism was super effective!
The Game Boy turns 35 years old on 21st April 2024, and we'll be running several features over the next few days celebrating the system and its games. Today, Tim thinks back on how Pocket Monsters came to his aid in his formative years, and how the series that started on Nintendo's iconic portable would...
Soapbox Where The Heck Is Fallout 3 On Switch?
Searching the Capital Wasteland
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, while flicking through Amazon Prime TV, a question popped into Ollie's head... "War. War never changes." If this quote sounds familiar to you, then chances are you...
Back Page Nintendo Haiku - The Best Of Your Short-Form Game Poems
Counting syllables. How many in 'Kyoto'? Dang, I've run out of--
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...
Feature Keza MacDonald On Meeting Miyamoto, 'Switch 2', And Her Upcoming Nintendo Book
"Nintendo is 'the' way you understand games"
The London Developer Conference (LDC) made its almighty return last week, allowing some of the biggest names in the gaming world the chance to talk about the industry, where it currently sits, and where it is likely to go. One of the speakers in this year's programme was Keza MacDonald, video games...
Talking Point Nintendo Indie World Showcase Predictions - What Do You Expect To See?
Don't you dare say it
It's Indie World time! Yes, Nintendo has announced that on Wednesday 17th April we're getting 20-ish minutes' worth of indie game announcement goodness, following on from the February 2024 Nintendo Direct and the Pokémon Presents in the same month. And what's a Direct without some Direct predictions, eh? Okay, it's not...
Soapbox I Flew 3,000 Miles To Get My Arse Handed To Me In Mario Party
Or, how a game about betrayal brought me closer to my friends
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Kate reminisces about a memorable trip... to Loser Town! I can't believe I've been allowed to use the word "arse" in a title. I feel...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th April)
Oh, Penitent one
Right then, it's the weekend, but before we dive into what we're playing, let's take a look at what's been going on this week. First up, it was announced that Balatro would be getting its first major update, but keep calm, as it's not Switch-bound just yet. We caught wind of a rather pointless mod that allows
Soapbox I Thought I'd Clear My Backlog In 2024, But The Switch Had Other Ideas
Back(log) pain
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 is finding 2024 to be a little more stacked than he expected... 2023 was a wild ride on Switch. In any given year, the likes of Fire Emblem Engage, Pikmin 4, Outer Wilds, Ghost...
Book Review 'The Most Relaxing Video Games' - More Than Just Cute 'N' Cosy
Ahhhhhhhhh...
When it comes to relaxing games, you probably already have a reasonably sound idea of what these might look like and entail. Perhaps it’s a jaunty farm sim like Stardew Valley or Story of Seasons, a laid-back puzzler like Unpacking, or even a cute adventure like A Short Hike. The point is that many of us have preconceived notions of...
Feature What's It Like To Attend The Pokémon European International Championships?
What a Blast(oise)
The 2024 Pokémon European International Championships have been and gone, but what a weekend it was for the yearly event! Thousands of competitors and spectators alike descended on London's ExCeL arena for three days of competition, meet-ups and (of course) shopping. Now taking up multiple halls in the capital's convention...
Soapbox Vanillaware's Most Underrated Game Is More Than Just A Pretty Picture
Deserving of a Rebirth
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Alana is talking about a Vanillaware oldie — Muramasa: The Demon Blade, a Wii title that is celebrating its 15th anniversary. And, in the wake of 13 Sentinels and Unicorn...
Soapbox The Pokémon European International Championships Made Me Fall In Love With TCG
I choose you!
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 lays his cards on the table after visiting the Pokémon European International Championships... Head into my brain. Take a left at 'Obscure Zelda Knowledge,' go past the door...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects & Readers' Choice (March 2024)
The best eShop games of February, chosen by you and us!
Spring has sprung, and so has the next edition of eShop Selects. This time, we're looking at the best hidden gems — as voted for by Nintendo Life staff — alongside a separate poll for the Reader's Choice for March's eShop releases. You'll see the winner of the latter at the bottom of the...
Back Page 'NL Destinations' Presents The Best Vacation Locales On Switch
'Never Leave', amiright?
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 jokes —...
Feature 'Overjoyed' Is A Switch-Compatible, One-Finger Accessibility App That's Available Now
Addressing Nintendo's "random" approach to accessibility
We can all agree that Nintendo isn't exactly a games industry forerunner in terms of accessibility. The lack of being able to quickly and easily remap buttons in many Nintendo first-party games is just a start, but there are often mechanics that require multiple button prompts, or simple...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th April)
Hallownest awaits
It's the weekend folks, which means it's time to find out which games we'll be sinking a few hours into. Before that, however, let's check out a recap of what's been going down this week. First up, we found out that the Switch might have an even bigger task ahead of it if we want it to become the best-selling console of all time...
Feature 13 Studios That Should Take A Nintendo Series For A Genre Spin
Who WOULDN'T want to see Sabotage Studios' Kirby RPG?
There was a time when Nintendo had a white-knuckle grip on its franchises. The chances of another studio catching a whiff of Mario or Link were next to none and while the games industry flourished with games that paid homage to Nintendo's greats, those names themselves stayed in the House of...
Gallery Here's A Closer Look At The Pokémon European Championship 2024 Exclusive Merch
Please don't catch 'em all
The Pokémon European International Championships 2024 have kicked off today in London and, as expected, one of the event's most popular attractions is the pop-up Pokémon Center and the sweet exclusive merch held within. We at Nintendo Life were lucky enough to pop into the store this morning before things got too busy...
Soapbox The Games Industry Needs To Give Up On Exclamation Marks!
Let me exclaim
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 makes a punctuation point... Hey! Hey, you! Yes, you! Do you like games? Do you like talking about games? Of course you do! And yet, in all your time talking about games, you...
Community What's The Best Switch eShop Game We Missed? (March 2024)
Your favourite game for March's eShop Selects
Once more unto the breach. It's time for you to voice your thoughts and tell us about the best eShop games released in March 2024 — the ones we missed, at least. March may have marked the Switch's 7th birthday, but it's otherwise been a bit of a calmer affair on the hybrid console. Popular indie...
Round Up It's April Fools' Day, Here Are The Best Gaming Gags We've Seen (2024)
Fool Mii once...
April Fools' Day on Easter Monday? Is this a crossover episode? A crossover this is not, though that hasn't stopped many from crossing over into the realm of world-class comedy for a giggle on 1st April. As ever, those on the gaming side of the internet have been quick to get involved too (and yes, that might include us at...
Press 'A' to dance madly
When reminiscing on Final Fantasy VI, what first comes to mind? It’s possible your answer is Kefka’s iconic maniacal laugh, or a final boss battle that makes you dance madly, or searching for friends in a world of ruin. But somewhere in that mix—and for many, probably foremost—is the majestic-yet-silly Opera House...
Talking Point What Games Would You Like To See Given The 'Gold Master Series' Treatment?
Get them 'Eclipsed, pronto
We're big fans of Digital Eclipse's work, especially the studio's recent approach to documenting the stories of landmark games and their creators, exploring video game history in the medium's native habitat. Atari 50 was its first 'interactive documentary' title to launch, with The Making of Karateka kicking off the 'Gold...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (30th March)
Birdie!
The weekend is here, which means it's time to dive into what we've all got planned with our Switches (and other consoles too, we guess). Before that, however, let's take a look at what's been going on this week. First up, the Switch got its latest firmware update, and although it's not the most exciting thing in the world, we always...
Feature Pepper Grinder's Solo Dev Digs Into Scope, Smash Bros. & "Crunchy Feedback"
"I just made a game I always wanted to play"
It might feel like a long time since Pepper Grinder was unearthed for Switch at the November 2022 Indie World Showcase, but it has been even longer for Riv Hester, the game's solo developer at studio Ahr Ech, who first dug up the idea seven years ago. This is Sonic the Hedgehog meets Drill Dozer (by way...
Guide Every Game In Nintendo's 'Partner Spotlight' eShop Sale (North America)
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk! Pentiment! Bioshock!
After the announcement of the European eShop's 'Blockbuster Sale', we had a sneaky suspicion that North America would be treated to one of its own before long. Sure enough, the 'Partner Spotlight Sale' has kicked off on the US eShop today, bringing up to 80% off a selection of tasty third-party titles. The...
Talking Point Why Isn't Nintendo Revealing Its Partner Devs Before Launch?
Wanted: Dev 'fore it's live
Welcome to the Wild West of the modern gaming landscape. Game sales are soaring. Film and TV adaptations are crawling out of the wilderness quicker than they can be counted. All eyes are on the saloon doors of a bar named 'Nintendo' as the smell of something tasty wafts from the kitchen and out into the nostrils of...
Poll So, Do You Prefer Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Or Tears Of The Kingdom?
A clash of kings
Now that we're swiftly approaching the one-year anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, we suspect that many of you have likely completed the game at this stage. Even if you haven't yet and are still mopping up those remaining Korok Seeds, it's probably reasonable to assume that you've experienced enough of the...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give 'Princess Peach: Showtime!'?
Did it give you the ol' razzle dazzle?
Last week, the Mushroom Kingdom's beloved ruler made her solo Switch debut with Princess Peach: Showtime!, an impressive performance in an approachable production that gracefully leaps between genres and finally delivers a star vehicle for a woman that has spent too long out of the spotlight. Our royal...
