It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve been obsessed with Lies of P since I first played it at launch back in September 2023. This action-Soulslike was my personal favorite game of that year (despite extraordinarily strong competition). So, when the Nintendo Switch 2 arrived last summer, I was desperately hoping Lies of P would head over to the hybrid console ASAP.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait very long. Just over 12 months after the Switch 2’s launch, and nearly three years after its initial release, Lies of P: Complete Edition comes to Nintendo’s platform this week (on Thursday, August 6). I’ve had the chance to check it out early, and it’s pretty much exactly what I hoped: The same great Lies of P game, now on Switch 2.

Its release timing feels particularly appropriate, as Lies of P launches on Switch 2 just a few weeks ahead of the hotly anticipated Elden Ring: Tarnish Edition. So, if you need a game to hold you over until revisiting FromSoftware’s behemoth, this excellent Soulslike is the perfect title for the occasion. It remains a must-play for fans of challenging action-RPGs.

Lies of P is still one of my favorite Soulslike games

In short, Lies of P takes clear clues from the Dark Souls series, created by FromSoftware, the developer of Elden Ring. It’s a demanding action-RPG that emphasizes challenging combat encounters, build-crafting, and memorable boss battles that might take you dozens of attempts.

Loosely based on Carlo Collodi’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” you play a living puppet, referred to as P, who must venture through the gothic city of Krat in the aftermath of an event known as the “Puppet Frenzy,” in which the once servient puppets turned on their human masters.

It’s an intriguing setup, and Lies of P does a great job offering players small snippets of story, rewarding curiosity and a willingness to piece together the overarching narrative via optional collectibles. But as much as I enjoy the rich lore of Lies of P, it’s the punishing combat that shines brightest.

Lies of P might be part of the “Soulslike” genre (named for the aforementioned Dark Souls), but its closest comparison is actually FromSoftware’s 2015 PS4 exclusive Bloodborne. Combat encounters are fast and fluid, with the best strategy revolving around relentless pressure and, if you can nail the timing, making use of parries to stun enemies.

The game also packs some of the most well-designed boss encounters of any Soulslike. You’ll square off against all manner of towering foes, from an electrified police robot to a mutated Archbishop spewing blue goo. I don’t want to veer into spoilers, but several of Lies of P’s best bosses rival even the works of genre originator FromSoftware. And the final boss is a doozy.

Even if wholly new ideas are thin on the ground — though the game's weapon combining system is unique — Lies of P mixes the best elements of its Souls inspirations to deliver a consistently satisfying action experience. Each victory is hard-earned, and levels beg to be explored.

The game also has several built-in guardrails to help you pick your level of challenge. There are multiple difficulty settings (originally added post-launch, but available on Switch 2 from day one), and the majority of bosses allow you to summon a helpful NPC companion, which makes things considerably easier. Lies of P doesn't have to be brutally tough, if you wish.

Even if a high degree of difficulty sounds off-putting to you, Lies of P is one of the more approachable games in the Soulslike genre for newcomers.

Lies of P feels at home on Switch 2

Almost three years post-release, and after a bunch of GOTY nominations, Lies of P is mostly a known quantity at this point. So, turning attention specifically to how this new version plays on the Switch 2. I’ve been largely impressed with the experience on Nintendo’s excellent hybrid console.

As you would expect, Lies of P on Switch 2 isn’t the premier version. It looks and runs better on PS5, Xbox Series X, or a powerful gaming PC, but the Switch 2 edition is no slouch. Its biggest drawback is that objects in the distance can appear low quality. This is particularly noticeable with blurry background character models, and the framerate takes a hit in handheld mode — though a day-one patch will add a 60 fps mode.

Perhaps the biggest downgrade I’ve found comes in loading times, which are a little longer than I’d like. 15 or so seconds doesn’t sound like much, but in a Soulslike, when death can come fast and frequent, this could be a minor pain point for new players when learning the ropes. But veterans, armed with previous knowledge, will likely endure few loading screens.

As noted up top, this is the “Complete Edition” and comes packaged with the high-quality Overture expansion, alongside all previously released DLC, including the overpowered Azure Dragon Crescent Glaive weapon, released as part of a collaboration with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. It’s unlocked from the start and makes the early game a breeze. In fact, it’s so powerful, I’d suggest new players avoid it, as it breaks the difficulty curve.

Overall, this is a strong port of an excellent game; whether you’ve experienced Lies of P before or are stepping into Krat for the first time, the game feels at home on Switch 2. And because of its largely linear level design and manageable scope, it’s a great game to pick up to fill the time until Elden Ring arrives later this month and eats up your gaming time.

The Soulslike genre has exploded in popularity in recent years, with numerous developers attempting to recapture the very particular alchemy that saw FromSoftware rapidly rise to one of the industry’s most respected (and beloved) studios. Many have tried, but few imitators have got as remarkably close to matching the quality of a true Souls game as Lies of P.

All of this is to say, Lies of P: Complete Edition is a must-play on Nintendo Switch 2. This was the Switch 2 port I was desperately awaiting since launch, and now that it’s here, it’s no disappointment. Playing Lies of P once again on Nintendo Switch 2 has only deepened my obsession.

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Splatoon Raiders is a new direction for Nintendo’s ink-based, third-person shooter, which shifts the focus to single-player gameplay with a co-op twist. As the series’ first spin-off and its debut on the Nintendo Switch 2, you won’t be battling other players — but taking on hordes of Salmonids feels just as fun and chaotic.

Instead of fighting through city-style courses in Splatsville, you’re scouring the Spirhalite Islands for treasure to fix up your hideout ship and return home. Along the way, you’re tasked with completing increasingly difficult, multi-stage raids.

I found the core loop — completing a raid and heading back to your ship to upgrade your gear — to be as rewarding as it was fun. There’s nothing quite like defeating a massive Salmonid, getting a new weapon, and heading back out to test it in combat. Some later islands and raids get a bit repetitive, but everything moves so fast that by the time you notice, you’re onto the next one.

Though it's a single-player experience, you can team up in 4-player co-op locally or online. Likewise, you’ll always have a member of Deep Cut by your side.

Is Splatoon Raiders the perfect way to get your fix before the next main entry? Read on for our full review.

Splatoon Raiders: The Basics

• What is it? A spin-off of the Splatoon series where you go on raids to collect treasure as well as unlock new weapons and abilities, playable solo or with up to 4 players.
• Who is it for? Fans of the series and those who enjoy third-person shooters as well as looter shooters.
• What’s the price? Splatoon Raiders costs $49 if you buy it digitally or $59 for a physical copy.
• What other games has the developer made? Splatoon Raiders is developed by the same internal Nintendo team responsible for the rest of the Splatoon series as well as Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
• What games is it similar to? With its ink-based shooting, Splatoon Raiders plays a lot like Splatoon 3’s Salmon Run mode. However, its expedition-based mission loop resembles Borderlands while its online co-op feels similar to Deep Rock Galactic.

Not quite an island getaway

Splatoon Raiders throws you right into the action with an opening scene depicting the three members of Deep Cut — Shiver, Frye, and Big Man — aboard a helicopter above the Spirhalite Islands. As they approach the center of the island chain, their chopper gets knocked out of the sky, forcing a crash landing.

After a month stranded at sea, Deep Cut and your playable character, The Mechanic, have built a makeshift hideout ship and are ready to start doing what they came for: hunting for treasure.

From tropical beaches lined with palm trees to snow-covered peaks, your trek toward the center of the archipelago takes you through all sorts of eye-catching locales. However, much like the waters surrounding the Splatlands, these islands are teeming with Salmonids.

While raiding is the game’s main focus, taking a breather between runs lets you learn more about Deep Cut and how their world is deeply tied to the Spirhalite Islands. Although some lingering questions remained by the time I hit the credits on my 15-plus hour playthrough, the big ones were answered in a satisfying fashion.

Ink, raid, repeat

As this is a Splatoon game, ink remains your primary tool for taking down the local Salmonid population. The enemy roster keeps you on your toes: airborne pests hover overhead, burrowing threats ambush you from below, and giant monstrosities rain heavy fire from across the arena.

Instead of a traditional single-player campaign, Splatoon Raiders pivots entirely to bite-sized raids. Objectives range from direct, single-stage boss fights to free-form salvage runs where you gather Power Eggs to drill into massive treasure hoards. This variety keeps the loop from getting stale as you bounce between islands.

Alongside standard shooters, brushes, and sloshers, The Mechanic can craft and deploy gadgets mid-combat. Every successful raid feeds directly into your gear progression, dropping higher-tier weapons, gadget components, and crafting materials.

Getting booted back to the ship after a failed raid threw off my rhythm initially, but I grew to love the forced pause. It forces you to rethink your strategy, tweak your loadout, or swap gadgets before diving back in. (And while I played solo for this review, you can also call in online backup when you're stuck.)

Most importantly, movement remains top-tier. Diving into your ink and popping out behind a Salmonid to hit its weak spot feels as slick as ever, especially with the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller in hand. If you love Splatoon's core gameplay, you’ll be right at home here.

Crafting for splatting

Unlike the members of Deep Cut, The Mechanic can fix just about anything — a handy skill considering you're responsible for upgrading the hideout ship as the story progresses. Beyond ship maintenance, your character can also craft new combat gadgets and the parts needed to improve them further.

When faced with a particularly brutal wave of Salmonids, your two equippable gadgets easily make or break a run. Since they operate on a cooldown, timing is everything. Fortunately, you can craft specific parts to shorten those wait times and keep your abilities cycling faster.

Your loadout options depend on which Ink Tank you currently have equipped: Speed, Power, or Tactical. Each tank caters to a different playstyle, comes with its own set of unique gadgets, and can be upgraded to boost core stats like maximum health and overall damage output.

As I made my way through the Spirhalite Islands, I often found myself hunting specific Salmonids just to farm the parts needed for a gear upgrade. You also gather Spirhalite Crystals along the way, which are used for both high-tier crafting and boosting weapon levels. Balancing whether to dump those crystals into upgrading my main shooter or building a shiny new gadget created a really satisfying gameplay loop.

The treasure you haul back isn't just for show, either. Certain artifacts grant unique Relic Powers, offering passive combat buffs that can completely turn the tide during a tough raid or boss fight.

Whether I was tinkering back on the hideout ship or blasting my way through a chaotic raid, the pacing never slowed down. Splatoon Raiders kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

Dripping with fidelity

Besides being the series’ first entry on the Switch 2, this is hands-down the best-looking Splatoon game yet. Everything runs at a buttery-smooth 60 fps in 4K, and during my playthrough, I didn’t experience a single performance hiccup. This held true even when the battlefield was so packed with Salmonids that I could barely make out my own character.

Nintendo’s decision to feature a range of distinct biomes as you venture toward the center of the Spirhalite Islands really pays off. From ink-soaked sand to snow-capped mountains changing color right before your eyes, there were plenty of moments where I had to stop just to take in the view.

In previous entries, the color of your ink depended on your team match-ups. In Splatoon Raiders, however, the color shifts every time you return to the hideout ship. Whenever I set out on a new raid, my ink tank sprayed a completely fresh hue. It’s a small detail, but it constantly mixed up the visual flair while showing off just how vibrant and impressive the game’s graphics truly are.

Splatoon Raiders review: Verdict

Splatoon Raiders takes the iconic combat and charm the series is known for and successfully adapts it into a single-player and co-op loop. The bite-sized raids are as addictive as ever, while the new crafting mechanics and loadout upgrades add welcome depth to the formula.

Although certain islands can feel slightly repetitive over longer sessions, the game's fast-paced momentum keeps your hands glued to the controller. And while competitive PvP takes a backseat this time around, robust co-op options easily soften the blow. Whether you’re a squid-kid veteran or a complete newcomer, Splatoon Raiders is an absolute joy and a fantastic addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 lineup.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is just over 12 months old. Typically with a Nintendo console, it’s the Big N's own first-party games that keep me coming back (I play on PS5 primarily), and while there’s been a steady stream of those on the Switch 2, I’ve found it’s actually Capcom carrying the torch right now.

Capcom is enjoying something of a golden era at present, delivering consistently impressive games at a steady clip. These include several new releases and remakes in popular series like Resident Evil and Monster Hunter, and excellent original ideas like Pragmata (which, seriously, if you haven’t played yet, stop reading this article and play it now. It’s wonderful).

While these games are all available on PlayStation, Xbox and the best gaming PCs, it’s the publisher's Switch 2 support that is really impressive. The Switch 2 isn’t an afterthought for Capcom. Not only are the Switch 2 editions of new games like Resident Evil: Requiem and the aforementioned Pragmata technically sound, they also dropped day one on Switch 2. Other publishers/developer have delayed their games on Switch — I’m still waiting for a date on the Switch 2 edition of 007: First Light.

Capcom is even diving back into its recent past to bring several fan-favorite games from the previous generation to Nintendo players. Case in point, the recent launch of Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition on Switch 2. I’ve been playing DMC5 on Switch 2 recently, and it's another winner from Capcom.

DMC5 is as good as ever on Nintendo Switch 2

Devil May Cry 5 originally launched on PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2019, bringing the franchise back to its roots after the divisive (in my opinion, underrated) 2013 reboot. Fans and critics loved it, and I was among them. It offers the series' signature blend of cinematic, intense action, slightly cheesy humor, and a trio of playable protagonists. That number expanded to four with the Vergil DLC — included with the PS5 and Xbox Series X ports in 2020.

So, how does it look and play on Switch 2? Extremely well. It targets and largely maintains 60 fps in both docked and handheld mode. While I haven’t played the PS5/Series X Special Edition to compare, I can confirm this is a notable improvement over the PS4 version I experienced back at launch. The game was liable to drop frames when the action got really hectic, which in a Devil May Cry game is a problem because things get hectic fast.

As you would hope, this version of DMC5 comes content complete, packing all the post-launch DLC, including Vergil as a playable character. Oh, and load times are blissfully brief, which is useful for somebody like myself, who’s far from an expert DMC player — I need those quick loads to get back into the fray while taking on a tough boss and getting my butt whooped.

Because of its 8th generation console roots, it’s not the most technically impressive Switch 2 port Capcom has released to date. Several major PS4 games made their way over to Nintendo Switch 1. The second generation of Nintendo’s hybrid console can handle the likes of DMC5 with relative ease, but it’s yet another excellent Capcom game, now playable on the Switch 2.

Capcom’s Switch 2 support is impressive (and there’s much more to come)

Nintendo aside, there are few (if any) publishers supporting the Switch 2 to the same degree right now as Capcom. And considering the Japanese video game company is currently in its aforementioned “golden era,” with no signs of slowing down, that’s a significant boon for the console.

This year alone, I’ve tested the Switch 2 release of a trio of Resident Evil games (Biohazard, Village and Requiem) alongside Pragmata (I am not going to shut up about this game till you play it), and been largely impressed with them all. My Switch 2 is rapidly becoming a device dedicated to playing Capcom games on the go, and I don’t mind at all.

This support isn’t slowing down either. Capcom has already announced plans to bring its sprawling RPG Dragon’s Dogma 2 to the console as part of its Dark Arisen re-release this October. I love the idea of having such a vast RPG for long flights. And before that, the upcoming Onimusha: Way of the Sword will arrive on Switch 2 on September 4, the same date it launches on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC. Switch players won’t have to wait longer!

Plus, looking a little further into the future, Monster Hunter Wilds is Switch 2-bound (coming in the wake of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection landing on Nintendo's platform in March), alongside the recently announced Resident Evil: Veronica remake and Mega Man: Dual Override.

So, kudos to Capcom. Firstly, for its remarkable streak of quality releases. But secondly, for ensuring that its acclaimed recent back catalog is available on the Switch 2 and that its highly anticipated new releases arrive on the system on day one. Its biggest gaming rivals should take note.

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• Splatoon Raiders hands-on preview: I'm already hooked

While consoles used to get cheaper a year or two into their life cycle, this generation’s gone the other way. RAM and component shortages have pushed manufacturers to raise prices instead of drop them, which makes any genuine saving on new hardware feel a lot sweeter than it used to.

This Nintendo Switch 2 deal for Prime Day is a good example — the console’s down to AU$624, beating the EOFY price of AU$629 and sitting well below its usual AU$699.95. It’s a modest discount on paper, but the timing matters: Nintendo plans to lift the Switch 2 to AU$769.95 on September 1.

That means grabbing it now saves you AU$145.95 compared to its upcoming price, and right now AU$624 is the lowest Switch 2 price we’ve seen.

Whether another sale pops up before September is anyone’s guess, but this is a straightforward chance to lock in the cheapest price before the hike.

As someone who bought his Switch 2 at launch, I can say that the handheld/console hybrid is really coming into its own now that we're over a year into its life cycle.

Its growing library of games has some genuine first-party bangers in it, like Star Fox, Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and we have Splatoon Raiders arriving later this month. Additionally, developers are squeezing some terrific performance out of the Switch 2 on third-party titles like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Pragmata.

Seriously, you don’t want to sit this one out — it’s the best Switch 2 deal we’ve seen so far, and once the price hike lands, waiting will feel like a mistake.

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I’ve loved the Nintendo Switch 2 since launch. I said as much in my review last summer, where I labeled it the “hybrid console of my dreams.” 12 months later, and that stance hasn’t changed. However, I’ve had one persistent issue from day one: the relatively paltry internal storage.

The Switch 2 comes packing 256GB of internal storage (of that, only 249GB is usable), and there’s no escaping the fact this isn’t enough in a gaming landscape where blockbuster games boast install sizes best measured in dozens of GBs. Want to install Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition? That’s 60GB gone? Final Fantasy VII Rebirth? You need 90.5GB of space.

Even physical games won’t save you much room, with the emergence of the controversial “Game-Key Cards,” the entire game is installed on your Switch 2, similar to how discs work on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Yes, Switch 2 game files come in all shapes and sizes (The excellent puzzler Blue Prince takes up just 3.8GB), but if you want to play blockbuster games on the go, or have a large library installed at once, prepare for storage headaches.

For me, having a large cross-section of my Nintendo library installed at once is a necessity because I primarily use my Switch 2 for traveling. The last thing I want to do while on the road is be trying to find a Wi-Fi spot strong enough to download a Switch 2 game that’s taken my fancy.

Fortunately, upgrading your storage is a breeze; the process takes 30 seconds. The downside? Compatible microSD Express Cards are pricey.

So much room for more Switch 2 games

I recently got my hands on a 512GB Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card, and it’s been a revelation. The install process is almost laughably simple.

Get your chosen microSD card (remember, it must be an Express model), lift up the Switch 2’s rear kickstand, and insert the card into the console’s SD card slot. Give your Switch 2 a few moments to format, and you’re all done. Nintendo really couldn’t have made the process any smoother.

As is typical with additional storage solutions, you don’t get the full memory listed on the packaging. With the 512GB Lexar Play Pro installed in my Switch 2, I was given an extra 465GB of storage capacity. When factoring in the internal storage (which remains useable), this is a pretty healthy amount of wiggle room, even as Switch 2 game install sizes balloon.

I’ve tested out several of the best Switch 2 games running off the Lexar Play Pro, including Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and recently, the new Switch 2 port of Devil May Cry 5 (it's epic!). I’ve noticed no increase in loading times compared to playing these titles from the Switch 2’s internal storage, and no reduction in performance.

So, all of this is to say, if you also feel your Nintendo Switch 2’s built-in storage just isn’t big enough, then a microSD such as the Lexar Play Pro becomes a practically essential accessory. With the card snugly installed in my console, my only major remaining gripe with the hybrid console is the pretty lackluster battery life. Maybe I need to pick up a battery pack next?

More Switch 2 storage, but at a price

The asterisk on my glowing recommendation of the Lexar Play Pro microSD is the price. As of writing, on Amazon, a 256GB card costs $84 (currently 15% off, was $99); the model I’ve been testing, the 512GB, is priced at $149, and the largest size, a whopping 1TB, is a wallet-stinging $349. These prices aren’t dealbreakers, but they’re not impulse buys.

The big question is which size is suitable for most Switch 2 owners. I actually did buy a 256GB card last summer, but found the increased storage still wasn’t enough to keep pace with my growing Switch 2 library.

Meanwhile, much as I think the 1TB option will futureproof your console for years to come, ensuring an abundance of storage, $349 is an excessive price and likely pushes the card beyond the budget of most Switch 2 owners.

It’s the 512GB Lexar Play Pro microSD Card that finds the healthiest middle ground. You’re more than doubling your Switch 2 storage capacity, and while $149 isn’t cheap, it’s more budget-friendly than the 1TB option. If you’re looking to upgrade your own Switch 2 storage, I would recommend the 512GB card. It offers the best balance of storage and price, at present.

Of course, whether you need extra storage is a matter of personal preference. If you’re happy to be diligent with deleting/redownloading games, or only plan to play a small selection of titles at any one time, then you can absolutely enjoy the console with just the internal storage. While 256GB isn’t exactly roomy, it’s enough to install a handful of bigger titles.

However, if you’ve been a day-one Switch 2 owner since last June, or even if you just recently joined the ownership club (welcome!), and have found your storage space dwindling, then picking up a microSD card is a smart investment and resolves one of the console’s more noticeable flaws.

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• Best Nintendo Switch 2 games in 2026
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Owning a Wii U ended up being the ultimate test of patience. Being forced to wait months for a first-party release that justified me purchasing Nintendo’s tablet/gaming hybrid console proved torturous during much of the system’s lifecycle.

I remember getting the first Splatoon, not out of a pure need for it but because I was so desperate to play anything on my Wii U besides Bayonetta 2. The shock and awe that took over my spirit when I realized just how fun Splatoon’s PvP ink-blasting matches were still stands tall as one of the biggest pleasant surprises I’ve had as a gamer. From that point forward, I sunk embarrassingly long playtimes into the series’ next two mainline entries and accompanying DLC expansions.

Now that I’m on the cusp of finally picking up Switch 2, I’m super excited to put just as much time into Nintendo’s latest offering of ink-splatting. But what makes this new series installment stand out from its predecessors is how it eschews competitive multiplayer in favor of treasure hunting escapades across single–player and four-player co-op expeditions.

And after finally getting some hands-on time with Splatoon Raiders, I can safely say that its fun factor and charm match that of the excellent Splatoon games that came before it.

Customizing loadouts, blasting baddies and raiding treasure

The name of the game here is using your custom character’s mechanical skills to create new tools, improve your gear, customize your loadouts and head out to new destinations across the Spirhalite Islands to find even more goodies for the taking.

Like previous games in the series, Splatoon Raiders gives you a ton of options to tinker to your liking. Creating your own “Inkling” took me longer than expected since I always get a kick out of making them to my exact liking. This game also offers a wide range of other options to tailor, such as your main weapon, two gadgets, Relic Powers, your tank type, Bot Buddy, and clothing style.

Speaking of weapons and gadgets, I got a lot of use out of the “Flamingo Splattershot Jr.”, the “Booyarang” and the “Splatellites.” The mixture of rapid-fire shooting, a weapon that can cut through the opposition in a single circular arc and another one that creates orbiting discs around you that harm incoming foes worked like a charm. When the time arrived for me to eliminate all the “Salmonids” that sought to take me out, my chosen loadout and the assistance of one of the members of the “Deep Cut” trio (whose outfitted in a bot), I was treated to the same entertaining gunplay that made me a fan of Splatoon in the first place.

After seeing the first pieces of footage for Splatoon Raiders, I was a bit worried that the game’s environments would boil down to nothing but sandy beaches and rocky terrain. But those fears have now been assuaged — there’s plenty more biomes to venture to and the color patterns do enough to make them stand apart from each other, thankfully. The Salmonid hordes that try to overpower you are relentless and actually presented a challenge during some missions, especially the timed ones.

Even with the difficulty getting kicked up a notch during my demo, I had the time of my life blasting them out of existence, jumping on top of my big bot assistant to get some extra air time and picking up all the currency and items I need to create more offensive and defensive tools. Trust me when I tell you that you'll need all the help you can get, as this game presents a worthy challenge with its unique boss fights and time trials that throw even more enemy hordes your way.

Co-op raids will keep me occupied for months (or years?) to come

Linking up with three other players to go on some treasure hunts proved to be just as fun (if not MORE fun!) than my solo treks. Seeing my three other Inkling squadmates equip entirely different loadouts resulted in playthroughs where our combined weapons and gadgets cut through our fishy foes with ease. I knew it was time to switch up my loadout when I watched one of my co-op partners slash through an army of swarming Salmonids with their “Splatchet” gadget (it felt so satisfying to do some slashing for myself once I finally used it).

Here’s hoping plenty of substantial endgame content and a nice DLC rollout will accompany Splatoon Raiders to expand its co-op suite.

Bottom line

Call me crazy if you want, but the likes of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Pokopia weren’t enough to compel me to get Switch 2.

As the odd man out with that opinion, Splatoon Raiders stands out as the killer app that will make me finally pick up a Switch 2. Am I slightly disappointed that the PvP competitive ink-splatting isn’t featured? Yeah. But am I still excited to go treasure hunting with the Deep Cut idols, eliminate Salmonids that dare to approach me, jump into the colorful ink fray with three other Inklings and unlock new pieces of gear?

Absolutely!

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Despite GTA 6 pre-orders stealing the headlines this week, another game you can play right now actually just hit store shelves. Of course, I’m talking about Nintendo’s Star Fox remake, which I recently gave a glowing review.

I still remember inserting the Rumble Pak into the back of my N64 controller and booting up Star Fox 64 for the first time almost 30 years ago. Now, though, I get to experience one of my favorite childhood games with modern graphics, crisp 4K visuals, and new cutscenes that help fill out the story even further.

Playing Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch 2 has been an absolute blast so far, and I even managed to take the hard path that eluded me as a child. Still, after several playthroughs ahead of my review, I wasn’t done yet.

Besides being able to play with a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, you can also detach your Joy-Cons and play Star Fox in Mouse Mode. I definitely had to take this new, more precise, fully first-person way to take the game out for a spin. However, I also have one of Nintendo’s modern N64 controllers on hand, so I decided to give that a try too out of sheer nostalgia.

Whether you’re playing Star Fox for the first time or revisiting one of your favorite childhood games like I am, both of these control schemes completely change the experience — but one definitely stands above the other.

Precision meets sheer terror

If you haven’t upgraded to a Switch 2 yet, Mouse Mode is one of the new console’s more interesting features. With your Joy-Cons detached, you can use a desk mat — or any surface for that matter — to engage this new mode and control one of your Joy-Cons like a mouse. This gives you a much greater level of precision and is especially useful in first-person shooters.

Speaking of which, the first game I tried Mouse Mode out on was Metroid Prime 4. What I like about that game’s implementation of this new mode is that you can instantly switch back and forth between it and using your Joy-Cons the standard way. Thankfully, Star Fox does the exact same thing.

The second you flip one of your Joy-Cons on its side, Mouse Mode is enabled. However, in Star Fox, this also switches the game from using its normal third-person perspective to a first-person one. It felt like I was Fox McCloud myself, sitting inside my Arwing with all of its various screens and dials visible in the ship’s central console. This adds a new level of immersion you just don’t get in third-person.

I’ll admit, getting the hang of using Mouse Mode in Star Fox did take me a bit. I think that’s because of how high-stakes and fast the game’s flying and shooting feels. After I finished the game’s first level, though, I had the hang of it. Well, for the most part.

With a Joy-Con held normally in my left hand, I was able to control the yawing of my Arwing while most of the work was done with the Joy-Con in my right hand, which handled shooting, boosting, braking, and aiming my laser’s reticle. It definitely takes some getting used to, but there are on-screen prompts to help you with the more difficult controls.

One thing I wasn’t expecting was how different playing the game in first-person would make some of the levels feel. For instance, the asteroid field in Meteo and the enemies that pop out behind them had me on the edge of my seat. While not necessarily scary, when playing in first-person, everything felt a lot more spooky. The same was true on the planet Solar, as it really felt like the waves of lava were coming right at me.

In retrospect, it makes perfect sense, but I was elated when I realized I could play through the Macbeth stage in first-person. Controlling the Landmaster tank has never come naturally to me, and during my first playthroughs, I got stuck on this level longer than I care to admit. In Mouse Mode with a first-person perspective, though, I was able to not only clear it but also shoot down the eight switches to divert the train fairly easily.

I bypassed Aquas completely during my Mouse Mode playthrough, but seeing the ocean and all the various creatures underwater from the cockpit of the Blue Marine has me excited about starting another run already.

Single-stick nostalgia

Given it was my first introduction to using an analog stick instead of a D-pad, I bought one of Nintendo’s modern N64 controllers when they first went on sale. I mainly did so to re-experience playing Super Mario 64 this way, but I also played through a bit of Star Fox 64 too. Controlling my Arwing the old-fashioned way was just as awkward as I remembered it, though.

With Star Fox on the Switch 2, you can use an N64 controller if you want to relive that exact same experience, just with modern visuals. In the game’s on-the-rails levels, I felt like I was right back in 1997, sitting on the floor in front of the TV.

Even the game’s boss fights — like when I took on the Gorgon in Area 6 — felt great and were easy enough to handle. The old control scheme came right back to me, even if I did miss using my Switch 2 Pro Controller’s extra GR button (which I had mapped to A) to shoot. Once I switched to All-Range Mode, however, that’s when things got tricky.

Just like in Star Fox 64, you point the analog stick down and press either the down or left C-button at the same time to do a somersault or U-turn, respectively. During the second fight with Star Wolf and his crew, these old controls made things quite difficult.

If I held down and pressed one of the C-buttons after, nothing happened. Instead, I had to press down on the analog stick while hitting the C-button at the exact same time to pull off the maneuver. With Star Wolf hot on my heels, my Arwing took a lot more damage than it did when using modern controls with my Switch 2 Pro controller.

Even if All-Range Mode was just as difficult as I remember with an N64 controller, it was still a fun experiment testing it out in Star Fox on the Switch 2.

Now it truly feels like summer

If you’re a seasoned player who knows all the hidden paths, you can finish Star Fox in around an hour. With other Nintendo games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom taking 60+ hours to finish, Star Fox’s campaign may feel short, but that’s only at face value. The beauty of Star Fox 64 and this reimagined outing is that you’re supposed to replay it, as that’s the only way to find hidden paths and earn medals.

Star Fox on the Switch 2 is fun enough on its own to warrant multiple playthroughs. However, if you want to mix things up a bit, I highly recommend giving Mouse Mode a try. Even if you don't, you can still experience the entire campaign in first-person mode just by hitting the Minus button on your Joy-Cons or Pro Controller.

Personally, I had a ton of fun during my first-person, Mouse Mode playthrough, and I can’t wait to go back to Corneria for another run. In fact, the timing of this release brings me right back to the summer of 1997, and Nintendo made an excellent choice by releasing Star Fox when it did.

Whether you grew up playing Star Fox on the Nintendo 64 or this is your first time saving the Lylat system from Andross, Star Fox on Switch 2 is this summer’s must-play game — just like it was all those years ago.

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Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2 is the rare remake that managed to exceed my expectations while feeling instantly familiar. While the original formula remains intact, Nintendo, alongside developer Velan Studios have modernized every aspect of this classic game from the visuals down to the controls.

Fox McCloud and the rest of the Star Fox crew look better than ever, as do all of the 15 different stages. Of course, due to the game’s branching paths, you will have to complete multiple playthroughs if you want to see them all. You definitely will, though, thanks to the new, more cinematic cutscenes between each stage.

Controlling your Arwing felt great in the original, but on the Switch 2, it’s even more satisfying. The controls are snappy and responsive when playing in handheld mode or with a Switch 2 Pro Controller. However, you can also detach your Joy-Cons to play in Mouse Mode, which shifts your perspective from third to first-person, making gameplay feel even more immersive.

If this is your first time saving the Lylat system, you’re in for a treat. For seasoned Star Fox players, though, the game and its stages play out almost exactly as you remember them, for better or worse. While there is a new multiplayer mode, it doesn’t feel extensive enough to justify picking up this remake for it alone.

Star Fox for the Switch 2 is still the best way to experience this classic starfighter. Read on for my full Star Fox review.

Star Fox: The Basics

• What is it? Star Fox is a sci-fi rail-shooter and space combat game with high-speed aerial dogfights and branching paths where you fight to protect the Lylat system.
• Who is it for? Star Fox fans who want to re-experience Star Fox 64 on the Switch 2’s more powerful hardware with improved controls and visuals.
• What's the price? Star Fox costs $49 if you buy it digitally or $59 if you buy a physical copy.
• What other games has the developer made? Star Fox for the Switch 2 was developed by Velan Studios alongside Nintendo. They previously worked together on the mixed-reality racer Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, but the studio also created the dodgeball brawler Knockout City.
• What games is it similar to? Given it’s a modern remake, Star Fox feels a lot like Star Fox 64 as well as other space combat and flying games such as Star Wars: Squadrons and Ace Combat.

Seeing the Lylat system with new eyes

I still remember popping the rumble pack into the back of my N64 controller and booting up Star Fox 64 for the first time. While the original set the bar quite high, this reimagining of Nintendo’s classic space opera immediately hooked me once I saw how stunning it looked on the Switch 2.

From the menus to the cutscenes to the levels themselves, Star Fox shines in a crisp and buttery smooth 4K resolution at 60fps on Switch 2. Gone are the blocky and low-polygon structures of the original as they’ve been replaced with top-tier graphics you’d expect to see on the PS5 or Xbox Series X.

By upgrading and optimizing its proprietary Viper Engine, Velan Studios has managed to deliver impressive visuals and a locked framerate of 60 fps. The HDR implementation is another big highlight here as laser fire and bombs shot from your Arwing stand out brilliantly against the deep blacks of outer space.

Whether I was flying alongside the water outside Corneria, navigating through space debris in Sector X or submerged in the Blue-Marine in Aquas, all of the various environments in Star Fox had my eyes glued to the screen. In fact, I took different paths throughout several playthroughs just to see them all.

Fantastic Mr. Star Fox

From the opening scene after the updated tutorial, when the crew takes off their VR headsets, it’s clear we’re dealing with a familiar yet entirely different Star Fox. Instead of the dated character models of the original, we’re now met with ones that feel more like the cast of Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox film. I like them personally, but they have divided the series’ loyal fanbase somewhat.

You’ll be seeing a lot more of Fox, Slippy, Peppy and Falco, too, as there are now beautifully rendered cinematics in between missions. They help fill out the story and show the inner workings of the Star Fox crew in ways I could only imagine when playing the original.

There are changes during the missions themselves, too, when it comes to the story and especially dialogue. While some fan favorite sayings like “Do a barrel roll” remain, the lines delivered by the crew mid-combat feel more intentional and add an extra layer of depth to the overall story.

For instance, during the first level, you’re tasked with saving Falco as he’s having trouble with his ship’s G-Diffuser. In the original, after you helped him out, that was that. Now, though, in the Switch 2 version of Star Fox, Slippy chimes in saying that’s why you don’t want to rush a systems check.

There are little extra bits of dialogue here and there throughout the story, and alongside the new cinematics, I felt more immersed in the world of Star Fox than ever before.

By air, land and sea

Even though the levels themselves are on-rails, your journey to take on Andross is more flexible thanks to Star Fox’s branching paths. Depending on which teammates you save, how many hits you deal out to enemies and a few other conditions, new paths and different levels become available.

This adds some much-needed variety to the core game while also giving you a reason to replay its campaign. While you pilot Star Fox’s iconic Arwing craft for a majority of the game, it’s not the only vehicle.

For instance, if you take the easy path to Venom, there’s a level where you take command of the Landmaster tank. The tank features the same controls as your Arwing, but since you’re on the ground instead of in the air, it’s a welcome change from flying.

Alternatively, if you take the hard path to Venom, there’s an underwater level where you pilot the Blue-Marine submarine. Built by Slippy from spare parts, the submarine works just like your Arwing, too. Having missed this section as a kid, it was a nice surprise, and the enemies and environment of Aquas were absolutely worth another run of the campaign.

Although Star Fox’s campaign only takes about an hour and a half to finish, revisiting levels to look for secret paths does add a bit more to the game. Still, I wish there were more new levels besides the prologue to really round out this upgraded package.

From tactical to all-range

If you’ve booted up Nintendo Switch Online and tried to play through Star Fox 64 recently, you’re in for a welcome surprise on Switch 2 as Velan Studios has modernized the game’s controls. Instead of using a single analog stick and the C-button, Star Fox now features dual-stick flight.

The left stick handles your Arwing’s positioning while the right stick controls your reticle. This separation gives you far greater precision when aiming your lasers.

Alternatively, you can take things a step further by detaching your Joy-Cons and playing in Mouse Mode. Though I found the first-person perspective does take some getting used to.

In addition to this new control scheme, there’s an overall snapiness when it comes to pressing buttons to boost, brake and deploy bombs, as well as when you’re using the triggers to shoot or the bumpers to barrel roll. Suffice it to say, piloting an Arwing has never felt this good.

Star Fox: Verdict

Star Fox on the Switch 2 marks the triumphant return of Fox McCloud, though it’s also an excellent showcase of what Nintendo’s latest console is capable of. The upgraded graphics and improved visual fidelity make this the best way to experience this classic adventure, while the snappier and more modern controls make piloting your Arwing just as satisfying.

Although I wish we could play the full campaign together with a friend in co-op mode with our own ships, at least Nintendo does give you a way to do so as pilot and gunner. Likewise, there are a lot of great ideas in the new multiplayer modes, but let’s face it, we’re here for the single-player campaign. Whether you’re just saving the Lylat system for the first time or you’re a seasoned mercenary who knows all the hidden paths, this is the best Star Fox has ever looked and played.

We're approaching the halfway point of 2026, and it's already shaping up to be another truly fantastic 12 months for new video games. And we haven't even got to the ludicrously crowded September/October period yet, and the small matter of the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, either.

But before all of the exciting games to come, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the games already released in 2026 that have seriously impressed us. Across all major platforms, there's been plenty of must-play experiences ranging from new installments in beloved franchises to original IPs, and one of the best licensed games ever made!

If you skipped any of these games when they launched, the summer months (which are a little quieter for new releases) are the time to circle back. These are the best video games we've played in 2026 so far.

Resident Evil Requiem

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

I expected Resident Evil Requiem to be a good time, but what I didn’t expect was for it to be one of my favorite Resident Evil titles of all time. It masterfully blends the gameplay of its two protagonists to offer an experience for fans of both action and horror, and makes both characters interesting to play as (although, admittedly, I always looked forward to Leon).

Being able to catch on to things or open new paths with Leon after progressing through an area with Claire made exploring areas a second time feel interesting instead of cumbersome, and the post-game content made me replay the game not once but twice, and that is saying a lot for someone who has never replayed a game or gone for platinums before.

Whether you’re playing on PS5 Pro or Switch 2, the game runs really well, and Capcom deserves credit for this when some studios (I’m looking at you, Bethesda!) haven’t done the best job at optimizing their games.

Requiem reminded me of what makes Resident Evil one of the best horror franchises ever made, and my personal favorite series in the genre. I am really excited for future RE titles and any DLC Requiem has to offer. Just give me more Leon Kennedy, Capcom. Just give me more Leon Kennedy. — Phil Rodrigues

Read our full Resident Evil Requiem review

Pokémon Pokopia

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2

As someone who’s never been a fan of Animal Crossing, Pokémon Pokopia was my biggest gaming surprise of 2026 — and it’s a game I can’t get enough of. It’s a cozy yet surprisingly deep life-simulation adventure where I’ve built and rebuilt habitats, restored ecosystems and created thriving communities for my favorite Pocket Monsters.

Playing as a Ditto who can craft and gain abilities to help with terraforming has been extremely fun. Each Pokémon’s personality and funny dialogue have made me fall in love with the franchise all over again. The gameplay loop is addictive, as is the creative freedom you’re given. Pokopia effortlessly blends elements of building sims, sandbox games, and classic Pokémon exploration into a seamless experience.

What perhaps surprised me the most, though, was the strong storytelling and writing revolving around a post-apocalyptic world. It’s surprisingly deep — and I certainly wasn’t expecting the scattered notes you find (or the ending) to hit that hard. Pokopia feels refreshingly new but unmistakably Pokémon at the same time. I can’t wait for the DLC! — Nikita Achanta

Read our full Pokémon Pokopia review

Pragmata

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

It’s amazing how much a strong demo can do in making someone like me see the vision. Before I took Hugh and Diana into rooms full of rampaging robots, I followed Capcom’s brand-new IP closely. The painfully long wait for a final release date took my hype levels down a peg, but I still maintained a sliver of hope that Pragmata would pull through and deliver a quality experience.

After replaying the demo way more times than I can count, I was fully convinced that Capcom had a new smash hit on their hands. Thankfully, that sentiment of mine stayed true once I reached the end of Hugh and Diana’s emotional journey. The genius way the developers at Capcom mashed up traditional third-person gunplay with a grid-based hacking system that’s controlled by the face buttons roped me in immediately. And I was always excited to see all the new weapons and mods I could tap into to take down waves of disgruntled bots.

I was shocked to see how much post-game content Pragmata had in store for me, which gave me plenty more reasons to bring my best loadouts to ever more challenging combat scenarios. While Pragmata’s story could have been a lot stronger, I still got a ton of enjoyment out of Hugh and Diana’s warm relationship. Here’s hoping we get a sequel that expands on this game’s clever approach to shooting and hacking. — Elton Jones

Read our full Pragmata review

Forza Horizon 6

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S (PS5 TBD)

I mean, this one’s an obvious pick, right? Easily one of the best racing games over the past decade and the greatest in the Horizon series. Forza Horizon 6 puts you in a drop-dead gorgeous recreation of Japan, gives you a ton of incredible cars to drive in, and an almost-infinite wealth of things to do from fun short storylines and stunt events (like racing a Gundam) to full-blown high-octane racing action.

And while I could go into the upgrades here to visual flair, the huge improvement in audio with a banger soundtrack and cars that sound so much more alive, the versatile driving physics giving you either arcade accessibility or sim-level immersion, or the variety of events keeping the game feeling alive for a long time to come.

But the real thing that keeps it head and shoulders above the competition is how it's the first racing title I’ve played to truly capture the essence of car culture. Every single tiny detail comes together to form a love letter to the automobile unlike anything you’ve played before. Just do yourself a favor, buy it now, and thank me later. — Jason England

Read our full Forza Horizon 6 review

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S (Switch 2, September 18)

I’m a Batman fan, and I’m a Lego fan, so I already knew I’d dig Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. However, I didn’t expect it to be such a thoroughly captivating and enjoyable experience. It’s a title I’ll absolutely have in my top 10 games of the year. Yes, it’s that good!

So what’s so special about Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight? Aside from the usual Lego charm, this game is a true love letter to various Batman media— particularly the big Hollywood movies. You play through all of the Caped Crusader’s biggest moments, from falling into a batcave as a child all the way through his rise as Gotham City’s dark avenger. Naturally, the tone is silly, but it retains enough earnestness not to be a complete joke.

Gameplay-wise, it feels like a stripped-down version of the Batman Arkham games, with similar combat and traversal mechanics in a relatively large open world. You even get those games’ versions of puzzles. The Lego parts involving building items and the slew of collectibles, including costumes, vehicles, and more, also make this game highly addictive.

If you’re looking for a game that’s pure fun, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a must-own title. — Tony Polanco

Read our full Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review

007 First Light

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S (Switch 2 TBD)

007 First Light is the best James Bond video game ever made. That’s really saying something considering the pedigree of N64’s GoldenEye, and my own childhood nostalgia for 007: Nightfire on the PlayStation 2. However, First Light trumps them both by delivering a remarkable, ridiculously cinematic main campaign that had me hooked from start to end.

Rather than cast you as a Bond in his prime, you experience his origin story, playing as a fresh-faced spy (voiced/mod-capped expertly by Patrick Gibson). As any good Bond game should, your 15-hour adventure takes you all over the world, from Malta to Mauritania, and has you unraveling a villainous plot that feels highly relevant for our times.

The authentic presentation is spot on, complete with a fitting Bond tune written/performed by Lana del Rey, but none of this would matter if First Light weren’t also a joy to play. Fortunately, with Hitman developer IO at the wheel, that was never in doubt. The game’s blend of espionage exploration, and thrilling combat encounters (the melee animations are phenomenal); you really do feel like the world’s most suave secret agent.

It also packs set-piece moments that rival the best of Uncharted and the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy. And it culminates in a finale that feels fitting for such an epic Bond tale. The bar for licensed games has been raised in recent years, but 007 First Light sets a new standard. — Rory Mellon

Read our full 007 First Light review

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So, as the smart glasses guy on the Tom’s Guide team, my main beef has always been with the Nintendo Switch just making things awkward with its video out on the USB-C connector.

With literally any other gaming handheld, it’s a seamless dream — plug your AR glasses in, and see the picture in front of your eyes. The Switch (and Switch 2) requires jumping through hoops of tricking your console into thinking it's in docked mode to bypass the complicated encryption.

Well, when I tested Xreal Aura some more here at AWE 2026, the team literally mentioned in a passing conversation that they’d cracked Switch compatibility in Android XR. Before they could say another word about local AI, I stopped the talk in its tracks and asked for a demo.

And hot dang, they did the thing! Not only is there full Switch support over USB-C, but with no real noticeable latency, and you can use Gemini to ask questions about the games you’re playing!

Fixing the problem with brute force

So the problem is one of compatibility and protocols (boring, I know). 99% of the market uses DisplayPort Alt Mode through that USB-C socket, which natively supports just plugging the glasses straight in. Meanwhile, Nintendo is using Mobility DisplayPort (MyDP) — a standard that was typically used with micro-USB ports back in the day. Why? God knows.

For years now, the fix has been something like the Viture Switch Dock: trick the Switch into thinking it’s in docked mode via a big battery pack to keep it alive at higher wattages and simulate an HDMI connection.

And now, a simple USB-C connection into the Aura’s compute puck does the trick… “HOW!?” I excitedly asked Qualcomm’s team, to which they couldn’t help but chuckle and give me cheeky grins.

Truth is, they can’t tell me exactly how they did it, so all I can do is theorize. You’ve got a strong, open, and versatile development platform like Android XR, paired with a monster spatial computing chip in Snapdragon Reality Elite. I think it’s not too much of a stretch to assume that this high-performance chip is able to transcode that signal in real-time in a well-written Android XR app.

What does it feel like to play?

One common issue with this workaround for the current Switch docks for AR glasses is latency. It’s not terrible, but it can be noticeable in faster titles. None of that exists here, and in my time playing Zelda, it all felt nicely responsive.

On top of that, given it’s a floating window within Android XR, there’s the Gemini Live edge too! Fire it up, look at your screen, and ask away — Gemini was quick to let me know where to go next in the forest.

That is a real value-unlocker vs going to GameFAQs for the answer I need to get ahead in my gameplay whenever I’m stuck.

Take that, Nintendo!

Yes, I know the Switch 2 is great and everything, but this whole USB-C compatibility issue is a pet peeve I’ve been super vocal about for a long time now! Whether it’s so that Nintendo can make its own AR glasses, I don’t know. But the fact that I can’t save myself from neck pain playing the damn thing on long-haul flights seems crazy to me when it’s literally the easier (and better) standard to support.

However, with some brute force of Snapdragon Reality Elite and some coding know-how in Android XR, that’s no longer a problem, and not only that, it’s latency-free compared to the other workarounds we’ve seen.

Low key, this is the biggest winning feature I’ve seen for Xreal Aura. I know there’s so much more to talk about here in what Android XR can do in an optical see-through (OST) environment vs a VR headset, and Gemini’s capabilities in spatial computing. But to 1-UP Nintendo’s limitations? You just love to see it.

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If you've been looking for the right moment to buy the Nintendo Switch 2, now's the time to strike — the in-demand handheld/console hybrid is currently discounted by 10% on Amazon, bringing its price down from AU$699.95 to AU$629.

I get it — 10% doesn’t sound like a huge discount, even if it is Amazon's lowest price on the Switch 2 yet. But with Nintendo planning to bump the Switch 2 up to AU$769.95 from September 1, that “small” saving suddenly means you’re paying AU$140.95 less if you buy now. In other words, it’s a pretty great moment to jump in.

While we can't know for sure if the Switch 2 will get an even bigger discount between now and September — maybe during next month’s Prime Day sale — there's no question that this current deal is a great opportunity.

In our Nintendo Switch 2 review, we described the hybrid console as "ultimate version of the Switch concept", noting that it offers "impactful upgrades across the board," such as a larger 7.9-inch 1080p display and redesigned, magnetic Joy-Cons.

Admittedly, battery life could be better, and a more ergonomic design would've made it more comfortable to play during longer gaming sessions. Still, the Switch 2 holds its own against the likes of Valve's Steam Deck, even managing to outperform it in some areas, boasting a higher resolution display and support for DLSS upscaling.

Honestly, you'll be kicking yourself later if you sit on this opportunity — it's the best EOFY Switch 2 deal we've seen to date, and we don't expect it will get any cheaper before the financial year comes to a close.

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During this week's June Nintendo Direct, you may have missed when the company quickly revealed two new Joy-Con 2 colorways: blue and light yellow. The new colors are inspired by Deep Cut from the Splatoon series.

For the unfamiliar, Deep Cut is a band that pops up in Splatoon 3 composed of two octolings and a manta ray. The octolings wear the blue and yellow colors.

Really, it feels to me like it's just one new color since the blue is just a slightly darker shade compared to the light blue that comes bundled with the Switch 2.

It's honestly a reminder to me that Nintendo has dulled the vibrancy of the Switch 2 hardware, especially compared to the original Switch.

Yes, there are light purple and light green variants of the Joy-Con 2 controllers... but the only pop of color is the strip that connects to the Switch display and a single ring under the joysticks. A strip that disappears when you click the controllers into the Switch 2 console. The rest is just plain black.

Conversely, the original Switch featured controllers where the whole body was one color. And the Switch Lite came along in a choice of multiple delightful hues.

Compared to the black box that is the current Xbox (retro special edition aside), and the spaceship that is the PS5, Nintendo has always represented fun and playfulness with its console(s).

The Switch 2 feels like it's slipped into a professional suit and is beckoning you into its office to discuss a spreadsheet. Am I the only one who's a little disappointed by this?

The original Switch could be a loud contrast of colors, depending on how much you want to mix and match your Joy-Con controllers. Some of the best were inspired by Splatoon, itself a splashy series.

Just look at these practically neon controllers below, especially compared to the boring grey handles on the Switch itself:

Nintendo like many companies is facing economic uncertainity between the varying tariffs — which seem to have settled after multiple lawsuits — and the ongoing memory crisis affecting every bit of tech globally.

Nintendo markets itself as the playful system for everyone, which the design of the Switch 2 seems to elide. Here's hoping that the gaming legend finds its way into the future of the Switch 2 with some whimsy in more than just pops of color that hide.

How to get the new colors

If you're interested in picking up a set of the blue and light yellow Joy-Con 2 controllers, you can pre-order them now for $99 from Nintendo.

The Nintendo site and the images shown during the Nintendo Direct list July 23 as the release date.

Meanwhile, if you want more, there are Switch 2 third-party options that actually highlight a rainbow of colorways.

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Hot on the heels of Summer Game Fest, Nintendo has announced it will hold a Nintendo Direct tomorrow (June 9) at 10 am ET. A Nintendo Treehouse presentation will follow immediately after.

According to a press email, the Nintendo Direct will run for around 50 minutes and spotlight upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games. The Nintendo Treehouse event will last around 95 minutes and feature gameplay of select games featured in the Nintendo Direct.

This is the first big Nintendo Direct of the year, so it should hopefully shed light on what Nintendo plans to release during the latter half of 2026. I say that because, right now, we don’t have a firm grasp of what’s on the horizon. Some of the confirmed 2026 titles are Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Duskbloods. Star Fox is out on June 25, and Splatoon Raiders drops on July 23.

One of the biggest rumors from known leaker Nate the Hate is that Nintendo is working on another The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. This makes sense given how it’s the franchise’s 40th anniversary this year. Nate was correct about Star Fox and generally has a good track record, so this rumor is likely accurate.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 has generally been successful, it isn’t anywhere near as popular as its predecessor. However, with enough games to get folks excited for the fall season, perhaps Nintendo can turn things around—even if the Switch 2 is getting a price hike in September.

You can watch the June Nintendo Direct and Nintendo Treehouse showcases on Nintendo Today!, YouTube, and Twitch.

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Nintendo has just announced that it plans to modify the Nintendo Switch 2 console and make it significantly easier to replace the battery. This is being done to comply with EU regulations about user-replaceable batteries, which will come into force in February 2027. Sadly, this doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will automatically be able to buy one of these modified Switch 2 consoles.

Nintendo's announcement isn't particularly forthcoming with details about how these new Switch 2 consoles will be distributed. Instead, it has only specified that future EU Switch 2 consoles will be sold with unique model numbers and an additional "OSM" code on the packaging, which marks them as distinct from existing models on sale. Those units have model numbers starting with "BEE."

What does this mean for future Switch 2s?

Nintendo specifically says that this is being done to differentiate "separate products for regulatory purposes." This suggests that the old design won't vanish overnight. I've emailed Nintendo to clarify this point, and will update when I hear back.

So the big question is whether Nintendo will restrict the sale of these new units to the EU, or if they will eventually start selling them in other regions as well. The company is certainly under no obligation to sell these modified units elsewhere, but it also doesn't make a whole lot of sense to manufacture entirely different hardware for a single region.

Typically, regional variations are limited to specific components, rather than whole new designs. Samsung Galaxy S26 phones utilize the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset in North America, while units sold elsewhere have the Exynos 2600.

Similarly, all iPhones made the switch from Lightning to USB-C, rather than just the models within a specific part of Europe. It doesn't make sense to regionalize the manufacturing process to such an extent and go to the trouble and expense of producing such wildly different versions of the same product.

These rules weren't kept secret

The other big question is why Nintendo didn't plan for this eventuality. The subject of user-replaceable batteries in electronics has been going on for at least six years, well ahead of the Switch 2's release, and one would think that they would have seen this coming and adjusted designs accordingly. The whole point of this legislation is to allow users to replace batteries without any specialist skills or tools. This is not the case with the current Switch 2 design.

Instead, the task of replacing the Switch 2's battery is a long and fairly convoluted process. According to iFixit's repair guide, the Switch 2 battery isn't easily accessible, even after you remove the console's back plate. A bunch of disassembly is required to even access the battery, and you then have to repeat the process in reverse to put the unit back together again.

Replacing the battery in a Joy-Con 2 isn't nearly as complicated, but it's still not the simplest process in the world. Joy-Cons are going to be affected by the incoming rules, too, though Nintendo hasn't confirmed any plans at the time of writing.

So what's going to happen?

It's not entirely clear what Nintendo's plans are right now, only that it will have those modified replacement-friendly Switch 2 consoles on store shelves ahead of the EU's February 18, 2027 deadline. I expect that Nintendo will start distributing the new consoles ahead of that date and minimize the chances of any BEE consoles being sold when they're not supposed to be.

The intricacies of global trade, especially within the EMEA, also likely mean that the new OSM consoles will end up being sold elsewhere, too. Whether that will be restricted to EU neighbors like Norway or the U.K., or whether they will end up being shipped to the likes of North America and Asia, isn't something we can predict.

I hope that Nintendo will eventually wind down production of the original Switch 2 console in favor of making the OSM models more widely available. Having one console in production makes a lot more sense than two, after all. But since there's no hard deadline like there is in the EU, it would make sense for Nintendo to make this a more gradual process.

But no matter what ends up happening, it's worth noting that the new consoles probably won't be arriving before the Switch 2's price goes up in September. There's a $50 price hike in the U.S., bringing the console to $599, and a €30 price increase to €500 in the EU.

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Did you know that Nintendo has its own music streaming service? It first landed back in October 2024, and I completely forgot that it was ever a thing. But for those of you with an active Nintendo Online subscription, this service lets you listen to Nintendo soundtracks from throughout history. It saves you the trouble of looking for a YouTube playlist that hasn't been hit by a copyright strike yet.

I bring this up because Nintendo has just rolled out a bunch of updates to Nintendo Music. The first big change is that Nintendo has added web browser support to the service, which will let you listen through your desktop machine. A new tablet-optimized app should also offer a better quality big-screen experience, rather than contending with the stretched-out version of the phone app.

Perhaps most exciting is the fact that Nintendo has added support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This means you have better control over the app while you're driving, through your car's touchscreen display and via voice controls.

This means you can drive to work while bopping along to the Mario Kart soundtrack, or matching the weather with the appropriate tunes from Animal Crossing. You just have to remember that real life isn't like a video game, and it's not acceptable to start tossing banana peels at passing drivers simply because you don't want them to overtake you.

It's also probably not a good idea to get behind the wheel after eating a large portion of mushrooms. You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Sadly, the service is not free, and you will need an active subscription to Nintendo Switch Online if you want to take advantage of all the tracks Nintendo Music has to offer. You only need the basic subscription, which is $20 a year or $4 a month. That also comes with the ability to play games online, chat with friends, store saves in the cloud, and the ability to play classic games from the NES, SNES and Game Boy.

The $50 annual Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription also comes with all those perks, plus access to games on new systems and free expansion packs for certain games like Animal Crossing and Mario Kart 8.

This is also a good time to mention that the Nintendo Switch 2 price will be increasing later this year. From September 1, the cost of a Switch 2 console will be rising by $50 in the U.S., meaning you'll have to pay $499, and you won't even get any games bundled in with the system.

Thankfully, you still have plenty of time to pick up a Switch 2 before that happens. You can also take advantage of the new $499 "Choose Your Game" bundle, which lets you pick up a console with one of three games: Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, or Pokémon Pokopia. That saves you $20 to $30 on the cost of buying one of those games separately.

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Back in January, I declared Final Fantasy VII Remake the “new Switch 2 showcase,” and I stand by that statement. But Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which launches on Nintendo’s hybrid console this week (on June 3), is a different beast. It’s deeper and denser in every way, offering a sprawling open world, hundreds of quests and more iconic characters to meet.

Before getting my hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, I definitely had my doubts as to how Square Enix was going to cram this huge RPG into less powerful hardware than the PS5, where it initially released in 2024. Even more so because Rebirth had its share of performance and graphical woes on PlayStation’s flagship console.

After putting a handful of hours into Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on Switch 2, I’ve come away once again enthralled by this fantastic RPG and generally happy to recommend the version shortly releasing on Nintendo hardware. But with a few more caveats than I had when recommending Remake.

Here’s how FFVII Rebirth on Switch 2 compares to PS5 Pro

To set out my stall, my experience with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth so far has come with the Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode. I’m aware some of the graphical hiccups I’m going to highlight might be alleviated by playing on a TV, but the vast majority of my Switch 2 playtime is in handheld mode. Plus, I’d argue that being able to take FFVII Rebirth anywhere is the selling point of the Switch 2 port compared to playing on PS5, Xbox Series X or PC.

On initial boot-up, FFVII Rebirth started promisingly on Switch 2. There is a clear hit to image quality, with textures in the distance noticeably fuzzy compared to PS5 Pro (I replayed the intro on PS5 Pro beforehand to give me a fresh comparison point). But in the largely linear opening that represents the first couple of hours of play, Rebirth looks pretty good.

The real downgrades to get the game running on Switch 2 become more apparent as you guide Cloud and his allies out of the city of Migard and into the first open-world section, the Grasslands. Just standing on the cliffside looking out over the lush field, the differences in image quality are stark. This was a show-stopping moment on PS5 Pro, but on Switch 2, the blurry, jaggied textures surrounding the foliage are undeniably hard to ignore.

Pop-up becomes increasingly apparent in this section, as little patches of grass in the distance pop into existence as you get closer. Character models also lose detail at a distance. I advise against swinging the camera around to face your party when running around the open areas, but when you get up close, they look good. However, the fuzzy hair problem, which was also very noticeable in Resident Evil Requiem on Switch 2, is definitely apparent.

One area that doesn’t suffer too much is the frame rate. Yes, you have to settle for 30 fps rather than having 60 fps like on PS5, but this is a trade-off Nintendo players are used to making, and I noticed only sporadic drops. Personally, I would always exchange a more consistent frame rate for reduced image quality, so Square Enix made the right decision in my book.

A quick word on FFVII Rebirth as a game: it’s frickin' epic, and well suited to playing on Switch 2. If I had one criticism of the game back in 2024, it was that it was almost too big, with bloated side activities padding the runtime. However, on Switch 2, I welcome all these little distractions, as they can be tackled in shorter play sessions when on the move or traveling.

Should you buy FFVII Rebirth on Switch 2?

If you want the best-looking and performing version of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, then playing on Switch 2 obviously shouldn’t be your first choice. You’ll get the best visuals and frame rate on PS5, Xbox Series X, or one of the best gaming PCs. However, that’s a given. If you want the ability to play FFVII Rebirth anywhere, the Switch 2 version offers this USP, and while it does make sacrifices to get there, they’re not dealbreakers by any means.

Best of all, you don’t need to rely on my subjective judgement before committing your cash. Square Enix has released a pretty generously long demo on the Nintendo eShop, which allows you to check out FFVII Rebirth Switch 2 before you buy. And, as all good demos should, your progression will carry over into the main game. So there's no need to replay levels.

For the most part, I’ve been impressed with the quality of AAA ports on Switch 2, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth joins the list of blockbuster games that have found a new home (and new potential players) on Nintendo’s platform. I’ll be curious to see if the third and final chapter of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy lands on Switch 2 because if this series gets any bigger in scope, then the hybrid console might be tipped over its limits.

More from Tom's Guide

• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review
• I played Final Fantasy VII Remake on Switch 2, and it’s stunning
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For the past 20-odd years, I have loved easy, open-world gaming. Ever since getting my first Game Boy Color, to my beloved (and heavily used) Nintendo DS Lite, and to my current handheld console, a limited edition Animal Crossing-themed Nintendo Switch, I have always opted for fun, simple games with open-ended goals and low-stakes progression.

Enter the 2020s term 'cozy gaming' — which is essentially just that — low commitment games that ooze aesthetic visual appeal, satisfying mechanics (like fishing, foraging and in some cases, flying), and hours upon hours of stress-free entertainment.

Some of my favourite cozy games are ones I've continued to play in short bursts for years at this point — namely, Animal Crossing and Disney Dreamlight Valley — but I've also dabbled in newer entries over the past few months, including my current obsession, Tiny Bookshop. The name pretty much gives away the synopsis — you own a cutesy bookshop caravan in a seaside town, and you can customise almost everything about it.

If you're anything like me, you might be after a cozy game to try out. Whether it's to reinvigorate your love for gaming or you want a stress-free hobby to plug into every night, these 12 Amazon finds will provide that and more. Better yet, most of these games are available for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 or PlayStation consoles. So if you're after a new cozy game, scroll on to find my top-rated picks below.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a return to form for Mario’s beloved sidekick, but with plenty of interesting areas to explore and discoveries to make along the way. It ditches the 2.5D visuals and more realistic look of recent Yoshi games for a new 2D, stop-motion animation style that makes the whole game feel like a giant pop-up book.

I have fond memories of playing the original Yoshi’s Island growing up, and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book made me feel the same way with its side-scrolling, 2D gameplay. In fact, even after completing a chapter, I kept coming back to find creatures and discoveries I missed the first time around.

Even though this is Yoshi’s first official outing on the Nintendo Switch 2, the game runs well and plays great. Controlling Yoshi feels smooth throughout, even on busier, more complex levels. However, I was a bit thrown off the first time I saw a loading screen before a level started, and I had to wait longer than expected.

Still, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the perfect cozy game for fans of the series, especially since you don’t take damage or lose lives. Instead, exploration and discovery are the main focus, which is a nice twist on the classic Yoshi formula.

Is this book and the creatures you’ll discover within its pages worth a read, though? Find out in my full review.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book: The Basics

• What is it? Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a 2D puzzle-platformer that focuses on exploration and discovery as you investigate new creatures.
• Who is it for? Yoshi fans who want a return to the series’ 2D roots but with a discovery-focused twist.
• What’s the price? Yoshi and the Mysterious Book costs $59 for the digital version or $69 for the physical edition.
• What other games has the developer made? Yoshi and the Mysterious Book was developed by Good-Feel . In addition to other Yoshi games like Yoshi’s Crafted World and Yoshi’s Woolly World, they also made Kirby’s Epic Yarn and Princess Peach: Showtime!
• What games is it similar to? With its 2D design, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book feels a lot more like Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. However, the game’s core exploration and discovery mechanics are similar to Pokémon Snap and Scribblenauts.

New book, similar foes

As the name implies, one minute the Yoshis are enjoying their carefree existence on Yoshi’s Island, and the next, a strange talking book who calls himself Mr. E — read mystery — falls from the sky. Since he’s forgotten what’s inside his own pages, he tasks the Yoshis with exploring his various chapters and the mysterious creatures found in them.

It wouldn’t be a Yoshi game without Bowser’s resident wizard, Kamek, making an appearance, though. However, instead of traveling with Baby Bowser like in past games, this time around, it’s Bowser Jr. who joins him instead. This makes sense as Yoshi and the Mysterious Book takes place in the present-day Mario timeline, but it’s also a nice tie-in with the recent Super Mario Galaxy movie.

While most of the game is spent investigating the various creatures found within Mr. E’s pages, you do have several run-ins with Kamek and Bowser Jr. They were some of my favorite moments in the game, as each boss fight sees Yoshi battle a massive creature alongside this meddling pair.

Later boss fights change up this formula entirely, though, and instead of fighting Kamek and Bowser Jr., you spend an equal amount of time saving them from danger.

Turning the page

Gone are the photorealistic textures and objects of Yoshi’s Crafted World, and in their place, we’re met with watercolor-like visuals. The levels within each chapter look as if they’ve been hand-painted, and I really liked how the start and end of each level appear as if they haven’t been colored in yet. The game really leans into the fact that it takes place within a storybook, which works quite well.

Whether you’re exploring a forest, the seaside, or even underground, the chapters and various levels within them in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book are filled with color and life. The game looks just as great in handheld mode as it does on a 4K TV with HDR enabled, too.

When you’re done exploring a level, all of the discoveries you’ve made on the game’s various creatures are quickly jotted down inside Mr. E’s pages. Then, instead of having a classic picture-book-style look, your discoveries appear more like journal entries.

That theme continues once you unlock Mr. E’s Exploration Tools, which you get by turning in Smiley Flowers. For every five you hand in, you get a new exploration tool you can pin to your screen. From showing stats like Yoshi’s current speed to how many eggs you’re currently carrying, they help mix up the gameplay while allowing you to give the game your own custom look.

Overall, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a beautiful game with a simple yet timeless art style.

Gotta study ‘em all

Exploration and then discovery are at the core of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book’s gameplay. First, you explore a new chapter by interacting with a lone creature on the page. Once you’ve studied and named said creature, another one will be revealed, and you can then study it in the next level. That sense of discovery kept me hooked, especially as there isn’t a time limit or damage to worry about. Instead, I was free to take my time and explore each level at my own pace.

Since you’re helping Mr. E study the creatures in his pages, he takes detailed notes throughout each level. One creature might taste delicious while another has Yoshi recoiling after sticking out his tongue. All of this info, along with the way creatures interact with Yoshi, each other, and their environment, is recorded.

Given how the game pushes you to experiment in these open sandboxes rather than follow a straight path, the level layouts can occasionally get slightly confusing when you're hunting for that last interaction. However, you’re rewarded with stars for uncovering new things about each creature, and subsequent chapters require a certain number of them to be unlocked for you to progress.

For a 2D puzzle-platformer, there’s a lot of thought that goes into each level, and I really liked how my past discoveries influenced how I approached later levels. For instance, knowing how a particular creature reacts to water might be the difference between missing a discovery and uncovering one on another level.

As you learn about new creatures, the Index at the back of Mr. E’s book begins to fill up. You can revisit your findings along your journey, and eventually, the knowledge you’ve gained about the game’s various creatures comes back into play. Along the way, though, you’re running, jumping, and flying through the air with a new creature in Yoshi’s mouth or perched upon his back. Yoshi’s movements feel very responsive, and just making your way through each level as you uncover hidden rooms and areas is a whole lot of fun.

Just one more discovery

Although I’d recommend taking your time and completing Yoshi and the Mysterious Book at your own pace, the game’s sense of discovery and exploration kept me playing longer than I intended to each time I played. Seeing the overworld of each chapter come to life with new creatures quickly got addictive, as did finding new discoveries in each level along the way.

Being that this is a Yoshi game after all, it’s not overly difficult. Yes, you do need to earn a certain number of stars to unlock each new chapter. However, as I worked my way through the five main levels in each chapter, I uncovered enough discoveries that I never needed to backtrack just for stars. Instead, when I did backtrack, it was because I wanted to.

Once you unlock the next chapter, nothing’s stopping you from progressing. I don’t even think you necessarily have to complete each boss fight to do so. However, as I mentioned before, the boss fights are some of the best I’ve seen in a Yoshi game yet. Likewise, you do learn a bit more about the game’s story and what’s driving Kamek and Bowser Jr. to explore Mr. E’s pages when you do.

Even after completing a chapter, though, I found myself going back and looking for new creatures to study on Mr. E’s pages. Those extra levels were a lot of fun, and adding to the index feels a lot like building out your Pokedex in Pokémon. It was only towards the end of the game that I realized just how important the discoveries I made along the way actually were.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book review: Verdict

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a charming and surprisingly fun 2D puzzle-platformer. It makes excellent use of the Switch 2’s more powerful internals, even if those longer load times before each level did throw me off. The return to true 2D is a welcome change for the series, and I almost feel like Yoshi and the Mysterious Book reinvents the tried and true Yoshi formula in a similar way to Super Mario World.

If you’re looking for a more serious platformer where every dodge and jump counts, this game likely won’t be for you. However, if you want a return to Yoshi’s Island but with the freedom to explore and discover a whole host of unique and interesting creatures, then it’s an absolute must-play.

The analysts predicted it, and investors were calling for it, but now it's official. The price of the Nintendo Switch 2 is rising across the world, but the good news is that you have some time before those price hikes actually take effect.

This news has been confirmed following Nintendo's latest earnings briefing, and speculation that Nintendo would follow in the footsteps of rivals Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo revealed the new prices for various regions, including a $50 price hike for Switch 2 consoles sold in the U.S.

So, from September 1, you'll be paying $499 for a Switch 2 instead of the original launch price of $449.

Nintendo Switch 2 price hikes around the world

The U.S. isn't the only region affected by these price hikes, so you can be safe in the knowledge that Nintendo isn't explicitly targeting U.S. consumers. Prices in Canada are rising by $50 (CAD) to $680, while European buyers are getting a €30 to €500. Meanwhile, Australians will be paying AU$769.95 — a AU$70 increase on its price at launch. Like the U.S., those changes come into effect on September 1.

U.K. price hikes haven't been confirmed, but I would be surprised if a price hike wasn't also coming. The current cost of a Switch 2 is £396 for the console by itself, but I can realistically see the price rising to somewhere between £430 and £450. However, we'll have to wait and see what happens in the coming days.

Japanese buyers don't have so long to enjoy the original Switch 2 price, since the price hike will take effect on May 25, and will affect multiple consoles. The Japanese-language Switch 2 price is rising by ¥10,000 to ¥59,980 (~$382), but the multi-language system price is confirmed to be staying at ¥69,980 (~$446).

Japanese buyers will also have to pay more for the first-generation Switch models The OLED model is rising by ¥10,000 to ¥47,980, while the standard Switch is going to be ¥43,980 — an increase of ¥11,002. The Switch Lite will be ¥29,980, an increase of ¥8,002.

Nintendo has also confirmed price hikes for Switch Online memberships in Japan, and that there are plans for a "price revision" in South Korea. Nothing has been mentioned about other regions, but that's something people should be mindful of if they're thinking of letting their Switch Online subscriptions lapse.

Nintendo Switch 2 price hikes: What this means for you

While none of us ever want the price of our gadgets and consoles to rise, especially so soon after release day, most of us saw this coming. There have been rumors surrounding a Switch 2 price hike for several months, and while Nintendo has stayed silent on the topic, global events mean that some sort of increase was inevitable.

Production costs have been rising across the board, exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing RAMageddon memory shortages. It's reportedly got to the point where Nintendo is selling Switch 2 consoles at a loss, something it always avoided with the original Switch, and investors are apparently unhappy about that.

The fact that Nintendo is giving almost four months' notice about the price hike means there is still plenty of time to pick up the Switch 2 at its original price. In fact, it almost feels like an intentional decision to help push sales over the next few months.

So if you've been on the fence about picking up the hybrid console, now is the time to buy. Because odds are that other people will be having the same thoughts you are, and you don't want to be left out because a spike in demand caused shortages of the lower-priced stock.

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• I love the Nintendo Switch 2 but I’m not a big fan of the Joy-Cons — here are the controllers I recommend instead
• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream gave me the island life Animal Crossing couldn’t — and a reason to play my Switch 2 every day

If you thought the Nintendo Switch 2 was already quite expensive, then you're probably not alone. Sadly, it seems that Nintendo's investors don't agree with customers. In fact, according to a report from Bloomberg, investors aren't happy that Nintendo isn't charging more for its latest console.

According to the report, Nintendo's stock price is still on the decline, sinking below its rival Sony. This is despite the fact that Nintendo is seemingly doing better than Sony, thanks to a slew of successful game releases, and data showing that the Switch 2 is apparently selling faster than any other games console in history.

It may be because Sony has been very willing to raise the price of the PS5, while the Switch has stuck with the same $450 price tag it debuted with last year. Apparently, investors are concerned that this price tag is unprofitable, especially in the wake of supply chain shortages and the continually rising cost of production.

Some analysts believe that Nintendo's stock price will continue to struggle without a price increase. Others believe that increasing the cost of the Switch 2 hardware will only alienate consumers, which is a risky move with the rising cost of living. If people are struggling to pay for basics, they're not going to pay out for pricey consoles and video games

So what happens now?

I'm firmly in the camp of keeping prices low because of the cost-of-living crisis. When existence gets too expensive to keep up with, there's very little room left for buying new video games regularly. That's doubly important when you remember that the best Nintendo Switch 2 games are quite expensive and rarely go on sale.

Bloomberg notes that game consoles are typically sold at a loss, with the games helping to subsidize the hardware gamers need to play them. That's why console games were always, historically, more expensive than PC games. The original Switch bucked that trend, and it sounds like investors would prefer it if the Switch 2 followed that same example.

Naturally, Nintendo needs to make the same calculations as all electronics companies right now. Either it keeps prices the same, to try and encourage people to buy consoles, or it raises them to boost its own margins at the risk of future sales.

With Nintendo's next earnings briefing happening on Friday, this is something that the company may have to discuss. The question of whether the price will actually change or not isn't something we can predict, so we'll be paying very close attention to what Nintendo has to say during the briefing.

In the end, it'll all come down to what Nintendo sees as more important right now: stock price, or ensuring continued consumer confidence?

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ChatGPT Tasks has quickly become one of my favorite features from OpenAI. From a productivity standpoint, it has worked as a reliable daily reminder system for work tasks, pushed me to find more creative ways to use AI tools and even helped me build practical nightly routines to protect my mental health after each workday. After seeing how effective Tasks could be in my professional life, I started wondering what other parts of my routine could benefit from the same kind of automated help.

That led me to gaming. My video game fandom knows no bounds. I bounce between genres and love both AAA blockbusters and indie gems. As the owner of a PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S and a Switch, with plans to grab a Switch 2 once Splatoon Raiders launches in July , I’m always hunting for the best prices on games I want to add to my growing collection (or backlog).

So I decided to use ChatGPT Tasks to do the searching for me. By setting up daily reminders focused on game discounts, I ended up finding three deals that were actually worth jumping on.

Finding the right prompts to find the right deals

To get the process underway, I initially asked ChatGPT for help on coming up with the right prompts that I could then turn into daily Tasks. These are the seven best ones that it generated for me to use, based on its memory of my past video game-themed questions and requests:

• The 'Only Tell Me When It’s Cheap' tracker: Check daily at [time] for discounts on [names of games]. Only notify me if any drop below $30. Include platform, current price, and percentage discount.
• The 'Best Deals' digest: Every [day] at [time], send me a roundup of the 10 best video game deals across the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo eShop. Prioritize discounts of 50% or more and include links and prices.
• The wishlist watcher: Every [part of the day or evening] at [time], check for discounts on the following games: [insert your wishlist]. Notify me only if any are discounted by at least 40%. Include original price, sale price, and store.
• The 'Historical Low' finder: Check every [day] at [time] if any major video games (AAA titles from the last [number of years]) have reached or matched their historical lowest price. Notify me with the game name, platform, current price, and previous low.
• The platform-specific deal sniper: Every [day] at [time], check for PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo eShop discounts on top-rated games with a Metacritic score of 85+. Only notify me if they are discounted by at least 50%.
• The flash sale catcher: Check every 6 hours for limited-time or flash sales on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo eShop. Notify me immediately if any popular or trending games are discounted by 60% or more.
• The genre-based deal finder: Every [day] at [time], find the best deals on [genres] games across all platforms. Only include games rated 80+ and discounted by at least 40%. Provide a short description for each.

After taking note of these seven usable prompts, I told Tasks to work with the Weekly “Best Deals” Digest, Platform-Specific Deal Sniper and Genre-Based Deal Finder. For the three prompts I chose, I set them for Fridays at their respective times of 5 pm, 5:15 pm and 5:25 pm.

The three biggest discounts that caught my eye

This past Friday, ChatGPT alerted me to three deals I likely never would have spotted on my own. Better yet, each discount was tied to a game I had already planned to buy once the price was right.

One prompt flagged Dark Souls Remastered on the PlayStation Store for $19.99 (down from $39.99) and INSIDE on the Microsoft Store for $3.74 (down from $24.99). Another let me know the Metro Saga Bundle, which includes all three Metro games plus the DLC for Metro Exodus, had dropped from $59.99 to just $5.99. My third prompt highlighted the FighterZ Edition of Dragon Ball FighterZ for PS5 on the PlayStation Store, discounted from $89.99 to $14.39.

What I appreciated most was that each Task included the exact details I had asked for, including the discount percentage, Metacritic scores and a quick explanation of why each deal was worth considering.

Final thoughts

With me being in the mood to finally check out an old-school “Soulslike” experience, get immersed in the unnerving vibes of a highly-rated puzzle-platformer, finally experience the Metro series before its latest entry (Metro 2039) launches and pick up the PS5 version of one my favorite fighters to try out its latest DLC character, Tasks worked like a charm in finding me the best deals for those assorted gaming experiences.

Tasks isn’t just great at generating reminders for birthdays and work-related events—it’s also amazing at bringing you up to speed on can’t-miss deals on your favorite things. In my case, it helped me find the best discounts on games that had been in my crosshairs for years now.

More from Tom’s Guide

• 10 ChatGPT prompts to decode someone's personality in seconds
• I turned off Gemini Personal Intelligence for a week — and I’m not going back
• I applied Tim Cook’s ‘Simplicity Rule’ to my ChatGPT prompts — and it became a masterclass in creativity

Playing Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream for the past few weeks has made me feel as if I’m right back in the spring of 2020. Except this time, instead of being in debt to Tom Nook hunting for gold nuggets, my island is actually thriving. And the best part, I barely had to do a thing.

I too picked up Animal Crossing: New Horizons on release day but, unlike with my wife who’s sunk hundreds of hours into the game, it just didn’t come naturally to me. While she crafted with glee and had new residents moving in almost every day, I struggled with what to do next. Sure, I loved the game’s graphics and art style and watched her play for longer than I’d like to admit, but I just couldn’t make that island my home.

With the latest entry in Nintendo's Tomodachi series though, I’m picking up my Switch 2 on a daily basis just to see what happened on my island while I was away. I didn’t play the original Tomodachi Life on 3DS either, so I’ve gone into this new island-building experience blind and I’m glad I did.

Whether or not Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream will help scratch that itch you didn’t know you had too is entirely up to you. For me though, it’s been one of the best Nintendo Switch games yet and an entirely new experience that only Nintendo could deliver.

From chores to chaos

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is entirely what you make of it, for better or worse. Instead of waiting for residents to randomly move onto your island, you’re creating them from scratch — the same way you designed Miis on the Wii. From their facial features to their names and even the specific pitch of their voice, every choice is in your hands the moment you boot up the game.

Rather than hitting trees to knock branches loose for crafting, Living the Dream rewards you with cold, hard cash just for checking in on your Miis. You start with a single resident, but as the game opens up, you’re able to add more and more of them to your island. From there, you spend your earnings at local stores to buy food, clothes, and items to give to your Miis, with the end goal of improving their happiness — and, as a result, the happiness of the entire island.

It’s fun, and unlike with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, I haven’t felt stuck or unsure of what to craft next. As an outside observer rather than just another resident, the game provides subtle suggestions in the form of floating bubbles above my Miis' heads, nudging me to check in.

Beyond the lack of resource gathering, I really came to appreciate the "point and click" nature of the experience. I didn’t have to run across my island to get to a different store or a Mii’s house; in lieu of 3D traversal, I could move my pointing finger across the map to instantly check up on things. However, even when I didn’t, life kept on going.

The ants go marching

When I came back to my island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons after not playing for some time, life went on without me — but not in a good way. Instead of returning to a thriving community, I’d find a town overgrown with weeds and a carefully crafted home infested with cockroaches. In Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Though you still get more done while actively playing, your island keeps moving even when you’re away. Your Miis develop new relationships, get into altercations with one another, and your island even physically changes with the passage of time. It’s a rewarding reason to boot up the game at various hours of the day just to see how the island's mood has shifted.

For instance, after loading back into the game, I found a few of my Miis sitting in the grass, talking amongst themselves with no interaction on my part. This prompted me to zoom in and find out what they were discussing; like with a lot of the game’s dialogue, the discovery gave me a genuine chuckle.

Over time, your island develops its own lingo. Beyond seeing your ideas for new residents come to life, entering your own custom answers is a huge part of the fun.

After making myself and my wife, I created two Miis based on our dogs. The newest addition to our pack, Zelda, recently broke her toe. Since my wife is always stubbing hers, I decided to have the two talk about “hurting our toes.” To my surprise, it was a hit topic. Other Miis on the island wanted in on the action and, instead of being painful like in real life, everyone seemed to get a kick out of it (no pun intended).

I have to admit, seeing my realistic, virtual hands floating above the island was a bit disconcerting at first. However, once I got used to the idea of being an outside observer with a hands-on approach, it became a lot of fun. I didn't have to wait for my Miis to cross paths; I could literally reach into the scene, pluck a resident off the ground, and drag them across the island to hang out with a potential friend.

Watching my Miis dangling from my hand like pieces on a chessboard hasn’t lost its appeal yet. It’s even better when you pluck a Mii out of their house and drop them into someone else’s home in the middle of the night. On that note, with my busy schedule, I mostly played late at night—but even with half the island sleeping soundly, there were always things to do.

Just like actual people, Miis get lost in their thoughts, experience a ‘fuzzy’ brain when overwhelmed, or fall down and need help getting back up. Poking one of my Miis with my virtual hands while my real ones moved the joysticks on my Switch 2 Pro Controller instantly made me like the game a whole lot more. It wasn’t until later that I realized a hands-off approach could be just as rewarding, and that I could also send another Mii to check on a struggling friend in my stead.

Hearing your Miis say the names of other residents or discuss custom topics you’ve added — combined with this high level of interaction — is what really won me over. While Living the Dream can be cute, it’s the sheer wackiness of it all that kept me coming back night after night to check on my island and its completely customized populace.

My daily dose of disorder

Whether or not Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream will be as good a fit for you as it’s been for me is easy to find out. Unlike with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there’s a playable demo you can download right now from the eShop. While you could watch gameplay videos on YouTube, I wouldn’t recommend it; this is an experience that needs to be felt first-hand.

You’re not constrained by waiting for specific residents to show up, either. Instead, it’s entirely up to you to create and name them. If you’re worried about getting lost in the Mii Maker, don't be — you can simply answer a few questions and the game will generate a custom resident for you on the spot. Looking back, if I had known just how hooked I’d get, I might have planned out my island’s population a bit more before getting started. Then again, that’s half the fun with a game like this.

I started by making myself and my family, and I just kept going from there. Since I usually play at night after everyone has gone to bed, it’s been a blast showing my son the highlights the next morning. Even with our actual dogs, Mario and Zelda, sitting right there on the couch with us, he still got a huge kick out of seeing their digital counterparts becoming best friends on the TV.

Although I’ve been playing for weeks now, my total play time isn’t as high as I expected it to be. I attribute this to just how much you can get done in a short amount of time, which makes this the perfect game to check in on every day. It’s high-density fun that doesn’t demand your entire afternoon.

I know I’ve only scratched the surface, but without Tom Nook breathing down my neck for his next payment, I can’t wait to boot up my Switch 2 tomorrow to see exactly what’s changed while I was gone.

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"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" sees Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and the rest of the Mushroom Kingdom lot back on the big screen for what's already shaping up to be another blockbuster video game adaptation.

Nintendo and Illumination's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" was one of the biggest movies of 2023 — it made over $1.3 billion and was second only to Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" movie at the box office — and the newly-released sequel's already gotten off to an impressive start.

Although it's landed less-than-stellar reviews from critics, moviegoers of all ages are clearly in the mood for more frenetic, colorful action from Mario and co., as "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" had the biggest box office opening of 2026 so far. At the time of writing, it's brought in over $372 million worldwide since it hit theaters on April 1.

With all that said, it might be a little while before you can watch Mario's second big-screen adventure at home, but that won't stop me from trying to predict when the sequel will be available digitally. You can find my best guess at a potential "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" streaming date below.

When is 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' coming to streaming?

At the time of writing, the only way to watch "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" is by heading to your nearest movie theater. The film only hit the big screen on April 1, so it probably won't be streaming for several weeks.

The first place you'll be able to watch "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" at home will be via Premium Video-on-Demand (PVOD) storefronts like Prime Video or Apple TV.

Right now, I'd guess that "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" will be available to buy or rent digitally on or around Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

That guess is based on several factors, including the fact that new PVOD releases typically drop on Tuesdays, plus Universal Studios' recent commitment to a minimum five-weekend theatrical run for its new releases (which will extend to a minimum of seven weekends in 2027).

Five weekends after release would take us up to Monday, May 4, which would be 34 days after the movie first premiered in theaters. And since that's not too dissimilar from the wait for some of Universal's recent releases — "Wicked: For Good" took 40 days to come to PVOD, and the live-action "How To Train Your Dragon" took 32 days, for example — it seems like a decent enough prediction, until we hear anything different.

If you'd prefer to wait for "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" to come to streaming, the first place it'll presumably be available is on Peacock, as that's where Universal's movies stream first.

Currently, my best guess is that "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" will stream on Peacock in August 2025.

Again, that prediction's based on the fact that we wait roughly 3 to 4 months for Universal Pictures movies to come to Peacock. Case in point, "Wicked: For Good," "How to Train Your Dragon," and "Five Nights at Freddy's 2" all arrived on Peacock 120 days after their theatrical release.

If we assume the "Mario" sequel will follow that pattern, 120 days after April 1 brings us to Thursday, July 20, 2026, hence my August 2026 guess.

Of course, it pays to remember that all of this is my own speculation, and nothing official has been shared by Universal just yet. As soon as we get more info or a confirmed streaming date for "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," we'll be sure to update this article, so keep checking back.

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Upgrading to the Nintendo Switch 2 finally let me play all of the best Nintendo Switch games in crisp 4K along with a ton of great new releases like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby Air Riders. However, there was just one problem: I now only had one dock.

Don’t get me wrong, playing the Switch 2 in handheld mode or even with a pair of AR glasses is fantastic. However, when possible, I like to play on a larger display, whether that be the TV in my game room or on my 32-inch monitor at my desk.

Over the original Switch’s lifespan, I ended up with several official docks from Nintendo and quite a few unofficial ones from Genki. Besides its absolutely tiny size, what I love about the Genki Covert Dock Mini is how I can play my Switch on a TV or monitor with just a single USB-C cable. Likewise, as it wasn’t one of the first unofficial Switch docks, I wasn’t worried about bricking my console when using it.

I’ve been waiting for almost a year now, but Genki finally released the latest version of its Covert Dock for the Switch 2. After using it for a month now, it’s certainly lived up to the hype as just like with the original, I can dock my Switch using a single cable. However, while testing it out, I realized it actually beats the official Nintendo Switch 2 Dock in one big way that makes it perfect for households with multiple Switch consoles and even PC handhelds like the Steam Deck.

Now with more power (and personality)

Right off the bat, Genki’s new Covert Dock 3 immediately stands out thanks to its atomic orange accents. It features a similar design to the company’s previous Covert Dock and unlike the Mini, you also get a USB-A port for connecting wired controllers, USB adapters and other accessories.

In the box, you get the dock itself along with a braided USB-C to USB-C cable. However, this new cable is rated for up to 65W of power output (as is the dock itself) whereas the previous one topped off at 45W. This is one of my favorite USB-C cables overall and I also like to use it when connecting a portable monitor to my laptop or PC too.

On the front of the Covert Dock 3, you have easy access to all of its ports. The USB-C one at the top is used for connecting your Switch 2, Asus ROG Xbox Ally X or any of the best handheld gaming consoles for that matter. At the same time, you can also connect your smartphone or your laptop which comes in handy when traveling, especially if you want to watch YouTube or Netflix on the TV in your hotel room from your own devices.

The HDMI 2.1 port underneath the USB-C one connects to your TV or monitor and like I mentioned, the USB-A port on the bottom is for connecting extra wired accessories or for 2.4 GHz USB dongles when you don’t want to use Bluetooth.

Then around back, the Covert Dock 3’s plug folds out to make the 2.4 x 1.7 x 1.3-inch dock even more compact. Another nice touch for international travelers is that Genki also sells a set of Covert Dock Global adapters that slide on in the back so you don’t have to worry about plugging the device into a separate universal travel adapter. With the Covert Dock 2, Genki included these adapters in the box but now they’re only available as an optional add-on for $10 which isn’t that expensive if you plan on using this dock abroad.

Finally, a one-cable Switch 2 dock that works

To get the Covert Dock 3 set up, I plugged it into the outlet under my TV, connected it to an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable and ran the included USB-C to USB-C cable up to my entertainment center. One other nice thing about that braided cable is that the end you plug into the dock is straight while the one you plug into your Switch 2 or other devices is angled to prevent any unnecessary strain on your device’s USB-C port.

With that done, I turned on my TV, booted up my Switch 2 and much to my surprise, everything worked on the first try. To test it out, I played a bit of the recently released Super Mario Galaxy as well as the new Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder. When I checked my TV’s settings, my Switch 2 games were running in 4K at a smooth 60Hz with HDR enabled.

Now I’ve been meaning to upgrade to one of the best TVs with a higher refresh rate for a while now. Once I do though, on more powerful devices like a high-specced gaming laptop, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 or the ROG Xbox Ally X, you can actually push the Genki Covert Dock 3 all the way up to 4K at 120Hz. It also officially supports VRR or Variable Refresh Rate so you can enable AMD’s FreeSync or Nvidia’s G-Sync for incredibly smooth, tear-free gameplay.

As I’m the early adopter at home, I upgraded to the Switch 2 on launch day but my wife is still playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons on her original Switch. Previously, I had the official Switch 2 dock set up for myself and a Genki Covert Dock Mini set up alongside it for when she wanted to play her Switch on the big screen. Now though, I only need one dock for both Switch consoles because when I plugged my wife’s Switch into the Covert Dock 3, it worked perfectly.

A truly covert Switch 2 dock

Since I first set up my Switch 2 after picking one up at a midnight launch, I’ve been eagerly awaiting Genki’s next third-party dock. I did have to wait nine months to get my hands on it but it’s delivered and even exceeded my expectations thanks to the fact that it still works with the original Switch.

Unlike Nintendo’s official Switch 2 Dock which launched at $90 and recently went up in price to $124, the Genki Covert Dock 3 now looks like a steal at $69 without those optional global adapters. If you want to play on an iPad or even your laptop’s screen and be able to stream your game sessions, Genki also recently released its new ShadowCast 3 Pro capture card too.

One of my favorite things about the Switch and now the Switch 2 is being able to bring the console from room to room or even house to house and still be able to play on a larger display. I considered picking up a second official dock at launch just to do this but since I knew Genki definitely had a new dock in the works, I decided to wait and I’m glad I did.

While I haven’t travelled with it yet, I’m definitely packing my new Covert Dock 3 when we head out on our family trip this summer. From Computex in Taiwan to CES in Las Vegas, Genki’s previous docks have been a mainstay in my tech travel bag for years now. Here’s hoping Genki follows up this release with a new smaller and hopefully, slightly cheaper Covert Dock Mini 2 with Switch 2 support later on.

For now though, I plan to use the official Switch 2 Dock at my desk where I’m the only one playing and keep the Covert Dock 3 plugged in underneath my TV so both myself and my wife or anyone that stops by with a Steam Deck can play on the big screen with it too.

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What a year for Pokémon, eh? I never thought I'd say that in the big 2026. As someone who loved the anime growing up and watched every episode religiously at 5PM when it aired, and had many figurines as a child, my love from Pokémon can't be overstated. So imagine my surprise when Nintendo announced Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch family of consoles.

Of course, that wasn't the only important Pocket Monsters game to arrive on the Switch in 2026. Who would have thought that Pokémon Pokopia would be so popular that most retailers ran out of physical stock during launch week? Not me, but then again, I've never been a fan of cozy games. And no, I don't care for Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley.

But I'm not afraid to be proven wrong, and I finally get the hype behind cozy games, because after 150 hours spent trying to create the perfect island in Pokopia, I'm a believer. Pokopia is packed with over 300 Pokémon with individual personalities, quirky and funny dialogues that make you love them even more. I see it when I close my eyes, I think about it when I wake up. Call the 90s because I'm officially back in my Pokémon phase.

Giving my Pokémon the best lives they deserve

Similar to Animal Crossing and The Sims, Pokémon Pokopia is a social simulation game where you build houses and do whatever you want to the different landscapes. You play as a Ditto disguised as their trainer, and there are four different areas to explore which you unlock as part of the story. Along the way, you make habitats to attract different Pokémon, and unlock abilities that make it easier to make your islands better than how you find them (there's trash everywhere, plants are dead because they haven't been watered, etc.).

All the abilities you gain help you transform the landscape and make it look pretty — or brutalist, depending on the style you like. Your goal is simple: make habitats for your Pokémon, raise their comfort levels by asking them what they want, and increase each area's environment level to unlock new items, including furniture and decorations. Because all the Pokémon you encounter have their own personalities (more on this shortly), you want to give them the best life possible, and that's been my aim since I started playing the game.

While people online have been going crazy with builds (and I am envious), I've gone for a "Pokémon living in the wild, in the grass and amongst nature, but comfortably" kinda look for my islands. I've created tree-shaded habitats, installed campfires, built leafy statues, and... built a hot spring spa! My Pokémon seem to enjoy it too as, more often than not, that's where they're hanging out.

But I'm not done yet. I want to do so much more with my islands and the possibilities are truly endless. I'm currently planning on building a gazebo at the top of a hill with toys, decorations, lovely lighting, and comfy seats where my Pokémon can relax and unwind (after a day of making me 99 bricks and 99 gold ingots). Pokopia has a strange hold on me where it feels like an addiction. It's all I think about when I wake up or even as I fall asleep — I'm mapping out my islands and builds as I drift off.

Some of the best dialogue I've ever seen

Pokémon Pokopia wouldn't be what it is if it wasn't for the impeccable writing — and I'm not just talking about the main story. I won't be discussing the main story here to avoid spoilers, so instead, I'd like to talk about the dialogue. The developers were clearly looking to appeal to Gen Z and millennials who grew up watching Pokémon with the dialogue, as most of the Pocket Monsters love saying, "Yo!" I wasn't expecting that, if I'm honest, and it caught me off-guard when I first started playing. I also couldn't stop laughing when a certain legendary shows up and has... a Southern accent?

Even if you haven't played Pokopia (you really need to), you've probably seen many memes making the rounds online, and one of the most famous ones is of Charmander saying, "I... I frew up." Now, Charmander is one of my favorite Pokémon (he's always my starter) so I really wanted to get this dialogue. I hate to break it to you, but he never frew up. Instead, he says, "I... I tripped." While not as funny as the meme-ified version, it still cracks me up as he pulls a face like he's been kicked.

The dialogue is equal parts funny and heartbreaking, and remains true to the lore. From Lapras hinting at traveling the seas with Ash on its back to Cubone saying, "Mom prob'ly woulda liked a place like this too," there's plenty of nostalgia to be enjoyed by those, such as myself, who grew up with the Pokémon anime. Also, as someone who's favorite evolution is Pidgeot, I was brought to tears when mine told me that it loved me to pieces.

But I have one issue with Pokopia

By now, it should be clear that I absolutely adore Pokémon Pokopia, and there are very few things I'd change about it. But there's one aspect of the game that I find myself complaining about a fair bit, nearly every time I boot up the game, and that's the inventory management system. When you start, your backpack has limited space for items you pick up and craft. But as you progress through the game, rebuild Poké Centres and increase your trainer rank, you can buy "Packing Tips" from the PC at different points in your adventure.

"Packing Tips" essentially increase the number of items you can carry in your backpack, and I highly recommend buying these items if you find yourself complaining about space in your bag. But even so, it's easy to run out of space in your bag, and I find myself either dropping items in the overworld or stashing them away in storage boxes. But I have storage boxes all over the place, in all the regions. Do I remember where I put the seaweed? Nope. Do I remember which storage box has my 20 iron ingots that I now need to build this house? Nope!

There's no central storage management system. It's not like you can check the PC to see which storage box includes what item, and I so desperately wish there was as it would make the game much easier to play (and more enjoyable than it already is). I know people online have been getting creative with their own storage solutions, but I just want a central, easily accessible storage system, and I don't think that's a lot to ask for. I hope, fingers and toes crossed, that Nintendo puts out a patch to introduce it.

Regardless, Pokopia is still heaps of fun, and while the storage system isn't perfect, it hasn't stopped me from enjoying the game to its fullest. The writing is sublime; terraforming and building is effortless once you unlock all the abilities; and the peaceful soundtrack adds to the game's overall cozy appeal. I love how the areas bustle with life once Pokémon start spawning, and the way the Pokémon interact with one another either via dialogue or by playing together.

Though I don't like all cozy games, I understand the hype now. I'm a skeptic no more, and I've got my love for Pokémon to thank for that. After nearly 200 hours in, it has quickly become not only one of my favorite Pokémon games, but one of my favorite games full stop.

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One of my favorite things about upgrading to the Nintendo Switch 2 so far is being able to go back and experience original Switch games in a whole new way. From smoother framerates and upgraded 4K graphics to entirely new ways to play, there’s never been a better time to revisit the best Nintendo Switch games — and that’s certainly the case with Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

I have fond memories of playing the game when it first came out thanks to the more colorful direction Nintendo took with 2D Mario. The Talking Flowers made me chuckle every time I ran by one, the badges added new abilities to Mario’s arsenal, and best of all, the Wonder Flowers completely transformed a level each time you found one.

In my Super Mario Bros. Wonder review, I praised the game’s fresh take on the 2D Mario formula. However, it felt a bit on the short side, and the original Switch didn't always do the game’s impressive visuals justice. Fortunately, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder and the new "Meetup in Bellabel Park" expansion address those minor gripes.

Whether you played the original and enjoyed it as much as I did or this is your first time stepping into the Flower Kingdom, it’s a must-play for 2D Mario fans. On the Switch 2, it feels more like a Director’s Cut than just another upgrade.

Now with more Wonder

With a total of 152 different levels across seven worlds (and a bonus one), there’s already quite a lot to do in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, especially when you factor in Wonder Flowers and how they change each level or even Mario himself. It took me about 12 hours to see the credits roll, though I did miss a few Wonder Seeds here and there.

Now with the Switch 2 Edition of the game and the new Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion, you get a chance to revisit those seven worlds and explore an entirely new one. While the game and its unique art style certainly stood out on the original Switch, it absolutely shines on the Switch 2.

Right off the bat, the jump from 1080p to 4K makes a massive difference. At that higher resolution, all of the details baked into each level really pop and gameplay just feels faster with a rock-solid 60fps. Likewise, levels load even faster and it takes even less time to jump back into the action.

The badges were one of my favorite parts of Super Mario Bros. Wonder when I first played it as they grant unique abilities and perks or can even instantly increase the game’s difficulty.

Now with the Switch 2 Edition, you can still equip any of the 24 badges from the original but there are also new, dual badges that grant the effect of two badges at once. For instance, one of them pairs my all time favorite badge, the Parachute Cap, with a Floating High Jump one. When equipped, it lets you glide through the air using Mario’s cap or hang in the air after a jump in a similar way to Yoshi’s signature flutter jump.

You aren’t just getting new dual badges though, as there’s also a brand new Flower Pot power-up. As the name suggests, just like with the Cat power-up in Bowser’s Fury, this one lets Mario don a flower costume while gaining some useful new moves. In flower mode, Mario can throw flowers that rise upward to either break items or take out enemies. Using this new power-up is a lot of fun and I’d even argue that it feels a bit better than transforming into Elephant Mario in the original.

Catching Koopalings

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder doesn’t just add visual and mechanical upgrades to an already excellent 2D Mario game. In fact, there’s a whole new area to explore and a story that sees you transform the abandoned Bellabel Park into a flower-filled getaway for up to four players locally or 12 online.

After learning of the Bellabel Park ruins discovered by Captain Toad, Mario and the gang set out to see the site for themselves. Before you can reach Attraction Central — the hub for the game's competitive modes — you have to pass through Camp Central. At its heart stands a grand arch where seven magical Bellabel Flowers once hung. Unfortunately, Bowser’s elite minions, the Koopalings, arrive and make off with every single one of them.

To get them back, you team up with Captain Toad and the Toad Brigade. What I really liked about this quest is that it scatters the Koopalings across the game’s seven main worlds. Finding and defeating them one by one gave me serious Super Mario Bros. 3 vibes, albeit with a modern, more stylized twist that looks stunning in 4K.

Joining the Brigade

Your time in Bellabel Park isn’t just spent hunting for clues to the next Koopaling's whereabouts. To sharpen your skills and earn some coveted Bellabel Water, Mario officially joins the Toad Brigade right at the start of the expansion.

Much like the search for the Koopalings, the Toad Brigade’s training exercises take you back to various levels throughout the game. While the early tasks are simple, some of the higher-difficulty training courses can be quite challenging, serving as a clever way to push you into mastering badges from the main game that you might have overlooked in 2023.

During my playthrough, I found that tackling a few training courses between each Koopaling boss fight was the perfect way to mix things up. Not only are they a blast to play, but they’re also the key to restoring Bellabel Park to its former glory. As you earn badges for your Toad Brigade backpack and collect Bellabel Water along the way, you can literally see the park blooming back to life around you.

Getting the band back together

The Talking Flowers were one of my favorite additions to Super Mario Bros. Wonder as they provide humorous commentary and make the game a bit more fun. However, these flowers can also encourage you to keep going when things get tough, while their red variants will actively discourage you — which can be pretty funny.

Flowers play a big role in Meetup in Bellabel Park, too. Throughout the Camp Central area and Attraction Central, there are plots of land that need to be watered. Pouring Bellabel Water on these spots causes new flowers to bloom. There are loads of different flowers to collect which you can use to customize both areas to your liking, but sometimes when you water several at once, you’ll unlock social greetings or even musical instruments.

As you collect more instruments, new members are added to the Poplin Band in Bellabel Park. In my experience, I mainly got new flowers or greetings when watering plots of land, but every now and then, I’d get an instrument instead. There’s a bit of a "gacha" mechanic here, but the gameplay loop of completing challenges, watering the ground, and having a chance to get a new musical instrument is pretty addictive.

I’ve played the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for an additional eight or so hours so far, and while I have managed to defeat all the Koopalings, I’m still a few members short of a full Poplin Band. Granted, I mainly played the expansion on my own, but by playing local co-op with friends or heading online, it’ll be a lot easier to earn the Bellabel Water needed to fill out the band and finally see the credits roll.

Flowers, flowers everywhere

The original Super Mario Bros. Wonder was easily one of the best Nintendo Switch games when it first came out. However, as that was well into the original hybrid console’s lifespan, I bet a lot of people skipped out on the game at the time which is a real shame given the breath of fresh air Nintendo added to the classic 2D Mario formula.

Now though with the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and the new Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion, Super Mario Bros. Wonder truly feels complete. Like with a Director’s Cut of your favorite film, you get to revisit the Flower Kingdom in crisp 4K with shorter load times to boot. And without giving too much away, the Koopaling boss fights are reason enough to pick up the expansion given how well designed and fun those extra levels are.

Just like how the Bowser’s Fury expansion takes Super Mario 3D World in a completely new direction, so too does Super Mario Bros. Wonder for 2D Mario. Whether you grew up playing the original Mario games or are just looking for your next local multiplayer fix, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has never looked nor played better than it does on the Switch 2.

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Nintendo Switch 2’s latest system update introduces a surprising but very welcome new feature: Handheld Mode Boost. And trust me, you’ll want to make use of it.

Admittedly, the name is a little clunky, but when enabled, it allows your Switch 2 to run compatible Nintendo Switch 1 games as if they were in “TV Mode.” Still confused? Essentially, the Switch 2’s extra power is used to boost the visual resolution of Switch 1 titles when played in Handheld Mode. This means you can play these games at 1080p, a noticeable upgrade from the original Switch’s 720p handheld standard.

This is a pretty significant upgrade, and it’s available for free to all Switch 2 owners via a system update. If you want to make use of this new feature, here’s how to enable it in just a matter of seconds.

How to use Handheld Mode Boost on Switch 2

Are there downsides to enabling Handheld Mode Boost on Switch 2?

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and there’s also no such thing as a Switch 2 performance upgrade without at least a few sacrifices. While Handheld Mode Boost will make Switch 1 games look better than ever when playing in portable mode, there are a few downsides.

Firstly, Nintendo states that the feature “may also increase the console’s power consumption during gameplay.” In short, your Switch 2’s battery could drain faster, and considering the hybrid console's battery life is already a sore spot for many users (including yours truly), this is a caveat to consider.

Other drawbacks include some on-screen instructions being incorrect (as the software is tricked into thinking you’re playing in TV Mode rather than in handheld), and the Switch 2's touch screen functionality is also disabled. Also, any attached Joy-Con 2 controllers will read as a Switch Pro Controller.

Finally, it should be noted that this feature has no impact on the performance of Nintendo Switch 2 software. The best Switch 2 games won’t get an upgrade if this option is turned on. It's solely to boost the visuals of Switch 1 games.

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When I reviewed the Xreal 1S, the company gave me a Neo dock to connect my Nintendo Switch 2 easily. While this worked just fine for me latency-wise (bar a low battery life), turns out the company wasn’t happy with it — putting the adapter on hold “indefinitely.”

Chi Xu, Xreal’s CEO, explained this decision was made “out of an abundance of care,” to not ship a product that “does not fully meet our standards.” Xu also confirmed that all Neo pre-orders will be refunded and that no action is needed, while also linking to alternatives for Switch 2 players.

But while there are plenty, there is only one that I’d recommend after testing a lot of options: the Viture Pro Mobile Dock. That’s right — the company Xreal is locked in a bit of a legal battle with just so happens to make the best alternative.

Setting it up

Now there are a couple things you need to do to get it all set up. There’s an Xreal One AR glasses update you need to do to.

• Update the Xreal One firmware
• Update the Viture Pro Mobile Dock firmware

These are to eliminate some weird color issues found when wiring Xreal glasses to this Viture dock. But once you’re done, you’re off to the races. Just plug the dock into the Switch, connect the glasses and get to it.

Not totally fault-free

There are some awkward elements here to the Pro Mobile Dock that are worth knowing about. First, the included cables are rather short — especially the USB-C charging cable with video passthrough. Of course, you can bring your own wires to the party, but for out-of-the-box usage, laying this dock down on the table as your play can mean you’re leaning over awkwardly to play.

Second is that battery capacity. This was always a bit of a weak spot for the Xreal Neo’s 10,000 mAh capacity, as the dock consumed a lot of power to translate Switch 2’s signal to work with the connected AR glasses that also require watts.

And while the Viture Pro Mobile Dock does have a larger 13,000 mAh cell, which adds up to four hours of additional playtime, that gets further exacerbated when two pairs of AR glasses are connected — taking the whole thing down to a couple of hours.

But as Anthony found out when testing the dock, these niggles quickly fade into the background when you’re playing on a 135-inch screen directly in front of your face. It’s a huge saver of neck pain on long haul flights, and an immersive experience wherever you are.

Nintendo’s doing Nintendo things

And all of this brings me back to the very thing that annoyed me the most at the Switch 2’s launch. Why did Nintendo look at this explosion in AR glasses sales, and think “we don’t need to support DisplayPort Alt Mode”!?

Like, it would’ve been the easiest thing to do here, instead of using the Mobility DisplayPort (MyDP) standard that the original Switch had (a video out standard that was meant to be just for micro-USB). But no, the big N is doing Nintendo things and making things more awkward than they have to be.

I gave them the benefit of the doubt — thinking that a proprietary pair of Nintendo glasses were on the way, but not a peep from them. The closest we’ve gotten is the Virtual Boy accessory, which requires you to put the whole Switch 2 inside it.

So I beg of you, Nintendo. Whenever this Switch 2 OLED comes out, please do the right thing. Please acknowledge the millennial gamers that want to play for long commutes with AR glasses and support the right video out standard.

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Monster Hunter is a legendary series, known for its addictive gameplay loop of chasing down monstrously tough enemies and slaying them to obtain resources and upgrade your gear. It has plenty of dedicated fans, but also a reputation for being difficult for beginners to get into.

In 2016, Monster Hunter Stories was released on 3DS — this spin-off took on a cuter, more kid-friendly aesthetic, and also let you collect monsters and fight alongside them as a team. The spin-off series is now heading for its third outing with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, and I was able to take an early first look at the game on Nintendo Switch 2.

Pokémon wishes it looked this good

Spoiler alert: I had trouble getting to grips with Monster Hunter Stories 3’s battle system. But I’ll go over the positives first, because this game has an awful lot going for it.

The biggest reason to play Monster Hunter Stories 3 is its fantastic presentation. There’s no two ways about it, this is a truly gorgeous looking game. The outdoor environments are lush and packed with creatures roaming around, both monsters that you can battle and other kinds of wildlife that interact with the ecosystem.

The cutscenes in Monster Hunter Stories 3 also look breathtaking; I don’t remember the last time I saw video game cutscenes on a Nintendo console that looked this good. Whenever I was watching story events play out I was so immersed that I felt like I was watching an animated movie. There is definitely a Ghibli-esque vibe to the characters and natural landscapes, and some cutscenes also move near-seamlessly between gameplay segments, which is awesome to see. And even though the in-battle special attack animations are lengthy, I could never bring myself to skip them because they always got my blood pumping.

“Story” is in this game’s name and while I’ve only just dipped my toe into the game’s narrative, I am well and truly hooked. It’s a high fantasy setting with multiple kingdoms at war, and there are already some interesting characters with questionable motivations and loyalties. There’s also a focus on conservation and repopulating a damaged ecosystem, which only gets me all the more excited. Not only do I get to battle monsters, but I also get to save them from ecological collapse and extinction? Sign me up.

A beautifully confusing battle system

Everything I mentioned previously about Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection had me on board. But getting stuck into the gameplay was a rocky endeavour.

I roll my eyes every time I start a new Pokémon game and sit through another tutorial. “Do they have to take it so slowly? This stuff is obvious.” I always think. But now I get why every Pokémon game drip feeds information to you so slowly; the alternative would be something like Monster Hunter Stories 3.

This game does have a tutorial, and this stuff might be blindingly obvious if you’ve played the first two Monster Hunter Stories games (or any of the main-series Monster Hunter games), but to this newbie, it was mind-boggling.

There’s a lot to get your teeth into right from the beginning of the game. You start with three monsters and three weapons in your possession. You have access to all of them at once in every fight — so you’ll need to figure out what all your monsters can do, what weapons do what, and which attacks you can actually use at any given time (there’s both a charge meter and a stamina meter to contend with that determines which ones you can use).

There’s also a mechanic called a kinship gauge; filling it up means you can ride your monsters to execute attacks as a pair. If your NPC partner rides their monster as well, you can all attack at once.

Even if you know which attack you want to use, there’s still a lot more to it; every basic or special attack can be executed in three different ways (prioritizing power, technique or speed,) and you can either try to deplete a monster’s health bar or their Wyvernsoul gauge (don’t ask me what that is, I have no idea.)

In addition to this, you can aim for different parts of your opponent’s body, like their head, torso, legs or wings. Monsters will change forms and behave differently depending on various factors, like if they become tired or enraged. And there are boss monsters that you’re not meant to attack in certain ways because they’ll unleash a devastating counter if you do.

There are text tutorials to explain all this, but you can’t re-access previous tutorials during battle, only when you’re in town or out on the field. Each tutorial monster I fought felt like an onslaught of more and more mechanics on an already confusing pile.

The best advice I can give you is not to rush through all the tutorial battles at once. I fought a bunch of grunts to get a better idea of what was going on, and it was the only thing that made me feel comfortable going forward.

I can’t blame the developers for not making a more beginner-friendly introduction to the third entry in a spin-off game series, but the last game released five years ago on the original Switch — surely I’m not the only person who’s jumping onto the Monster Hunter Stories train with this release.

On the upside, there were things I did enjoy about the battle system. You don’t need to worry about healing outside of battle, as your health bar is refilled at the start of every fight. But you don’t have a lot of health to rely on, and this makes each individual battle feel vital and intense, like it could all be over at any moment. It’s unique compared to most JRPGs I’ve played, which usually focus more on making you manage healing resources over long stretches of multiple battles in a row.

I also wasn’t expecting there to be stealth elements to this game, but I had fun trying to sneak monster eggs out of enemy nests. Mainly because I knew I would get battered once again if the monsters caught me.

Verdict

I’m not afraid of a challenge. Okay, I actually am — that’s why I haven’t jumped into the mainline Monster Hunter series before now. But I’m interested enough in Monster Hunter Stories 3’s story and beautiful graphics to continue. I want to see what cool new creatures I can add to my team and I want to understand the writhing behemoth that is this battle system. I’m hoping that as more players hop onto this game, there will be more community support and guidance I can look to from other people who understand it better than I do.

If Monster Hunter Stories 3’s battle system has you feeling intimidated, Monster Hunter Stories Collection on Switch might be a better introduction to this series for beginners; it compiles the first two entries in the Monster Hunter Stories franchise into one package. However, you do miss out on the gorgeous movie-style graphics for a more cutesy aesthetic.

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I love Resident Evil, and I love my Nintendo Switch 2. So when Capcom confirmed it was bringing the three most recent mainline games in the series (excluding remakes) to the hybrid console, I was definitely excited to have an excuse to replay Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village, alongside a portable way to enjoy the new Resident Evil Requiem (I completed an intital playthrough on PS5 Pro, to get the best performance first time through).

Of course, when it comes to Switch 2 ports, there always needs to be a level of caution mixed in with your anticipation. I’ve been largely impressed by the quality of AAA gaming on Nintendo’s current system, but the hybrid device is not a powerhouse compared to a PS5 Pro or even an Xbox Series X. Some sacrifices to visuals and performance are always expected on Switch 2.

Having now got some hands-on time with all three Resident Evil games, my overwhelming takeaway is that Capcom has done an excellent job bringing this trio of modern survival horror favorites to Nintendo players who may not have had access to them before. They might not represent the very best way to play Resident Evil, but each one still shines bright on the Switch 2.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard marked a soft reboot of the Resident Evil series, returning RE to its terrifying horror roots after the divisive, overstuffed action blockbuster vibe of Resident Evil 6. It was fantastic back in 2017, and almost a decade later (I feel old writing that), it’s lost none of its edge.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was actually technically playable on Nintendo Switch 1 via a “Cloud Version,” but on Switch 2, we get a proper, native port, and it was worth the wait. Running at 60 fps, Resident Evil 7 looks darn pretty on Switch 2. Well, its levels are largely set in grimy and dilapidated interactors, but each is rendered with impressive detail on Nintendo Switch 2.

The best thing I can say about Resident Evil 7 on Switch 2 is that it doesn’t feel compromised in any real way. Games like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Hitman: World of Assassination - Signature Edition look great on Switch 2, but even an untrained eye can see the sacrifices made to get them running. I’m sure Resident Evil 7 makes a few, but I could barely register any of note.

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil: Village is the direct follow-up to Biohazard, and was pretty much the closest thing to a modern Resident Evil 4, until we got a stunning remake of that classic in 2023. Much like Resident Evil 7, Village certainly looks the part on Switch 2; the stunning intro shot of Castle Dimitrescu blanketed in fog had me oohing and ahhing.

However, Village is a larger game than its predecessor, not in runtime, but in overall scope, with a sizable open(ish) hub and larger-scale enemy encounters. The Switch 2 edition doesn’t always keep pace when the action is really cranked up a notch, which can lead to framerate dips. These are far from deal-breaking, but coming into Village after the near-perfect port of Resident Evil 7 resulted in these technical blips standing out just that little bit more.

Nevertheless, Resident Evil Village is extremely playable on Switch 2, and you get the Gold Edition as standard, which gives you the option to play the full campaign in a dedicated third-person mode. That's a boon for easily frightened players who find the first-person perspective too intense.

Resident Evil Requiem

I was blown away by the most recent entry in the Resident Evil franchise (as was my colleague Tony Polanco, check out his review for details). It successfully marries the horror and action the franchise is known for and marks the return of fan favorite character Leon.

Resident Evil Requiem on Switch 2 is definitely the one where the graphical differences between this version and its sibling on PlayStation/Xbox (and PC) are most noticeable. As the comparison above shows, textures are of lower quality, with elements like the new protagonist Grace Ashcroft’s hair and the storefront neon sign really taking a hit.

But this is a new 2026 release, so you’d be foolish to expect Switch 2 to offer parity in performance and visuals to PS5. Impressively, Capcom hasn’t sliced the framerate in half on Switch 2 either. This Switch 2 still pushes for a 60 fps target. Sadly, the framerate drops even more than in Village, so I do wonder if a capped 40 fps mode might have been wise.

Overall, I can't grumble about Requiem on Switch 2 at all; it’s a phenomenal game, comfortably my GOTY to date, and on Nintendo’s platform, it’s still a masterful experience. The trade-off in visuals/framerate is expected, and having Requiem on a portable system is awesome. If you want to play the latest Resident Evil, Switch 2 is certainly not a bad choice.

Which Resident Evil should you buy on Switch 2?

Cards on the table, I’m going to cheat a little here and say that you should buy all three Resident Evil games on Nintendo Switch 2. All of them are worth playing. Each has been ported to Nintendo’s console with real care, and most importantly, thanks to the Resident Evil Generation Pack, you can get the whole trilogy in a well-priced bundle.

For $89, you get Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil Requiem in one neat bundle. If you buy it physically, you even get a swanky collector’s box to house the three jewel cases. Of course, if you’re not a collector, you can always grab it digitally on the Nintendo eShop.

But act fast. Not only is the physical edition selling out fast (GameStop, Walmart and Amazon are sold out at the time of writing), but in a slightly strange move, Capcom has confirmed this Generation Pack will only be on sale until March 31. Afterwards, you’ll have to pick up the games individually. This bundle offers a huge discount. Requiem is a brand new $69 release, while Biohazard and Village cost $39 each. So, the bundle saves you almost $60.

If you’re working on a tighter budget and push me for a single answer, I’ll opt for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. The best looking and performing of the three, and you get the Gold Edition, which includes all the DLC released for the game post-launch. However, the Generation Pack is most definitely my top recommendation; it’s one of the best gaming deals we’ll likely see in 2026.

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When I was younger, I didn't have a Nintendo GameBoy or GameBoy Advance, and neither did my brother. Our cousins did, though, and we'd visit each other at least twice a year. Whenever they came over to ours, or we visited them, we'd play Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on their GBAs, and alongside watching the anime following Ash and his friends' adventures, that's what got me hooked onto Pokémon.

That love has once again been re-ignited in 2026 by the launch of the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 version of what's arguably the best Pokémon 2D game (and I will die on this hill). Since it came out on February 27, I've been playing FireRed non-stop. I play it on my commute to and from work, before sleeping, and whenever I can squeeze in a couple of hours.

Since its launch, I've sunk over 80 hours into making my way through the gyms, fighting trainers, catching Pokémon, and training up my party. Replaying FireRed has emphasized all the flaws that the modern Pokémon games carry — and I say that as someone who has played many of the 3D games, such as Let's Go, Sword and Shield, and Legends: Arceus. FireRed has done nothing but bolster my wish for the Pokémon Company, and GameFreak needs to bring back 2D games, and here's why.

Nostalgia is a powerful tool

I'm not afraid to admit that a lot of my love for Pokémon FireRed comes from it being the first game I played on the Nintendo GBA, and I admit that when it was first announced on the Nintendo Switch, I was looking at it through rose-tinted glasses.

I was worried that GameFreak and the Pokémon Company were going to make certain changes to it that I wouldn't like, and for the most part — I'd say 99% — FireRed remains untouched. It is, essentially, the same game that was released all the way back in 2004. 22 years later, it's still great.

What I loved about FireRed back then and still do today is the fact that grinding never feels like a pain, and it's nowhere near as punishing as a Souls-like game. Encounters with wild Pokémon are extremely fun, and finding certain Pokémon on specific routes adds to the versatility.

Battling against them and jumping into battles with rivals, and the amount of EXP you get depending on the level of the Pokémon you're battling feels rewarding, especially when your Pokémon evolves when you were least expecting it.

I picked Charmander as my starter, and it dawned on me that I would struggle against Brock and his rock-type Pokémon for the first time — so I started grinding. I caught a Mankey, leveled it up, and struggled but persisted against Brock to get the Boulder badge. It was hard, but again, nothing like the sweet taste of victory when you've struggled so much.

Type match-ups and ensuring that I had the correct type of Pokémon when battling any gym leader were crucial, and knowing that kept me motivated to fill up my Pokédex, too. I remember loving it just as much when I was a child, and though it's time-consuming and takes many, many hours, I'm more motivated than ever to complete the Pokédex this time around, as I never did it when I was younger.

The modern games just don't cut it

I was late to the Nintendo Switch party, and I got the OG Switch during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. When I was at my family home during lockdown, I played a lot — and I mean a lot — of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu, Pokémon Sword, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

According to my Switch's game tracker, I've played Let's Go for 90 hours and Sword for 150 hours. Clearly, I loved them. But I could never put my finger on why they didn't hit the same way that Pokémon FireRed did when I was a child.

And it hit me recently. FireRed, to me, feels like it's got more soul and feel to it. It feels like a game made by a company that actually cares. Every character in FireRed, whether that's an NPC that has only one line of dialogue or your rival, feels like they have a distinct personality to them.

The 2D pixel art feels more detailed than the often stiff-looking 3D models in the modern titles, and the pacing feels just right. It isn't too slow, and it isn't too fast, and the 2D pixel art feels richer and more detailed.

One of the reasons I love FireRed is that it leaves things to your imagination. When I'm fighting wild Pokémon, I'm picturing them in clear detail in my head — the sounds they make, the way they act. My brain feels a lot more engaged playing FireRed now than it ever did with Sword and Let's Go.

That's because FireRed requires the right level of strategy and planning without overdoing it. Both Sword and Let's Go felt like a piece of cake to me. FireRed actually feels challenging, and most battles aren't something you can just wing.

Fight it out (locally)

Even as an adult, I'm finding tons of enjoyment in training up my party in Pokémon FireRed, and one of the quickest ways to still get humbled is fighting other trainers. I've been locally battling it out with my colleague and friend Harry from sister site TechRadar when we're in the office together. The local connection has been fairly stable with not much input lag, and it's been a lot of fun fighting his party. In place of online play, it's the next best option.

Both Harry and I were at very different points in the game (he's got LeafGreen, which is perfect for locally trading too), so he was a little under-levelled compared to my party. But both of us promised that we'd train up and battle again once we had both beaten the Elite Four and our respective parties were level 60 and higher.

We even promised that we'd catch version-exclusive Pokémon for one another and trade them at a later point. That has always been the fun of Pokémon for me, to trade with friends and do things like these for each other, and playing FireRed has been a treat for my soul and inner child.

FireRed isn't perfect, though

As I said earlier, anyone who played Pokémon FireRed as a kid will surely be enjoying playing it as an adult on the Nintendo Switch or Switch 2. But nostalgia is a double-edged sword, and while the modern version of FireRed is nothing short of fantastic and remains virtually unchanged, it's not perfect.

The lack of wireless play, at the time of writing, limits trading capabilities. I remember filling a large part of my Pokédex in Pokémon Sword with the help of strangers on the dedicated Subreddit.

And while Nintendo has confirmed that FireRed and LeafGreen will be getting Home support eventually, it isn't bidirectional, so you can't transfer Pokémon into the game from other titles. This makes it nearly impossible to complete the national Pokédex, which is a shame for completionists and anyone who wants to get as many hours as possible out of the game — like me.

Another annoying change that's been introduced? If you press all four face buttons (ABXY) together, you'll soft-reset the game if you aren't careful. Personally, I can't see myself pressing all four buttons unintentionally, but I've heard a few people complaining about it online, so clearly it is a sticking point for some.

One thing I have learned during my time on the internet is that people love to complain and hate on anything that's trending at the moment, and looks like another sticking point for some is that FireRed costs too much for what's basically an unchanged, non-remastered, non-remade port.

To that I say, is it really that problematic? The digital download costs $19 / £16 today, and 22 years ago, it would have cost nearly double, if not more. It's nowhere near the retail price of Mario Kart World or a AAA title, and you get easily 100 hours out of it.

I also like Nintendo's decision to re-release FireRed and LeafGreen on the modern consoles, given that the only other way to play them (officially) is buying a second-hand GBA that costs hundreds and hundreds. As someone whose first experience with handheld console gaming was the OG FireRed, I'm glad young children are getting to experience it the way I did, as I've seen on Reddit and Instagram.

As I said, the modern 3D Pokémon games just don't cut it for me, and if you want an authentic Pokémon gaming experience, FireRed or LeafGreen is a great starting point.

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Console makers make some money from the systems they manufacture, but the real money comes from game sales. But what happens when folks buy fewer games? This is a situation Nintendo is now finding itself in. As you might have guessed, it's because of the ongoing RAM crisis.

According to Bloomberg, Nintendo Switch 2 owners are buying fewer games because the console only has 256GB of built-in storage, and it's becoming increasingly harder to upgrade storage thanks to increasing NAND prices. Ballooning game file sizes are only making the matter worse.

Nintendo's latest system is significantly more powerful than the original Switch, meaning it can handle beefier games, which are also far larger. The biggest game you can buy for the Switch 2 is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which takes up nearly 100GB of space, just less than half of the available onboard storage. Not quite Call of Duty on your PC numbers, but high nonetheless.

A gamer in Tokyo told Bloomberg that they used to "buy games on a whim." Now they have to be a bit more discerning "because the space is filling up so quickly, at a pace that I didn’t imagine.”

Bloomberg cited numbers that indicate the Switch 2 is selling less software than the original Switch. As of December 2025, the new console was selling an average of 2.18 games per console, and the Switch was higher at 3.88 average games.

Storage prices

It's hard to tell how much storage prices are actually going up, especially for the microSD Express cards that the Switch 2 requires.

When the Switch 2 launched, my colleague Anthony Spadafora recommended the Walmart in-house onn-branded memory cards for the Switch 2. At the time, the 256GB version could be had for $36, while the 512GB version was $66. Both have seen price increases to $46 and $84, respectively.

However, we compared the onn cards to the Best Buy exclusive Nintendo Samsung microSDXC, which was $60 a year ago and is still $60 as of this writing. The SanDisk 256GB card was also $60 last year and has retained that price, though the 512GB version is $99.

Of course, those prices are all on top of the $450 to $550 that you're spending on purchasing the console in the first place. Plus, games themselves are more expensive, with Mario Kart World breaking the $80 barrier last year.

Switch 2 prices could go up

Nintendo hasn't had an easy time since launching the Switch 2 in the spring of 2025. That was the year of tariffs, as the Trump administration instituted fluctuating and chaotic tax percentages that changed at a whim.

That has seemingly settled as the Supreme Court recently rejected President Trump's tariffs, though he did immediately turn around and demand 15% global tariffs across the board.

This year, the company, like most tech firms, faces increasing pressure from the ruinous memory crisis that is raising prices on everything from the best phones and best laptops to potentially the Switch 2.

So far, Nintendo has resisted increasing prices, but Nintendo President Shintaro Furukawa has not ruled it out. "The market environment is indeed challenging," he said in February.

Nintendo will probably be fine in the long term, but right now, the hits keep coming.

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You know that one friend growing up who had every — and I mean every — console? Well, I was lucky enough to have one and unlike me, he had almost too many options when it came to what game to play or what console to play it on.

From the Sega CD attachment for the Genesis to a TurboGrafx and everything in between, my childhood friend had it all. While I got a turn here and there, I was more spectator than player but growing up, but that didn’t phase me at all. Of the consoles in his family’s collection though, there was one in particular that continued to elude me even now: the Nintendo Virtual Boy.

As the odd console out between the Super Nintendo and the Nintendo 64, the Virtual Boy was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Not only was it the only home console you could play without a TV but you got to play in full 3D for the first time, even if it was only in red.

Although I eventually convinced my friend to let me try out his Virtual Boy to play a few rounds of Mario’s Tennis, that was all I got. To this day, I still think about that short play session but now, thanks to Nintendo’s new Virtual Boy accessory for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Switch, I finally got a chance to play it again.

Here’s everything you need to know about this modern recreation of 1995’s Virtual Boy and why it just might scratch that same retro gaming itch for you.

Nostalgic looks with a modern Switch

Just like it did with the Labo VR Kit, Nintendo decided to use the Switch’s modularity to its advantage again with its new Virtual Boy accessory. Also available as a foldable cardboard cut out, I got to try the more expensive replica version that’s as close to the original as I remember, minus the “M” shaped Virtual Boy Game Pad of course.

In the box, you get a red and black plastic headset and a stand that fixes everyone’s gripes with the “Medusa” stand that came with the original. Instead of a brittle sliding C-clamp, this new stand holds the replica console much better than the one that shipped with the Virtual Boy. You also get a plastic adapter in the box to use with the Nintendo Switch as Nintendo designed its latest accessory around the Switch 2.

In a similar way to the NES Classic and the SNES Classic, Nintendo stayed true to the details of the original Virtual Boy throughout the design of this new headset. For instance, on the underside, you have all of the original ports and controls etched into the plastic. In the center, there’s a place to connect the stand and a spring-loaded quick release mechanism, which almost made me feel like I was ejecting cartridges from my SNES when removing my Switch 2.

Getting this new accessory working with your Switch 2 or Switch starts with downloading the new Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics app from the eShop. However, to do so, you will need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription along with the Expansion Pack add-on. While I miss Nintendo’s Virtual Console as much as anyone else, Nintendo Switch Online is the closest thing you can get to a Blockbuster for retro games and well worth the annual price in my opinion.

Once you have the app installed on your console, it’s just a matter of flipping up the red top part of the Virtual Boy accessory and dropping your Switch 2 in.

If you’ve ever docked your Switch or Switch 2, you’ll have no trouble at all turning either console into a modern Virtual Boy. Just note that if you’re still playing on the original Switch, you will have to attach the plastic adapter first to make up for the size difference between it and the Switch 2.

Seeing red again

With my Switch 2 loaded in Nintendo’s Virtual Boy accessory, it was time to finally step back into the world of red-tinted, stereoscopic 3D gaming. While nowhere near close to one of the best VR headsets, donning a Virtual Boy again for the first time in 30 years took me back to when virtual reality was still science fiction.

After loading the app, I was met with that same Nintendo Classics UI but this time, with a black and red Virtual Boy-style twist. At the time of writing, there are currently a total of seven Virtual Boy games you can play right now in the app with an additional seven coming later this year including two unreleased games. This might not seem like a lot compared to the now massive NES and Super Nintendo catalogs on Nintendo Switch Online but with this console in particular, you’re getting access to every game ever released for it with half of them available from the get go.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pick up where I left off in Mario’s Tennis all those years ago, as that particular title isn’t among Virtual Boy’s launch lineup on the Nintendo Switch. So I did the next best thing and booted up 3D Tetris as I have fond memories of playing the original on the Game Boy. It didn’t quite click for me though, so I moved onto Galactic Pinball.

Pinball is much more straightforward on the Virtual Boy and I really enjoyed how I had the option to use either the triggers or the joysticks on my Joy-Cons to control the paddles. It felt like there was a slight input delay between hitting a button and seeing the paddles move but I quickly got used to it. After a few rounds though, it was time to try what many (myself included) consider the Virtual Boy’s flagship game: Virtual Boy Wario Land.

Since I didn’t get a chance to play it as a kid, I was instantly impressed with Wario Land and how it took full advantage of the console’s stereoscopic 3D. In fact, it reminded me of playing the original AstroBot on PSVR. I loved Wario’s more familiar moveset, the mini games at the end of each level and how you could jump between the foreground and background at certain points. Likewise, the way that Wario walked right towards my face when leaving the room after finishing a mini game was a very nice touch.

From there, I played through the rest of the current Virtual Boy games available. Teleroboxer felt like a cross between a more high-tech version of Mike Tyson’s Punchout and Arms on the Switch. Red Alarm reminded me immediately of Star Fox but with a lot less handholding as I flew a ship through an enemy base in the opening sequence. The Mansion of Innsmouth is a classic first-person dungeon crawler but after turning only a few corners, a game over screen flashed before my eyes after I didn’t quite know what to do when I encountered a monster in one of the corridors.

Finally, Golf played just like a classic golf game but with the added depth and realism you get from playing in stereoscopic 3D.

As you may have guessed, Wario Land was my favorite of the bunch and I made sure to create a suspend point so I can pick up where I left off. In fact, I had such a good time playing it that I might just have to finish it.

One thing that remains true with this new Virtual Boy accessory is that it’s hard to find the perfect position to play in. At my coffee table, I was leaning forward with my back bent, which felt less than ideal. That’s why after my initial test to make sure everything was working, I took the Virtual Boy and my Switch 2 out to the living room where I spent a big chunk of time playing at my standing desk.

With one of the best standing desks, I was able to raise the console up fairly close to eye level but even then, I still found myself leaning forward to get my head close enough to the screen.

My turn at last

Among Nintendo’s other highly successful game consoles, the Virtual Boy is and will always be an outlier. Sure, it was quite advanced back in the 90s when it was definitely ahead of its time but with the Nintendo 64 and true 3D gaming just a year away from its launch, the Virtual Boy never really got a chance to shine. Fortunately, thanks to the modular nature of the Switch and Switch 2, it’s back in all its red and black glory.

If you’re curious about checking out this piece of Nintendo and gaming history, then the cardboard version of the Virtual Boy accessory will be more than enough to help you scratch that itch. However, if like me, you actually had a chance to play the original, then the more expensive replica version could certainly be worth it, even for nostalgia alone.

Maybe if my childhood friend had given me a bit more time to play the original, I wouldn’t have spent the last three decades thinking about the Virtual Boy. Even then though, he only had a few games besides Mario’s Tennis which came included with the console. Thanks to this new accessory and Nintendo Switch Online, not only can I play every Virtual Boy game I want to but I can do so without being tethered to a power outlet.

I can’t wait to check out the rest of this console’s game collection though but in the meantime, I plan on making my way through Wario Land as it’s the must-play Virtual Boy game. Even with what I’ve played through so far, it seems like the kind of game you don’t want to miss. Now though, I get to play it with modern conveniences like suspension points and being able to rewind when I accidentally jump into lava. If Nintendo just made a new version of its original controller, I’d be able to finally fulfill my childhood wish almost as if I was back in the 90s.

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• Donkey Kong Bananza is the 3D Donkey Kong game I’ve always wanted and one of the best reasons to get a Switch 2
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RAMageddon is in full effect. With memory chip manufacturers prioritizing AI data centers, what we're left with is price hikes, shortages and delays on all the tech that we value the most.

Just how bad has it got? Well, before the memory shortage officially kicked into gear a few months ago, this 32GB DDR5 RAM stick could be picked up for $87. Now, it costs $484. That's just over a 450% increase, and that's still not the worst of it — DRAM and NAND storage memory prices have skyrocketed by over 600%.

For PC makers and enthusiasts, that's a tough blow. But if you're thinking you're in the clear, just because you don't buy RAM sticks yourself, I've got bad news: nothing is safe. Phones, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles and yes, even Wi-Fi routers, will all be impacted by the RAM crisis. In fact, it's already taken effect.

Companies are already scrambling to scoop a dwindling supply of memory chips, with prices set to surge even higher going forward. The problem is, there's no end in sight anytime soon, as analysts and even Micron itself are claiming we won't see any improvements until 2028. Yikes.

We're in for the long haul, and we're already seeing the consequences of the biggest memory companies (SK Hynix, Micron and Samsung) pivoting supplies for an AI future. From shortages on our favorite products today to delays on the most anticipated devices, here are the biggest victims the RAM crisis has claimed (so far).

Valve's Steam Deck (and more)

Who would have thought that a still-popular gaming handheld that released in 2022 would be so hard to get a hold of today? Valve's Steam Deck is out of stock, and it's officially due to (you guessed it) “memory and storage shortages.”

Head over to Steam in the U.S., and you'll find that the Steam Deck OLED, along with the OG Steam Deck, can't be purchased. As Valve's support page notes, stock will be out "intermittently in some regions," although we've been tracking restocks, and Valve's gaming handheld hasn't shown up yet.

At the very least, every model is still available in the U.K., but who knows when stock will dry up in other regions, or how long the drought will last in those areas already affected.

While the Steam Deck has had its moment to shine before shortages kicked in, this spells doom for everything else Valve has coming — the Steam Machine, Steam Frame and Steam Controller.

In a blog post, the gaming giant revealed that its console-like PC, VR headset and gaming controller have been delayed to the “first half of the year,” as opposed to Q1 of 2026. And yes, it's due to “memory and storage shortages.” The RAM crisis is already delaying the biggest releases from Valve in years (and maybe even the mythical Half-Life 3?), but what's even more concerning is the price.

The cost of the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame is still up in the air, and while Valve may have already had a fixed price for its upcoming tech, the company will "revisit" the price because of the memory shortage. This can only signal one thing: a price hike.

Many were already guessing the Steam Machine and Frame would be expensive, more so than the gaming consoles and VR headsets we see today. But now? We may have to add an extra $100 (or more) to what we imagined. As in, $999 for the Steam Machine and $799 for the Steam Frame. These are all just predictions, but considering the Steam Deck has already been affected by the RAM crisis, this only raises concerns about Valve's anticipated hardware.

Nvidia skips gaming GPUs

Even Nvidia, the juggernaut that is all-in on AI, is struggling with the memory shortage. For the first time in three decades, Team Green won't release a new gaming GPU this year.

There had been a lot of talk about when we'd see RTX 50 Super GPUs, with rumors even pointing to a release of the RTX 5070 Super, RTX 5070 Ti Super, and RTX 5080 Super in late 2025. That didn't happen, but even at CES 2026, when Nvidia usually makes its big announcements, there were no new GPUs to be seen.

Instead, we got a first look at Vera Rubin chips, which are gearing up to power AI data centers and the like. It's expected to use HBM4 (High Bandwidth Memory 4), which is exactly what manufacturers are prioritizing over DRAM.

So, instead of giving more previous VRAM to its anticipated set of RTX 50 Super graphics cards (which we'd love to see in the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti), Nvidia shift gears to fuel the AI train.

As it turns out, Nvidia has indefinitely delayed "Kicker" — the code name for the incremental RTX 50-series refresh, likely the Super cards that we expected to see this year. Even though the designs were reportedly finished, the company decided that it couldn't justify the memory costs.

So, what does this mean for the inevitable RTX 60-series GPUs? Well, a leak indicated we could see these debut in early 2027, but with the ongoing memory crisis already taking its next Super-series off the list this year, there's good reason to believe we won't see these anytime soon.

PS6 pushed back?

We've already seen the price of every PS5 model increase by $50 last year, due to a "backdrop of a challenging economic environment" at the time, but so far, we haven't seen Sony's console be largely affected by the memory and storage shortage. As for its next-gen model? It could be further away than we first thought.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Sony is considering pushing the launch of its PS6 back to 2028 at the earliest, all the way to 2029. And all signs are pointing to the RAM crisis. While rumors have claimed we may see the PS6 in 2028 anyway, some indicate a late 2027 release, which would line up with AMD's hint that a next-gen Xbox is landing next year.

To put this into perspective, the PS4 launched in November 2013, while the latest PS5 arrived in November 2020. The console cycle is generally seven years, and RAMageddon appears to be disrupting the flow already — possibly by two years.

With rumors suggesting the PS6 is expected to come equipped with 32GB of DDR7 RAM to power the next generation of gaming, which is double what the PS5 has (16GB GDDR6), we can start to piece together why Sony would delay the launch of its new console.

During the Activision Blizzard trial back in 2023, documents revealed that the next Xbox and PS6 were set for 2028. But times have changed, and the scarcity of RAM to power these consoles is making it harder for companies to know when the right time is to release their fresh products.

Remember how hard it was to get a PS5 when it launched? Now imagine Sony releasing its PS6 with a limited supply of RAM; the wait for restocks would be never-ending.

Nintendo Switch 2 price hikes?

The Nintendo Switch 2 already had to deal with U.S. tariffs, and many weren't happy with its price tag. Unfortunately, the RAM crisis may make matters worse.

Despite a successful launch, becoming the fastest-selling console of all time, Nintendo is considering raising prices this year. Many had already expected this to happen, following in the footsteps of PlayStation and Xbox raising the cost of their consoles last year, but the memory shortage (and tariffs) appears to be accelerating this.

Analysts believe the Switch 2 will receive a $50 price bump, taking it from $449 to $499 (the price for the Mario Kart World bundle). And this year, during an earnings call, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa raised concerns about the "pressure" caused by surging memory prices.

"The market environment is indeed challenging. But we are engaging in long-term discussions with our suppliers to ensure we maintain a stable intake of chips,” Furukawa noted. That's a promising outlook, but many companies are vying for memory these days, so it only seems inevitable that Nintendo will eventually bump up the price of its Switch 2.

My advice? If there's a particular product you're interested in (in this case, the Switch 2), buy it now. With the RAM crisis already affecting the biggest products on the market, prices are only going to soar, and it will be a while before we see next-gen products come to shelves. Even if they do arrive, don't expect a huge supply.

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• Lenovo is planning another PC price hike in March — and I’m all out of patience with this AI bubble
• 'Someone asked me today how long the DRAM supply shortage would last...I may need to revise that answer': analyst predicts bleak future for RAM crisis
• AMD just hinted the next-gen Xbox could ‘launch in 2027’ — here’s why I’m not convinced

With the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s never been a better time to be a fan of The Legend of Zelda series. It’s been forty years since Link first stepped into the caves of Hyrule and what better way to celebrate the series’ 40th anniversary than by replaying your favorite classic Zelda games or trying out the latest ones.

From Link’s 8-bit origins on the Nintendo Entertainment System to enhanced editions with updated and gorgeous 4K visuals, The Legend of Zelda library on both the Switch and the Switch 2 is absolutely massive. Whether you want to hack and slash your way through Hyrule Warriors, fight your way through dungeons while staying on the beat in Cadence of Hyrule or play as Zelda for a change in Echoes of Wisdom, there’s a game for everyone and every play style.

Here are all the mainline Zelda games, the spinoffs and even a few where Link just makes a cameo to help you celebrate The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary.

Every Zelda game you can play on Nintendo Switch Online

If you’re looking for even more Zelda games to play on the series’ 40th anniversary, you’re in luck as quite a few of them are available on Nintendo Switch Online ($20, Amazon). With Nintendo’s standard paid subscription service, you get access to Zelda games on the NES, SNES, Game Boy and Game Boy Color.

To return to the series’ roots on the NES, you can play both the original The Legend of Zelda as well as its sequel Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. While the first game in the series features the top-down gameplay other 2D Zelda games are known for, its sequel mixes things up with side-scrolling areas and a larger world map.

Then on NSO’s Super Nintendo app, you can play what many fans consider to be one of the best games in the series, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Set many years before the events of the first two Zelda games, it brings back the top-down perspective and introduces Link’s iconic Master Sword for the first time.

Finally, with the standard NSO subscription, you can play a handful of Zelda games from the Game Boy and Game Boy color including Link’s Awakening DX, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. The former is a colored version of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for the Game Boy while the latter two are meant to be played back to back. Oracle of Ages is more focused on puzzles while Oracle of Seasons is a bit less linear and more action-oriented.

Now if you pay extra for an NSO subscription with the Expansion Pack ($50, Amazon), you get access to even more past Nintendo systems including Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance.

On Nintendo 64 you can play the first 3D Zelda game Ocarina of Time as well as its darker, more experimental sequel Majora’s Mask which features a 3-day time-loop mechanic.

Then on Game Boy Advance, you can play The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap in which Link literally shrinks down to a much smaller size and this completely changes how you interact with the world around him. You can also play Four Swords which is a multiplayer Zelda game that takes place before Minish Cap.

If you’ve upgraded to a Nintendo Switch 2, then you can play one of the most beautiful and unique Zelda games ever: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Known for its cell-shaded graphics which have stood the test of the time, the game also lets you traverse the seas on a talking boat.

Zelda games you still can’t play on Switch

Although you can play the majority of titles from The Legend of Zelda series on the Switch and Switch 2, there are still a few games you can’t. These include Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks from the Nintendo DS, A Link Between Worlds and Tri Force Heroes from the Nintendo 3DS and Twilight Princess which released first on the Nintendo Wii and then shortly after on the Nintendo GameCube.

Beyond Hyrule: Other Switch games that feature Link

Now if you’re looking for something a bit different but still want to play as Link or even just be reminded of Hyrule, there are a few other Switch games worth playing. From racing to fighting, these “outlier” titles are certainly worth checking out for anyone that wants to own and experience every piece of Zelda history on modern hardware.

The greed of AI is impacting prices and release dates across the tech world, from phones and laptops to gaming devices. This week, Valve confirmed that Steam Deck handheld consoles will be available intermittently due to a memory shortage.

Now, a new report from Bloomberg claims that the Nintendo Switch 2 could see increased prices, and that Sony is considering delaying the next-generation PlayStation 6. The overall report is worth a read for a look at how companies are responding to the shortage from memory makers to their customers.

The relevant portion comes toward the end, where Bloomberg reports that Nintendo is considering raising prices this year.

Switch 2 hike is likely coming

This isn't the first time we've heard rumors or speculation that Nintendo will increase the prices of its latest console. In January, a reputable research firm predicted a hike was coming this year.

Nintendo President Shintaro Furukawa didn't rule out raising prices in a separate January interview with Kyoto Shimbun. But he noted that the company is trying to get people into the ecosystem.

Nintendo execs sounded the alarm in early February during its earnings calls. President Shuntaro Furukawa highlighted U.S. tariffs as an issue affecting Nintendo while also raising concerns about rising memory costs.

"The market environment is indeed challenging. But we are engaging in long-term discussions with our suppliers to ensure we maintain a stable intake of chips,” Furukawa said at the time.

Furukawa has repeatedly asserted that Nintendo has some cushion in memory, at least for 2026. After this year, that situation is more than likely to change.

Delayed PS6

Bloomberg also claimed that Sony is considering pushing the launch of the PS6 to 2028 or 2029. Most rumors currently have the PS6 debuting in 2028, at the earliest in late 2027.

How memory shortages impact Sony will be interesting to track, as the company was recently rumored to include up to 32GB of RAM in the PS6. The initial worry was that a leap in memory would make the PS6 more expensive, but now it's not clear when the console will even launch.

Rumors have linked the PS6 closely to the next Xbox, which has been tipped to launch next year. The difference, though, is that Sony is expected to stick to a moretraditional console launch with a main living room box alongside a decently powerful handheld console.

Xbox is rumored to have a standard console but is also allegedly leaning into its "everything is an Xbox" marketing. That means a new console, a potential handheld device, and reportedly Xboxes made by third-party OEMs like Asus and Lenovo. That could give Microsoft more leeway to launch earlier than the PlayStation, but even Microsoft could still be constrained by memory constraints.

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Mario Tennis Fever has landed on the Nintendo Switch 2. Bringing with it the personality for which the series is known, it has all the modes and characters we’ve come to expect, with the wildly entertaining addition of Fever Rackets. These game-changing power-up rackets, paired with 38 playable characters, create enough variety to keep seasoned vets and new players coming back for more.

Switch 2 hasn’t had a lot of first-party exclusive games in its relatively short lifespan (though releases like Donkey Kong Bananza have seen tons of praise from players and critics alike), so anytime a significant release drops straight from Nintendo, it’s worth getting excited about. Mario Tennis Fever is not a perfect game by any stretch, but it does exactly what it sets out to do with a level of pure joy that you’ll only find from a Nintendo sports game.

Mario Tennis Fever: The Basics

• What is it? Mario Tennis Fever is the follow-up to the well-received Mario Tennis Aces. It builds upon the gameplay with new exaggerated tennis mechanics, most significantly the fever rackets.
• Who is it for? Everyone will find something to love in Mario Tennis Fever. It’s a perfect game for families as it’s as enjoyable for parents as it is for young gamers. Both long-time fans of Mario Tennis and new players will have a good time.
• What’s the price? Mario Tennis Fever costs $69 on Nintendo Switch 2.
• What other games has the developer made? Mario Tennis Fever was made by Camelot Software Planning, which has made Mario Tennis games since the Nintendo 64 days. It also made the Mario Golf games, so the company has plenty of pedigree for bringing everyone’s favorite plumber to sports.
• What games is it similar to? Mario Tennis Fever is similar to previous Mario Tennis games, such as Mario Tennis Aces on Switch 1. The closest non-Nintendo comparison would be Hot Shots Tennis, though that franchise hasn’t had a new game in a long time. Realistically, if you want arcade-style tennis, Mario Tennis Fever has the market cornered.

Mario and Luigi are babies

For anyone who intends to play Mario Tennis Fever solo, rest assured that Camelot and Nintendo have found a fun way to apply their tennis gameplay to a story-based Adventure mode. Instead of just progressing from tennis match to tennis match to move up a ladder, you’ll be doing all kinds of tennis-related mini-games (interspersed with actual tennis matches, of course).

Mario and Luigi (and some rivals) have been turned into babies. To return to grown-up form, they need to learn the basics at the local tennis academy and then venture out into the big, scary world to face a bunch of tennis challenges.

It’s a bit of an odd concept to apply a story to a tennis game, but somehow, it works. I found myself consistently looking forward to seeing where the story would go next and how the developers would take the story elements and apply them to tennis. Ship on fire? Smack water balls at them, for example.

It’s a more robust story than I would have ever expected from a Mario Tennis game, but it could be a little longer, clocking in at just under four hours. It’s not long enough to carry the full price of the package, but considering the long tail of the game comes from competitive multiplayer and playing with friends, it’s a nice value add.

Variety is the spice of life

Outside of the Adventure mode, there’s plenty more to do in Mario Tennis Fever. There are tournaments with increasing difficulty (a la Mario Kart), and winning these unlocks new playable characters. There’s also a rougelike tower with progressively harder challenges and freeplay for when you just want to hop in and play tennis against friends.

But it’s not just the modes that make the game varied. The big new addition this year is Fever Rackets. With these, you can supercharge your shots with unique powers. Want to be Princess Peach but want to leave volcanoes that shoot fireballs at your opponents? That’s totally possible. Want to be a Bowser who makes the court an icy mess with his Fever shot? Again, doable. Once a Fever shot is fired, the first person to miss the ball is going to be stuck with some annoying obstacles, and that just adds to the already chaotic nature of Fever.

And not only do these rackets mix up the gameplay mechanics, but they give you something else to work towards, as you’ll need to unlock many of them. They give Fever a little more mechanical depth and reason to keep you coming back.

And then there are the courts, which add another layer to the visuals and gameplay (Super Mario Wonder anyone). There are semi-realistic stadiums and fantastic Mushroom Kingdom-inspired places to play tennis. And like all aspects of this package, the courts look fantastic. The cartoon art style works as well for the courts as it does for Nintendo's load of characters (especially the baby versions, which are adorable as ever).

There’s also the multiplayer portion, which isn’t the most robust but offers singles and doubles matches, and a lobby system for playing with the same group of people online. Speaking of which, I played multiplayer on the couch with my girlfriend and stepson, and it certainly brought me back to the college days playing Mario Tennis on GameCube.

However, I was unable to test the online portion of the game during the pre-launch period, so we’ll update this piece on launch day with our impressions of the online play.

Simply fun

Modes aside, the most important part of a Mario Tennis game is the core mechanics, and they’re executed near flawlessly in Mario Tennis Fever. Sliding up to the net to blast a Star Shot (the game’s version of smashes) is always fun and satisfying, and making a perfect Fever win a clutch point feels like you’ve pulled off a miraculous save.

If the only thing you care about from Mario Tennis is entertaining gameplay, Fever brings it like Carlos Alcaraz on the court, taking the number one spot on the ATP rankings. However, it also simplifies the core tennis mechanics, designed to help keep the game feeling balanced. Everything feels a little slower than in previous games, which allows you to make more dramatic cross-court saves. The skill ceiling is a little lower, which might scare off some series veterans, but there’s still an acceptable amount of skill, and I did find that I was able to dispatch of my family rather easily using the skills I’ve gained over many years with the Mario Tennis franchise.

Sure, Mario Tennis Fever isn’t the most realistic virtual take on the sport, and competitive players might find elements like the Fever Rackets unbalanced, but Camelot has created an excellent arcade spin on tennis, which players of all ages can enjoy from the first serve. Personally, I find the rackets to be perfectly fine for the type of game on offer here. Does landing one on your opponent's side feel like a game-changer? Yes, but that’s how it’s meant ot be. Plus, you can always hit it back, giving you some nice risk-reward. Will your own power-up come back to haunt you, or will it seal the match?

And there’s motion controls?!

If you look back longingly at the original Nintendo Wii and its beloved pack-in game Wii Sports, then you’re in luck, because Mario Tennis Fever offers motion controls. And while it’s not quite what I’m looking for, it does work as intended from both a feel and enjoyment perspective when you have friends over who don’t enjoy more traditional video game controls.

This isn’t new for Mario Tennis, as Aces had motion controls. And like that game, Fever keeps motion contained to its own specific mode, which means you can go recklessly swinging your Joy-Con 2 controllers through the entire game.

To me, this mode isn’t a selling point, and I’m glad it hasn’t replaced the main control scheme. However, it’s the icing on the already wonderful cake. And who doesn’t want another layer of delicious, motion-controlled icing? Especially when the motion controls are done with the level of precision and accuracy we’ve grown to expect from Nintendo.

Mario Tennis Fever review: Verdict

Overall, I love Mario Tennis Fever, and it’s a game I’ll be returning to frequently whenever I have a group of friends over who want to try out the Nintendo Switch 2. No matter what you want from Mario Tennis, this game has it. From the singles matches to doubles to crazy mini-games, there’s something here for everyone.

The only real negative is that it feels a lot like previous Mario Tennis games. But if you love those games as I do, then that’s hardly a drawback at all. Nintendo got it right in so many ways with its latest iteration of Mario Tennis, making this a must-play for Switch 2 owners.

We're only a few days away from Valentine's Day, and it's when we want to shower our loved one with flowers and chocolates, and take them out to a fancy restaurant. But sometimes, you need to book weeks in advance to get a table at yours or your partner's favorite restaurant. That's why staying in is a great idea as you can avoid the dinnertime rush. Want to make it romantic? Light some candles, order your favorite takeaway, and play some video games.

I love gaming and it's one of my favorite things to do whenever I have time to spare. My partner, on the other hand, isn't big into gaming, and a couple of years ago, I finally convinced her to try a few couch co-op games on the Nintendo Switch — and we love playing them together. Regardless of whether your partner is a gamer or not, there are plenty of two-player games to enjoy (you don't need to be a pro gamer for that).

My personal top picks are Untitled Goose Game, where two players must work in tandem to unleash chaos upon a small town, and Overcooked, where you must prepare dishes on time to avoid burning down the kitchen. There are plenty more couch co-op and two-player games on the Switch, so read on to find out (and some are currently discounted too!).

Quick links

• Untitled Goose Game: was $27 now $24 @ Amazon
• Overcooked! All You Can Eat: was $39 now $33 @ Amazon
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder: was $59 now $49 @ Walmart
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: was $59 now $48 @ Walmart
• Luigi's Mansion 3: was $59 now $51 @ Amazon
• Super Mario Odyssey: was $59 now $49 @ Amazon
• Unravel Two: $19 @ Walmart
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics: $48 @ Amazon
• It Takes Two: $39 @ Amazon

Best couch co-op games for Valentine's Day

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• I'm a gamer and my partner isn't — but she still can't resist these 5 couch co-op games
• The best Nintendo Switch multiplayer games in 2025
• So you just got a Nintendo Switch 2 — here’s 5 essential tips you need to know before you start playing

During a recent earnings call, Nintendo revealed that while sales are up, profit is down after a tough year, and already thin margins could get tighter looking ahead to 2026 and beyond.

The call, first reported on by Bloomberg Asia, reveals a profit of 23%, less than expected. This is largely blamed on the 2025 tariffs instituted by the U.S. Trump administration, which impacted several countries where Nintendo produces the Switch 2, including China and Vietnam. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa highlighted the tariff issues while also raising concerns over the impact of rising memory costs.

"The market environment is indeed challenging. But we are engaging in long-term discussions with our suppliers to ensure we maintain a stable intake of chips,” Furukawa said.

He did not expect the RAM crisis to affect profits this year, thanks to a pre-built cushion, but moving forward, it could.

"From the next fiscal year onward, if this price hike lasts longer than anticipated, it could potentially put pressure on our profitability,” Furukawa added.

Despite the increase in tariffs, Nintendo had a record-setting year, with the company selling more than 17 million new consoles through December 2025.

Price increases?

Due to the ongoing memory shortage, it's suggested that Nintendo will sell different kinds of Switches, including new colorways, to ensure profitability. Still, rising component prices will be a struggle for not only Nintendo but also other major tech companies, including Apple and laptop manufacturers like Asus and Lenovo.