Timeline
TodaySat, 27th Dec 2025
News Square Enix Wants Feedback About The Final Fantasy Series In Its New Survey
Go on, tell 'em
Fans of the long-running RPG Final Fantasy have a chance to tell Square Enix their thoughts about the series in a new online survey. It’s available until 9th January 2026 and features over 30 questions. Unfortunately, there’s no reward at the end of it, so if you do plan on doing this survey, it's mostly to tell Square Enix how...
News My Nintendo Metroid Prime 'Legacy Sweepstakes' Offers A Bounty Of Prizes (North America)
Enter today
If you’re a Metroid fan and happen to be located in the United States or Canada, Nintendo is currently running a Metroid Prime ‘Legacy Sweepstakes’ featuring a “bounty” of prizes. You can enter this sweepstakes via the My Nintendo website for 10 Platinum Points. This gives you a chance to win the official Metroid Prime 1-3: A...
"We look forward to your support"
We’re now in the final days of 2025 and many development teams are signing off for the year. This includes the talented Japanese developer Monolith Soft, best-known during the Switch generation for its work on the Xenoblade Chronicles series. Now that another year has passed, the company has taken a brief moment...
News Switch Online's 'Missions And Rewards' Brings Back Previous 2025 Icons
Get them while you can!
Nintendo has released all sorts of unique icons for Switch Online subscribers in 2025, and to go out with a bang, it’s once again bringing back select designs that you may have missed. This is a limited-time offer and runs until 11th January 2026, so get them while you can. Each icon will set you back 10 Platinum Points,...
YesterdayFri, 26th Dec 2025
"We resolved to move forward with our original vision"
As you'll know if you've read our review, we adored Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and consider it to be one of the highlights of the Switch 2's library. However, with a Metacritic rating of 79 at the time of writing, it's clear that Samus' latest adventure didn't strike the same chord with many pla
Mini Review Layers Of Fear: Final Masterpiece Edition (Switch 2) - Handsome But Humdrum Horror
Tormented souls
Switch owners already have access to Layers of Fear: Legacy and its sequel, but Bloober Team is back with a new port for Switch 2. Utilising Unreal Engine 5 to achieve some truly impressive visuals, Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition is neither a sequel nor a remake, but rather the definitive vision of the series so far,...
Quiz How Well Do You Remember 2025? Nintendo Life's Gaming Quiz Of The Year
Mo' consoles, mo' questions
Ah, 2025 is almost behind us. That was a pretty quiet year in the world of Nintendo, right? Wrong! 2025 was a jam-packed, bumper year for the House of Mario, with games, apps, movie news, and a little thing called 'Switch 2' to write home about. It was so full of good stuff, in fact, that we thought it only right to...
Feature Nintendo Life's Alternative Awards 2025
Best 'squirrel with a gun' game, most 'Huh?' Nintendo moment, and more!
Hello, well met stranger, and welcome to Jurassic Park! Nintendo Life's Alternative Awards 2025! It's been...well...it's been a year in which we have all existed, that's for sure, and as a result games happened. Loads of them, in fact. Of course, and as is tradition at this...
Feature But The Future Can Change - Chrono Trigger And Learning To Love The World
The Corridors of Time
Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors from 2025. This article was originally published in March. Enjoy! Note: If you haven't played Chrono Trigger to completion...what are you playing at? If you're sensitive to spoilers, come back when you're done as...
News Surprise! Stardew Valley - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Is Now Available
A free update for existing Switch players
[Thu 18th Dec, 2025 04:30 GMT]: In September, the Stardew Valley creator Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone lifted the lid on a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of his farming and life sim. During the Nintendo Direct reveal, it was noted how this version would be arriving in "Fall 2025". We're now just weeks out from...
Thursday25th Dec 2025
Feature "I Was Seeing Him In My Dreams" - Nintendo Veteran Just Can't Shake Shigeru Miyamoto
"He got a good laugh out of that"
Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors from 2025. This article was originally published in February. Enjoy! There’s no question that Nintendo makes some of the best video games in the world thanks to its incredibly skilled and passionate...
Review Stray Children (Switch) - A Surreal, Captivating, Undertale-Inspired RPG
Don’t talk to strangers
Stray Children launched on the Japanese eShop on 26th December 2024. We weren't able to review it back in October when it arrived in the West, but we've now managed to catch up with Onion Games' latest... Your dad’s missing and some weird “uncle” is at the door, claiming to know you. Stray Children just chucks you...
Opinion My Daughter Made Me Realise That Mario Wonder's Difficulty Options Need Work
Yoshi or Nabbit, make your choice
Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors from 2025. This article was originally published in January. Enjoy! I suspect many of my fellow parents can relate to this, but when you have your first child, a whole bevvy of problems that never...
Issue #31 - December 2025
Welcome, one and all. We're back for another festive rifle through the Nintendo Life Mailbox. Yes, it's time for our monthly letters page feature. Got something you want to get off your chest? We're ready and waiting to read about your game-related ponderings. Each month we’ll highlight a Star Letter, the writer of...
Feature I Play This One Particular SNES Game Every Xmas As A Personal Tradition
Please help me
It was the Christmas of 1992. Mr Blobby was the funniest thing on television (according to your parents), and Whitney Houston had been tricked into singing a love song about everyone's favourite sentient cardigan, Kevin Costner (I feel like I'm having a war flashback now). And me? Well, I was having a great time despite all of this,...
Guide Got Yourself A New Nintendo Switch 2? Here's What To Do First
Ahh, new hardware smell
If you've recently come into possession of a new Nintendo Switch 2, first of all, congratulations! You're in for a treat, since the Switch 2 not only has a rapidly growing library of games, but you can also play almost every game from the original Switch, too. But what the heck are you supposed to do first? Well, we've got...
Editorial Happy Holidays From Everyone At Nintendo Life
So here it is...
And here we are once more! It's Yule! Navidad! Xmas! Chrimbo! Rudolphtide! Grinchtingle! Erm... Richard Curtistime? Hmm. Merry Christmas, everyone. It's been a big year for Nintendo fans and the wider gaming industry, with new hardware, a load of new games, even more new versions of old games, plus plenty of challenges, with life's...
Wednesday24th Dec 2025
Feature Citizen Sleeper Dev Talks Sequels, Stress & Creating "My Own Take On The Mass Effect Series"
Wake up, Sleeper
Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors from 2025. This article was originally published in January. Enjoy! Citizen Sleeper was, coincidentally, one of 2022's sleeper hits. With its combination of top-tier writing and decision-based gameplay, this...
Opinion After A Few Missteps, Story Of Seasons Finally Nailed The Formula With Grand Bazaar
We're so back, baby
If you don't already know about the schism between Story of Seasons and Harvest Moon, read up on it! But TL;DR, Story of Seasons is the OG – the original farming game series that sparked thousands of copycats hoping to carve out a slice of that cosy game pie. And who can blame them? The farming game genre is a fantastic,...
Guide Best Nintendo Switch 1 & 2 Games Of 2025
Get your Switch GOTYs here
2025 was filled with brilliant games, large and small, launching every single month. It's the year that both Switch 2 and Silksong finally came out. Wowzers. The quality has been exceptionally high for both the original Switch and the newer console. Below we present the top 50 best games of the year for Switch 1 and 2...
News Fantasy Life i's Big Free DLC Is Out Now, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Welcome to Snoozaland
At last, after assuring fan's that Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time's free DLC would be out "around Christmas", Level-5 has delivered the goods right on time. Version 2.0.0 is available to download now on Switch 1 & 2 and i
Review The Rogue Prince Of Persia (Switch 2) - A Worthy, Approachable Follow-Up To Dead Cells
PoP it like it's hot
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been the better part of a decade since the launch of Dead Cells, though its absurdly long stretch of post-launch DLC expansions and updates certainly helped to keep it in the average player’s consciousness. The original Dead Cells developer, Motion Twin, actually passed the buck in...
News The Danganronpa Series Has Now Sold Over 10 Million Copies
With a new entry due in 2026
Publisher Spike Chunsoft has announced that the Danganronpa series has now shipped over 10 million copies worldwide. Beginning on 25th November, 2010 with the Japanese release of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc on the PSP, the series has since spawned three mainline entries on multiple platforms (including localised...
News Kirby Air Riders New Event Starts This Week, Includes Kirby Santa Hat Reward
After a bug almost cancelled Christmas!
Although it seems to be the end of the road for the development of Kirby Air Riders, in-game events will still be taking place over the next year. In case you missed it, the event that was previously scheduled had to be suspended due to a bug. Thankfully, just in time for Christmas, the updated event has now...
Rumour Call Of Duty's Nintendo Release Is Apparently On Target For 2026
"The first CoD Switch version is nearly done"
Following a rumour last week about Bethesda's Starfield coming to the Switch 2 next year, there's now been a supposed update about the Nintendo version of Call of Duty. According to Windows Central executive editor Jez Corden, the "first" Call of Duty Switch release is "nearly done" and could be...
News Switch Online App On Switch And Switch 2 Adds "Happy Holidays" Theme
Nintendo is feeling jolly
When the Switch 2 was announced, many Nintendo fans were already calling for themes to be added to the HOME Menu. While there have been no developments on this front, there is something else that some fans are excited about. From the system HOME Menu, if you navigate to the 'Nintendo Switch Online' icon, you'll be...
News Cyberpunk 2077's Massive Switch 2 eShop Discount Was An "Error"
But you can keep it anyway
Earlier this week, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for the Switch 2 was spotted going for 75% off its regular price in the US, reducing it from $69.99 down to just $17.49. Fans were convinced it was an error, and now, sure enough, CD Project Red has confirmed the price displayed on the Switch 2 digital store "in the...
News One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 "Special Selection" DLC Launches Next Month
Following the recent Switch 2 game upgrade
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 originally sailed onto the Switch in 2020 and last month got a Switch 2 Edition upgrade. Now, to bring in the new year, Bandai Namco has unveiled Character Pack 8 "Special Selection" is launching on 22nd January 2026. This paid pack contains the characters Eneru, Z and King...
Tuesday23rd Dec 2025
News IO Interactive's '007 First Light' Hit By Two Month Delay
Never say never again
007 First Light, a brand new James Bond game from the developers of the Hitman series, has been delayed, IO Interactive has announced. The game will now launch on 27th May 2026, two months after its original 27th March release date. Sharing a statement on social media, IOI CEO Hakan Arbak called First Light "our most ambitious...
Every game we scored 9/10 or above
For those of you in North America giving the gift of Switchmas (sorry...) this year, then the Nintendo eShop 'Hits For The Holidays' has come to the rescue to help fill up that gaming library. From now until 4th January 2025 at 11:59pm PST, there are tons of discounts on classic Switch titles to Switch 2 editions...
Opinion This GOTY Pick Might Be My Most Morbid Yet
Belt and braces
If you haven't played the fabulous Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector yet, well, what are you waiting for? We'd recommend bookmarking this one if you haven't, as this piece contains major spoilers for the endgame. You've been warned... "Wake up, Sleeper." I knew next to nothing about Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector when a...
News Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Direct Showcases New Modes Bad Boy Dragon And Hell's Arena
Update: Check out 6 minutes of gameplay
SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have announced that they will be airing a Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Direct next week, which launches on Switch 2 on 12th February 2026. The Direct will be a late one for UK and European folks, with the stream kicking off on 23rd December 2025 at 1am GMT / 2am ET — that's 22nd...
Feature The Best Hidden Gems And Underrated Switch 1 & 2 Games Of 2025
Celebrating the small(er)
2025 has been a bit of a loud, bonkers year for video games. Big title after big title, a brand new console in the Switch 2, and a new GOTY contender almost every other week. It's been breathless, but not without industry struggles, mass layoffs, cancellations, and closures. Which is why now, more than ever, it's important...
News Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds NiGHTS DLC Pack Launches For Free This Week
Get it downloaded
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds fans will have a very Merry Christmas this year, as Sega will be launching the free 'NiGHTS DLC Pack' this week on Christmas Eve – that's 24th December 2025, just to make it crystal clear. The pack will include NiGHTS as a playable character, the Dream Sleeper vehicle, and new emotes and sounds. The...
News Censored Dispatch Artwork Spotted On Nintendo's Digital Storefront
Cover up
When the Switch generation was in full swing, there were stories about games being censored in some way or form, and even blocked from being published on the eShop. With this in mind, it seems fans of the "superhero comedy" Dispatch have spotted a potential cover up on Nintendo's digital storefront in
Fans of Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil and more will "feel at home"
Bloober Team has recently been busy with the Switch 2 versions of Cronos: The New Dawn and Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition, but did you know it's got one other mysterious Nintendo release in the pipeline? In case you missed it, in July last year, the Polish-based...
News Nintendo Music Revives A Wii Banger In Final Update Of 2025
Wii like, Wii like to party
We're nearly done with 2025, and in the final update for 2025, Nintendo Music has this week added the Wii Party soundtrack. This party game originally debuted on the Wii in 2010 and the soundtrack comes loaded with 105 tracks and has a run time of 2 hours of 21 minutes. It's got some smooth and funky tracks in it like...
News Persona 3 Reload Switch 2 Performance Update Now Live, Targets 60fps In Docked Mode
It's a Christmas miracle
As the holiday celebrations get underway, Atlus has this week delivered a new update for Persona 3 Reload on the Switch 2. We noted in our review here on Nintendo Life how the "biggest drawback" of P3R when it launched in October on the new hybrid system was the 30fps performance. Thankfully, the latest update (Version...
News Batman: Arkham Knight For Switch Receives Another Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility Update
Update: Digital Foundry investigates
[Wed 17th Dec, 2025 02:45 GMT]: Batman: Arkham Knight wasn't in the best state when it landed on the original Switch in 2023, but the Switch 2 has given it a second life. Now, following a backwards compatibility update in November (which addressed some progression issues), another patch has been rolled out...
Monday22nd Dec 2025
News Vince Zampella, Call Of Duty Co-Creator And Respawn Head, Has Died
He was 55
Infinity Ward co-founder and Respawn Entertainment head Vince Zampella has died in a fatal car crash, NBC4 Los Angeles reports. He was 55 years old. The crash was reported to have happened yesterday, 21st December 2025, in along Southern California's Angeles Crest Highway, at around 12:45pm local time. Tributes have been pouring in...
Talking Point Does It Bother You That Big Games Companies Are Using GenAI?
The GenAI-ration game
What a week. On Tuesday, comments from Larian founder and CEO Swen Vincke to Jason Schreier at Bloomberg (paywall) created headlines we've grown all too used to over the last couple of years. Following the reveal of a new Divinity game at The Game Awards, Vincke said that the studio was actively using generative AI for concept...
News Cronos: The New Dawn Is Getting An Easy Difficulty Setting In Early 2026
"We've heard your voices"
Cronos: The New Dawn is a pretty challenging game. Featuring dark environments, limited ammunition, and enemies that can merge together to form stronger variants, it's one of the most taxing survival horror games out there. We happen to love the challenge, but it's clear that many folks want a bit more of a relaxing...
Feature Games Of The Year 2025 - Nintendo Life Staff Picks
Our personal picks for the best Switch (2) games of the year
Every year in December, Team Nintendo Life puts our heads together and we combine our personal Top 5s into an uber, unranked GOTY list encompassing all the Switch games that got us hottest under the collar throughout the year. 2025 brought us Switch 2, of course, but it's been a very...
UK Charts Nintendo Performs Admirably In Its Last Christmas Push
Mario Kart once again appears twice in the top ten
The latest UK Charts data is in, and there's honestly very little change in the top ten this week, with EA SPORTS FC 26 once again claiming the top spot. In fact, the top eight games have all played a bit of a switcheroo, while the latter two spots in the top ten are taken up by Battlefield 6 and...
Random The Japanese Football Team Sponsored By Nintendo Now Has Pikmin On Its Shirt
It's no Fiorentina jersey, but it's something
Nintendo has a long history of sponsoring professional sports teams, and one club it's continued to support over the years is the Japanese football side, Kyoto Sanga, which currently competes in Japan's top-flight competition known as the J-League. Nintendo owns 16.6% of this club, and ever since it...
News "I Skipped School To Play" - Hideo Kojima Cites Super Mario Bros As The Reason He Makes Games
"I can't really play it now though"
Hideo Kojima has rightly cemented himself as a legend in the games industry, having created iconic titles such as Metal Gear Solid, P.T., and Death Stranding. Although it probably shouldn't come as a surprise, however, Kojima cites Super Mario Bros. as the reason he started making games in the first place. In a
Reminder Two More Mega Evolution Are Now Available In Pokémon Unite
Mega Gyarados and Charizard Y join the fray
A major game update for the free-to-play Switch and mobile title Pokémon Unite was released earlier this month. Now, before we get to the end of the year, the development team has added Mega Charizard Y. This follows Mega Gyarados, which joined the fray earlier this month. Before this, trainers got Mega...
News Square Enix's HD-2D Series 'Octopath Traveler' Hits Another Sales Milestone
It's now sold over six million copies
Square Enix released the HD-2D RPG Octopath Traveler 0 on the Switch and Switch 2 earlier this month. Now, following this, it has provided an update about the lifetime sales of the series – revealing it has now sold over six million copies worldwide. This follows a sales update in December last year, when it...
News Donkey Kong Bananza Has Been Updated To Version 3.0.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Download it now
Nintendo has released a new update for Donkey Kong Bananza on the Switch 2, bumping it up to Version 3.0.0. This is the first update since October. This one adds Thai as a supported language and you now also have the ability to set the camera's automatic tracking to 'on' or 'off' in the options menu. Last of all are "several other...
News Switch 2's Mario Kart World Bundle Has Apparently Reached The End Of Its Lifecycle
"According to an internal GameStop memo"
If you've got your eyes on the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle, you might want to get it sooner rather than later, as it's not going to be around forever. Following a reminder from Nintendo earlier this month that it's still only available in "limited quantities", a GameStop memo has supposedly been issued...
