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Feature: 11 Of The Strangest Game Over Screens On Nintendo Consoles

Ten of the Weirdest Game Over Screens
Image: Nintendo

Game over screens — as a professional gamer, you understand — aren’t something that I personally have a lot of firsthand experience with. Not through a lack of in-game skill, that’s for sure.

However, as I’m also a highly learned and incredibly hirsute scholar of the interactive arts (also a compulsive liar), I have made it my very important business to die on purpose many, many times in order to familiarise myself with the very best and most important ways to come-a-cropper, as they say, in a video game.

Now, as we all know, there are some instant talking points within this particular topic, stuff that everyone is going to bring up immediately: your GTA ‘WASTED’ screen; FromSoftware’s ‘You Died’; and all of the very many unpleasantly hilarious ways you can be offed in the Mortal Kombat series. These are cool, but they’re all a little bit obvious.

The same goes for that lovely Bond-styled death animation for GoldenEye on the N64 (something that got me very excited about life back at the tail end of 1997), and all those very well-written little comments and asides from Arkham’s finest criminals when Batman falls in Rocksteady’s spectacular series. All great ways to go, and all available to enjoy (or rage quit over) from the comfort of a Switch console, no less.

Today, though, instead of going with the more obvious choices, I want to pick out a bunch of the weirdest (or what I consider to be the weirdest) game over screens out there – and available to experience on Nintendo systems, if not your Switch. What are the strangest, darkest, oddest, most confusing, unusually brutal, or just-plain weird Game Overs I’ve seen with my poor little peepers (for research)?

Let’s find out!

Ten of the Weirdest Game Over Screens
Image: ZA/UM

Disco Elysium is up first here because it’s sort of a cheat for this kind of list, given just how many ridiculous ways there are to get a game over screen, which is represented in-game as a newspaper clipping detailing your demise and/or downfall.

From ending a run because you got your tie stuck in a ceiling fan, or because a street urchin called you a slur, to taking too much psychic damage because of a romantic rejection, there’s a lot to choose from. Honestly. Endless ways.

For me, though, the weirdest ending I’ve had is because I went to sleep in a dumpster. I mean, COME ON. I was tired.

Ten of the Weirdest Game Over Screens
Image: Atlus

I think it’s fair to say that Catherine: Full Body is a terrifying game for many reasons. It’s a weird one, a real oddball puzzler that had me squirming in my seat during sequences where demons are chasing me though my perverted, sweaty dreams. Or I’ve when I’ve suddenly turned into a very evil-looking goat.

However, it’s the game over screen — which at a glance is totally unremarkable — that has stayed with me long after wrapping the game up.

Firstly, Vincent is lying in his pants (and they have hearts on them, cringe) in a pool of blood. Nightmarish enough, but then he also proclaims that “now’s not the time to be dead” as Zigeunerweisen plays in the background and he resurrects.

What an absolute torturous nightmare of a scenario for the poor guy, a vicious circle of perverted poverty. Love is over, indeed.

Ten of the Weirdest Game Over Screens
Image: Eurocom

Disney’s Tarzan! Now what on earth is a game like this doing on a list of weird, oddball dark endings? A colourful family jaunt from the good old days that all the kids can play, as Tarzan makes his way through a lovely cartoon jungle full of friendly animaDIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! DIE TARZAN, DIE! DIEEEEEEEEEEE!

Sorry about that. But this is how it feels to die in this game, because the devs decided (and full marks by the way, it’s a blinder of a surprise) to give us a selection of game over screens, the worst of which is your lifeless body being dragged away by a crocodile.

Yes, Tarzan, you are about to be dinner, and then toilet material. Dreadfully sorry, old chap.

We Love Katamari REROLL treats us to a wonderfully weird (and shifting) game over when we fail its tasks. No time is wasted before a very angry King of the Cosmos is shooting lasers at us whilst berating everything about us and wishing he’d chosen our stupid cousins for the mission instead.

Oh, and those lasers make you shrink. So be afraid.

Chrono Trigger served up a real eye-opener with a game over screen that displays “…But The Future Refused To Change” upon death at the hands of Lavos.

This stark message conveys, very brutally, that the future is doomed and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it now. You are dead and you have failed in the biggest way possible. Ouch!

In the classic slice of 90s chaos, Virtual Bart, you play a level as Bart who has turned into pig form. Die as said pig and you’ll be treated to a game over screen that sees Homer tucking into a box of corndogs.

He picks out one shaped as Bart, then goes ahead and eats him, quickly followed by another regular one on top. That is cold, man.

Final Fight makes the cut here due to the sheer brutality of game over screens that see whatever character you happened to be pummelling everyone with tied to a pole. What’s more, they are surrounded by dynamite which is about to explode.

So yeah. Punishment by being exploded. Wow.

Friday the 13th (NES)

This golden oldie was way ahead of its time in terms of cutting directly to the bleeding point (quite literally) by welcoming your demise with a game over screen that reads “You and your friends are dead.”

I can tell you that, as a young child having a go at a game you probably shouldn’t, that message certainly leaves an imprint.

There are lots of weird ending screens in the Donkey Kong Country series, and some of this (I reckon) is just down to the era’s grubby-looking graphics.

However! Nightmare fuel is provided most especially in Donkey Kong Country 3, as when you come a cropper, you’re seen imprisoned in the sort of nasty-looking toy box you’d expect to pull out of a scary lake.

Okay, look. What if I just say, “Small pants muscle man rotating under disco lights, very small pants, sweaty…seems like it’s going on in a dingy, smoky room. Please make it stop now.”

Does that jog any memories? The Mystical Ninja/Goemon games have a tradition. They’ve got form with these weird game over screens, but they went a step further in Goemon’s Great Adventure, getting the game over dancer right down to a very small pair of underpants. And he’s dancing.

Why is this happening?

Brutal with a capital B, you can find The Punisher on the Marvel vs Capcom Arcade Fighting Classics Collection for Switch, and it’s made the cut here because I have genuinely never forgotten it after having witnessed it first time in ye days of yore.

The scene in question involves you having CPR performed on your lifeless body by a desperate doctor as a timer counts down. Fail to continue and the doc is overcome with grief. Fairly dark stuff for a jaunt down the arcade, lads. Jeezo.

A big shoutout to GameOverContinue for most of the embedded vids above. Got any favourite off-kilter endings or death screens to share? Let me know!

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Disney Afternoon Collection Pops Up On Switch 1 & 2 eShop, Includes Two Additional Games

Disney Afternoon Collection
Image: Digital Eclipse

One of the strangest omissions from the Switch’s library in our eyes is the Disney Afternoon Collection, which launched on every platform but Nintendo’s console in 2017. But after an ESRB rating was spotted recently, a listing has now appeared on the Japanese eShop for both Switch 1 and Switch 2.

VGC spotted the listing earlier today and is listed for 2,300 yen (about 11 GBP, or 14 USD, so expect pricing to be a little higher in the West) on Switch 2, with a 10% pre-order discount and a release date of 26th February 2026. At the time of writing, store pages have not gone up in other regions, but it’s only a matter of time at this point.

Looking at the key art and the game description (via Google Translate), 1993’s Goof Troop and 1994’s Bonkers will also be part of the package. Neither of these games have been rereleased before, so that’s pretty exciting!

Here’s the full line-up of games in their NES or SNES versions for the Switch 1 & 2 versions:

We’ll update you when Digital Eclipse or publisher Atari confirms the official release.

Will you be picking up the Disney Afternoon Collection on Switch 1 or 2? Let us know in the comments.

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PSA: Dispatch’s ‘Visual Censorship’ Settings Can’t Be Removed On Switch

Dispatch Blonde Blazer
Image: Nintendo Life

AdHoc Studios’ superhero narrative adventure, Dispatch, made quite a splash when it arrived on PC and PS5 last year with its sweary humour, adult themes, and yes, spicy visuals. It launches on Switch 1 and 2 later this week, but don’t expect to see everything if you’re playing solely on Nintendo systems.

As noted in our review, the ‘Visual Censorship’ toggle — which let you decide whether to see any rude visuals like nudity or profane gestures in the PC and PS5 versions — has been removed from both Switch releases. The censorship setting is automatically turned on, and there is no way to change that.

So, what does this mean for the full experience? On Switch and Switch 2, you’ll still get to see every scene in the game’s eight episodes, but a black censor bar will pop up to cover any spicier visuals by default. The usual stuff (genitals, bare nipples) gets covered, obviously, but we also noticed the odd middle finger getting the bar treatment, too.

We reached out to AdHoc Studios to ask why the setting had been removed and got the following response:

“Different platforms have different content criteria, and submissions are evaluated individually. For our Switch release, we worked with Nintendo to adapt certain elements so Dispatch could be on their platform.”

To be clear, no scenes have been cut in the Switch versions, and the ‘Profanity Censorship’ toggle remains, so you can still hear swearing if you so choose. However, the most drastic edit we noticed was a particularly steamy scene in episode four — full of moans, groans, and swearing in the initial release — which now takes place with no dialogue or vocal audio whatsoever, even with profanity enabled.

Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen censoring on Nintendo platforms. From the famous Mortal Kombat gore-removal in the ’90s all the way through to more modern examples like the Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore Switch release, Nintendo is no stranger to wanting things cleaned up for its consoles — bar some notable exceptions like Cyberpunk 2077‘s detailed character customisation, naturally.

For us, baked-in censoring made no difference to our enjoyment of the game as a whole — the black bars are frequently hilarious and take away little from the overall experience. “Dispatch is the kind of superhero drama that draws you in with the sexy characters and funny one-liners,” we said, “and hooks you until the bitter end with the potential of its ever-changing arcs.”

What do you make of this decision to tweak the game’s censorship settings for Switch? Let us know in the comments.

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Review: Dispatch Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – A Cracking Superhero Caper, With Some Naughty Bits Covered Up

As a big old superhero nerd and a fan of Telltale’s narrative adventure games of old, it’s fair to say that Dispatch piqued my interest when it made its episodic arrival on PC and PS5 last year. Still, I took a punt and held back on purchasing because it simply had to be coming to Switch at some point in the future. Well, Jim of the past, come to Switch consoles it has.

Coming from AdHoc Studio, formed by four former Telltale employees in 2018 in the hopes of capturing the episodic magic they had with the likes of The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us and Tales from the Borderlands, Dispatch drew me in with top-notch writing, stellar voice work and a visual style that’d look right at home in an animated TV drama and didn’t let me go until I reached its ‘season finale’. It’s not going to pick up any prizes in the gameplay department, but Dispatch is every bit as wonderful on Switch 2 as I hoped it would be.

Dispatch Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review - Screenshot 1 of 6
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)

The game follows Robert Robertson, aka Mecha Man, an Iron Man-type man-in-a-suit (bar the billion-dollar backing) who, after his robo-suit is dramatically ripped from his clutches, is offered the chance to lead a rag-tag band of villains-on-the-mend at the Superhero Dispatch Network.

Right from the jump, you’ll notice a fair few influences. There are shades of the ‘super hero loses his powers’ trope we’ve seen countless times before, and the team of reformed villains, the ‘Z-Team’, naturally brings the likes of Suicide Squad or Thunderbolts to mind. There’s also more than a touch of Invincible in some of the visual stylings and adult themes. But through all of that noise, Dispatch manages to feel fresh.

It’s only right I shout out the writing first, because this script rules. The quips and sight gags kept me giggling throughout, but damn, I did not expect these characters to get half as much development as they do. Folks were quickly drawn to the heroes’ undeniable good looks at launch (in fairness, they are all outrageously sexy), but it’s their personalities — their growth as people, not just heroes — that make them far more interesting than a set of chiselled abs.

Dispatch Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review - Screenshot 2 of 6
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)

Take Chase, Robert’s childhood babysitter, whose super-speed abilities have sped up his ageing process, rendering him an old man before hitting 40. He’s as potty-mouthed as anyone — if the 18+ age rating wasn’t enough of a giveaway, this is not a game for little ears — but underneath that rough exterior, there’s a real sense of pain and fear of reaching a premature expiration date.

Across all eight episodes, I became equally attached to Invisigirl and she struggled to put her past behind her, Phenomaman and his post-break-up spiralling, and Blonde Blazer with her desire to do right, regardless of the cost. If it sounds rather grown-up, that’s because it is.

Select cartoon superhero media like Invincible or 2019’s Harley Quinn have juxtaposed child-friendly visuals with gore, sex and swearing, and Dispatch similarly wears its convention-defiance on its sleeve. Indeed, the first episode wastes no time dropping some f-bombs, discussing dead dads and throwing some full-frontal in there for good measure.

Dispatch Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review - Screenshot 3 of 6
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)

The Switch 2 version mostly stays true to this edgy vision, with some caveats which might water down the experience for some. The ‘Visual Censorship’ setting from the PS5 and PC release — which gives you the option to cover any rude bits with an obnoxious censor bar — isn’t present here. From private parts to middle fingers, everything is automatically covered with no option to remove. A particularly steamy scene at the start of episode four also takes place in complete silence, whether you have the ‘Profanity Censorship’ toggle on or not.

Personally, I don’t think this takes anything away from the experience; the scenes still exist, just with a few strange bars with often-hilarious placements, but it’s odd that we can’t choose to remove the restrictions. I reached out to AdHoc to ask why the setting had been removed and was told the following:

Different platforms have different content criteria, and submissions are evaluated individually. For our Switch release, we worked with Nintendo to adapt certain elements so Dispatch could be on their platform.

Of course, the writing was on the wall for this one all along (we noted the game’s ‘censored’ eShop artwork back in December). Yet, if Cyberpunk‘s *ahem* detailed character customisation can slip through uncensored, I don’t understand why Dispatch is forced to make omissions.

Dispatch Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review - Screenshot 4 of 6
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)

The plot remains untouched, mind you, which is great, because my love of the characters is the driving force behind my decision-making. Much like the team’s back catalogue, Dispatch lives and dies on its dialogue trees. Some options are inconsequential, but the vast majority are met with a little message in the top corner of the screen as a reminder that my choice, good or bad, will have consequences.

I’ve played the game through twice now, intentionally making different choices on my second playthrough to see just how much sway they held. Certain story beats are set in stone, but I was pleased to see just how much influence I held over the journey; even the less important decisions rewarded me with some cracking unique dialogue for taking the path less travelled.

That dialogue really sings thanks to one of the most stacked voice casts in recent memory. Everyone from Hollywood big hitters like Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, BoJack Horseman) and Jeffrey Wright (Boardwalk Empire, Westworld), to YouTube stars MoistCr1TiKaL and jacksepticeye is involved. The immensely popular D&D wizards at Critical Role — Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham and Matt Mercer — are also part of the cast.

Dispatch Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review - Screenshot 5 of 6
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)

In short, you won’t be bored during the cutscenes. And that’s good, because Dispatch has a lot of them. Dialogue tree cinematics are broken up by your dispatching work at the SDN offices, where the game turns into something vaguely reminiscent of a management sim. Calls come in with different skill requirements, and it’s up to you to pick the right hero for the job.

Successfully completing jobs lets you enhance your heroes’ skills to have more control over the situations you’re putting them in, and you can even train them to learn unique abilities. I soon began to mould the team to my liking, utilising unlocked skills rather than base abilities to answer more calls and shift the odds in my favour. Suffice to say, I became far more engaged in the call-outs’ tactics than I expected.

Dispatching heroes with controller inputs is a little fiddly and feels more suited to a mouse and keyboard — Mouse Mode is not available in the Switch 2 version — but I soon settled into the rhythms of using the D-pad to select a call/hero. Luckily, touch controls have been implemented for handheld play, which is a nice touch.

Dispatch Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review - Screenshot 6 of 6
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)

Short ‘hacking’ minigames also appear while Robert is on call, tasking him with moving through a virtual maze without being caught/timed out. While it lacks the depth of the hero management side, it was a welcome change whenever I got tired of comparing the team’s mobility and vigour.

But the beautifully animated story sequences are the real meat here. You can opt to play in either ‘Cinematic’ or ‘Interactive’ modes, the latter of which includes some mostly-pointless quick-time events for you to input in select combat sequences. It’s a fine enough way of breaking up the watching, if that’s your cup of tea, but I quickly turned them off to just watch the action play out instead. After all, how often can you say that you’ve ‘binged’ a game?

And just as a final brief note on performance, it all plays swimmingly on Switch 2. I wouldn’t expect something like this to be too demanding on Nintendo’s latest, of course, but a stable 60fps went a long way to convincing me that I was tucking into a juicy TV show.

Conclusion

Thanks to the sublime writing, fantastic voiceovers, and a level of animation you’d usually expect from a big-budget streaming series, Dispatch is the kind of superhero drama that draws you in with the sexy characters and funny one-liners, and hooks you until the bitter end with the potential of its ever-changing arcs.

The lack of any visual censorship options on Switch is a strange one, and some will undoubtedly find things lacking in the gameplay department, but I’m already gearing myself up for a potential ‘season 2’. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re like me and it clicks, it really clicks. Is it too soon for a ‘rewatch’?

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Scott Pilgrim EX Brings More Beat ‘Em Up Action To Switch In March

Update #3 []: And there you have it, Scott Pilgrim EX is coming out on — you guessed it, at least if you spotted it on Nintendo’s website earlier — 3rd March 2026. A physical release will follow at a later date.

Now confirmed by Tribute Games, the beat ’em up follow-up — which contains a brand new original story made in collaboration with the graphic novel series’ creator Bryan Lee O’Malley — will also be adding two new characters to the roster.

First up is Matthew Patel, a member of the League of Evil Exes who is more than a little bit theatrical. In battle, he uses his supernatural skills to call forth additional arms, fire attacks, and summon “demon hipsters”.

The second new character is Robot-01, a creation of the Katayanagi Twins who is fast and ruthless, using missiles and projectiles to melt crowds of enemies in record-time. You can see how both characters play via the trailer up-top.

And, for a rundown of what to expect from the fighter, here’s some key features from the game’s eShop listing:

– 7 Playable Characters
Step into the shoes of seven fan-favorite fighters, each with their own distinct combat style.

– A Brand-New Adventure
Venture out on epic quests and battle new enemies and bosses across interconnected levels in a new story by series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley that will appeal to longtime fans and newcomers alike.

– Madcap Melee Mayhem
Master creative combos, wield wacky weapons, use your surroundings to your advantage and conquer the chaos!

– Power Up!
Spend your hard-earned coins to customize your fighter! Equip special items and upgrade your stats to create a unique build for every playthrough!

– New Anamanaguchi Music
Known for their explosive blend of 8-bit energy and hyper-melodic rock, the band returns to their roots with all new music crafted for this Toronto-hopping adventure.

– 4-Player Co-Op Mayhem
Join forces with up to three friends, locally or online, with easy drop-in/drop-out co-op. Battle solo or hit the streets together.

For more details on the game, check out our previous stories below…

Update #2 []: [Wed 28th Jan, 2026 02:05 GMT]:

Scott Pilgrim EX was previously confirmed for a Switch release in early 2026, and according to an update on Nintendo’s official website, it will be arriving on 3rd March 2026 for $28.99 (or your regional equivalent). If we hear any other news about this upcoming beat ’em up release, we’ll let you know.

Update #1 []:

[Sun 27th Jul, 2025 08:00 BST]:

At San Diego Comic-Con this weekend, Tribute Games has released a new gameplay trailer for Scott Pilgrim EX. You can see it in action above.

“The sneak peek of gameplay for the upcoming beat’em-up highlighted the start of Scott and Ramona’s romp through Toronto. With Sex Bob Omb’s instruments stolen, the duo has to race across the city’s landscape, from its streets to its beaches (Toronto always had beaches, right?) and maybe even back in time to reclaim them from new gangs that threaten to take over the world and Ramona’s returning evil exes.”

Along with this, Limited Run Games has announced physical editions which will be available to pre-order from now until 21st September 2025. There’s a standard edition, deluxe edition and ultimate edition.

Here’s some additional PR, along with a look:

The Scott Pilgrim EX – Standard Edition ($39.99) includes:

  • Game case with foil key art cover exclusive to the Limited Run Games’ preorder
  • Reversible cover art with artwork by Crisppyboat
  • Game disc/cartridge

The Scott Pilgrim EX – Deluxe Adventure Edition ($64.99) includes:

  • Game case with foil key art cover exclusive to the Limited Run Games’ preorder
  • Reversible cover art with artwork by Crisppyboat
  • Game disc/cartridge
  • Tie-in comic by Bryan Lee O’Malley
  • CD game soundtrack
  • Deluxe box with reversible cover art by illustrator Matias Bergara

The Scott Pilgrim EX – Ultimate Adventure Edition ($174.99) includes:

  • Game case with foil key art cover exclusive to the Limited Run Games’ preorder
  • Game disc/cartridge
  • CD game soundtrack
  • Scott Pilgrim EX Game Goose replica box
  • Reversible poster featuring art from Bryan Lee O’Malley and Matias Bergara
  • Hardcover artbook / strategy guide
  • Acrylic diorama with Scott and Ramona figures
  • Pixelated, two-sided commemorative coin

Original Story: [Sat 7th Jun, 2025 02:30 BST]:

We’ve got some exciting news for Scott Pilgrim fans, with Tribute Games announcing it’s teaming up with Universal and the series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley to release an “all-new, action-packed” video game entry on multiple platforms including the Switch.

Scott Pilgrim EX is set to arrive in “early 2026” and will reimagine the fan-favourite universe with its modern approach to traditional brawlers. Here’s some official PR about what exactly you can expect:

“Players take on the role of Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers and more of the all-star crew to battle a variety of enemies in a warped version of Toronto overrun by demons, vegan henchmen and robots in an epic quest to save the city.

“With hard-hitting combat and explosive art, Scott Pilgrim EX reinvents classic 2D brawling for a new era, blending high-energy action with fun character progression. Each of the seven playable characters features a full move set from the start, but players can customize their experience through upgradeable stats, and equippable special items making every fighter feel truly personal. Players will be able to dive into a brand-new storyline, co-written by Bryan Lee O’Malley and the team at Tribute Games. They can also unleash creative combos, wield wild weapons, and brawl through co-op action—set to all-new music by Anamanaguchi —as Scott Pilgrim EX delivers a bold new chapter for longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

Apart from the creator, who is deeply involved in this project, Anamanaguchi will also be returning to provide an explosive blend of 8-bit and “hyper-melodic rock”. Pixel artist Paul Robertson is also helping out Tribute’s in-house team on character animations and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off director and showrunner Ben David Grabinski is also on board as a creative consultant.

Check out the reveal trailer above and let us know if you’re excited for this one in the comments below.

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Still Haven’t Played Stardew Valley? It’s The Next Free Game Trial For NSO Members (Europe)

Stardew Valley
Image: ConcernedApe

If, by some chance, you are one of the six remaining people on Earth who haven’t played Stardew Valley and you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, then boy, do we have good news for you.

Nintendo has announced that ConcernedApe’s beloved farming sim is the next title to get the Free Game Trial treatment (in Europe, at least), offering the full game to those with an NSO subscription for a limited time.

From 29th January until 4th February, members will be able to play Stardew to their heart’s content, and yes, that includes all of the multiplayer options too. Those who haven’t played it before, be warned, it can prove quite the time sink if it clicks.

Just in case you missed it, the game scored a free Switch 2 Edition update at the end of last year, throwing in a bunch of fun features for the new hardware like mouse mode, Game Share support and new multiplayer options.

“Stardew Valley on Switch 2 is almost the best way to play the game (without mods),” we said in our review of this swanky new version, “just a few bugs, which the developer is currently working on, hold it back from perfection.”

Will you be checking out this free game trial or have you already played Stardew to death? Plant your thoughts in the comments below.

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Ren & Stimpy Are Getting A 7-Game Retro Collection, Courtesy Of Limited Run

Ren & Stimpy Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy Collection
Image: Limited Run Games

If the news of the Nickelodeon Splat Pack release date earlier this week wasn’t enough cartoon nostalgia for you, Limited Run Games has revealed that it has even more in the pipeline for Switch, in the shape of the Ren & Stimpy Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy Collection.

This is a seven-game compilation title, collecting together a handful of the Nickelodeon duo’s SNES and Game Boy adventures. The titles included in this one are The Ren and Stimpy Show: Space Cadet Adventures (Game Boy), Veediots! (SNES and Game Boy), Buckeroo$! (NES and SNES), Time Warp (SNES) and Fire Dogs (SNES) — yes, that does mean Quest for the Shaven Yak and Stimpy’s Invention are missing, unfortunately.

As we have come to expect from retro compilations like this, the Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy Collection gives you the chance to rewind gameplay and save from anywhere, as well as other additions like a music player and an artwork museum.

It’ll come as no surprise to hear that there are a few different purchase options from LRG (once pre-orders open on 30th January), including a ‘Classic Edition’ for $69.99, which comes with a retro VHS cover and a steelcase, and a ‘Collector’s Edition’ for $109.99, which packs in a bunch of extra merch like a CD, poster, mini cartridge replicas, an acrylic standee and more.

Ren & Stimpy Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy Collection
Image: Limited Run Games

These pre-orders will only be sticking around until 1st March, so you better get saving your pennies if you want to grab the merch-packed edition. While there’s no specific release date just yet, Limited Run estimates that the physical editions should ship sometime between July and September 2026.

What do you make of this Ren & Stimpy collection? Let us know in the comments.

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Side-Scrolling Robo-Shooter Remake ‘FZ: Formation Z’ Blasts Onto Switch 2 This May

City Connection and Granzella have announced that FZ: Formation Z, the side-scrolling robot shooter from all the way back in the perm-riddled dark days of 1984 (so long ago this writer had a full head of hair!), is to be resurrected on Switch 2 this very year (thanks, Time Extension).

Now, 1984 is a long time ago, yes, and so you may be thinking ‘meh’ to the idea of resurrecting something so very antiquated. Until you check out the trailer at the top of this article, that is. Also, you may have already played the OG game already on Switch via the Arcade Archive re-release and are now just a rabid fan. Welcome, either way!

It does seem as though the devs here have gone to town with this remake of a Jaleco golden oldie, with a full revision of everything from the graphics, gameplay, and sound, whilst “staying true to the classic gameplay and intuitive controls of switching between Robot and Flight forms”. They’ve even brought new weapons to the table. It certainly looks like a good time, judging by the intense and colourful action on show in the gameplay vid, with some very nice R-Type-but-with-big-stonking-robots vibes that this writer is here for all day long.

The remake will release in Japan on 21st May across multiple platforms, and although a Western release hasn’t been officially confirmed for Switch at the time of writing, the trailer above does contain the Clear River Games logo, who were attached to publish the game in Europe according to a release plan leak from Embracer Group. So, fingers crossed, then.

More good news: It’ll arrive in both digital and physical forms, and the physical isn’t a Game-Key Card, either. Huzzah!

Digital editions will set you back 4400 yen (so roughly £20 or whatever that is where you’re located). The physical edition comes in two flavours: a fancy Limited Edition for 14,850 yen (around the £70 mark) which includes a soundtrack, robot-making kit, bonus weapon content and a fancy box for presentation, and a slightly less snazzy standard physical for 5,940 yen (almost 30 British pounds).

Finally, here’s some more official details, as per the Steam page, and some screens:

Key Features

  • Transforming Gameplay: Rule the Land or the Air!
    • Your Ixpel can transform in real-time between land and air as long as your energy lasts.
    • Will you choose the Robot Form to dominate the ground with melee attacks and precision shots, or the Flight form to rip through the battlefield at overwhelming speeds?
    • Traverse five vast Mission freely and carve out your own path to victory.
  • Customize Performance in The Factory
    • Use FZ Points earned in missions to unlock new Ixpel and cosmetic items. Enhance your firepower by equipping modules into four available slots.
    • Whether you build a well-balanced Ixpel with no openings or specialize one trait to its absolute limit is entirely up to you.
    • With Part swaps, different colours, and stickers, the joy of building your ultimate style is yours to discover.
  • Challenge Your Limits in Score Attack
    • Once a mission is cleared, Score Attack Mode is unlocked.
    • You can challenge individual mission to beat your personal best, with high scores recorded for each area.
    • Use your fully customized machine to rewrite the record books.
  • Extensive Archives: Record Your Path Through Battle
    • War Record: Tracks total enemies defeated, sortie counts for each Ixpel, and more.
    • Enemy Data: A detailed encyclopedia of every foe you’ve taken down.
    • Gallery: Unlock stunning artwork by completing specific in-game conditions.
    • As you fight, your legacy grows. Keep battling to complete your records!

Does FZ: Formation Z look like your cup of T? Played the OG? Speak words to me! (In the comments.)

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Switch Online’s Virtual Boy Adding New Feature To Change Screen Colour “Later This Year”

Colour
Image: Nintendo

Yesterday, Nintendo shared an update about its Virtual Boy library coming to the Switch Online + Expansion Pack next month.

Although it seemingly doubles down on the requirement to purchase new headsets, on a more welcoming note, there will be some quality-of-life enhancements. Apart from the usual options, including save states, the ability to rewind gameplay and remap controls – in case you missed it, there’ll also be the option to change the colour of the screen.

Yes, users will actually be able to remove the red lens and swap to the following colours to make the whole experience a little easier on the eyes:

Colour
Image: Nintendo
Colour
Image: Nintendo
Colour
Image: Nintendo

The one downside is that this colour change option won’t actually be available at launch next month. According to Nintendo, it will be coming “later this year”, so you’ll just have to wait! Once again, this new feature will require users to physically “remove the lens cover” from the headset.

What are your thoughts about this new feature? What other options do you think Nintendo should add to this particular library of games? Tell us in the comments.

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WWE 2K26 Is Reportedly On The Way To Switch 2

WWE 2K26
Image: 2K Games

WWE 2K25 delivered an excellent Switch 2 port last July, and if you were hoping for the next entry on Nintendo’s new hybrid system, it seems you’re in luck.

According to Dealabs’ Billbil-kun, who has accurately reported on game announcements ahead of schedule in the past, the next WWE 2K will not only be coming to the Switch 2, but it will also be arriving on the same date as the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 counterparts.

The current date for WWE 2K26‘s launch is apparently scheduled to take place on 13th March 2026, with pre-orders expected to open this week, so we’ll provide an update if we hear anything. The source has also shared some details about the physical copy of the game, claiming it will be another “code-in-box release”, much like last year’s entry.

When we find out more, we’ll let you know. In some other sports-related news, it seems the next chapter in the MLB The Show series will actually be skipping the Switch 2, as Sony sticks with a Switch release for now.

Would you be interested in playing this next WWE game on the Switch 2? Did you play WWE 2K25? Tell us below.