Latest Features
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Rhythm Heaven Megamix
#10 - Neat on the beat
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 Enjoying The Journey - How Square Enix Learned From The Past For Octopath Traveler II
"We aimed to evolve the formula rather than change it"
It has been five long years since the release of Square Enix's fantastic, multi-pronged RPG Octopath Traveler on Switch. Starting as a console exclusive on Switch before branching out onto other platforms, the game gave us eight different storylines to dive into, a range of protagonists to fall...
Feature 50 Years Of Landmark Video Games, One Per Year, All Playable On Nintendo Switch
Five decades of seminal software on Switch
Nintendo's Switch is now in its seventh year, and while it's obvious that the company will be carefully planning the reveal of its next generation of hardware in the next year or two, Switch remains in uncommonly rude health for a console of its age. Since 2017, the system has attracted an enviable and...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Dillon's Rolling Western
#9 - Before it rolls away
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...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 4th)
Tell us, pleeease
Welcome, one and all! It's been another reasonably busy week here at Nintendo LIfe. We started off with a Pokémon Presents showcase which, according to you fine people, wasn't all that good. The biggest highlight was undoubtedly the announcement of the Scarlet and Violet DLC, which will come in two parts and is officially called
Back Page Forget Pokémon Sleep, Here's 7 More Pokémon Lifestyle Apps We Definitely Need
APPlin
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...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Nano Assault EX
#8 - Na-no letting this one go
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...
Poll Six Years On, Which Was Nintendo Switch's Best Year So Far?
Which brought you the most Joy(-Con)?
The Switch has been out for a whopping six years today! Can you believe it? We're not sure what the more mind-blowing fact is here, the idea that we haven't had anything new from Nintendo for over half a decade or the realisation that 2017 was six years ago... Either way, making it to a sixth birthday while...
Talking Point Which Is Your Favourite 3DS Theme?
Main theme
As we continue our trip down memory lane before the 3DS (and Wii U) eShops close up for new purchases, firing up our old consoles recently has reminded us just what a bounty of gaming joy 3DS presents every time you crack open that clamshell. What a wonderful little console! (Check out our 'Countdown' series if you're looking for eShop...
Countdown Wii U eShop Spotlight - Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
#7 - Let's-a go 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...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
#6 - OBJECTION
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 - Star Fox Guard
#5 - We need to guard 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 be...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - HarmoKnight
#4 - Tempo-tation
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 Which Gaming Moments Made You Question Your Intelligence?
Uh... what... who..?
Human beings are smart. Really smart. We're the only species on earth with the brainpower to comprehend its own existence. We've landed on the moon, built great feats of engineering, constructed huge buildings that pierce the clouds in the sky, and made tremendous leaps in the fields of science and medicine. So yeah, we're a...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Crimson Shroud
#3 - Seeing red
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...
Soapbox Alone In The Dark On GBC Is A Bizarre Relic You Should Play At Least Once
Be afraid?
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 sits down with the least loved entry in the current Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy library and finds an odd, twisted version of a game he loves... Alone in the Dark: The New...
Feature Hyrule Fields, Ranked - The Best Grassy Plains In The Zelda Franchise
Perfect for a picnic?
There's no greater feeling in a Legend of Zelda game than when you first step out onto Hyrule Field, is there? It's the moment when the games shake off the training wheels and let's you loose in the world of Hyrule, free to go in whichever direction you like. Where on earth do you start? What's that settlement over there? Oh...
Countdown Wii U eShop Spotlight - Pushmo World
#2 - Pull or push?
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? (February 25th)
The good, the bad and the ugly
It's been a long six months since we last got a new Kirby game on Switch, but with this week's release of Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, we think it's safe to say that nature is finally healing. This week over on Nintendo Life we have been delving into the world of ports, asking why so many remasters are sub-par...
Poll Octopath Traveler II Is Out Now, Which Character Will You Start With?
Eighth time's a charm
It's time lose yourself in the lush world of HD-2D all over again — Octopath Traveler II is out today on Switch (and PS4, PS5, and PC of course). Announced only last September, this surprise sequel does everything a follow up should do — it improves on every single aspect of the original while also staying faithful to it...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Fire Emblem Fates
#1 - No fate but what we...quickly download off the eShop
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...
Talking Point Why Are So Many Remasters Sub-Par At Launch?
Remastering the wheel
Remasters are fantastic, but they're also a little bit weird. They give us the chance to revisit some of our favourite games from our childhood, give new players the opportunity to share in our experiences, and sometimes they represent the first time a game is getting an international release. But why are they so inconsistent?...
Feature 'Professor Layton And The New World Of Steam' - Our Questions, Theories, And Speculation
Rampant speculayton
It's been a couple of weeks now since February's Nintendo Direct and you want to know the one thing that we are still not quite over? There's a new Professor Layton game coming our way! It almost doesn't sound right saying that out loud: "a new Professor Layton game". Not a remaster. Not a rerelease. Something new. So new, in...
Talking Point What Will Be Announced On Pokémon Day 2023?
Who's that reveal?
27th February is fast approaching, and you know what that means? Pokémon Day is almost here! Every single year since 2016, which happened to be the franchise's 20th anniversary, The Pokémon Company has shared a number of announcements on this day to celebrate Pokémon, usually in the form of a Nintendo Direct-style Pokémon...
Guide Super Nintendo World: Is It Worth It? Survival Tips, Budget Advice, How To 'Play' The Park
Get the most from your visit to Hollywood, CA
Super Nintendo World in Hollywood, California is open to the public, and we've been exploring the park to uncover its secrets. Today, Alan will be your guide as he proffers essential tips for making the most your visit, including basic info concerning entry and queue times and the like, plus exactly how...
Editorial Don't Worry, We'll Be Avoiding Zelda: TOTK Spoilers On Nintendo Life
(Hylian) Shields up, red alert!
Over the weekend, images from the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom art book leaked online revealing unannounced details about the most anticipated launch on this year's gaming calendar. With the 12th May release date still many weeks away, we thought it would be a good idea to make plain our approach to Zelda spoilers...
Talking Point What Is The Best Special Edition Switch Console?
The full range
Ah, special edition consoles. There is nothing else quite like them, is there? From the flashy to the subtle, these decked-out devices are a reminder of the series' that we love, the titles we cherish and the designs that make us ooh and ahh. They are a special way to stand out from the crowd and have something that feels a little...
Feature Super Nintendo World's Show Producer And Head Chef Shed Light On The New Park's Development
"Chef Toad is always working on something new"
Super Nintendo World is now open to the public, and our lovely Video Producer Zion got to go over and check out the new park for himself. As part of his visit, he managed to speak with two key figures from the park: Julia Thrash, the Head Chef at Toadstool Cafe, and Abbye Finnan, the Show Producer for...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 18th)
Adventures big and small
We all needed a quieter week after last week's Nintendo Direct blow-out, and that's exactly what we got. But don't worry, there's still plenty to talk about, and plenty of games on the horizon. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's big patch is coming soon, and we've got all of the patch notes for you.
Soapbox As A Colour Blind Gamer, I Can Now Finally Beat Metroid Prime
Prime-ary colours
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Rory how the recent release of Metroid Prime Remastered has enabled him to settle an old score. Prime endboss spoilers inbound... I know. I was a handsome bugger. It’s always...
Talking Point Which Nintendo Console Has The Best First-Party Games Lineup?
Best of the best
With the Game Boy and GBA libraries getting added to the Switch recently, we've been thinking about all of the games that might be coming our way over the next few months. This, in turn, got us thinking about just how many great first-party games were available on those two systems. Indeed, we thought along the very same lines when...
Gallery Mario Characters' Movie Vs. Game Designs - Which Do You Prefer?
Flag poll
The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be coming our way in early April (be sure to check out our release date guide for region specifics) and it certainly looks like we are in for a video game adaptation that actually respects its source material. What a concept! With every new trailer and poster comes more detailed peeks at Illumination's...
Feature 19 Game Boy Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch Online
Yes, that includes Game Boy Color
Well, it happened — Game Boy games are finally on the Nintendo Switch Online service. This is another one of those rumours that we've been hearing about for a good while now, and in February 2023, Nintendo just snapped its fingers and popped seven rather lovely classics onto NSO just like that. Originally, the...
Feature Rating The Best Zelda/Link Relationship In The Legend Of Zelda Games
Zelink 4eva xxx
Zelink might be one of the biggest ships out there, and it's hardly controversial to want Zelda and Link, the two owners of the Triforce that aren't evil, to end up together. They're entwined in destiny, fated to keep meeting, and falling into the princess/hero dichotomy that keeps them separate once more. And yet, they've never...
Talking Point 20 Years Of The Best Game Boy Ever - How Did You Get Your GBA SP?
Love letters to our SPecial ones
On 14th February 2003, Nintendo gave Japanese gamers a Valentine's to remember when it released the Game Boy Advance SP. Those outside Japan would have to wait until March to get their hands on this gorgeous clamshell redesign of the GBA which came — mercifully — with a front-lit screen (the back-lit AGS-101...
Soapbox Switch Is Great, But The GBA SP Was The Pinnacle Of Public Transport Gaming
SP-icy takes
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, nearly 20 years to the day since the GBA SP launched in Japan, Jim argues the case for why it still has a very important role to play in his day-to-day... Ok, let's get this out of...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime Remastered?
Scanning for scores
We are sure that many of you lovely lot have spent the weekend Morph Ballin' and we can't say that we blame you! After last week's Nintendo Direct finally brought us news of Metroid Prime Remastered we couldn't believe our luck; but when it dropped on the very same day we had to check if we were dreaming! Even more so was this...
Soapbox An Ode To Ramón Salazar, Resident Evil's Most Absurd Villain
"My, my, we've got a feisty one"
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 looks back on the pantheon of resident evils in all the Resident Evils and pens a tribute to perhaps his favourite character in video gamedom... I have a bit...
Talking Point What Do You Name Link When You're Playing A Zelda Game?
New game, new name
We are but a few months away now from the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (finally) and it is fair to say that many of us are just a little bit excited. We recently got a look at the second trailer for it, and one of the ways that we have been channelling this excitement until 12th May is through replaying...
Poll Which Character Would You Like To See Return Next In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
The roster expands
The February Nintendo Direct Showcase gave us our first look at Wave 4 of the upcoming Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC, which will not only bring the all-new Yoshi's Island course our way but will also add Birdo to the roster of playable characters. This Wave will be the first of its kind to being a new character into the mix and we'd be...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 11th)
Primed and ready
Phew - this was a pretty busy week, huh? To kick off the week, we took you through some of the highlights from Nintendo's latest financial report for Q3 of fiscal year 2023. This included the rather stupendous new sales milestone for the Switch, with the console now exceeding Game Boy and PlayStation 4 total sales. We also learned...
Feature Zelda Companions, Ranked - Who Was Link's Best Sidekick?
Hey! Listen!
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild brought with it myriad changes to Hyrule. Staggering levels of freedom. Plentiful shrines instead of themed dungeons. Link wearing blue instead of green. The Sheikah Slate. Breakable weapons of varying degrees of annoyance, and more. A change not often discussed was Link’s lack of a companion...
Feature Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Trailer #2 Breakdown & Speculation - Everything You Missed
An arm and a leg's worth
When a new The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer drops, it's like Christmas, isn't it? All of the excitement at getting a rare glimpse of the game before it launches on 12th May, though, soon turns into fans donning their spectacles and putting on their investigative hats to see exactly what they can spot in the...
Round Up Everything Announced In The February 2023 Nintendo Direct - Every Game Reveal And Trailer
Pikmin! Metroid! Baten Kaitos! Katamari? LAYTON!?
It's been and gone — the first Nintendo Direct of 2023. It was another 40+ minute show packed with trailers, new details about upcoming games from Nintendo and third parties, and plenty of surprises. Below is the full video of the Nintendo Direct February 2023 presentation, plus a list of every...
Poll What Did You Think Of The February 2023 Nintendo Direct?
Metroid, Game Boy & more!
Nintendo has just aired perhaps one of the best Directs ever. Not only did we get some long-awaited release dates, but a number of long-running rumours were also finally confirmed. The broadcast started off strong with a release date for Pikmin 4 and was followed by a number of expansion pass reveals for Xenoblade...
Hands On Octopath Traveler II Looks Incredible, But Can It Forge Its Own Identity?
Boosting the original without breaking anything
Not every sequel needs to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes simple refinement does the job just fine. For every game that mixes things up, like Breath of the Wild, there’s another like A Link Between Worlds that takes a more subtly iterative approach to the standard formula. After playing through the...
Feature The Best Endings In Games On Nintendo Switch
All things must come to a GAME OVER
It's hard to say goodbye, but sometimes, it's for the best. Some of the more memorable and touching stories we've witnessed in games throughout the years have been the ones that ended tragically, or culminated in a bittersweet conclusion — there's a reason Shakespeare's most-loved plays are Hamlet and Romeo...
Feature Our Predictions For The February 2023 Nintendo Direct
Zelda! Pikmin! ...Metroid..?
Looking for the February 2023 Nintendo Direct stream to see if we predicted anything correctly? Watch it with us via the link below: <related ids="144773"> What's that, you say? There's going to be another Nintendo Direct? Great Scott! This is heavy... Yes, Nintendo is back with another showcase focusing on...
Hands On Afterimage Is The Most Beautiful-Looking Metroidvania We've Ever Played
Picturesque
We know there are a lot of Metroidvanias out there. But after spending about three hours with Afterimage, we're pretty confident in saying that this is one of the prettiest we've ever played. Even before we got our hands on the game, Afterimage stood out to us with its stunning hand-drawn visuals. Even next to the likes of Hollow Knight,
Feature Nintendo eShop Selects - January 2023
Our picks for the best Switch eShop games in January!
Thank goodness January is over, hey? It always feels like it's twice as long as it actually is, and it doesn't help that it's cold and a little quieter on the gaming front. So it's time to dig deep and take a look back at last month for our monthly eShop Selects picks! In New Year's traditions,...
