February 5, 20254 min readTo Find Life on Mars, Make Microbes WiggleCould tiny swimming microbes help us unlock the mysteries of extraterrestrial life?By Gayoung Lee edited by Lee BillingsA color-enhanced microscopic view of Bacillus subtilis bacteria, rod-shaped extremophile microbes commonly found in soil and in the guts of cows and humans. Science SourceThe latest advance in the search for extraterrestrial life could come from the wiggles of swimming microbesmicroscopic single-celled organisms that are abundant in just about every nook and cranny of Earth.Microbes are found throughout our planets biosphere because many of them are able to flourish under very harsh conditions that apparently preclude larger, more complex life-forms. And that remarkable resilience is why astrobiologists are so keen to study them. If, for instance, microbes can thrive in a lake buried beneath Earths south polar ice cap, maybe similar organisms could exist in glancingly similar extraterrestrial environments, such as the mysterious ice-covered ocean of Jupiters moon Europa or water-logged regions of Marss subsurface. But the trick isnt to merely show that alien life might exist in such places but rather to confirm that it doeswhich requires detecting its presence in the first place. Most interplanetary life-detection experiments have involved looking for chemical tracersbiosignaturesthat otherworldly microbes might create in their environments as a by-product of their metabolism. Now, however, a new approach based on microbes self-guided movement, or motility, may be in reach.Historically, testing for microbial motility has been an expensive and time-consuming task, ill-suited for incorporation into robotic space missions. Thats prompted a team of German astrobiologists to devise a simpler, more cost-efficient way to check for motility, an approach that they have detailed in a study published on February 6 in the journal Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.In their study, the researchers focused on three types of microbesBacillus subtilis, Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis and Haloferax volcaniiall of which are known extremophiles, or organisms that can survive extreme temperatures, pressures or chemical conditions. Their experiment was simple: Could they prompt the microbes to swim toward a nutrient source in a detectable, repeatable way? To do this, they placed microbe-packed water droplets on one partition of a two-chambered microscopic slide. On the other side lay an aqueous solution that was rich with L-serine, an amino acid that is critical for protein synthesis and cell proliferation. When they tested each type of microbe in separate three-hour experimental runs, the researchers could see all three species become motile and migratory: the microbes swam from their initial chamber to form blobs inside the chamber with L-serine. This tendency of organism to drift toward or away from the presence of certain chemicals is called chemotaxis.In the case of the organisms used in this experiment, the idea of chemotaxis is that microbes can sense [and move to] molecules that might be useful for them, especially for metabolism, explains the studys lead author Max Riekeles, a Ph.D. student at the Technical University of Berlin. With our specific setup, we wanted to make the visual and computational aspects [of studying chemotaxis] simpler.The trouble with past chemotaxis-based methods for prompting and monitoring microbial motility is that its hard to set up chemical gradients that are reliable, stable and predictable, says Christian Lindensmith, an astrobiologist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Furthermore, watching motility is difficult because microscopes have a small field of view and microbes can move for other, entirely external reasons, such as thermal mixing and inertial drift. Its just very trickylike youre running this microscopic zoo, he adds.A gel membrane that separated the new experiments two chambers proved crucial for minimizing such difficulties by greatly reducing the microbes options for motion. This semipermeable gel essentially acted as a one-way barrier that allowed organisms from one side to pass through relatively quickly while it also slowed L-serines seepage to the other sidethus maintaining the microbes motivation to move. The setup was a good choice, says Jay Nadeau, an astrobiologist and a physics professor at Portland State University, because it made discerning the microbes motility much easierall the more so because the barrier kept the microbes on the L-serine side once they entered.Such technical advances could be hugely beneficial for future life-seeking space missions, say Nadeau and Lindensmith, both of whom were formerly Riekeless colleagues but were uninvolved with the new study. One of the real problems with doing something like this on another worldespecially one thats going to be very cold, like Europais: What happens if those [alien] organisms swim really, really slowly? Nadeau explains. Well, in that case you might need to leave them for a week or more and then come back.Using the new method, scientists could merely check for any microbes in the nutrient-filled chamber rather than constantly monitoring the system for conspicuously cavorting microbes. So that part is easy, Lindensmith says. The hard part is figuring out what to put on the other side as bait. Although Earths homegrown life may love L-serine and other similarly fundamental foodstuff, theres no guarantee such substances would be appealing to alien organisms with a different biochemistry.Even assuming that lifes menu of nutrients is identical across the cosmos, however, other hurdles remain before this method could manifest in some sort of measuring device on an actual interplanetary astrobiology mission. For Riekeles, the next challenge is not only the need to further refine this technique with new, more extensive experiments but also the matter of engineering and testing with different kinds of microbes and amino acids.One of the goals [of astrobiology] is to go to [other worlds] and look for microorganisms, but in the meantime theres so much we can do on Earth that will give us massive insights, Nadeau says. And this new method for microbial sorting is a great example of simple but crucial work for future efforts to build upon.You dont know whats going to be out there [in space], Lindensmith saysso diversifying your tools and techniques to scrutinize life right here on our own planet is an important first step. We have to be able to do all of that kind of stuff on Earth before we can meaningfully do it on other planets.

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You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide Blizzards Diablo 4 has struggled with updates as of late. Despite the games recent season gaining a tonne of positive reception from fans, Blizzard is still failing to release updates to the game without breaking something else.Case in point: Diablo 4s latest update is once again breaking key features. After preivous updates broke the games co-op functionality the team doesnt know how to fix, the latest update has caused HDR playback and the games Armory system to Thanos snap away, and Blizzard is aware.Diablo 4 devs respond to broken featuresIn a response on Twitter, Diablo head of community Adam Fletcher attempted to calm down fans upset at the current state of D4. With fans clamouring for fixes to key features, Fletcher explained that Blizzard is acutely aware of the ongoing issues with buggy updates. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. Its super unfortunate as some knock-ons occurred, Fletcher told fans online. Quality of releases has been a big topic and something the team is acutely aware they need to be better at. It wont be overnight but its one of the big things a lot of focus will be on.This isnt the first time that Blizzard has responded to these issues with the studio previously announcing that its changing tactics to try and release less buggy updates. Alongside moving development timelines to stop clashing release dates of seasons between Diablo 3 and Diablo 4, Blizzard is hoping to take the additional time to make sure updates dont keep breaking things every month. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now With fans still pining for any news on a second expansionone that could possibly add the long-awaited Holy Class teased in prior artworktheres still a tonne of potential for Diablo 4 to evolve with future updates. However, for now, we know nothing.For more coverage, read about Rod Fergussons belief that other ARPGs should be called Diablo-likes, or read about the latest addition of Witch Doctor powers.About the AuthorDiablo 4Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Action RPG, RPGSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide Nexon confirmed a lot set to arrive for The First Descendant in February, and now they have released update 1.2.6. The patch notes include a lot of additions such as the arrival of leaderboards. While theres a lot of great components part of the new TFD update, The First Descendant fans are upset that update 1.2.6 doesnt revert a horrible character nerf following their successful rework.The First Descendant fans want Luna nerf revertedIn update 1.2.4, Nexon delivered the following rework for Luna:Stage presence:Improved Lunas unique weapon usability and note failure penalties with animationsPassionate Stage, Relaxing Act, Delightful Stage:Improved cooldown application and overall skill cooldownsEnhanced Skills now allow to move on a disk-shaped stageFor Luna, the rework also included her buffs remaining active for the duration even after holstering her unique weapon. Unfortunately, it appears this wasnt intended as, in update 1.2.5, Nexon Fixed an issue where disabling Lunas Unique Weapon fails to remove Exciting Performance, Relaxing Performance, and Cheerful Performance. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. Fans have made it known that they want the buffs remaining active brought back, but, sadly, the nerf hasnt been reverted in 1.2.6. Its possible it could be reverted in the future, but right now, nothing has been confirmed.On Reddit, fans have accused Nexon of purposefully nerfing Lunas rework to further encourage everyone to only want to play as Ines. Others have said the rework for Luna was laughable in the first place, and the overall design of Luna has been questioned with fans agreeing it makes no sense that her buff stops when holstering. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Nexon is set to conduct a developer livestream on February 10th, so its possible they will discuss future reworks and Luna. We also expect them to talk more about Season 3 and provide even more details about the new character. We will also get a first look at the highly-anticipated hot-spring skins.For more The First Descendant, check outeverything we know about Season 3including release date, new character, next Fellow, new features, and more.The First DescendantPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, RPG5VideoGamerRelated TopicsThe First Descendant Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

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You can buy an official version of plastic bag Harry Du Bois uses in very good detective game and now endless source of often very depressing fallout involving its studio and the numerous creatives and devs who no longer work at said studio, Disco Elysium. Read more

Money TalksSaudi-owned SNK's Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will, shockingly, take a spot at Saudi-owned Esports World Cup this yearThe game, not even released, will take a major spot at this year's biggest-budget gaming event.Image credit: SNK News by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Feb. 6, 2025 Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, the next big release from fighting game institution SNK, is making an appearance at the Esports World Cup later this year. This announcement comes before the game has even been released, raising questions as to why the game is taking a spot at an event that has proved enticing for players and competitive organizations alike due to the huge prize pool attached.The Esports World Cup, for those who don't know, is a massive esports event funded by the Saudi Arabian government's Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund currently owned by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. It's part of a wider attempt by the sovereignty to buy into various sports, and has stated as part of its Vision 2030 to diversify its income from oil, create jobs, attract tourism, and improve its standing in the mind of people around the world. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Esports, a historically unprofitable venture, is a component of that latter goal: to improve international standing. This is called Sportswashing. Given how broke the esports space is at the moment following speculative investors falling foul of underperforming projects and a lack of returning profits, players and esports organizations have proven more than happy to get on board.So why would the Esports World Cup being a multi-game event, with obvious cause to host the most popular competitive games in order to garner as many viewers as possible, save a space for an unreleased fighting game from a relatively niche IP? Sure, City of the Wolves may look cool, but there are surely other games out there with a bigger audience than even the speculative player base it has?Well, back in 2020, the MiSK Foundation (an educational and cultural non-profit owned by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) bought up 33.3% of SNK shares through a subsidiary: Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC). Later, in April 2021, SNK appointed three Saudi Arabian board members to the company, which was swiftly followed by EGDC buying up 96.18% of SNK shares in February 2022. SNK, now based in Osaka, is a company almost entirely owned by the Saudi Crown Prince's foundation.But what if you don't care about all that: it's just games, dead migrants at the border, assassinations of journalists and the like have nothing to do with video games, right? There's an obvious conflict of interest here. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will probably be a great game, having played it at Evo, I certainly think so, but who knows? Maybe it'll release with some serious problems, performance, balance, or otherwise? Given the game only releases three months ahead of the Esports World Cup, will the game be given enough time to build a fan base that warrants a place on the EWC stage above other games? The reality is, they don't care. It's a chance to market a game owned by the Saudi Arabian state, on a stage that itself is owned by and doing PR for the Saudi Arabian state. If you do find yourself at least vaguely curious as to why Saudi Arabia would feel the need to spend so much money on PR through video games and all manner of other fun stuff, there are a few good reasons why. Saudi Arabia has been scrutinised quite heavily due to its history of human rights abuses, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, and the mass killing of migrants at the Yemenese border. After the murder of Khashoggi, Saudi shares plummeted by the way. The Esports World Cup, much like Liv Golf and other sportswashing ventures, are an attempt to paint over such events.As for how the community will react? Players will flock to the game in droves for a chance at a big money payout, given how broke they are due to a dry spell of sponsorships for FGC events. Esports teams, responsible for this dry spell, have recently come to treat fighting game players as cheap cowboys-for-hire. They will pick up these hungry players purely as Esports World Cup fodder, and drop the moment the event ends. Players critical of the Esports World Cup, or those who boycott the event due to their own principles, will likely remain unemployed for this summer season.

Image: 505 GamesAfter a pretty meaty delay, developer Rabbit & Bear Studios has announced revised release dates for the three upcoming Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes DLC packs, the first of which arrives later this month.The JRPG was supposed to land its story expansions last year, but a last-minute delay put the whole thing on pause while the team dealt with issuing digital codes to its Kickstarter backers. Until today, that is!According to the developer's newly-issued roadmap, the first wave of DLC will be available on the Switch eShop on 27th February, with Marisa in the starring role. Next up is Seign, whose DLC pack will drop on 13th March, before the Markus expansion arrives on 3rd April.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kWatch on YouTube You can find a little more about what each pack entails in the following summaries from Rabbit & Bear and publisher 505 Games:27th February will see the release of The Chapter of MarisaIn the Marisa expansion you will get to know more about her journey as a Guardian. The story revolves around her encounter with an enchanted girl who is fascinated by ancient ruins and ends up becoming Marisa's cherished companion. However, mysterious and sinister forces at play, and the duo sets out to uncover the secrets surrounding the enigmatic "Child of the Rune" .13th March will see the release of The Chapter of SeignThis story extension immerses you in the saga, viewing events through Seign's perspective and those who parted ways with Nowa's troupe to address a certain "predicament" within the Galdean empire. What transpired inside the empire during their time apart? Moreover, what covert roles did Seign and his allies undertake, influencing the unfolding drama from the shadows?3rd April will see the release of The Chapter of MarkusIn this story expansion, Markus, Carrie, and Nowa brace themselves for an intriguing discovery. An anomaly dubbed "Menhir's Distortion" has unlocked a mysterious teleportation gateway. Venturing forth as a trio, they prepare to delve into the enigmatic realm beyond. What hidden truths await them there? Perhaps the revelations would shed light on Markus's shrouded past, unearthing long-buried secrets. With bated breath, they steel themselves for the unravelling of an extraordinary tale.Image: 505 GamesEach DLC pack will set you back $7.99 / 7.99 / 5.99, which we suppose is a small price to pay if you enjoyed the base game and want to find out more about its leads.We, unfortunately, didn't have the best time with Hundred Heroes at launch. While the narrative, sprite work and combat all received a thumbs up in our review, we referred to the title as "the epitome of a flawed gem", with outdated designs and performance issues at launch that were hard to overlook. The game has received a handful of patches in the months since, so there's every chance the DLC will land at a good time to dive in. The wait is overWill you be checking out the first Hundred Heroes DLC pack later this month? Let us know in the comments.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles69 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Supercharge' eShop Sale (North America)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherNintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch Games... and the Switch 2!Japan's Switch eShop Will Soon No Longer Accept Overseas Payment MethodsChange will come into effect in March"Nintendo Is Probably The Easiest To Scam" - Devs Discuss The Current State Of The eShopThe rise of "eSlop"

Image: SHUEISHA GAMESThe latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!Switch eShop - HighlightsSid Meiers Civilization VII (Take-Two Interactive, 11th Feb, $59.99) - Relive history or make it your own. The classic strategy game series returns, once again bringing players the opportunity to construct architectural wonders and expand their territories around the globe. This time, third century Japanese leader Himiko will be part of the story you weave. Will your monuments stand the test of time, or will they crumble into dusty ruins? Its all up to you.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kWatch on YouTube Switch eShop - New ReleasesArcade Archives THUNDER FOX (HAMSTER, 30th Jan, $7.99) - "THUNDER FOX" is an action game released by TAITO in 1990. Become a member of the "THUNDER FOX" anti-terrorism team and join the fight against the terrorists. Complete varied missions using flying kicks, somersault attacks, and multiple unique vehicles such as gyrocopters, jet skis and more!.Astrorun (Nerd Games, 1st Feb, $0.49) - Play as an interstellar astronaut who needs to be an expert jumper by jumping across the ground of several different planets in near-zero gravity.Bad Parenthood (Tashlik, 6th Feb, $9.99) - Bad Parenthood plunges you into a psychological horror where bedtime stories turn into waking nightmares. Play in a suburban home haunted by The Storyteller, a sinister entity born from parental warnings and childhood fears.Beef Cat Ultra (Brainium Games, 7th Feb, $6.99) - In the vibrant world of Beeflandia, our hero Beef Cat and his friends always know how to celebrate the good times. But when a mysterious Big Guy shows up and stirs up trouble, everything changes. The peaceful vibes are over and its time for a new kind of adventure!Big Helmet Heroes (Plug In Digital, 6th Feb, $24.99) - Discover the hilarious world of Big Helmet Heroes, a 3D beat 'em up combining combat and adventure. Find 29 adorable heroes hidden in fantastic kingdoms and choose your favorites to save the princess. Play alone or with a friend, and try to overcome the formidable challenges that await you!Cats the Commander for Nintendo Switch (IGNITION M, 6th Feb, $6.49) - Too cute Cats "Bump! Bump!" adventure RPG! "Cats the Commander", popular tower defense game, is now available on Nintendo Switch!Cho Aniki Collection (Edia, 29th Jan, $44.99) - The first game in the legendary Cho Aniki series of shooting games created by Masaya, Cho Aniki (PC Engine), and the second game in the series, Ai Cho Aniki (PC Engine), have been fully ported for the Nintendo Switch. The ports of these classics boast a number of additional features, such as Sound Mode, Visual Mode, and Rewind.Citizen Sleeper: Helion Collection (Fellow Traveller, 31st Jan, $40.48) - The Helion Collection brings together the award-winning Citizen Sleeper, a gripping adventure inspired by the flexibility and freedom of TTRPGs, which has you living the life of an escaped worker as you attempt to survive on a lawless space station and its sequel, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, a dice-driven RPG where you get a ship, find a crew, and take on contracts while you navigate across the Starward Belt.Dino Market (Juan Rigante, 10th Feb, $4.00) - Dino decided to open a new market! Customers will ask for specific items and you have to prepare them! Once you complete a level, you can choose to rest and chill with your desktop companions. Use productivity tools like timers and to-do lists to help you focus!Drop That Cat (Asylum Square Interactive, 8th Feb, $4.99) - Connect the small cute kittens and experience how they grow bigger. There is a single-player mode and various two-player modes ('Time Limit' and 'Attack').EGGCONSOLE CARMINE 88 PC-8801mkIISR (D4 Enterprise, 6th Feb, $6.49) - This game, released in 1986 in Japan, is an adventure game where players take on the role of Lieutenant Brian=W=Kernighan. Piloting the Armored Fighting Walker, Galleouse, the player must defeat three bio-dolls lurking within the research facility.Genome Guardian (Stingbot Games, 6th Feb, $11.99) - COMBINE WEAPONS in the microscopic roguelite turret shooter with macroscopic depth. Survive 6 modes using an astounding array of turrets, perks, mutations and power-ups on this psychedelic journey to the heart of the abyss. Research permanent upgrades to survive a variety of microbes across 6 game modes, each with multiple "depths".Jumping Ninja (NOSTRA GAMES, 6th Feb, $3.99) - Find your warpath and go all the way. Remember that true strength is not in your body, but in your mind. Every step brings you closer to your goal. Make lightning decisions - there's no time to wait and doubt. The sharpness of your mind is also a weapon, and you must know how to use itKaraoke Animal Party: Sing & Dance (Aldora Games, 3rd Feb, $4.90) - In this charming karaoke, the protagonists are 5 adorable animals that sing, dance and guide the little ones through magical scenarios. Designed to provide unforgettable moments, this game combines fun, music and learning in a family environment.Last Monarch (Mango Council, 6th Feb, $5.00) - You are the Demon Lord Kuro on a mission to protect the last of the demonkind. Use your abilities to capture and ensnare other species, make them become one of your powerful weapons!Lets Cook Together 2 (Yellow Dot, 6th Feb, $25.00) - Cooperate & communicate to cook delicious dishes in this #TrulyTogetherGaming experience. Visit different countries to learn the secrets of local cuisines, upgrade your kitchen appliances and immerse yourself in a deep story about food, love and the hidden costs of freedom. Engage in split-second PvP battles or make your own kitchens in the Level Editor and share them with the community.Light Guardian (Kistler Studios, 30th Jan, $3.99) - Help the guardian of the light to retrieve and collect all light shards before the world fall into darkness! You are the light guardian which goes on a quest to find the stolen light shards across the country. On your journey you have to overcome different obstacles to collect them all and finally meet the light itself.Luck be a Landlord (TrampolineTales, 6th Feb, $14.99) - Luck be a Landlord combines the unpredictable thrill of slot machines with the strategic depth and replayability of classic deckbuilders. Choose symbols to add to your machine and watch them interact to earn you coins every spin - will you stack your deck with cats, gemstones, fruits?Macross -Shooting Insight- (RED ART GAMES, 7th Feb, $39.99) - Based on the popular long-running animated science fiction franchise, MACROSS -SHOOTING INSIGHT- is a brand-new Multi-Dimensional Shooting Game! Pilots, songstresses, and characters from five MACROSS series (MACROSS Plus, MACROSS 7, MACROSS Zero, MACROSS Frontier & MACROSS Delta) take center stage in a completely original story.Malu the Princess (Afil Games, 6th Feb, $4.99) - Embark on an exciting journey with Malu in Malu the Princess! After her crown is stolen, Malu sets off on a thrilling adventure to reclaim her royal treasure. Traverse through 40 challenging levels in this precision platformer, where sharp reflexes and skill are your best allies. Each level brings new obstacles and adversaries to overcome as you inch closer to recovering the stolen crown.Momodora: Moonlit Farewell (PLAYISM, 6th Feb, $16.99) - The culmination of the Momodora series. Purify demons and uncover myths untold. "Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" is the latest installment in the Momodora series. Join Momo, High Priestess of the village of Koho, as she embarks on a divine mission to save her people from imminent destruction at the hands of the demon hordes summoned by a malevolent bellringer. - Read our Momodora: Moonlit Farewell reviewMoons of Darsalon (Dr. Kucho! Games, 6th Feb, $17.99) - Teams of darsanauts got lost during their mining missions on the different moons of the planet Darsalon. You need to complete several rescue missions in which you will have to lead them to the closest base station. They will use their own AI to follow you and to obey your commands. On your way to the base you will have to protect them from dangers and enemies using your laser gun, jet pack, pilot ground and air vehicles, destroy terrain, and even make new paths with the ground maker gun.Penguin Flight (Afil Games, 12th Feb, $4.99) - Get ready to flap, dash, and soar in Penguin Flight, a delightful 2D pixel art platformer that blends charm, challenge, and creativity! Join a little penguin with big dreams as he embarks on a journey to touch the skies, navigating through 40 meticulously designed levels brimming with fun mechanics, vibrant visuals, and heartwarming adventures.Pixel Game Maker Series Timothy and the Tower of Mu (Gotcha Gotcha Games, 6th Feb, $11.99) - Use your shots, jumps and midair dashes to overcome the fearsome traps! Timing, accuracy and nerve are all required for this high-difficulty action game! Five highly themed dungeons, over 50 types of enemies, powerful bosses, subquests such as puzzles and cooking, countless hidden elements hidden in the world.Purrfect Collection (RedDeer.Games, 30th Jan, $19.99) - True Purrfection lays in roundness... of the cat! Purrfect collection is here with Fit My Cat, Neko Bento, Bomb Cat, and Magic Cats Pots. Cat lovers, game lovers, and cat game lovers rejoice! Here is a bundle with four different casual games that will furry-up your evenings in four different ways.Shieldwall (OverGamez, 8th Feb, $17.99) - Shieldwall is a funny third-person tactical battle simulator with strategy elements. This game allows you to feel like a squad leader right on the battlefield. Caesar needs you! Gaul won't be conquered by itself. Stand under the Eagle and lead the legion for the glory of Rome!Silent Forest: Deadly Night Horror (Iurie, 6th Feb, $4.99) - "Silent Forest: Deadly Night Horror" is an intense shooter-horror game that takes players into a dark and mysterious forest. Your mission is to track and eliminate an unknown creature that terrorizes the surroundings. You have only 7 days and nights to complete your task or you will become its next victim.Skyline Bowling (QubicGames, 7th Feb, $4.99) - Get ready for an action-packed challenge where every strike brings you closer to victory! Join friends or family in up to four-player matches, compete in thrilling tournaments against top bowlers from across the lanes, and bowl in amazing alleys with cool views. Only the best players make it to the final rounds will you be the one holding the trophy?Space CleanUp: Cosmic Robot Disinfector (MultiversalME, 8th Feb, $7.99) - Welcome to the not-so-glamorous side of space exploration! In Space CleanUp: Cosmic Robot Disinfector, you take control of a high-tech android tasked with a vital but messy job: cleaning up space stations after intense alien battles.Sugoro Quest: Dice Heroes (Ratalaika Games, 7th Feb, $5.99) - SUGORO Quest: The Quest of Dice Heroes comes to the West for the first time! This is a board game-style turn-based RPG where dice will decide your fate! The story begins in the kingdom of Siland, where four adventurers set out to talk to the king in search of intrepid adventures. Each adventure is different, so be sure to choose the most suitable member for each journey.Super Jagger Bomb 2: Go East (eastasiasoft, 12th Feb, $4.99) - Get ready for explosive arcade-style platforming action as the caped bomb-collecting superhero returns in Super Jagger Bomb 2: Go East! This time, bombs have been placed at landmarks and monuments across the globe, spanning from Europe and India to China and Mongolia, and its up to Super Jagger to save these international treasures from certain destruction. Run, jump, fly and dash your way across dozens of unique stages in 2. 5D style as you dodge enemies and collect bombs as fast as you can.Survival Gladiator: Blades of the Coliseum (DEMENCI Games, 6th Feb, $11.99) - Step into the brutal world of ancient Rome in Survival Gladiator: Blades of the Coliseum, a 3D game of action and strategy where you manage your own gladiator empire. As a master of gladiators, your mission is to train and equip your fighters, sending them into fierce battles in the Coliseum to prove their strength and earn glory.The Liars Tavern (COOL DEVS, 6th Feb, $6.99) - The Liars Tavern draws you into a shadowy pub where deception and danger collide. This immersive 3D psychological thriller pits you against three other players in a high-stakes game of dice or cardsbut with deadly consequences. Bluff, accuse, and strategize carefully, as every lie or misstep could lead to a fatal drink or a game of Russian roulette.Toon Breakout 3D (Pix Arts, 7th Feb, $4.99) - Get ready for a high-energy arcade adventure with Toon Breakout 3D! Smash through bricks, bounce off cartoon characters, and conquer a series of action-packed levels in a vibrant, cartoon-styled universe. With realistic physics, multiple soundtracks, immersive sound effects, and dazzling animations, this game delivers the ultimate breakout experience.Treflix: Mini Games (Trefl S.A, 6th Feb, $5.99) - 5 cozy mini games that will take you to the charming world of Treflix. Try your hand at: Memory, Connect the dots, Puzzle, Find the difference, etc. The adorable Treflix will show you their world and you'll have a great time with them!Turbo Overkill (Apogee Entertainment, 29th Jan, $19.99) - Turbo Overkill takes over-the-top to never-before-reached heights. Build incredible speed by wall-running and dashing. Slide on your chainsaw leg, eviscerating foes and opening up bosses for critical damage, and go car-surfing on the hoods of flying cars. Blast away with the Twin Magnums, which lock-on and instagib several foes, the Boomer Shotgun and its attached grenade launcher, or the Telefragger sniper rifle, which teleports Johnny inside an enemy before they explode from within.Under Defeat (Clear River Games, 6th Feb, $19.99) - Under Defeat is a vertically scrolling shooter where you control a helicopter capable of moving in eight directions. It's a sleek, streamlined experience with just two buttonsfire and bombmaking it easy to pick up but hard to master. What sets the game apart is the tilt mechanic: as you turn, your shots tilt slightly left or right, allowing for strategic, angled attacks. You also have a small, satellite-like option unit that shoots independently. However, charging it requires you to release the fire button for a while, creating a tactical ebb and flow rarely seen in this all-out shoot 'em up genre. - Read our Under Defeat reviewUndying (Skystone Games, 11th Feb, $19.99) - Make sure to add UNDYING to your Wishlist to be one of the first to experience this emotional tale when the game launches. Infected by a zombie bite, Anling's days are numbered. She must now fight to survive, not for herself but her young son, Cody. Ensure Cody's survival in a zombie-infested world by protecting him and teaching him valuable skills, at any cost.Urban Myth Dissolution Center (SHUEISHA GAMES, 12th Feb, $17.99) - The Urban Myth Dissolution Center your one-stop solution for dissolving and dealing with cursed relics, monstrous oddities, and dimensional anomalies! Take on cases revolving around urban myths as Azami Fukurai, the heroine, under the supervision of Ayumu Meguriya, Level S psychic and Center Director...YOU Game+ (G-MODE, 30th Jan, $2.99) - The "YOU Game" featured in "KUUKIYOMI 4: Consider It" supports multiplayer and score rankings! You can enjoy a quick 10 to 20-minute play session and replay as many times as you like! Of course, you can enjoy this game even if youre not familiar with the original game its based on.Zumba The Marble Shooter Tikki Adventure (EpiXR Games,6th Feb, $4.99) - The ultimate marble shooter game combines puzzle-solving skills with fast-paced action. Each level presents a unique puzzle layout filled with colorful marbles that you must skillfully shoot to match and clear. The game is simple to learn but hard to master, offering endless hours of engaging gameplay.Note: As with previous Nintendo Downloads, not all games in the above list are included in the poll.What will you be downloading this week? (38 votes)Sid Meier's Civilization VII18%Arcade Archives THUNDER FOX 0%Bad Parenthood 0%Beef Cat Ultra 0%Big Helmet Heroes 0%Cats the Commander for Nintendo Switch 0%Cho Aniki Collection3%Citizen Sleeper: Helion Collection5%Drop That Cat 0%EGGCONSOLE CARMINE 88 PC-8801mkIISR 0%Genome Guardian 0%Last Monarch 0%Let's Cook Together 2 0%Light Guardian 0%Luck be a Landlord 0%Macross: Shooting Insight5%Malu the Princess 0%Momodora: Moonlit Farewell21%Moons of Darsalon 0%Penguin Flight 0%Pixel Game Maker Series Timothy and the Tower of Mu 0%Shieldwall3%Silent Forest: Deadly Night Horror 0%Skyline Bowling 0%Space CleanUp: Cosmic Robot Disinfector 0%Sugoro Quest: Dice Heroes3%Super Jagger Bomb 2: Go East 0%Toon Breakout 3D 0%Treflix: Mini Games 0%Turbo Overkill3%Under Defeat5%Undying5%Urban Myth Dissolution Center3%YOU Game+ 0%Other 0%Nothing for me this week26%So that's your lot for this week's North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!