Latest Features
Feature The Best (And Most Cursed) Tomodachi Life Miis We've Seen So Far
But who is the dreamer?
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream got a surprise demo or 'Welcome Version' on the Switch eShop last week following a round of previews for the upcoming life-sim/quirk generator. The demo includes the Mii creator from the game proper, and the internet has busied itself not just making their Miis say
Feature No Love For Simisage? - The 47 Pokémon That Didn't Get A Single Vote In Our Polls
Won't you play with my Chingling?
Back in February, we ran a series of polls to determine your very favourite Pokémon after 30 years of the franchise. With 1025 known Pokémon at the time (this was before the reveal of the Gen 10 starters, and we've asked for your thoughts on those already), it was no mean feat to c
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Capcom Vs SNK 2 EO (GameCube)
Extreme Offence
Well hi there, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last week, we checked out Resident Evil: Code Veronica X for the GameCube, and would you believe it, we have a tie! Yes, both North America and Europe bagged 38% of the vote each, leaving Japan trailing with 25%. We're not entirely surprised by the result, since both...
Opinion As Resident Evil Turns 30, It's Time Capcom Revisits The Classics
Where are they, huh?
Last weekend, Resident Evil turned 30 years old – can you believe it? The original game launched on the PS1 all the way back on 22nd March 1996, kickstarting an enduring franchise that’s arguably more popular now than it's ever been. I still vividly remember borrowing the PS1 trilogy from my brother, completely entranced by...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (28th March)
Ready? Fight!
You've done it, folks. You've got through another week, so well done! It's been a relatively quite week, but we've certainly had a few things to talk about. First up, Nintendo confirmed that its digital Switch 2 games will be cheaper than their physical equivalents in North America, following the example set by the UK and other...
Talking Point Should Nintendo Have Kept The Mario Galaxy Movie Fox Reveal Under Wraps?
For Fox's sake
Yesterday, ahead of next week's opening for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Nintendo pulled back the curtain on a surprise character who'll be showing up in what we thought would be a Mushroom Kingdom-only affair (Pikmin notwithstanding). Fox McCloud is in the Mario Galaxy Movie. Yes, Nintendo put out the poster across social media
"I see this game as the foundational product for the future"
Virtua Fighter isn't a series you'd generally associate with Nintendo systems, and that's probably because the closest we've had to an entry is Virtua Quest, a GameCube spin-off from 2004 (though we also had a Virtual Console release of Virtua Fighter 2 back in the Wii era). But now,...
Poll Who's Your Favourite Resident Evil Playable Character?
REmind me
22nd March 2026 marked the 30th anniversary of the Japanese launch of Resident Evil — or Biohazard — on PlayStation. To celebrate, we'll be publishing various articles this week focused on Capcom's quintessential survival horror series. After three full decades of Capcom cooking up brown-trouser-inducing undead encounters in...
Interview How An Italian Lunch Led To The New Standard For Competitive Pokémon Battling
Speaking to the champion of Champions
With Pokopia out of the way and Winds and Waves not launching until 2027, you might assume that we're due a break from Pokémon, but you'd be wrong. Pokémon Champions is right around the corner. After being revealed in the series' anniversary 'Presents' showcase last year, The Pokémon Company has drip-fed us...
Hands On Pokémon Champions Promises Top-Tier Battling, But At What Cost?
Put your money where your Meowth is
From the moment that it was revealed, I knew Pokémon Champions was going to be a tough sell for fans like me. You see, the battling has always been my least favourite part of the series — I'm more of a "catch 'em all" than "be the very best, like no one ever was" kinda guy — so seeing a game that promised to...
Feature Nintendo May Win Its Case Against The US Government, But Tariffs Are Here To Stay
Winning the battle, losing the (trade) war
Rewind the clock back to early April 2025. Gamers in the United States are eager to get their hands on a Switch 2 and are waiting on tenterhooks to lodge their pre-orders. But, as he tends to do, Donald Trump threw a spanner in the works. On 2nd April, he declared a national emergency over the US trade...
First Impressions The Diary Of A First-Time 'Tomodachi Life' Player - Am I Living The Dream?
Diary of an Omniscient kid
Dear Diary, I'm not sure if I'm Living the Dream just yet. You see, I don’t think Helga likes me. Not “me” me, but Mii. When I dragged my Nintendo-ified facsimile next to this nice-seeming old lady in the new Tomodachi Life, they greeted each other pleasantly. Helga isn’t anyone I know in real life — I’ve...
Feature Where The Heck Do You Start If You've Never Played Resident Evil?
Enter the world of survival horror
22nd March 2026 marked the 30th anniversary of the Japanese launch of Resident Evil — or Biohazard — on PlayStation. To celebrate, we'll be publishing various articles this week focused on Capcom's quintessential survival horror series. 30 years is a pretty long time for any game series. But while many —...
Poll Who's Your Favourite Resident Evil Villain?
The baddest of the bad
22nd March 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Japanese launch of Resident Evil — or Biohazard — on PlayStation. To celebrate, we'll be publishing various articles this week focused on Capcom's quintessential survival horror series. Also, a quick note before we start. This article encompasses all of the main villains...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Resident Evil: Code Veronica X (GameCube)
Welcome to Rockfort Island
Hello folks, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last time, we looked at the overlooked DS title Mario Hoops 3 on 3, and it really wasn't a particularly close race. Although Europe / Japan performed admirably, the North American design easily won the day with 77% of the vote. This week, as we celebrate 30...
Hands On Nintendo's My Mario Toy Series Is Cute, But Offers Mixed Value For Your Little Ones
Wood you pay over £100?
I don’t think anyone was that surprised when Nintendo recently brought its My Mario line of children’s toys to Western markets. Mario’s huge in most corners of the world, and if the big N wants to instil brand awareness and loyalty at a young age, this is the way to do it. Nintendo UK kindly sent over a selection of...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (21st March)
Pokémoar?
It's Saturday, lovely people, and we're back after another packed week in the world of video games! Well, it wasn't too packed, Nintendo-wise, but it still felt busy as Pokopia continues to dominate the Switch-2-dom, and Nintendo itself just casually dropped a firmware update with a new Handheld Boost Mode feature that immediately had us...
Opinion Is Winds & Waves Just 'Pokémon: Tears Of The Kingdom'?
Gequa used Bubbul Beam!
If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably already seen the Pokémon: Winds and Waves trailer with its underwater exploration and probably-important cloud. You’ve marvelled at the tropical setting, sighed with relief at the 2027 release date, and admitted that Gecqua would be a cooler hang than Pombon. Pomeranians are...
Opinion Pokémon Pokopia Is Nostalgia Done Right
Rebuilding the past
When I step out of the starting cave for the first time in Pokémon Pokopia and look across the barren, dried-out grass, the withered trees, and abandoned caves, it all feels rather uncanny. The red brick roads. The Pokémon Center wreckage with two empty plots for buildings right next to it. A blocked-off pathway to the north,...
Community Which Switch 1 Games Benefit Most From Switch 2's New Boost Mode?
You got Handheld Mode Boost power!
Well, that's a tidy little overnight update to wake up to! In case you missed it, Nintendo's latest Switch 2 firmware update includes a neat new feature for Switch 1 backwards compatibility called Handheld Boost Mode. Long story short: when activated, it forces all backwards-compatible
Feature Thank You, Mum, For The Last Ocarina Of Time
And other legendary adventures
In the days before Christmas ‘98, after much effort and many calls, my Mum managed to find the last copy of Ocarina of Time in the Birmingham Toys R Us. Condolences to those who missed out, but my Mum was always going to get it. When she really wants something, the world just bends to suit. Black box, gold...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Mario Hoops 3 On 3
Green Beans
Howdy, hoopers! Welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl. Before we check up for this week's one-on-one, let's remind ourselves what went down last time. It was an East vs West battle, as we matched up two covers from the GameCube's Tales of Symphonia. Alas, it was not a close one. The European / North American design pulled in a...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (14th March)
Pokémanz
Hello everyone, and welcome to this newfangled concept called 'the weekend'. It's a strange one, but we're here for it. Before we dive into what we're playing, let's see what's been going on this week, hm? First of all, Nintendo joined hundreds of other companies in North America in suing the government for its extensive use of tariffs...
Heart's not in it
Accessory manufacturer Anbernic is perhaps best known for its work in the retro handheld space, pumping out new emulation devices at a rate I’ve frankly struggled to keep up with. Rarely does it branch out into the realm of controllers, but when it does, it’s safe to say that the results are about as mixed as you can get. Its...
Talking Point Are You Tired Of The Talking Flower Yet?
Pass me the weed killer
It's that time of the year again when we Brits squint at our DAY / MONTH / YEAR calendar formation and try to see the 'MAR10' hidden inside. Yes, MAR10 Day is once again here, and it's a particularly noteworthy one this time, being the 10th year that Nintendo has marked the occasion and the series' 40th anniversary...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Tales Of Symphonia (GameCube)
Sylvarant 'n' rave
Hello chums, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we get into this week's brawl, let's see how things panned out last time. To celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary, we threw all major Pokémon generations into the ring from Gen 1 all the way up to Gen 9. In what will no doubt come as no surprise, Gen 1 –...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (7th March)
Creating utopia in Pokopia
Well, another week is almost done and dusted, and what a quiet one it's been; just a totally normal, uneventful week in this sane world of ours. Sigh... Anyway, positive vibes! This week, we boshed out not one, but two Pokémon reviews for Pokopia and FireRed / LeafGreen – the 30th anniversary celebrations are certainly...
"Grace is the definition of courageous"
When Capcom revealed Resident Evil Requiem back at Summer Game Fest 2025, a brand new character took centre stage in the debut trailer: Grace Ashcroft. Described by director Koshi Nakanishi as "the biggest scaredy-cat in Resident Evil history", Grace plays a pivotal role and shares billing with Leon Kennedy,...
"I felt a lot of pressure with this one"
Resident Evil Requiem, the latest mainline title in Capcom's survival horror franchise, is out now on the Switch 2. It tells an intimate tale that takes us right back to where it all started: Raccoon City. Joining us on the journey, of course, is series veteran Leon Kennedy, who's dealing with a deadly...
Talking Point After 30 Years, Is It Time To Reset The Pokédex?
Back to Route 1
Ever since Pokémon Legends: Z-A came out last year, a thought has been brewing that I haven't been able to shake. It was amplified as I watched the EUIC battles in February, and then cropped up again as I sat, mouth agape, at the Winds and Waves trailer. After 30 years, is it time to reset the Pokédex? Now, put those pitchforks...
Feature "Astonish Is Super Effective!" - How Pokémon Taught Me To Love Words
The Unown lexicon
"Enemy DUGTRIO used Fissure. It’s super effective!" I’m six years old, and I’m staring at Pokémon Yellow on my Game Boy Color screen, dumbfounded. This was my first time fighting Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, and he managed to one-shot my Blastoise with a move — a word — I’d never seen before. Fissure?...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Resident Evil Requiem?
Just how evil is this resident..?
Capcom has come out guns blazing with its latest Switch 2 release: a full-fat survival horror experience in the form of Resident Evil Requiem. Launching on the same day as other platforms, this is really the first time this has happened in.... well, bloomin' ages. It's a belter, too. In our review, we said that it...
Live, Laugh, Leer
An awful lot has happened for Pokémon in the last 30 years. It's spawned nine mainline generations spanning seven different consoles, countless spinoffs, a trading card game that's more popular than ever, movies, TV shows, merch, a flipping theme park... need I go on? It is the biggest entertainment franchise in the world with a...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (February 2026)
Our picks for the best eShop games on Switch 1 & 2 in February
February 2026, hey? It's been a busy one with a Nintendo Direct, a Pokémon Presents, and a couple of shadow drops and Switch 2 surprises. That means it's time for a lovely edition of eShop Selects. So yeah, a big month for what is the shortest one of the year. Spring is approaching,...
Feature 30 Pokémon You Probably Forgot That Deserve A Second Chance
Scraping the bottom of the Pokédex, with love
Given Pokémon’s roaring popularity for three decades straight, it’s a sheer numbers game to figure that each of its titular beasts is someone’s favourite. It’s also true that over 1,000 Pokémon can’t all share the limelight, meaning some are bound to fade into obscurity. While the most...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Pokémon 30th Anniversary Edition
Generational Divide
'!' Whoops! Looks like you've walked into our path. The exclamation mark has already appeared above our heads. We challenge you to a very special edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we send out this week's competitors, however, let's recap what went down last time. Marking another significant Nintendo anniversary as Zelda turned...
Final What's Your Favourite Pokémon Ever? - Pick From Our 9 Poll Winners
1025 to 1
And here we are, after nine Pokémon polls covering every generation, it's time for the showdown: Who will you choose as the very best Pokémon ever? Today, we present the winning Pocket Monster from each of our previous polls (now closed) for the final nine-way battle to find out the overall Pokémon champion. Our thanks to everybody...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (28th February)
REplay
With another busy month in the world of Nintendo behind us, the weekend is finally here. There was plenty of juicy news this week, as we saw Balatro arrive in an all-new Switch 2 version (RIP our spare time), Nintendo continued to release waves of updates, the 3DS tu
Community Miltanks For The Memories - 30 Years Of Your Pokémon Stories
Heart(Gold)-warming
27th February marks the anniversary of Pokémon Red and Green in Japan, but this year's event is an extra special one: the Pokémon series is now 30 years old. In that time, it's evolved from a mere Game Boy monster-catching RPG into the world's biggest media franchise, with generations of gamers catching 'em all over three...
Poll What's Your Favourite Gen 9 Pokémon?
Good Paldea
Phew, we're finally at the last (for now) generation! Pokémon turns 30 on 27th February, and in honour of this momentous anniversary, we've run a series of polls leading up to the big day, asking you to vote for your favourite Pokémon from each generation. The nine winners will then go head-to-head in a final poll at the end of the...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Koholint clash
HYYAAGGHH! *cough*, Sorry about that. Hello there, folks! Welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! That little Hylian slip-up might be a hint of things to come, but first, let's take a look at what happened last time, when a trio of covers for the Game Boy Color's Rayman went head-to-head (to-head). The votes were pretty evenly...
Poll What's Your Favourite Gen 8 Pokémon?
Galar-vanting
Pokémon turns 30 on 27th February, and in honour of this momentous anniversary, we're running a series of polls leading up to the big day, asking you to vote for your favourite Pokémon from each generation. The nine winners will then go head-to-head in a final poll at the end of the month. We're covering a generation a day until...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (21st February)
X-tra work
Welcome back to another edition of What Are You Playing! What a week, eh? Clearly not content with just the one surprise announcement this week, Nintendo delivered two almighty news drops to our door. First, we got an out-of-the-blue shadow drop for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (which looks
Talking Point Our Pokémon Presents 2026 Predictions - What Are You Hoping For?
Anniversary Anticipation
A Pokémon Presents showcase on Pokémon Day? Whatever will they think of next! Yes, TPC is back with its yearly showcase on 27th February 2026, but this is a big one, because it marks 30 years since Red and Blue first burst onto the scene in Japan back in 1996. Now, these presentations have been known to be a little on...
Poll What's Your Favourite Gen 7 Pokémon?
Alola there
Pokémon turns 30 on 27th February, and in honour of this momentous anniversary, we're running a series of polls leading up to the big day, asking you to vote for your favourite Pokémon from each generation. The nine winners will then go head-to-head in a final poll at the end of the month. We're covering a generation a day until we've...
Hands On Xenoblade Chronicles X & Mira Are Even More Magnificent On Switch 2
Update: Now with additional handheld impressions
Sometimes, I don't realise how much I'm missing out on something until it's right in front of me. That's not to say I never wanted or expected a 60fps upgrade for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition — it was apparently right there in the code, after all — but I've already put the time in...
Poll What's Your Favourite Gen 6 Pokémon?
Kalos whisper
Pokémon turns 30 on 27th February, and in honour of this momentous anniversary, we're running a series of polls leading up to the big day, asking you to vote for your favourite Pokémon from each generation. The nine winners will then go head-to-head in a final poll at the end of the month. We're covering a generation a day until...
Feature Nintendo's New App Reminds Me Of A Universal Truth: It Feels Good To Squash Mario's Face
The nose to the right, the eyes to the left
Hello, Mario! launches today on Switch eShop and phones in the West alongside other My Mario products, a new line from Nintendo specifically focused on infants and young children. This free app came out in Japan in August last year, so we're republishing Jim's impressions of the cute little face-tugger...
Poll What's Your Favourite Gen 5 Pokémon?
Unova one
Pokémon turns 30 on 27th February, and in honour of this momentous anniversary, we're running a series of polls leading up to the big day, asking you to vote for your favourite Pokémon from each generation. The nine winners will then go head-to-head in a final poll at the end of the month. We're covering a generation a day until we've...
Poll What's Your Favourite Gen 4 Pokémon?
Sinnohs
Pokémon turns 30 on 27th February, and in honour of this momentous anniversary, we're running a series of polls leading up to the big day, asking you to vote for your favourite Pokémon from each generation. The nine winners will then go head-to-head in a final poll at the end of the month. We're covering a generation a day until we've...
