Latest Features
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 8th)
Easter gaming
We did it, everyone! We made it through the opening week of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and still live to tell the tale. Yes, this week finally saw the release of the hotly anticipated Nintendo and Illumination co-production and was it worth the wait? Well, sort of. While we certainly had mixed feelings in our review, the stellar box...
Feature The Best References And Easter Eggs In The Super Mario Bros. Movie
It's-a tough one
Lots of us have already seen the long-awaited The Super Mario Bros. Movie and if there is one thing to take away from our initial viewing, it's that this thing is absolutely jam-packed with Yoshi Easter eggs and references. We sort of knew that this was going to be the case. Each trailer gave us a taste of what was to come, but...
Poll What Score Would You Give To The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
A super debut?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is out now in several regions, bringing an end to months, if not years, of speculation and anticipation. We've provided our own thoughts in our review of the movie, along with a video discussion for your perusal, but what we'd really like to find out now is what you fine folks make of it. We've started...
Hands On Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp - Slicker, Shinier, Sassier Strategy
Modern warfare
After numerous delays to an initial proposed launch date of December 2021 due to real-world events that Nintendo evidently felt made launching a light-hearted warfare game problematic, Wayforward's Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is finally almost here. Featuring the classic Game Boy Advance campaigns from both Advance Wars and Advance...
Feature What's The Best Way To Play Super Mario Bros. In 2023?
Flag poll
We originally published this article back in 2020 as part of Super Mario Bros.' 35th anniversary year. With the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, we thought it was about time to revisit all the ways you can play the very first Super Mario game in 2023, taking into account the method we lost back in 2021. Ah, Mario 35, how we miss...
Ninterview Menko Cards And Niche Nintendo History - The Hunt For Mario's Rookie Card
A different kind of 'game card'
If you have ever read up on the history of Nintendo, you know that before it went into the video game business, the company began life by making cards and other novelties. The hanafuda and playing cards which Nintendo produced from its formation in 1889 took a back seat following the popularity of toys like the Ultra...
Feature Nintendo eShop Selects - March 2023
Our picks for the best eShop games in March
A previous version of this article included the February 2023 poll. We've since updated this list with the March 2023 poll. We apologise for the error. We're officially one-quarter of the way through 2023. Time really needs to slow down, because our backlog and wishlist are expanding at pretty much the...
Round Up It's April Fools' Day, Here Are The Best Gaming Gags We've Seen (2023)
A joke too far
It's that day of the year again. On the video game front, things are sometimes taken to another level when a joke turns out to be the real deal, and it seems to have happened once again this year, this time with Sega murdering Sonic the Hedgehog (seriously) and a few other amusing announcements. Of course, there have also been many...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Atelier Ryza 3?
Or is it a secret?
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key launched recently just over a week ago, and fans of the series have had a good chunk of time to get familiar with Ryza's latest adventure in alchemy. In our review of the game, we called it "a heady mix of exploration, crafting and combat that benefits greatly from a...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 1st)
Flame on
One week ago today we were looking at the calendar and commenting on how things seemed pretty quiet for Nintendo to round out March and then out of nowhere — boom! — we're hit with our first proper look at The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and everything changed. Yes, this was the week that we fell thoroughly back into the...
Poll Is This The Very End Of The Road For E3?
Pour one out. Again.
Yesterday the news came that E3 2023 is officially cancelled. The writing had been on the wall for a couple of months. Despite the ESA and ReedPop's stated intentions to "reunite the industry" with a new vision of the hallowed yet ailing industry event, hopes of a "return to form"
Feature Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Gameplay Trailer - Every New Detail Revealed
Updated with even more details!
We've updated the following list with even more details that we have noticed since the gameplay trailer dropped — and you can see them all in the video above courtesy of the lovely Alex-from-Nintendo-Life. For the big announcements and the blink-and-you'll-miss-it hints, this list has it all (or at least, all that...
Poll How Many 3DS Consoles Have You Owned?
1DS, 2DS, 3DS, more?
Call us nostalgic, but the closure of the 3DS eShop has us reminiscing about the many incredible years of portable gaming we've enjoyed with Nintendo's last dedicated handheld console and its wider family. Recently, we've been downloading various gems we missed over the years and it's given us a chance to take stock of our...
Countdown Here's A Recap Of Every 3DS & Wii U eShop Game We've Highlighted In The Last Month
And now, the end is near
For the month of March, we've been looking back daily and highlighting a 3DS or Wii U eShop game in our eShop Countdown series before those stores close for new purchases. Well, today — 27th March 2023 — is the end of the line. The stores will close for business in a matter of hours, so it's time to bid them adieu and...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - escapeVektor
#31 - Trace and survive
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Feature 8 Switch Games We've Played At PAX East 2023 - Here's What We Thought
Hands-on impressions of the show's Switch offerings
PAX East 2023 is happening — right now, as you're reading this! — and Nintendo Life is there sampling lots of juicy upcoming Switch releases. The Boston event is running from Thursday 23rd to Sunday 26th March 2023 and in this feature we'll be recording our hands-on impressions of the various...
Hands On The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum Plays Like Small Taters
It was tricksy, precious. Very tricksy.
Lord of the Rings: Gollum has naturally garnered quite a bit of interest as its initial release date approaches on other platforms in May, with a planned Switch release later this year. Fans of LotR and J.R.R. Tolkien's work have been eager to see how developer Daedalic Entertainment would craft a game based...
Countdown Wii U eShop Spotlight - Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles Of Mystara
#30 - A natural 20
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 25th)
Sunsetting those eShops
Ahh... The weekend. It's been a bit of a quieter week in the world of Nintendo, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been a number of interesting stories to highlight. In confirmation of rumours circling the internet, Sega announced that it will be releasing Sonic Origins Plus in June, bringing Amy to the fold and adding...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Dragon Quest Wars
#29 - Dragon War-rior
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Attack Of The Friday Monsters!
#28 - Hold up, it's Thursday
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be...
M2's Masanori Yagi talks Assault Suits Valken Declassified
The Assault Suits mecha action games arguably deserve a little more attention than they enjoy here in the West. Back in the 1990s, their distinct blend of platforming and run ‘n’ gun design did indeed see ports from their native Japan to the rest of the world – sometimes in a heavily...
Hands On LEGO 2K Drive Is A Wild Ride, But Will It Prove Too Much For Switch?
Building a new LEGOcy
If you cast your mind back to February 2022, you might remember word of a brand new partnership between 2K and LEGO, with the potential for a number of brick-built sports games on the horizon. Those with a good memory (or those who have quickly googled it since reading the last sentence) might recall rumours of a Lego-themed...
Talking Point What's The Best Year In Gaming?
Cream of the crop
Games are so good, right? Looking back over the years and decades, it's difficult to actually think of a year that's been objectively bad in terms of gaming output; generally speaking, with the wealth of consoles and developers out there, there's always been at least a handful of games every year that spoke to us in a meaningful...
Feature Atelier Ryza 3's Producer On Crafting The End And Shifting Away From Fanservice
"I always look forward to the Xenoblade series!"
It's almost time to say goodbye to Ryza. The third and final game in the Secret trilogy, Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, comes to Switch this Friday, and everyone's favourite tomboy alchemist — Reisalin Stout, or Ryza — will be once again donning her alchemist's staff to...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Aura-Aura Climber
#27 - You're a star
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Butterfly: Inchworm Animation II / KORG M01D
#26 - Toolin' around
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Hands On Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! - A Warm, Cuddly Return (Except For The Space Invaders)
It's a Taito blowout
It's hard to argue that Bub and Bob aren't the most adorable video game dinosaurs of all time (sorry, Yoshi), so we were delighted when the dynamic duo returned with the Switch-exclusive Bubble Bobble 4 Friends back in 2019. It was exactly as we remembered their pixels back in the dusty halls of the arcade growing up, just a...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - BOXBOY! Trilogy
#25 - BUYBOXBOY!
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good...
Countdown Wii U eShop Spotlight - Duck Hunt
#24 - Zappy days
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Nintendo Pocket Football Club
#23 - Don't be a benchwarmer
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be...
Talking Point What Makes A Really Good Demo?
Time is money
As the Switch eShop library continues to grow, so too does the number of available demos. And hey, demos are great! This convenient way to try before you buy has got us hooked on many a game that we may never have otherwise picked up, and with a number of demos offering the chance to carry your data over from the trial into the full...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 18th)
Searching for lost demons?
Hooray, the weekend is here! It's the weekend, everybody! Before we dive into what we're going to be playing, let's take a peek at what's been happening in the world of Nintendo this week. First up, Nintendo saw fit to add not one, not two, but four new titles to its Nintendo Switch Online service. We reckon that's...
Review Herman Miller X Logitech G Vantum Gaming Chair - Is It Worth It?
No slouch
There are certain pieces of advice we wish we could go back and give our early-20s selves. We're talking practical, preventative health tips borne of life experience; things that could have saved us physical discomfort — if not downright pain — and put our now-30-something bodies in better stead for the decades ahead. Tips like 'invest...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Flipnote Studio 3D
#22 - Flipping amazing
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Feature 24 Indie Games We're Excited About On Switch In 2023
Make room on your SD card!
We've updated this list with lots of new entries for 2023, and included release dates on some long-awaited titles. Happy wishlisting! 2022 is dead, long live 2023. Let's hope this year is better and brighter than the last, eh? We've already rounded up our most-anticipated games for 2023, but that tends to cover the big...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - 3D Out Run
#21 - Passing breeze
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Soapbox Why I Love Deepnest, Hollow Knight's Most Divisive Area
Deeply in love
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Alana thinks back on a divisive part of a beloved game as she peers into the middle distance, rocking back and forth, mumbling 'Silksong, Silksong, Silkso—'... I'm a pretty...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Pushmo / Pullblox
#20 - Push or Pull?
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Countdown Wii U eShop Spotlight - Year Walk
#19 - Walk this way
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - My Nintendo Picross: The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess
#18 - Picross your heart
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone...
Soapbox Why Aren't There More Books About Games?
Seeking the novels of tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Michelle reads an incredible novel about games, and argues that books and games should get on the same page... Two kids pore over Super...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Pocket Card Jockey
#17 - Fine equine
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - 3D Sonic The Hedgehog 2
#16 - A sophomore with depth
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 11th)
Zelda? Mario? Metroid? Tell us
Ladies and gentlemen... The weekend. Yes, it's time to wrap up another week and find out what we're all planning to play over the weekend. But first, let's go over what's been going on in the world of Nintendo this week. First up, the excellent Metroid Fusion launched on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Severed
#15 - Don't cut ties with this one
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will...
Feature 40 Years Of Weird And Wonderful (And Just Plain Wrong) Super Mario TV Commercials
"Clean is better than dirty"
It's MAR10 Day, the annual celebration of all things Super Mario. Nintendo itself is doing all sorts to mark the special occasion, including the introduction of a new Mario-themed Switch console bundle, a healthy dose of discounts from Mario games, and of course, a brand new trailer for the upcoming Super Mario Bros...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Colors! 3D
#14 - Don't erase this from existence
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library...
Feature Which Zelda Game Has The Best Link? - Every Link Ranked From Worst To Best
Link's Arankening
Across 19 mainline games and a handful of spinoffs, the Hero of Time has taken on a variety of forms. The changes between each have ranged from the subtle (Skyward Sword's eyeliner or A Link to the Past's pink hair) to the pretty "wait... what?" drastic (come on guys, he's literally turned into a wolf), but he's still the same old...
Round Up Everything Announced At The Level-5 Vision 2023 Showcase
Worldwide releases for all titles confirmed
Level-5 is back in a big, big way. The developer held its first-ever Level-5 Vision presentation earlier today and gave us five new trailers and a lot of little details to chew over, and we've got all of the trailers right here for you in case you missed them. The presentation focused on five titles from...
