Author: sick skills

After getting its hooks in us last year with its addictive ‘rogue ’em up’ gameplay loop, Absolum is heading to Switch 2 later this year… with a full physical release.

Silver Lining Interactive today announced that the fantasy roguelike’s next-gen physical is now available to pre-order from its online store for £44.99 / €49.99 / $49.99. While a precise release date hasn’t been given just yet, the publisher expects the copies to ship at some point in Q3 2026.

You might recall that the game landed a physical release on Switch 1 last year, accompanied by a ‘Special Edition‘ which threw in some extra merch for good measure. Said Special Edition is still available on the Silver Lining website, and the upcoming Switch 2 version only seems to be coming as a ‘Standard’ purchase — so don’t expect any bonus merch for the new hardware. That said, the publisher has confirmed that the full game will be on the Switch 2 cartridge, so every cloud.

As for whether this Switch 2 physical will boast any performance boosts on the new hardware, well, we’re still not sure just yet. We’d like to think that the Switch 2 release will make the most of the system’s improved specs, but only time will tell. We have reached out to Silver Lining Interactive and will update you if we hear any details in response.

Not that the game necessarily requires any improvements, mind you. In our 9/10 review, we described Absolum as “incredibly impressive in its reconstitution of arcade, role-playing, and roguelike formats, evolving them into something fresh and exciting”. In short, we’ll take any excuse to dive in all over again.

Will you be picking up Absolum’s Switch 2 physical? Let us know in the comments.

After a short pause for the Easter Bank Holiday, this week’s UK charts are finally in, and no, it’s not the most surprising ranking this time.

The top 10 is much as you might expect, with EA SPORTS FC 26 holding onto the top spot once again, and Switch 2 hits like Mario Kart World, Pokopia, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A hanging around with the front runners, too — shoutout to LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which made an impressive jump from 32nd last week to fourth this time!

Proving the power of a movie tie-in, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 has also seen a healthy boost this week, defying gravity as it rises from 23rd to 12th. It’s even managed to leapfrog Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which now finds itself in 13th after a brief ‘Switch 2 Edition’ bump.

Here’s the full top 40, with platform breakdowns for games available on Switch, Switch 2, and other consoles:

Last Week	This Week	Game	Platform Split
1	1	EA Sports FC 26	PS5 38%, Switch 24%, PS4 13%, Xbox Series 12%
3	2	Resident Evil Requiem	PC 60%, PS5 32%, Switch 2 5%, Xbox 3%
2	3	Mario Kart World
32	4	LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga	PS5 63%, PS4 20%, Xbox Series 11%, Switch 6%
5	5	Crimson Desert
4	6	Nioh 3
12	7	Hogwarts Legacy	PS5 56%, Switch 2 29%, Switch 10%, PS4 3%
6	8	Pokémon Pokopia
9	9	Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
10	10	Pokémon Legends: Z-A	Switch 2 54%, Switch 46%
7	11	Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds	PS5 46%, Switch 44%, Xbox Series 4%, PS4 3%
23	12	Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2
8	13	Super Mario Bros. Wonder	Switch 61%, Switch 2 39%
–	14	Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
14	15	F1 25
16	16	Mortal Kombat 1	PS5 99%, Xbox Series 1%, Switch 0%
19	17	Donkey Kong Bananza
18	18	Minecraft
17	19	Animal Crossing: New Horizons	Switch 77%, Switch 2 23%
21	20	Resident Evil 2
20	21	Grand Theft Auto V
22	22	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
25	23	Super Mario Party Jamboree	Switch 58%, Switch 2 42%
34	24	Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions	PS5 53%, PS4 26%, Switch 21%, Xbox Series 0%
13	25	WWE 2K26	PS5 74%, Xbox Series 16%, Switch 2 10%
–	26	Cars 3: Driven to Win	PS4 82%, Switch 18%
–	27	It Takes Two	Switch 91%, PS4 9%
31	28	Tekken 8
40	29	Assassin’s Creed Shadows	PS5 60%, Switch 2 23%, Xbox Series 17%
28	30	Nintendo Switch Sports
–	31	Mortal Kombat X
24	32	Split Fiction	PS5 64%, Switch 2 30%, Xbox Series 6%
–	33	LEGO Harry Potter Collection	PS4 70%, Switch 25%, PS5 5%, Xbox Series 1%
27	34	The Witcher III: Wild Hunt GOTY Edition
–	35	Dragon’s Dogma II
38	36	Resident Evil 4
15	37	The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature
–	38	LEGO City Undercover	PS4 87%, Switch 13%
35	39	Battlefield 6
33	40	The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Complete Edition

[Compiled by GfK]

< Last week’s charts

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That’s it for this week’s physical UK charts! Any surprises? Did you pick any of these games up? Let us know in the comments.

Despite rejecting Direct protagonist Angie in favour of Dr. Winters, Hugh Morris was undoubtedly the star of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream‘s solo January Direct. This jolly little heartbreaker pulled in quite the online following after his Direct debut, so it makes sense that Nintendo would want to wheel him out again in the game’s new trailer.

Titled ‘Part-Time Jobs and Full-Time Friends’, the latest trailer is all about the aftermath of Hugh Morris’ surprise romance revelation, as Angie’s best pal Crystal sets out to cheer up her dejected buddy.

We get a taste of Living the Dream’s job options and more weird interactions, with Crystal and Angie picking up strange restaurant orders, doing a spot of knitting and… watching Hugh Morris discuss his love life on live TV? Gulp.

All in all, it’s another slice of the game’s weirdness that we have been oh-so-enamoured by in its marketing so far. We’ll get to see the full game for ourselves next week on 16th April, but there’s a free demo available to keep us all entertained until then.

Will you be picking up Living the Dream next week? Let us know in the comments.

Nintendo and Columbia Pictures have been pretty quiet when it comes to information regarding the upcoming The Legend of Zelda movie, but according to an updated IMDB page (thanks, Go Nintendo), it seems that the project’s composer may have been confirmed.

We’re not going to treat this as gospel until it’s officially announced, but the IMDB page now lists John Paesano as the composer with the legendary Koji Kondo serving as consultant. Paesano has collaborated with director Wes Ball in the past on films such as Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and the Maze Runner trilogy, so this would certainly make sense.

He’s also branched out into the world of video games himself, having composed the score for Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man 1 & 2 and Miles Morales for the PlayStation.

Now that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is out in the wild, chances are we’ll start to see more information about The Legend of Zelda crawl out of the woodwork as we get closer to its 7th May 2027 release date.

We already know that actors Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have been cast as Zelda and Link respectively, with Nintendo releasing a small handful of images showing the pair in all their glory. It’s also been confirmed that the film will makes its way to Netflix following its theatrical and home release periods.

We’ll keep our eyes peeled for more official information in the coming days, weeks, and months and keep you updated.

Do you think John Paesano would be a good fit for The Legend of Zelda? Have you caught his work in Wes Ball’s previous films? Let us know.

Nintendo Music continues to add new tracks to its library, and this week sees the arrival of more songs for the Splatoon 3 album.

As described in the mobile app, this new update adds a total of 112 tracks to the service. This includes tracks from the DLC Side Order, the Grand Festival and “more”. You’ll be able to listen to songs such as “Leaving with Pearl” and “Short Order” by ‘Off the Hook’.

This takes Splatoon 3’s album from 118 tracks to a whopping 230 tracks, with over 8 hours and 30 minutes of music.

Splatoon’s single-player Side Order DLC was originally released in 2024. You can find out more about it in our review here on Nintendo Life. Apart from the Splatoon 3 album, Nintendo has also added the Splatoon and Splatoon 2 soundtracks to its music service. Of course, you’ll need an active Switch Online subscription to listen to these albums on this app.

This latest update follows soundtrack updates for Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Springfest will also return in Splatoon 3 later this week on 11th April 2026.

What do you think of this latest soundtrack update for Nintendo Music? What other songs would you like to see added to this service? Let us know in the comments.

Apart from the release of Pragmata this month, Capcom has announced it will be celebrating 20 years of Okami.

This anniversary date takes place later this month on 20th April 2026, lining up with the title’s original Japanese release on the PlayStation 2 in 2006. As part of this, the Okami team says it’s currently preparing an anniversary event:

“In just 15 days, on April 20, 2026, Okami will celebrate its 20th anniversary! We’re also preparing a 20th-anniversary event, so please look forward to it!”

No other details have been shared at this stage, but attached to this announcement is an illustration of Amaterasu and Issun:

As a reminder, a sequel to the original legendary action-adventure game was announced at The Game Awards in 2024. Hideki Kamiya (Devil May Cry, Bayonetta) will also be returning to direct this brand-new project.

If you haven’t already played the first game, you can pick it up on the Switch eShop. For more details, check out our review:

If we get any significant updates from this event, we’ll let you know.

Following a major system update for the Switch 1 and 2 last month, Nintendo has now released a much smaller firmware update for both hybrid platforms.

Version 22.1.0 includes “system stability improvements” following the rollout of Version 22.0.0, which introduced a lot of improvements and adjustments. So, this latest update is likely crushing some bugs and smoothing things out. If a datamine does reveal anything else about what’s going on with this latest update, we’ll be sure to let you know.

For now, this is a reminder to update your system if you want to be able to access the latest content and continue playing games online. Here’s the full rundown via Nintendo’s official support pages:

Nintendo Switch 2 Update – Ver. 22.1.0 (6th April 2026)

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Nintendo Switch Update – Ver. 22.1.0 (6th April 2026)

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

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If you didn’t catch last month’s update, the Switch 2 update included the surprise release of “Handheld Mode Boost“, which allows users to run Switch software on the Switch 2 Handheld Mode, as if it was in TV Mode. Dataminer ‘OatmealDome’ also notes how some Mario Switch icons were updated in Version 22.0.0.

This latest firmware update has arrived ahead of the “free-to-start” title Pokémon Champions this week, and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream next week. Nintendo Music has also been updated today with more Splatoon 3 tracks.

Have you downloaded this update yet? How are you finding Handheld Mode Boost since the previous update? Let us know in the comments.

The city-building survival series Frostpunk recently held a special broadcast about “all things Frostpunk”, and during this event, developer ’11 bit studios’ announced a Switch version of the original title. Yes, after years of community requests for a Nintendo version, it’s finally happening.

This was announced alongside Frostpunk 1886 – a definitive version of the original 2018 release featuring “substantial new content” that’s arriving in 2027. More details about the Nintendo release of the first Frostpunk game, including a release date, will be shared in the future.

“The Frostpunk story began in 2018 with the bestselling original game that introduced players to survival city-building. That experience will soon be revisited in Frostpunk 1886 – a definitive version of the original with substantial new content, detailed further in upcoming developer diaries on Steam. For players who prefer to command their city on the go, the original Frostpunk is also coming to Nintendo Switch.”

Although there’s no specific mention of a Switch 2 release in the PR, most games nowadays are getting all sorts of paid and free updates, and even standalone editions on Nintendo’s new hardware.

Here’s a bit about the original Frostpunk video game via the developer’s official website, along with another look:

“Frostpunk is the first society survival game. As the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and its infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure your society’s survival?”

Build a city powered by steam to oppose the overwhelming cold
– Establish laws and rule the society according to your will
– Heat is life – harness its power
– Secure crucial resources in a time of need
– Explore the frozen wastelands for knowledge, survivors and supplies
– Make the best decisions in the worst circumstances

Our colleagues at Push Square reviewed Frostpunk for the PlayStation 4 in 2019 – awarding it eight out of ten stars, and calling it a “tense, nail-biting experience like few others in the genre”.

“The feeling you get from surviving the campaign is one of utter, unbridled joy, and it’s that feeling more than any other why we have absolutely no qualms about recommending Frostpunk to you.”

Would you be interested in this game on Switch? Have you already played Frostpunk? Let us know in the comments.

Ubisoft has announced it’s releasing a new update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows this week across all platforms.

Title Update 1.1.10 comes loaded with all sorts of gameplay improvements. Most notably on the Switch 2, you can look forward to mouse and keyboard support – allowing you to take “full control of Naoe and Yasuke in a whole new way”.

Apart from this, there are a bunch of bug fixes. Here are the full patch notes, courtesy of Ubisoft’s website. The Switch 2 version of this patch will be around 5.4 GB.

AC Shadows Title Update 1.1.10 – Release Notes (7th April 2026)

Patch Highlights

Bo for Everyone!

Don’t have the Claws of Awaji Expansion? No worries!

You can now find non-legendary Bo weapon just by exploring the shadows of Feudal Japan. Once you’ve earned at least one Unique Bo, the non-legendary versions can start dropping from enemies, showing up in chests or appearing at merchants like any other weapon.

Mouse and Keyboard Support on Switch 2

A new way to play arrives! Mouse and Keyboard support is now available on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Take full control of Naoe and Yasuke in a whole new way, wielding your weapons with the precision and freedom of your favourite setup, to traverse the shadows of the night with delicate stealth. Your fight. Your style. Your way.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

Gameplay

• Fixed an issue with fast travel points being unavailable.
• Enemies can now suffer up to 5 afflictions at the same time.
• Fixed an issue with extra Rations being obtained from Claws of Awaji not being visible under maximum Rations in stats sheet.
• Fixed an issue with damage increases not applying while unarmed.
• Fixed an issue with various stat sources capping at +100%.

UI

• Fixed crashing issue when checking add-on content.
• Resolved an issue where total progression remained at 97.89% after all content was completed.
• The Detailed Stat Sheet now shows Combo Ender damage and correctly reflects any damage issues.
• Detailed Stat Sheet adjusted to now display capped and uncapped stats more clearly.
• Fixed an issue after updating, encountering a ‘Missing Content’ error causing the player to lose all gear earned from the expansion Claws of Awaji.

Weapons & Perks

• Corrected an issue for Yasuke’s Samurai passive ability “Defensive Break Level 3” showing +50 instead of 150% damage on enemy collisions.
• Fixed an issue with the “Critical Insight” heighten senses upgrade being nonfunctional.
• Fixed an issue with the “Hidden Onslaught” hidden hand upgrade being nonfunctional.
• Fixed an issue with “Extended Duration” Tenzutsu Burst upgrade, from Claws of Awaji being nonfunctional.
• Fixed an issue where the “Defensive Breach” upgrade would not show +50% damage on enemy collisions once upgraded to rank 3.
• The “Oni’s Rage” Kanabo’s perk now specifies it spreads 25% bleed buildup on kill.
• Fixed an issue with some trinket perks requiring the inventory to be closed before visible in Detailed Stat Sheet.
• Fixed an issue with “Underworld Emissary Horns” helmet perk’s bonus damage not vanishing after entering a smoke bomb’s radius.
• Fixed an issue with “Claws of the Tides” long Katana perk sometimes failing to make the next attack postured.
• Fixed an issue with affliction conversion perks being nonfunctional.

Localization

• The “Hurricane Stance” Naginata ability from Claws of Awaji now specifies how much ability damage is dealt.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Quests

• “Brothers In Arms”: Fixed an issue where players are unable to loot corpses to progress in the mission.
• “Lost and Found”: Fixed an issue after defeating Sentinel Boss while remaining in the arena.
• “The Winter Raiders”: Players can now complete the mission after defeating all the Winter Raiders.

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We called Assassin’s Creed Shadows on the Switch 2 an “ambitious port of a captivating series refresh”. While it admittedly had some issues at launch on Nintendo’s platform, Ubisoft has released multiple updates since then to improve the overall experience.

Will you be checking out this new patch for Assassin’s Creed Shadows? How about mouse and keyboard controls? Let us know in the comments.