Latest Features
Talking Point Who Did You Marry In Fire Emblem: Awakening?
Fire of love
For better or for worse, Fire Emblem today is a different beast to what it was a decade ago. Fire Emblem Engage brought back the weapons triangle, a combat-first focus, and the wonderful Engage mechanic, but at what cost? The social aspect (one of the biggest selling points in previous games) takes a tumble in the most recent entry. The...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 4th)
Game on!
Well folks, we made it through January and the upcoming months are looking bright (in gaming, at least). It's now fewer than 100 days until the release of Tears of the Kingdom so the countdown is well and truly on. This week at Nintendo Life, we had a chance to get hands on with Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, and we also
Soapbox Gaming Superstitions And Rituals Might Not Work, But They Matter
We're crossing our fingers
The God of Random Numbers is real, and he's in your house right now, sniffing all your dice. If you don't pray to him, you'll never see a natural 20 again, and all of your card decks will be stacked against you for the rest of time. Or... RNG is exactly what it sounds like. Random. Mashing B, or A, or whatever button you...
A projector for those ready to go all in
When shopping around for a new TV, it's easy enough to know what to look for and what questions to ask. What’s the picture size and resolution? How many HDMI inputs does it have? Does it come with any smart features built-in? Is it HDR-compatible? But what if you’re interested in a projector instead? What...
Guide Best Contra Games, Ranked - Switch And Nintendo Systems
Compared, Contra-sted, and ranked by you
Contra is one of a handful of franchises that have become completely synonymous with gaming; indeed, chances are if you haven't played any Contra games, then you'll have at least heard of them. Konami's run-and-shoot-'em-up behemoth may have lost a lot of its lustre in recent years (pretty much par for the...
Soapbox Wario Land 4 Deserves More Love, And Indie Devs Are Doing What Nintendon't
Wario wary? HURRY UP! and play
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Scott ponders how Mario's nemesis number 2 deserves more respect... In the conversation of all-time great video games you have many Nintendo faces who show up near...
Talking Point Which Mario Suits Do You Want To See In The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
Thinking inside the box
We are still a couple of months away from the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie on 7th April 2023, but that means that the publicity can only increase from here. Remember that brief period of trepidation where none of us knew what the movie would look, sound, or even remotely be like? Ah, what sweet bliss. Now, we know...
Talking Point 15 Years On, Should Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Subspace Emissary Return?
In Smash Space, no one can hear you brawl
Well blimey, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is celebrating its 15th anniversary in Japan today! That's right, the third entry in what is one of the most iconic Nintendo franchises launched on 31st January 2008, and for many — even with how huge Melee was — this is what created some of the most iconic Smash...
Hands On Theatrhythm Final Bar Line Feels Like A Perfectly Tuned Final Fantasy Celebration
Encore! ENCORE!
The curtains are open and the stage is set. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line marks the return of the Final Fantasy rhythm series to Nintendo consoles after a 10-year break. We've had a chance to go hands-on with an upcoming demo for the game, which will be available on 1st February, and if the early goings-on is anything to go on, then...
Talking Point Do We Need Another Pokémon Mystery Dungeon On Switch?
Putting the "fun" in d(f)ungeon
I've been thinking a lot about Pokémon Mystery Dungeon recently. Maybe it's the list of spin-offs I recently wrote up, which reminded me just how many excellent/terrible Pokémon spin-offs exist out there, or maybe it's the fact that when I was writing my answer to the question "What Pokémon game should be the next...
Feature Video Game Music That Didn't Need To Go That Hard
It had no right!
There is a lot of video game music out there that goes hard. By "goes hard" we mean it slaps. By "it slaps" we mean it's a bop. By "it's a bop" we mea— forget it. These are tracks that are really good. In the vast majority of these instances, the tracks match the situation pretty perfectly. A high-stakes moment in the game might...
Talking Point Where Should The Next Pokémon Legends Game Take Place?
And who should be the 'legend'?
It's hard to believe it, but Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a year old today. This Pokémon game took us back to the distant past and completely shook up the formula of what we all expected from a mainline Pokémon entry. And, quite frankly, we want more of what it gave us. Legends: Arceus sees you get thrown back in...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 28th)
Shaken not stirred
Well here we are folks. It's the final week of January and we have had our first big Nintendo release of the year. Consider 2023 to be well and truly underway! This week at Nintendo Life, we got all kinds of excited for the eventual release of GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo Switch Online N64 library and suggested a quick fix for...
Soapbox Playing Games With Other People Made Me Realise That I'm A Monster
Just unplug the 2P controller already
My partner is the most patient man I've ever met. It's one of the things I appreciate about him the most — especially since I'm the opposite. He's the Lawful Good to my Chaotic Neutral. I'm a cyclone and he's calm waters. Opposites attract, right? For most of our relationship, this dynamic — his patience,...
Feature Best Japan-Exclusive 3DS Games - 13 Titles We Wish Had Come To The West
From strategy tributes to puzzle RPGs...
With the closure of the 3DS eShop fast approaching, it's got us feeling a little bit nostalgic here at Nintendo Life — particularly for games that we never got our hands on here in the West. It's a tale as old as time at this point. Many Japan-only games never get localised, and that's been the case for a...
Feature Everything Announced In Disney Dreamlight Valley's 2023 Roadmap: Multiplayer, Olaf, And More
Next update releasing in April
It looks like 2023 will be a very exciting year for Disney Dreamlight Valley, as the content roadmap released today includes a ton of new characters, new realms, new quests, and even the addition of multiplayer — and that's just in the first half of the year. The roadmap was posted today on the Disney Dreamlight...
Feature 6 Things We'd Love To See In Metroid Prime 4
It's been four years since development was restarted
This week — today, in fact — marks an astonishing four years since the announcement that work on Metroid Prime 4 had been restarted from scratch and shifted over to original developer Retro Studios. We all remember the day when Shinya Takahashi, Senior Managing Executive Officer at Nintendo,...
Feature 9 Unanswered Questions We Have About Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Where's Tingle at?
We’re mere months away from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s debut on 12th May. As it is, perhaps, the biggest release on the Nintendo Switch since the console’s launch year way back, we know remarkably little about the follow-up to Breath of the Wild – a game rightly hailed as one of the best ever made. Sure,
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Fire Emblem Engage?
Engaged or disengaged?
We're sure a lot of you lovely readers have been engaging with a certain strategy RPG over the weekend. Yep, we're talking about Fire Emblem Engage, which launched on Switch last Friday. Okay, so this is a huge 40-50 hour game and we're not expecting you all to have blasted through the entire thing over the past few days, but...
Back Page Mario: 'The Show About Nothing' - We Dig Up A Doomed Mario Sitcom Pilot
*slap bass riff*
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 (paper) pages on the internet, but we still love terrible jokes — so...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden?
The gold standard?
We hope you've been staying up until the Dark Hour and exploring the Midnight Channel, because Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden are finally out on Switch. The two games made their Nintendo debut last week, meaning the modern trilogy of Persona games are now all available on the console. It's been a long time coming for...
Guide Best Pixel Art Switch Games
Our pick of impeccable pixels
Of all the art styles in video games, none has a stronger chokehold on developers and players alike than the humble pixel. Whether it's a fantastically detailed modern take on what is possible in pixels, or something made in homage to NES and SNES games of yore, pixel art can be found everywhere — in every genre of...
Soapbox Fire Emblem Engage's Nintendo NYC Launch Felt Pretty Unengaging
The red carpet stayed rolled up
It was Fire Emblem Engage launch day and Nintendo Life had boots on the ground in New York City to document the launch of Intelligent Systems’ latest entry in the series, at Nintendo NYC in Rockefeller Center. Nintendo fans in New York City are spoiled. We have Nintendo’s flagship retail shop, replete with Marios...
Poll Do You Want Weapon Degradation To Return In Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom?
Break it down
When it comes to ways that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild flipped the script for the wider series, there is a list of 'em so long that it almost rivals the number of those darn Korok Seeds out there. *shakes fist to the sky* One of the changes that we almost can't believe actually happened, however, was the sheer number of...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 21st)
Flame on
January has felt like a long one, we'll admit, but we are almost at the end of it now and we have Nintendo's first big release of 2023 to show for it! After all the character profiles, gameplay trailers and developer interviews, Fire Emblem Engage is finally here in all of its tactical glory. In recognition of the gaming year starting to...
Talking Point In 2023, Do You Still Care About amiibo?
Or are you amiibored?
Nintendo's amiibo line has been going for over eight years now. Originally launched back on November 21st, 2014 in North America alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the toys-to-life figurine series has maintained relatively steady interest while competitors like Disney Infinity and Skylanders have completely fallen by the...
Talking Point Does Nintendo's Next Console Have To Be 'Another' Switch?
Bait and Switch?
Let’s talk about comeback stories. The Mighty Ducks. Robert Downey Jr. Rocky. Nintendo in 2017. Yep, after the launch of the Wii U, many may have thought that the Big N was out for the count (well, not completely, but certainly left licking its proverbial wounds), but did this come to pass? You bet your chunky GamePad it didn’t...
Talking Point What Is The Most Frustrated You've Ever Been With A Video Game?
From button mashing to controller smashing
We love playing video games. It can be a mode of escape, a time to relax, a story to get deep into, or something to stimulate the mind. But the fact of the matter is, we also hate playing video games. They can be really hard, we lose unfairly, a mechanic doesn't sit right, or we forget to save. Of course,...
Feature 19 Things That Were Added In Stardew Valley Updates (That You Might Not Have Noticed)
And it's all free!
One of the most remarkable things about Stardew Valley is how different it is now to when it first came out, and that's down to developer ConcernedApe continuing to add features and content in free updates. We're currently up to 1.5, which added a whole new area and several new characters amongst a ton of other new stuff, but for...
Soapbox Whether The Rumour Is True Or Not, Baten Kaitos Deserves A Remake
A white whale
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, rumours of a potential Baten Kaitos remake have got Alana all fired up... Of all the wild remake rumours I thought I would hear in 2023, Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost...
Soapbox Zelda Should Be Given The Paper Mario Treatment
Paper Zelda: The Thousand-Year Door (of Time)
Nintendo struck gold when they made the first Paper Mario. They figured out how to take a beloved series like Super Mario, put a slight twist on it, and create something entirely new that doesn't feel stale, doesn't feel like a flimsy spin-off, and best of all, is better than most Super Mario games...
Guide Best Zombie Games On Nintendo Switch
Undead and docked
Every decade or so, something big happens to bring zombies back into our lives. Whether it was the release of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead in 1978, the publication and subsequent adaptation of The Walking Dead, the hugely popular 'Zombies' mode in the Call of Duty series, or the meteoric rise of The Last of Us, we love a...
Feature Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider's JoyMasher On Dev Nightmares And Changing Direction
"It was originally supposed to be more linear, like Dracula X"
Publisher The Arcade Crew and developer Joymasher have just launched their latest retro-inspired title Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider, an homage to classic 16-bit action platformers like Shinobi III and Hagane: The Final Conflict. The game is a remarkably authentic retro experience that...
Soapbox All Fish Pokémon Are Bad, And There's A Good Reason Why
Go (away) fish
I'll start this with a confusing admission: My favourite thing in the world is a trip to an aquarium. I could spend days gazing through the curved glass of a tank, watching sharks glide past me, pressing my hand against the smooth, white underbelly of a stingray, and taking note of the clownfish darting in and out of the swaying mass...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 14th)
Game on
With the Christmas chocolates finally dwindling in number, we think it's fair to say that 2023 is well under way. And as the year kicks off, so too do we see the return of gaming news — nature is healing, people! This week at Nintendo Life, we have been welcoming in the new year with open arms, looking to the months ahead and talking...
Back Page EVERYONE STAY CALM. Here's How To Game Safely On Friday 13th
It's that dreaded day again!
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 (paper) pages on the internet, but we still love...
Feature What Is The Difference Between Story Of Seasons And Harvest Moon? A Handy Explainer
I was elected to weed, not to read
We've finally done it. After starting every article that concerns either Story of Seasons or Harvest Moon with a potted explainer of the schism between Natsume and Marvelous XSEED, we've finally sat down and put (electronic) pen to (electronic) paper and written out a long-form explanation of what "Harvest Moon"...
Feature Fire Emblem Narratives, Ranked – Which Fire Emblem Has The Best Story?
More Dark Dragon Demon Gods than you can shake a Falchion at
Since Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade — or just Fire Emblem as it was known in the West — made its way to the West on the Game Boy Advance thanks to the popularity of Marth and Roy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the series has filled a cutthroat, tactical RPG void on almost every Nintendo...
Guide Disney Speedstorm Full Character List
Update: Inside Out opens up
Gameloft's free-to-play racer, Disney Speedstorm, finally left early access and sped into the free-to-play realm in September 2023, introducing us to all of the classic Disney characters who are donning racing suits and heading to the tracks. What started as seemingly just a bunch of Disney classics (Mickey, Goofy,...
Feature Which Zelda Games Should You Replay Before Tears Of The Kingdom?
Time to do your homework
It’s hard to believe that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will finally be launching on May 12th, nearly a full four years after its initial announcement during E3 2019. We don’t know about you, but we’re already sharpening our Master Swords and ironing our green tunics in preparation; it’s going to be a fun...
Talking Point After Pixel Remaster, What's Next For Final Fantasy On Switch?
The final countdown?
At the end of 2022, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy PIxel Remaster, a collection composed of revamped versions of Final Fantasy I through VI, would finally be making its way to Nintendo Switch, putting to rest many months of speculation from eager fans. It’s big news, as its release means that FF-loving Switch owners...
Talking Point So, When Will Nintendo Announce Its Next Console?
Grab your dartboard
Another year, another round of 'New Nintendo Switch Pro/2/+/On/Up/Over' rumours. Whispers of new or updated Switch hardware have been doing the rounds since practically the launch of the console back in 2017, and the start of 2023 has brought with it a fresh round of speculation as to when exactly Nintendo will debut its next...
Feature Nintendo eShop Selects - December 2022
The best eShop games of December, chosen by us!
Happy new year readers! Okay, so we're over a week into 2023 already — you might be moving on from last year, trying to look ahead to the best to come. But we just need to look back at 2022 one last time for the best eShop games in December. Now, December is normally a quiet month for game releases...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 7th)
A new year dawns
It's 2023 and the lights are back on at Nintendo Life Towers. While January can often be something of a sleepy month as the gaming industry rears its head from a Christmas-induced slumber, we are up and raring to dive into what looks to be an interesting year for Nintendo. This week, we have shared our thoughts on 2023's first big...
Guide Best Nintendo Switch Anime Games
Jojo Pose
Anime! Who doesn't love anime? No one who's clicking on this list, hopefully, because all these games are anime as heck. We've compiled a list of the very best anime video games on the Nintendo Switch — the games which take the action, charm, and/or personality of popular and beloved anime and manga series and squish it into a video...
Feature Our Gaming Predictions For 2023
Look into the crystal ball...
After the bonkers bonanza of Game of the Year and holidays and wrapping up everything in a neat little bow that happens at the end of every year, the slate is finally wiped clean for 2023. This is, arguably, one of the most exciting times in gaming — when the year is fresh and unblemished like newly-fallen snow, and...
Feature "Arcade Games Are Poetry" - 'Strider' Director On The Return Of 'Cannon Dancer'
"Now you can enjoy the miracle of a timeless classic of the past"
One of 2023's biggest surprises is the return of Cannon Dancer - Osman. Developed by Mitchell Corporation and released in arcades in 1996, thanks to a limited run of arcade machines for the game in the west, this side-scrolling gem was once lost to time. But very soon — 9th March...
Talking Point Which Zelda-Themed Nintendo Console Has The Best Design?
Special addiction
When it comes to console special editions, Nintendo takes the biscuit. Whether it's a colour variant, a game release exclusive, or a nod back to retro consoles of the past, the company is constantly looking for ways to get a 'new' model out on the market and, so it seems, get the money out of our pockets. No more so is this the...
Back Page Why Don't Nintendo Games Get Gritty TV Shows? Here Are Some Pitches
Answering the question, "what if Kirby had an eye patch"
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 (paper) pages on the...
Feature How Do Game Developers And Artists Feel About The Rise Of AI Art?
Should we all be worried, or is it just a fad?
If you've had your ear to the ground for the past couple of years, you'll have heard at least some of the rumbles of debate over the ethics and impact of AI art. You may have even heard the names of some tools used to create AI art, like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E. But you may also be...
