Category: Nintendo News

After much delay, THQ Nordic has confirmed hyper-stylised RPG Battle Chasers: Nightwar finally has a release date on Nintendo Switch, with the port arriving on 15th May. It’ll retail for $39.99 / €39.99 / £34.99 and will also have a retail edition for all you physical collectors.

Originally Kickstarted in 2015, Battle Chasers launched last year on other platforms to plenty of respectable reviews. THQ Nordic has discussed the challenges of getting the game to run on Switch, and the time it takes for Nintendo to sign off on the finished code, but we finally have a release date that’s a mere five weeks out.

Check out the animated intro for Battle Chasers: Nightwar above and let us know if this turn-based RPG will be making its way onto your Nintendo Switch in May…

The Nintendo Download update is in, bringing with it all manner of new games, DLC drops and discounts. Whether you’re a Switch devotee, a 3DS connoisseur or a Wii U devotee, you’re bound to find something that takes your fancy. As always, drop a vote in the poll below, and be sure to leave us a comment with your hot picks from this week’s fresh update. Enjoy!

Switch eShop

Urban Trial Playground (Tate Multimedia, €19.99 / £17.99) – This new installment of the stunt bike racing series is moving the action from city streets, straight to the sunny and colorful beaches of California, mixing in even crazier tricks, flips and combos than ever before. It’s a game of speed, balance and style! – Read our Urban Trial Playground review

Spartan (Sinister Cyclops, €10.99 / £9.89) – Sparta, 500 BC. The city-state’s weapons, armor and gold have mysteriously vanished. Magical portals begin to appear throughout ancient Greece. You, are King Leo. And your aim is to make whoever is responsible and whatever stands in your way, rue the day they crossed your path. – Read our Spartan review

D/Generation (West Coast, €9.99 / £9.99) – In the near future, a company called Genoq has developed a range of bioweapons that have escaped into the company’s headquarters. Your character is a jetpack courier that has to deliver an important package to Genoqs leading researcher, Derrida, and is oblivious to the danger until the doors lock behind him.

ACA NEOGEO SAMURAI SHODOWN III (HAMSTER, €6.99 / £6.29) – “SAMURAI SHODOWN III” is a fighting game released by SNK in 1995. It is a sequel to SAMURAI SHODOWN II. You can now fill your Rage Gauge, as well as block attacks mid-air. Player characters now have 2 styles to choose from: SLASH and BUST. The ways of battle have greatly expanded.

Animated Jigsaws: Beautiful Japanese Scenery (RAINYFROG, €8.99 / £7.99) – Complete animated jigsaw puzzles alone or team up with friends and finish them together! Piece together scenes from some of Japanese most famous places. An easy-to-use interface such as separating edge and inner pieces makes solving puzzles fun and relaxing.

Arcade Archives Ninja-Kid (HAMSTER, €6.99 / £6.29) – “Ninja-Kid” is an action game that was released from the UPL in 1984. Players control Ninja-kun who puts a red hood on, and layers move the scaffold consisting of several stairs up, down, left or right, and players defeat the enemy with the shuriken.

Octocopter: Double or Squids (TACS Games , €2.99 / £2.69) – Oh no! Part way through their epic battle the Octopus and Submarine have lost their way and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Can you help them to work together to escape these deadly depths? To complete each level you must navigate the maze without crashing. You won’t stop spinning so timing is everything! Brave the depths alone or race together in up to 4 player split screen action. Can you beat your friends and collect all the squid medals?

Sally’s Law (POLARIS-X, €9.99 / £8.99) – “Sally’s Law” is the opposite of Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go great will go great! The game explores the relationship between Sally and her critically ill father. Along the way, Sally experiences great luck and good fortune with the help of a secret helper: her father. Having played the game as Sally, the player can then experience the story through the eyes of her father. Through Following their journey, you will find dad and daughter’s family tie.

Super Rocket Shootout (Plug In Digital, €9.99 / £8.99) – Super Rocket Shootout is a frantic 2D pixelart brawler game, mixing platformer and fighting mechanics. Charming characters, destructible environments, cool weapons and awesome jetpack make this a blast to play alone or with up-to 4 friends. – Read our Super Rocket Shootout review

Zombillie (Forever Entertainment, €4.99 / £4.49) – Help Zombillie reach the legendary meat farm! A long road lies ahead: 90 complex levels full of puzzles and traps. So stand on your feet – all 100 of them – and just ride!

MEMBRANE (Perfect Hat Games, €7.99 / £7.19) – Membrane is a creative-action puzzle game in which you build, bend and break the world around you while experimenting to create your own solutions. Bendy bridges, wobbly ladders and shaky structures are just the beginning of what you’ll make to test the limits of this weird, day-glo world! – Read our MEMBRANE review

DLC / Add-On Content

Nintendo Switch

• A. O.T. 2: Additional Episode: “Biological Research Scout Mission” (KOEI TECMO EUROPE) – €0.99 / £0.89
• A.O.T. 2: Additional Episode: “White Out” (KOEI TECMO EUROPE) – €0.99 / £0.89
• A.O.T. 2: Additional Episode: “Proof of Expertise” (KOEI TECMO EUROPE) – €0.99 / £0.89
• A.O.T. 2: Additional Reiner Costume: “American Football Outfit” (KOEI TECMO EUROPE) – €3.49 / £3.19
• A.O.T. 2: Additional Bertholdt Costume: “Pajama Outfit” (KOEI TECMO EUROPE) – €3.49 / £3.19
• A.O.T. 2: Additional Annie Costume: “Motorcycle Outfit” (KOEI TECMO EUROPE) – €3.49 / £3.19
• A.O.T. 2: Additional Ymir Costume: “Pirate Outfit” (KOEI TECMO EUROPE) – €3.49 / £3.19
• LEGO Worlds: Showcase Collection Pack 1 (WB Games) – Free
• Pinball FX3 – Bethesda® Pinball (ZEN Studios) – €10.99 / £9.89
• Chess Ultra X Purling London Olivia Pilling Art Chess (Ripstone Publishing) – €9.99 / £7.99
• Chess Ultra X Purling London Nette Robinson Art Chess (Ripstone Publishing) – €9.99 / £7.99
• Chess Ultra X Purling London Mr. Jiver Art Chess (Ripstone Publishing) – €9.99 / £7.99
• Chess Ultra X Purling London Bold Chess (Ripstone Publishing) – €9.99 / £7.99
• Pic-a-Pix Deluxe – Classic 04 (Lightwood Games) – €2.99 / £2.99
• Atelier Lydie & Suelle: Atelier Series BGM Pack (KOEI TECMO) – Free
• Atelier Lydie & Suelle: GUST Titles BGM Pack (KOEI TECMO) – Free

Switch Pre-Orders

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo, €59.99 / £49.99, pre-order from 05/04/2018) – Pre-Order until 03/05/2018, 23:59 local time Game description: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is powering up for the franchise’s debut on Nintendo Switch! The invading Snowmads have locked Donkey Kong Island in a deep freeze, and it’s up to the Kongs to thaw things out! Exclusively on Nintendo Switch, enjoy a chill new mode as groovy surfing simian Funky Kong!

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (Nintendo, €59.99 / £49.99, pre-order from 05/04/2018) – Pre-Order until 17/05/2018, 23:59 local time Game description: Charge into battle with Hyrule’s mightiest legends in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, exclusively for Nintendo Switch. Cut down entire legions of enemies using powerful, over-the-top Dynasty Warriors-style moves, and switch between multiple fan-favourite characters to enhance your strategies.

#Breakforcist Battle ( Lucid Sheep Games, €7.99 / £6.99, pre-order from 05/04/2018) – Pre-Order until 05/04/2018, 23:59 local time Game description: Are you hungry!? Introducing an all new version of the cult favourite breakfast/exorcism-themed waffle-busting game, #Breakforcist Battle! Use your magic paddle & ball to rescue breakfast with classic brick-breaking gameplay. Work together with a friend in cooperative play or challenge your friends in an all new competitive battle mode!

12 orbits (Roman Uhlig, €1.99 / £1.75, pre-order from 05/04/2018) – Pre-Order until 27/04/2018, 11:59 CEST Game description: 12 orbits is colorful, friendly, fun, and sometimes a little chaotic. You will score goals, color spheres, defend your territory and try to grow as long as possible in 4 varied game modes. It’s you against all comers, or grouped as teams.

Special Offers

Nintendo Switch

• Xeodrifter (Atooi ) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Fri 20th Apr, normally €9.99 / £8.99
• Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing (EnjoyUp Games) now €6.39 / £5.75 until Mon 30th Apr, normally €7.99 / £7.19
• League of Evil (Ratalaika Games) now €6.39 / £5.75 until Sun 15th Apr, normally €7.99 / £7.19
• Hollow (Forever Entertainment) now €9.99 / £8.99 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €19.99 / £17.99
• Layers of Fear: Legacy (Bloober Team) now €16.99 / £15.29 until Sun 22nd Apr, normally €19.99 / £17.99
• The Jackbox Party Pack (Jackbox Games) now €13.64 / £12.34 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €20.99 / £18.99
• Aces of the Luftwaffe – Squadron (HandyGames) now €9.99 / £8.99 until Thu 26th Apr, normally €14.99 / £13.49
• Metropolis: Lux Obscura (Sometimes You) now €7.19 / £6.47 until Wed 4th Apr, normally €7.99 / £7.19
• Sling Ming (GoodNightBrave) now €9.59 / £8.63 until Wed 18th Apr, normally €11.99 / £10.79

Nintendo 3DS

• Farming Simulator 14 (Focus Home Interactive) now €6.79 / £5.09 until Thu 12th Apr, normally €19.99 / £14.99
• Farming Simulator 18 (Focus Home Interactive) now €14.99 / £12.49 until Thu 12th Apr, normally €29.99 / £24.99
• Alphadia (KEMCO) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Wed 25th Apr, normally €9.99 / £8.99
• Battleminer (Woobly Tooth) now €2.79 / £2.79 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €3.99 / £3.99
• Battleminerz (Wobbly Tooth) now €3.49 / £3.49 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €4.99 / £4.99
• Chronus Arc (KEMCO) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Wed 25th Apr, normally €9.99 / £8.99
• Darts Up 3D (EnjoyUp Games) now €1.19 / £1.07 until Thu 26th Apr, normally €2.99 / £2.69
• Football Up 3D (EnjoyUp Games) now €1.97 / £1.55 until Thu 26th Apr, normally €2.99 / £2.36
• Frontier Days Founding Pioneers (CIRCLE Ent.) now €4.49 / £4.29 until Thu 26th Apr, normally €5.99 / £5.79
• Ice Station Z (Wobbly Tooth) now €2.09 / £2.09 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €2.99 / £2.99
• Musicverse: Electronic Keyboard (Abylight) now €2.95 / £2.66 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €7.99 / £7.19
• The Legend of Dark Witch – Chronicle 2D ACT (CIRCLE Ent.) now €2.99 / £2.99 until Thu 26th Apr, normally €3.99 / £3.99
• The Magic Hammer (Wobbly Tooth) now €2.09 / £2.09 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €2.99 / £2.99
• Toy Stunt Bike (Wobbly Tooth) now €2.09 / £2.09 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €2.99 / £2.99
• TOUCH BATTLE TANK – TAG COMBAT – (CIRCLE Ent.) now €2.99 / £2.99 until Thu 26th Apr, normally €3.99 / £3.99
• Witch & Hero (CIRCLE Ent.) now €2.99 / £2.99 until Thu 26th Apr, normally €3.99 / £3.99
• Witch & Hero 2 (CIRCLE Ent.) now €2.99 / £2.39 until Thu 26th Apr, normally €3.99 / £3.19

Wii U

• Swap Blocks (WizByte Games) now €3.49 / £2.80 until Mon 16th Apr, normally €4.99 / £3.99
• Breakout Defense 2 (nuGAME) now €4.89 / £4.19 until Thu 3rd May, normally €6.99 / £5.99
• Job the Leprechaun (Herrero) now €1.49 / £1.34 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €2.99 / £2.69
• REPTILIAN REBELLION (Herrero) now €1.49 / £1.49 until Thu 19th Apr, normally €2.99 / £2.99

So there’s this week’s Nintendo Download update for the EU eShops. Drop a vote in the poll above and be sure to leave a comment below with your hot picks of the week…

Team17 has announced that Raging Justice – the upcoming beat-’em-up created by ex-Rare developer, MakinGames, will be hitting Nintendo Switch on 8th May. If that’s not enough good news for you, we’ve been checking the game out for ourselves to share our initial thoughts with you lovely lot! A pretty good day, then.

With crime, corruption, and wave after wave of bad guys around every corner, it’s all down to a team of hard-hitting, justice-seeking mavericks (and you), to clean up the streets with some brutally tough justice. The game is a classic beat-‘em-up with a polished, modern looking aesthetic that sees you fighting your way through various 2D environments.

Right from the off, we instantly realised that this game is no walk in the park. Plonking ourselves onto the ‘Normal’ difficulty setting, we imagined ourselves breezing through each wave, knocking opponents senseless along the way, but reality soon washed over proceedings, bringing with it a realisation that this game is seriously tough. Walking and dashing along a 2D screen, with the ability to edge slightly forwards and backward from the camera, too, you’ll be punching, kicking, grabbing, and throwing various items such as knives, baseball bats, and bins at your opponents, but they put up more than a good fight.

A combo move is available by hitting the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ buttons simultaneously, resulting in a fancy, powerful attack, but perhaps the most interesting mechanic in play is the ‘arrest’ function. If you manage to stun an opponent, during which time they’ll wearily hover on the spot, you can choose to arrest them rather than brutally kick them in the face some more. Doing this results in them being taken out of the game and leaving a giant sandwich behind (obviously), which can restore some of your precious health. This means that you can either go all-out for high-scores with constant attacks, or sacrifice some points for a health boost.

We had a go with two of the three available characters (the third of these was announced today), and there are noticeable differences between them in their speed and power, enabling you to pick your favourite based on their feel. A ‘Brawl’ mode is also available, which is essentially an endless horde setup tasking you with waves of increasingly difficult enemies, and all of this content can be played either solo, or in local co-op. Be warned, however, because an optional friendly-fire setting could leave your friendship in tatters as you accidentally knock each other to the floor!

With some fiendishly tough gameplay, and some even tougher boss fights, we can see fans of the genre’s classics falling in love all over again here if everything continues in a similar vein. We’ll make sure to give the game a proper beating when it launches next month to bring you the definitive verdict.

So, what do you think? Will Raging Justice be bringing maximum brutality to your Switch in a months’ time? Make sure to let us know if you’ll be grabbing a copy!

While it’s taken a little while to finally emerge from development, Saber Interactive and Wired Productions have officially confirmed that Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn will arrive on Nintendo Switch on 5th June, just in time for the summer.

Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn is an action-packed beat-’em-up starring the one and only Big Diesel himself: Shaquille O’Neal. You’ll take on hordes of Hell (and Hollywood, naturally) on a giant one-man fights to avenge his fallen home and his poor old martial arts master. You’ll be able to beat down foes with devastating combos, face off against outlandish celebrity bosses, and unleash your fury with a variety of hard-hitting weapons and power-ups. Still, it can’t be any worse than the original…

Oh, and if you were an early adopter of NBA Playgrounds, you might remember you were promised a free copy of Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn following the issues surrounding its enhanced edition on the Switch eShop. And if you backed the game way back when on Indiegogo, you should find news on the game’s crowdfunding page on how to redeem your copy.

Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn will hit the Switch eShop on 5th June with a price of $19.99, with a physical edition (with as yet unannounced DLC included) set for release at a later date for £34.99/$39.99.

Will you be picking up Shaq’s new (and, hopefully, much better) new game? Or will you be giving this one a hard pass? Let us know below…

Thursday is here once again and the Nintendo eShops have been freshly updated with all manner of new goodies. From new indie darlings to slices of retro greatness from yesteryear, the 3DS and Switch eShops have just got even more tempting. As always, be sure to place a vote in the poll below, and leave a comment with your favourite picks from this week’s early April haul. Enjoy!

Switch eShop

Infernium (Undergames, $24.95) – Infernium is a game filled with brutal challenges to overcome. While playing the game you won’t be able to kill or damage most of the enemies but at the same time running away without a second though is not the solution.

Arcade Archives PUNCH-OUT!! (HAMSTER, $7.99) – “PUNCH-OUT!!” is a sports-action game released by Nintendo in 1984. Watch your opponents’ expressions and moves as you use a variety of punches and defensive moves on your path to become the boxing champion. The game became extremely popular with the double monitor setup, introducing intense boxing with dynamic graphics.

Lode Runner Legacy (Tozai Games, $11.99) – Collect all gold in the level and escape! But watch out for the multitudes of enemies and traps in the labyrinthine levels! The Runner can blast floors, so strategically use this technique to capture the gold imbedded in blocks, or entrap your enemies in the blocks! Use your wisdom and strategic techniques to complete all the levels!

Splat the Fruit (West Coast Software, $9.99) – Splat the Fruit is the thinking persons version of “Angry Birds”. If you love a challenge and want the freedom of playing a game your own way you will love “Splat the Fruit”.Available 6th April.

The Bunker (Wales Interactive, $12.99) – The Bunker is a live-action psychological horror game starring Adam Brown (The Hobbit) and Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful) with writing talent behind The Witcher, Broken Sword and SOMA. Available 9th April.

Masters of Anima (Focus Home Interactive, $17.99) – Masters of Anima is an original adventure game that takes you deep into the magical world of Spark. Battle against the forces of evil in strategic, action-packed battles, where making tactical decisions quickly is vital. Summon and control large armies of up to 100 Guardians, thanks to intuitive and innovative gameplay. Available 10th April.

Super Daryl Deluxe (Dan & Gary Games, $19.99) – Super Daryl Deluxe is an RPGvania with brawler-style combat set inside of a perfectly normal, sprawling, multi-dimensional high school. Like any other perfectly normal school, its students and faculty are going missing and the classrooms have been locked down for weeks. Yes, there’s nothing remarkable happening at WFHS whatsoever – just ask the new principal. Available 10th April.

Bombslinger (Plug In Digital, $11.99) – Wear the poncho of the Bombslinger, a ruthless bandit turned peaceful rancher on a quest to avenge the murder of his missus and destruction of his ranch at the hands of his former posse. Available 11th April.

Deep Ones (Sometimes You, $4.99) – Deep Ones» is a retro arcade-platformer with multigenre parts, inspired by ZX Spectrum, Bioshock and works of H. P. Lovecraft. Available 11th April.

ACA NEOGEO SAMURAI SHODOWN III (HAMSTER, $7.99) – “SAMURAI SHODOWN III” is a fighting game released by SNK in 1995. It is a sequel to SAMURAI SHODOWN II. You can now fill your Rage Gauge, as well as block attacks mid-air. Player characters now have 2 styles to choose from: SLASH and BUST. The ways of battle have greatly expanded.

The Adventure Pals (Armor Games, $14.99) – The Adventure Pals sets you and your best friends (a giraffe and a rock) out to save the world and your dad from turning into hotdogs. Explore the mystical forests of Treevale, hike the haunted craters of the moon and dive into the depths to find the lost city of Crablantis.

Animated Jigsaws: Beautiful Japanese Scenery (Rainy Frog, $9.99) – Put together pieces of an animated jigsaw puzzle of Japan’s most beautiful scenery and watch it gradually come to life before your eyes!

Arcade Archives Ninja-Kid (HAMSTER, $7.99) – “Ninja-Kid” is an action game that was released from the UPL in 1984. Players control Ninja-kun who puts a red hood on, and layers move the scaffold consisting of several stairs up, down, left or right, and players defeat the enemy with the shuriken.

Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Bad Dudes (FTE Games, $7.99) – “Rampant ninja related crimes these days… Whitehouse is not the exception…”. As soon as that occurs, a Secret Service agent asks two street-smart brawlers, the “Bad Dudes” named Blade and Striker: “President Ronnie has been kidnapped by the ninjas. Are you a bad enough dude to rescue Ronnie?” After hearing that, the Bad Dudes pursue the ninjas through the New York City streets, a moving big rig truck, a large storm sewer, a forest, a freight train on an old Southern Pacific line, a cave and into an underground factory in order to save President Ronnie. Read our review.

Octocopter: Double or Squids (TACS Games, $2.99) – Oh no! Part way through their epic battle the Octopus and Submarine have lost their way and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Can you help them to work together to escape these deadly depths? To complete each level you must navigate the maze without crashing. You won’t stop spinning so timing is everything!

Sally’s Law (POLARIS-X, $12.99) – The game explores the relationship between Sally and her critically ill father. As the game unfolds, the relationship between daughter a father is revealed. Along the way, Sally experiences great luck and good fortune with the help of a secret helper: her father. Having played the game as Sally, the player can then experience the story through the eyes of her father. Through following their journey, you will find dad and daughter’s family tie.

Sling Ming (Good Night Brave Warrior, $11.99) – Grab your helmet, princess, you’re in for the ride of your life! Hook up to the Oxylane, a transit system that lets you fly through the air, swing around corners and defy gravity. Embark on an intergalactic adventure, trace the steps of your missing father and recover the keys to the mysterious vault beneath your castle.

Sumer (Studio Wumpus, $14.99) – Sumer blends the intrigue of turn-based strategy with the excitement of real-time action. Board game night is coming to the Nintendo Switch! Play as Sumerian nobles vying for the affection of the great goddess Inanna. Harvest barley, herd goats, and perform ritual offerings to earn her favor and the right to rule by her side!

Super Rocket Shootout (Plug In Digital, $9.99) – Super Rocket Shootout is a frantic 2D pixelart brawler game, mixing platformer and fighting mechanics. Charming characters, destructible environments, cool weapons and awesome jetpack make this a blast to play alone or with up-to 4 friends.

Urban Trial Playground (Tate Multimedia, $19.99) – This new installment of the stunt bike racing series is moving the action from city streets, straight to the sunny and colorful beaches of California, mixing in even crazier tricks, flips and combos than ever before. It’s a game of speed, balance and style! Read our review.

Switch demos

• Word Search by POWGI – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch)
• Black Hole – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch)
• I and Me – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch)

3DS eShop

Alter World (Lemondo Games, $1.99) – Inspired by Stephen King’s book – “The Dark Tower,” Alter World is a 2D platformer with interesting gameplay mechanics. Player can pass on an alternative universe anytime and use an alternative realm to move to another level. New Nintendo 3DS only.

3DS demos

Detective Pikachu – Special Demo Version – Crack the case in the new Detective Pikachu game by interacting with a unique, tough-talking Pikachu! As Tim Goodman, you’ll partner with a self-proclaimed “great detective” Pikachu to solve strange occurrences all over Ryme City. Together you must investigate, take notes and meet up with other Pokémon to unravel the city’s greatest mysteries! Game in 2D. This demo covers a portion of the first chapter of the game. Save data is transferable to the full version of the game once purchased.

So there’s your lot for this week’s North American eShop updates. Be sure to leave a vote in our poll and a comment below on which new game (if any) if be leaping into your virtual library…

How time flies, eh? We’re already more than three months into 2018 and that can only mean one thing – E3 2018 is only around the corner. The centerpiece of the gaming calendar is where everyone will be looking come June, but that doesn’t mean the release schedule is barren in the lead-up. In fact, Nintendo Switch has some huge new additions coming to its retail library in the next few months.

We’ve collected together ten must-have new titles arriving in physical form in the run-up to E3, and another five that are either launching just after or are likely to do so. You’ll find links to all the games below if you’re looking to pre-order any (or all) of them, as well as a handy poll (because we know you love a good poll) for your delectation. Enjoy!

Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.

Nintendo Labo – 20th April (North America)/27th April (Europe)

One of the biggest – and most anticipated exclusives of the year – Nintendo’s new cardboard revolution promises to be a genuine game-changer in a medium crying out for something new, exciting and innovative. We’ve already gone hands-on with the two main packs launching on 27th April (the Nintendo Labo: Toy-Con 01 – Variety Kit and the Nintendo Labo: Toy-Con 02 – Robot Kit) and with plenty of extras to be found on the official Nintendo store if you pre-order from there you’ll have all the bits and bobs you need to turn your Switch into an inventor’s playroom.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole – 24th April

Heavily rumoured and finally confirmed during last month’s Nintendo Direct, the turn-based RPG sequel from Ubisoft San Francisco is coming to Nintendo Switch by the end of the month, bringing with it a story written by and voiced by series creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The follow-up to 2014’s The Stick Of Truth, SP:TFBW refines its battle system and adds in even more black humour with its superhero-themed antics. A must-have for any turn-based fans with a Nintendo Switch.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – 4th May

With Wii U now dead and buried, Nintendo continues to rescue its best exclusives, updating them and porting them over to the far more successful (and very much alive) Nintendo Switch. The full Tropical Freeze experience will be present on Nintendo’s new console – including loading times that are half that of Wii U – plus the addition of a new Easy mode for younger players and the arrival of cool dude Funky Kong to complete the primate family in time for May.

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition – 18th May

Combining content from both the Wii U and 3DS versions into one package, the Dynasty Warriors-style Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition includes every map and mission, plus all 29 playable characters from both incarnations. With all this extra content on one platform, you’ll also get access to some new outfits for Link and Zelda based on The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. A port, but one that’s definitely worth picking it up if you missed it the first time round.

Little Nightmares: Complete Edition – 18th May

On the very same day as Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Tarsier Studios’ unique mixture of plaforming, stealth, environmental puzzles and horror will make a scary splash on Nintendo Switch. As its cryptic name suggests, this version bundles in the full 2017 base game with all the DLC you could possibly want or need. The game will also be compatible with your Pac-Man amiibo, well, because its published by Bandai Namco…

Runner3 – 22nd May

The latest instalment in the zany BIT.TRIP series, Runner3 continues the misadventures of CommanderVideo as he sprints, leaps and floats his way through all manner of colourful 2.5D levels. The same, addictive music-rhythm formula returns, with developer Choice Provisions adding in myriad new modes to keep you running, including Hero quests, vehicle sequences, branching paths, an item shop, new collectibles and much more. A high-speed platformer that’s not to be missed.

Mega Man Legacy Collection/Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 – 22nd May

When the first Mega Man Legacy Collection arrived on 3DS in 2015 it packed in the first six games in the classic Capcom platforming series and brought back all the feels (and the frustrations) from Nintendo’s yesteryear. Well, that impressive package is making the leap to Nintendo Switch and it’s bringing volume two along with another collection of must-have Mega Man hits. You’ll also get all of the fan-made challenges from the 3DS version of MMLC to keep you playing long into 2018.

Dark Souls: Remastered – 25th May

At the end of May, mere weeks before E3 descends upon us, FromSoftware’s seminal action-RPG draws its rusty blades and brings Lordran’s darkest denizens to Nintendo Switch. You’ll be getting the full Dark Souls experience on Nintendo’s handheld system, with a handful of subtle changes (including remapping jump to the left analog stick and the ability to use multiple Hard Souls at once). Oh and there’s a Solaire of Astora amiibo. What more reason do you need to get excited?

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection – 29th May

To celebrate 30 years of hadoukens, spinning bird kicks and sonic booms, Capcom has bundled together 12 classic entries in the series – from the original Street Fighter to Street Fighter 3rd Strike – so if even if you have a passing fondness for the series this retro package will get you in the mood to travel the world kicking ass. You’ll be able to take a handful of them online too, so you can finally prove just how good you are to all your friends (and some complete strangers).

Runbow: Deluxe Edition – 8th June

On 24th April, the colourful brawling action of Runbow – which has already handed out some beatings on 3DS and Wii U – will be bringing the pain to the Nintendo Switch eShop. And a couple of months later, the game will be hitting retail shelves with an imposing physical edition. The multiplayer mayhem will come with all the DLC for the game, along with some tantalising physical goodies for all your collectors out there.

Mario Tennis Aces – 22nd June

The next big first-party release following the launch of Nintendo Labo in April, is the slice and dice court-based drama of Mario Tennis Aces. The latest smash hit from the Big N brings back the much-missed Story mode, adds in some explosive arcade moves for blistering offence and rocks-sold defence, and all the characters and costumes you could possibly want in a tennis game. And just in time for Wimbledon 2018 in the summer!

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – 10th July

With summer in full swing, here comes the next big third-party release on Nintendo Switch. A year ago we would have laughed at the idea of a Crash Bandicoot game returning to a Nintendo console, but here we are, with the wumpa-fruit loving marsupial bringing the rebooted versions of Crash Bandicoot, Crash 2: Wrath Of Cortex and Crash 3: Warped together in a package that doesn’t have the word ‘PlayStation’ anywhere near it. Vicarious Visions’ port promises to bring the full platforming experience to your handheld very soon.

Octopath Traveler – 13th July

Square Enix’s next big action-RPG – and one that won’t feature the words ‘Final’ or ‘Fantasy’ in the title – is coming this summer and it promises to be one of the most enchanting experiences the genre has ever produced. As its name suggests, there are eight characters to choose from, each with their own unique personality, traits and skills that will all make a big impact on the world of Octopath Traveler. A deep and rewarding battle system awaits…

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – 13th July

On the same day Square Enix releases the long-gestating Octopath Traveler, Nintendo will be unleashing the port of another journeyman character – Captain Toad! The original version was one of Wii U’s best exclusives, so Switch owners will now be able to experience the full platforming charm of the titular explorer. The Switch port will include extra courses based on locations from Super Mario Odyssey, as well as packing in some fun two-player co-op action.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus – July/August?

Okay, so we don’t know exactly when Wolfenstein II is hitting Nintendo Switch, but with Bethesda providing hands-on access at PAX East in Boston it’s clear Panic Button’s port is shaping up nicely and may well be approaching completion. Its over-the-top action, unrelenting difficulty spikes and genuinely surprising plot twists, the bloody sequel proved its worth on other console platforms last year so we’ve got our fingers crossed the Switch port is ready to lock and lock this summer.

So there’s our list of best retail releases launching in the spring/summer of 2018 – just in time for E3. Check out Alex’s lovely video covering the same list above. Oh, and feel free to drop a vote in the poll above and discuss which games you’re most excited for in the months to come…

We’ve got the consoles and handhelds we’ve played way too much, used to the point of breaking, that little light of life suddenly blinking out for good. For one man – twitter user Kaboo Factory, to be precise – that piece of hardware was his first-gen 3DS, a humble little handheld that eventually gave out following years of portable use.

So, of course, Kaboo Factory reached out to Nintendo to see if he could get it fixed. It was out of warranty, but this is Nintendo, so it was worth a shot. Nintendo said the device – which would no longer turn on – would need its main circuit board and battery needed replacing, and that it would provide replacement parts. For 71 yen. SEVENTY-ONE YEN. That’s 47p.

Even the service charge of $23 (£16) was ridiculously low, effectively enabling this dedicated 3DS user to fix his humble device for less than £17.

Have you ever sent your Nintendo console off to be fixed? Have you had a good a bad experience sorting your busted hardware? Let us know below, we’d love to hear your thoughts…

It’s almost impossible to not fall in love with the NEC PC Engine. In its original Japanese form it remains an engineering masterpiece; it’s the tiny console that could. Even after all these years it’s easy to see why the system took Japan by a storm and gained legions of fans among “grey importers” in the west – not only did it look fantastic, it played host to some astonishingly brilliant titles, including an (almost) arcade perfect version of Irem’s R-Type, which – for many – was the system’s killer app in those early years. The PC Engine is also historically significant because it was the first console to genuinely rival the Nintendo Famicom in its homeland; released in 1987, it entered a market dominated by Nintendo, yet it managed to find a foothold and even kept a resurgent Sega – with its 16-bit Mega Drive – at bay.

Playing the PC Engine today is a massively rewarding experience due to the relatively low cost of entry and wide selection of excellent software. However, it’s also something of a minefield for newcomers because NEC was addicted to releasing as many iterations and add-ons for the system as humanly possible. The base console was revised twice (the Core Grafx and Core Grafx II) while the CD-ROM² attachment – a first for the games industry – came in two variants. Then there’s the PC Engine Shuttle, SuperGrafx, Duo, Duo-R and Duo-RX to consider. Confused yet? Throw in multiple memory-boosting “System Cards” which are required to play certain CD games, and it’s easy to see why the PC Engine is regarded as something of a mystery, even by seasoned retro gamers.

Thankfully, Spanish company Terraonion – which is behind the superb NeoSD Neo Geo flash cart – has come up with an all-in-one solution which not only overcomes the limitations of the original PC Engine, but adds in all of the CD-based goodness required to fully explore the console’s library of titles. The Super SD System 3 is a module which bolts onto the back of the standard PC Engine and, via a MicroSD card, allows you to load HuCard ROMs and CD-ROM² ISOs. 

It also includes support for the Arcade Card, the final card released for the console which introduced an additional 2MB of RAM for graphically complex titles like Fatal Fury Special, Strider and World Heroes 2 – as well as previous CD-ROM² and Super CD-ROM² games. As if that wasn’t enough, the module also comes with RGB output, something that is only possible on the original hardware via modification (composite AV is the best most PC Engine variants can manage, but in the case of the white PC Engine, RF is the only output option). To cap it all off, save data can be committed to the MicroSD card without having to use the Ten no Koe Bank add-on device – which is fortunate, because the Ten no Koe Bank connects to the same port that the Super SD System 3 occupies, so it’s impossible to use them both at the same time.

As you can imagine, all of this makes the Super SD System 3 something of a dream ticket for PC Engine fans; it even allows you to play SuperGrafx ROMs – as long as you connect it to a SuperGrafx console, of course. The AV multiport also handles composite video (more on that in a bit, though) and the RGB signal via SCART is absolutely stunning (especially when run through an upscaler like the Open Source Scan Converter); it even has stereo audio. When you consider that many modders charge quite a bit to add RGB-out to existing PC Engines, the relatively high cost of this unit is easier to stomach – even more so when you add up the combined cost of buying items like Super CD-ROM² drives, Arcade Cards and (of course) the games themselves. $290 / £210 / €240 sounds pretty appealing.

Like the NeoSD, the Super SD System 3 comes with a lovely front-end which is easy to navigate and pretty to look at. To access the menu you have to hold down Start when booting up the system; you can then toggle between HuCard games and CD-based titles. Load times are short and we didn’t encounter any issues with the titles we tried; everything runs like a dream without the headache of failing CD drives or the need to plug in several different pieces of hardware to get everything working. You just drag-and-drop ROMs and ISOs onto a MicroSD card, load it up and the Super SD System 3 does all the rest.

Of course, it’s necessary to leave your morals at the door when you’re using a device like this; downloading ROMs and ISOs is an infringement of copyright, and by doing so you’re not supporting the companies that made these games possible in the first place. Given the age of the PC Engine it’s to be expected that there are a great many games which are no longer in active circulation, and the studios and publishers behind them have long since passed into memory. ROMs are, for many people, the only realistic means they have of experiencing these past classics. 

However, titles like Dracula-X: Rondo of Blood, Bonk’s Adventure and Soldier Blade have been re-released on several different platforms, giving you the chance to legally own them. We’re not going to lay down any guilt-trips here – if legal avenues exist which allow you to support content-makers, then you should take them – but we’re also not going to pretend that the world of ROM distribution doesn’t exist, and that it doesn’t provide a valid means of keeping the past alive. Given that both CD and HuCard formats have a limited lifespan – not to mention that CD drives will eventually burn out and become useless – devices like the Super SD System 3 represent a vital lifeline to gaming’s history.

If you’re interested in the PC Engine then you’ll no doubt be reaching for your wallet as we speak, but there are few caveats to mention here. Shortly after launch, a fault with the Super SD System 3’s RGB output was spotted, and production was halted while Terraonion addressed the issue. More recently, it has been discovered that the AC coupling cap for composite video is the wrong way around, which has the potential to cause catastrophic failure. 

It’s worth stressing that this only impacts people using the AV port for composite video, which is likely to be a small percentage of users. Most will opt for the superior RGB – we used a Retro Gaming Cables Mega Drive Mk2 RGB SCART lead and didn’t encounter any problems. Terraonion is amending the spec moving forward but at the time of writing a recall for existing units is unlikely; however, if you have even the most limited soldering skills it’s easy enough to remove the capacitor in question, turn it the right away around the re-solder. If you’re thinking of making a purchase then you might want to make sure you’re getting the revised version which fixes this issue.

Niggles aside, the Super SD System 3 is a remarkable piece of kit which grants complete access to the entire PC Engine library. Granted, the price of entry is high, but compared to what it would normally cost for you to amass the required hardware and software, it’s a drop in the ocean. If you’ve always wanted to learn more about Nintendo’s biggest rival in Japan during the Famicom era, then this system is the best place to start; loose white PC Engine consoles can be picked up online relatively cheaply, making the Super SD System 3 itself your only large investment on the route to HuCard and CD-ROM² heaven.

Here’s something we didn’t imagine would happen – you can now play DOOM in pinball form on Pinball FX3 for Nintendo Switch! Zen Studios has worked out the rights with Bethesda to bring three new tables to Pinball FX3 in one lovely bundle. This action-packed trio is comprised of tables inspired by iconic Bethesda franchises Fallout, DOOM and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Here’s what you can expect from each table:

Fallout pinball

Explore the secrets of a world decimated by nuclear war in “Fallout Pinball,” as you join factions, raid vaults and collect bobbleheads.

• Avoid the weapon fire of the fully animated 3D Super Mutant as it affects gameplay
• A fully animated 3D Eyebot flies across the table
• Create and customize your 3D animated character

DOOM pinball

Fight your way through hordes of demons in “DOOM Pinball” and face the rage of Hell itself to become the DOOM Slayer.

• A menacing Cyberdemon looms over the table with a huge gun-arm, aiming for anything that moves. Launch the ball past the laser beam for massive skillshot points!
• Watch out for the Lost Soul floating across the table or the ferocious Imps ready to attack any intruder
• Earn weapon upgrades for your fully animated DOOM Slayer to utilize in battle
• Customize your skill level to experience varying difficulties

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim pinball

Fulfill your destiny as the Dragonborn in “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim® Pinball” while crafting weapons, wielding magic, and equipping armor in your thrilling quest to defeat the returning dragons.

• Fight against fully animated 3D fire-breathing dragons
• Choose and customize your character’s race, abilities, weapons, armor and magic
• Level up your character’s abilities by skillfully shooting the ball
• Join factions of your choice
• Don’t let a game over stop you – like in any good RPG, your character continues to build experience and wear new loot every time you play.

As always it looks like the talented team at Zen Studios have put a lot of effort into capturing unique elements of each IP and translating it into pinball form. Let us know if you’ll be checking these out… also how long can it be until Bethesda port Fallout 4 to Switch?