If, on a random Wednesday afternoon, you were considering picking up or replaying Braid on your Switch,then we’ve got good news for you. Braid: Anniversary Edition has received a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, and it’s out today.
Spotted by Nintendo Everything, at the time of writing, the game is available on the Japanese eShop, with other territories surely following suit very soon. It costs 3,169 yen for the game, or 475 yen to upgrade, so expect to pay a little extra for the Switch 2 magic when it hits the eShop in your region.
So, what does the Switch 2 Edition bring to Braid? 120fps gameplay (if your TV supports it), even more developer commentary, and 1080p handheld and 4K docked resolution. Very nice.
If you’ve never played Braid before, the critically-acclaimed puzzler came to Switch back in 2024 as an enhanced rerelease of the 2008 indie classic. The Anniversary Edition features lovely painted pixel art, additional challenges, and developer commentary.
The game’s creator, Jonathan Blow, spoke about the rerelease’s sales just a few months after it launched, calling them “utterly terrible”. Perhaps this Switch 2 Edition will give the numbers a boost.
His next game, Order of the Sinking Star, is coming to PC sometime in 2026.
Will you be grabbing Braid on Nintendo Switch 2 when it arrives? Let us know in the comments.
Pokémon Pokopia is a strange little concept. It’s a life sim set in the Pokémon world where you, a humanoid Ditto, set out to rebuild a fallen civilisation with the help of your pocket monster pals. Weird, right? Where could the inspiration for that possibly have stemmed from? Uhhh, the GBA’s Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire, it seems.
Game Freak’s Shigeru Ohmori sat down with VGC at a recent Pokopia preview event in Tokyo and spilled the beans about how the project started. “When I was working on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, I was continuously looking for new possibilities for Pokémon,” he said. “It brought me back to when I started on Ruby and Sapphire, creating those habitats and meeting the Pokémon for the first time. That led me to create the prototype for this game.”
Ohmori’s first work on the series came in the early 2000s, when he was tasked with designing maps for the flagship Gen III titles. “When I was creating the map, which was 2D at the time, I was putting grass onto it where Pokémon would appear,” he told VGC, “that feeling of Pokémon appearing when I was creating the habitat was very interesting to me, and that feeling is something I cherish.”
You can see how such a feeling went on to inform Pokopia. This is, on a basic level, a game all about making habitats and watching Pokémon rock up to make the most of them. Later in the VGC discussion, Ohmori brought up Ruby and Sapphire’s Secret Base building as a personal favourite non-battling series mechanic: “I would like to scale the Pokémon games in general, aside from battling. I will seek new possibilities to scale them.” It’s a game inspired by the joys of that early game development — how sweet is that!
“Anything that the Pokémon does was carefully curated on the lore that already existed,” game director Takuto Edagawa said in the same interview, “to ensure we didn’t break any of the past Pokémon canon.” It’s the reason why we’ve seen Ditto dropping a punch bag to attract a Hitmonchan or a fishing rod to attract a Magikarp in the Pokopia trailers, so it might be worth getting clued up on your favourite Pokémon’s likes/dislikes before diving in next month.
And it sounds like you’ll want to dive in as soon as possible, if our early preview is anything to go by. “It’s absolutely stuffed with charm and personality, and I get the feeling that it’s going to scratch an itch for anyone disappointed that we probably won’t be getting a brand new Animal Crossing anytime soon,” our Ollie Reynolds wrote, claiming that this could be the perfect antidote to the jaded Pokémon fan.
Pokémon Pokopia arrives on Switch 2 on 5th March.
Will you be picking up a copy of Pokopia next month? Let us know in the comments.
With Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebrations underway, fans are quite rightly curious about how Nintendo and The Pokémon Company might acknowledge the games that started it all.
Yes, without Pokémon Red and Blue (and Green), there would be no Pokémon and no 30th anniversary celebrations. Almost 10 years ago for the 20th anniversary, classic Pokémon games were added to the 3DS eShop on 27th February 2016. Users could buy these à la carte, long before Nintendo started to lean on subscription models for its retro games, and it made for an appropriate way to acknowledge the important milestone.
A new, unsubstantiated rumour from known Pokémon leaker Riddler_Khu (thanks, Vice Gaming) suggests that Nintendo might be gearing up to launch Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Switch for the 30th anniversary.
It’s not clear whether these might be available via Nintendo Switch online or as standalone purchases (or, indeed, whether it’s even a remotely credible claim at all), but it would make for a substantial addition to the GBA catalogue. Certainly, it would convince many Switch Online subscribers to upgrade to the more expensive Expansion Pack tier.
Whether this claim from Riddler_Khu is credible or not (and history suggests that their trustworthiness is sketchy at best these days), it’s nevertheless inspired us to speculate on whether classic Pokémon games will make a return for the 30th anniversary. And if they will, in what form should they take?
So, let us know what you think, dear readers, by voting in the below polls and leaving a comment in the usual place.
Should Pokémon Red and Blue return for the 30th anniversary? (1,750 votes)
Are you kidding? Of course!68%
That would be neat, I guess13%
Not fussed either way6%
Nah, let’s move on already6%
I’d prefer a later generation7%
If not Red and Blue, which mainline Pokémon games should make a comeback? (1,563 votes)
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition (GB)14%
Pokémon Gold And Silver (GBC)24%
Pokémon Crystal (GBC)8%
Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire (GBA)5%
Pokémon Emerald (GBA)9%
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (GBA)20%
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl (DS)0.8%
Pokémon Platinum (DS)2%
Pokémon Black and White (DS)11%
Pokémon Black and White 2 (DS)3%
Other (comment!)3%
Finally, in which format should the classic games be made available? (1,465 votes)
The new HD-2D title The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales locked in a June release last week, and alongside this news, the team has also revealed multiple save data bonuses if you own certain other Square Enix titles.
As long as you’ve got existing save data (or for certain platforms, purchase history on the same player account), you should be able to unlock these bonuses. It’s noted how demo save data for titles “may also fulfill the bonus eligibility requirements”.
“Sword magicite “Brave” – Increases sword damage dealt by 10%. Uses a little more shield stamina when guarding.”
VARIOUS DAYLIFE
“Sword magicite “Expeditionary Wisdom” – Reduces sword charge time by 10%.”
TRIANGLE STRATEGY
“Sword magicite “Counter Stance” – Increases sword damage dealt by 10% while shield stamina is 90% or greater.”
Square Enix further note how save data for an “eligible title” must be on the same Switch 2 console. And if you’re playing the game on Switch 2, and the applicable data is on an original Switch system, that data must be transferred to the Switch 2.
These save data bonuses can apparently be claimed at “any time”, even if the save data for one of these titles is created after starting the Adventures of Elliot. As for the length of this promotion, it’s taking place at the time of “release” but this does not guarantee it will be a permanent distribution or service, according to Square Enix.
Here’s how you can claim these items in-game when it launches for the Switch 2 on 18th June 2026:
How to claim the bonus items:
– Select the Promotional Bonus option from The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales’ title screen and link with any corresponding titles.
– Linking occurs automatically by opening the relevant screen.
– After starting a new game, examine the desk on the second floor of the orphanage in the Age of Safekeeping.
– Select Claim bonuses from the menu options to claim the qualifying bonuses from the list.
– Please note that bonuses cannot be claimed at certain points in the game when the orphanage in the Age of Safekeeping becomes temporarily inaccessible.
– Departure Brooch – Increases the amount of tul (in-game currency) and magicite fragments dropped by enemies by a little
Will you be getting this game on release? Are you eligible for any of these save data bonuses? Let us know in the comments.
Grasshopper Manufacture, the developer known for the No More Heroes series, launches its new game Romeo Is A Dead Man on multiple platforms today, but this doesn’t include Nintendo’s systems.
If you have been wondering about the chances of this new title getting a Switch release, we’ve got another update. During a special five-minute ‘Grasshopper Direct’ broadcast earlier on, company CEO Goichi Suda (aka Suda51) reiterated how the team is doing what it can to make a “Switch 2 version” happen.
“We’re doing what we can to make it happen, so again, please give us a little more time.”
This actually follows a comment Suda51 made last December, mentioning how the team wanted to bring the game to the Switch 2 but needed to make sure Unreal Engine 5 was “going to play nicely” with the new hybrid system, so it was testing everything out.
This update today also followed the news that Grasshopper is currently in talks with multiple parties about a “physical version” of the title.
And in one other surprising piece of news shared by Suda, it’s been revealed the developer is “almost 100% certain” it will be releasing “one more game” in 2026. As for the details about this new project, the team can’t reveal any information just yet, but another announcement should take place “soon”.
If you want to know more about the violent action adventure Romeo Is A Dead Man, check out Push Square’s review.
When we hear more, we’ll let you know. Would you be interested in playing this game on the Switch 2? Tell us in the comments.
Sega has been bolstering the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds roster with all sorts of paid and free DLC characters, and the fifth free update is out this week.
Following NiGHTS, who was added as a playable character at the end of last year, this time it’s AiAi from the Super Monkey Ball series. Alongside this, there’ll also be some exciting races taking place in the in-game Super Monkey Ball Festival between 12th February and 15th February.
This free update will include not only AiAi as a playable character, but also features his vehicle, the Banana Cruiser.
Apart from AiAi, the Sonic the Hedgehog IDW comic duo Tangle and Whisper are scheduled to be arriving as a free character update at some point later this month. When we hear more about this, we’ll be sure to let you know.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is available on the Switch and the Switch 2, with a paid upgrade for the title also an option.
Will you be racing as AiAi in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds? Tell us in the comments.
The Virtual Boy makes its grand return next week, with this particular retro library joining Nintendo’s Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.
Now that the final previews have gone live, to build some excitement, Nintendo has released a new themed My Nintendo Store reward for Switch Online members. It’s a Virtual Boy A4 poster and it’s available in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
It will set you back 400 Platinum Points and shipping fees apply. Here’s a description and another look:
“Party like it’s 1995 with this Virtual Boy A4 Poster, inspired by the original Japanese Virtual Boy instruction manual. This poster is exclusive for paid Nintendo Switch Online members. Perfect for decorating your living room, bedroom, home office, and more!” Product Size: A4, Material: Paper
If you haven’t already seen our latest coverage, you can find out more about the Virtual Boy service in our recent preview.
Nintendo also shared an overview trailer recently, showcasing the launch titles, two never-before-released games, and additional features such as the ability to change the colour of the screen.
What do you think of this latest My Nintendo reward? Will you be checking out the Virtual Boy library when it arrives on 17th February 2026? Tell us in the comments.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Camelot’s new game Mario Tennis Fever is out exclusively for the Switch 2 this week, and now that the reviews are in, we’re wondering if the community is planning on taking to the court.
If you haven’t already seen our review here on Nintendo Life, we’ve given this new entry a score of eight out of ten. While it might be a bit slim in the single-player Adventure Mode, there’s still a lot to like about it. Here’s our summary:
“The adventure mode is a letdown, and solo players don’t have a ton of options, but there’s depth and strategy at the core here that should see this one ace things online for some time to come.”
Now that we’ve all had some time to take in all the reviews, vote in our poll, and tell us in the comments if you’ll be picking up this new entry this week.
Will you be getting Mario Tennis Fever? (1,310 votes)
Alongside continuing the stories of Kazuma Kiryu and introducing the world to Ichiban Kasuga, Sega and RGG Studio has spent about a decade bringing back some of the older Yakuza / Like A Dragon games for modern audiences. Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, out on 12th February, is the latest of those remakes, following on (naturally) from Kiwami and Kiwami 2. But it sounds like, rather than moving onto the fourth game, the end of the Kiwami series is here (thanks, Push Square!).
In a Ryusta TV livestream broadcast earlier today, RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama said that “I think ‘Yakuza Kiwami 3’ will be the last one, and the ‘Kiwami line will come to an end.” (translation from u/Dastanovich on Reddit.)
Of course, that’s far from the end of the Yakuza — after all, we need more Ichiban in our lives (especially on Switch 2) — and Yokoyama elaborates that “I don’t think it’ll continue as the ‘Kiwami’ series anymore. I think a different series will begin. And not something like ‘Like a Dragon 9,’ but rather a new series on a different line, with a different meaning.”
This sort of sounds like new timeline stuff, but it also means that Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, and Yakuza 6 will be skipping the remake treatment — presumably. But with Yakuza Kiwami 3 reportedly making some controversial cuts and changes to the game’s story, there’s perhaps too much friction between the Kiwami games and the rest of the series.
Yokoyama seems to suggest that’s the case, as he says the decision to stop the Kiwami games “… might be something you’ll understand once you play ‘Yakuza Kiwami 3.'”
Reviews for the upcoming remake have been more on the mixed side than Yakuza is used to. We scored it a 6/10 on Switch 2, for example, with our own Ollie Reynolds calling it “a fair series entry, but one that’s tainted by poor pacing and a recasting controversy that simply didn’t need to happen.”
So, what’s next for Yakuza / Like A Dragon? A break? The next game? RGG is also working on a brand new IP, Stranger Than Heaven, and appears to be unrelated to RGG’s premier franchise.
Are you disappointed we won’t be getting a Kiwami 4? Get brawling in the comments.
AreFans are still speculating as to what exactly Danganronpa 2×2 is — part a remaster and rerelease of the original Danganronpa 2, part a brand new scenario, the game is largely shrouded in mystery. But while we wait for more info (and a firmer 2026 release date), Spike Chunsoft has opened up pre-orders for the physical release of the game.
On both Switch 1 and Switch 2, Danganronpa 2×2 will be getting a standard physical release — stocked at various retailers for $59.99 USD — which appears to include the game fully on the card for Switch 2.
Plus. there’s a special collector’s edition, appropriately-named the ‘Psycho Tropical Vacation Package’. This will set you back $139.99 USD and includes a RSVLTS reversible Psycho Tropical hat, a Kidrobot 3″ figure of bother tropical Monokuma and Monomi, an OST which includes remixes of the best tracks from the original game, and a clamshell-style outer box to display your collection in.
In addition, if you pre-order directly from Spike Chunsoft‘s Shopify page, you’ll get a 4″ Monokuma Flight Tag.
Image: Spike Chunsoft
Canadian store VGP has also opened up pre-orders for the game for $84.99 CAD (or $194.99 CAD for the special edition). European European orders will be handled by Reef Entertainment.
We haven’t seen much of Danganronpa 2×2 since its reveal at the September 2025 Nintendo Direct, though it was shown off at the Danganronpa 15th Anniversary Fes: Ultimate Appreciation Festival back in November.
The “all new storyline” being added to this rerelease is reportedly meant to be as long as the base game, which means double the content. And probably double the shenanigans. After Danganronpa V3, anything is possible…
Are you looking forward to Danganronpa 2×2? Let us know in the comments — don’t despair!
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
