Generally, my wife does not play video games very often, as she’s always been more keen to cozy up with a good book and warm cup of tea during her free time. There are exceptions, of course – she did complete two 70+ hour playthrough of Hogwarts Legacy, to her credit – but for the most part, she simply hasn’t found many games that have piqued her interest. The only major exception to that trend is when a new game from Hazelight Studios comes out. She and I had a blast playing the studio’s previous two titles, A Way Out and It Takes Two, on the couch together over the past several years, and from time to time she would ask me if there was a sequel or something similar to those games that we could play. Needless to say, I was excited to learn that the studio’s next game, Split Fiction, would be a launch game for the Nintendo Switch 2, and was eager to put their latest genre-mashing, reality-shifting co-op adventure through its paces.

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[Let’s Talk] How are you feeling about Donkey Kong Bananza?

Posted on 3 days ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch 2 | 0 comments

A little more into the system’s first month, Switch 2 is getting its next big game from Nintendo. Donkey Kong Bananza is launching on July 17 and we got to hear more about it last week as part of the latest Nintendo Direct.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a pretty big deal. For one thing, it’s the first time we’re seeing a proper 3D Donkey Kong title since the N64 era. On top of that, Nintendo is finally back to working on the series with one of its main teams.

During the Nintendo Direct, we learned about a ton of new stuff. Pauline was officially revealed, we got our first look at transformations, there’s a new amiibo on the way, and much more. We have a full recap here.

Based on what we saw, how are you feeling about Donkey Kong Bananza? Will you be picking it up next month? Let us know in the comments.

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Is Sonic x Shadow Generations worth double dipping on Nintendo Switch 2? We decide

Posted on 3 days ago by Ethan in Reviews, Switch 2 | 0 comments

Switch 2 brought with it several launch titles like Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, but one game that also launched with the console that flew under the radar was the Sonic x Shadow Generations. The game released for Nintendo Switch late last year and was generally well-received. As per our original review, however, one of the game’s biggest flaws was its performance. Both Sonic and Shadow Generations targeted 30 frames per second, and while the former often hit that target, the latter struggled to do so and also struggled with extremely poor resolution.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Sonic x Shadow Generations doesn’t include any new content – it’s strictly a performance upgrade for the game. With that in mind, we’re going to focus on the game’s graphics and frame rate for the purposes of this feature. If you’d like to read more about how the actual game holds up, check out our original review – which still holds up in full.

More: highlight, SEGA, Sonic x Shadow Generations, top

The best character and kart combos in Mario Kart World

Posted on 4 days ago by Ethan in Guides, Switch 2 | 0 comments

Today, we’re going over some of the best character and kart combos in Mario Kart World.

If you’ve played online in Mario Kart World so far, then you may have noticed certain characters and especially karts are more popular than others. Indeed, only a few weeks after the game’s launch, players have already determined the best character and kart combos to use. That being said, there isn’t one specific combo that’s best for every mode. Depending on the exact mode you’re playing, be it online or Time Trials or Grand Prix, the optimal character and kart changes. Of course, you don’t have to use an “optimal” build by any means – for the most part, you can get away with playing your favorite character as long as the stats you wind up with are fairly balanced.

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Hitman World of Assassination review for Nintendo Switch 2

Posted on 6 days ago by Edan(@@Virtualboi92) in Reviews, Switch 2 | 0 comments

System: Switch 2
Release date: June 5, 2025
Developer: IO Interactive
Publisher: IO Interactive

The slick, noir-ish montage FMV that plays at the beginning of Hitman World of Assassination’s campaign is an incredibly confident thing. Like any decent introduction it sets out the tonal blueprint of the game you’re about to play – but in Hitman’s case, it does so much more besides. Originally released in 2016, the first entry in IO Interactive’s soft reboot of the franchise was a course correction of sorts, meant to put the developer back on track both creatively and financially. As the cinematic medley plays out, you’re taken on a whistle-stop tour of the past series’ most impactful missions and moments. It’s a definitive statement of intent from IO Interactive, and one that melts away past criticisms over the course of its 2 minute and 22 second runtime. As the artful collage builds to its apex, there’s a subtle – if slightly brazen – feeling that IO Interactive is in no small way hinting that the best is yet to come.

More: highlight, Hitman World of Assassination, IO Interactive, top

Street Fighter 6 review for Nintendo Switch 2

Posted on 1 week ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch 2 | 0 comments

System: Switch 2
Release date: June 5, 2025
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

When Nintendo revealed Switch 2 earlier this year, of all the games announced to be releasing alongside the system on launch day, it was Street Fighter 6 that had me the most excited. The original Nintendo Switch missed out on some major releases in the fighting game genre; outside of Smash Bros. Ultimate and some iffy Mortal Kombat ports, the pickings were slim for those seeking a flashy modern, 3D fighting game (although we did get what felt like roughly a thousand retro fighting game collections.) These titles have always felt like such a natural fit for handheld play to me, so when Street Fighter 6 released to near universal critical acclaim on other platforms a few years ago, I was eager to someday play it on a console where I could hone my skills at home or on the go. Fortunately, while Street Fighter 6 had to make a few compromises to make it onto Nintendo Switch 2, for the most part this is an excellent way to enjoy Capcom’s premier current-gen fighting game.

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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment story and character predictions

Posted on 1 week ago by Ethan in Features, Switch 2 | 0 comments

The big Nintendo Switch 2 presentation in April announced a ton of new games: Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, plus new trailers for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Lost in all the hype was Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, which just about flew under the radar in comparison to the Direct’s big reveals. In a similar vein as Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Age of Imprisonment is meant to serve as a direct prequel to Tears of the Kingdom. We don’t really know much about the game otherwise, but we figure it’s a good time to make some story and gameplay predictions before it releases later this year. We’ll be discussing spoilers for Tears of the Kingdom and Age of Calamity, so keep that in mind before you continue.

More: highlight, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Koei Tecmo, top

Nintendo Switch 2 hardware review

Posted on 1 week ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch 2 | 0 comments

When the original Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, it shook up the very notion of what a gaming console could be, offering unprecedented versatility by allowing players to experience true console-quality gaming both at-home and on the go. Eight years later, the experiment has proven a success. Switch is one of the best-selling gaming systems of all time, boasting a staggering library of both first and third-party games, so it makes sense that Nintendo would choose to iterate on the platform rather than reinvent the wheel for its next console. Enter the Nintendo Switch 2, which finally landed in the hands of players nearly eight years after the launch of its predecessor, boasting more power, a bigger screen, and a few quirky new features.

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Gex Trilogy review for Nintendo Switch

Posted on 1 week ago by Richard in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments

System: Switch
Release date: June 15, 2025
Developer: Limited Run Games / Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Limited Run Games

The Gex series is one that has been out of the limelight for a long time. While seen as unique and unconventional in his pomp, Gex has faded into obscurity. The gecko is best known these days as a bit of an internet meme, seen more in the ilk of Bubsy than of Sonic or Crash Bandicoot. Even still, the character had several big-time game releases and was the poster boy for Crystal Dynamics for quite a while, and that team has gone on to make some truly brilliant titles. Over time, the franchise has become increasingly less accessible, and so people who may want to try out Gex’s titles to see if maybe time has treated him too harshly. Thankfully, Limited Run Games has seen that cult desire for the wise-cracking TV addict to make a comeback, and have obliged with a trilogy collection of three adventures with the very first entry plus Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. In the past, I had only played Gex 2, and I was very young at the time, so when this collection was announced, I was very excited to play it again, as well as what came before and after. How do they hold up nearly three decades later?

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Here’s how Mario Kart World could improve Free Roam mode

Posted on 1 week ago by Ethan in Features, Switch 2 | 0 comments

Today, we’re going over some improvements Nintendo could implement to further improve Mario Kart World’s Free Roam mode.

During the marketing campaign that led up to its release, Free Roam was Mario Kart World’s big selling point. At the time, we didn’t know how many secrets it would hold – in fact, we didn’t know much about it at all other than the presence of numerous P-Switch missions. In the end, it turns out Mario Kart World’s Free Roam mode only has P-Switches, ? Block Panels, and Peach Medallions that offer exclusive stickers as rewards. Though I personally am a fan of Free Roam’s relaxed, slow-paced nature, it’s clear that it isn’t exactly what every Mario Kart fan was looking for. Uncovering the open world’s many hundreds of collectibles is fun and satisfying, but there are a number of improvements Nintendo could have made to make Free Roam feel more substantial.