Category: Nintendo News

Bubsy 4D is out in exactly one month, so what better way to build up excitement than by downloading the free demo, which Atari and Fabraz have just dropped on the eShop today.

Available to try on both Switch 1 and Switch 2, the demo will allow you to explore the first three levels of the game. And you’ll be able to try out some of Bubsy’s moves, such as gliding, rolling, and (of course) jumping. It’s a platformer, what do you expect?

This seems to be the same demo that was available on Steam, so if you’ve already played it there, don’t expect anything new. But it’ll be good to see just how Bubsy 4D runs on the Switch consoles.

Bubsy might not have the best reputation in the industry, but this new game comes from Fabraz, the developer of Demon Turf and Demon Tides — the latter of which isn’t on Switch just yet, but is meant to come to consoles – -and those games are pretty fantastic.

So this is a good chance to see just how the momentum-based platforming transfers to the world of Bubsy. From our interview with Fabian Rasforter and Ben Miller of Fabraz, it sounds fantastic, and now we can see for ourselves.

Are you excited for Bubsy 4D? Will you be downloading the demo? Let us know in the comments below.

I thought I knew what to expect from Yoshi and the Mysterious Book when Nintendo invited me to a recent hands-on preview ahead of the game’s launch next month. I had played a good chunk of Crafted World and Woolly World (still waiting on that Switch port, Nintendo) in years gone by, and the trailers for the latest adventure had clued me in on all the familiar beats: charming but simple platforming with an adorable art style. Happily, I was wrong.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is much of what made the series so cute and accessible in recent entries, but there is a surprising amount of depth under the hood. I went in expecting to fly through levels in a matter of seconds with a genuine, albeit short-lasting, smile on my face. I never thought that those levels would hook me in with their secrets, then bring me back once I had discovered more about the world. After a few entries firmly at one end of the scale, it feels like Yoshi is finally hitting the sweet spot between a game aimed at both kids and long-time fans.

But perhaps I’m getting a little ahead of myself here. As its name suggests, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book sees Nintendo’s delightful dinosaur team up with a (you guessed it) Mysterious Book, named Mr. Encyclopedia — or Mr. E, for short. Determined to discover the secrets of his pages, Yoshi agrees to dive into the book’s contents and examine the creature inhabitants within.

Each level thus plays out like its own mini (Yoshi) safari. He’ll stumble across a new creature, observe it in its natural habitat, and then do everything he can to uncover all of the being’s quirks: What does it taste like? What happens if you jump on its head? Can it survive a drop from a great height? You know, all your classic Attenborough tests.

The creatures all bring a unique skill to the table, be that blowing bubbles, growing plants, or engaging in a spot of petty theft, and you’ll have to make use of all of them to uncover everything there is to know about the species. At the end of the level, usually once Yoshi has completed its big, main task, everything you have learned is recorded in Mr. E, and you’ll see a clue for some of the scenarios you overlooked before you name the species yourself. If you think the Glubbit, which featured in a recent trailer, looks like more of a ‘Keith’, this is your chance to rectify that.

It’s a very sweet premise, one that’s part puzzle platformer, part wildlife documentary, but, much like in the wild, the creatures you uncover aren’t tethered to their own areas, so you can expect to see them pop up time and time again, opening new avenues of exploration.

My playtime started in the game’s first chapter, Wildwoods. I uncovered a few different species while getting used to the gameplay, but then noticed the pages of the book had started to change. A flying bee-like creature that I discovered mid-way through had migrated back over to the flower creatures I found at the beginning. I headed back into the level and was faced with a batch of new discoveries as the two species interacted.

Things got even more complex as my hands-on jumped forward to Chapter Four’s Settled Valley, where the discoveries in the interim led to levels packed with different routes to explore if you knew how to use the creatures’ unique abilities to your advantage.

I fed a Glubbit a nearby chilli to turn its bubbles into spiky rising orbs, which let me access a fruit to boost a Croakaoke’s trampolining ability, which I picked up with a Tail Flick and took over to a previously unaccessible area where I found a… I could keep going like this for a while, but let’s save some surprises, eh?

The level of interaction caught me off guard. Just when I thought I had found everything there was to know about a creature, I’d stumble into a different scenario and see another of its skills on display. Whereas Crafted World might have seen me return to the odd level to mop up a missed collectible, I get the impression that The Mysterious Book is going to encourage level replays far more frequently.

It’s a good job that it’s all so charming to look at, then. Aside from being catnip for the fan artists out there, the pencil-coloured aesthetic is a real looker on Switch 2 — and a nice nod to Yoshi’s Island’s hand-drawn visuals of old. I particularly enjoyed coming to the edge of a level, and seeing the colour fade from the visuals as if it were a real page that has only been inked so far. It’s all par for the course after the unrivalled joy of Crafted and Woolly World’s visuals, but it’s relieving to see the trend continue, nonetheless.

It’ll be interesting to see how far The Mysterious Book can push the sense of inter-level interaction before things become too messy. As it stands, this feels like a flutter jump in the right direction for Yoshi, as far as appealing to a more experienced audience is concerned, with one of the Switch 2’s most eye-catching visual styles to match.

Hey, it looks like the old dino might have life in him yet.

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Yoshi and the Mysterious Book arrives on Switch 2 on 21st May.

What’s your hype level looking like for Yoshi’s latest adventure? Let us know in the comments.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of Star Fox Zero‘s North American launch, the last release in the series at the time of writing. In fact, it shares that honour with Star Fox Guard, but as an eShop game whose only physical version came bundled with Zero, the tower defence spin-off tends to get overshadowed.

After a full decade, we’re all familiar with the wider narrative around Zero and its host platform. Nintendo and PlatinumGames’ Wii U effort brought Star Fox into HD for the first time, but the control scheme equivalent of tapping your head while rubbing your belly made poor first impressions, especially if you went in hankering for instantly satisfying, cinematic rail-shooting, as well you might.

Add to that the Wii U’s well-documented woes, and it’s unsurprising that sales were disappointing, and Nintendo hasn’t touched the series in 10 years, Starlink‘s excellent crossover content and Fox’s appearance in Smash notwithstanding. Looking at our Best Star Fox Games list, Zero is nestled down at #8 above Guard and Command (although there’s really no ‘bad’ games in that selection).

However, recent rumours and Fox’s appearance in a certain Mario Galaxy Movie mean that Starwing Lylat Wars Star Fox is on the tip of many a tongue, and we recently asked you what you would be looking for from a brand-new entry.

However, one possibility we didn’t discuss was the potential return for this underrated entry.

Since 2017, we’ve seen Nintendo plunder the wreckage of the good ship Wii U and bring back jewels for Switch that millions of Nintendo fans never got to play. Released late in the console’s lifecycle, Star Fox Zero is one of the few remaining holdouts. Does it deserve the same treatment? Would you be disappointed if the rumoured new game turned out to be a retooled, ‘Deluxe’ version of Zero?

It’s worth remembering that as well as being underappreciated (hey, we enjoyed it!), it must also be underplayed compared to the series’ best. Sales figures are patchy, but estimates put copies sold between 440,000 and 450,000. Not awful for a system that only sold 13.56 million units, perhaps, but disappointing by first-party Nintendo standards.

Bearing that in mind, there must be millions of Star Fox fans who never actually played the last one. Are you among them? Would you quite like the chance to play a version of Zero on your current console? Is there a chance for a Mario Kart 8-style rebirth for this entry, or has that Blue Marine sailed? Let us know in the polls below.

C’mon then, have you actually played Star Fox Zero? (949 votes)

1. Of course! I’ve still got my Wii U set up!23%
2. Yes, but not for a while36%
3. Nope, I wanted to but I never played it 23%
4. Nooo, I steered clear of that one!11%
5. I’ve never played any Star Fox, I just enjoy articles and polls about it7%

Would you like to see Star Fox Zero return on Switch 1 and/or 2? (917 votes)

1. Absolutely!27%
2. If they spruce it up a bit, yeah, I’d be interested26%
3. Only if it’s IN ADDITION TO a brand new Star Fox30%
4. Nah, let the past die17%

Splatoon Raiders has made a big splash today thanks to a big release date trailer. It’s our first proper look at the upcoming Splatoon game, which swaps the focus from online multiplayer to single-player, and it’s swimming onto Switch 2 on 23rd July 2026.

And, amazingly, this is the first time we’ve seen more of the game since Nintendo announced it on 10th June 2025 — yep, it really has been 315 days since the initial announcement. Soon you’ll tell us the Switch 2 is turning a year old. Pffft…

Anyway, while the new trailer has given us a dose of action, a look at Deep Cut, and a glance at some crafting mechanics, there’s still a lot to ponder on what Splatoon Raiders might be. Or even whether you’re interested in a more single-player experience for the Inklings and Octolings (don’t worry, multiplayer and co-op is still part of the game).

So, we’ve gathered our splat-tastic team together here at Nintendo Life to share their thoughts on the trailer, and whether they’re itching to dive into an ink-splattered desert island, or if the tank is running empty…

Gavin Lane, Editor

I don’t mind a Turf War, but I’ve always really enjoyed the linear, rollercoaster feeling of the single-player in the main games. Being funnelled from one set of enemies to the next in those tight levels, taking advantage of the terrain in neat ways, enjoying the weaponry and the moveset, and not really having to think too much about it. It’s good, simple fun!

The main beachy environment shown in this latest trailer looks a bit drab, like a DK Bananza level they only got halfway through designing, though I’m sure dungeons and other areas will offer plenty of visual and environmental variety. I’m more concerned about being stuck in some vast open space that’ll make movement less interesting – I love being able to ink a wall and dive in. I’m not massively into horde modes, either.

However! Nintendo knows a thing or two about compelling single-player games, and they’re extremely keen to highlight the single-player-ness of this. Having skipped Splatoon 3, this has my attention 100%.

Jim Norman, Features Editor

I was extremely excited for Splatoon Raiders when we still had no idea what it was, but from the first glimpse of gameplay, it looks an awful lot like Salmon Run.

Now, sure, I love a bit of Salmon Run as much as the next man, but surely some craftable weapons and Big Man in a tank isn’t enough to spin the game mode off into a stand-alone title of its own, right?

I’m hopeful that there’s still something under the surface that we haven’t seen yet. I want some of the platforming challenges from Splatoon 3’s single-player campaign to return, I want some story, I want… something other than Salmon Run.

Ollie Reynolds, Reviews Editor

I dunno guys, I’m not feeling this one at all.

Splatoon is known for its zany presentation, bold colours, and wild level design, and I’m just not getting any of that with Raiders so far. Like, why does it look so bland?! I was hoping that a single-player Splatoon game would really lean into some wacky mechanics that only Nintendo could pull off, but instead we’re just… fighting Salmonids? Really?

I know a lot of people have been itching for a single-player Splatoon experience, but I’m of the mind that the series shines brightest when it focuses on the online multiplayer mayhem. Y’know, the whole reason the IP was created in the first place. Maybe it will surprise me, but I’m not on board with this one yet.

Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor

I’m not much of a Splatoon fan myself, since I don’t really play a lot of games online. So Splatoon Raiders is actually appealing to me much more than any of the other games have.

Yes, I do agree that some of the environments look a bit bland, so I hope there are multiple areas that will allow Splatoon’s greatest asset, its aesthetics, to shine. And I don’t really know what the game is still — is it a roguelike à la Side Order? Will we be able to change or upgrade the island? Are those customisable and creatable weapons permanent? I’d like to know just how far crafting and customising goes, because that could be really fun.

But, ultimately, I like that Nintendo is keeping it a bit of a mystery, and I’m sure we’ll see something more before the July release date. But it’s good to see the excitement from the Splatoon fanbase, and at that digital price point? I don’t think many will be complaining.

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Those are our impressions (and hopes) so far, but let us know what you think of the trailer, and what you expect from the game, in our poll below — and the comments, of course.

What do you think of Splatoon Raiders after the new trailer? (138 votes)

1. It looks amazing! A day one purchase for me32%
2. Pretty good, I always preferred the single-player stuff18%
3. Not bad, but I need to see more37%
4. It’s worthless, online only for me!3%
5. I still have no idea what Splatoon Raiders is…10%

After months of radio silence on the Splatoon Raiders front, Nintendo has opened the floodgates today. We now know the release date (23rd July), we’ve seen the tie-in amiibo, and look, here’s the price and box art too!

We’ll start with that all-important price tag. Splatoon Raiders will set you back £41.99 / $49.99 digitally or $59.99 physically (we’re still waiting for word on the physical UK price, though it’ll likely be around £49.99).

The physical is marked a little higher, marking the second game to adopt the physical/digital split in North America after Nintendo introduced its new pricing structure for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. This pricing difference has been in effect in Europe for some time.

Honestly, that’s not too bad for a Switch 2 exclusive! We still don’t know all that much about the game itself, of course, but that’s still cheaper than we were expecting.

As for the cover art, we’ve got a fresh image of the Deep Cut trio and your playable Mechanic character all in cool action poses. There’s a lot of ink on the ground (natch), and a horde of ominous red-eyed Salmonids loom in the background. Here, check it out for yourself:

Quite the design, no? The accompanying amiibo see Shiver, Frye and Big Man in their new Raiders outfits, and their bases can even be slotted together to make up a sweet stand.

In other news, NOA’s website lists the estimated game file size at 20GB.

Will you be picking up a physical or digital copy of Splatoon Raiders? Let us know in the comments.

Well, this is a nice surprise! Keen to make sure that nobody has forgotten about Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo has today revealed its release date. What’s more, it’ll have a trio of new amiibo in tow.

The new Shiver, Frye and Big Man (Splatoon Raiders Edition) amiibo will launch alongside the game on 23rd July.

The figures see the Deep Cut trio in new outfits — the ones that they’ll be sporting in the upcoming single-player game, no less — and seem to be available either individually or as a pack of three. Interestingly, the bases of these three amiibo fit together for a more unified display.

Here’s a closer look at the set:

So, there you have it! Splatoon Raiders exists! We’ll be keeping an eye out for more information over the coming months, but at least we have a better idea of the Summer schedule now.

Will you be nabbing these new amiibo? Let us know in the comments.

After months of silence, Nintendo has finally remembered that Splatoon Raiders exists.

Showcasing a brand new trailer on Nintendo Today!, we now know the game is coming to Switch 2 on 23rd July 2026 and will cost £41.99 / $49.99 digitally. In the US, the physical version is $59.99 (UK pricing TBC).

You’ll be playing as the Mechanic, exploring the Spirhalite Islands with the Deep Cut Trio from Splatoon 3. And on this beautiful, barren desert island, you’ll be ink-splatting some familiar creatures all while searching for treasure.

And, as you’d expect being a mechanic, you can make your own weapons and tools to deal with the creatures all across the island. And it seems like Frye, Shiver, and Big Man will also be usable in fights, too.

Those of you who love playing Splatoon with friends, don’t fret, as you can play with up to three others both online and locally.

Along with a release date, Nintendo has confirmed that the game is a single-player focused and that three new amiibo will be launching on the same date — one for each member of Deep Cut.

Pre-orders for Splatoon Raiders and the amiibo will be going live later today.

What do you think of Splatoon Raiders so far? Excited for 23rd July? Let us know in the comments.

After reportedly being feature-complete roughly one year ago (see, the industry can still keep some secrets), Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is out now on the Switch.

If you thought that releasing on such a monumentally successful console like the Switch would dilute the game’s eccentricities, then worry not – it’s basically just as weird and wonderful as ever. But is it any good?

Well, yes, we thought it was actually the very definition of ‘good’ with our 7/10 review. Alana praised the game’s interactivity and bizarre sense of humour, but nevertheless felt that it became quite repetitive with some limited touchscreen implementation.

Here’s what she had to say:

“Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the strangest thing you’ll play from Nintendo, bringing with it laughs and creativity in abundance. But even with improvements over the 3DS game, it follows a familiar structure that isn’t always enthralling or hilarious.

“Tomodachi fans will certainly be living the dream with this new entry, but I’m not desperate to keep coming back to my island. A little more variety would’ve been welcome, but the customisation, and the thought of my cat being best friends with DMC’s Dante, will have me peep in every so often for a little pick-me-up.”

So now, it’s over to you. We’d like you to provide your own score for Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream in the below poll. Is it a straight-up 10/10 masterpiece? Or does it contain some frustrations that perhaps knock it down a peg or two? Let us know.

And don’t worry if you haven’t played it yet or you’re not ready to provide your score at this time. This article won’t be going anywhere, so feel free to bookmark it and come back when you’re ready. Alternatively, leave a preliminary score now and revisit it later if you change your mind.

Thanks for voting! If you’d like to expound the reasoning for your score, then leave a comment and let us know what you think of the game so far.

If you’re anything like us, then BALL x PIT gobbled up a fair amount of your time last year with its super addictive Breakout-meets-roguelike gameplay. Well, it looks like Kenny Sun and Devolver Digital are back for more.

The team has revealed our first look at the upcoming ‘Shadow Update’, which is set to bounce onto Switch 1 and 2 next week on 27th April. And much like January’s Regal Update, there’s a lot to like about this one.

The headline addition is a pair of new playable characters, who each bring a unique skill to the table. There’s The Tunneller, whose shots burrow through the edge of the screen before reemerging on the other side, and The Tiptoer, who can remain undetected by close-range enemies.

There are also a bunch of new balls, passives, and a new building to look forward to. Aside from the teaser trailer above, Devolver shared the following update rundown on Steam:

Ball X Pit ‘The Shadow Update’ (27th April 2026)

2 new characters

• The Tunneller is a scrappy miner whose shots don’t stop at the edge; they wrap around the screen and come back in from the other side, making just about every angle fair game.
• The Tiptoer is a fragile but deadly ninja who stays undetected by enemies at close range at the cost of lower health and damage.

11 New Balls

• Venom stacks up with each hit, slowing targets and chipping away at them until enough buildup finally locks them in place with paralysis.
• Time leans into area control, dropping a timesnare that freezes enemies caught in its range.
• Erosion cuts straight through foes, with each hit shaving off a percentage of their current health, making it incredibly nasty against tougher targets.
• Time Bomb adds a bit of delayed chaos, planting an explosive that goes off after a short wait.
• Timestop does exactly what it sounds like, freezing absolutely everything on the field for a few seconds before going on cooldown.
• Warp keeps things unpredictable, blinking to a random spot on the field upon every enemy hit while ramping up speed as it goes.
• Sniper shots cut straight through enemies but burn out the moment they hit a wall or loop back, trading longevity for a boosted critical chance that rewards precise enemy line ups.
• Heart Swallower gives each hit a certain chance to drain a bit of life and heal you for one while also weakening the target’s attack by a percentage, but remember each enemy can only be drained once.

Plus a few more that we won’t spoil just yet…

4 New Passives

• Full Metal Rapier thrives on chaos with each ball scaling its damage based on how many baby balls and enemies are currently on the field.
• Arrow of Fate flips defense into offense, making you immune to incoming projectiles and firing back a burst of baby balls whenever you’re hit.
• Argent Stopwatch plays with momentum, starting balls off at 150% damage before shaving off 30% with every bounce, so timing and positioning matter more than ever.
• Sword Breaker keeps things steady but scalable, lowering base damage to 75% while quietly stacking an extra 1% for every enemy in play.

1 New Building

• Better start thinking of a spot to drop the Guildhall! This new building will allow players to re-roll previously chosen character upgrades.

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What are you most excited to see in this update? Bounce down to the comments and let us know.