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This summer, Nintendo is bringing joy and excitement to cities across the U.S. with the Play Nintendo Tour! From June 13 to September 2, families can dive into the fun and adventure of Nintendo at various stops nationwide. This free event is packed with interactive experiences, photo-ops with beloved Nintendo characters, and playable demos of the latest Nintendo Switch games.

Character Meet and Greets

Get ready to meet Luigi, Princess Peach, Pikachu, Isabelle, Tom Nook, and more! Snap a photo with your favorite characters and create unforgettable memories.

Interactive Activities and Games

There’s something for everyone at the Play Nintendo Tour! Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the world of Nintendo, you’ll find plenty of activities to enjoy:

• Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD Photo-Op: Brave the spooky scene from Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, releasing on June 27.
• Princess Peach: Showtime! Demo: Walk the red carpet and play as Peach in her theatrical adventure, transforming into different personas like Swordfighter Peach and Patissiere Peach.
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder Demo: Experience the magic of Wonder Flowers in this new Mario game. Play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toads, Toadette, Yoshi, and Nabbit and discover exciting new power-ups.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Races: Rev up your engines and race through thrilling speedways in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the Booster Course Pass DLC.
• Pokémon Adventures: Pose with Pikachu and learn about the Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.

Additional Game Demos

Try out other fantastic games such as Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Nintendo Switch Sports, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Pikmin 4, Just Dance 2024, and starting July 18, Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition.

Family-Friendly Fun

Parents and kids can enjoy personality quizzes, jumbo puzzles, memory matching games, and more. There’s even a claw machine where you can win fun items and plushies of your favorite Nintendo characters!

Exclusive Rewards

Guests will receive a free Play Nintendo Tour passport to collect stickers by participating in activities. Complete the passport to earn Nintendo goodies like Play Nintendo bracelets, coloring pages, and a free 14-day trial code for Nintendo Switch Online (while supplies last). Attendees with a Nintendo Account can check in with My Nintendo to receive a Super Mario-themed gift and 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points to redeem for rewards.

The Play Nintendo Tour will be stopping at the following locations:

• Salt Lake City, UT: The Shops at South Town, June 13 – June 16
• Denver, CO: FlatIron Crossing, June 20 – June 23
• Houston, TX: The Woodlands Mall, June 27 – June 30
• Des Moines, IA: Jordan Creek Town Center, July 11 – July 14
• Philadelphia, PA: King of Prussia, July 18 – July 21
• East Rutherford, NJ: American Dream®, July 25 – July 28
• Greenville, SC: Haywood Mall, August 1 – August 4
• Miami, FL: Aventura Mall, August 8 – August 11
• Minneapolis, MN: Mall of America®, August 30 – September 2

How quickly could you collect a roomful of coins in Super Mario Bros.? Or snag the sword at the start of The Legend of Zelda? Or clear the entire first course in Super Mario Bros. 3? Could you do it faster than your friends? OK — can you do it faster than the rest of the world? Well, it’s time to find out!

On July 18, the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition game kicks off its worldwide — or just living room-bound — competition on the Nintendo Switch family of systems! And for those whose NES roots run deep, prepare for the nostalgia-plosion that is the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition – Deluxe Set. This special-edition bundle includes a physical version of the game, a set of 5 collectible pins, 13 art cards commemorating each of the featured NES classics, and a replica of the fabled gold-colored NES Game Pak (for display only, stand included) to commemorate the original 1990 Nintendo World Championships event. Perfect for collectors, and for raising above your head in victory!

The Japanese version of Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is slightly different, as you can see in the image above. Outside of being named Nintendo World Championships: Famicom Edition, Japanese customers get different artwork due to different game boxes, but they also get Famicom-style controllers instead of the gold NES cartridge NA/EU are getting.

As for more details on Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition in general, you can find the breakdown below.

Last but not least, you can get an even deeper look at the game thanks to the official Japanese website. You can find that here, but you can also watch a guided tour below!

A rivalry decades in the making reaches its boiling point in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, available now for the Switch family of systems!

Are Mario and Donkey Kong friends or enemies? The two have forged powerhouse partnerships in games like Mario Tennis Aces, but they’ve also gone boot-to-toe in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. So maybe they’re … both?!

From Donkey Kong on NES to their latest bout in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a new video tackles this very question and offers a look at some of the eventful encounters these rivals have had over the years. Share the video with your readers … and maybe even your own special frenemy!

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the battle of wits and wills that took place on the Game Boy Advance system returns on the Nintendo Switch with a new Two-Player Mode, challenging new levels, updated visuals, a fully reorchestrated soundtrack and other new ways to play. Donkey Kong has stolen all the Mini-Mario toys from the factory, and it’s up to Mario to get them back! Run, jump, backflip and put your brain to work across over 130 levels in this puzzle-style twist on classic platforming action.

Remember: Always keep your frenemies close!

Are you a brand-new Switch owner yet to explore the features of Switch Online? Perhaps you’re a longtime owner who hasn’t taken the dive yet with Nintendo’s online services. Either way, now would be the perfect time to test the waters, thanks to a limited-time offer.

Over on My Nintendo, members can receive a Switch Online 7-Day Free Trial membership right now. With this reward you can try out Switch Online for a full week without using any Platinum Points. My Nintendo members can use this reward even if they’ve already redeemed the Nintendo Switch Online: Free 7-day Trial from Nintendo eShop.

A Nintendo Switch Online membership is the only way to play select NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games on the Switch. During the trial, you can enjoy a library of over 100 classic NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games, including Super Mario Bros. 3, Donkey Kong Country, Kirby’s Dream Land, and more. Even better, you can now play these games with friends online for the first time!

If you want to get in on this free trial, sign into My Nintendo and grab the offer for zero Platinum Points here.

Nintendo pulled back the curtain during the most recent Nintendo Direct video presentation and unveiled details on a wide variety of games that will set the stage for the Nintendo Switch system throughout this year and next, including information about the new title starring Princess Peach, as well as games from Nintendo’s development and publishing partners.

First introduced earlier this summer, Princess Peach entered the spotlight of this Nintendo Direct with a new trailer for Princess Peach: Showtime!, her newest leading role that features a variety of new transformations and sour foes to overcome, launching on Nintendo Switch March 22, 2024. The Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass – Side Order DLC was also shown with newly surfaced details and a scheduled spring 2024 launch. In addition, a visually enhanced version of the Nintendo GameCube game Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was announced for Nintendo Switch, with more information to be shared in the future. Plus, a new entry in the F-ZERO series was revealed with F-ZERO 99, a multiplayer racing game in which 99 players vie for first place, launching today and available exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online members.

The presentation also highlighted many games from Nintendo’s global publishing and development partners, including Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, a remastered collection of classic Tomb Raider games; Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, a new adventure set in a mythological Persian world; Unicorn Overlord, which lets players embark on a royal adventure and fight against fate in the timeless RPG from the creators of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim; Trombone Champ, a rootin’ tootin’ rhythm music game that features Joy-Con motion controls and local multiplayer to create a chaotic cacophonous chorus; and DAVE THE DIVER, a deep-sea exploration and restaurant-management adventure with quirky friends to meet and underwater mysteries to discover.

Princess Peach: Showtime!: The leading lady is ready for her spotlight on Nintendo Switch. Just as Princess Peach and her retinue of Toads are attending a show at the Sparkle Theater, the wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch take center stage to cause a ruckus. Now it’s up to Peach and Stella, the theater’s guardian, to save the play – and the day. Luckily, Peach has gained some showstopping abilities: She can now use the power of Stella’s ribbon – and she can transform! For example, Peach can become a Swordfighter to fend off foes with sensational swordplay, mix it up with martial arts moves as Kung Fu Peach or show off her sweet skills as a pastry chef. And one more thing – she can even crack the case as Detective Peach! In this adventure, the gameplay changes depending on Peach’s role, and even more surprising transformations are waiting to be revealed. Princess Peach: Showtime! makes its debut on Nintendo Switch March 22, 2024. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eShop and at select retailers.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door: The Nintendo GameCube game returns with updated graphics. Turn the page and join Mario and friends in an RPG adventure to discover the legendary treasure behind the ancient Thousand-Year Door. Will Mario complete his papery quest, or will he crumple under the pressure? Find out when Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door unfolds on Nintendo Switch in 2024. More information about this game will be available in the future.

F-ZERO 99: Rev up your engines and get ready to tear up the track, because with 99 racers on the course the margin for error is zero! F-ZERO 99 features courses and machines from the original Super NES game in challenging multiplayer races brimming with high-speed, high-stakes action. Your Power Meter is your key to first place – it will decrease if you crash, or you can burn some of it to fuel a temporary speed boost. If the meter runs out, you’re eliminated! You can even relive your F-ZERO glory days with the Super NES controller, available exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online members. Plus, complete goals while racing to unlock cosmetic options for your machine, so you can be as flashy as you are fast. Race your way to first place in F-ZERO 99, available exclusively for active Nintendo Switch Online members … later today!

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft: Uncover treasures and mysteries of the ancient world alongside Lara Croft in three classic Tomb Raider adventures – now remastered and featuring each game’s expansion content. Face off against deadly foes, reveal dangerous myths and solve puzzles with upgraded graphics and the option to switch to the original polygonal look at any time. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is available for pre-order later today and launches digitally in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com on Feb. 14, 2024, just in time to celebrate Lara Croft’s birthday!

Trombone Champ: Get ready to toot your own … trombone?! Honk, blow and toot through over 45 songs in this trombone-based rhythm music game. Better playing means more toots to earn. The Nintendo Switch version includes local multiplayer, allowing up to four players to pitch together in (relative) harmony. Plus, move to the beat with Motion Controls, collect cards and meet mysterious characters along the way to becoming top brass of the Trombiverse. Trombone Champ launches in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com later today!

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown: Prince of Persia returns in this action-adventure platformer. Meet new characters, uncover mysteries and explore an engaging narrative set in a mythological Persian world in this new installment of the legendary franchise. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches on Nintendo Switch Jan. 18, 2024. Pre-orders are available now in Nintendo eShop.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD: Explore multiple spooky mansions and clean house as the easily scared Luigi in this visually enhanced version of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. Evershade Valley is filled with chilling locales to visit and clever ghosts to capture. Luckily, Luigi has the tools for the job – like the Strobulb to stun enemies and his trusty Poltergust to vacuum up ghosts or interact with the environment. Good thing, because his paranormal escapades will take him to a variety of places, including a former plant research lab, a broken-down clock factory and an icy, snow-covered mine, just to name a few. Plus, hunt ghosts with up to four players online in group “exorcises” across different multiplayer modes, or conjure up fun frights in the local multiplayer ScareScraper mode. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD creeps onto Nintendo Switch summer 2024.

Another Code: Recollection: The Nintendo DS game Trace Memory and its Wii sequel – which was never released in North America – are coming together, fully enhanced, on the Nintendo Switch system. A young girl named Ashley receives a letter from her father, who she thought had passed away. Seeking answers, she sets off for a solitary island in search of him. Once there, Ashley encounters puzzles and obstacles that threaten to hinder her investigation. Find the traces of her past and experience the full story for the first time in Another Code: Recollection, launching on Nintendo Switch Jan. 19, 2024. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop.

Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story: This crafting RPG is set in the magical world of Bandle City – a region that’s home to the furry and fun-loving Yordles. Play as a shy Yordle whose world is thrown into chaos when portals connecting Bandle City collapse. With the help of knitting magic, new friends and an unflappable spirit, players can help the Yordles restore the portals and reunite Bandle City. Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story launches on Nintendo Switch next year.

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story: This single-player, story-driven adventure follows League of Legends champions, and best friends, Nunu and Willump. Experience their unbreakable bond as they go on the ultimate road trip through the mysterious region of the Freljord and meet legendary champions along the way. Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story launches on Nintendo Switch on Nov. 1.

Among Us Fungle Map: Grab your crew and get ready to explore a brand-new map in Among Us, the hit online multiplayer game of teamwork and betrayal. Welcome to the Fungle, a mysterious, mushroom-filled island teeming with hiding spots, tasks and secrets to discover – but beware of the Impostors bent on eliminating everyone! The Fungle map comes to Among Us this October.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: The rivalry that heated up on the Game Boy Advance system reignites on Nintendo Switch. Donkey Kong has stolen the Mini-Mario toys, and Mario is determined to track him down and get them back! Use your brain and brawn to make it through a barrel of increasingly challenging levels – and in this updated version of the game, you can even play with a friend in local co-op. Grab keys and navigate perilous platforms with handstand jumps and backflips and lead the Mini-Mario toys to safety. Then, prepare to face Donkey Kong head on! Mario vs. Donkey Kong launches on Nintendo Switch Feb. 16, 2024. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop.

Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass – Side Order: Challenge your slick skills in this new single-player campaign. Introducing the Spire of Order, where you’ll strengthen your character’s abilities as you ascend the Spire’s floors again and again. Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass – Side Order for the Splatoon 3 game is planned to release in spring 2024.

Super Mario RPG: The Super NES game is back with updated graphics and new features. Mario and Bowser form an unprecedented alliance to take on a fearsome foe, and joining them are Princess Peach and original characters Mallow and Geno. In battle, time your button presses with Action Commands to increase damage dealt or decrease damage received. Now when you time your attacks perfectly, you can damage all enemies at once. Successful Action Commands will fill the Action Gauge that, when full, will unleash a three-character Triple Move. The Triple Move changes based on your current party, so try out different combos. Just like the original game, you’ll encounter bosses with colorful personalities in your adventure. This time, once you clear the game, you can challenge some of them again – but these powered-up bosses won’t be easy! Super Mario RPG comes down the pipe on Nintendo Switch Nov. 17. Pre-orders are available now in Nintendo eShop and at select retailers.

DAVE THE DIVER: Dive by day! Serve by night! Explore the deep sea and manage a sushi bar in this single-player, casual adventure RPG. Join Dave and his quirky friends as they seek to uncover the secrets lurking in the depths of the mysterious Blue Hole. Unravel an ocean’s worth of mysteries, play minigames, complete side quests and maintain a successful sushi business in this marine-themed adventure. DAVE THE DIVER splashes down first for consoles on Nintendo Switch Oct. 26. Pre-orders and a free demo of the game are available now in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Wargroove 2: Take to the battlefield, sea and sky and use your wits to wage turn-based battles in a new adventure, filled with unlikely friendships and unknown adversaries. Featuring signature pixel art and an interweaving story, Wargroove 2 brings together three campaigns, a new roguelike game mode and a fresh cast of Commanders, including the newly revealed faction of mousefolk, the Faahri. Wargroove 2 enters the fray on Nintendo Switch Oct. 5. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Horizon Chase 2: Gear up for high-speed arcade action and burn rubber in Horizon Chase 2, the next evolution of the award-winning racing franchise. Soak in the pulsating hues of scenic racetracks and employ sharp skills to beat your opponents to the finish line. Join friends for local multiplayer racing or take on rivals in heated online challenges. Plus, assemble an Online Crew and make progress together in the World Tour mode or compete head-to-head for personal glory. Horizon Chase 2 goes full throttle on Nintendo Switch later today!

WarioWare: Move It!: Join Wario and visit a tropical resort brimming with a multitude of motion-based microgames. But there’s no time to unwind, because these lightning-fast microgames are served to you one after another – so get ready to get moving! Up to four players can gently shake, wiggle and battle it out locally in Party Mode. With over 200 microgames and multiplayer modes aplenty, everyone’s in for a laugh with Wario. WarioWare: Move It! launches on the Nintendo Switch system Nov. 3. Pre-orders are available now in Nintendo eShop.

Detective Pikachu Returns: This detective’s got a second bolt of brilliance! In this cinematic adventure, Detective Pikachu and his partner Tim Goodman investigate various cases around Ryme City while searching for Harry, Tim’s missing father. They’ll also work with other Pokémon to broaden the scope of their investigations as they follow scents with Growlithe, smash rocks with Darmanitan and peer through walls with Luxray. Can Tim and Pikachu solve all the mysteries and find Tim’s father? Find out when Detective Pikachu Returns launches on Nintendo Switch Oct. 6. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eShop and at select retailers.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Wave 6: The final wave of DLC for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game is nearing the finish line! Drift and drive under an amber sky in Daisy Circuit from Mario Kart Wii. Or put the pedal to the metal with more returning characters, including Diddy Kong from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Funky Kong from Mario Kart Wii and, from the Mario Kart Tour game, Pauline and Peachette! Wave 6 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC sails onto Nintendo Switch this holiday season. Active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can enjoy this DLC at no additional cost. The DLC can also be purchased on its own. Stay tuned for more information in the future.

SPY×ANYA: Operation Memories: Anya Forger has a new school assignment: create a photo diary. Spend time with Anya’s family and friends at school, home, the beach, museums and other familiar places, and take pictures to fill up her photo diary with memorable moments. In addition to outings, play a variety of minigames to unlock costumes and add some flair to Anya’s memories by dressing everyone up in style. SPY×ANYA: Operation Memories launches on Nintendo Switch next year.

Super Crazy Rhythm Castle: An unforgettably chaotic rhythm adventure is coming to the Nintendo Switch system. Time your button presses with the music to solve puzzles and battle bosses, and rock out to over 30 thrilling tracks – including songs from fan-favorite Konami games. Can you perfect “Bloody Tears” and “Vampire Killer” from Castlevania? Turn up the volume for Super Crazy Rhythm Castle when it launches on Nintendo Switch Nov. 14. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Contra: Operation Galuga: The legendary Contra series is back! Contra: Operation Galuga is a modern reimagining of the classic run-‘n’-gun action game from the ’80s, featuring modern graphics and sound. Encounter new stages, new play mechanics, an updated weapons system and explosive co-op combat for up to two players in Story Mode or four players in Arcade Mode. Contra: Operation Galuga is rocketing to Nintendo Switch in early 2024.

Wartales: Lead a group of mercenaries in their quest for infamy and fortune across a vast, medieval world in Wartales. Customize your group’s appearance, skills and equipment, then craft a cunning strategy to overcome your foes in tactical turn-based combat. Plus, up to four players can share command of a troop and overcome foes as a team in online multiplayer. Wartales launches on Nintendo Switch later today!

New amiibo figures are on the way! Zelda and Ganondorf from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will release individually on Nov. 3; Noah and Mio from Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will be arriving as a set on Jan. 19, 2024; dropping in 2024, the final DLC fighter from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate … Sora from Kingdom Hearts! With the release of Sora, all Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighters will have their own amiibo figures.

Unicorn Overlord: Fight against fate and embark on a royal adventure to regain your reign in the timeless RPG Unicorn Overlord. From the creators of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Unicorn Overlord combines overworld exploration and an innovative battle system in the iconic Vanillaware style. Traverse the vibrant world, cultivate a grand army with over 60 distinct characters and grow your renown throughout the five nations in this epic fantasy experience. Liberate your kingdom and reclaim your destiny! Unicorn Overlord launches on Nintendo Switch March 8, 2024.

SaGa Emerald Beyond: A multilayered RPG full of rich stories awaits in SaGa Emerald Beyond! Experience the distinct and dramatic stories of six heroes with vastly different backgrounds, including a young man who fights with sentient puppets, a witch masking her identity, a crime-fighting duo, a songstress mech who lost her voice and body and a recently awakened king of darkness. Select a hero, then follow their journey through 17 interconnected worlds as they forge their own unique branching stories that unfold based on your choices and actions. Think strategically to master the turn-based combat to delay enemy actions and unleash devastating United Attacks. How the story unfolds is in your hands. SaGa Emerald Beyond launches on Nintendo Switch next year.

Eastward: Octopia: Enter a parallel world of Eastward in this upcoming DLC adventure. Sam and John return as farmers in a remote mountainside village to start life anew. Work the land, tend livestock and cook heartwarming meals for familiar – yet strangely different – friends. Enjoy the good life in peaceful pixel surroundings in this country life sim. Eastward: Octopia launches on Nintendo Switch this holiday season.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes: Lead more than 100 distinct heroes and save the war-torn continent of Allraan in this modern take on a classic JRPG experience. Confront foes in strategic Duels and intense War Battles, recruit allies, manage your town and create your ideal six-character party in your campaign against the power-seeking Galdean Empire. Shape your story by dint of sword when Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes launches on Nintendo Switch April 23, 2024.

BATTLE CRUSH: Experience adrenaline-fueled action with simple, fast-paced gameplay in a 30-player brawl-for-all! Join an intense showdown between characters fighting to reach the top and feel the rush of excitement as you jump, swim and soar across the battlefield to crush your rivals. BATTLE CRUSH slams onto Nintendo Switch next spring. A closed beta test will be available this October.

The story of Super Mario as we know it began in the mid 80’s with the release of Super Mario Bros. for the NES – a humble arcade platformer developed by Nintendo that featured the titular character, Mario, running and jumping his way through a variety of levels all in pursuit of saving Princess Toadstool, aka Peach.

Unbeknownst to Nintendo at the time, Mario would soon become the face and brand of the company as a whole, soaring in popularity through the 90’s to eventually becoming the household name that he is today. For nearly 4 decades, we’ve seen countless Mario games, tons of tie-in merchandise, and even more recently a whole theme park! However, in all that time, there has only been one concerted effort by Nintendo to create a feature film based on the little red plumber… and it failed miserably! Sure, it’s achieved a ‘cult classic’ status among some fans, but that is far removed from the expectations Nintendo likely had for it.

The original Super Mario Bros. film released in 1993, after which fans received nothing but radio silence as far as Nintendo-based film adaptations were concerned. That is, until 2018, when it was revealed to the world that not only would Nintendo be making a grand return to the big screen, but they wouldn’t be doing it alone. They would also be working with Illumination to produce an animated Mario movie. Naturally, many fans had their concerns.

I’ve been a fan of Super Mario my whole life, with 1996’s Super Mario 64 being the first video game I ever owned, as well as THE game to introduce me to the medium as a whole. Now, all these years later, I consider the Super Mario brand to be a major part of who I am today. So, when the news of a new film came through, I was cautiously optimistic – especially when considering how Nintendo’s first outing went.

Thankfully, now that the film is out in full, I can confidently state that 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a fantastic adaptation of one of gaming’s most iconic characters. That’s not to say the film is without its flaws, but for fans like myself who have effectively been waiting for this moment all their lives… it’s good to report that it lives up to the hype.

For as far back as I can remember, I have always been the Nintendo kid. My parents bought my older brother an NES, and then the SNES, before I was born, so I was fortunate enough to cut my teeth on classic games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Donkey Kong Country (as well as an assortment of random rentals, like Claymates). However, Metroid wasn’t even a series remotely on my radar. I didn’t know who Samus was when I finally got Super Smash Bros. 64, mistakenly believing she was somehow related to Captain Falcon because some of their fighting stances looked similar. It wasn’t until years later, when I went over to a friend’s house to hang out and play GameCube, that I was properly re-introduced to Samus Aran in Metroid Prime – a game so beautiful and groundbreaking that I was convinced video games could never look better than that. It was one of the defining games of the GCN era, in terms of gameplay, atmosphere, graphics, and sound design – and I believe that Metroid Prime Remastered is going to be the same for the Switch.

Nearly every gamer alive has a story like this one. You’re at a family function, visiting with relatives you haven’t seen in years. The smaller kids are running around, and while you’re talking with a close cousin, you hear one of the kids say this. “Oh, I’m the best at Mario Kart. No one can beat me at that game!” Both you and your cousin instantly have flashbacks of all those late nights spent playing Mario Kart 64 and Double Dash. You crack a smile, your cousin nods, and suddenly you’re both hooking up a Nintendo console. The kid continues to “brag” about their Mario Kart accomplishments, completely unaware of the severe beatdown they are about to receive from the 2 veterans.

Mario Kart is that grand paradox of a game where practically everyone knows about it, even those who don’t play video games at all. It’s also amazing that the best-selling Mario game of all time (at the time of publishing) isn’t a regular Mario platformer, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. According to Nintendo Fandom Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold 55.27 million units. Mario Kart games in the past 3 console generations have either been the number 1 seller or held a spot in the top 3. Looking at Nintendo’s own data, which goes as far back as the Nintendo DS, every console and handheld has had a Mario Kart game in one of the top slots. This series has come a long way since its debut 30 years ago, all the way back on the Super Nintendo.

Super Mario Kart came out in North America on September 1st, 1992 and set the stage for the success of future games. While not the first kart racing game, it was the first to star Mario and his friends. Fun fact, the game didn’t start development as a Mario game, but as a sequel to F-Zero. According to Playing With Super Power: Super NES Classics, fans of F-Zero wanted to play with their friends, but couldn’t since the game was single-player only. The devs at Nintendo had a problem to tackle, as adding a multiplayer mode meant the high speed that F-Zero was famous for would have to diminish greatly due to hardware limitations during split-screen gameplay. So, instead of alien super-craft, the team opted for less threatening go-karts, then eventually decided to use Mario and his friends as the playable characters. The project went from being a true racing game to a party game disguised as a racing game, and that certainly makes sense. How many times have you gone to a friend’s party and someone busts out a version of Mario Kart to play with others?

How has the game aged over the years? I would say it’s like a very fine wine, as in it’s an acquired taste. For a 16-bit game, it still looks beautiful with great pixel art and some decent tracks. There is one small thing I do need to address; if you played ANY other Mario Kart game before you played Super Mario Kart as a kid, then it will show its age and may be harder to enjoy. Not because of the controls, but just how the game feels when you play. It’s hard to explain, but the karts feel looser and overall harder to handle than later entries. Along with that, the screen threw me for a loop when I first tried playing on my SNES Classic Edition. Even for single-player races, the screen is split with a map of the track on the bottom and the race on top. It was hard for me to adjust while playing, as the only time I would have split-screen was when playing with someone else. Even though I could feel the game’s age as I was playing it, I was still having fun. Even when I would comment on something that would be improved later down the line, I was still having fun, and it was great to experience the first outing of one of my favorite game franchises.

Is Super Mario Kart the best game of the series? Not by a long shot, but it set the foundation for something truly special for years to come. The legacy that this game created is unreal. It was the 4th best-selling SNES game (according to Playing With Super Power) and the series is so popular that the main attraction for the Super Nintendo World areas in Universal theme parks is a Mario Kart *ride! In essence, *Super Mario Kart cruised down the highway so the games that followed can zoom past with their 150cc engines. While many have their personal favorite Mario Kart game, we all know that when the franchise is mentioned, people will always be down to play.

Three weeks back, Nintendo revealed another new wave of Switch icons for Switch Online members, and that series paid tribute to the games and accessories of the Nintendo Entertainment System. If you’ve been keeping track of that series, you’ll be happy to know that the third installment is now available.

You can see the third series of icons in the image above, which includes artwork from the following games and systems:

• Donkey Kong
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Punch-Out!!
• NES
• Famicom and Famicom Disk System

This series of icons will be available until Sept. 26th, 2022.

Evil Dead: The Game has been getting lots of praise since its release, and one of the most fun aspects for fans has been the return of characters from the Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series. One of those characters is Kelly as played by Dana DeLorenzo. In a new interview with Looper, DeLorenzo discusses what it was like reprising her role for a video game, as well as her own history with the medium. Turns out she’s an old school Nintendo fan!

The interview goes on to discuss why exactly Dana DeLorenzo moved away from gaming, as well as much more insight into her experience with acting in (and playing) Evil Dead: The Game. To read it all, check out the full interview now.

The breakout success of New Horizons makes it easy to forget just how small Animal Crossing was at one point. The franchise’s unassuming debut in Japan was 21 years ago today, which makes this the perfect occasion to look back at Dōbutsu no Mori - the birth of everyone’s favorite communication game.

Dōbutsu no Mori originally began development for the Nintendo 64 DD, a magnetic floppy disk drive for the Nintendo 64. While the peripheral never made it out of Japan and was considered a commercial failure, the game itself shifted development to the base N64 as a cartridge game, and it saw release on April 14th, 2001.

The game, translated as Animal Forest, plopped the player into a land where they are the only human character among a town full of walking, talking animals. Described as a social simulator akin to The Sims, Dōbutsu no Mori’s main objectives are to befriend the animals, work, and earn money to pay off your loans (which is handled through a particularly demanding Tanuki some compare to a loan shark!). The cast of core animals in your town ranged from a moody pelican who worked the late shift at the post office, a fashion-centric giraffe with no qualms about judging your choices in style, an angry gopher that caused a ruckus if you didn’t save properly, and plenty of others.

In addition to building out your house and working for the local shopkeep (Tom Nook), you could watch morning exercises near the front of town; a feature brought back in the 2.0 update of New Horizons as a bit of fan service. A humble dog will come and perform a song with only his stool, guitar, and pride; no cafe or special fanfare for him here! You could also spend some time catching bugs and fish to make a quick buck (Bell), but don’t expect to have Blathers give them a once-over, as there’s no museum in Dōbutsu no Mori. Fossils are still present, but you have to mail them off for examination and wait days to get a response.

Because the 64DD had a time-keeping method, Dōbutsu no Mori was designed to be a real-time game, meaning it was one of the first of its kind in which the actual time of day would affect gameplay. If it was 7am in real life, the sun would be rising in your town. Conversely, if it was 10pm, you could witness shooting stars and constellations in your town’s night sky. The date would also come into play, as major holidays would change the scenery with elements like snow in the winter and cherry blossoms in the Spring. There would even be special characters to celebrate events with you. With the game moving away from the 64DD, Nintendo had to come up with a different solution. For this reason, Dōbutsu no Mori is the only N64 cartridge to have a battery-powered clock, which allowed it to retain all of these gameplay features.

The unique nature of Dōbutsu no Mori certainly piqued interest, but one element created more buzz than any other. In the game, players could find or buy items that allowed them to play original Famicom/NES games in full screen. Games such as Donkey Kong, Balloon Fight and Pinball were among the first selections, and later variations of the game would add even more titles. You have to wonder if this feature was included as a way to gauge interest in re-releasing classic games, as Nintendo found great success with this very idea years later.

Even with how wholesome the series is considered today, Dōbutsu no Mori was not without controversy. Some of the villager dialogue was seen as borderline offensive, with the Resetti character coming off so harsh in his admonishments that kids cried, leading to complaints from parents. Some issues of gender also made waves, as Gracie, the aforementioned fashion giraffe, is a male in the Japanese and South Korean versions, but was changed to female for the American localization.

Dōbutsu no Mori would eventually be ported to the Nintendo GameCube in Japan in 2001, and then finally make its big North American debut as Animal Crossing in the Fall of 2002. While marketed as a new franchise to American audiences, its N64 roots were very evident to players in terms of graphical presentation.

This GameCube adaptation would introduce characters and buildings that would become mainstays in the series, such as Blathers and his Museum and the Able Sisters and their clothing design shop. Some animals underwent minor changes, with Tom Nook shedding his Tanuki origins in exchange for raccoon roots. Multiplayer options were also introduced, which required you to save your town to a memory card to take it to a friend’s console. Connecting a Game Boy Advance would give you access to a vacation island where even more goodies and mini-games could be found. Finally, more NES games would be added for the player to enjoy. Oddly enough, Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda would never be distributed, and were only accessible via cheating methods.

Animal Crossing’s English release led to Dōbutsu no Mori e+, an enhanced Japanese version of the game that launched in 2003. As Nintendo was quite impressed with the additions the American Animal Crossing localization team made, many of these elements were included in Dōbutsu no Mori e+ for Japanese audiences to enjoy. This only helped the series get an even bigger following in Japan, which helped pave the way for all sorts of merch and side content, and eventually, the Dōbutsu no Mori animated film.

Dōbutsu no Mori is a game that grew its reputation off of its uniqueness. It promoted building friendship along with the responsibility of working and earning a living, all under the candy coating of an endearing, kid-friendly presentation. This distinct feeling and undeniable appeal helped the Animal Crossing franchise grow into one of Nintendo’s most successful of all-time. While the mechanics and features of the original Dōbutsu no Mori might seem basic by today’s standards, it’s those humble beginnings that helped foster Animal Crossing fans in the first place.

The original catchphrase of Animal Crossing was “Population: Growing!,” and the charm of Dōbutsu no Mori certainly laid the groundwork for a fan base that continues to expand today. From the moment players stepped off that train and into a brave new world, a love affair began, and it’s a thriving relationship over 20 years later.

Happy 21st anniversary, Dōbutsu no Mori!

I, like many people, spend a fair amount of time on Tiktok. Whenever I have a bit of downtime and I’m too tired to do anything else, I open up Tiktok to see what it has for me. As we’re all at the mercy of the almighty Tiktok algorithm, we never know what video is coming next.

My Tiktok ‘For You’ page is mostly filled with America’s Funniest Videos-style content, but the app definitely knows that gaming is one of my hobbies. Every once in awhile, Tiktok will sneak in something gaming-related for me to see. That’s exactly what happened a couple of weeks back, and it led to me finding Chris Lombardi.

Chris is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive singers I’ve seen. On Tiktok, Chris mostly provides a cappella versions of video game songs, and they’re absolutely incredible. I’ve heard a lot of game music covers over the years, but the amount of skill and passion Chris possesses is really something else. The second I saw just one of Chris’ Tiktok covers, I subscribed to his channel right away, and spent the next half hour going through his body of work.

Just as Chris is really starting to take off on Tiktok, I reached out to the man himself for an interview. You can find that entire discussion below, where we cover a wide range of gaming-related topics. From his favorite covers to the immense amount of work each video takes, there was plenty to talk about!

Happy Mar10 day, everyone! Acknowledged officially by Nintendo since December 2016, March 10th serves as a day to reminisce about our favorite plumber-turned-doctor-turned kart racer turned…just about everything under the sun, really! Mario truly is the delightful little Renaissance Man of video games, so it’s appropriate we eke out a day to really celebrate his storied legacy across numerous titles. Whether they be the charming and exciting cosmic journeys he takes in the Super Mario Galaxy games, or even the humble, yet imaginative trip he embarks on in Super Mario Bros. 3, there’s many a great moment to be shared. After all, Mario’s been around for nearly 41 years!

But…let’s wind that back a little bit to my “everything under the sun” comment. I could write about those games I just mentioned (Super Mario Bros. 3 in particular!), but I want to shine the spotlight on a different set of Mario games. Mario games that have fallen out of cultural canon, be it due to a Japanese-only release (this is very frequently the case with titles in the 80s and 90s), or a required console accessory. These games are incredibly fascinating; their existence a testament to how different the Mario brand was back then, and proof that every long-lasting franchise has some really interesting history to dig up if you look hard enough. Without further ado, let’s look at some of Mario’s most strange and overlooked titles!

For much of GoNintendo’s history, things were run with an extremely small team. Due to the sheer amount of news that was cranked out every year, plenty of companies were under the impression that we had at least 15 people on staff. They were quite surprised to learn that at most, there were only ever 3 people on the team! Everyone who was ever part of the team absolutely worked their butts off to make sure fans were as up-to-date with Nintendo news as possible.

Obviously, with that much focus on news, the “features” side of our content really suffered. To be completely honest, GoNintendo didn’t have too much in the way of original content, outside of our weekly podcast and gameplay videos. It was always something that bothered me, but I was too caught up in news rounds to spare time for anything else. In hindsight (which is always 20/20), I can see that approach wasn’t fair to those on the news team, and it also didn’t best serve our readers.

I’ve always wanted GoNintendo to be a place where the Nintendo faithful could get both the latest news AND features! It was a dream I thought was impossible…until now! GoNintendo’s relaunch is very much a product of my failings with GoNintendo’s past, and my desire to right those wrongs.

I’m extremely happy to tell you that GoNintendo’s team is now 28 people strong! Half of that team is dedicated to giving you every last tidbit of Nintendo news that the GN of old did. The other half is tackling the features side of things, meaning reviews, previews, opinion pieces, and MUCH more. Now we’ll finally have an original content output that matches our news coverage, and I can’t tell you how proud that makes me.

Also, whether I’d like to admit it or not, I can’t keep up with things like I used to! I’m turning 40 this year, so it’s one foot in the grave for me! I’ll still very much be a part of both the news and features content, but now I’m incredibly lucky to have an amazing team supporting me. They’re the real stars of the show with this relaunch, and I want nothing more than for you all to meet them. Read on for an introduction from each staffer to learn who they are, and what attracted them to gaming!