game 7) Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park - did I forget all about this list, or has it taken me the last three weeks to type up that title in its entirety?
here's my full review for NL:
www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nint...
the base game still rules, but almost everything else that Mario Wonder - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition brings to the table felt VERY ehhhhh to me.
apart from the Pikmin. I want more Pikmin.
www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nint...
game 6) Blue Prince - I absolutely adored this last year, and it still rules on Switch 2!! damn, I’m so envious if you haven’t played it yet
full NL review:
www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nint...
A black and white pixel art skeleton in a jacket and jeans. He shrugs his shoulders and winks.
game 5) Undertale - this has been on my backlog for YONKS (shocking ik) and I freaking adored it. I feel like I need to play through it 10 more times to see the true genius, but from the two I’ve done so far, it’s a belter
A woman with brown hair and a fur-lined black leather jacket sits in a futuristic-looking silver chair. She smiles into the middle distance, facing the camera.
game 4) Star Wars Outlaws - played the Switch 2 version to the bitter end and god damn it, this is exactly what an open world SW game should be!
babe wake up!! new Craigo vid just dropped!!
game 3) Dispatch - say what you want about the Switch censorship, this game still rules!! Full review:
www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nint...
Four characters from Clair Obscur stand on a cliff edge overlooking a cloudy view. Parts of the earth float in broken chunks in the sky.
game 2) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - really wanted to squeeze this onto last year’s list, but we move. I will never stop thinking about this game
A screenshot from Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Four characters in green masks stand next to two goat-like Zonai and Princess Zelda.
game 1) Hyrule Warriors: Age of Inprisonment - off to a flying start with a game I actually beat a solid 3 weeks ago 🙃 still not fully come around on the Warriors format, but what can I say? I’m a sucker for a funny Goron
Not one person asked, but ✨he’s back!! ✨ Here’s every game I beat in 2026:
Pixel art image of X-Men’s Storm and Marvel’s She-Hulk stood back to back.
game 23) Marvel Cosmic Invasion - sneaking in with one last 2025 entry (that I totally remembered to log the second I finished it). Felt made for me in every way and god damn, I LAPPED it up
The key art for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Two teenagers and a bunch of Pokémon watch a glowing Pokémon undergoing a Mega Evolution in the street. A nighttime cityscape stretches into the background.
game 22) Pokémon Legends: Z-A - forgot to update the list again, but a new Pokémon game came out and I enjoyed it! I will be insufferable about this for the next 18 months…
The selfish part of me wants Zion to stay at NL forever - he has brightened every single day, and is one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met!
I just know that he’s going to smash what comes next, and I’ll be so very proud watching him do so!!
Go kill it, dude, I miss you already 🫶
Kirby and Bandana Waddledee look to the sky. Swirly clouds are in the sky behind them.
game 21) Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World - my tonic for the post-Silksong bug depression and it DID NOT disappoint
An image of Hornet from the game Hollow Knight: Silksong. She stands in a red dress in a field of white flowers.
game 20) Hollow Knight: Silksong - yes, it’s only the first ending (I need to take a little break and play something marginally less stressful), but JESUS WEPT, it’s a masterpiece
A screenshot of Monty Mole from the Super Mario Galaxy Movie teaser trailer.
THIS DIVA
game 19) BOKURA: planet - cute and cuddly and horrifying and gross and sweet and gave me the excuse to use “Twin Peeks” as a tag. Hey look, I’ve even got a full review for this one!
www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nint...
A screen from Super Mario Bros. (NES). Mario stands under a question block, with a Goomba entering from the right.
game 18) Super Mario Bros. - whoops! I forgot to update the list again! More shocking revelations about this to come soon, but rest assured, it good.
3 hours in and I am already overly emotionally invested in a group of fictional bugs
BABE WAKE UP! NEW LONGFORM ZION VID JUST DROPPED!!
(shock, this one rules!)
A giant stone beast with a sword towers over a smaller man in a cape.
game 17) Shadow of the Colossus - had very fond memories of playing the original back when I couldn’t be arsed to read the cutscenes. Why did nobody tell me I’d be so sad??
Buzzing to be back contributing to Hookshot, and proud to have written my first review for Nintendo Life too.
Turns out Herdling’s pretty darn charming! 🍂🦬
A watercolour picture of two girls in light blue school uniform walking through a park. They are laughing with each other.
game 16) Dear Me, I Was… - cheers, son’s crying now (it’s me, I am son)
I've never been so excited to write a headline
CHOREOGRAPHY AND MERRIMENT!!
FACT: Sakurai recorded the entirety of this Direct 2 years ago while waiting for a YouTube video to upload
game 15) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown - never has a game been more tailor-made for me. cowabunga, dudes! full review: www.nintendolife.com/reviews/swit...
game 14) Is This Seat Taken? - the final test for anyone who prides themselves on their ability to pick the right tube seat / cinema spot / urinal. here’s me full review: www.nintendolife.com/reviews/swit...
those demons don’t stand a chance 🐉