Oh boy.Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!Its Christmas morning, and amidst the thick haze of food already cooking for lunch and the soothing laughter of our children enjoying their new toys, my wife approaches me with a small, square package. I hadnt seen this under the tree. Thats your last one, she says. I instinctively go to shake it she knows me well enough to catch my wrist. Dont do that! she interjects. Clearly this is an item of some delicacy.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Image: Gemma Smith / Nintendo LifeSeason's Greetings to one and all! The 25th of December has crept up on us once more with its promise of sugary treats, hot and cold meats, papery hats and glittery tat... and, of course, video games.It's been a slow but steady year for Nintendo lovers as Switch winds down and everyone eyes The Future. The system still had loads of great games this year, though as our bulging holiday backlogs can attest and with the prospect of a shiny new console launch next year, there's much to be excited about. It won't be long until we find out more and get our fidgeting hands on that most precious of gifts - a Nintendo system launch game!Whatever your plans this year, whether surrounded by friends and family or spending this one alone, everyone here at Nintendo Life sends our very best wishes for the holidays and beyond. We've got a suite of articles programmed for the next week, so sit back and relax - you've almost certainly earned it. (Not you, Jim - back to work with ye'!)As is tradition, we're off to run around Freezeezy Peak with a bear and bird. Have a great one, everyone!And now, time for the soothing, classic voice of Mumbo Jumbo, singing for you this Christmas with - "Mumbo Navidad" (I Want To Wish You An Eekum-Bokum) Happy holidays folks! @grantkirkhope.bsky.social @rare.co.uk @kurkogames.bsky.social #banjokazooie #n64 #midi #rareware #90s #christmas Riposte (@ripostebk.bsky.social) 2024-12-23T20:29:14.814Z

Image: NintendoOver the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!While the Super Mario series can get quite weird with its lore, world design, and general concepts, nothing comes close to the sheer absurdity of the WarioWare franchise. How many games out there let you pick someone's nose, perform dental work, and have a back-scratching competition with Mario? While on paper these activities may sound like the last things you'd want to spend your coveted game time on, they're executed masterfully and delightful to play.For decades, we've been puzzled as to how the folks over at Intelligent Systems and Nintendo come up with the microgames that make up the WarioWare series. Where do these ideas come from? How many are left on the drawing board? Where does one even begin to develop so many different micro projects? To get some answers, we recently had the chance to chat with Goro Abe, who was not only the Chief Director on the latest game WarioWare: Move It!, but has been with the series almost exclusively as a programmer, designer, and director since the very beginning.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Nintendo Life: WarioWare microgames are always so wild, wacky, and vastly different from the next. How does the team begin creating and conceptualizing these microgames?Goro Abe: We start by collecting ideas for microgames from employees across the company, all hailing from different roles and responsibilities. We had decided on the types of Forms (to a certain extent) at the beginning [of WarioWare: Move It!], but that was the only restriction we applied. Otherwise, we let people's imaginations run wild. I pick the best ideas, allowing for a variety of themes and play styles. WarioWare: Move It! has 223 types of microgames including the boss games, but at the initial idea stage, we collected over 1,000 ideas.Image: NintendoCan you walk us through the process of a microgame from start to finish? We imagine the playtesting phase alone must be quite interesting!GA: Once we have the rough ideas for the games, the planner and director solidify the specifics. After that, an artist and programmer will be assigned to each microgame, and that pair create the gameplay. In general, we let the artist decide on the aesthetics of their game. Once the game is complete, we monitor people as they play it for the first time. If the rules are confusing, or if their input couldn't be detected from how the game was played, we think about how those issues could be resolved and make adjustments, then repeat the improvement process.In total, a team of around 80 people is involved in microgame production, with a different combination of team members working on each microgame. That's how we end up with such a rich variety of microgames.To you and the team, what are the core principles of a WarioWare microgame?GA: First of all, microgame controls and rules must be intuitive, where any player can instantly grasp how they work. For example, the balance we aim for is for players to be able to beat a game on the second or third try, even if they didn't get it at first. We also strive to make the themes behind each microgame unique and relatable to as wide a range of ages and backgrounds possible.In WarioWare: Smooth Moves on the Wii and now in WarioWare: Move It!, we also placed great importance on making sure the motion controls feel intuitive to the actual movements and that they look fun to the audience.Image: NintendoWith the latest entry in the series being a sort of spiritual successor to Smooth Moves on the Wii, are there any microgames that were left on the drawing board back then, but were now made possible with Switch hardware?GA: For each game in the series, we think of all new ideas for microgames, so there aren't any ideas that came over from Smooth Moves. However, thinking back on it, the Wii Remote (the controller used for Smooth Moves) only had an accelerometer, but the Switch Joy-Con has a gyroscope built in, which lets us detect more subtle movements. You could say that the additional sensor has allowed us to create even more creative microgames, like ones where we detect the player's leg and butt movements in the Squat Form.Also, Smooth Moves was designed to only use a single Wii Remote, whereas in Move It!, we made it so that a pair of Joy-Con controllers can be used, which helped us discover a new way to play: two-player cooperative microgames. Bum noteHow does the team go about developing the video game-themed microgames found in 9-Volt's stages, like the Super Mario 64 DS sliding minigame with Mario and Luigi? Do you reach into the vault and dig up old art assets, or are you rebuilding them from scratch to match the game theyre mimicking?GA: At the idea stage, we make a list of past Nintendo games and products and think about which ones would work as movement-based microgames. We then pick out the ones that sound the most fun and try not to favor a single game or console.Once we had a solid idea of what to make, we reach out to the developers of each original game, who provide us with all sorts of assets and guidance. Different microgames are made in different ways. We sometimes receive models and other data to help us with development. If the original game data no longer exists, we create it from scratch, mimicking the original.For Super Mario 64 DS, we did get the actual course data, but we made some changes so that it would be easier to play using the Scales Form (a pose requiring the player stretch out both arms). Another change we made is that we added items associated with classic Nintendo hardware.Images: NintendoWarioWare fans are having a great time on Switch with not only one but now two great games in the series to play! What decision led the team to work on Move It! so quickly after Get It Together!, which was released in 2021?the additional sensor has allowed us to create even more creative microgames, like ones where we detect the player's leg and butt movements in the Squat FormGA: While we were developing Get It Together!, games where the player moves their body around like Ring Fit Adventure were starting to get attention on Nintendo Switch, and so we had the idea early on that it would be fun to create a WarioWare game where the player moves their body around while holding the Joy-Con controllers. Also, the gameplay behind Get It Together! and Move It! are completely different, so there were good reasons to make them both, even if they're on the same system.Do you and the team have any favourite microgames or fun stories to share surrounding the development of WarioWare: Move It!?GA: One memory that sticks out in my mind is from the experimentation phase at the beginning of development. Two of our more quiet, serious programmers abruptly stood up, raised both hands in the air, and started playing Gold Digger, a microgame where players use the Sky Stretch Form to stick their arms up a giant nose. During the whole development period, staff would suddenly strike weird poses or start making crazy motions while playing all sorts of games, so I think that to outside observers, it must have seemed like a pretty bizarre-looking development area.In one of the competitive games in Galactic Conquest, the players are birds and walk to the finish line in Ba-KAW Form, but originally the player characters were actually turtles. The idea was that the player would get on their hands and knees, put a Joy-Con on their back, and change directions to control the character. However, when we actually tried it out, the Joy-Con would fall off the player's back right away and the player would scrape their knees, so it was a total bust. But on the bright side, the people watching the playtest got a really good laugh out of that chaos.Images: NintendoThis interview has been lightly edited for clarity.Big thanks to Goro Abe for taking the time to share some insight into this wild development world and to Nintendo for making this interview happen. Good FormRANK!Related GamesSee AlsoShare:08 Zion's been crafting videos with our team for over half a decade now. He has a hard time believing it's really been that long now, but you know what they say! Time flies when you're doing something you love. He's got quite the knack for photography and takes a number of photos for our site too. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesPSA: Switch 2 Is Getting Revealed In The Next 100 DaysSet your AlarmosToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

Image: Nintendo LifeThe second wave of savings has landed in the European eShop Holiday sale including little-known curios like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe so we have updated this list with the very best of 'em.The latest additions have a slightly different end date and will only be on sale until 6th January. Pay attention to all those flagged with the new date in the list below so you don't miss out!Nintendo has officially kicked off its Switch eShop Holiday Sale in Europe, bringing beefy discounts to thousands of games until 12th January 2024.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube And yes, we said "thousands". Indeed, there are so many games currently seeing a price cut on the eShop that it can be difficult to know where to start, but that's where we come in. Below, we've laid out every game in the Nintendo Holiday Sale that we've awarded 9/10 or higher, so you can filter through to the cream of the crop in no time.The list may seem a little shorter than usual for now, though Nintendo has announced that more games will be added to the sale on 24th and 30th December, so keep an eye out for more discounted delights in the coming weeks.Note. We've given sale prices in GBP followed by the percentage discount, but commensurate EUR savings can be found across European eShops.If you want to pick up some credit to assist in your eShop purchases, you can head over to the Nintendo Life store or see all available options in the links below.Buy Nintendo eShop CreditUSACANUKEURJPNSo, let's dive into some of the top discounted picks, presented below in alphabetical order...A Short Hike (Switch eShop)Publisher: Whippoorwill / Developer: Adam Robinson-YuRelease Date: 18th Aug 2020 (USA) / 18th Aug 2020 (UK/EU)3.77 (-40%)A Short Hike is a fat-free experience from top to bottom or should we say bottom to top? It's the kind of game that makes us sigh with happiness when we recall our time with it, and even having played it through to its ostensible conclusion multiple times, we know for a fact there are still things to see and do on that mountain.It's something of an apotheosis a milestone in indie games akin to Cave Story or Spelunky. The very best bits of multiple game genres, stripped of all padding and bloat, mixed perfectly into a delicious video game stew that only gets richer the more you play.An exploration in every sense of the word, A Short Hike is cute without being twee, challenging without being obnoxious, and emotional without being cloying. A landmark game for all ages. Don't miss this one.Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition (Switch)Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: Project AcesRelease Date: 11th Jul 2024 (USA) / 11th Jul 2024 (UK/EU)32.99 (-34%)Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is the absolute pinnacle of the series and despite coming to Switch over five years after other platforms, this 'impossible' Switch conversion does very little to degrade the experience. Long-time franchise players and military aviation enthusiasts will be overwhelmed by the fan service at every turn, from craters on the ground to airplanes, liveries, callsigns, and emblems shouting out to previous entries.We understand the genre is uniquely niche, but if this is your first foray into the franchise, this conversion is a perfect gateway into this rich, revered series. You get tons of content and an epic single-player campaign wrapped up in triple-A presentation that delivers the most comprehensive portable experience ever from Project Aces.Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.Alien: Isolation (Switch eShop)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Creative AssemblyRelease Date: 5th Dec 2019 (USA) / 5th Dec 2019 (UK/EU)9.99 (-33%)Alien: Isolation is a survival horror masterpiece and straight-up one of the very best horror video games ever released. It's a nerve-wracking affair a slow, methodical game of cat and mouse against a brilliantly clever recreation of one of cinema's most infamous killers but if you're up to the task you'll find one of the most satisfying gameplay experiences in the genre; a brilliant and beautiful homage to one of the greatest Sci-Fi movies of all time. Feral Interactive has done a stellar job with this Switch port and the excellent motion controls and inclusion of all previously-released DLC only go to sweeten the deal. This is essential stuff for survival horror fans.Alisa Developer's Cut (Switch eShop)Publisher: Top Hat Studios / Developer: Casper CroesRelease Date: 6th Feb 2024 (USA) / 6th Feb 2024 (UK/EU)12.14 (-25%)Alisa Developer's Cut is an excellent homage to classic survival horror that can easily stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Resident Evil and Alone in the Dark. From the tank controls to the cheesy voiceover work, it nails almost every aspect, providing an experience that feels like it was ripped straight from the '90s. Its overall appeal will likely be limited to those who are intimately familiar with survival horror, but if that's you, then strap yourself in for one of the best examples of the genre to date.Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 20th Mar 2020 (USA) / 20th Mar 2020 (UK/EU)33.29 (-33%)*Sale ends 6th JanuaryAnimal Crossing: New Horizons improved upon every single facet of the series imaginable. There's more to do, more to see, more to change, more to mould, and more to love; fans and first-time players can find themselves losing hours at a time gathering materials, creating new furniture, and making their island undeniably theirs.Every moment is unashamedly blissful, with excellently written characters that truly feel alive and an island paradise that gives back infinitely more than you put in. Back when Animal Crossing: New Leaf hit the shelves all those years ago and created a whole new generation of fans, many people were wondering how Nintendo could possibly top it, but here we got our answer.This is a masterpiece that's worth buying a Switch (or two) to play.Armello (Switch eShop)Publisher: League of Geeks / Developer: League of GeeksRelease Date: 27th Sep 2018 (USA) / 27th Sep 2018 (UK/EU)7.99 (-60%)While this turn-based affair might look, move, and feel just like a real board game, Armello is actually a completely original creation and one that does more than simply doff its cap at the world of tabletop gaming. From the deep tactics of its living board game gameplay to the sheer charm of its worldbuilding and animal character designs, it's a quest filled with back-stabbing, political power plays, and rampaging monsters thats different each and every time you play. Its at its absolute best when played in multiplayer, that human factor making for an even more unpredictable battle for the corrupted throne. The Switch version has had its ups and downs since launch, with some updates making things worse, but it's apparently back to being in a playable state on Nintendo's console. As such, youd be doing yourself a disservice not to add this anthropomorphic tale to your wishlist.Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (Switch)Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: GustRelease Date: 24th Mar 2023 (USA) / 24th Mar 2023 (UK/EU)27.49 (-45%)Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key ends Ryza's three-game run on a high note, serving up a heady mix of exploration, crafting, and combat that benefits greatly from a narrative arc that's had time to develop and grow. The new key mechanics add more depth to combat, synthesis, and exploration, the world is more seamless and diverse than ever before and the whole thing comes together to form a satisfying end for this hugely popular protagonist. We did have some issues with small text, no English dub, and a little fussiness in how information is relayed, but overall this is Gust's finest adventure to date and a JRPG experience that long-term fans and newcomers alike will find plenty to delight in.Blazing Chrome (Switch eShop)Publisher: The Arcade Crew / Developer: JoyMasherRelease Date: 11th Jul 2019 (USA) / 11th Jul 2019 (UK/EU)4.58 (-70%)For those longing for a time when side-scrolling shooters ruled the roost, Blazing Chrome is exactly what you're looking for. Perfect for short sessions, its slick gameplay and old-school art direction make for an astonishingly fun game full of explosions, epic set pieces and spectacular boss battles. Its brutal difficulty may not be for everyone, but if you're up for the challenge, then get ready for one of the most accomplished 2D action titles in years.BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light (Switch)Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: GustRelease Date: 9th Nov 2021 (USA) / 9th Nov 2021 (UK/EU)19.99 (-60%)Blue Reflection: Second Light improves on almost every aspect of the original, with a mystery that feels more personal as the characters become closer. The relationship between the girls as they seek to discover why they were brought to this strange world is the star of the show; though the combat is fun, it is always a vehicle to get you more story rather than the driving force of the game. Second Light is a fantastic-looking anime adventure that you'll love, so long as you can accept that combat isn't the focus.Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Switch eShop)Publisher: Finji / Developer: FinjiRelease Date: 15th Dec 2021 (USA) / 15th Dec 2021 (UK/EU)8.54 (-50%)As an adventure game, Chicory: A Colorful Tale is quite sincerely up there with the very best of the genre. Theres plenty to see and do and a full completion run will probably take you 25-30 hours. The characters and their travails are rich and likeable, the games sense of humour is generally inspired, and its all very sweet without being sugary-twee and talking down to the player. Its also an affecting little tearjerker that will definitely strike a chord if you make art, and almost certainly will even if you dont so long as youre capable of pretty basic empathy. Chicory is simple to play but impressively long and complex, with perfect controls, performance and visuals. Throw yourself into painting the world and youll be left with a game thats very much your own and speaks to you directly a beautiful marriage of mechanics, themes and visuals.Crawl (Switch eShop)Publisher: Powerhoof / Developer: PowerhoofRelease Date: 19th Dec 2017 (USA) / 19th Dec 2017 (UK/EU)2.59 (-80%)We really like Crawl, and wed bet our collected stash of gold and wrath you will, too. A dungeon-crawling hack-and-slash affair with roguelike elements, one player is the hero trying to get through a dungeon and the others play as monster-controlling ghosts attempting to kill said hero and take their place.It's an everyone-for-themselves free-for-all, yet there are opportunities for frantic 3v1 co-operative play a necessity when all the non-hero ghost characters must take joint control of bosses the hero faces. Its great fun in single-player thanks to some aggressive AI, but that consistent danger takes on a new dimension when you and three of your friends are jostling for XP and that all-important killing blow.Competitive couchplay doesnt get much better than this on Switch.Crypt of the NecroDancer (Switch eShop)Publisher: Brace Yourself Games / Developer: Brace Yourself GamesRelease Date: 1st Feb 2018 (USA) / 8th Feb 2018 (UK/EU)3.59 (-80%)A roguelike at heart with a rhythm-game soul, Crypt Of The NecroDancer is a sublime experience thats a must-play for fans of the genre(s). Its upbeat, uptempo take on dungeon crawling is infectious, and theres enough content here to last even the savviest of spelunkers for many, many dance-fuelled dives into the depths if youve never tangoed with the NecroDancer, this fully-featured Switch edition is the perfect way to jump in. For anybody who never played this but loved the Zelda spin-off Cadence of Hyrule (and was left wanting more), what are you waiting for?Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition (Switch eShop)Publisher: Capcom / Developer: CapcomRelease Date: 20th Feb 2020 (USA) / 20th Feb 2020 (UK/EU)7.99 (-50%)Even so many years after its 2005 debut, Devil May Cry 3 remains one of the very best action games ever made. It may have aged in places, but that turbo-charged, combo-heavy action feels as fresh today as it did back in the mid-noughties. The new Freestyle mode which lets players swap combat styles on the fly at any point during the action is a genuinely excellent addition to the package, and the ability to play Bloody Palace in local co-op is the cherry on top of a Switch port that should appeal to anyone interested in sampling the devilish delights of this all-time classic.Disney Illusion Island (Switch)Publisher: Disney Games / Developer: Dlala StudiosRelease Date: 28th Jul 2023 (USA) / 28th Jul 2023 (UK/EU)24.49 (-30%)*Sale ends 6th JanuaryWhile you could certainly argue that Disney Illusion Island is perhaps more of a Metroidvania than it is a straight-up 2D platformer, we reckon it strikes a wonderful balance between the two genres that it could honestly fall into either category. Its focus on combat-free exploration makes this a great gateway into the genre for younger audiences, and its ability to support up to four players via local co-op means that it's an excellent option for families who want to spend a bit of time with some of the most iconic Disney characters imaginable. You can also hug each other to regain health. What more could you ask for?Dragon Ball FighterZ (Switch)Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: Arc System WorksRelease Date: 28th Sep 2018 (USA) / 28th Sep 2018 (UK/EU)7.99 (-84%)Dragon Ball FighterZ on the Switch is, simply put, one of the best fighting games we've seen on the system. Arc System Works went the extra mile in capturing the essence of the source material and distilled it into an incredible brawler that has lost nothing in the transition to Nintendo's hybrid console. The stunning visuals, intense action, and easy-to-master controls make FighterZ a game all fans of the genre should have in their library. If you only play this kind of game casually, it remains a must-own.Dusk (Switch eShop)Publisher: New Blood Interactive / Developer: New Blood InteractiveRelease Date: 28th Oct 2021 (USA) / 28th Oct 2021 (UK/EU)7.44 (-50%)Dusk is one hell of an impressive piece of software and possibly the single best Unity port to Switch we've ever seen, sidestepping typical performance problems and delivering a brilliant experience of a brilliant game. It's not as good a game as Quake, but almost nothing is. There's a relatively limited arsenal of weapons they're all great, but there's no iconic gun here, just your usual pistol, shotty, assault rifle, explosives, et al. We're being churlish with our criticisms here, though ultimately, Dusk is another absolute cracker in Switch's FPS roster.

Image: Nintendo LifeOver the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Ollie reflects on just some of the eventful episodes from his days working in video game retail...When news hit that GAME, the UKs last remaining video game retailer (not counting the many wonderful independent stores left standing), would be bringing an end to trade-ins and pre-owned products from 16th February 2024, I felt a potent mix of thoughts and emotions.On one hand, I couldnt quite comprehend why the firm would come to such a decision; I worked there for the best part of a decade, and three key initiatives were consistently promoted to both staff and customers: reward cards, pre-orders, and trade-ins. For the latter, 100% of the money made from pre-owned sales went directly into GAMEs pockets, whereas new games would yield a comparatively much smaller profit. You could see why the firm wanted to push trade-ins.Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo LifeBut on the flip side, when you consider the rapidly rising popularity of digital games in conjunction with GAMEs decision to turn the vast majority of its standalone retail spaces into Sports Direct concession stores, it does make sense that the company would want to bring an end to trade-ins. According to GAMEs filings for the 12 months up to April 29th, 2023, the gross transactional value (GTV - full retail value excluding VAT, savings schemes, and publisher deductions) for pre-owned products totalled 16,478. This is down from 25,894 over the same period the previous year, so theres no denying that the demand for trade-ins and pre-owned products is decreasing rapidly.With all that said, I will miss trade-ins when the practice eventually goes the way of the dodo in the coming months. As a customer, its a great way to knock a bit of money off new releases by getting rid of a few older titles, and to pick up secondhand bargains for older games.As an ex-employee, however, dealing with trade-ins for ten years (give or take) has resulted in a bevy of memories both good and bad, and Id like to share just a few of them with you, dear reader.So make yourselves comfortable as we take a trip into the not-too-distant past and see just what GAME employees have had to put up withThat One Time We Had *All* The SkylandersImage: Zion Grassl / Nintendo LifeRemember Skylanders? Oh boy, I sure do. Ive practically had nightmares about them. As someone who was never particularly into the whole toys-to-life genre (I rarely even buy amiibo unless it's for a series that Im really keen on), I wasnt really clued up on the characters beyond that totally botched version of Spyro.Disney Infinity wasnt so bad because I instantly recognised a lot of characters. But with Skylanders, Im truly sorry, but I couldnt tell you the difference between Boomer, Chill, Countdown, Cynder, or any of them, and I frankly wasnt paid enough to swot up. This wasnt an issue for the most part: people would pick what they wanted from the shelves, make the transaction, and be on their way. The problems arose when folks wanted to trade them in.Ah yes, it's...erm, that one. Jiminny Lockgood? Image: ActivisionIt doesnt matter what it was whether a bunch of handheld consoles, accessories, games, or figures when a customer came walking into the store hauling a gigantic cardboard box with an expectant grin on their face, my heart sank. 99% of the time, it meant they had a heap of bits and bobs to trade and I would have to drop whatever I was doing and spend the next hour sorting it all out.During the height of the toys-to-life craze, a woman came into the store with her two sons, and all three were carrying massive boxes. I thought theyd be full of games, which would have been fine, but when they got to the counter and opened them, Skylanders. Three boxes full to the brim with Skylanders.Our inventory process for this was to consult a binder that contained a full list of every Skylander, including their names, their till code, and a small, slightly blurry image of the figure. I spent the better part of three hours grabbing one figure at a time, carefully consulting the binder to match the figure with its blurry image, inputting the code, and moving on to the next one. And the worst part? The poor woman and her sons stayed in the store the entire time and when it came to tallying up, I dont think we even broke 50. I felt terrible knowing that we were offering a fraction of what shed get on eBay, but she didnt care. Fair enough, then.By the end of the day, I was ready to launch the figures into the ocean. There arent many instances where Im glad to see a game series end, but if Skylanders ever comes back, Im off to Mars.That One Time I Got AttackedImage: Nintendo LifeFor a decade, I met many, many interesting characters working at GAME. Thankfully, the vast majority of them were friendly, pleasant people who I was honoured to serve. The remaining were either rude, dismissive, angry, deceitful, or violent. Well Theres only been one truly violent customer.During my time at GAME, we not only dealt with video games, hardware, and accessories but also secondhand mobile devices. We were trying to muscle in on CEXs territory and, to be fair, we didnt do a bad job at it. We stocked a good range of mobiles, and we were meticulous when it came to ensuring they were of good, saleable quality.One afternoon, I was taking my lunch in the upstairs office when a colleague came up to inform me that a customer had wanted to bring his mobile in and wasnt handling the rejection very well due to the device's lack of quality. I was a Senior Sales Assistant so I was occasionally left in charge of the store. As such, whether we took this phone in was ultimately down to me.I followed my colleague downstairs and glanced at the customer and the phone in question. It was a Blackberry (gosh, remember those?) and it was in terrible condition. The SIM card tray was battered beyond repair, the screen was scratched to hell, and there was no charger or accompanying box. Naturally, I said, 'No.'After a bit of back and forth with the customer, I put my foot down and said, Im sorry, but theres no way were taking this phone. Immediately, he launched into a rage, trying to grab me over the counter, missing, and proceeding to pick up whatever he could find to hurl at me, all the while shouting expletives. Eventually, he picked up a particularly heavy charity box and aimed for my head. I raised my arm to block my face and the box caught my elbow, resulting in a nasty cut. The customer lumbered out of the store, running his hands across the shelves to knock off as much as he could on his way.We called the police, showcased the CCTV footage, and that was that. I didnt need any medical attention, but I was quite shaken up. The guy had the gall to come back days later to look at our mobile phone stock! He was soon arrested and went to prison.That One Time Those Countless Times I Refused Scratched 360 DiscsImage: Gemma Smith / Nintendo LifeAh, the beloved Xbox 360. It was such a great console, but my goodness, did it have some problems. The one that everyone is more or less aware of is the Red Ring of Death; a fault in which three of the red lights encircling the power button would light up signifying General Hardware Failure.Less infamous, however, was the 360's other issue, which had to do with the console being moved while it was turned on (and sometimes even when it was stationary); the apparatus inside could cut a perfect circular scratch into the spinning disc, often rendering it completely unsalvageable.That didnt stop people trying to trade them in, though. All the bloody time. It was always parents, too, who would bring in Little Timmys game collection and apparently werent made aware that they were mostly useless. So, of course, theyd argue, even though the evidence was staring them right in the face. We were told they all work fine. Well yes, Im sure an eight-year-old looking to get a new game is being completely honest, right?We did have a little machine that would buff up scratched game discs, and it often worked wonders, but when you've got one of those circular scratches from the 360, pretty much nothing's going to solve it. Hmm... Maybe Microsoft should go all-digital, after all?Nah.That One Time I Got A GBA SP For FreeImage: Ollie Reynolds / Nintendo LifeIn addition to regular customers looking to trade in their personal belongings, we'd often get owners of independent game stores coming in to shore off some of their stock via trade-in. It was a perfectly legitimate way for them to get rid of games or accessories that weren't shifting and swap them for products that they could sell. So I was always happy to help out.One chap came in quite frequently so much so that his daughter wound up getting a job at the store and proved to be one of the most efficient team members and we built up quite a friendship over the years, right up until my GAME branch closed in 2017. He'd often come in with boxes to trade, but it was never a hassle; he was always on top of what they should be worth, so I never felt our time was being wasted.One day, he came into the store in the run-up to Christmas and simply handed me a Game Boy Advance SP in perfect condition with an accompanying charger."You know we don't take these for trade-in anymore, right?" I asked."I know. It's yours," he said. He knew that having got rid of my GBA many years prior, I had always wanted to get another one. As a thank you for dealing with him for so long, he took a near-mint SP from his own stock and gifted it to me, no questions asked. I wasn't quite sure what to say. I know the consoles weren't worth a great deal of money at least they weren't at the time! but for him to remember that I wanted one in the first place was enough to nearly bring a tear to my eye. I'll never forget him, and I hope his own store is flourishing.Okay, we know these ones! Image: Gemma Smith / Nintendo LifeSo that's it! Hopefully, you've had as much fun reading these tales as I had writing about them. It's been a fair few years since I worked at GAME and it's safe to say that the company has changed quite a bit in the time since. Despite its issues, I'll always remember my time there fondly the ups, the downs, the laughs, the frustrations.Mostly, I'll remember my colleagues, though; folks who, despite what the internet might have you believe, loved video games through and through. Even if they couldn't name all the Skylanders.

Image: Nintendo LifeNintendo of America has kicked off its 'Hits for the Holidays' eShop sale, bringing a wave of beefy discounts to thousands of titles across the storefront until 5th January.There are so many to choose from, in fact, that it can be difficult to see the very best among the savings. That's where we come in. In the following list, we have highlighted every game in the Nintendo's North American 'Hits for the Holidays' eShop sale that we awarded 9/10 or higher and yes, it's a rather long one.If you're keen to splash the holiday cash in this sale, you can pick up some eShop credit from our store by following the links below. 'Tis the season, after all.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Buy Nintendo eShop CreditUSACANUKEURJPNWithout further ado, here's the very best of the Nintendo eShop 'Hits for the Holidays' sale in alphabetical order...A Short Hike (Switch eShop)Publisher: Whippoorwill / Developer: Adam Robinson-YuRelease Date: 18th Aug 2020 (USA) / 18th Aug 2020 (UK/EU)$4.79 (-40%)A Short Hike is a fat-free experience from top to bottom or should we say bottom to top? It's the kind of game that makes us sigh with happiness when we recall our time with it, and even having played it through to its ostensible conclusion multiple times, we know for a fact there are still things to see and do on that mountain.It's something of an apotheosis a milestone in indie games akin to Cave Story or Spelunky. The very best bits of multiple game genres, stripped of all padding and bloat, mixed perfectly into a delicious video game stew that only gets richer the more you play.An exploration in every sense of the word, A Short Hike is cute without being twee, challenging without being obnoxious, and emotional without being cloying. A landmark game for all ages. Don't miss this one.Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition (Switch)Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: Project AcesRelease Date: 11th Jul 2024 (USA) / 11th Jul 2024 (UK/EU)$35.99 (-40%)Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is the absolute pinnacle of the series and despite coming to Switch over five years after other platforms, this 'impossible' Switch conversion does very little to degrade the experience. Long-time franchise players and military aviation enthusiasts will be overwhelmed by the fan service at every turn, from craters on the ground to airplanes, liveries, callsigns, and emblems shouting out to previous entries.We understand the genre is uniquely niche, but if this is your first foray into the franchise, this conversion is a perfect gateway into this rich, revered series. You get tons of content and an epic single-player campaign wrapped up in triple-A presentation that delivers the most comprehensive portable experience ever from Project Aces.Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.Alien: Isolation (Switch eShop)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Creative AssemblyRelease Date: 5th Dec 2019 (USA) / 5th Dec 2019 (UK/EU)$14.99 (-25%)Alien: Isolation is a survival horror masterpiece and straight-up one of the very best horror video games ever released. It's a nerve-wracking affair a slow, methodical game of cat and mouse against a brilliantly clever recreation of one of cinema's most infamous killers but if you're up to the task you'll find one of the most satisfying gameplay experiences in the genre; a brilliant and beautiful homage to one of the greatest Sci-Fi movies of all time. Feral Interactive has done a stellar job with this Switch port and the excellent motion controls and inclusion of all previously-released DLC only go to sweeten the deal. This is essential stuff for survival horror fans.Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 20th Mar 2020 (USA) / 20th Mar 2020 (UK/EU)$41.99 (-30%)Animal Crossing: New Horizons improved upon every single facet of the series imaginable. There's more to do, more to see, more to change, more to mould, and more to love; fans and first-time players can find themselves losing hours at a time gathering materials, creating new furniture, and making their island undeniably theirs.Every moment is unashamedly blissful, with excellently written characters that truly feel alive and an island paradise that gives back infinitely more than you put in. Back when Animal Crossing: New Leaf hit the shelves all those years ago and created a whole new generation of fans, many people were wondering how Nintendo could possibly top it, but here we got our answer.This is a masterpiece that's worth buying a Switch (or two) to play.Animal Well (Switch eShop)Publisher: Bigmode / Developer: Shared MemoryRelease Date: 9th May 2024 (USA) / 9th May 2024 (UK/EU)$19.99 (-20%)Developer Shared Memory's stated goal was to craft complete experiences that will be playable long after the world loses its internet connection, and screen after screen, Animal Well excels in delighting your eyes and giving your brain something to stew on.Its a riposte against a culture of post-launch updates in favour of a meticulously crafted, singular vision with potentially years worth of discoveries baked in. By all indications, Animal Well delivers on that long-term promise and does so with a one-of-a-kind elegance.Astral Ascent (Switch eShop)Publisher: MP2 Games / Developer: Hibernian WorkshopRelease Date: 14th Nov 2023 (USA) / 14th Nov 2023 (UK/EU)$16.24 (-35%)Astral Ascent is a prime example of a game that amounts to more than the sum of its parts. Its strong character design, hi-bit visuals, tight combat, memorable bosses, and broad build variety have all featured in games youve probably played beforetheres nothing new here.But to write it off as just 'another one of those' in a crowded genre would be to miss out on one of the most delightful and surprising releases of 2023. Astral Ascent is comfortably one of the best roguelites available on the Switch. Don't miss it.Axiom Verge (Switch eShop)Publisher: Thomas Happ Games / Developer: Thomas Happ GamesRelease Date: 5th Oct 2017 (USA) / 5th Oct 2017 (UK/EU)$2.99 (-85%)Axiom Verge on Switch is truly an outstanding port of an outstanding game, no more and no less. We would strongly urge those of you who missed this game on other platforms to pick it up here; this is the full Axiom Verge experience and it's available in a format that supports both handheld and home play.For those of you who have played it before on other platforms, its ultimately a question of just how much you love this game. This is the exact same, excellent game that youve played before, so whether or not you want to buy it again is personal choice.Regardless of which side you fall on, Axiom Verge is a fantastic example of how to do a Metroidvania right.You'll also find Axiom Verge 2 in this sale for $5.99 (-70%).Balatro (Switch eShop)Publisher: PlayStack / Developer: LocalThunkRelease Date: 20th Feb 2024 (USA) / 20th Feb 2024 (UK/EU)$13.49 (-10%)Balatro is a roguelike for gamers who don't like roguelikes... and then everybody else on top of that. It utterly nails what it sets out to do, providing an instantly accessible, satisfying, and addictive gameplay loop that anybody can grasp.It's an immensely enjoyable experience from the start, but as you get deeper in, there's really nothing else quite like it. Utterly sublime.Blaster Master Zero 2 (Switch eShop)Publisher: Inti Creates / Developer: Inti CreatesRelease Date: 20th Mar 2019 (USA) / 20th Mar 2019 (UK/EU)$4.99 (-50%)Inti Creates knocked it out of the park with Blaster Master Zero 2, improving on the original 'reboot' in nearly every conceivable way while also setting a clear path forward for what could hopefully become a flagship series for the company.Tight platforming action, memorable boss battles, plenty of extra side content, and some gorgeous pixel art make this one of the easiest recommendations on the eShop; wed strongly encourage you to pick this one up.Whether youre a long-time fan of the series or are just getting into it for the first time, Blaster Master Zero 2 is a stellar experience from stem to stern, and further cements Inti Creates legacy as one of the best developers in the retro gaming business.Botany Manor (Switch eShop)Publisher: Whitethorn Games / Developer: Balloon StudiosRelease Date: 9th Apr 2024 (USA) / 9th Apr 2024 (UK/EU)$19.99 (-20%)It looks like The Witness and it plays a bit like StreetPass Garden, but Botany Manor blooms into something that's not only entirely its own, but also something quite special. Don't let its cosy aesthetics fool you Botany Manor is packed with nicely challenging, well-designed puzzles, and isn't afraid to tackle heavy subjects, too.Braid: Anniversary Edition (Switch eShop)Publisher: Number None / Developer: Number NoneRelease Date: 14th May 2024 (USA) / 14th May 2024 (UK/EU)$10.99 (-45%)Braid remains a landmark equally for indie game development and puzzle platformers. The time control mechanics are mind-bendingly satisfying to play with and the puzzles are wickedly inventive. This Anniversary Edition is an exquisite expression of the original concept, with everything spruced up to perfection.And, even on top of that, it includes interactive creators commentary that sets a high watermark for in-game analysis and represents a new key text for anyone interested in how games are made. In short: this package is an all-timer.Castlevania Dominus Collection (Switch eShop)Publisher: Konami / Developer: KonamiRelease Date: 27th Aug 2024 (USA) / 27th Aug 2024 (UK/EU)$19.99 (-20%)Castlevania Dominus Collection is quite possibly the best compilation that Konami and M2 have produced to date. It presents three exceptional DS games that easily stand the test of time and provide just as much enjoyment now as they did back in the 2000s.Not only that, but the impossible has seemingly been achieved with the remarkable addition of Haunted Castle Revisited. Included as a fun little bonus, this revamped take on a reviled arcade curio is fantastic, and while it can't compete with the very best 'classic' games in the franchise, it's the closest we've gotten to a brand new Castlevania in years. An exquisite package.And for even more Castlevania action, you'll also find the Castlevania Advance Collection in this sale for $9.99 (-50%).Chained Echoes (Switch eShop)Publisher: DECK13 Spotlight / Developer: Matthias LindaRelease Date: 8th Dec 2022 (USA) / 8th Dec 2022 (UK/EU)$21.24 (-15%)Chained Echoes is a wonderful mash-up of '90s JRPG tropes, masterfully woven together to produce an experience that feels simultaneously nostalgic and fresh. A well-paced story, unconventional progression system, tactical combat system, and expansive world all come together to make for a game that is shockingly one of the very best RPGs that we played in 2022. Really, theres no place where it feels like Chained Echoes drops the ball, which is all the more impressive when you consider that the vast majority of it was put together by one person. If you consider yourself a fan of JRPGs, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up as soon as possible. It stands as a shining example of everything that makes RPGs great.Chicken Police - Paint it RED! (Switch eShop)Publisher: HandyGames / Developer: The Wild GentlemenRelease Date: 5th Nov 2020 (USA) / 5th Nov 2020 (UK/EU)$9.99 (-50%)An extremely impressive first game from The Wild Gentlemen, Chicken Police - Paint it RED! is one of the best visual novel/adventure games we've played in a long, long time and one hell of an absorbing tale. It looks and runs great on the Switch, with only a couple of really minuscule interface issues which are easily ignored. At roughly eight or nine hours, the story is surprisingly lengthy for its genre, but we were never bored and wanted to investigate every little thing just to wring out more precious droplets of banter and fascination. Chicken Police is a polished, captivating experience and we're very excited for whatever's coming next from this team.Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Switch eShop)Publisher: Finji / Developer: FinjiRelease Date: 15th Dec 2021 (USA) / 15th Dec 2021 (UK/EU)$9.99 (-50%)As an adventure game, Chicory: A Colorful Tale is quite sincerely up there with the very best of the genre. Theres plenty to see and do and a full completion run will probably take you 25-30 hours. The characters and their travails are rich and likeable, the games sense of humour is generally inspired, and its all very sweet without being sugary-twee and talking down to the player. Its also an affecting little tearjerker that will definitely strike a chord if you make art, and almost certainly will even if you dont so long as youre capable of pretty basic empathy. Chicory is simple to play but impressively long and complex, with perfect controls, performance and visuals. Throw yourself into painting the world and youll be left with a game thats very much your own and speaks to you directly a beautiful marriage of mechanics, themes and visuals.Collection of Mana (Switch)Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square EnixRelease Date: 11th Jun 2019 (USA) / 11th Jun 2019 (UK/EU)$15.99 (-60%)What you've got here are two of the finest examples of the genre, accompanied by a third likeable entry which is also well worth a look. When you consider how many titles Konami is packing into its Anniversary Collection packages and that their retail price is almost half what Square Enix is demanding for the three games included here it's impossible to not question the value of Collection of Mana. However, there's no denying the fact that Secret of Mana is one of the finest console RPGs of all time, and even though it's readily available elsewhere, playing it on Switch is like wrapping yourself up in a warm and familiar blanket; it's just right somehow. We could argue that Secret of Mana is merely the appetiser for the real star of this collection: Trials of Mana. It's nothing short of a masterpiece and finally getting the chance to play it officially in English is a landmark moment for SNES and RPG fans alike.Core Keeper (Switch)Publisher: Fireshine Games / Developer: PugstormRelease Date: 17th Sep 2024 (USA) / 17th Sep 2024 (UK/EU)$14.99 (-25%)Core Keeper is a wonderfully engaging and mysterious survival sandbox that is tough to put down once it gets its hooks in you.An expertly judged progression curve, tons of secrets and unlockables, and excellent presentation all come together to make this one an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a great new survival game. If youve had your fill of stalwarts like Minecraft or Terraria and are looking for the next great game to scratch that itch, look no further.Crimzon Clover - World EXplosion (Switch eShop)Publisher: DEGICA / Developer: YotsubaneRelease Date: 29th Oct 2020 (USA) / 29th Oct 2020 (UK/EU)$11.99 (-40%)While Crimzon Clover does owe a tremendous debt to many arcade shooters through the 1990s and 2000s, it's clear that Yotsubane has a great love and understanding of them. Its not only a homage (look at the default high score table for some familiar initials) but also brings some mechanical brilliance that makes it stand out against most of its doujin shoot-em-up peers, and enough to hang with the genre greats. Its flashy, its exciting, its addictive, and its an essential purchase for genre fans.Crypt of the NecroDancer (Switch eShop)Publisher: Brace Yourself Games / Developer: Brace Yourself GamesRelease Date: 1st Feb 2018 (USA) / 8th Feb 2018 (UK/EU)$3.99 (-80%)A roguelike at heart with a rhythm-game soul, Crypt Of The NecroDancer is a sublime experience thats a must-play for fans of the genre(s). Its upbeat, uptempo take on dungeon crawling is infectious, and theres enough content here to last even the savviest of spelunkers for many, many dance-fuelled dives into the depths if youve never tangoed with the NecroDancer, this fully-featured Switch edition is the perfect way to jump in. For anybody who never played this but loved the Zelda spin-off Cadence of Hyrule (and was left wanting more), what are you waiting for?Cuphead (Switch eShop)Publisher: StudioMDHR / Developer: StudioMDHRRelease Date: 18th Apr 2019 (USA) / 18th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)$13.99 (-30%)Cuphead was an absolute masterpiece when it originally launched on Xbox One and nothing has been sacrificed in its move to the Switch. A run-and-gun boss battler dressed up like a 1930s Fleischer or Disney animated short, its the same visually jaw-dropping, aurally delightful, knuckle-whiteningly difficult game it was on Microsofts console and the Switchs library is all the better for its presence. Its focus on intense boss battles wont be to everyones tastes, but as long as you know what youre getting yourself into we cant recommend it enough. Just look at it!And the Delicious Last Course is the icing on the cake, too.Cyber Shadow (Switch eShop)Publisher: Yacht Club Games / Developer: Mechanical Head StudiosRelease Date: 26th Jan 2021 (USA) / 26th Jan 2021 (UK/EU)$10.99 (-45%)If you consider yourself a fan of retro action platformers, you owe it to yourself to pick up Cyber Shadow. Its clear in virtually every facet of Cyber Shadows design that this project was a labour of love and that its designer is intimately familiar with what makes the stalwarts of this beloved genre so great.Well-built levels, authentic presentation, tight controls, and high difficulty all combine to make this a supreme and focused experience, and one that we can easily say is well worth your time. Mechanical Head Studios set a high bar with its inaugural release.

Image: Nintendo LifeFor the younger readers amongst you, I suspect that many 3D games from the 90s and 00s seem rather quaint at best and downright unplayable at worst. It was a period in which the medium was geting to grips with a completely new third dimension; couple this with the limited graphical capabilities of the PlayStation and N64, and you could argue that many titles havent aged well.Me, though? I absolutely love this era. I was six when the PS1 launched in the UK; the perfect age to start enjoying classics like WipEout, Spyro the Dragon, and yes, games that perhaps werent suitable for me yet like Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil. So when I go back and play titles from this era today, I find them reasonably approachable thanks to an intimate familiarity with the period. Even remasters of games that Ive not experienced before feel oddly comforting in a way that I cant quite describe.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Image: Nightdive StudiosNightdive Studios, founded in 2012, specialises in revamping early 3D games from the 90s and 00s for the modern age, enhancing the visuals, improving the gameplay, and often adding a host of supplemental material to provide context behind the original titles development. It's enjoyed some excellent success stories over the years with the likes of Turok(s), Quake(s), and Doom 64 alongside the disappointing Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition but 2024 has undoubtedly been the studios best, most prolific year so far.Nightdive has put out a total of five games this year. Five. And thats not including the console release for the excellent System Shock remake (which, before you go searching for it, isn't on Switch). For a large company like Nintendo, five games in one year might sound pretty standard given its numerous dev teams and partner studios, but Nightdive is a much smaller, singular team made up of around 40 employees (as of 2022). Granted, its now got Atari behind it after the acquisition went through in 2023, but even the once-mighty Atari is an incredibly lean operation compared to its heyday.The company's CEO, Stephen Kick, called the studio's output this year "stunning" and explored its rapid growth in a recent livestream of its 'Deep Dive' series. "It's a big obstacle," he said, "where we have a lot of companies coming to us with a lot of projects, and we just don't have enough people." He is, however, quick to clarify that this is a good problem to have, noting that development costs remain conservative and that the company can operate on a "lean and mean" level without necessarily worrying about meeting lofty targets to maintain a huge staff.Image: Nightdive StudiosAs for which games its put out, youve got Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster, POed Definitive Edition, the updated DOOM + DOOM II (and the brand-new Legacy of Rust campaign), Killing Time: Resurrected, and The Thing: Remastered. Jeez Louise. While theres an obvious preference for the FPS genre here, Nightdives output nevertheless represents a delicious combination of beloved known entities and long-forgotten curios. I had never heard of Killing Time before Nightdives remaster, but after rinsing it earlier this year, its become one of my absolute favourites thanks to its utterly bizarre narrative and outrageous enemy design.The release of DOOM + DOOM II seems particularly noteworthy given that both games were already available on Switch courtesy of the now-defunct studio Nerve Software. These versions had their issues at launch, but were patched to the point of being genuinely excellent portable versions of the original classics. These are no longer purchasable, meaning the new version, built in Nightdive's KEX engine, has completely supplanted Nerve's.Of course, Nightdive cant get all of the credit; were it not for developers like Studio 3DO and Computer Artworks, there would be no originals to remaster. But the work that Nightdive puts into these titles to not only modernise and preserve them, but also improve upon near-enough every aspect of the gameplay experience is second to none. Youve got rock-solid 60fps performance on every game with the ability to fine-tune the visuals as you see fit. For those on PS5 and Xbox, meanwhile, you can max out the presentation at 4K/120FPS, and its simply divine. A sign of things to come on Switch 2?Image: Nightdive StudiosFor some, Im sure that no amount of polish would make some of these games seem even remotely appealing, and thats fine. POed Definitive Edition is still a weird, often frustrating experience regardless of how nice it looks now or how smoothly it runs. Its cool if these sorts of games arent your thing - although I was personally aghast when POed was included in Metacritics Worst Games of 2024 list. Come on now, let's be sensible!What we can all wholeheartedly agree on, however, is that regardless of a game's original quality, the work Nightdive does in bringing it up to modern standards is exemplary. Its easy to see why Atari wanted to snap up the studio. With the one-two punch of Nightdive and Digital Eclipse (which also had a great 2024, by the way), Atari seems well on its way to fulfilling its mission of becoming the final word on retro gaming. While Digital Eclipse is a true pioneer of the current wave of interactive gaming documentaries, Nightdive has the early 3D era all wrapped up. The team has absolutely killed it in what is easily its best year yet, and I cant wait to see what 2025 brings.What's your favourite Nightdive Studios game from 2024? (21 votes)Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster (Switch eShop)29%PO'ed: Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)5%DOOM + DOOM II (Switch eShop)52%Killing Time: Resurrected (Switch eShop)14%The Thing: Remastered (Switch eShop) 0%Have you played any of Nightdive's games from 2024? What are you hoping to see from the studio in the new year? Let us know with a comment in the usual place.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789k

Image: Nintendo LifeAs we head into the final week of 2024, it's time to slay the GOTY monster that devours the Decembers of many a gamer.While Nintendo itself has been in wind-down mode, with most internal resources focused on the next console and a software lineup to kickstart it, Switch itself has had a pretty great year. Nintendo enlisted its various partner studios to shoulder the first-party load as Switch went into its eighth year, and third parties and indies have continued to keep things interesting.As ever, there are more great games to play than time to play them, but news that the Switch successor will be backwards compatible gives our backlogs a reprieve for another generation.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Here at Nintendo Life Towers, we'll be sending out our reader-ranked Top 50 Switch GOTYs soon, but to shine a personal light on a range of 2024 gems, today we'll be highlighting the NL team's unranked picks. Our staff members submitted their Top 5 Switch games of the year and they're presented below, in no particular order, spotlighting some NL favourites that may get overshadowed elsewhere by your Zeldas and your Marios (although you'll find those below too, naturally). Bring out your GOTYs!We've got a whopping 27 on the list this year, a testament to the huge variety of experiences on Switch. You'll find a list of honourable mentions at the bottom, too.NL staff key: Alana Hagues (AH), Alex Olney (AO), Felix Sanchez (FS), Gavin Lane (GL), Jim Norman (JN), Liam Doolan (LD), Ollie Reynolds (OR), PJ O'Reilly (PJ)Balatro (Switch eShop)Publisher: PlayStack / Developer: LocalThunkRelease Date: 20th Feb 2024 (USA) / 20th Feb 2024 (UK/EU)You know, I kind of hate Balatro for making me love it so much. I don't have time for these sorts of crazy-intense relationships anymore. It's too much commitment. But here we are, with a crazy amount of hours down the toilet to this amazingly addictive blend of card game (which I'm not even a huge fan of) and video game elements that super-power your deck. It's easy to get into, incredibly moreish don't stress if, like me, you're put off by card rules and it's also got a very unique and weird vibe about it, so once you've clicked with it...well...RIP and all that. PJOne moment I found myself curious about the furore. The next, Im swept up in its hypnotic music, quirky collection of jokers, and picking the Wheel of Fortune every time it pops up. What do you mean "Nope!"? It means "Nope, youre never putting this game down." AHOf all the puzzling, platforming, and sword-swinging Ive done this year, nothing compared to the moment I discovered how to change the order of Jokers. Talk about finally seeing the Matrix. JNPlease note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.Thank Goodness You're Here! (Switch eShop)Publisher: Panic / Developer: Coal SupperRelease Date: 1st Aug 2024 (USA) / 1st Aug 2024 (UK/EU)2024 couldnt give me anything else that made me laugh nearly as much as Thank Goodness Youre Here. Ive never played a game that made my face ache, but I had to take a break halfway through this one after a particularly crude joke with a fish left me with tears in my eyes. Its an absolute gem of British comedy and a definite must-play (just steer clear if your mums within earshot). JNPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Switch)Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: Ubisoft MontpellierRelease Date: 18th Jan 2024 (USA) / 18th Jan 2024 (UK/EU)It's been one of the really big gutters of the year in gaming news, that the team behind this incredible outing for the PoP has been disbanded. Where's the point in it all when you serve up one of the great side-scrolling platformers and maybe just the best Prince of Persia game yet to turn around and be told it didn't do well enough?This is a dazzling game, a smart, exciting and hugely addictive effort that looks, sounds, and plays like an absolute dream. PJVolgarr the Viking II (Switch eShop)Publisher: Digital Eclipse / Developer: Crazy Viking StudiosRelease Date: 6th Aug 2024 (USA) / 6th Aug 2024 (UK/EU)I relish a good retro-inspired challenge, and Volgarr 2 provides it in spades. A minor issue with the UI has since been patched out, and the optional Undead Mode makes this an approachable action-platforming jaunt for newcomers. Sublime. ORThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 26th Sep 2024 (USA) / 26th Sep 2024 (UK/EU)You know, I actually prefer Echoes of Wisdom to Tears of the Kingdom. Is that controversial? I don't think so. This is just more my speed, more my cup of tea, when it comes to Zelda. And as much as I adore the bigger outings, after Breath of the Wild, I'm more than happy to settle into something a little less overwhelming. At least for now. PJZelda fans have waited almost 40 years to play as the princess in her own mainline adventure and now they finally can in Echoes of Wisdom. Thank you, Nintendo. LDBuy The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomUSAUKEURJPNCANRollerCoaster Tycoon Classic (Switch eShop)Publisher: Atari / Developer: Graphite LabRelease Date: 5th Dec 2024 (USA) / 5th Dec 2024 (UK/EU)The core of this game might be 25 years old, but my goodness has it not aged a day. The complexities, the simplicities, the unbridled creativity available to the player - it's the king of management sims today, just as it was at the turn of the millennium. AOBotany Manor (Switch eShop)Publisher: Whitethorn Games / Developer: Balloon StudiosRelease Date: 9th Apr 2024 (USA) / 9th Apr 2024 (UK/EU)This beautifully written, colourful game reminded me of StreetPass Garden so much that it snuck into my top five. Much like that 3DS novelty, it taught me diddly-squat about actual botany, but exploring the grounds, solving its puzzles, and absorbing the narrative (which follows an intelligent protagonist navigating Victorian BS) was a highlight of the year. GLI played through Botany Manor in one evening and had no regrets when I wrapped it up. Its a delightful little puzzler that mixes just the right amount of head-scratching evidence deduction and chilled exploration, all while drip-feeding a pertinent story. Cheering at the sight of a bound book wasnt on my 2024 bingo card, but here we are. JNDragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (Switch)Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: ArtdinkRelease Date: 14th Nov 2024 (USA) / 14th Nov 2024 (UK/EU)Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is another HD-2D masterpiece thats an absolute must-play for any Dragon Quest fan out there. It also comes with all the modern enhancements and QoL improvements to make the adventure more accessible than ever before. Now bring Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake in 2025! LDFear the Spotlight (Switch eShop)Publisher: Blumhouse Games / Developer: Cozy Game PalsRelease Date: 22nd Oct 2024 (USA) / 22nd Oct 2024 (UK/EU)It takes great skill to maintain tension and dread throughout the duration of an entire game; even if it does only last a few hours. For its debut title, however, Cozy Game Pals effortlessly tells an engaging story packed with scares and intriguing puzzles. Dont wait until Halloween for this; play it now. ORUnicorn Overlord (Switch)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: VanillawareRelease Date: 8th Mar 2024 (USA) / 8th Mar 2024 (UK/EU)Ive said a lot about Unicorn Overlord already, so Ill keep this brief if you love strategy RPGs, youll find an extremely moreish game that rewards tinkering. If you dont you should still try it out; its on the easier side, it encourages experimentation and exploration, and its beautiful. Switch is the perfect place to play it, too. So get on it. AHThis one is right up there with your Octopath Traveler 2s and your Triangle Strategies. You know that rarefied sort of turn-based RPG effort that just nails everything and leaves you begging for more? Well, this is that. Unicorn Overlord blew me away earlier in the year, and I demand to see it further up more GOTY listings. *shakes fist at own reflection* PJCan of Wormholes (Switch eShop)Publisher: Munted Finger / Developer: Munted FingerRelease Date: 29th Aug 2024 (USA) / 29th Aug 2024 (UK/EU)2024 turned out a great year for puzzlers on Switch, but I had expected World of Goo 2 and Lorelei to be bloody good; Can of Wormholes came out of nowhere. The work of the wonderfully named solo dev Munted Finger, it's an elegant, layered puzzler that fully explores every idea it presents. Equal parts mind-bending and silly, it's one of the best things I've played all year. GLSuper Mario Party Jamboree (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo CubeRelease Date: 17th Oct 2024 (USA) / 17th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)Super Mario Party Jamboree is the best Mario Party yet! A sublime main party mode, with seven great boards, 110+ minigames total, and a bunch of other modes like Koopathlon, and Bowsers Kaboom Squad. Theres just so much to dig into, and the perfect choice for a game if you have some friends or family for a visit. FSBuy Super Mario Party JamboreeUSAUKEURJPNCANStandardJamboree BundleHouse Party BundleCastlevania Dominus Collection (Switch eShop)Publisher: Konami / Developer: KonamiRelease Date: 27th Aug 2024 (USA) / 27th Aug 2024 (UK/EU)I dont usually put compilations on my list, but Castlevania Dominus Collection was a dream. Three of my favourite DS games somehow made the near-perfect jump from dual screens. All three of these games are excellent in their own right and stand up to the best in the genre even today. AHWizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Switch eShop)Publisher: Digital Eclipse / Developer: Sir-TechRelease Date: 23rd May 2024 (USA) / 23rd May 2024 (UK/EU)The opportunity to fill in gap in your personal gaming history is always welcome, and Wizardry was one such gap for me. Digital Eclipse did its usual excellent work at presenting this classic in the best possible light, and by all accounts they've gone back in since launch and added even more great stuff. I'm looking forward to dipping back into this one over the holidays. GLNeva (Switch eShop)Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Nomada StudioRelease Date: 15th Oct 2024 (USA) / 15th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)Its truly rare to see a game that nails the genuine look thats pitched in the initial concept art stage. However, with Neva, Id hang up nearly any frame of animation and praise it all day. Its truly a sight to behold and a satisfyingly snappy adventure to play, too. ZGSonic X Shadow Generations (Switch)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sonic TeamRelease Date: 25th Oct 2024 (USA) / 25th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)When I was playing through Sonic X Shadow Generations, I couldnt stop thinking about the similarities Shadows add-on kind of had to Bowsers Fury (and thats only a good thing). This add-on makes an already exciting package filled with all sorts of Sonic nostalgia even better and does a fantastic job honouring Shadows legacy in his big year. LDPentiment (Switch eShop)Publisher: Xbox Game Studios / Developer: Obsidian EntertainmentRelease Date: 22nd Feb 2024 (USA) / 22nd Feb 2024 (UK/EU)Pentiment is a unique and fascinating game. It takes place in the Middle Ages and the art style, music, and even the fonts are all in line with what you would expect when you hear 'medieval' and 'video game'. This is a great port of a game that's a work of art its very clear that a lot of love and care went into it. FSLlamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story (Switch eShop)Publisher: Digital Eclipse / Developer: Digital EclipseRelease Date: 13th Mar 2024 (USA) / 13th Mar 2024 (UK/EU)Digital Eclipse cracked straight on with another fine entry in its Gold Master Series, giving an excellent overview of an iconic dev. Serving up a spicy collection from Minter's catalogue in a convenient package, with several sides of context to get the most out of them, this is essential for anyone interested in the history of the medium. Best enjoyed with a curry and a good brew. GLCrow Country (Switch eShop)Publisher: SFB Games / Developer: SFB GamesRelease Date: 16th Oct 2024 (USA) / 16th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)A love letter to classic survival horror, Crow Country lets you loose in an abandoned theme park thats filled to the brim with locked doors, horrifying creatures and plenty of puzzles that (almost) always made the necessary backtracking a rewarding endeavour for me. Whats here gameplay-wise isnt necessarily new, but a solid hint system, well-designed maps and little jabs at the genre kept me chugging along while curled up under a blanket with the lights out. ZGPaying homage to classic survival horror is so difficult. You've got to get all of the genre's weird little quirks in there, but do so in a way that doesn't feel immediately outdated and awful. Few manage to nail it, but Crow Country is one of them. If you spent the '90s scrambling for weird little keys and awkwardly shooting zombies, this is for you. ORMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch)Publisher: Capcom / Developer: CapcomRelease Date: 12th Sep 2024 (USA) / 12th Sep 2024 (UK/EU)We've seen some licensing miracles over the years, but Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection might just beat 'em all. Capcom is taking us for a ride here (in a good way) with a decade of fighting game evolution. Honestly, I think a lot of fans would have been more than satisfied with a simple re-release of MvC2: New Age of Heroes on modern platforms, but this collection goes above and beyond. LDLorelei and the Laser Eyes (Switch eShop)Publisher: Annapurna Interactive / Developer: SimogoRelease Date: 16th May 2024 (USA) / 16th May 2024 (UK/EU)A late addition to my top five. Simogo (Year Walk, Sayonara Wild Hearts) takes a fairly standard escape room well, escape mansion formula and laces it with Lynchian horror and French New Wave cinema style to create something truly unique.It's a game you absolutely need a pen and paper to scribble notes on as you play and, despite its quirks (the lack of a 'back' button in menus wound me up no end), its laser focus on a singular vision makes it an experience you'll never forget. GL A chat with SimogoNine Sols (Switch eShop)Publisher: Red Candle Games / Developer: Red Candle GamesRelease Date: 26th Nov 2024 (USA) / 26th Nov 2024 (UK/EU)In a year full of excellent Metroidvanias, its miraculous that Nine Sols manages to stand out. The beautiful art and music are totally up my street, but its the combat that makes Nine Sols truly shine. Brutally difficult particularly that final boss its the most satisfying game Ive played this year. AHPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Intelligent SystemsRelease Date: 23rd May 2024 (USA) / 23rd May 2024 (UK/EU)Original copies of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door have only been getting more expensive, so its nice to see Nintendo finally step in this year and make what is arguably the best Paper Mario entry of the lot readily available once again. Thats why its one of my top Switch picks of 2024. LDAfter hearing all the praise Paper Mario TTYD had gotten over the years, I was sceptical if this could live up the hype, but my god did it do just that! Not just a fantastic game, a phenomenal game. Story, writing, pacing, music, combat - its just all top-notch. FSBuy Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch)USAUKCANJPNKilling Time: Resurrected (Switch eShop)Publisher: Nightdive Studios / Developer: Nightdive StudiosRelease Date: 17th Oct 2024 (USA) / 17th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)Based on its gameplay alone, Killing Time: Resurrected isnt exactly outstanding. But its utterly bizarre setting, enemies (tickling Murder Clowns, anyone?), and FMV-driven storyline elevate it significantly. In all my years of gaming, I simply havent played anything quite like it. ORPepper Grinder (Switch eShop)Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Ahr EchRelease Date: 28th Mar 2024 (USA) / 28th Mar 2024 (UK/EU)Pepper Grinder is one of the most satisfying games Ive played all year. The movement is so smooth. The level gimmicks are so clever. The visuals are so pretty. Its very much on the short side, but, gosh, what a spicy mouthful it turned out to be! JNShogun Showdown (Switch eShop)Publisher: Goblinz Studio / Developer: RoboatinoRelease Date: 5th Sep 2024 (USA) / 5th Sep 2024 (UK/EU)This was the biggest surprise of 2024 for me. Shogun Showdown came out of absolutely nowhere to eat up a solid month of my time. Deviously simplistic, even one small mistake can end a run. But picking the right tiles and making the right moves to clear out a wave of enemies is like pure poetry. This is a must-play if you like rogue-likes and deckbuilders. AHAnimal Well (Switch eShop)Publisher: Bigmode / Developer: Shared MemoryRelease Date: 9th May 2024 (USA) / 9th May 2024 (UK/EU)I love Animal Well. It's up there with the very best examples of its genre, I reckon. Take a chance on it if it doesn't really seem like your cup of tea and, I promise, you'll be blown away. It's an ingenious puzzle box of a thing, a beautiful-looking adventure that slowly unfurls as you push forward through breezy platforming, best-in-class brainteasers, and some stunning visuals to boot. PJTheres one particular moment in Animal Well that made me feel simultaneously incredibly clever and unbelievably stupid. The answer had literally been right there the whole time. Ive already said too much. But, rest assured, I love it when a game hits that sweet spot. JN "No matter what you put in a game, it will get found"Before we finish, here are just a few Honourable mentions games we've thoroughly enjoyed this year that are bubbling under our personal top fives:And for non-Switch shoutouts, Astro Bot, Silent Hill 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio kept us occupied on other platforms.Let us know below which of these games you enjoyed most this year, and look out for our upcoming reader-ranked Best Switch Games of 2024 feature where you have your say. (Remember, you can rate your favourite 2024 games and influence that list, even after it goes live.)Even with Nintendo focusing on the new hotness this year, 2025 is shaping up very nicely. Fingers crossed for a belter. The best new Nintendo Switch games coming soonRelated GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 before joining the site full-time the following year, rising through the ranks to become Editor. He can currently be found squashed beneath a Switch backlog the size of Normandy. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"PSA: Switch 2 Is Getting Revealed In The Next 100 DaysSet your Alarmos'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!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 so welcome to our semi-regular feature, Back Page.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Today, Jim sneaks into Nintendo HQ and spills the contents of a file marked 'PLAN B'...I don't have much time so I will keep this quick.Thanks to the diligent work of my uncle, I was able to sneak my way into the Nintendo's secret vault located in an undisclosed London location.As I moved through the shadows past rooms stocked with pre-boxed copies of Zelda remasters and a door that simply read "MOTHER 3 (WEST) DO NOT OPEN", I stumbled upon a table, littered with files and various Nintendo paraphernalia that immediately caught my eye.Poking through a stack of Geno amiibo, I noticed a black folder with "PLAN B" written on the top. My curiosity got the better of me, and, sweeping aside the plastic figurines, I lifted the Wii U GamePad paperweight which was keeping everything in order and took a glance at the contents.What I read shocked me to my very core. These were the plans for the coming year, a year without the 'Switch 2'. Thumbing the pages, I saw swathes of re-releases and remasters, all fine-tuned in their scheduling to keep the Nintendo fanboys onside as the Switch marches through its eighth year on the market.Image: Nintendo LifeSuddenly, footsteps. I grabbed my phone and snapped up some pictures of the most shocking pages while committing the rest to memory. I shut the folder and quickly leapt into a nearby cabinet full of unreleased LABO packs and Wiimote accessories. The guard a large American man with the build of Reggie Fils-Aim (though I did not see his face) passed through the room and I was able to escape.I am sure that I have mere minutes before deadly ninjas track me down. But this information has to be seen. Please take what I have to show you as absolute fact.This is what I can remember (and what I was fast enough to photograph) from Nintendo's console-less 2024 plans."PLAN B" - Nintendo Secret Plans 2024The opening page was dull and unassuming. It laid out exactly what the document was going to be about. A clear message of "DO NOT MENTION SWITCH 2 UNTIL 2025" immediately caught my eye and I couldn't help but notice that somebody had doodled in the bottom corner. Is that a PS5 on fire? Did Miyamoto draw that? The questions would only continue from here...Image: Nintendo LifeThere was no faffing about from here on in. You might think that an important document such as this would have a little more filler to hide the juicy bits, but I can tell you that is wrong. This is a real file and clearly whoever made it did not have the time or creative power to pad it out with unnecessary corporatespeak.And so we hit the plans for the February 2024 Direct:Image: Nintendo LifeCrazy, right? Yes, the release dates are pretty unsurprising and, of course, another Kirby remaster is on the way, but who would have thought that the hotly-anticipated Zelda double-pack would be Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks??Speaking of real gob-smackers, I thought that it would be worth grabbing a snap of the page titled "Da Movies" (I can only assume in a reference to that one Vin Diesel video). We knew that Nintendo was looking to branch out and become a multi-armed entertainment company, but this is next level:Image: Nintendo LifeA discarded post-it note carelessly tossed aside seemed to suggest that Nintendo is looking for more Doug Bowser-style name-to-brand synergy in its executives over the coming months. Vanessa Kirby, Ridley Scott, Zelda Williams, and Gino D'Acampo (pending spelling change) were all given as potential options.The June Direct page left me with even more questions: When will the remasters end? Who would leave such an important document on the table? Is that the Aerial font? But Reggie the guard's footsteps were getting louder and I knew that the contents had to be seen to be believed.Image: Nintendo LifeI had an inkling that some of the remasters this year were going to lean a little obscure, but bringing back the Super Scope Battle Clash sequel, Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge? That feels a little like scraping the bottom of the barrel. Hey, if Nintendo can really nail the Switch motion controls, then we might just be onto something there.Being tight for time, I skipped past taking photos of the next few pages. One was all about a mobile app named 'Pikmin Bloomier' and had a lot of red-penned notes next to its contents. Another detailed a long email chain in which Masahiro Sakurai repeatedly asked for a Kid Icarus: Uprising Switch port but wouldn't explain how he had "revolutionised the control scheme" when asked.And so we hit the last page that I was able to photograph until I had to flee: plans for the final Direct of the year. Honestly, it looks like we're going to be going out with a bit of a whimper, though the emphasised "DO NOT MENTION SWITCH 2" hammers home the fact that 2025 might be different.Image: Nintendo LifeI hope that the above information has been useful. It was a dangerous mission, but this deserves to be seen.Luckily, I seem to have escaped unharmed. Yes, the yellow van with 'Super Mario Bros. Plumbing' written on the side has been parked out the front of my house for a few days now, but I'm sure that's nothing to worry about.

Edelgard arrives 2026.The Good Smile Company has already released all sorts of stunning Fire Emblem figures and the latest reveal is Edelgard from Fire Emblem: Three Houses.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Merry Christmas!Following Sega's removal of certain digital titles earlier this month, multiple Cartoon Network Games under the Warner Bros. Discovery label have now been removed from digital stores including Nintendo's Switch eShop.There's no word if they'll ever return but according to reports, "at least five games" under the Warner Bros. label have been delisted.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Image: SEGA, ParamountSonic the Hedgehog's third movie outing is now in cinemas and while there are some new faces in this latest live-action entry like Shadow, a few other fan favourites have missed out (again).This includes (spoiler alert) Big the Cat and Rouge the Bat. According to the writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller, there was a cameo planned for Big in the second movie - where he was going to show up in skeleton form on the snowy mountains as a reference to Indiana Jones, but it was a little too grim.Pat Casey: "Indiana Jones, it's a trope that at some point a skeleton pops out at you and scares you. So we were going to do that, but with a skeleton of a, I would say, a Big the Cat, not necessarily- [Big the Cat]"As for Rouge, the duo has apparently been "unsuccessful" in finding a way to incorporate her for three films straight. Fortunately, not all hope is lost - with a fourth movie reportedly confirmed to be on the way! It will apparently be aiming for a Spring 2027 release - so it's still a while away. Is anyone surprised?Here's what the critics had to say...Guns, motorbikes, and some crucial backstoryApart from these two characters, who else from the Sonic universe would you like to see in the live-action movies? Let us know in the comments.[source ign.com]Share:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesRound Up: The Reviews Are In For The Sonic The Hedgehog 3 MovieHere's what the critics had to say...Sonic The Hedgehog Will Be Back For A Fourth MovieIs anyone surprised?PSA: Watch Out, Sonic 3 Movie Spoilers Are Already Cropping Up OnlineIncluding the all-important post-credits sceneSonic Racing: CrossWorlds Speeds Onto Nintendo Switch "Soon"Update: New info has surfaced

Image: Square EnixDragon Quest creator Yuji Horii has dedicated much of his life to the legendary role-playing series and it doesn't seem like he wants to slow down any time soon.Speaking to Famitsu recently, the 70-year-old mentioned how he intends to continue making games. Here's a translation of what he had to say, courtesy of GamesRadar:Yuji Horii: "I think I'll continue to make games for a long time... I've never thought about retirement. After all, I'll always be a game designer."His work is set to continue with the next entry Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate - the next mainline entry in the series featuring a darker tone. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is also on the way.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Horii was recently acknowledged for his life's work in Japan, winning a Cultural Affairs' Commissioner's Award - an award given to individuals who have made a distinguished accomplishment in artist and cultural activities (via GoNintendo).Here's what he had to say in response to this and you can see some photos of Horii winning this award in the social media post below:"It was an honor to receive this award from the Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Looking back, about 40 years ago, games were blamed for crimes and were widely frowned upon, but after so many years, they have come to be recognized as a culture by the country. I am deeply moved. I look forward to your continued support for the game industry."This special occasion follows the release of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake on the Switch and multiple other platforms in November. In our review on Nintendo Life, we called this latest revival a faithful adaptation of a treasured RPG classic and thought it was a great way to relive the original title: The wait is finally overIt's not much but it's something...One for the agesWhat are your thoughts about Yuji Horii continuing to work on Dragon Quest? Let us know in the comments.[source famitsu.com, via gamesradar.com]See AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesThe HD-2D Series 'Octopath Traveler' Hits Another Sales MilestoneHere's some new artwork to celebrate

"Let's-a go!".Nintendo has just rolled out its latest update for the 'Nintendo Music' app and this week it's added the soundtrack from Super Mario 64.All up, it contains 36 tracks with a runtime of 49 minutes. You can enjoy the famous title theme music, Peach's Castle, a nice jingle with Cool, Cool Mountain, and even Piranha Plant's Lullaby (Piano Version). Here's every track included in this latest update:Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo LifeFan team Harbour Masters has swapped Hylian adventures for high-flying action in its new 'Starlight' project a Star Fox 64 PC port which is available right now (thanks, VGC).This isn't the team's first rodeo having previously brought Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Super Mario 64 to PC and it uses the same above-board approach to porting. Once again, Harbour Masters has reverse-engineered the original game's code to avoid using any leaked content or copyrighted assets, making the whole thing technically legal (yay!).The port does require users to provide their own legally-sourced N64 ROM to play, but, in return, it offers a bunch of modern upgrades like higher frame rates and widescreen visuals. Looking at the following post from VGC's Andy Robinson, we'd say that's a fair trade-off:Star Fox 64: now on PC, thanks to an unofficial port.www.videogameschronicle.com/news/another... Andy Robinson (@andyrobinson.bsky.social) 2024-12-23T10:27:12.641ZTechnicalities are one thing, but this PC port also opens the door to all kinds of modding potential. In the years since the team's OOT project, we have seen the modding community add a whole host of weird tweaks, from magical Tears of the Kingdom abilities to actual, functioning Pikmin. Just imagine what's possible with a game as cool as Star Fox 64...How about another official entry in the series, eh Nintendo? Sheiking things upTime ExtensionIt's dangerous to go alone, take theseWhat do you make of this new port? Will you be checking it out? Let us know in the comments.[source videogameschronicle.com, via bsky.app]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:02 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 Articles46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherPSA: Switch 2 Is Getting Revealed In The Next 100 DaysSet your Alarmos'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"Your 'Nintendo Switch Year In Review 2024' Stats Are Available NowWhat's your hour count?

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)Holding the Guinness World Record for "Most prolific developer of danmaku shooters a tenuous plaudit seemingly concocted entirely for their receipt Caves five DonPachi entries form bullet points in the companys evolution, from Toaplan-esque beginnings to a full-blown, bullet hell renaissance.SaiDaiOuJou, the series final entry and Caves last arcade shooting game, makes the clean stylings of its predecessor, DaiFukkatsu, even cleaner; a shiny blue aesthetic wrought from 3D renders and a billion pixels. It also carries over adjustable difficulty options and an auto bomb on/off feature. Its core, however, is similar to DoDonPachi DaiOuJou, the greatest and most beautiful of Caves work.SaiDaiOuJou, despite its saccharine anime facade, is pure, unadulterated rage. And while thats the motif of most bullet hell games, here it can be felt as early as the stage one boss. Where DonPachi was measured, DoDonPachi fuel injected, DaiOujou a symphony of murder, and DaiFukkatsu precariously experimental, SaiDaiOuJou is plainly vicious. Its also infamous for having the hardest hidden boss ever committed to circuit board in the form of Inbachi, unlocked if you achieve a nigh-on perfect, no-bomb run. For the record, she has only ever been beaten once in a single credit attempt by Japanese player Sairyou, 12 years post-release.Outside of arcades, DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou was only ever previously available on the Xbox 360, making its Switch appearance celebratory. Infamously, the 360 port suffered from inexplicably shocking input lag that was only ever rectified by a fan patch. We used the same testing methods as applied to the 360 version, and are confident the issue has been quashed. With the TVs Game Mode on and in handheld, it feels tight and responsive across the board. And, while lag cant be eradicated entirely and especially not on a flatscreen with the right setup this is by far the superior version.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)It also carries over all the Xbox 360s bells and whistles in the form of shop-based unlockables, including wallpaper, production art, and in-game modifiers that serve to soften and create new ways to experience the game. There are also enjoyable mini-challenges to take on, like defeating certain mid-bosses with a set number of lives or bombs.SaiDaiOuJous original arcade release was actually slightly broken by exploitable scoring bugs. These were ironed out for the home release in a new 1.5 version that rebalances the game into a fairer, more polished product, with the potential for increased Hyper times. In the package are four distinct modes, all upscaled in high definition: HD arcade, Ver. 1.5, Novice mode, and a Saya Ver. arrangement that allows you to play as an original character previously confined to the plot line.In all modes except arrange (where only Saya can be selected) you choose from three Elemental Dolls: ladies who pilot ships, each with unique shot types. You can select auto bomb if youre a newcomer, although this kills scoring attempts dead; and each doll has three states of configurable undress that alter the emphasis between your shot and laser. Caution need be applied here, as stripping your Doll down to her necessities will max both your shot and laser power, but in turn make the game substantially more difficult.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)SaiDaiOuJous scoring heart is similar to DaiOuJou. You need to chain into oblivion, snag hidden bee icons throughout the stage, and use the Hyper function at key moments to drive score and bridge it all together. Hypers allow you to temporarily unleash devastatingly amped firepower, to the detriment of speeding up incoming bullets. In SaiDaiOuJou, Hypers are earned by filling a gauge in the HUD and can be stacked to extend their duration and increase score potential. In turn, this increases the games rank, which means increased difficulty, and the only way to bring this down is by either bombing or dying.While its full-on nature demands a different discipline from both DaiOuJou or DaiFukkatsu, scoring is still a beautiful, bewitching thing, drawing you into an aggressive campaign of fire, shrapnel, and digit-chasing. Whether playing for score or focusing only on survival, its quite the spectacle, perpetually igniting in a hailstorm of bullets and score ingots, and satisfying pyrotechnic blasts.Version 1.5 is, for our money, the best option in terms of overall polish and balancing, but Novice and the Saya arrange mode are also incredibly fun to kick back with. Sayas Arrange, in particular (and if you turn off the incessant chatter) features a very interesting single-life run where you can near-constantly engage Hypers, reaping green score icons to keep your multiplier from falling from the 10,000 maximum. It presents an original risk and reward system that rookies will really enjoy getting into, and veterans will adore mining for score.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)While its important to recognise that vanilla SaiDaiOuJou isnt an easy game, and has a steeper learning curve than even DaiOuJou, its also a masterpiece in its own right. It adapts and reassembles things seen in previous entries to feel even more bombastic and furious, but makes Hyper usage less dangerous and more frequently available. There are times when youre threading the eye of the storm, pink and blue bullet waves combing the screen, where you achieve a near-clairvoyant sense of clarity: that moment where you see the path.It takes a good while and a good understanding of bullet hell games to achieve this sight beyond sight, yet the accompanying adrenaline rush of pinging Hypers at crucial junctures, momentarily cancelling on-screen bullets, or successfully networking a bosss varied attack patterns, offers a high like few others. And, while Cave went all out, with conditions for true-last-boss Hibachi and then Inbachi geared towards shoot-'em-up maniacs, SaiDaiOuJou is the first of the DonPachi series to only require a single loop run of the game.Slight unevenness keeps SaiDaiOuJou from being the series' absolute best, but it certainly comes close. Hit-box parameters are particularly unforgiving, especially when compared to the likes of DaiFukkatsu, making lucky escapes less common; and aesthetically it's so overwhelmingly blue that all the stages seem to blend into one. Some of the achievements arent doable by mere mortals, but everyone else will be content to take the game on their own terms, to reshape it around newfound tactics and deeper understandings.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)The package itself is incredibly comprehensive, bursting with options to configure, allowing you to define everything from screen rotation and sizing to replay recordings and online leaderboard achievements. With so many variations to experiment with and so many avenues of approach, one could potentially lose several glorious years to it.ConclusionWhile a fine-looking affair, DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJous anime stylings are frankly unremarkable, and the incessant chatter will be turned off by many. But these are minor, skin-deep critiques of what is an incredible piece of work by the masters of the Danmaku: a series finale that showboats and regularly boils over in endless hails of gunfire, tugging you to and fro amid the heart of the storm as you forge a path to victory. Theres a beauty here that only Cave could achieve; a harmony of scoring and surviving; coasting on sheer adrenaline as you thread hit-boxes through pixels, hammering out routes amidst dizzyingly spectacular orchestrated chaos. It may not be easy, but oh is it worth it.To date, the definitive home SaiDaiOuJou package, bursting with modes and optionsVisual feedback aplenty, bombastic and beautifulScoring as deep as the hills, and countless different ways to approachThe menu layouts and various options for each mode can be quite confusing to sift throughThe chattering anime additions aren't on par with the artistry previously achieved in DaiOuJouExcellent 9/10

Bring out your GOTYs!It's that time of year for reflection, to sit down and take stock of all the wonderful games that released in 2024. A time to stare into the middle distance with a despairing expression wondering how you managed to not play so many great new games this year because the Vampire Survivors DLC continued to suck your free time up like..., well, like a vampire. Yes, it's GOTY time.As the industry continues to navigate tumultuous waters, with layoffs continuing across the board in game development, publishing, and media, players themselves have once again had an excellent year in terms of great new games to play. Whether large or small, there have been more fantastic things to play than hours in the day for all but the most myopic of gamers.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Third time's a charm, as they say. Yes, we're back with our third and final look at our video team's top five Switch games of 2024.It's worth repeating here that these aren't necessarily games that launched in 2024, but are merely games that the video chaps played in 2024. You'll see why we felt the need to reiterate that when you see what the lovely Alex has chosen for his list of games. Some new, some old(er), but all of them are absolute whoppers.In case you missed our previous videos, here's a reminder of what Felix and Zion chose for their respective lists:Felix Felix NavidadZion Zi-on the first day of Christmas So there you have it! What do you make of the chaps' choices for this year? Does your own GotY for 2024 feature in any of these videos? Let us know.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"PSA: Switch 2 Is Getting Revealed In The Next 100 DaysSet your Alarmos

Image: Nile BowieIll admit, Ive never been fond of speedrunning. The thought of shaving milliseconds off a time in a video game while playing the same sequence over and over sounds, in theory, more frustrating than fun. Sure, as a spectator, there is definitely joy in appreciating the wizardry of players pulling off pixel-perfect feats and shattering a runtime record. But I have neither the time nor the mettle to contemplate doing so myself.Fortunately, this year gave us a game that weaved together 8-bit era charm, bite-sized accessibility, and addictive skill refinement. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition was my gateway to finally getting speedrunning, and its some of the most fun Ive had gaming in 2024.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Its the only game Ive played this year that resulted in me letting out an involuntary shout of triumph when I bested my competitors in consecutive speedrunning challenges, earning myself a (screenshot of a) gold trophy. It was sweet, sweet consolation for all the IRL trophies I failed to win throughout my life, and so it brought me immense satisfaction.Image: Nile BowieJust to recap, the game was released in July and features condensed speedrunning challenges extracted from 13 iconic NES titles. Its World Championship Mode allows for placement on a weekly leaderboard while the Survival Mode pits you against other players' ghost times across three challenges to avoid elimination. Theres also an eight-player party mode.The game received solid but not glowing reviews (Nintendo Life gave it a 7/10). Some critics deem it less ambitious and creative than developer indieszeros previous retro compilations, the quirky NES Remix series on Wii U and 3DS. I wouldn't necessarily dispute that but I found NWC's focus on pure speedrunning challenges to be meticulously well-executed. Speed demonPart of what makes it so difficult to put down is its snappy gamefeel and sound design. Each challenge begins with a whistle countdown and ends with a satisfying pop and synth effect in a way that tugs your dopamine receptors to smash 'Play again' to improve your PB. Its an even better experience playing with an NES controller for the as-intended button feel.Though it might not be my Game of the Year (that one goes to Animal Well), it brought out the competitor in me and ultimately made me a better player. While weve all played our share of NES games over the years, World Championships emphasis on mastery helped me discover the deep control scheme nuances of classic titles in a way I hadnt before.Take, for example, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, a game Id barely touched before this due in part to its infamous difficulty. Working my way through its speedrunning challenges helped me come to grips with the games punishing combat. Some of its challenges, like the Master-rank 'Neigh Slayer', initially felt impossible to complete with an S-tier time.Images: Nile BowieThat one in particular involves beating a horse-headed boss with precisely timed aerial sword slices, a move that eventually felt intuitive with practice. When I later fired up the original version of Zelda II on Nintendo Switch Online, I found myself enjoying the game far more than I ever had before because World Championships had essentially shown me the ropes.Even games I know fairly well, like Super Mario Bros., Excitebike, and Kirbys Adventure, had new layers revealed with help from the Nintendo Power-inspired 'Classified Information' sheets, which cover the most efficient routes, combat strategies, and movement tricks. I came away with a deeper appreciation of the craftsmanship behind these classics.For several months, I've tackled its weekly challenges religiously, even managing to top the leaderboard (once). I find the games competitive modes perfect for zeroing in on the specific challenges on offer every seven days. Focusing on the handful of challenges each week helped me push the envelope and consistently improve my personal best timings.Images: Nile BowieWatching the weekly replays of the top players has been equally fascinating (Nintendo has since put up a website showing off each weeks top performances). Seeing their precision and efficiency in action is humbling and sometimes surprising: there was a small controversy early on when a cheeky player exploited a glitch in Donkey Kong that few people knew existed.The games engagement has understandably waned in the months since its release, with fewer taking part in weekly competitions. While its a long shot, Ive still got my fingers crossed for DLC content. Punch-Out!! is a glaring first-party omission, and the inclusion of landmark third-party NES classics from the Contra, Castlevania, or Mega Man series would draw players back if agreements could be made with Konami or Capcom.One of the coolest things the developers could add is a new standalone challenge based on the actual 1990 Nintendo World Championships custom cartridge (among the rarest NES collectibles that sell for tens of thousands of dollars), which tracks the cumulative scores of three Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer, and Tetris played in sequence. Incorporating it feels like a no-brainer. There is also niche demand for it, with various reproductions of the custom cart available, one of which Nintendo has acted against. Give the people what they want, I say.The announcement trailer leaned heavily into the nostalgia for the 1990 eventMany will naturally be pining for an SNES Edition of this title with the same format, just as folks were hoping for an SNES Remix. Its hard to say whether theyll be such a follow-up, but one hopes Nintendo and indieszero dont sit on their hands. Nintendo wont shy away from further celebrations of its legacy, but well likely have to wait for another big anniversary or a big gap between heavy hitters on in the Switch (2) release calendar!As it stands, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition may not have been the flashiest game of 2024, but, for me, it remains a standout with plenty of untapped potential. Its a loving homage to the glory days of the NES and the 8-bit culture that surrounded it. Most of all, its a celebration of the timeless classics that still shape my love for gaming.Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life Tournament scandalRelated GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nile Bowie is an American journalist based in Singapore who grew up on Nintendo. When he isnt reporting on politics, business, and international relations, hes very likely playing his Switch, tracking down old Game Boy cartridges, or reading Nintendo Life with a cat on his lap. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"PSA: Switch 2 Is Getting Revealed In The Next 100 DaysSet your AlarmosYour 'Nintendo Switch Year In Review 2024' Stats Are Available NowWhat's your hour count? System:Nintendo SwitchPublisher:NintendoDeveloper:Nintendo, indieszeroGenre:Action, Party, Platformer, RacingPlayers:8 (1 Online)Release Date:Nintendo Switch 18th Jul 2024, $59.99 18th Jul 2024, 49.99Switch eShop 18th Jul 2024, $29.99 18th Jul 2024, 24.99Official Site:nintendo.comWhere to buy:Buy on Amazon Buy eShop Credit:

It's a shame - the mini console was my favourite retro-gaming fad of recent years. A selection of amazing classic games on a very easy-to-plug-in HDMI box, with a cute interface and everything? And them being completely separate to the current leading platforms (you don't need an Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch to play 'em) makes it so much more standalone and fun. It's like its own little world of nothing but retro goodness. They were super duper cool.They were really fun to collect too. I currently have the NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Mega Drive II, PC-Engine, PlayStation, and Commodore 64 mini consoles. As well as the limited-edition Shonen Jump Famicom mini console, which is interesting to me because it has the original Dragon Quest on it, password saves and everything.I would have literally bought as many of these mini consoles as Sega was willing to produce, especially if they made a Saturn Mini with rare games like Panzer Dragoon Saga on it.But I suppose the fad has died down now hasn't it? It's a shame Nintendo never made an N64 or GBA mini and instead plonked the games on a higher subscription tier. Not ideal for me who prefers to own games more tangibly.

UK Charts: Nintendo Can Be Proud Of Its Last Christmas Before 'Switch 2'Top 40 is chock full of Switch gamesby Ollie Reynolds 4m agoShare:0Image: NintendoWell folks, in what is presumably the last Christmas period before Nintendo unleashes its next major hardware, Switch games have performed admirably as folks look to fill those stockings come Wednesday morning.In fact, let's look at the numbers here: 8 games in the top 10 are either Switch exclusive or can be played on the Switch, and the same can be said of 26 titles from the complete top 40 charts. That's impressive, and it really goes to show just how popular boxed Switch games really are at this time of year.Naturally, digital sales may paint a different picture, but it's at least a good result for Nintendo in terms of the physical retail space. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the best-selling first-party Nintendo title, followed by Super Mario Party Jamboree, Nintendo Switch Sports, Minecraft (third-party), Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Lots of what we would probably call "evergreen" titles, then.It'll be interesting to see how things shake out in the new year as we inch toward a new hardware announcement, currently due before the end of March. Will Switch games maintain their current momentum..? Only time will tell.Here's a look at this week's top 40 in full, with platform breakdowns for all of the titles available on other consoles alongside the Switch:Last WeekThis WeekGamePlatform Split31Call of Duty: Black Ops 622Hogwarts LegacySwitch 48%, PS5 21%, PS4 20%, Xbox 10%13EA Sports FC 25PS5 41%, Switch 28%, PS4 17%, Xbox 15%44Mario Kart 8 Deluxe55Super Mario Party Jamboree66Nintendo Switch Sports107Minecraft148Super Mario Bros. Wonder139Animal Crossing: New Horizons1210Astro Bot911Mortal Kombat 11 UltimatePS5 57%, PS4 42%, Switch 1%, Xbox 0%812The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom913Sonic X Shadow GenerationsPS5 38%, Switch 34%, Xbox 16%, PS4 12%1114Marvel's Spider-Man 2-15Mortal Kombat 1PS5 87%, Switch 8%, Xbox 4%1716Grand Theft Auto V717Black Myth: Wukong-18Star Wars Outlaws3419Lego Harry Potter CollectionSwitch 73%, PS4 11%, PS5 8%, Xbox 7%1520MySims Cozy Bundle1921Just Dance 2025 EditionSwitch 97%, PS5 3%1622Mario & Luigi: Brothership2823Lego Horizon AdventuresPS5 70%, Switch 30%2324The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom3225StraySwitch 53%, PS5 37%, Xbox 5%, PS4 4%2526Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker SagaSwitch 50%, PS5 30%, PS4 16%, Xbox 4%-27Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle-28Undisputed-29Bluey: The VideogameSwitch 78%, PS5 13%, PS4 7%, Xbox 2%3330Silent Hill 22731Super Mario Odyssey3732The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Complete Edition3633My Universe: Pet Clinic Cats & Dogs-34Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 22035Luigi's Mansion 2 HD2136Gran Turismo 74037Luigi's Mansion 3-38Tomb Raider I-II-III RemasteredPS5 41%, Switch 36%, PS4 23%2439Dragon Age: The Veilguard-40Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon[Compiled by GfK]< Last week's chartsPlease note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.Did you pick up anything new this week? Let us know what you think of the latest charts in the comments below.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"PSA: Switch 2 Is Getting Revealed In The Next 100 DaysSet your Alarmos

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)A few months ago, the Switch finally received Pizza Tower, an indie action platformer thats gotten a lot of praise for how well it channels Nintendos long-dormant Wario Land series. Yet developer Tour de Pizza wasnt the only team inspired by Wario. Summitspheres Antonblast is a wild and wonderful action platformer that feels like it could actually be the next Wario Land game if it came with a different coat of paint; its combination of speed, precision, and smart level design makes for a truly thrilling experience thats only let down by its issues with stable performance.Antonblast stars the titular Dynamite Anton, whose angry, red-skinned appearance leaves Satan feeling envious and insecure about his status as the reddest being of them all. So, in a petty act of retaliation, he sends his minions to Antons apartment to steal what he cherishes most: the Spirits that he kept around his living space. Enraged, Anton grabs his hammer and sets out on a quest to reclaim what was stolen and to give Satan a piece of his mind.Play through any given level here and the inspiration it takes from Wario Land 4 is immediately clear. Anton (or his roommate, Annie, if you prefer) tears through levels like a virtually unstoppable force of nature, smashing boxes and blowing up enemies as he bounces around with his hammer and powers through obstacles with his Clutch charge ability. There are plenty of side paths to explore and collectibles to snap up along the way, but the ultimate goal is to get to the bomb at the end of the level so you can start Happy Hour. Once triggered, a countdown clock begins, and you only have a few minutes to run all the way back through the level with the Spirit you collected. These mad dashes to safety are a real thrill, as you often are forced to take an alternate path back to the beginning and usually leave an enormous path of destruction in your wake on the trip back.Simply beating a level isnt enough to get the full experience, however, not even if you took your time to scrub it for all its collectibles. After beating each one, you unlock a time attack and combo chain mode for the level, and this is where the exceptional level design really comes into focus.For Time Attack, each level gives you a tight par time to achieve that demands you master level layouts and understand the nuances of Antons moveset to optimise your attempts. Combo Chain works much the same, but here youre tasked with maintaining an unbroken combo by strategically smashing boxes and blowing up enemies, all without any health pickups to help you out. We enjoyed what these two modes brought to the table, as they force you to engage with each level in a different way each time and add greater challenge and replayability to an already great platformer.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Even if you just stick to the minimum content to clear the base story, Antonblast displays a remarkable amount of variety across its relatively brief run. It should only take you about 10 hours to clear (maybe double that if you do everything), but it makes the most of that time by constantly introducing new ideas and level concepts along the way.One level has a power-up that essentially turns you into Taz the Tasmanian Devil, utterly obliterating everything in your path as you turn into a chaotic whirlwind. Another stage introduces a blazing-fast animal buddy shark that Anton can ride on land or sea, giving new traversal options as he hangs on for dear life. This is the kind of game that keeps things moving, and its commitment to introducing new ideas and building levels around them keeps it feeling constantly fresh.As for its visual presentation, Antonblast is clearly inspired by the likes of old Newgrounds-style Flash animations and 90s Nickelodeon shows. Theres a twisted and somewhat dreamlike quality to the colourful worlds you terrorise on your journey, and all the characters and animations have a very Looney Tunes-esque vibe with their exaggerated movements. At just about any moment on-screen, theres something bound to be exploding, screaming, or collapsing, and with this underscored by the vibration feature of the Joy-Con it leads to a very lively visual experience. But its the attention to little details that really sells the art style, such as the long trail of As that follows a terrified enemy you just sent careening into a brick wall.The audio keeps up with the madness of the action with a pop and jazz-infused soundtrack that maintains a high energy level throughout. And we especially appreciate the frequent cartoonish sound effects to punctuate Antons destructive actionsthings like the crashing plane sound used when Anton does a body slam from a high jump help to keep the goofy atmosphere front and centre.One downside is that the performance nearly cant keep up with the constant action. There are plenty of moments where the screen is positively soaked in explosions, poker chips, and screaming enemies, which leads to a noticeable drop in the frame rate. These drops dont have a massive direct effect on your ability to control Anton, but they still certainly cheapen the experience enough to be disappointing. Weve seen reports of crashing issues and some softlock bugs encountered by other players over the launch period, too. Weve been assured by the developers that a performance improvement patch targeting these issues has already been submitted to Nintendo, but just be warned that the current version available at launch is rather rough around the edgesyou may want to wait for the fixes.

Set your Alarmos.We've been waiting for that sweet Nintendo Switch 2 announcement for what feels like years now hold on, it has been years but, as of today, we are finally on the home straight. That is if your 'home straight' consists of 100 days to go.We know that an announcement is coming "this fiscal year", and if you take today (22nd December) as Day 1, then there are only 100 possible days left for Nintendo to announce "the successor to Nintendo Switch" before we hit 1st April and enter the next fiscal year. Things get slippery when you start to take pesky hours into account, but if today = Day 1, 31st March = Day 100. Got it? Good.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Well folks, we're back with another look at some of the best best games that we (that is, our video team) played in 2024.This time, it's Zion's turn to reveal the goods, and what a selection of games. There are some truly excellent titles here; a couple of smaller, more niche curios (one for my fellow horror fans, too!), but all of them are well worth recommending.Tomorrow, we'll be back for the final time to check out the lovely Alex's picks, and we're confident that those, too, shall be absolute bangers. So please come back and join us for that, and be sure to let us know what your top five games of the year are, if you haven't already! But what are yours?"A unicorn is worth more than riches"See AlsoShare:03 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

Image: Nintendo LifeAhoy folks, and welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl!Last time, we looked at the Wii classic Okami in light of the recent sequel announcement from The Game Awards (woohoo!). Honestly, it wasn't a particularly close battle: Japan, with its beautiful use of colour and composition, won the day with 74% of the vote, leaving North America/Europe with the remaining 26%.This week, we're going back even further to the days of the SNES with the delightful Breath of Fire II. Originally released in 1994 by Capcom, it's since been launched on the GBA, the Virtual Console on Wii, Wii U, and 3DS, and of course, Nintendo Switch Online.It's another duel this week with North America and Europe joining forces against Japan. So enough waffling, let's get to it. Dragon its heels behind the competitionAll the SNES games, ranked by youBe sure to cast your votes in the poll below; but first, let's check out the box art designs themselves.Europe / North AmericaImage: Capcom / LaunchboxWe love the use of colour with both regional variants here, and the Western design leans heavily into the use of shadow with its cast of characters; it's cool. That said, the change in art style results in a loss of some of the personality from the original Japanese design. It's not a bad look, by any means, but we imagine its success this week will very much depend on your personal taste.JapanImage: Capcom / LaunchboxThe colours here are a bit cooler than the Western variant, overall, but there's a good mix in there too. The deep red of the dragon, the flashes of yellow and green in the characters' outfits; it's nice! It does suffer from something that movie posters do a lot these days in that it just shoves a bunch of characters onto the piece with no rhyme or reason, but we have to admit that it does work reasonably well here.Which region got the best Breath of Fire II box art? (9 votes)North America / Europe44%Japan56%Thanks for voting! We'll see you next time for another round of Box Art Brawl.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesFeature: Nintendo Switch Year In Review 2024 - Our Most Played GamesBut what are yours?

Update: The Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom event is now underway.The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has been one of the major highlights for the Switch this year, and to send 2024 out with a bang, Tetris 99's final Maximus Cup of the year will be all about this game!The 44th Maximus Cup will take place between 19th December and 23rd December, and if you participate and accumulate 100 points, you'll unlock a special theme.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Image: NintendoTo celebrate the recent arrival of Super Mario Party Jamboree, Nintendo's mobile runner game Super Mario Run is hosting a special limited-time event.This includes three types of missions to participate in - including Rainbow Galleria Missions, Goomba Lagoon Missions, and King Bowser's Keep Missions. If you complete these missions you'll unlock special Mario Party-themed statues.Image: NintendoThese missions are active between now and 29th January 2025 and you can keep up to date on your progress by tapping the mission icon in the top-right area of your kingdom. This cross-over event in Super Mario Run follows a Mario & Luigi: Brothership event in November. All aboard!Family-friendly good times aheadSubscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Have you played Mario Run or the new Mario Party yet? Will you be checking out this latest event? Let us know in the comments.[source nintendo.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, thoughToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

Image: Square EnixSquare Enix's RPG series Octopath Traveler has reached another sales milestone - with the Japanese company announcing total global shipments and digital sales have now surpassed the five million mark.The first game featuring the HD-2D aesthetic was originally released as a Switch exclusive in 2018 and was followed by the sequel Octopath Traveler II last year. Here's the official update from Square Enix in the form of new artwork by Rika Okazaki:Image: Square EnixAlong with this, there's currently a sale on both games in select regions. You can learn more about these role-playing games in our reviews here on Nintendo Life - we gave both titles an "excellent" nine out of ten stars."Though it may be more of the same, Team Asano demonstrates mastery of its craft at every turn here. Wed give Octopath Traveler II a high recommendation to anybody looking for a beautiful new RPG to add to their Switch collection."Apart from the first and second Octopath Traveler games, Square Enix has also released a mobile title Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, which acts as a prequel to the original release. Eight roads diverged in a wood, and I... well, I took them all!A direct path to RPG blissHD-TooMuch?Have you contributed to this sales success? Let us know in the comments.[source x.com, via gematsu.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, thoughToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

Felix Navidad.It might not feel like Nintendo itself has been particularly busy this year, but goodness, there's still been an awful lot of new games in 2024. Some great ones, even!Since we're now fast approaching the end of the year, it seems only right that the lovely chaps on our video team share their personal top five games of 2024. Now, it's important to note that these might not all be titles that released in 2024; they're just ones that the guys happened to have played over the last 12 months.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Image: SegaSega's Western boss has revealed that the company is internally discussing the idea of creating its own subscription-based game service.Speaking to the BBC about subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, Shuji Utsumi said that such services are "very interesting" and that Sega is currently "evaluating some opportunities".He added:We're thinking something - and discussing something - we cannot disclose right now.This means Sega would join the likes of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo in offering a monthly subscription which offers access to games.Given its history, it makes sense for Sega to investigate a subscription model. It is one of the industry's veterans and has been making games since the '70s. With such a deep back catalogue to call upon, this kind of service would be instantly appealing to gamers of all ages.Sega recently delisted over 60 titles from digital storefronts, which would suggest that a move into the world of subscription-based gaming is moving at a reasonably brisk pace. It also recently delisted Mega Drive / Genesis Classics collection from the eShop, Xbox and PSN stores.Select Mega Drive / Genesis games are currently available via Nintendo Switch Online. Never too late, eh?Battle of the bandsGame to be delisted on 6th December[source bbc.co.uk]Share:00 Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media's sites from an editorial perspective. He's also the editor of Time Extension, the network's newest site, which paradoxically is all about gaming's past glories. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesSonic Racing: CrossWorlds Speeds Onto Nintendo Switch "Soon"Update: New info has surfacedSonic The Hedgehog Will Be Back For A Fourth MovieIs anyone surprised?Reminder: Sonic X Shadow Generations 'Sonic 3 Movie Pack' DLC Now Available"Featuring the voice of Keanu Reeves"

Image: Nintendo LifeFew video games can lay claim to having such enormous influence on both gamers and the industry at large as Tetris. All who played Alexey Pajitnov's block-falling puzzler fell for its elegant design and Nintendo in particular harnessed its addictiveness to great effect as a pack-in title that made 'Game Boy' an essential purchase and a household name.But what's the best Tetris game? Is the Game Boy iteration still the most popular decades later? We've compiled this definitive ranking of Tetris games to answer just that question, so you can dump the garbage and focus on clearing lines in the best possible way.Let's see how they stack up, shall we? We'll start at the bottom...On this page: Best Tetris Games, Ranked - Switch And Nintendo Systems32. 3D Tetris (VB)Publisher: NintendoRelease Date: 22nd Mar 1996 (USA)A North American exclusive, 3D Tetris shook up the standard formula by having you look down into the well as the blocks fall away from you. Having to fill in layers rather than make lines feels different to standard Tetris, and the game features 30 different block types, but the spirit of the game you know and love survives very well.Let's face it, the proliferation of more easily accessible Tetris titles would make buying a Virtual Boy to play regular old Tetris a bit silly, no? 3D Tetris, though, is definitely worth investigating. Maybe not worth buying a VB for, but still very good.31. Tetris Party Live (DSiWare)Publisher: Tetris Online / Developer: Hudson SoftRelease Date: 22nd Nov 2010 (USA) / 3rd Dec 2010 (UK/EU)If you were feeling competitive and had a Nintendo WiFi Connection, Tetris Party Live essentially a short-lived, scaled-down version of the other Tetris Party titles let you take on up to four players online.In addition to the regulation Marathon mode and vs CPU modes, the game offered online play for up to four players in either the Battle Mode or a Duel Space challenge, where you tried to drop blocks to take up the most area on the playing field. This might have seemed tacked-on, but it served up an interesting twist on the original formula and one that could get quite intense.You could choose to tackle online challengers or stick with your friends via Friend Codes, and you could also practise while waiting for an online match to start up. Not bad for an early, Nintendo-handheld foray into the online world. The strange lack of a local multiplayer option was a minus point, but otherwise this was a compelling multiplayer Tetris take on the DSi.30. Tetris Worlds (GCN)Publisher: THQ / Developer: Radical EntertainmentRelease Date: 23rd Jun 2002 (USA) / 27th Sep 2002 (UK/EU)The first of THQ's Tetrises, this 2002 entry introduced a world of modes and a controversial 'infinite' spin feature that essentially let you rotate a piece at the bottom of the well as long as you wanted. Talk about Tetris forever.Tetris Worlds also introduced little cuboid aliens (Minos) sending out Tetronauts in search of other worlds to escape from an impending supernova by, naturally, playing Tetris.Ignoring the creaking narrative intended to differentiate what was essentially the same game everyone had been playing for well over a decade, one redeeming feature well, memorable perhaps, at least to impressionable teenage ears, at the time, two decades ago (is that enough caveats?) was the sultry voice of the announcer. Pop on some earphones, listen to this voice whispering "Go for a Hot Line", and tell us you don't get a little...tingle.Tetris Worlds, then. The most sensual Tetris. Until Tetris Effect.29. Tetris Worlds (GBA)Publisher: THQ / Developer: 3d6 GamesRelease Date: 24th Sep 2001 (USA) / 7th Dec 2001 (UK/EU)Developed by 3d6 Games, the GBA version of Tetris Worlds was released the year before the home console versions and didn't feature the husky voice of the announcer that bewitched us on GameCube.So, then. 2/10 - not enough husk. Let's crack on with something better.28. Magical Tetris Challenge (GBC)Publisher: Capcom / Developer: CapcomRelease Date: 17th Feb 2000 (USA) / 24th Mar 2000 (UK/EU)Add Tetris to the magical pairing of Capcom and Disney and you can't go too far wrong. With Capcom, you're going to get a base level of quality, at least, and Magical Tetris Challenge delivers on the artistic side, with great pixel art and animation worthy of the characters.Similar to how Rare jammed some top-down, RPG-lite gameplay into Mickey's Speedway on GBC, Capcom added a Quest mode to the portable version that saw you wandering around and chatting with other Disney characters while collecting coins and you guessed it playing Tetris.We especially enjoy the animation box with the characters operating levers and knobs (probably) to 'play' the game, and you get plenty of modes and a decent Disney flavour. But if you're just after Tetris-ass Tetris, you're better off steering clear of the Disney fluff.27. Tetris Axis (3DS)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: HudsonRelease Date: 2nd Oct 2011 (USA) / 21st Oct 2011 (UK/EU)Tetris Axis falls well short of 'spectacular' but wasn't a bad addition to the classic's illustrious handheld legacy, with its expanded online component and oddly addictive Fever mode.Hudson chose to not reinvent the Tetromino following the Tetris Party series, instead providing a polished and accessible version of Russia's ultimate gaming export, even if the end product was on the bland and disjointed side.Many of the modes may have been flash and fluff, but the core game here was as addictive and fun as ever, and the overall package was compelling enough. But that ain't gonna cut it in the 'Best Tetris' ranks.26. Tetris 2 (NES)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: Oct 1993 (USA) / 1993 (UK/EU)The incredible success of the original game meant a sequel was inevitable, but when you've created a puzzler as singularly refined as Tetris, how exactly do you create a new take which does anything but dilute the first game's purity of expression? Sequels are meant to polish and introduce new and better mechanics how do you do that with Tetris?Tetris 2 essentially has you playing Dr. Mario with tetrominoes. It's not bad, by any means, but it's certainly not better than Tetris, so it's difficult to play it and not think you could be having a better time.25. Magical Tetris Challenge (N64)Publisher: Capcom / Developer: CapcomRelease Date: 14th Jan 1999 (USA) / Sep 1999 (UK/EU)Tetris with all the Disney trimmings, the home console version of Magical Tetris Challenge has all the charming animation you'd expect and Capcom rarely drops the T-piece when it comes to art although the combination of classic-style pixel-art characters 'working the Tetris machines, the morphing pre-rendered 'heads of the machines up top, the static backgrounds, and the Tetrominmoes themselves don't quite gel, aesthetically speaking.The extra screen real estate means you can see your opponent's well in this one, though, and the story mode, simple as it is, is fairly cute. Overall, then, another inessential Tetris tie-in with a bunch of goofy (ha!) modes that does the job well enough.24. Tetris 2 (GB)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1Release Date: Dec 1993 (USA) / 27th Oct 1994 (UK/EU)This time its personal. A sequel to the system-selling puzzler was an absolute given, of course, and looking back on Tetris 2 all these years later, its admirable just how much of a departure it was from the original classic.Named Tetris Flash in Japan, it takes the basic falling-blocks gameplay but adds in a match-three element with irregularly-shaped tetrominoes. Its jarring at first if disappearing horizontal lines are burnt into your brain, but give it time and youll find a surprisingly addictive little puzzle game in its own right.23. Tetris Ultimate (3DS)Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: UbisoftRelease Date: 11th Nov 2014 (USA) / 14th Nov 2014 (UK/EU)Tetris Ultimate largely lives up to its name; its a comprehensive collection of Tetris gameplay modes with various optional tweaks and tremendous online and local multiplayer.It must be said, though, that except for the new Challenge modes, theres nothing new here that any Tetris veteran hasnt already played, and it's all a bit bland. The Challenge modes are clearly targeted towards such experienced Tetris-heads, but the longevity isnt as extensive as the original Marathon mode, which is still probably the most fun you can have with Tetris by yourself.Putting it simply, at the end of the day its just Tetris. If that's what you're looking for and you're still rocking a 3DS for whatever reason, that's just fine. Still, if you're able to plug Tetris DS into the very same cart slot, there's not much reason bothering with this.22. Tetrisphere (N64)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: H2O EntertainmentRelease Date: Feb 1998 (UK/EU)Developed by H2O Entertainment (The New Tetris, Aidyn Chronicles), with input from Alexey Pajitnov and championing from NOA's Ken Lobb, Tetrisphere's greatest strength was its genuinely unique take on position-falling-blocks-to-clear-blocks formula.The general idea is to drop pieces onto the outer layer of a sphere to form clumps of same-type pieces which clear until you get to the centre. Various power-ups including missiles could be used to blast away great chunks of the sphere, too, clearing a path to release the robot trapped in the sphere.Add in a decent multiplayer mode and some great techno tunes and you've got a game we sincerely hope will come to Nintendo Switch Online for another chance to shine. And a VR reimagining would surely have potential.The complexity of the added dimension isn't for everyone, of course. "I enjoyed playing Tetrisphere [...] but the game should be simple," Pajitnov told us in 2019. "That game was too complicated."21. Tetris Party Deluxe (DS)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Hudson SoftRelease Date: 25th May 2010 (USA)The DS version of Tetris Party Deluxe isn't bad far from it but issue it's got is that when you've got one of the all-time great Tetrises on the platform (one that's got the platform's name in the title, no less), you're always going to look like the also-ran.There are plenty of great modes here, including Bombliss and a neat Shadow mode, but if you're a block-faller fanatic after dual-screen kicks, your Tetris is in another castle.20. Tetris Blast (GB)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Bullet-Proof SoftwareRelease Date: Jan 1996 (USA) / 1996 (UK/EU)Having secured the rights to Tetris, Nintendo wasnt shy about expanding/exploiting the concept or just the name in various other puzzle games.Known as Super Bombliss in Japan and essentially the BomBliss portion of the Japan-only Tetris 2 + BomBliss broken out on its own, Tetris Blast has each of the falling blocks (this time mixing two and three-block shapes in with the standard tetrominoes) contain at least one bomb. Completing a line causes any bombs contained in that line to explode within a set radius. If you manage to obliterate the entire board, you move on to the next stage.Its a unique and enjoyable take on the original game, with a password system and a Fight mode where you battle against comical bosses who move around the well. Now also available as part of Tetris Forever, so it's easy to check out.19. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 (Switch)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 8th Dec 2020 (USA) / 8th Dec 2020 (UK/EU)Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 could never have hoped to have the same impact as the first game, but it remains a brilliant puzzle title nevertheless. While some may feel it's not quite different enough from its predecessor, the new single-player story is just as entertaining as the last one, and the Skill Battle mode adds interesting mechanics to the mix.It's still absolutely packed with content; it's just that the first game was too, so the impact is lessened slightly.18. Tetris Attack (GB)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Intelligent SystemsRelease Date: Aug 1996 (USA) / 28th Nov 1996 (UK/EU)Known as Panel de Pon in Japan, Tetris Attack was released on Game Boy and Super Nintendo, although its Tetris in name only the actual game bears almost no resemblance to Alexey Pajitnov's game. The Western versions also saw characters from Super Mario World 2: Yoshis Island co-opted in an effort to attract an audience to this Intelligent Systems joint.Despite this blatant marketing ploy, Tetris Attack is a cracking block-swapping puzzler in its own right and well worth checking out alongside its more famous Russian namesake.17. Puyo Puyo Tetris (Switch)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sonic TeamRelease Date: 25th Apr 2017 (USA) / 28th Apr 2017 (UK/EU)What happens when you throw arguably the two most popular falling block puzzle games in a blender? Its a miracle that the result wasnt a horrible, horrible mess, but Puyo Puyo Tetris mixes the two so confidently that it doesnt occur to you how catastrophic this cocktail could have been.Sonic Team respects the fundamentals of each series and offers a rock-solid game of both, but isnt afraid to have fun stirring them together. Theres a bevvy of multiplayer options for up to four people, and everything is presented with a vigour and verve which belies the decades-long history behind both puzzle genre titans.The Story mode is well, its a bit nuts, but its there if you want it (we were glad for the skip button). More importantly, the wealth of modes available means aficionados of either series have more than enough to occupy themselves with. In fact, its possible to pretty much ignore your least favourite, but that would be a great shame; this is a glorious firework of a crossover, uniting puzzle fans of all creeds and it shines very brightly on Switch.16. Arcade Archives TETRIS THE ABSOLUTE THE GRAND MASTER 2 PLUS (Switch eShop)Publisher: HAMSTER / Developer: ArikaRelease Date: 1st Jun 2023 (USA) / 1st Jun 2023 (UK/EU)This 'Plus' version of the first sequel to Arika's Grand Master series was bought to Switch by Hamster in 2023, but the original came out in arcades in 2000.Incorporating a ranking system that tops out with the titular 'Grand Master' if you're good enough, these versions are the choice of connoisseurs and absolute purists, putting your skills to the test with devastating speed and dastardly requirements that absolutely flummox mere mortals for whom seeing the shuttle blast off in the Game Boy version is a serious accomplishment.15. Arcade Archives TETRIS THE GRAND MASTER (Switch eShop)Publisher: HAMSTER / Developer: ArikaRelease Date: 1st Dec 2022 (UK/EU)The Grand Master series is Tetris for the hardest of core series fans. Arika's 1998 arcade take on the puzzler most people learned to play on a handheld made competition a central tenant, with ranks awarded depending on the speed and skill displayed, and a nail-biting difficulty which meant only the best of the best were honoured with the eponymous title.Hamster's Arcade Archives Switch port makes it accessible to the masses, as in you can access it easily, but mastering this game requires untold dedication. If you're a Tetris fan looking for a challenge, step right up.14. The New Tetris (N64)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: H2O EntertainmentRelease Date: 31st Jul 1999 (USA) / 15th Oct 1999 (UK/EU)The New Tetris is somewhat like The Old Tetris, although the addition of a new square block-based mechanic, an EDM soundtrack, and a four-player mode gives it a very particular (and addictive) flavour.It came from H20 Entertainment, the same team behind the similarly interesting Tetrisphere and is worth investigating if you can't get enough variations on the king of block-fallers.13. Tetris Party Deluxe (Wii)Publisher: Tetris Online / Developer: HudsonRelease Date: 1st Jun 2010 (USA) / 3rd Sep 2010 (UK/EU)Essentially the retail version of the non-Deluxe WiiWare release with extras, Tetris Party Deluxe had a whole ton of multiplayer modes, including 2v2 co-op and Wii Balance Board support carried over from the original version, compatible with a handful of modes. Yes, the Wii Balance Board: the ideal way to play Tetris. Or are DK Bongos preferred?As party games go, a block-falling puzzler might not be your first pick. However, Hudson made a decent case for a few rounds of Tetris to get the party started.12. Tetris Forever (Switch eShop)Publisher: Digital Eclipse / Developer: Digital EclipseRelease Date: 12th Nov 2024 (USA) / 12th Nov 2024 (UK/EU)Tetris Forever might not be the final word on the complete history of Tetris it's missing too many of the best versions but it's certainly a great breakdown of the franchise's creation and evolution so far. Digital Eclipse has truly mastered the art of the interactive documentary, and this one is absolutely filled to the brim with interesting videos, interviews, and archival material - not to mention Tetrises.The playable games don't necessarily represent the most varied selection across the Tetris franchise, but it's a comprehensive bunch of titles, including a recreation of the original Electronika 60 version, a whole bunch of Famicom and Super Famicom variants and spin-offs (many getting their first official release outside Japan), and a couple of MS-DOS entries, including Welltris.On top of that, newcomer Tetris Time Warp is a fantastic addition to a back catalogue that seemingly won't stop growing. All in all, a fascinating and near-essential round-up of one of gaming's most important series.11. Tetris Party (WiiWare)Publisher: Tetris OnlineRelease Date: 20th Oct 2008 (USA) / 24th Oct 2008 (UK/EU)If you're Tetris-starved though we're not quite sure how anyone could be you can't go wrong with Tetris Party, although you'll have a job finding the WiiWare version these days. As the name implies, the game was specifically meant for local multiplayer and added Miis and Wii Balance Board support to the mix for that added Nintendo feel.Playing against friends is incredible fun, but if you're not able to round up anyone, there's not much point. Yes, the basic single-player is as rock solid as its ever been, but as far as the other modes go, there is only so much fun to get from AI opponents.The online part was great in its day, but that day has long since passed and you won't be buying this on WiiWare - you'll need to track down a copy of the expanded Deluxe retail version. Unfortunately, this particular Party's over.10. Tetris & Dr. Mario (SNES)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1Release Date: Dec 1994 (USA) / 25th Jul 1995 (UK/EU)There's not a huge amount to say about this one. Combining 16-bit remasters of NES Tetris and Dr. Mario, SNES owners in the West got a double helping of puzzling that included a Mixed Match mode which jumped from game to game between rounds. Beyond that, this is pretty much regulation Tetris and Dr. Mario.Interestingly, thanks to Nintendo not owning the console rights in Japan, the Tetris part was stripped out and 16-bit Dr. Mario was broadcast for Satellaview and later made available to download on SFC flash carts at kiosks.9. Tetris (Tengen) (NES)Publisher: Tengen / Developer: AtariRelease Date: May 1989 (USA)While Henk Rogers and Nintendo's Tetris success is often celebrated thanks to the overwhelming success of the Game Boy and NES entries, this NES entry was a victim of a labyrinthine network of licensing, sub-licensing, and confusion around exactly which companies held which rights as agreed with Russian-state-owned ELORG, the sole handler of Tetris rights until the mid-1990s.Atari Games' 1989 version (published under the Tengen label) boasted a two-player mode that Nintendidn't, yet legal issues led to it being pulled from store shelves after only a month. Thanks to its short shelf life, copies are worth a decent amount these days.The story of Tetris' convoluted journey to the West (deemed exciting enough to adapt into movie form, although we much prefer the BBC documentary Tetris: From Russia With Love) is a thrilling combination of guile, subterfuge, and blind luck that went on to shape Nintendo and the video game industry at large. Tengen Tetris was one of the casualties along the way.8. Tetris Plus (GB)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: JalecoRelease Date: 25th Aug 1997 (USA) / 1996 (UK/EU)This Jaleco-developed spin on the formula came to various platforms (PlayStation, Saturn, and arcade) and bundles your common-or-garden Tetris mode with the 'plus' bit, the latter in the form of a separate puzzle mode which introduces a world-hopping professor and his assistant hunting treasure in exotic locales.The plundering prof frequently finds himself in the bottom wells with spikes descending slowly but steadily from above. It's up to you to clear lines in the usual way to open the path to his goal and getaway at the bottom.Tetris Plus isn't a life-changer, but it's a cute variation on the theme and is fondly remembered.7. Tetris Attack (SNES)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Intelligent SystemsRelease Date: 1st Aug 1996 (USA) / 28th Nov 1996 (UK/EU)Available On: Nintendo Switch OnlineThe Tetris branding was a misnomer here, a pure marketing strategy to give this wonderful puzzler a leg up in the West. Panel de Pon is a cracking puzzle game that doesn't resemble Tetris in the slightest the blocks rise rather than fall, for a start and if you've never played it before, you're in for a real treat.If you've somehow misplaced your original cart (how very careless), you can check it out most easily on Switch, although you won't find Tetris Attack anywhere on the menu screen of your Nintendo Switch Online Super NES app; it's listed under its Japanese title, almost certainly due to Nintendo not wanting to pay The Tetris Company in order to use the name again.It's so incredibly addictive that Capcom's Shinji Mikami had to ban the game while his team was developing the original Resident Evil. As recommendations go, that's not a bad one! Tetris it ain't, but it's bloody good nonetheless.6. Tetris DX (GBC)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 18th Nov 1998 (USA) / 1st Jul 1999 (UK/EU)Available On: Nintendo Switch OnlineIt's Tetris, in colour what's not to like? The colour helped differentiate the pieces and a couple of new modes were added, plus a save feature, but this was really just the original Game Boy entry with added hues.In any other case that might feel like a disappointment, but a quick bash on Tetris DX is enough to make you forget you've played it for hundreds of hours before in black and white green.5. Tetris (NES)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1Release Date: Nov 1989 (USA) / 23rd Feb 1990 (UK/EU)Available On: Nintendo Switch OnlineThe Game Boy version of this video gaming titan might be the most iconic and certainly more convenient to play when you're out and about but the ability to relax with Tetris on your TV wasn't to be sniffed at, either. Some prefer the Tengen version, which disappeared from stores soon after release due to a licensing snafu, but this non-controversial port is also a winner.It's Tetris, just on the NES. 'Nuff said, really. There's no shortage of ways to play, but this very first Nintendo-developed home console version was never re-released - until its NSO appearance in December 2024.4. Tetris 99 (Switch eShop)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: ArikaRelease Date: 13th Feb 2019 (USA) / 14th Feb 2019 (UK/EU)The endearing oddball of the family, Tetris 99 offers a truly unique way to play the tried-and-tested classic, even if the overall package feels a little lightweight. Playing live against 98 others is chaotic, and the action feels fast, precise, and wonderfully addictive.Its seriously difficult, too wed fancy our chances in Fortnite over this any day and were impressed with the fact that it's forced us to play the game with a completely different approach to our usual slow-and-steady ways.Signing up for Nintendo Switch Online just to play this game might be a bit of a stretch, but if youre already a member, what are you waiting for? Its 'free' and it might just become your next favourite time sink.3. Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch eShop)Publisher: Enhance Games / Developer: ResonairRelease Date: 8th Oct 2021 (USA) / 8th Oct 2021 (UK/EU)Tetris Effect: Connected is perhaps the best iteration of the classic puzzler yet.While this Switch port doesn't offer a great deal over existing versions in terms of features, it delivers the one key ingredient that its rivals cannot: portability. Sure, some will argue that Tetris Effect: Connected's unique brand of synesthesia only really comes alive when played on PSVR or an Oculus Quest headset, but we'd argue passionately that this game benefits far more from the ability to pick it up and play whenever, wherever.Just as the Game Boy and Tetris combined to create an irresistible, world-conquering fusion back in 1989, Tetris Effect: Connected found the hardware that allowed it to truly shine, making this an utterly essential purchase for all Nintendo Switch owners. Don't forget those headphones.2. Tetris DS (DS)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo SPDRelease Date: 20th Mar 2006 (USA) / 21st Apr 2006 (UK/EU)You can see the 9am meeting at Nintendo HQ now: "Mornin'. So, we're putting Tetris on the new portable and we need a name. Thoughts?"Fortunately, Nintendo SPD didn't head straight to the pub after striking upon the groundbreaking Tetris DS title, but instead knuckled down to produce one of the finest iterations of the block-falling classic ever made. With touch controls, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a truckload of Nintendo nods and winks, it is still one of the best ways to play the game and well worth tracking down if you've never had the pleasure.In fact, 'Tetris DS' is a misnomer; with visuals and audio that cleverly work Nintendo's 8-bit catalogue and characters into the experience, plus myriad modes that expand beyond the standard gameplay in intriguing, brilliant ways, 'Tetris: Nintendo Edition' would be a far better fit.1. Tetris (GB)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 31st Jul 1989 (USA) / 28th Sep 1990 (UK/EU)Available On: Nintendo Switch OnlineWith few of the bells and whistles that would arrive later on, Game Boy Tetris is arguably the purest expression of the original block-falling idea.There have been countless ports of this addictive puzzler made available for just about every electronic device in existence (and we've seen a lot of them above), but the Game Boy version is arguably the most beloved and its clear visuals, responsive controls, and that theme tune make it easy to appreciate why.The very deadliest of killer apps, no self-respecting Game Boy enthusiast should be without a copy.Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo LifeAnd that's how the pieces fell - all the Tetris games, ranked (or all the ones on Nintendo platforms). Phew!Best Tetris FAQBefore we take off in our space shuttle, let's answer some common questions readers often ask about the Tetris series.What's the most recent Tetris game?Tetris Forever is the most recent entry at the time of writing.Arika and The Tetris Company have announced that Tetris The Grandmaster 4 - Absolute Eye -, a new instalment in The Grand Master series, is due to release in March 2024.The first two GM games are available on Switch, although Steam is the only announced platform for this offline-only game at the moment.What's the hardest Tetris game?Speak of the devil, The Grand Master series is generally considered to be the toughest Tetris going.But it really depends on the mode and the difficulty setting. Any Tetris game can be immensely challenging, but Arika's series is designed to test the best with arcade-style ranking and an incredibly high skill ceiling.What's the best Tetris game on Switch specifically?Tetris Effect: Connected is the best Tetris on Switch, according to our list above!What's the best-selling Tetris game?Tetris for the Game Boy is the best-selling Tetris game of all time, with over 35 million copies sold.That enormous figure also puts it in the top 20 best-selling video games ever, and a vast number of those were packed in with the Game Boy hardware, highlighting what a canny move it was for Nintendo to bundle it in.Hang on, why isn't [insert Tetris game here] included?We've only included Tetris games released in the West (so no V-Tetris or Tetris 64, with its heartbeat monitor and Bio Tetris mode that altered the difficulty depending on your pulse) and only games that actually have the word 'Tetris' in the title. This means some misleadingly monikered spin-offs can be found on the list above, but stuff like Hatris is off the menu.We also excluded curio crossover Pokmon Tetris from the Pokmon Mini. Time ExtensionNew collection gives Pocket Monsters some cross-platform visablityHow can I change the ranking in this article?We enlisted the help of Nintendo Life readers to rate every Tetris game above. The ranking is governed by each entry's User Rating in our game database, and is therefore subject to change right now, even as you're reading this!Disagree with the ranking? Try searching for your favourite Tetris games in the box below and rate them to influence the order.Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov with Henk Rogers, who secured the console rights to the game for Nintendo Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo LifeWell done for sticking it out until the end! Let us know where your favourite Tetris ranks below. "I dont like the square. Its dumb"Up Next: Tomb RaiderShare:01 Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 before joining the site full-time the following year, rising through the ranks to become Editor. He can currently be found squashed beneath a Switch backlog the size of Normandy. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherPokmon TCG Pocket: Mew EX Deck GuideMew EX is here to keep the meta in checkPokmon TCG Pocket: Celebi EX Deck GuideOh no, this Grass fairy is going to be a problemPokmon TCG Pocket: Tier List & Best DecksNow including Mythical IslandBest Nintendo Switch Couch Co-op GamesWhat are the best couch co-op games on Switch?

"A unicorn is worth more than riches"But what are yours?Ollie Reynolds, Staff WriterI never want to belittle the incredible achievement CD Projekt Red and Saber Interactive managed in porting The Witcher III to the Nintendo Switch, but when I recently booted it up for a fresh playthrough, I just couldnt cope with the visuals. It was nice back in 2019, but not anymore. So Im playing it on my Series X instead! Ah, much betterIm also playing through The Thing: Remastered on the PS5, which is a lovely, albeit slightly flawed take on the John Carpenter classic. Nightdive, as always, did an excellent job at beefing up the performance and visuals here.What, no Switch..? Well, yes, Im playing something for review, but more on that soon!Jim Norman, Staff WriterI'd like to think that this weekend will see me putting a few more hours into Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, maybe playing a few more games of Marvel Rivals with my pals and ticking off another island or two in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. But I'll be heading back to my parent's house for the holidays, so all that will be put aside in favour of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo Switch Sports and explaining the rules of Mario Party for the 100th time.Ah, Christmas is almost here. Have a good one, folks!Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Gavin Lane, EditorSo many games I'm looking forward to tucking into. Unicorn Overlord is the big one, with Nine Sols, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, and Loco Motive waiting in the wings. I got Braid: Anniversary Edition on sale a couple of weeks back, plus cute puzzler Railbound for 99 cents.I also want to play some more Yakuza and dip into Arco. I hear the latter has some issues on Switch but a 30% discount tempted me. Have a fantastic week, everyone!Alana Hagues, Deputy EditorAfter beating Nine Sols, Im in a bit of a gaming rut! I should go back to Trails through Daybreak, and I should start 1000xRESIST, but what have I done instead? Bounce around between Balatro, Tetris DX on NSO, and Bust A Move 4 on the PlayStation.But Ive just found out that Arco is on sale, and now Im thinking about making my backlog even bigger before 2025 hits. Lets just say its a little Christmas present to myself.Have a safe and healthy holiday season, everyone!Kate Gray, ContributorThis weekend I am on a PLANE once more. I'll be taking my Switch, my Steam Deck, and my iPad, which means I will have a fair amount of choice, but I feel like I should probably play Brothership, which I apparently pre-ordered a while ago and still haven't got around to playing.In reality, though, I will probably play a lot of Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and maybe some of the games I'm picking up in the Steam sale (Fields of Mistria, Void Stranger, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes). Or my backlog. Spoilers: it's never my backlog...Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Gonalo Lopes, Contributor'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse except me unpacking all my mini retro arcades, consoles and computers to display under the giant LCD set in the living room. It is the season for cosy retro gaming, and to ensure entertainment to both host and guests of all ages that will run by my humble abode this holiday season, I have reassembled all my minis not just as decoration but because I will surely spend the coming weeks revisiting classics on my SNES, Mega Drive and PC Engine minis. I do suspect the latest addition to the gang will be quite popular among folks of a certain age: The Spectrum continues to impress unaware folks who stumble upon it setup next to the A500 Mini.My game of the week is still New Star GP, now competing in the 1990s season championship. I also convinced my dad to pick up the PS4 version on his PS5 and I really, REALLY love to play this arcade racing gem with analogue triggers. Someone at Nintendo is taking notes for the next Switch Pro Ultra 2, right? There is absolutely no reason in this day and age not to take full advantage of analogue acceleration and braking on 'Mario Kart 9'.Happy holidays, folks! I'll see you soonish after another complete playthrough of Secret of Mana on SNES (Santa is in it in case you dont remember).(PS: The developers reached out to me and assured that world ten is indeed the very last hurdle to conquer Abathor. Sequel please?)That's what we have planned for the weekend, but what about you? Let us know in the following poll which games you're planning on booting up over the next couple of days.What are you playing this weekend (21st/22nd December)? (1 vote)Related GamesSee Also

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWell, here's a surprise - Falcom and refint/games have announced they're reviving the crossover fighting game bringing together Ys. and Trails in the Sky.Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga will be coming to the Switch and multiple other platforms worldwide in 2025. This game was originally released on the PlayStation Portable in 2010 and was exclusive to Japan.Fortunately, this latest release will change that - with a local release confirmed. Here's an official description (via Steam):Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube The fast-paced action that earned acclaim in Ys SEVEN is back and better than ever! With the ability to jump adding a whole new layer of speed and strategy, you'll soar across vast battlefields while unleashing thrilling combos that take the excitement to the next level.Familiar characters from the Trails in the Sky series showcase their mastery of diverse crafts, delivering familiar yet dynamic attacks you can only experience in this title!"...In addition to the playable characters, many fan-favorite characters from various titles join as support characters! These allies provide powerful backup in heated battles, which will assist you in achieving victory. Let their guidance lead you to triumph!"In terms of key features - players can look forward to remastered graphics, 60 FPS support, couch and online multiplayer, English voice acting from a familiar cast and unlockables like wallpapers and soundtracks. Here are some screenshots of the PC build:Images: via SteamImage: via SteamWhen we find out more, we'll let you know.

Download it now.Following its release in October, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed has received a new update.It adds a new colour blind mode with three options and also "responds to fan demand" for increased gameplay difficulty and other quality-of-life improvements. Here's the full rundown, courtesy of the PR:Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Pictured: Terminator: Resistance Image: Reef Entertainment (via Steam)The Switch is home to all sorts of franchises but one series Nintendo fans haven't got their hands on this generation is Terminator.It seems this could all be set to change with the discovery a game called Terminator 2D: No Fate has been rated by the Australian Classification Board for the Nintendo Switch and multiple other platforms.Image: Australian Classification BoardAs you can see above, the title received an 'M' for 'mature' rating earlier this week on 19th December 2024 and will contain violence and coarse language.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube It will be published and developed by Reef Entertainment - a UK-based developer known for the 2019 first-person shooter Terminator: Resistance. When we find out more, we'll be sure to let you know.

Image: Bullet-Proof Software / Digital EclipseDigital Eclipse has announced that the curious Tetris sequel Welltris will be added to the excellent compilation title Tetris Forever via a free update on Switch.The game, originally release in 1989, takes the same basic gameplay of Tetris, but adds in an extra dimension, essentially turning the gameplay area into a 'well'. It's weird stuff, and it's no surprise that it didn't quite reach the same cultural heights as its predecessor, but it's an excellent new addition to the game nevertheless. Digital Eclipse also promises to add more games in the future, so keep your eyes peeled.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Not only that, but Tetris Forever has also received some welcome improvements, including the ability to remap controls on Tetris Time Warp and the Electronika 60, MS-DOS, and Apple II versions of Tetris. An audio issue with the Switch version has also been patched out.Let's check out exactly what's been added here then:Welltris (Spectrum Holobyte, MS-DOS)The first follow-up to Tetris created by Alexey Pajitnov, Welltris is a beloved variant in which Tetriminos (and other shapes) fall down four sides of a well.TETRIS TIME WARP - All players can now individually remap their controls in Tetris Time Warp, the new four-player Digital Eclipse game included in Tetris Forever that has proven to be a hit with both casual and competitive players. Control remapping was the most requested feature change from players.OTHER IMPROVEMENTSMore customization options: Players can now remap their controls in Electronika 60, MS-DOS & Apple II games on console. This functionality was previously added to the PC version in November.Switch version audio fix: At launch, a conflict with the Rewind functionality caused audio issues that could be heard while playing some classic games in the Nintendo Switch version of Tetris Forever. As a first step, the team has disabled the Rewind function in games that had audio glitches, which has fixed the issue. The team will look into the possibility of restoring Rewind in a future update.Images: Bullet-Proof Software / Digital EclipseTetris Forever is available now via the Switch eShop. In our 8/10 review, we said that it's the "best breakdown of the franchise's creation and evolution so far". The building blocks of historyWill you be checking out Welltris via the new Tetris Forever update? Let us know with a comment down below.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, thoughToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo LifeIf there were a trophy for missing open goals, Nintendo would have a fair few in the cabinet. For example, why didn't we get a new Donkey Kong game back when the Super Mario Bros. movie launched last year? Why wasn't the Wii U called 'Wii 2'? And why, for the love of god, is there no Nintendogs game on Switch?There was a part of me, obviously swayed by some kind of Mandela effect, that was convinced the doggy daycare sim had gone on walkies on our beloved Nintendo hybrid in the last eight years. But no, I have consulted the Ancient Scrolls (our games database) and braved the Switch eShop, and no such game exists. That is, apart from the eerily similar-looking Little Friends: Dogs & Cats, but that's no purebred Nintendo puppy.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube This isn't a franchise I've thought about for the best part of 20 years, but, upon realisation, the absence of a doggy in the Switch window seems like a glaring omission. The OG sold like hotcakes on the DS (heck, it was the handheld's second best-seller after New Super Mario Bros.), and while the creatively-named follow-up, Nintendogs + Cats, on the 3DS wasn't quite as big of a Moment, I struggle to think of many people who have never experienced the pain of trying to teach one of these virtual dogs to respond to its name.Images: NintendoYou'd think Nintendo would do everything in its power to bring some of that DS and 3DS crowd over to the new system after the dark years of the Wii U, but no! Little-known curios like 'Zelda' and 'Mario' were apparently a "better business decision", whatever that means.The question is: why? The sales figures are clear as day, the cosy gaming scene has blossomed on Switch, and if deep cuts like Another Code and Endless Ocean have been given a seat at the table this year, why not the prize pup? I can only assume that there's one simple answer: Nintendo hates puppies Switch hardware.I played Nintendogs because I wasn't allowed a real dog (something that I, a fully grown adult, am totally over), and all of the appeal was in replicating the 'real dog' experience without any of the messy, real-life stuff. The catch is that all of that fun was tied to the DS and, in most of those instances, the Switch ain't gonna play ball.Think about it; you pet, play with and clean the pup via the touchscreen. Training is a strangely realistic case of shouting into the microphone with varying degrees of impatience. You meet other dogs by putting the device in 'Bark Mode' and crossing paths with similar users in the real world hey, StreetPass has a lot to answer for. A game without any of those features isn't Nintendogs, it's more like... well... Little Friends: Dogs & Cats.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kI suppose I could give my GoodBoi a belly scratch on the Switch's touchscreen, but docked mode isn't going to give the same dopamine hit. I understand Little Friends subbed in motion controls as a replacement, but I have clear memories of mindlessly petting the air on the Xbox Kinect's Kinectimals and the hilariously-titled follow-up Kinectimals: Now with Bears! (an attempt to capture the Nintendogs fever if I've ever seen one), and let me tell you, it was not the same.This, paired with the absence of a mic and the biggest sin of them all no StreetPass-style wireless functionality, makes it difficult to imagine what Nintendogs on Switch would look like. Perhaps things would be different if the Switch 2 delivers on all of the above, but unless the form factor drastically changes to prioritise handheld play over everything else (and, looking at those rumours, it won't), I might have to start being content with the idea that this is a Nintendo franchise better off going to live on the farm.See? You do still have a reason to keep that DS charged.But what do you think? Is there a home for Nintendogs on Switch and Switch 2? Would you like to see the series return one day? Bark your thoughts in the comments.Would you like to see a new Nintendogs game on Switch/'Switch2'? (0 votes)No results yet, check back later... Who's a good boy?Are we barking up the wrong tree?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 Articles'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherNintendo Shares Special Message: "Thank You For Joining Us Now And Into The Future"The Switch might be winding down, but more games are on the way

Image: Nintendo LifeIf a glance at most of our Nintendo Switch Year in Review stats is anything to go by, then more than a few of us have spent a good bit of time with Balatro this year. We've spent so long with it, in fact, that its iconography is pretty much burned into our minds by this point. It sure would be a shame if one joke tweet made us see the whole thing differently, huh?Well, we're sorry, but that's exactly what has happened. It all started with a tweet by @JacobJanerka, who shared that he sees the game's mascot, Jimbo, not as a clown wearing a blue ruffle collar but as a guy with a giant head wearing a blue jumpsuit it's the KFC Colonel all over againSubscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Yep, we had to see it, so we're putting you through it too. Here's the mock-up that started it all:We Nintendo Lifers had a chuckle about this when we first laid eyes on it this morning, amused by the idea that someone could possibly see it as anything other than a clown in some fancy neckwear. A reply from Balatro developer LocalThunk that simply read "Delete this" made us smugly assume that we were in the right after all, nobody else could possibly think the same thing, right?Wrong. A closer inspection of the thread reveals that the original poster was not alone in his point of view and, after a swift poll in Nintendo Life Towers, there are even some among our rank who have long seen the mascot in the same tiny-bodied way.We were agog. We were aghast. But now we're starting to wonder if we on Team Ruff are the ones in the wrong. When we saw Ben Starr take on the role in a recent 'Friends of Jimbo' trailer, he certainly opted for the collar look, but who's to say that's the 'correct' interpretation?Help us settle this, dear readers is the Balatro mascot a clown in a ruff or a dude with a giant head and tiny body? You can cast your vote in the poll below. Please, we need to know.How do you see the Balatro mascot? (191 votes)Team Ruff85%Team Tiny Body14%Other (comment below) 0.5%Ruff or tiny body? Which side are you on? Let us know in the comments. While games with real-life gambling are 3+Hello JimBen (Starr)[source x.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 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 Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, thoughToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher

Image: NintendoMonthly Splatfests are a thing of the past for Splatoon 3 these days, but Nintendo is still keeping the seasonal events coming. With Splatoween out the way, the next one to roll around is Frosty Fest, a festive celebration which will be heading to the Splatlands next month.As revealed in a tweet by @NintendoUK, the Frosty Fest Splatfest will get underway from 11th-12th January 2025 (depending on your region), with the theme this time asking 'What would make you happiest?' There are three gift-based teams to choose between, with Team Money, Experiences and Presents all vying for your support.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube But that's not all! Just as was the case last year, the upcoming festival also brings in a batch of free gear this time consisting of returning items from Splatoon 2, but who cares? They're free! To redeem your free in-game gear, just select the relevant story on the Switch News channel.Image: NintendoIt looks like voting for this one will be underway very soon, but in the meantime, why not let us know which team you'll be battling for in the following poll?Which team gets your vote for the upcoming Splatoon 3 Frosty Fest? (53 votes)Team Money30%Team Experiences51%Team Presents19% Please wrap it upWho will you side with?Which team gets your vote this time? Are you excited for the next Frost Fest? Swim down to the comments and let us know.[source x.com]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 Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, thoughToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

Image: Pix ArtsNintendos been involved in its fair share of legal battles over the years, but we have a feeling it might be thinking twice before taking on publisher Pix Arts over the recent release of Monkey Kong In New-York on the Nintendo Switch.Granted, Nintendo can do whatever it likes, and if it thinks theres even the slightest chance that it might win a legal case, then chances are it will send its ninjas to battle at the earliest opportunity. Whats interesting about this particular game, however, is that it reminds us of a previous legal battle fought between Nintendo and Universal back in 1983.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Ysee, back in't day, Universal wound up suing Nintendo over the latters new Donkey Kong game, alleging that it was a copyright infringement upon the characters and plot of King Kong. After a 7-day trial, the late judge Robert W. Sweet determined that Universal had no trademark in King Kong, deeming that the company itself had proven the IP to be in the public domain during a previous court case against RKO General. Furthermore, he said its unlikely that consumers would genuinely mix up King Kong and Donkey Kong.Nintendos defense lawyer at the time, the late John Kirby, was gifted a $30,000 sailboat christened Donkey Kong for his work during the case. As many of you may already know, his surname was also used as inspiration for the long-running platforming franchise Kirby.Now, if Nintendo even notices Monkey Kong in New-York on the Switch eShop (because lets face it, its a small drop in a big ocean given the amount of bilge being uploaded these days), it may have to think long and hard about whether it wants to pursue legal action against this particular game given the hassle it had to go through back in 83.The big difference here, of course, is that Nintendo does own the trademark to Donkey Kong obviously and the similarities between Donkey Kong and Monkey Kong are arguably much closer than that of King Kong. In addition, the games logo is somewhat similar to that of Donkey Kongs, but were not sure anybody would look at the generic character model for the titular character and mistake it for Nintendos famous, lovable ape.Images: Pix Arts, NintendoChances are that if Nintendo wants Monkey Kong in New-York removed from the eShop, it can probably do so with little fuss, and we sincerely doubt a case such as this would make it all the way to court. Still, its interesting to look at the similarities to the 83 case, right? 3DS emulator Citra to also shut downOn at least fifty occasions in the last two years"What do you make of this new 'Monkey Kong' game? Do you think it will remain on the eShop, or are its days numbered? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, though'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"Toby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"