Category: Nintendo News

Another month, another hybrid splurge. And, despite the progress made in Wreckfest and Saints Row 4, another couple of reluctantly shelved items on top of the space previously cleared with two GTAs in January. But the tradeoff was not only getting FFXII back on board, but also greedily surrounding myself with a bagful of enticing backlog bloaters for the weekend (Core Keeper, Knight Witch, Going Under, Paranormasight, Warriors Abyss and Caravan SandWitch while yet others from Brigandine, Home and Curse of the Sea Rats to Penko Park, Scar of the Doll and PopSlinger will await their own hour). Naturally… if for a given definition of “natural”👀… the already installed playthroughs will still be competing with this bunch for this nerd’s free time and attention as well – driving stuff from the aforementioned titles to Truck Driver and Super Mario Kart (itself close to a wrap-up, although the last two 150cc cups can drive you in a fairly nutty direction even with all the emulation perks applied💀), adventure mysteries like Athanasy and Danganronpa, simulations like PowerWash and Idol Manager, roguelites from 20xx and Little Noah to Dust & Neon and Rogue Legacy 2, JRPGs from Xenoblades, Tales and Ateliers to Rune Factories, Personas and Fantasy Lives… and some other possibilities like Carto, RE0, Monster Sanctuary, Luminaria and Astroneer.

Handheld consoles, aside from a couple more Miracle Cure stages, may take a backseat for the next few days, outbeckoned not only by Deck (which saw Tales of Arise and Oblivion wiped in light of their respective NS2 ports’ advent, then Elex and Wondership Q immediately taking some of their space) but even PS4 which I’ve finally made slightly more portable with a pretty basic but proportionally affordable 11.6″ external display – the resulting combo may still not so readily lend itself to my “downtown downtimes”, but not having to plug into a living room TV might just streamline the procedure for occasional home sessions. The likes of GTA 5, Star Ocean IaF, New Order and Uncharted are all likely to be summoned as witnesses to those expectations over the weekend. I even curiously tested both hybrids in docked mode, the results feeling satisfactory if predictably redundant.

Pokémon is celebrating 30 years this year, and as part of this, trainers around the globe can expect all sorts of exciting (and surprising) announcements.

Ahead of the annual event Pokémon Day, taking place later this month on 27th February 2026, Stern Pinball has announced it will be stepping into the battle arena with its very own themed pinball cabinet. And yes, we’re referring to an actual pinball cabinet here (not a video game).

The price of admission? Well, according to the official landing page, it’ll be available in three varieties and is “coming soon”. The Pro model starts at $6,999, the premium model is $9,699 and the “highly collectible Limited Edition model” is going for $12,999. This particular model is also limited to 750 units “globally”.

If you want future updates about this cabinet and when exactly it drops, you can sign up for email updates on the official website. And if you’re ready to purchase or happen to be a business owner (or just want to enquire about one), you can also fill out a form for that.

It’s worth noting that the prices for this Pokémon cabinet are in line with the current offerings on Stern’s website, which include cabinets based on series such as Star Wars, X-Men, and Jurassic Park.

When we find out more, we’ll be sure to let you know.

It’s an action-packed week on the Nintendo front, and on top of the Partner Direct, we also shared a bunch of previews earlier this week.

If you haven’t already seen our preview for Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park we’re not so sure about it so far. Here’s what staff writer Ollie Reynolds had to say:

“Ultimately, I’m struggling to find much of a reason to splash out on the £16.99 / $19.99 Upgrade Pack for Mario Wonder so far. I did take note of just how sharp, clean, and vibrant the visuals were in the Switch 2 Edition, so that might be just enough to convince me to make a leap. But if the multiplayer modes were meant to tempt me into a purchase, I’m afraid they’ve largely failed in their task.”

So, what did other critics have to say? Here’s the round up:

Game Informer: “Meetup in Bellabel Park is about what I expected based on the trailers, and that’s a good thing. I had a great time in Attraction Central, and knowing there are so many more stages in each minigame has me looking forward to playing the full release with some family on my couch.”

Polygon: “Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Jamboree TV, and Meetup in Bellabel Park all serve similar purposes: They show what kind of play is possible with Switch 2 and leave you excited to see what Nintendo can do in a full Mario Party or WarioWare game. The novelty factor that currently makes add-ons like this fun to toy around with is bound to wear off before the console’s one-year anniversary. If mouse controls are going to be more than a bonus gimmick, we’re going to need some more substantial games that make use of the feature soon.”

DualShockers: “If you have a friend group you can line up to play together with on a game night, or perhaps some gamer kiddos on hand in your household, Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the Switch 2 is absolutely going to be a winner that you can break out time and time again.”

IGN: “Each game certainly had some fun to offer, but afterwards I couldn’t help but feel like this concept is awkwardly straddling the line: if I wanted multiplayer mayhem with Mario characters, there are so many other, better options like Mario Kart, Party, or 3D World, just to name a few. And, if I wanted 2D Mario, I’d much rather play the traditional Super Mario Bros. Wonder campaign, which I adore. To be completely fair, there is more traditional content on the way in Wonder’s Nintendo Switch 2 Edition in the form of Wonder Effect boss fights against the returning Koopalings and extra challenges that take place in pre-existing levels, but I didn’t get to try any of that at this preview event. Even so, none of this Edition’s additions currently feel as exciting as a couple of extra brand-new worlds likely would have.”

GameSpot: “None of these minigames would be worth the price of admission on their own, but altogether, the package looks to be substantial. We only got a taste of a handful of the minigames during our multiplayer session, and each one we tried had multiple difficulty levels with different stages to try. I also got the sense that there was more to be discovered, possibly through the collection of those special coins that were so tricky to get during the cooperative stages.”

GoNintendo: “Your interest in this add-on will likely be dependent on how often you’re able to get a group of friends together to play. If you’ve got a core gaming group, and you’re the type who likes a silly collection of multiplayer games in the vein of Nintendo Land or Mario Party, Bellabel Park should fit the bill.”

How are you feeling about this Switch 2 Edition and DLC ahead of its March release? Let us know in the comments.

Mario Tennis Fever launches for the Switch 2 next week, and if you want to try out the game before it’s released and happen to be located in North America, there’s now a free in-store demo.

It’s available at select Best Buy, GameStop, Target and Walmart Stores in the US. And in Canada, you can take to the court at Best Buy and Walmart.

Nintendo’s in-store Switch 2 kiosks have also offered demos for games such as Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Unfortunately, there’s no mention of this latest first-party demo being made available on the eShop (at least yet), but if we hear any updates, we’ll let you know.

Although we didn’t share a full preview of this title, Nintendo Life staff writer Ollie Reynolds recently went hands on with the new entry, and thinks Mario Tennis fans will be “absolutely thrilled” with the new title. We’ve also done a previews round up if you would like to find out more about this new game.

In some related news, earlier this week, Nintendo announced it would be hosting special launch events for Mario Tennis Fever at its stores in New York and San Francisco. These events will feature the game demo, photo ops, a gift alongside the purchase of the title and more.

Will you be checking out this Mario Tennis demo before the full game arrives on 12th February? Let us know in the comments.

Nintendo’s Partner Direct was loaded with all sorts of surprises, and one of the biggest announcements for retro fans was Hamster Corporation’s reveal of its new Console Archives series for Switch 2 (and PlayStation 5).

This will revive classic games, originally released on home consoles, on modern hardware. Two titles Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos and the PlayStation title Cool Boarders are already available on the Switch 2 eShop, so what else is on the way?

Hamster has now provided details about what else is on the way in its latest Japanese broadcast. It features many of the games showcased in the initial announcement. Doraemon by Hudson has been dated for July, but the rest of these games don’t have a release date just yet.

For now, here’s what’s on the way in the near future (via Gematsu):

– Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (Tecmo 8-bit) – Out now for Switch 2
– Cool Boarders (UEP Systems, 32-bit) – Out now for Switch 2
– Doraemon (Hudson, 8-bit) – 30th July 2026
– Nobunaga’s Ambition (KOEI, 8-bit)
– MagMax (Nichibutsu, 8-bit)
– Sonic Wings Special (Video System, 32-bit)
– Dezaemon Plus (Atena, 32-bit)
– Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (Nippon Ichi Software, 32-bit)
– Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia (Toshiba-EMI, 32-bit)
– Monster Rancher Hop A Bout (Tecmo, 32-bit)
– UFO: A day in the life (ASCII, 32-bit)

Like the Arcade Archives series, Hamster’s Console Archives series is “packed with convenient features”. This includes customisable button layouts and screen settings, as well as the ability to save and load at any point.

Apart from its reveal of Console Archives, Hamster also announced it would be adding Rave Racer to its Arcade Archives collection on 26th February 2026.

Have you tried out the first Console Archives releases yet? What other games would you like to see added to this new digital library? Let us know in the comments.

Capcom has finally released its demo for Pragmata on the Switch 2 and some side-by-side comparisons to the other versions of the game have now been shared online.

If you are wondering this version holds up, according to YouTube channel ElAnalistaDeBits, the Switch 2 will run at a lower resolution than the Xbox Series S version, but upscaling is supposedly better on Nintendo’s console. This is also said to apply to the Switch 2’s filtering and shadow quality, which shows “better results”.

As for the game’s frame rate, all consoles target 60fps, but the Switch 2 release apparently struggles to maintain this frame rate during more heated moments.

Nintendo Life staff writer Ollie Reynolds recently previewed Pragmata and had the following things to say about the game’s performance and resolution:

“It felt pretty stable and consistent during my time with it. There are a few visual downgrades compared to the likes of PS5 with some muddy textures and a slightly fuzzy resolution, but it’s a handsome game nonetheless with impressive lighting and a strong art style.”

Have you tried out the Pragmata demo on the Switch 2 yet? What are your thoughts so far? Let us know in the comments.

The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. And blimey, that Partner Showcase added a handful of new releases to the pot, too.

As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!

Switch 2 eShop – New Releases

Card-en-Ciel Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Inti Creates, 29th Jan, $29.99) – Card-en-Ciel Nintendo Switch 2 Edition 　Releasing January 29th, 2026, Card-en-Ciel Nintendo Switch 2 Edition brings the acclaimed roguelite card battling adventure to the Nintendo Switch 2 natively, allowing for high resolution 4k or high framerate 120 FPS modes. Players can also swap to mouse controls at any time by changing the position of the Joy-Con 2, allowing for quick selection of cards during battle.

Carmageddon: Rogue Shift (34BigThings, 6th Feb, $39.99) – Carmageddon smashes back with a spin-off roguelite vehicular‑combat mayhem. Adapt, upgrade, and unleash destruction on post‑apocalyptic zombie hordes. BRUTAL CAR COMBAT REBORN The legendary Carmageddon engine tears into 2050’s post‑apocalyptic streets. By day the skyline smolders; by night zombie hordes – the Wasted – flood every avenue. Your only way out is to win the Carmageddon: a chain of lethal underground races whose champion earns a shot at the last spaceport beyond the mountains.

Console Archives Cool Boarders (Hamster, 5th February, $11.99) – “Cool Boarders” was released by UEP SYSTEMS in 1996 for a 32-bit home console. It is a snowboarding game that uses 3D graphics to capture the pure excitement of racing down snowy mountains at breakneck speeds. Experience the thrill of navigating cliffside courses, show off your skills with jumps and tricks, and master your own unique style through a variety of runs!

Console Archives NINJA GAIDEN II: THE DARK SWORD OF CHAOS (Hamster, 5th Feb, $7.99) – “NINJA GAIDEN II: THE DARK SWORD OF CHAOS” was released by TECMO in 1990 for an 8-bit home console. In this side-scrolling action game, the Dragon Ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, fights with his katana and ninjutsu to stop the resurrection of an evil god. The title gained worldwide popularity for the thrill of conquering demanding stages with ninja actions, combined with cinematic “Tecmo Theater” cutscenes that look just like a movie.

DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined (SQUARE ENIX, 5th Feb, $59.99) – Rediscover a tale of plucky companions brimming with joy and heartbreak as you discover the truth behind why your kingdom is the only remaining island in the world. The game features a new art style that blends diorama visuals with iconic character designs, a streamlined main story, Moonlighting system that allows two vocations to be equipped at once, and more. – Read our DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined review

Draw King (Takahiro Miyazawa, 5th Feb, $5.65) – Draw the prompt using the Joy-Con™ 2 mouse! Your artwork will be graded by your AI teacher! From everyday items to famous landmarks. . . Take on a wide variety of drawing challenges!

Hollow Knight – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Team Cherry, 5th Feb, $15.00) – Epic action and adventure in a vast kingdom of insects and heroes on Nintendo Switch™ 2, with higher resolution, improved frame rates and additional effects.

Novel Rogue – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Kemco, 29th Jan, $20.99) – Improved resolution and text visibility, with support for mouse controls. In this card deck-building roguelite full of pixel artwork, dive into thrilling, turn-based card battles where every decision counts. Build and customize decks across four unique systems, each tailored to the worlds within the books. Collect powerful cards, use Ink to enhance your deck, and adapt your strategy to overcome enemies and unlock special endings. With randomized dungeons and escalating challenges, each run is a fresh test of your skills.

PGA Tour 2K25 (2K, 6th Feb, $69.99) – PGA TOUR 2K25 for Nintendo Switch 2 features the full array of features available on other platforms, including: EvoSwing: Realism is dialled up with the all-new EvoSwing mechanic for both Swing Stick and 3-Click Swing. Whether a player is new to the franchise or a seasoned veteran, EvoSwing complements the player’s own rhythm and dexterity to better simulate the feeling of swinging a golf club when using Swing Stick.

Super Bomberman Collection – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Konami, 5th February, $24.99) – Party battle game “SUPER BOMBERMAN” is now available as a collection featuring a total of 7 titles with 12 versions across JP, EUR and USA, including the long-awaited localised versions of the unreleased SUPER BOMBERMAN 4 and 5! Including Boss Rush mode to time attack against all the bosses in each title, support functions, libraries and more!

Switch eShop – New Releases

Chromacell (171Dev, 5th Feb, $5.00) – Chromacell is a horizontal scrolling retro style 2D shoot ’em up with colourful pixel-art graphics. Select one of four difficulty modes and take on the enemy hoards!

Cloudberry Kingdom (RedoApps, 2nd Feb, $14.99) – In Cloudberry Kingdom, the beloved platformer returns, now available on modern consoles with improved resolution. Dive into a world where every jump, jetpack boost, and wheelie roll feels new, yet comfortingly familiar. Meet Bob, the courageous hero of Cloudberry Kingdom. When the nefarious King Kobbler threatens to plunge the kingdom into chaos, Bob must rise to the challenge. With the princess in peril and the kingdom’s future at stake, Bob sets off on an epic quest to save the day

Cozy Pets and Friends (Trefl S.A, 29th Jan, $14.99) – Our bundle is a treat for gamers! Race a chicken, create an album with stickers of cute animals, or deliver pizzas while being chased by a cunning cat! It’s all in this adorable set!

Cute Bonfire (Afil Games, 5th Feb, $4.99) – Step into the warm world of Cute Bonfire, a charming pixel-art puzzle game set inside a fireplace. Take control of a little fire spirit that moves tile by tile, pushing charcoal pieces to light up the bonfires. With 30 levels of gradually increasing difficulty, delightful visuals, and a cozy, relaxing atmosphere, Cute Bonfire is perfect for casual players who love the satisfaction of solving puzzles. Guide your fire spirit across the grid, pushing charcoals in the right order to ignite all the bonfires.

Dirt Racing Bundle 4 in 1 (SuperPowerUpGames, 6th Feb, $24.99) – This pack includes the games: -Rock ´N Racing Off Road -Speed Truck Racing -WildTrax Racing -Rally Rock ´N Racing

DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined [Switch 1] (SQUARE ENIX, 5th Feb, $59.99) – RAGON QUEST VII Reimagined brings a timeless classic to life in a whole new way with charming diorama visuals, updated gameplay mechanics, and a streamlined story. For seasoned adventurers, rediscover a tale of plucky companions that is brimming with joy and heartbreak. For fledgling heroes new to the series, this is a great place to begin your DRAGON QUEST journey.

Dragon Spira (KEMCO, 5th Feb, $19.99) – Experience a nostalgic pixel-art RPG packed with classic turn-based battles, a board game-style growth system, and a wide range of customizable jobs. Collect items, unlock powerful Wonder Skills, and raise a Spirit Beast companion that evolves with the story. Spin the roulette, grow stronger, and uncover the truth behind the sealed legends!

DunHero (REDDEER.GAMES, 3rd Feb, $7.99) – DunHero is a fast-paced fantasy action roguelite where no two runs are ever the same. Pick from 28 unique playable classes. Each hero starts with different gear, abilities, and strengths. Grow stronger with every run, unlock powerful upgrades, and experiment with builds that match your playstyle – or try something completely new!

EGGCONSOLE SUPER TRITORN MSX2 (D4 Enterprise, 5th Feb, $6.49) – Released by SEIN SOFT in 1986, this side-view Action Role-Playing Game (Action RPG). Players control the hero Tritorn, battling numerous monsters and embarking on an adventure to restore peace to Luwanda Island, which is dominated by Pay Balusa.

Exorcist: Horror Simulator (BurleaGamesStudio, 5th Feb, $7.99) – Step into abandoned rooms where whispers crawl along the walls and shadows refuse to behave. Your job isn’t to shoot first—it’s to investigate, identify what’s haunting the place, and perform the right rituals before fear, doubt, or something far worse overwhelms you.

Five Hearts Under One Roof (StoryTaco, 5th Feb, $24.00) – Step into a world of romance and unforgettable moments! Five Hearts Under One Roof is the top live-action FMV romance simulation game, offering you the power to choose your story, shape your relationships, and unlock the love of your dreams.
Ready for love, friendship, or a thrilling romance? Start your journey now and see where your choices lead you!

Fred and Jeff: The Atomic Sulfate (Ratalaika Games, 30th Jan, $5.99) – Originally developed as a pest repellent the atomic sulfate can turn insects into giants. And now has been stolen! The world is in danger! Join our heroes in their quest to bring it back from the inside of a tyrant’s fortress. Infiltrate, find the spray and come back home with it in this point and click style game.

Frostholm Isle (Downmeadowstreet, 7th Feb, $4.99) – Frostholm Isle is a calm walking simulator set on a remote island inspired by Nordic legends and Viking-era villages. Explore at your own pace through snow-dusted paths, wooden longhouses, frozen shores, and quiet hills overlooking the sea. There is no combat, no danger, and no urgency! Feel the crunch of snow beneath your feet as cold winds drift through the village. Distant waves crash against icy cliffs, and soft ambient sounds bring the island to life.

Graviators (HAPPY HOME GAMES, 5th Feb, $14.99) – Engage in multiple game modes and arenas that remix the core rules and keep every match exciting to play and watch. Looking for a light‑hearted competitive game for your next game night? GRAVIATORS is a great pick for couch play with friends. Play competitively in 1v1 or 2v2 matches, or team up in the cooperative Meteor Shower high‑score mode.

Greyhill Incident Re-probed Edition (Perpetual Europe, 10th Feb, $24.99) – “Greyhill Incident is a story-driven Survival-Horror game that takes place during the early 90s. As Ryan Baker, equipped with a baseball bat and a few bullets in his trusty revolver, the story takes you across the atmospheric neighbourhood of Greyhill, which is invaded by UFOs & Grey Aliens.

Jigsaw Realms: Villages (Downmeadowstreet, 6th Feb, $2.99) – Discover charming worlds piece by piece in Jigsaw Realms: Villages, a relaxing jigsaw experience set in beautifully illustrated fantasy and stylized villages. From cozy countryside hamlets to magical towns tucked between hills and rivers, each puzzle invites you to slow down and enjoy the journey.

Junkyard Builder Simulator (DubassGames, 5th Feb, $4.99) – The gates creak open, and you step into a wasteland of rust, smoke, and forgotten machines. Engines whisper stories of their past lives, and piles of metal wait for a second chance. It’s your job to bring the junkyard back to life—or let it swallow you whole. Take the wheel of your truck and carve a path through twisted wrecks and shattered dreams. Scavenge for scrap, uncover hidden treasures buried beneath the rust, and decide what’s worth saving.

Lovish (DANGEN Entertainment, 5th Feb, $14.99) – LABS and Matt Kap present Lovish, an outrageous 8-bit-styled action-adventure game! Venture through a series of bite-sized rooms, slicing up monsters, collecting items and getting to the exit! After exiting each room, enjoy a short event scene, in which anything could happen! Will you find an item? A random encounter RPG fight? Will the world get destroyed? Find out by conquering each room of the Devil Lord’s castle, one challenge at a time!

Magic Rune Stone (BD Games, 5th Feb, $9.90) – Also features a built-in “Survivor Mode”. In the world of Magic Rune Stone, battle through challenging rooms. Mix and match unique skills and equipment, select exclusive abilities, and craft a truly custom character. A massive selection of skills, gear, unique Blessings, and Treasures delivers thrilling, high-stakes gameplay. Each hero has a dedicated Signature Skill Slot, featuring a different ability per character. Each also has a unique upgrade tree for this skill. Use different Blessings to unlock and select from various skill specializations.

Pin Strike 3 (NOSTRA GAMES, 5th Feb, $4.99) – You know all the rules and possible combinations, so just enjoy new levels and new obstacles! This bowling is still not the classical one. Knock down everithing with just one shot. It’s challenging and fun! Try the newest levels — you will be surprised at how strange they are! Check out the new fun game from the NOSTRA. GAMES team. New even more strange levels to discover!

Screw Master (Webnetic, 5th Feb, $4.99) – Screw Master is a fun and engaging puzzle game where players must strategically remove screws to dismantle intricate wooden structures. Each level presents a new challenge requiring logical thinking and precise actions. With 50 levels of increasing difficulty, can you master the art of unscrewing?

Snow Bros. Classic Collection (Limited Run Games, 6th Feb, $14.99) – Toaplan’s hit Snow Bros is back! This arcade-style, fixed-screen platformer follows brothers Nick and Tom through epic levels in the Kingdom of Hottoda to save two trapped princesses, each possessing the magic of snow… and the only hope for the realm. As evil King Atchich seeks to take over the world, the snowmen we love must set out to storm the enemy’s fortress and rescue their princesses!

Sora – Winds of the Jungle (EpiXR, 5th Feb, $11.99) – Embark on a breathtaking journey through the jungle skies in Sora – Winds of the Jungle. Play as a vibrant parrot and soar across tropical islands, dense canopies, waterfalls, and ancient ruins. Your goal is simple yet meaningful: stay close to your flock as you all travel across the wild, untouched archipelago.

Space Bubble Shooter (EntwicklerX, 6th Feb, $4.99) – Space Bubble Shooter is a classic bubble shoot game. This addictive classic bubble blast match-three game comes with clean and modern graphics, hundreds of great challenging levels and some nice special items for better game experience in harder levels. Clean and simple 3D graphics with nice light effects gives the game a special touch.

Stunt Driver Collection (BoomBit Games, 29th Jan, $17.99) – Have you ever wanted to feel like a super agent performing spectacular stunts? Have you ever been late on a plane and had no time left to park your car and run for the check in? And you were wandering: Why can’t I just park my car inside a plane? Are you a little bit insane? This is not an impossible mission. Drive your rocket boosted car directly into a cargo hold of a flying plane! And remember, timing is crucial here! One second less and you’re gone! So hurry! You’ve got a plane to catch! It’s a bird! No, it’s a plane!

Super Bomberman Collection [Switch 1] (Konami, 5th February, $19.99) – Hit party battle game series ‘SUPER BOMBERMAN’ now available as a collection! Party battle game “SUPER BOMBERMAN” is now available as a collection featuring a total of 7 titles with 12 versions across JP, EUR and USA, including the long-awaited localised versions of the unreleased SUPER BOMBERMAN 4 and 5!

Traditional Braves with SESS-AI 2.0 (Daidai, 5th Feb, $14.99) – This game is Remake of our work “Traditional Braves”. This is team’s turn-based Simulation RPG. Rules are simple and reasonable, but never easy. To win the battle, you must use “Cheer Magic” well. The most important thing is your inspiration.

Trigodpats (Nerd Games, 6th Feb, $19.99) – Join the gods Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades on an epic journey to defeat Typhon, his wife Echidna, and their monstrous offspring. A war erupts to rescue Hera, Demeter, and Hestia, all captured by Typhon and his relentless minions. The fate of Olympus rests in your hands.

So that’s your lot for this week’s North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!

“Oh no, not again…” I say as I boot up Hollow Knight – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, “Am I about to play through this game for a third time?”

I didn’t really need much to entice me back into the world of Hallownest, but after downloading the free upgrade within hours of it releasing, I somehow lost three hours of my life going through Godhome, dabbling in some Pantheons, and getting my backside handed to me by Pure Vessel and Absolute Radiance.

This is the first time I’ve picked up Team Cherry’s game since I beat the sequel, Silksong, and I was surprised at how quickly I slipped back into The Knight’s very-different skillset. His steadier movement and smaller build is more deliberate and requires a different mindset than Hornet does, but it turns out, I haven’t lost those skills I developed way back when I first played Hollow Knight.

That meant I could focus on everything this Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is bringing to the table and while it isn’t a huge upgrade, you can’t complain — this is free, after all (if you already own the Switch 1 game, at least. But the full game is also very cheap).

The upgrade focuses entirely on the look and performance of the Metroidvania: now, on Switch 2, you can play Hollow Knight at 4K resolution (docked) and 120fps, if your TV supports it. Handheld, the resolution has been bumped to 1080p, and that 120fps is also an option. You can toggle the frame rate in the in-game options.

To most, 120fps isn’t going to be noticeable, but like when I played Silksong on Switch 2, I felt a difference in my gameplay almost immediately. I was missing enemy swipes by mere pixels and perfectly timing pogos and nail slashes at the perfect distance more frequently. The Knight felt snappier, despite being a lot slower than Hornet.

That feeling was universal across both docked and handheld for me; whether I was exploring the glowing confines of Crystal Peak or soaking up the rain in City of Tears or expertly dodging attacks from the Sisters of Battle, it reminded me of what a joy Hollow Knight is to play, even in the wake of its improved sequel.

But part of that might also come from a lack of input delay, something which fans complained about in the original Switch release. I shared some brief thoughts in our original review, but it’s something I genuinely never noticed until I started playing on Switch 2, and tackled the same few bosses on both consoles. I was noticeably better and more-reactive on the newer console; even when I was dying, I was consistently closer to beating the boss each time on Switch 2.

The star of the upgrade, however, is the improved visuals. Beyond simply bumping the resolution, which makes the game look much-more crisp, Team Cherry has also added “additional effects”, which is a modest way of saying improved the lighting, the level of colour (particularly the shades of black and grey), and highlighted more details in the backdrops.

Now Crystal Peak’s gems glimmer with an even more vibrant purple, contrasting even stronger with the dim lamps and the darker areas of the map. Greenpath’s lush, verdant foliage feels more alive with deeper greens and shinier thorns. Even the Crossroads’ dim, grey hallways appear more detailed, and when it’s eventually overrun with infection, the orange puss glow feels like it’s bursting out of the screen.

Hollow Knight was already a pretty game, but now it’s much more in-line with the colour and lighting of Silksong. There are so many little things in the upgrade that give Hallownest a new glow to it; it actually has me itching to replay the whole thing again, perhaps even for a Steel Soul run.

The thing is, for most — especially on a first-time playthrough — you’re probably not going to notice much of a difference, because many of the upgrades are small. The game was already 60fps on Switch, just with a blurrier resolution in handheld, and the jump to 120fps isn’t as easy to notice as it is from 30 to 60. And the input delay is only really noticeable if you’ve played the game on other platforms or if you’re a speedrunner.

So yes, Hollow Knight – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition might not be a transformative upgrade, but it is free, and if you’re paying attention, you’ll notice and love all of the little tweaks and improvements. Honestly, the handheld visuals alone make this more than enough for me to recommend Switch 2 as the place to play the game now. Perhaps this is the platform where I will finally make the time to conquer the Pantheon of Hallownest…

If you’ve returned to Hallownest following the Switch 2 Edition’s release, or are considering grabbing the game for the first time on Nintendo’s newest console, vote in the polls below and share your thoughts on the upgrade.

Does it look or feel different on Switch 2 to you? Are you jonesing for a replay as well? Or will this be the time you finally dip your toes into the game? Vote away!

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Universal Pictures and Illumination have just dropped a brand new teaser for the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which comes to cinemas across North America and Europe on 1st April 2026.

The Level Up teaser gives us another look at the mix of Mario worlds and inspirations, but there’s a few more Galaxy nods in this trailer than the last. Namely, you might notice Megaleg, an iconic boss from Super Mario Galaxy.

Rosalina makes a brief appearance once again, while Bowser Jr. gets up to plenty of no good. Yoshi also gets plenty of time in the spotlight in the 19-second trailer, including the appearance of his trademark spotted eggs and that unique tongue of his.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is apparently going to get a commercial during this weekend’s Super Bowl, so we’ll probably be seeing more of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, and co. pretty soon. So keep an eye out for that.

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Did you spot anything new in the teaser up-top? Let us know in the comments.

Yesterday, Team Cherry surprised us all with the shadow drop release of Hollow Knight – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (at least, it would have been a surprise if its PEGI rating hadn’t cropped up online before), and the studio snuck out a new update to mark the occasion.

The ver. 1.5.12459 update isn’t packed with game-changing additions, but it’s always nice to see Team Cherry fine-tuning the experience. Alongside new screen resolution support for PC players, the patch also introduces “many under-the-hood improvements brought over from Hollow Knight: Silksong to the original game,” Team Cherry said in a blog post. And yes, this update is available on both Switch 1 and 2.

The full patch notes were shared in an announcement on Steam, and we have gathered them together for you to check out below:

Hollow Knight ver. 1.5.12459 (Released 5th Feb 2026)

– Added support for 21:9 & 16:10 resolutions.
– Game now pauses while in inventory menus.
– Upgraded to Unity Input System for broader controller support (original input system is still available, if preferred, via Options>Controller>Advanced Settings)
– Added dithering effect, and dithering options, to reduce colour banding.
– Fixed a softlock in City of Tears Grub room.
– Reduced Grey Prince Zote’s stagger bounce height.
– Updated Sly’s Great Slash collider to closer match visual.
– Salubra’s Blessing now deactivates after reaching max Soul.
– Map panning is now smoother.
– Various performance improvements.
– Various smaller fixes and tweaks.

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The new Switch 2 version of Hollow Knight boasts improved resolution, frame rate, and a handful of additional effects, with a new 120fps option to boot. We’ve added our thoughts about the new release to our original review below, saying, “Honestly, if you haven’t played Hollow Knight, the Switch 2 Edition is a no-brainer”.

Have you checked out Hollow Knight on Switch 2 yet? Let us know in the comments.