Nintendo

Nintendo’s newest showcase for indie games heading to the Switch kicks off at noon ET. It’s tied to the Game Developers Conference and is in part a way to recruit more indies to the platform (not that they’re hurting for them!). Watch it here. If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can alsoread about the indies they…

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Amiibo Gold Rush, Winners!

The triumphant return of the ‘Shop Contest brought many entries, but the capricious soul of victory chooses the best of the best! Thanks to everyone who spent the last week making images of amiibos. I don’t own any of those fun little toys, but I would be more likely to buy them if they were…

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Switch

The Nintendo Switch is a piece of hardware with a lot going on. It’s a console. It’s a handheld. It’s got tons of games to play, options to tweak and accessories to play with. Here are tips to help you get the most out of the latest Nintendo entertainment system. Stuff All Switch Owners Should…

Retro Japanese Game Cartridges Make For Excellent Art

Twitter user Sakura is famous for two things: having a big collection of old Famicon cartridges and using those cartridges to create cool retro style art. Since various companies made Famicom cartridges in different colors, they’re perfect for this. Here is my favorite. Amazing, no? Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing…

The Tiniest Lil’ Nintendo Switch Game Cases

Reader Mahir, who last year designed a bunch of full-size Switch cases for downloadable titles, has come back in 2018 with something different. And much smaller. He’s created a range of Switch cases that are just big enough for the cartridge, and that’s it. Cons: you could lose all of these in around 17 seconds.…

This Puzzle Platformer Is Giving Me Mario 2 Flashbacks

Uurnog Uurnlimited feels like a knock-off Super Mario Bro 2. It’s a blocky platform puzzler where you pick up and throw everything, from enemies to bombs. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but its freeform approach to puzzle design means that you’re able to come up with your own solutions. It’s a sneaky little…

Seriously Though, Maybe Get A Switch Stand

I’ve had my Nintendo Switch for a little over a year now, but I only just bought a stand for it last week. I shouldn’t have waited so long. I spend about half of my Switch time playing docked, and the other half in handheld mode. Before last week, when I was in handheld mode,…

The Game Franchises That Will Exist 100 Years Into The Future

Video games are still a relatively young medium. Many of the most iconic characters weren’t created that long ago. But what about a century from now? Which ones will remain? A thread on 2ch, Japan’s most popular bulletin board, covered those same questions. The answers probably won’t be a surprise, but here are some, but…

Killer7 Doesn’t Explain A Damn Thing And That’s Fine

Last night, I continued my playthrough of Suda51’s cult classic Killer7 on Kotaku’s Twitch channel. The game has a reputation for being weird, and as I keep playing I’m discovering that its unflinching dedication to not explaining a damn thing is one of its most compelling quirks. Released in 2005 on the Nintendo GameCube, Killer7…

Barely a year old, the Nintendo Switch just got a 5.0 firmware update (the four-year-old PS4 is up to 5.5). No huge changes. More ways to add friends, new profile pictures and enhancements to parental controls. Still no cloud save support (nor the ability to back-up saves on a computer, something the 3DS and Wii…

One Of The Best Nintendo Switch Ideas I’ve Seen

While Nintendo Labo looks cool, this Switch holder might just be one of the best ways you can play. Twitter user Ukiwa recently uploaded this image of a Nintendo Switch holder, showing how it can be used while lounging in bed. The holder can also be used for smartphones and tablets, but thanks to the…

Nintendo’s New Rewards Program Is Actually Pretty Good

This week Nintendo finally rolled out its new rewards program. After a year of only letting players redeem coins for discounts on Wii U and 3DS games, people can finally start leveraging their purchases to save money on Switch games. Compared to the rewards programs elsewhere in gaming, it’s actually pretty good. The updated version…

Google Maps Gets Its Very Own Mario Kart

Google’s already tossed Pac Man into its maps—now it’s Mario’s turn to shine. To celebrate Mario Day, users of the Google Maps phone app can now send their favorite plumber karting around their neighborhood. Leading into March 10th–whose abbreviation Mar. 10 looks like the most l33t spelling of Mario ever–anyone using the Google Maps app…

Japan Is Getting Some Switch Games We’re Not (Yet?)

We just got a whole bunch of awesome Nintendo Switch game announcements in today’s Nintendo Direct, but as usual, Japan got a little bit extra. Here are the announcements you didn’t see if you only watched the U.S. Direct. SaGa Scarlet Grace, the latest in Square Enix’s long-running series of really complicated RPGs originally released…

Everything Announced During Today’s Nintendo Direct

Today, Nintendo officially announced that Super Smash Bros. is coming to Switch. Equally exciting: the original Luigi’s Mansion is getting a 3DS remake! It was a port-heavy Direct this time around, with some cool news tucked in around the edges. Here’s everything Nintendo showed. Super Smash Bros. is coming to Switch. Not the most surprising…

Smash Bros. Is Coming To Switch, With Squid Kids

Rejoice, Switch fans: Nintendo’s iconic platform brawler is finally confirmed for the portable console. Now that we’ve got the obligatory announcement of of the way, we can proceed to argue about what characters should totally fight one another. In the CGI trailer there’s a big new surprise—you can play as a character from Splatoon! And…

Undertale, South Park, And Other Games Are Coming To Switch

A sudden Nintendo Directbrings with it a handful of ports that you can play on the subway or while laying in bed. Here’s a list of all of the fresh ports making their way to the Switch. Okami HD Capcom’s cult classic Zelda-like brings gorgeous art and extremely pet-able wolf gods to the Switch. It…

Praise The Sun, It’s A Dark Souls Amiibo

No really, praise the sun. It’s what the Solaire of Astora amiibo does. Due out on May 25 alongside Dark Souls Remastered, tapping the Solaire of Astora amiibo to your Nintendo Switch while playing the game will cause your character to perform the iconic gesture. I don’t know if that’s all it does—it’s all the…

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is getting a remake for the 3DS some time in 2019. It’ll also include new content Nintendo is calling “Bowser Jr.’s Journey.” Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga got a remake last year which was excellent, but Bowser’s Inside Story was an even better DS game, though 2019 is a…

Watch The Nintendo Direct Right Here

It’s time for some Nintendo news, as the company behind the red-hot Switch holds a Nintendo Direct to talk about what else is coming in 2018. Nintendo says it’ll talk Mario Tennis Aces and offer news on upcoming Switch and 3DS games. Will we see more Metroid Prime 4? A bunch of new AAA ports?…