Splatoon 3‘s seasonal events are still alive and kicking, and next month, it’s time for another Spring Splatfest.
The event is set to kick off on 11th April at 1am BST (10th April for those in North America), running throughout the weekend until 13th.
It’s a returning theme heading to the Splatlands for this event, with the 2024 Springfest theme making a comeback. Once again, the prompt of “It’s Spring! A time for fuzzy fluffiness!” takes centre stage, with Team Baby Chicks, Li’l Bunnies and Bear Cubs all up for grabs.
Here’s the precise time that the event gets underway in your region:
It was Team Bear Cubs that walked away with the win back in 2024, but can they go two-for-two? We still have a couple of weeks to go before voting opens, but you can let us know which team you’ll be playing for in the following poll.
Which team gets your vote for the upcoming Splatoon 3 Spring Fest? (183 votes)
Team Baby Chicks23%
Team Li’l Bunnies39%
Team Bear Cubs27%
I’ll be sitting this one out…10%
Are you excited for next month’s Splatfest? Ink your thoughts in the comments.
Last week, Aspyr released a free upgrade for Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, throwing in a new ‘Challenge Mode’ and a bunch of fresh outfits to anyone who downloaded. Despite being free, the newbies were not well-received.
Shortly after launch, players began reporting inconsistencies in the new ‘fits, with strange symbols and odd details leading many to believe that they had been created with AI. The theories only gained credibility when Giovannu Lucca, the lead artist on both I-III and IV-VI Remastered, revealed that he “was not involved in the art direction of this new patch”, announcing that “none of the original developers” were involved in it either.
Keen to nip things in the bud, the collection’s publisher, Aspyr, has released a statement on X to put the theories to bed. “The outfits in the update were created by our team of artists,” the post reads, “no AI generated assets were used in the update”.
The studio also announced that it is working on “a series of updates” to fix textures, bugs and other technical issues that have cropped up with the latest patch.
You’ll find the full statement below:
To the Tomb Raider community: We hear and appreciate your feedback regarding the recent Challenge Mode Update for Tomb Raider I-III Remastered. Our top priority is the delivery of a patch that will fix the texture issues and technical bugs. In addition, a series of updates are on the way to address a variety of technical issues across all platforms. This is also an opportunity to correct some mistaken information: the outfits in the update were created by our team of artists; no AI generated assets were used in the update. We’ll release more details on the patch content and timing as soon as possible. If you’d like to help us prioritise fixes you can report bugs at support.aspyr.com.
Yesterday, Aspyr started rolling out a Switch 2 upgrade for the collection, making the most of the new hardware with 1440p / 60fps play while Docked, and 1080p / 120fps in handheld mode. This S2 version is now available on the eShop for $29.99 / £25.26, or as a free upgrade for all those with the S1 release.
Have you checked out this new update yet? What do you make of Aspyr’s response? Let us know in the comments.
If last year’s Absolum put you in the mood for more fantasy roguelike action, then Dark Scrolls is here to fit the bill with a retro twist.
From Gato Roboto and Gunbrella dev Doinksoft, with Devolver Digital on publishing duties, Dark Scrolls is a ‘dungeon scroller’, that’s part procedurally-generated roguelike, part shmup.
In it, you’ll choose from a cast of nine fantasy characters and adventure through dungeons, taking out hordes of enemies and dodging their attacks while you’re at it. There are branching paths, boss fights, shops for some sweet upgrades, and the opportunity to do it all either solo or in local/online co-op.
The most eye-catching part, however, is the retro aesthetic. Just look at those chunky pixel art heroes! Listen to the music! Talk about a throwback.
Here’s a rundown of the game’s key features and a handful of screenshots, courtesy of Devolver:
– Choose from a cast of nine playable characters and hurl axes, fling arrows, toss knives and even flip steaks at a rogues’ gallery of bizarre enemies – Each character, whether it’s a burly berserker or a saxophone-playing rat, has unique skills, side objectives and customizable trinkets to experiment with – Play solo or invite a pal aboard to help. Dark Scrolls supports both local and online co-op and collaborating players can strategize and revive each other mid-level – Super authentic old school visuals, SFX and music. Looks and sounds like classic games of yore, but with the sparkle of modern controls and design – Procedurally generated levels stitched together from hand-crafted rooms. Every run offers new surprises, branching paths and skill-testing bosses
We still don’t have a precise release date for this one just yet, though Devolver has confirmed that it’ll be launching at some point this year. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more info in the coming months, because this looks like it could be a slice of couch co-op fun.
What do you make of Dark Scrolls? Adventure down to the comments and let us know.
After teasing the three returning big bads over the course of last year, SEGA has today revealed the release date for SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance‘s ‘SEGA Villains Stage’ DLC, and we don’t have long to wait.
As announced in the awesome new animated trailer (above), the DLC will arrive on Switch on 3rd April, with Sonic‘s Dr. Eggman, Yakuza / Like A Dragon‘s Goro Majima and Golden Axe‘s Death Adder all stepping up to face off against Joe Musashi.
Aside from these three new bosses, the DLC also includes five new stages, a couple of different Boss Rush modes, fresh ninpo, outfits and music tracks. All of this will be available on the Switch eShop for £8.99 / $9.99, or free for all those with the Digital Deluxe edition.
What’s more, a free update is arriving on the same day (3rd April), throwing in a new ‘Hardcore Mode’ for all players, alongside the usual suite of tweaks and fixes.
As a reminder, we had a great time with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance when it launched on Switch last year, calling it “a demonstration of how modern tools, accompanied by thought and talent, can be expanded upon to not just reboot franchises, but actually rebuild them in new and incredible ways” in our review.
Will you be checking out this Shinobi DLC next month? Sneak down to the comments and let us know.
When I step out of the starting cave for the first time in Pokémon Pokopia and look across the barren, dried-out grass, the withered trees, and abandoned caves, it all feels rather uncanny.
The red brick roads. The Pokémon Center wreckage with two empty plots for buildings right next to it. A blocked-off pathway to the north, east, and west. After breaking through the road to the east, I find an abandoned cycling road and a ninja outfit. This is Fuschia City, and this is Kanto; I’m not going crazy.
I’ve seen Kanto dozens of times over the years. It’s the region The Pokémon Company gives the most attention to, and rightly so, because it was the first. If you grew up with Pokémon, whether you played Red & Blue first or you hopped in with Scarlet & Violet, you probably know Kanto, and you’ve likely been there too via one of the many rereleases.
Pokémon loves a bit of nostalgia, after all, and what’s more nostalgic than the Gen 1 region? Nostalgia is the reason the devs keep bringing back favourites with every new generation – there’s a reason people still get excited when they see Tangela or Krabby rendered in latest-gen graphics, no matter how many times it’s happened before.
I’m not immune to it, either. I almost dropped money on that Mini Game Boy music player, and I’m always hoping Arcanine, Gengar, and the Eeveelutions pop up in each new game. But it doesn’t often get me excited because it frequently feels like a crutch.
To dive into why I think nostalgia works so beautifully in Pokopia, I need to touch on the whole thing, so yes, it’s about to get spoiler-y in here. So if you want to preserve your memories, or the mysteries, then don’t read after the jump…
Image: Nintendo Life
A series of moments pointing at the screen going “Oh my god, that interview is talking about the Vermillion City construction site!”, discovering the ruins of a secret Team Rocket hideout, or realising that Jigglypuff needs a stage to come out of hiding doesn’t usually set my world on fire. References like this are often set-dressing.
It’s the reason The Super Mario Bros. Movie doesn’t do it for me; it’s all empty calories, attempting to appeal to me in a sugar rush of historic callbacks that don’t add anything to the experience besides a nod to your friend or a “lore dump”.
But in Pokémon Pokopia, it works, and it’s because of the way the world is presented. This isn’t your pristine Kanto, perfectly preserved or upgraded from those Game Boy pixels. This is a once-recognisable world shattered by a cataclysm which has forced humans to evacuate to space. It’s the warmth of home, the comfort of something you loved as a child, irrevocably damaged, and it’s up to you — the Pokémon — to restore it.
I, like many other 30-something millennials, took my first Pokémon steps in Kanto. To many of us, this is a second home. This time, however, destruction has created an uncanny valley, a place where landmarks like the S.S. Anne, Mount Moon, and the Celadon City Department Store are still recognisable, but off.
“Wait, is that the S.S. Anne?” I say as I enter Bleak Beach for the first time, looking out to the ocean and seeing the wreckage of the cruise ship. I know it is, but it’s not how I remember it. It’s like I’m looking at a torn-up family photo, trying to piece it together.
As I step inside, shattered windows, dried-out vines and patches of moss stain the pristine image of the ship from my childhood. I can imprint the memory of rummaging through bins, of the captain who was suffering from seasickness, over the ruins, and bask in the nostalgia as I explore every nook and cranny of the boat, lights dimmed with sand overflowing through the cracks. But this isn’t just a sentimental look at what was – it’s what was left behind, a symbol of what has changed in Kanto, and the world, over time.
Image: Nintendo Life
The nostalgia here is more than just a warm impact, more than a gotcha moment – it’s an emotional reconciliation of where you were then versus now. The first place I ever lived was a council house in the middle of a suburban area off a busy road. I used to walk past it on lunch breaks back when I had an office job, and I’d sometimes stop and look at it. It might seem the same from the outside, but it’s not. It probably looks different inside; the curtains are different, the people are different.
Like with the S.S. Anne, I imprint blurry memories and images over the building. Of watching my brother and his friend play the Sega Mega Drive, of falling off the sofa, of climbing into the back of a moving van. These memories make me nostalgic; they’re a part of me and my memories, filled with emotional significance that I can pass down.
Likewise, the Human Records dotted around the world are there not just to fill in the gaps of the years between the last time you played a Kanto-based game and Pokopia, but they remind us of the progress made in each of these towns and cities, and of the things humanity has left behind in the wake of destruction.
There’s a newspaper clipping from the Recycling Slogan Contest, where a child from the Trainers’ School has put together a catchy set of lyrics about refuse and waste. Career Monthly has an excerpt speaking with Nurses who work at Pokémon Centers. The Pokémon Fan Club is recruiting new members. Fishing Fanatics siblings are writing to each other excitedly about new Pocket Monsters.
This was a full, lived-in world, more than just a wistful look back at what Kanto was – this is what it was like with people in it. It makes you yearn for the past.
Image: Nintendo Life
The Pokémon I befriended all felt similar. Poliwag only appeared once I set down a bathtub and some cleaning materials – not a natural habitat for a creature, you’d think, but they loved it. Trubbish wants me to decorate their home with shiny things. All of these creatures — stored away in a PC in the hopes that they would rebuild the world — long for the humans to return. They miss them, reminisce about them, and think about the experiences they had with other ‘mons. Now they have to recreate using only that nostalgia, those memories.
I’ve seen people attempt to recreate Kanto pixel for pixel (as best as they can) online as they rebuild the world of Pokopia. The Pewter City Museum, located in Rocky Ridges, is a simple example of where that might be possible, but when you realise that certain fossils are absent from the game, what do you do then?
And with Sparkling Skylands, where Celadon and Saffron City have been blended together and ripped apart, how on earth do you stitch that mess back together in a way that matches your memories?
You don’t. You can’t. The nostalgia you have, and the memories you’re reminded of from the wreckage, cannot be recreated one-to-one. The world that was left behind must be reshaped, perhaps to honour what came before, but ultimately, it’ll be something slightly different. Whatever you can do, it’ll work. You’ll be fuelled by that love you have for the old world, for your desire to see the humans again and to say, “Hey, it’s all going to be okay.”
And that’s exactly how the game ends. After I’d restored all the Pokémon Centers, improved the environments, and crafted and stuffed items and goods into a tower on the beach of Withered Wasteland, I didn’t know what would happen next. The last thing I stuffed into the tower was a selfie of my Ditto right next to a sleeping Squirtle, the first photo I took in the game, one of me and my first ever real Starter Pokémon (sorry Pikachu).
But then the tower reveals itself to be a rocket ship, blasting away into the distance, taking all of those items I’d put the time into collecting and crafting — pieces of this Kanto that were and will be — into space, right to the surviving humans, like a time capsule or a message to say, “We did it! We’re okay!”
I’m a complete mess as I watch the credits roll. I think about the times Pokémon has been with me throughout my life. During my parents’ divorce, my break-ups, my trans-Atlantic moves. I think about everything I’ve left behind, everything I’m nostalgic for. I miss my first home, my dogs, my dad. I miss the smell of the sea breeze, my first-ever taste of an ice cream with a Cadbury’s Flake in it, the yellow teddy bear my grandad gave me, sitting on my bedroom shelf. I miss the chubby Pikachu toy whose cheeks light up when you squeeze its paw.
Image: Nintendo Life
Every time I revisit Kanto, it isn’t the same experience. I was six years old the first time I saw it. I’m more than five times older than that now. Blue’s Kanto is different to Silver’s, as is LeafGreen’s to Let’s Go!’s. I bring something different to that world every single time I come back, and while the nostalgia and memories are attached to me, those ultimately get affected, too.
With Pokopia, I’m using a blend of nostalgia and imagination to create something out of not much. I can’t have most of what I grew up with again, just like the humans in space can’t have everything they once had in Kanto anymore. But a capsule of goods and items is a good starting point, a small snippet of the home they once had and will have again, but in a different way.
All we can do is leave things behind for the next generation to work with, to make it better. Their nostalgia for those childhood memories, for the things they love, will help reshape the world.
Are you enjoying the nostalgic, bittersweet, cute world of Pokémon Pokopia? Let us know in the comments.
THQ Nordic has announced that four “fan favourite” titles will be heading to new Nintendo Switch systems this year. Three will be making the most of the latest hardware’s improved specs as they jump from Switch 1 to 2, while one Switch 2 title will be expanding its reach with a fresh Switch 1 release.
Let’s talk about those coming to the latest system first. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed will join Destroy All Humans! and Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed in swanky new Switch 2 editions. The alien invasion games (releasing on 23rd June and 15th September, respectively) will boast improved visuals, denser worlds and full HD support on Switch 2, while Epic Mickey also bundles in an upped frame rate and Mouse Mode control options for its 6th October S2 release.
Here’s a brief rundown of each title from THQ Nordic:
Destroy All Humans! Release: Nintendo Switch 2 – June 23, 2026 Crypto is back and humanity is still very much in trouble. Already wreaking havoc on Nintendo Switch, the cult-classic alien invasion lands on Nintendo Switch 2 later this year with richer visuals, denser worlds, improved shaders, and support for full HD up to 1440p resolution. Unleash chaos with powerful psychic abilities, outrageous weaponry, and a sharp sense of humor. Invade Earth, harvest DNA, and remind the human race exactly who’s in charge. Includes the Skin Pack DLC!
Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed Release: Nintendo Switch 2 – September 15, 2026 Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed releases on Nintendo Switch 2 in September, packed with the Reprobed: Skin Pack and Reprobed: Challenge Accepted DLC. Experience the swinging 60s through the eyes of the alien with the license to probe. Defend a much larger, more open world from those who seek to undermine your mission. Travel the globe, wreak havoc and take revenge on the KGB in this expanded sequel full of destruction, disguises, and hippie-era absurdity. The Switch 2 version of Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed will not include local campaign co-op.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Release: Nintendo Switch 2 – October 6, 2026 Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed brings the magic of Disney to life in a vibrant 3D platformer. This beautiful remake sends Mickey Mouse on an epic journey through Wasteland, a realm of forgotten Disney characters. Armed with a magical brush using paint and thinner, players shape both the world around them and Mickey’s destiny. Restore beauty or uncover hidden secrets. On Nintendo Switch 2, the adventure shines brighter than ever with: Higher resolution visuals, improved framerate, mouse-style controls using the Joy Con 2 controller and includes the Costume Pack DLC.
Elsewhere, Switch 2 title SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide will be hopping back to Switch 1 on 13th October, in an all-new edition for the older Nintendo hardware. There are no specifics for what we can expect from this one, performance-wise, at the moment, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Switch 2’s ‘Performance Mode’ option not make the jump.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide Release: Nintendo Switch – October 13, 2026 A clash between the Flying Dutchman and King Neptune has unleashed ghostly chaos across the ocean floor and it’s up to SpongeBob and Patrick to fix it. Switch seamlessly between the two heroes and combine their unique abilities to overcome challenges and restore balance to Bikini Bottom. Play as SpongeBob and Patrick, master new abilities like grappling and burrowing and experience a brand new ghostly story. The game is fully voiced by the original cast!
We had fun with Destroy All Humans! and Epic Mickey: Rebrushed on Switch (the latter more than the former), so it will be interesting to see what each of them has in store on Switch 2. As for Titans of the Tide’s backwards step… hey, it’s always good to expand your audience!
Will you be checking out any of these titles on their new systems later this year? Let us know in the comments.
Developer Mimimi Games and publisher Daedalic Entertainment have unleashed Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun on the Switch 2, with an appropriately sneaky launch trailer to mark its release.
In our recent review, we called Shadow Tactics “a fantastic real-time tactics adventure that wows with top-notch gameplay, fantastic looks, and a set of delectable missions that challenge you to get into your ninja groove and bring the best out of a team of shadowy assassins”.
The release on Switch 2 comes with some of the most compelling mouse controls intrepid reviewer PJ O’Reilly has seen yet, making this a particularly good option for fans of the hybrid console who are into tactics games, shadowy or otherwise. Check out the trailer above for a better look.
If you’ve missed any news about the game until now, here’s another look at the key features:
– Best-in-class console version, featuring Switch 2 mouse-mode support for unmatched precision – The Ultimate Edition includes the full 25+ hour main campaign and the Aiko’s Choice add-on – Fully optimized for Switch 2, with improved loading times and polished performance – HD (1080p) gameplay at 30 FPS in handheld mode and 4K output at 30 FPS in TV mode
Shadow Tactics is available on the Switch 2 eShop for £32.49 / €39.99 / $39.99, while its standalone add-on, Aiko’s Choice, can be bought for £15 / €19.99 / $19.99.
Will you be picking up Shadow Tactics on the Switch 2? Let us know your thoughts with a comment in the usual place.
Team Cherry has been gradually churning out the updates for Hollow Knight: Silksong since it launched last year, and now, the game’s getting one “last significant update” before the arrival of Sea of Sorrow.
As shared in a recent blog post from the devs, ‘Patch 5’ launched on PC earlier this week, with a console release “coming soon”. The big additions this time around are the implementations of Traditional Chinese and German language options, but there is a boatload of tweaks and fixes to check out, too.
The full patch notes for the catchily-titled ver. 1.0.29926 were shared on the Team Cherry website, and we have gathered them together for you to check out below:
Hollow Knight: Silksong Ver. 1.0.29926
– Added new Traditional Chinese localisation. – Refined German translation to improve clarity and consistency with English version. – Allowed Silk Soar through top scene exits. – Fixed various instances of specific enemies being able to get stuck out of bounds. – Fixed various instances of Hornet being able to be pulled out of bounds by enemies. – Fixed Last Judge’s death explosion doing 3 damage (now 2). – Magma Bell now protects against all fire-type explosions. – Fixed another instance of Shrine Guardian Seth being able to push Hornet through a wall. – Fixed an instance of Lace (Cradle) getting out of bounds. Also various small fixes to prevent some rare, odd behaviours during the fight. – Fixed certain tools unintentionally being down-bounceable in specific instances. – Fixed Border Caves bounce-pods giving Silk & Health for certain Crests. – Fixed Snitch Pick not doing its 3rd hit of damage when in a memory. – Fixed issues with Wood Wasp colliders sometimes lingering longer than intended or not reactivating on respawn. – Fixed Choruses in Underworks not playing their full Needolin text. – Fixed an instance of Thread Rakers being able to get stuck out of bounds. – Savage Beastfly’s summoned minions now die when the boss is killed. – Far Fields Savage Beastfly is now stunned when hit by the hanging bomb rock. – Fixed an instance of tool quantity not updating correctly when unequipping Shell Satchel. – Fixed a rare instance of Lavalugs getting frozen in place. – Fixed fast travel unintentionally clearing Hunter focus. – Various minor fixes and tweaks.
We’ll be keeping an eye out for when this one arrives on Switch 1 and 2, and we’ll update you as soon as it’s live.
As a reminder, the Sea of Sorrow expansion is set to arrive later this year, adding new areas, bosses, tools and more to the already stellar base game. Oh yes, and it’ll be absolutely free!
What do you make of the latest Silksong update? Let us know in the comments.
The open-ended alchemy puzzle game Opus Magnum arrived on Steam back in 2017, and it has since gone on to rack up over 3,000 ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews. IGN‘s Tom Marks hailed it as “one of the best puzzle games I’ve ever played”, while PC Gamer described it as “one of the very best puzzle games of the year, if not the decade”. In short, it was rather popular.
Well, surprise! This beloved little machine builder is now available on the Switch eShop in an all-new ‘Complete Edition’.
For those who missed this one at launch, Opus Magnum comes from SpaceChem developer Zachtronics, and tasks you with building various alchemy machines via the Transmutation Engine. You have to juggle moving parts, chemical combinations, and a machine that just keeps on moving, as you fulfil requests for everything from medicine to weapons.
The Switch version bundles the De Re Metallica prequel DLC in with the base game, giving us another 17 puzzles and three new glyphs to play with.
Here’s a rundown of the game’s key features and a handful of screenshots:
Design Machines – Design and build machines that carry out alchemical processes using a variety of components including programmable arms, customizable tracks, and more esoteric devices like Van Berlo’s wheel and the Glyph of Animismus. Open-Ended Puzzles – Compete against your friends and the world to build the simplest, fastest, and most compact solutions to the game’s challenges. Rich Story – Intrigues and dark plots swirl around the city’s ancient Houses. Alchemists, who hold the power to create almost anything known to science, are highly sought— and highly dangerous. Solitaire Minigame – Alchemical engineering takes focus and concentration. Take a break with Sigmar’s Garden, an original alchemy-based solitaire game. Every game is winnable, but not every game will be won… De Re Metallica – An expansive prequel to Opus Magnum that includes 3 new glyphs, 17 new puzzles, and a new solitaire variant called “House Colvan.”
Opus Magnum: Complete Edition is now available on the Switch eShop for £22.50 / $29.99, and there’s even a 20% launch discount until 19th March, bringing it down to £18.00 / $23.99.
Will you be checking this one out on Switch? Build your thoughts in the comments.
If you like Monopoly and also happen to be a fan of Star Wars, you might want to be on the lookout for this new Ubisoft-published title, Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains.
This new crossover will be arriving for the Switch 1 and 2 on 11th June 2026 (as well as multiple other platforms) and will include a “dynamic, team-based twist” on the classic Monopoly experience you know (and maybe) love. Of course, you can also expect to see a wide roster of iconic characters from the galaxy far, far away.
The full reveal of this title will take place on 29th April 2026. For now, here’s some PR and you can see some screenshots below:
“Developed by Behavior Interactive, Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains transports players into the Star Wars galaxy with a custom Monopoly board packed with iconic locations from across the saga. Classic Monopoly gameplay is reimagined with thrilling cinematic moments, themed spaces, and dynamic elements that refresh the experience from start to finish. Players can choose from a wide roster of Star Wars heroes and villains, from Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia to Darth Vader and Darth Maul. Each character brings unique abilities that shape your team’s strategy and can turn the tide in your favor with every roll of the dice.
“With competitive 2v2 and 3v3 modes, available online and via couch co-op, traditional gameplay is transformed into an action-packed, strategic showdown where teamwork and hero combinations play a pivotal role. Every turn carries high stakes as properties change hands in an instant, while dynamic GO events introduce game-altering twists. With evolving team strategies, and a few surprises, there’s always a reason to jump back in for one more round.”
Image: Ubisoft
If you are eager for some monopoly action on the Switch right now, there are some existing titles available via the eShop. You can also get a Star Wars fix on the Switch 2 with Ubisoft’s other title, Star Wars Outlaws.
When we hear more about this new Star Wars-themed Monopoly title in April, we’ll provide an update. Would you be interested in a game like this? Tell us below.
