While on the ground at Summer Game Fest 2025, I got to play a little bit of Grounded 2 and then had a quick chat afterwards with game director Chris Parker. In the brief time I had with the game, which is a sequel that continues the survival game story of kids shrunk down to itty-bitty size, I got to fight off some creepy little multi-legged mites with a spear...

A week after the release of Nintendo’s bubbly racer on Switch 2, there’s plenty of footage showcasing new tech, amazing shortcuts, and impressive plays. But part of what makes Mario Kart such a memorable franchise is the chaos and randomness, which means players are also sharing clips of themselves getting owned. Turns out, a blue shell can be the least of your worries in Mario Kart World. We’ve got the...

Switch 2 backwards compatibility is pretty comprehensive across console generations, but there are still some original Switch games that don’t work on Switch 2. Although Switch 2 arrived June 5 with the new Mario Kart World, some ports, and the possibility of upgrading big games (like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom) to their respective Switch 2 versions, the launch lineup is relatively slight. As a result,...

Video game launches are typically fairly rote endeavors. Outlets publish reviews when an embargo lifts, usually shortly before a game launches, and the public will use those reviews to inform its purchasing decisions. Occasionally, you’ll have a controversial launch, like how CD Projekt Red lost all its goodwill with the bug-filled mess of a launch that was Cyberpunk 2077 back in 2020. The launch of Mindseye, however, isn’t controversial, or...

So, busy week in the world of video games, huh? The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally launched and landed in the hands of gamers around the world, eight years after the first Switch revolutionized gaming. The Switch 2 isn’t quite as revolutionary, with Nintendo opting to make an upgrade of its predecessor rather than completely overhaul what might end up being the best-selling console ever. Still, that isn’t stopping plenty...

The Splatoon franchise is headed to Switch 2 with a new game called Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo announced Tuesday. Described as “the first-ever Splatoon spinoff game,” Splatoon Raiders will cast players as a mechanic who explores the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside Splatoon 3’s Deep Cut trio: Frye, Shiver, and Big Man. A short trailer for Splatoon Raiders shows the Deep Cut gang on an exploratory mission, and the helicopter they’re traveling...

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die stuck its hooks in me after just a few rooms. Dashing between enemy projectile attacks and then slicing those enemies up, I quickly got into a rhythm with the roguelike’s combat, which reminded me of Hades in all the best ways. It also has enough fresh gameplay ideas to set it apart as a unique and invigorating addition to a crowded genre. The Eternal...

In the days following the Switch 2’s launch, players have discovered a trio of delightful GameCube Easter eggs included in the Switch 2’s Nintendo Classics GameCube catalog, which can only be accessed if you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. The Easter eggs in question all cause the Switch to replicate the GameCube’s original tinkly (and oft–memed) startup animation, along with a pair of alternative startup sequences...

Weight classes in Mario Kart World work much like they do in Mario Kart 8, in that they determine how a kart performs. With no kart customization in World, though, a character’s weight class is the sole influencing factor on your kart’s stats. There’s no quick-and-easy way to see who belongs in what category, and since every character can use every kart, it’s easy to miss some of the stat...

Animal Crossing: New Horizons had the world in a chokehold during the pandemic, but it’s been five years since Nintendo’s cozy simulator. Even with updates and daily gameplay mechanics, many of us have moved on to newer games. Then there are the people who have diligently cultivated their islands since day one. They’re still playing today, except they’ve upgraded to the latest Nintendo hardware. And the experience is way better...