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Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Wild Zone 4 Guide - All Pokémon & Alphas

Ahh, a cemetery — totally normal to be catching Pokémon here, right? Well, in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the answer is yes.
Wild Zone 4 is likely your first taste of Ghost-type Pokémon, so it's a good time to stock up! Here's all the Pokémon you can expect to find in the cemetery, along with Alpha Pokémon.
Wild Zone 4 Location

Wild Zone 4 is just north of Wild Zone 3 on the other side of Sushi High Roller restaurant.
It's also right below the Rouge Pokémon Center and the Passage du Palais shopping center.
How to unlock
Wild Zone 4 is another area you can visit right from the start of the game. Like a few others, though, you'll need to wait until after that loooong line of tutorials. Just let me explore, Urbain/Taunie!
All Wild Zone 4 Pokémon

We're still at 6 Pokémon in Wild Zone 4, but this is a place you'll want to return to at night for one extra 'mon.
Oh, and you can catch a Sableye as part of a Side Mission here, but only as part of that quest.
You'll want to be above Level 9 before entering this area.
Pokémon
Type
Location
Gastly
Ghost/Poison
Basically everywhere, close to tombs
Ekans
Poison
On the pathways and in the grass
Spinarak
Bug/Poison
On the side of tombs and crypts
Spewpa
Bug
In the northwest corner of the cemetery
Patrat
Normal
In the grass in the northeast corner
Honedge
Steel/Ghost
Close to the crypts and tombs (Nighttime only)
Alpha Pokémon Locations

Here's another Wild Zone with only 1 Alpha Pokémon guaranteed to spawn.
Pokémon
Type
Level
Location

Spinarak
Bug/Poison
20
On the side of the large crypt on the south side
Best Wild Zone 4 Pokémon to catch

You can't really go wrong with Ghost-type Pokémon, especially this early. So both Gastly and Honedge are worth picking up.
Gastly is everywhere here and hard to miss, but Honedge only appears at night and is pretty rare. So keep trying!
Rockstar

Review: PB Tails Crush 550 TMR Controller For Switch 1 & 2 - A Gorgeous, Fair-Weather Pad With Classic Car Stylings

Earlier this year, PB Tails' Metal Crush Defender TMR controller caught my eye, with its Fallout-inspired, distressed yellow stylings and glistening chrome sticks. I don't usually go in for 'relic' effects on anything, but this looked a bit special. It felt artful and novel in a market where neon gamer gear dominates, screaming for attention, and 'cheapening' otherwise decent equipment. The Xbox face button layout, though, meant it wasn't specifically relevant to Switch owners.
Fast-forward several months, and there's a new model bearing Nintendo's classic button layout. Retailing for $79.99, this is the firm's familiar Crush pad but with '50s automotive stylings - specifically, it's celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Porsche 550 Spyder.
There's no official licensing on this tribute, but the finish is beautiful, if you're into that sort of thing. The red light strip along the bottom edge (you can change the colour - more on that later) looks like a tail light, while the decals and details across the face, plus the silver paint job and the 'grille', faux-number plate, and red strips on the rear, give the feel of a quality piece of retro memorabilia. The burgundy trim of the D-pad and the shoulder buttons add to the classy, retro stylings, too.



Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life
Opinion among Team NL is divided — you'll need to be a classic car connoisseur or have a thing for mechanical engineering and retro design — but I love the look and feel. It's a niche aesthetic and the pad won't suit every gaming purpose, but there's a luxuriousness to the finish and the chrome accents that gets my motor running. You feel like you should be playing with leather driving gloves when you're handling this thing (and maybe I did).
In the hands, gloved or otherwise, this Crush pad feels like an old-school Xbox 360 controller, but weightier, and definitely glossier. The metal of the default sticks is just the beginning, and the slickness of the bodywork is probably a dealbreaker if you main games that give you sweaty palms.
Fingerprints were my immediate concern on taking the pad from its black and white case and removing the little foam collars around the sticks, but surprisingly, I haven't found them an issue. I assumed I'd need a microfiber cloth after every session, but it's been fine sitting on the side over the past couple of weeks, despite the dust on my TV shelf and my sticky gamer paws.


Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life
A braided USB-A to C cable is included for charging (the claimed 30-hour life feels accurate, although that'll depend on your lighting intensity), plus a dongle for 2.4G wireless connection and plastic/rubber sticks if you want to swap out the zinc alloy pair.
And honestly? If you're into your online shooters or just want to be competitive in Fortnite, you'll want to switch the stick covers; channel-hopping in Blippo+ was a dream, a tense shootout in Springfield less so. I had no issue racing in GRID or unleashing ninja skills in Shinobi, but chromed metal just doesn't offer enough grip for split-second, precision inputs.
The sticks themselves are the TMR variety, so power efficient and offering commensurate performance and protection against drift to Hall Effect. Obviously, it'll take a year or two of use to thoroughly test their resilience, but there's nothing to suggest they'll start wandering. They feel robust and responsive.
Changing the sticks involves removing the magnetic faceplate, which can be tricky if you don't have decent nails, but gripping the front housing up around the shoulder buttons while pressing down on the sticks with your thumbs will eventually prise the cover away. Swap out the metal ones, clip the caps into the plastic domes, pop the cover back on, and you're away.


Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life
PB sells other faceplates, although it would be weird to buy one of these and then ruin the aesthetic with a clear orange cover. Also worth noting is that the carry case's foam insert holds the two-part plastic sticks only, so you'll need to store the metal ones safely somewhere else.
Removing the chrome ones feels like sacrilege, though, like you've whacked some cheap rims on a vintage Jag. It functions well, with gyro controls, some very nice rumble (the growl it makes when it connects to the console feels, brilliantly, like a revving engine), and pleasingly springy analogue triggers. The D-pad felt fine for a blast through some NSO classics, and the whole controller has a premium-feeling heft to it.
Even the RGB lighting feels somehow sophisticated here. Holding down the 'T' (turbo) button and moving the left stick lets you pick the exact colour of the light strip, while the right stick changes the face and central Home buttons. You can tweak the intensity of the LEDs, too, and I appreciated that it's all there and selectable via the pad itself, no external software needed. You can't buy a lightbulb these days without downloading a bloody app.


Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life
Face button lighting presets are selectable, as well: Super Famicom-style is the default, but you've also got PlayStation blue with the customary hues of Sony's shapes, or Xbox green and corresponding button colours. There's also a Dreamcast-style option - at least I think that's what the orange home button and this colour layout are referencing. Obviously, the Nintendo ABYX labelling remains, but it's a neat nod to other platforms.
No clicky microswitches is a big plus, personally; all the face buttons feel nicely responsive without the irritating, cheap-sounding click that makes playing in a quiet space irritating. Toggling the switch on the top edge changes from 'S' (Switch) to 'X' (XInput), and everything functioned exactly as you'd expect when testing with Steam using the included dongle (or wired if you prefer) and iOS over Bluetooth.


Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life
While you get added turbo options via the aforementioned button, you don't get NFC reader for amiibo or a 'C' button for easy Switch 2 GameChat access. There's no headphone jack, either, so headset gamers should look elsewhere, and you don't get any fancy back buttons, either.
Another minor quirk is that '-' and '+' here are in the position of the Home and Capture buttons on Nintendo's controller, so prepare for some accidental screenshots at first. Also, you can't wake your Switch 2 up with this - not an issue for me as I always turn it on via the console, but some people really like the convenience of grabbing the pad down the side of the sofa and powering on.
This isn't the kind of pad you'll leave jammed down the side of the sofa, though. For $80, there are functions missing that you might hope to have. If you only get one controller for Switch 2, look at Nintendo's own option or something from 8Bitdo. You're really paying for the style here. The Crush 550 needs pairing with a high-backed, leather-studded chair and a glass of Margaux while enjoying a visual novel or a light puzzler. It's not what you want if you're in the midst of a nailbiting deathmatch, perspiring between frantic frags and Dorito downtime. You wouldn't want to rag this into the ground with twitch shooters.

Image: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life
It really depends what kind of gamer you are, then. I find this a pleasure to play with, and I'll be using it whenever a game doesn't demand more performance than it can manage. A classic car is a perfect comparison; this is a fair-weather pad, a beautiful Sunday driver you take out only when conditions allow. If you're in the market for something for the weekend and value-for-money is less important than sophistication, this will look and feel great in your showroom.
Rockstar

Bitmap Soft Has A New Game Boy Color Title Up For Pre-Order

If you're itching to play a brand-new Game Boy Color game, then you're in luck. Bitmap Soft has announced it has opened pre-orders for its latest title, Lightseeker, over on its official website.
Priced at £10 for a digital copy and £50 for a physical Game Boy Color cartridge, Lightseeker is a roguelike of sorts in which you defeat enemies to gain rations, while keeping any loot you've obtained upon each inevitable death.
It looks neat from the screenshots, but gameplay footage is, at the time of writing, a little scarce. Still, Bitmap Soft had previously released Glory Hunters, which you may have recently seen received a digital release on the Switch eShop. So if you're not keen on picking up Lightseeker for the Game Boy Color, then you might want to hold off for a bit.
Let's check out the key features:


Images: BItmap Soft
Will you be picking up Lightseeker for the Game Boy Color? Let us know with a comment in the usual place.
Rockstar

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Estimated Switch 2 And Switch File Size Revealed

We're now just weeks out from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's anticipated release, and more details about it (including some previews) are beginning to circulate online.
In case you missed it, the estimated digital file sizes for the Switch and Switch 2 Edition of Samus' long-awaited adventure have also gone live on the eShop and official Nintendo website. So, if you didn't already know, here's what you can expect:
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Estimated File Size
Of course, these sizes are still classed as an "estimate" at the moment and are subject to change before and after release, depending on the patches and updates distributed. The eShop also has Metroid Prime 4's Upgrade Pack listed as 1.5 GB.
In comparison, Metroid Prime Remastered (based on the first Prime entry) is just under 7 GB according to the Switch eShop.
As previously confirmed, the Switch 2 version of Metroid Prime 4 supports higher resolution, faster frame rates, HDR and mouse controls. When in docked mode, players can choose from 4K at 60fps (quality) or 1080p at 120fps (performance). And in handheld/tabletop mode, the options are 1080p at 60fps (quality) and 720p at 120fps (performance).
Will you be downloading this game on Switch or Switch 2? Have you already pre-ordered Metroid 4 from the eShop? Let us know in the comments.
Rockstar

New Limited-Time Pokémon Scarlet And Violet Distribution Now Available

Although the new game Pokémon Legends: Z-A is now in full swing with its events and unlocks, The Pokémon Company and Game Freak are still showing support for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet with distribution events.
With this in mind, the latest one is now live and it offers up a Whimsicott based on the same one used by Federico Camporesi to win the 2025 Pokémon North America International Championships (thanks for the heads up, Serebii.net). This also lines up with the 2026 Latin America International Championships running this weekend.
To obtain this latest distribution Pokémon, the code you'll need is LA1C26TA1LW1ND. You can redeem it in the mystery gift section of the game, and it's available until 30th November 2025.
The same titles are currently giving trainers the opportunity to catch a Goodra with the Mightiest Mark. This event is now underway and will repeat on 28th November - 30th November 2025.
In case you missed it, earlier this year, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet also received a free Switch 2 upgrade - adding frame rate improvements and higher resolution. You can find out more about this in the full patch notes for Version 4.0.0.
Apart from this new distribution event for Scarlet and Violet this week, Pokémon Legends: Z-A also revealed a new Mega Evolution recently for its upcoming DLC, due out next month. The new entry's Ranked Battle Season 3 start date and rewards have also been detailed.
Rockstar

Shadow Labyrinth Version 1.1.0 Patch Notes Detailed, Switch 2 And Switch Update Out Now

Update [Fri 21st Nov 2025, 10:30pm]: This Shadow Labyrinth update is now available for the Switch and Switch 2. Alongside this, Bandai Namco has released a video that runs for close to six minutes, explaining everything included in Patch 1.1.0. You can see it above and download the patch now.
The written patch notes for this latest update are available in the original story below.
Original Story: Bandai Namco announced at the end of last month that it would be revamping Shadow Labyrinth with a major update. It's now officially rolled out Version 1.1.0 across multiple platforms. These updates aren't out on the Switch 2 and Switch just yet, but will "release soon".
For now, here's the full rundown of this next major update, which includes the addition of "Explorer Mode", balance adjustments for the existing mode and improved play control for Mini-PUCK. Bandai Namco notes how this update has been designed to "enhance" the overall enjoyment of this title. Here's the full rundown:
Shadow Labyrinth - Update 1.1.0 (Switch, Switch 2 - Coming Soon)
Supported Platforms
PlayStation®5 / Xbox Series X|S / STEAM® are available now
Updates are also incoming for Nintendo Switch™2 / Nintendo Switch™ and will release soon. Thank you for your patience!
Adjustments
Addition of Explorer Mode

This mode significantly lowers the difficulty of combat and exploration, allowing you to better enjoy the story and world
The existing mode, which was playable upon Shadow Labyrinth’s first release, will now be distinguished as "Veteran Mode," allowing you to continue enjoying the intense gameplay you've come to expect!
Switching Method
You can switch modes at any time during save data selection on the title screen or within the Miku Sol (Save/Warp Point) menu
There are no disadvantages to selecting "Explorer Mode," so please enjoy the game in the mode that best suits your playstyle
Main Adjustments in Explorer Mode
Sword Fighter and GAIA's attack power increased
Damage taken is reduced
Contact damage is nullified
Contact damage occurs when certain enemies are hit, or when enemies perform specific actions such as charging
Various energy consumption rates are reduced and recovery effects increased
ESP consumption is reduced
Increased GAIA energy recovery during predation (consuming foes)
GAIA Energy automatically recovers while in Sword Fighter phase
Increased ESP recovery speed while crouching
Increased recovery speed after ESP reaches 0
Athletic Recovery Support
In certain areas with particularly high athletic (platforming) difficulty, failing three times in a row will cause a warp point to appear, allowing you to skip that specific challenging athletic area
"Tenacity Boost" becomes available
"Tenacity Boost" further increases attack power!
When "Tenacity Boost" is ON, the Sword Fighter's cloak turns red, and attack power gradually increases each time you die
Players can toggle Tenacity Boost ON/OFF and adjust its level at any time via Miku Sol (Save/Warp Point)
MAZE difficulty adjustments
Including boss weakening, MAZE stage adjustments, and changes to item placement within MAZE.
The following adjustments apply to both Explorer Mode & Veteran Mode
Adjustments to Miku Sol (Save/Warp Points)
Significantly increased the number of Miku Sol (Save/Warp Points) and Simple Miku Sol (Save Points)
Additionally, some Simple Miku Sol have been replaced with Miku Sol that allow warping, greatly improving player convenience
Added Mode Change/Settings to Miku Sol Menu
You can now switch between Explorer Mode and Veteran Mode at any time from the Miku Sol menu.
Additionally, you can now toggle "Tenacity Boost" ON/OFF and set its level.
HP tanks now recover even in Simple Miku Sol
MAZE Adjustments
Adjusted MAZE clear rewards
The reward score required to clear MAZE has been reduced, making it easier to obtain
Additionally, Ora can now be obtained when the score gauge is at maximum, or when the reward acquisition score is reached even if the reward has already been obtained
Maximum bonus fruit acquisition increased from 100 to 200
If you fail the MAZE for Red Bragza: Terrias-Gilba, Blue Bragza: Terrias-Juno, Orange Bragza: Terrias-Valou, or Pink Bragza: Terrias-Boz Rag, players can choose to skip it
Added save/load support for the retry function from MAZE boss battles!
MAZE that have progressed to the boss battle can now resume from the boss battle after restarting the game
Mini PUCK Play Control Adjustments
Added operation tutorial stages within Miku Sol's menu, certain MAZE, and after some events
Added a dedicated button for neutral jump (jump without directional input). This reduces the chance of accidental inputs
Added diagonal forward-up stick input to the normal jump button. Inputting the stick diagonally forward-up and jumping now follows the same trajectory as a neutral jump, making the controls more intuitive
Improved mid-air control after jumping
Other Adjustments
If defeated during the final battle against the last boss, you can now retry from the final battle!
Reduced consumption and increased recovery of various energy sources
No ESP consumption when Devour as the Sword Fighter
Reduction in ESP consumption during evasive maneuvers
Increased GAIA energy recovery during Devour (Recovery also slightly increased in Veteran Mode)
Fixes
Fixed an issue where the game could crash during the staff roll. (Nintendo Switch version only)
Fixed an issue where, in certain MAZE, the speed when ejected from a booster slowed down at high refresh rates. (Steam version only)
Fixed an issue where ESP would not naturally recover and the menu could not be opened after dying under specific conditions
Other minor fixes

Rockstar

It's Official! The Xbox 360 Is 20 Years Old Today

20 years, eh, where does the time go?! Yep, Microsoft's Xbox 360 console launched on November 22nd, 2005 - which means the system has now hit the ripe old age of 20. To celebrate, we've been looking back at what made this gaming machine one of the very best - from the system itself to its launch games lineup and the experiences it delivered over time, Xbox 360 is simply an awesome console and one that's worth looking back on.
You may have seen that in recent days, we started the party early here at Pure Xbox! I raved about Project Gotham Racing 3 once again because of course I did, while Fraser went back and played Perfect Dark Zero for the first time in over a decade. We also recently listed off some of the biggest things we miss from the 360 era in more general terms. You can take a look at all of those PX features down below.
There's more where that came from too — including a fun little poll we're soon to publish about your favorite Xbox 360 launch games — but for now, we want to get some discussion going about what this anniversary means to you. Do you remember November 22nd, 2005 like it was yesterday? Did you discover the library later on, perhaps via modern Xbox backwards compatibility? We want to know!
For us here at the PX offices, Xbox 360 remains a special thing - it's the era we look back on most fondly; a time where Microsoft was firing on all cylinders in its gaming department. The games released on it — from first and third-party — were largely brilliant, the controller was amazing and is still one of the best around, and all-in-all, we just have great memories of being Xbox fans at that time. The system had its issues, sure (who can forget the RROD and those strange Kinect years?), but it represents a time where Xbox really was at the top of the gaming tree.
So, what does Xbox 360 and this anniversary mean to you? Do chat with us about that in the comments, and be on the lookout for plenty of other 360 stories here on Pure Xbox!
Rockstar

Analogue 3D Goes Back Up For Pre-Order Next Week, But There's A Catch

Analogue's amazing FPGA-based N64 clone, the Analogue 3D, will go back up for pre-order next week – but the price is getting a bump thanks to President Trump's infamous tariffs.
The company announced on social media that a new batch of the systems will be available for order at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET on Monday, November 24th.
The big catch is that the price is rising from $249.99 to $269.99, as the company has had to absorb the tariffs imposed by the US government on goods imported from abroad.
These systems will begin shipping on December 2nd, but Analogue has stated that “all open orders will ship before restock orders ship.”
That means if there are any issues with getting existing pre-orders out the door before the 2nd, you might be waiting longer. Still, this leaves a glimmer of hope that you might get your machine in time for Christmas.
Rockstar

MiSTer Rival MARS FPGA Is Dead

The promising MARS FPGA console is dead, according to one of the project's developers.
Todd Gill – a longstanding and influential figure within the FPGA community – broke the news on Discord recently.
Gill, who was designing the console's casing, reveals that the person in charge of the MARS board development "just disappeared", putting the project on ice. Gill says that the rest of the MARS team was effectively "Ghosted" by the individual, meaning work could not continue.
MARS was promoted as a rival to the established MiSTer FPGA system and would have used a more powerful FPGA chip to emulate consoles like the Sega Dreamcast on a hardware level.

Image: Discord

Image: Discord
Its rumoured price point would have been around $699, and it was claimed that it would allow users to plug in their original controllers and cartridges.
In addition to Gill, the MARS FPGA team also included Flxel (developer of 3DO and Dreamcast emulators) and RetroTINK creator Mike Chi. FPGA developer Wizzo parted company with the project last year on good terms.
Rockstar

Kirby Air Riders: Guide, Tips & Tricks, All Modes & Unlocks

Fellow air riders! It is time to...ride the air.
We're big fans of Kirby Air Riders, as if you couldn't tell from our 8/10 review, and one thing that it's got plenty of — especially given that this sequel has a great big story mode — are unlockable bits and bobs.
From new machines to riders, racetracks, and a seemingly endless array of Things™ with which to customise your fleet of wonder whips, there's a ton of swag to get busy gathering up.
So. Where to start? Well, we've honed in on the big things, the most important stuff, to get you up to speed with beginners' tips and tricks (below), as well as how to unlock every playable character and every machine in the game. We'll also be bringing you guides on how to unlock every track, as well as a bunch of other gameplay secrets. So stay tuned.
Ready? Let's get into it!
Kirby Air Riders Guide - Unlocks
Before we get to the beginners' tips, let's cover machine and character unlocks.
Full Character Roster
There are plenty of characters to unlock across Kirby's latest racer, each with different unlock conditions in different modes, and we have no doubt you'll want to nab them all ASAP.
So, rather than bashing your head off each mode until you randomly do the right thing, here we have a handy guide to exactly what's required to unlock the full lineup.
All Playable Characters & How to Unlock Them
Full Machine List
The different machines are undoubtedly the highlight of this one, and luckily there are plenty to get out there and start unlocking.
In this guide, we show you how to grab each and every last one of them in world record time.*
All Machines & How to Unlock Them
*may not officially be a world record
How to Unlock the True Ending
If you're looking to totally finish the game with all characters, machines, and everything else, you'll need to 100% Road Trip mode.
How to Unlock the True Ending in Road Trip Mode
Kirby Lore Recap
There's a Story Mode in the game which sets up some key characters and lore points you might have missed. If that's the case and you don't mind mild spoilers, find out about them here:
Lore Explained - Who Are Zorah & Noir Dedede?
Kirby Air Riders Walkthrough - Tips & Tricks For Beginners
It's not exactly natural, this air-riding malarkey. It's a little bit different to your normal racing that we do here on Earth, so here are some top tips accumulated throughout our time with the game to help you get a handle on this unique racing experience.
Boosting is at the heart of everything
The boost button ('B') in Kirby Air Riders isn't like other boost buttons, in that it also slows you down, until you stop! The flip side is that the longer you hold it down, the bigger and faster the boost you'll get in return.
So, think about it strategically, even just a little, and consider where is best to boost. Corners are an obvious example, and timing it right can see you slow with other riders and then boost out of the apex to take a lead.
Follow the shimmering trails!
As you approach a rider in front of you, you'll notice a shimmering trail behind them, which acts as the game's version of drafting or slipstreaming the vehicle in front of you.
Here, though, the drafting boost is quite exaggerated, and therefore riding this trail can see you pick up crazy speed as you approach and pass by opponents. Use this to your advantage, and factor it into when you decide to use your own boost or turbo your machine in other ways.


Images: Nintendo Life
Use your environment
The tracks in Kirby Air Riders may feel like great big automated rides to the uninitiated, but once you know what you're doing, and once you're scrapping against opponents who've got skills to match, you'll want to wring every last opportunity out of the game's track designs.
Look out for jumps to quick spin on, boost pads, and sharp corners where you can really charge your boost up and let fly down straights. Knowing where to green a little extra pace on the tracks here makes all the difference.
Think about what pickups are actually for
If your current vehicle is slow, you'll want speed pickups. A ride that can't turn well will require as many boosts to its turning ability as you can grab.
Consider this as you play. Think about your attack and defence stats when facing a boss. Once you relax into it, you'll be able to build and rebuild your machine's capabilities on the fly and as you battle/race.
Switch lanes on Auto-Rails
Don't make it easy for your opponent to pick up and ride on your trail, shift about plenty, even when not avoiding obstacles on these trails, and always make sure to position yourself best for coming off rails because...

Image: Nintendo Life
Auto-Rails charge your boost!
That's right. When grinding on a rail, or any other aspect of a track (such as some vines and fences), you'll get your boost topped up without having to worry about slowing down any!
Think about how this can prep you for a fast exit from rails, and any corners that are coming up.
Power graphs FTW!
Press '+' during a City Trial and you can take a look at what power-ups you've currently got in order to gauge your current levels of attack, offence and racing skill.

Image: Nintendo Life
You can hold multiple items at once
Pick up as many items as you see during events, as they'll use themselves up automatically for the most part, so you don't need to wait to pick up more!
Hold back on the left stick to zoom out the camera
If the default view is a little too close, you can adjust it to widen the view slightly. Or zoom a tiny bit more, if that's your preference.
Your special bar fills up in these ways!
By taking damage, doing damage, and automatically over time, your special bar refills.
Make sure to use it within 10 seconds once it's primed, too, or you'll lose it.


Images: Nintendo Life
You can set quick spin to a controller shake
Don't like wiggling a stick to spin? You can up the sensitivity a little, or you can turn on the option to shake your controller instead!
Don't sweat the chaos, find your own pace
This advice goes for all modes, really, but if you can master this in City Trials especially, you'll soon find yourself quite zen-like, even when faced with the most chaotic of multiplayer match-ups.
There's always loads going on in races and in City Trials, but pick your own way of approaching it, have a strategy for the track you're on, and make sure to aim for the pickups (there are a lot of pickups onscreen at times) that suit your style of play!

Image: Nintendo Life
Make sure to play all modes for unlocks
Whilst it can be natural to just stick to one mode of play, make sure to check out everything this game has to offer, as each mode has a ton of collectibles, and loads of cosmetics to get your hands on.
Choices lead to different paths in Road Trip
As you may or may not be aware, the Road Trip mode of the game allows you to switch routes, giving you a bunch of different paths to play through on revisits.
To make sure you get to see everything, once you've played through the game once, you'll see helpful icons highlighting routes and game choices you haven't taken before, making it all easy to understand so you can see it all.
However, it's worth noting on your first pass that certain choices you make regarding a handful of icons that pop up on the road will lead you to different paths after the fact. So you'll see some random items here and there, and depending on the one you choose, you'll get a different set path.
Again, once you've done your first route, all of these things will be highlighted for you, so don't sweat it.
That's all for now - hopefully you've found these tips useful. Now go get 'em!
Rockstar

Review: iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro - Turns Your Switch (Or Switch 2) Into A Bartop Cabinet

While we've all become accustomed to using fancy analogue controllers these days, there's still a large sector of the market which loves a good, old-fashioned eight-way digital arcade experience – and to that end, accessory company iMP has produced the Gaming Mini Arcade Pro for Switch and Switch 2.
On the surface, this looks like a bartop arcade cabinet, but in reality, it's a cradle for your Switch console that allows you to use authentic arcade-style controls with games that benefit from digital input – such as old-school titles, shmups and fighting games.
The iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro doesn't come preassembled, but putting it together (and taking it apart) is a straightforward process. Two caddy sections are included, one for the original Switch / Switch OLED, and one for the Switch 2.


It comes with two caddies, one for Switch and one for Switch 2. It's easy to insert your console, and the caddy drops into the central unit with little effort, too — Images: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life
Ensuring compatibility with both generations is a nice touch, but this really feels like it was designed for the newer variant; the cut-out for the screen is designed with Switch 2's larger display in mind, so the original Switch ends up looking like a toddler in a teenager's clothing.
The good news is that the Mini Arcade Pro's arcade-style controls are excellent regardless of which system you own. The clicky stick and buttons are smaller than you'd find on your typical bartop arcade cabinet, but they're a joy to use; within moments of booting up Street Fighter 6, I was pulling off special moves with the minimum of effort.
Shmups also benefit massively from this accessory — R-Type Delta: HD Boosted is a particular joy to play — and I also enjoyed romping my way through Absolum.

There's space on the rear of the unit for 12 Switch Game Cards and 12(!) MicroSD cards — Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life
The central panel has all of the usual inputs (including a Home button which wakes your console from its sleep mode), as well as a switch which allows you to toggle the functionality of the stick – you can choose between the D-pad, left analogue stick, and right analogue stick. There's a 'C' button to bring up GameChat, but no 'Capture' button, oddly.
Spin it around, and there's space for you to clip in 12 Switch game cards and 12 MicroSD cards – a nice touch if you want to keep your software close at hand. My only reservation with this system is that the Game Card slots don't seem to grip all that well, and it doesn't take much to knock them out of the slots by accident.
My other major issue with the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro is the artwork that has been printed onto the marquee, side panels, and the main control panel. The lettering is a little too childish for my liking, and while I'm not entirely sure, I think I detect the use of Generative AI to create the art itself. This obviously has no impact on the controller's performance, but it makes it look a little cheap, in my opinion.


Images: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life
The Switch's recent firmware update actually broke the Mini Arcade Pro's ability to wake the console via the Home button and the functionality of the 'C' button, but, in a move which hopefully shows how committed the manufacturer is to making this device a success, it has received a firmware update to fix the problem.
While I think the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro's cheap-looking artwork counts against it, I can't fault the controller when it comes to delivering that old-school arcade experience. At £45, it's not likely to break the bank, either (although it's $90 in the US).
Rockstar

'We Believe It's Feasible': Emulation Studio Working on PS3 Support for Modern Consoles

Implicit Conversions, the studio behind emulating some of your favorite PS1 and PS2 games as part of PS Plus Premium, is quietly working on a PS3 emulator.
While boss Bill Litshauer insists improving its support for PS2 is his company’s current focus, he revealed in an interview with Mystic that he believes it will be “feasible” to emulate PS3 games in the future – potentially on the PS5 and “certainly” on the PS6.
He said:
Litshauer explained that supporting PS3 is a “back burner project” for his team and that it actually hasn’t had many requests for the console. But it’s something it’s working on anyway.
He continued:
Many believed that PS3 emulation may never happen due to the complicated nature of the console’s architecture, but in recent years we’ve seen PC-based solutions like RPCS3 come on leaps and bounds.
As Litshauer appears to allude to, the biggest bottleneck here seems to be the time and resources required to do it.
Hopefully it’s a project Sony will eventually put some muscle behind, as it’d be great to see PS3 games added to PS Plus Premium in the future.
Rockstar

Sin & Punishment, Treasure's Acclaimed N64 Rail Shooter, Is Now 25 Years Old

Today marks the 25th birthday of one of Treasure's most acclaimed titles, Sin & Punishment.
Released exclusively in Japan on 21st November 2000, the game is a 3D rail shooter directed by Hideyuki Suganami. Built around the N64 controller's unique setup, Sin & Punishment is famed for its intense action, superb visuals and surprisingly mature and deep storyline.
While it was never released in the West, it is playable on Nintendo Switch Online, complete with translated menus.
Almost a decade after it hit the N64, a sequel appeared on the Wii under the title Sin & Punishment: Star Successor. Just as beloved as its predecessor, the game is one of the company's last releases; it would be followed by Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury (2011), Gaist Crusher (2013) and Gaist Crusher God (2014).
While Treasure is still active, most of its staff are now at other companies, and it primarily exists to oversee the release of its back catalogue on modern-day systems.
Rockstar

Rumors claim that an Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag remake is due out soon

If rumors are to be believed, Ubisoft's next game might be a remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. While nothing has been confirmed by Ubisoft, numerous reports have been leaked or hinted at through the years, of a potential remake to one of Ubisoft's most successful entries in the series, giving building credence to the idea of a remake actually being developed. However, other rumors claim that there will be major changes within the potential Assassin's Creed IV remake, including doing away with all modern-day sections of the game, or reportedly modernizing it with more RPG-like gameplay elements.

Adding fuel to the fire, Ubisoft's financial report today showcased that the company has a handful of games due out before the end of the fiscal year, including one unannounced title, believed to be the ACIV remake, meaning it would theoretically launch sometime before March 31, 2026.

Source
Rockstar

Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Wild Zone 3 Guide - All Pokémon & Alphas

One of the many circular Wild Zones in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Wild Zone 3 is an entirely flat park with a handful of fun Pokémon.
But what Pokémon, you ask? Well, we'll tell you exactly what you can catch in Wild Zone 3 in this guide below.
Wild Zone 3 Location

Wild Zone 3 is another big plaza, this time Rouge Plaza. You'll hey there by coming up from Rouge Street.
Places of interest nearby include the Looker Bureau, the Sushi High Roller restaurant, and the Galerie de la Lune shopping plaza.
You'll be coming back here for a Side Mission much later in the game, so remember it well!
How to unlock
Wild Zone 3 is another plaza available right from the start of the game. You'll come here during the main story once again, as you and your rival are heading over to meet Emma.
All Wild Zone 3 Pokémon

Another modest selection of Pokémon, but some very good ones! With 6 Wild Pokémon to choose from, well, you're spoilt, honestly.
We're climbing up a few levels here, too — you'll want to be Level 8 and above, ideally.
Pokémon
Type
Location
Pikachu
Electric
Southeast quadrant
Gogoat
Grass
Southwest quadrant
Pancham
Fighting
Northwest quadrant (a little rare so you may need to wait)
Litleo
Fire/Normal
Northwest quadrant
Flabébé
Fairy
Centre of the circle
Espurr
Psychic
Northeast quadrant; careful they'll run away if they spot you!
Alpha Pokémon Locations

You'll find one Alpha Pokémon in Wild Zone 3, the same as Wild Zone 1.
Pokémon
Type
Level
Location
Litleo
Fire/Normal
24
Inside the building on the west side, sleeping
Best Wild Zone 3 Pokémon to catch

That's a pretty good selection of 'mons, and what you keep with you will probably depend on your favorites or what you already have.
Flabébé actually ended up staying in our team for the whole game, filling in a much-needed Fairy-type gap. It doesn't Mega Evolve, but it's got great defensive skills.

Pikachu isn't bad, particularly if you want that Mega Raichu that'll be available once the DLC lands.
If you didn't pick Tepig, then Pancham is worth a shoutout, as it's a Fighting-type. Litleo, too, for the potential Fire-type gap.
Rockstar

Ubisoft Is All In on Generative AI, Says Its as Big a Leap in Tech as the 'Shift to 3D'

Publisher Ubisoft is making no secret of its plans to utilise generative AI tech — at least, it certainly sounds that way in new comments from CEO Yves Guillemot.
The controversial technology has been a hot topic of discussion in the industry for a while now, and as it begins to feed into the games we're playing, it's rubbing some people the wrong way.
Games like ARC Raiders, The Finals, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and more used AI tools to varying degrees in their production, and they're being criticised by onlookers who are concerned about the tech replacing original creative work from human beings.
It seems Ubisoft is going whole hog on the AI front. Speaking to investors, Guillemot says the publisher is "making great strides in applying gen-AI to high-value use cases that bring tangible benefits to our players and teams".
He goes on to call generative AI "as big a revolution for our industry as the shift to 3D", and it sounds as though it's being implemented in quite a meaningful way.
Guillemot brings up "neo-NPCs", AI-powered characters capable of "unique and responsive" conversations with players to deliver "fully personalized and immersive experiences".
He says this concept is now out of prototyping, so we can probably expect to start seeing Ubi's neo-NPCs in future games.
"On the production side, we now have teams in all our studios and offices embracing these new technologies, and constantly exploring new use cases in programming, art, and overall game quality," Guillemot says, essentially saying AI tech is planned to be a major part of how the publisher makes games going forward.
Whether that works out in the long run remains to be seen, of course.
It's very likely there are use cases for AI tools in the production pipeline, but the concerns from fans are more to do with creative disciplines within that; generating art, music, animation, and so on, rather than having talented artists helming those areas.
Again, we'll have to wait and see how things play out.
Rockstar

Stellar Blade Fans Rejoice: Developer Shift Up Now Recruiting for 'Next Work' in the Series

South Korean studio Shift Up has begun recruiting for what seems to be a new game in the Stellar Blade series.
Stellar Blade is a PS5 console exclusive action game that released last year, quickly becoming a fan favourite.
Now, it looks as though the developer is openly hiring for people to work specifically on Stellar Blade's "next work".
The company's recruitment page has several sections, each related to an individual project, and the Stellar Blade project is up at the top.
Shift Up is hiring across several disciplines, including writers, artists, programmers, and designers.
It's difficult to really glean any details about the game from the job listings, but it at least reaffirms a follow-up to Stellar Blade is in the works.
We probably won't see the new game for a while; Shift Up has previously said it's targeting 2027, but isn't making promises.
Rockstar

New Report Finds Almost Half of US Kids Are After In-Game Currency for Christmas

In a sign of the times that makes us feel old, a new report has found that nearly half of the USA's children are planning to ask for in-game currencies this Christmas.
A survey conducted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) asked over 700 kids about video game gifts, with nearly three out of five respondents wanting a game-related present this holiday season.
43 per cent would like in-game currency, presumably for games such as Fortnite and Roblox.
Some more statistics: 39 per cent of the kids want a game console, while 37 per cent would like physical games under the Christmas tree.
The survey also asked more than a thousand adults about their Christmas purchasing plans, with a third of them planning video game gifts.
The ESA holds this survey on a yearly basis, and looking back, it's interesting to see how these results compare to previous results.
We reported on the survey in 2023, when a smaller percentage of children wanted in-game currency, but at the same time, fewer kids planned to ask for a physical game.
It seems the appetite for game-related presents is growing, then, and more children are after V-Bucks than full games on a disc.
What are your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

A Game About Digging a Hole Is the Next Viral PC Hit Burrowing onto PS5 Soon

Earlier this year, those paying attention will have likely seen an unusual game cropping up on social media, all about digging a hole and seemingly nothing more.
Well, that game is A Game About Digging a Hole, and after its huge success on PC, it's now coming to consoles.
The viral hit indie title is tunnelling through to PS5 on 9th December 2025:
The game is very much a what-it-says-on-the-tin situation; it's all about digging a hole in pursuit of unearthing treasures in the ground outside your new home.
As you dig you find resources, which can be sold, and the cash you earn can be spent on upgrades to make the digging faster and easier.


It's a very simple feedback loop, and when you add on top a layer of mystery — just what will you find if you dig deep enough? — it makes for a short-lived but compelling experience.
The game only costs £4.29 on Steam, and we expect it'll be around the same on PS Store.
Are you curious enough to try A Game About Digging a Hole on PS5? Tell us in the comments section below.

Rockstar

Perfect Dark Zero Is A Bizarre Time Capsule Of The Early Xbox 360 Days

As we celebrate the Xbox 360's 20th anniversary this week, I've been going back to one of its launch titles in the form of Perfect Dark Zero to see how it holds up and whether its mixed reaction over the years has been justified.
My personal history with Perfect Dark is a little muddled - the first memory I have of the N64 version is watching my friends play it and enthuse about how it was "like GoldenEye, but better". I obviously ended up playing the Xbox Live Arcade version years later and enjoyed it, but I think some of the impact from its launch was lost on me.
Perfect Dark Zero, meanwhile, has just been sitting on my shelf mostly untouched for the past 15 years-or-so. I'd always heard it was a disappointment compared to the original, and although I remember enjoying the multiplayer, I totally ignored the campaign. This week though, it was time to boot it up — through backwards compatibility on Xbox Series X in order to get the best possible experience — and see whether it's actually worth playing in 2025.

The first thing I'll say about Perfect Dark Zero is that it's such a time capsule of those early Xbox 360 days. There's a James Bond-esque intro that feels like it's desperately trying to appeal to the MTV generation (think Die Another Day), and a menu screen with flashy 2000s style presentation featuring an old-school Samsung logo in the top corner. You can totally see how this blended with the classic Xbox 360 "Blades" dashboard at the time.
Once the campaign began, I definitely felt how dated the game is as well. Movement is painfully slow at first, even in terms of how quickly the crosshair moves around the screen, while the gameplay feels like a mix of old-school FPS controls from the likes of Perfect Dark 1, GoldenEye and even TimeSplitters, as well as more modern takes on the formula that we'd seen in Halo 1 and 2. The cover system is clunky-at-best and would be perfected by the likes of Uncharted just a couple of years later, and the AI (particularly friendly AI) can act somewhat bizarrely at times.
So, yeah... in many ways, Perfect Dark Zero immediately feels like a game from 20 years ago. The way it plays out is reminiscent of 007: Agent Under Fire for me - the first James Bond title from the PS2 and original Xbox generation that did some ambitious things but ultimately didn't quite reach its potential (whereas 2002's 007: Nightfire definitely did).


And yet, despite all of that, I'm enjoying Perfect Dark Zero on my Xbox Series X right now. The campaign is muddled and I have little idea what's going on in the story (they don't tell you much), but the moment-to-moment FPS gameplay is at least decent and feels pretty good to play once you've got used to the pace and controls.
It's not uncommon for major console launch titles to carry a sense of "tech demo" with them instead of being fully fleshed-out releases (even Ryse: Son of Rome has that to a degree), and Perfect Dark Zero kinda feels like an example of this, but it does also try some ambitious things. There are numerous gadgets at your disposal, a healthy selection of weapons, some well-designed maps and objectives to complete, and even a vehicle-based section at one point.
These are levels that still remain legitimately enjoyable to play here in 2025, and carry with them a heavy sense of nostalgia for those early Xbox 360 days. It very much feels like travelling back in time to another generation when you're playing PDZ, but not to the point where you can't still have fun with it on a modern-day system.
I also really appreciate how it offers you the perfect amount of hand-holding. It's not a game that wants to guide you too much, but if you lose your way for whatever reason, it seems to quickly sense what's going on and begins providing you with subtle arrows and hints for where you need to go. A lot of today's titles could learn from this!

Speaking of a modern-day system, Perfect Dark Zero can look stunning at times on Xbox Series X. Some of the environments in particular are beautiful, and when you consider how games looked 20 years before PDZ came out (Super Mario Bros., Excitebike, etc.), it's quite incredible how technology advanced in such a short period of time. The Series X cleans everything up and allows Perfect Dark Zero to shine its brightest here in 2025.
The real shame is that Perfect Dark Zero's excellent and surprisingly in-depth multiplayer suite is seemingly dead these days. You've got tons of maps to choose from, a whole heap of customisation options, the ability to play with up to 16 bots, a ridiculous number of game modes including fan favourites like Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Infection, and yet there doesn't seem to be anyone playing anymore.
Why? Well, Halo 3's arrival in 2007 seemed to kill off the Perfect Dark Zero community, and that's probably no surprise considering how great that game's multiplayer ending up being. There was just no place for PDZ anymore as the years rolled on, but at least it's still playable to this day - maybe there could be a mini revival for it eventually?!

This has been a fun little nostalgia trip to celebrate the Xbox 360's 20th anniversary this week, and I'm far from finished with the campaign just yet, so I can see myself returning to try and complete it ASAP. The disc version works just fine on Series X, but keep in mind that it's included with Game Pass and is part of the Rare Replay collection.
If nothing else, it's a fascinating and quite bizarre walk down memory lane - a pre-Halo 3 era when the Xbox 360 was in its infancy and its eventual lineup of incredible games was only just starting to take shape.
It's such a shame that Perfect Dark Zero will remain the most recent entry in the series for seemingly a long to come, as there's clearly so much potential with it. The glimpses we saw of the Perfect Dark reboot hinted at something that could have been pretty special, and PDZ does make me long for a sequel, but perhaps it's never meant to be.
Rockstar

Silent Hill 2 Remake Is Rolling Out Now On Xbox, And It's Discounted By 50% At Launch

Have you been waiting over a year for Silent Hill 2 to come to Xbox? Well, you don't have to wait any longer! Konami and Bloober Team are releasing the game on the Xbox Store today, complete with an immediate 50% discount.
Despite bizarrely not appearing at the Xbox Partner Preview event, Silent Hill 2 Remake quietly started appearing for Xbox a few hours ago in certain regions, and now it's extending to even more countries - mostly at midnight local time.
It just so happens to be Xbox Play Anywhere compatible as well, meaning you get a free PC version if you buy it for Series X and S.

As for the game itself, here's the team's short introduction to its Silent Hill 2 remake:
If you never came across it last year, Silent Hill 2 Remake ended up being one of the best-rated games of 2024, racking up an 86 average for PS5 and 87 average for PC on Metacritic.
That makes it well worth considering for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, then, and at a very reasonable price of just £27.49 / $34.99 on the Xbox Store right now, we think this one's going to prove a very popular purchase over the weekend!
Silent Hill 2 (Xbox Store)


Rockstar

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Review

When Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero launched last year on non-Nintendo platforms. I was taken aback at how much time had passed since the last entry in this series. I was a teenager still in school!
With the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, a flurry of ports are coming to the updated console and handheld system, including Sparking Zero. I’m glad to say that Switch 2 is a great way to play this action-packed 3D brawler filled with content, if you can forgive some of the performance issues.
For starters, Sparking Zero looks crisp on Switch 2, and its charming and faithful art style bursts with colour on screen. The graphics look noticeably better in docked mode. In handheld mode, the aliasing around character models is glaringly obvious and somewhat distracting.
However, the high kinetic gameplay helps hide some of these visual blemishes. When you’re immersed in the moment-to-moment gameplay, you notice the jagged lines less. Furthermore, the Switch 2 version is capped at 30fps, which is disappointing compared to its other console counterparts, but it’s ultimately understandable in order to get it stable on the handheld.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
The camera work makes the gameplay feel even more cinematic. When it comes to firing off special attacks like Trunks’s Burning Attack, the camera zooms in, often mimicking similar angles to those of the anime, making it feel authentic to the source material. Most of the voice acting here is matched from what I remember from the TV show as well, fueling these nostalgic feelings further.
Sparking Zero’s biggest selling point is its absolutely stellar roster. It has more than 180 different characters spanning from every corner of the Dragon Ball universe, even the non-canon movies. Whether you started with the original Dragon Ball or started tuning in with Super, you’re bound to find your favourite here.
Some of them are amusing clones, as there are 19 different versions of Goku, but each one has a distinctive move set that reflects where that particular Goku was at the time during the anime. Despite the repetition, they all require slightly different approaches to play and feel distinguishable from each other.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Even still, there are dozens of characters to choose from that prevent fighting and gameplay from ever feeling stale. To accommodate such a huge roster, every character uses the same controls to move, fly, and charge their ki. However, there are a few nuances within the kinds of characters, such as androids like Android 18 not being able to charge ki, but it gradually rises automatically during battle. Giant characters, such as Great Ape Baby, can’t be grabbed. These differences help further differentiate the cast from one another, even though the controls are universal.
Sparking Zero’s main meat comes in its Episode Battles, which go through the story of Dragon Ball. Instead of playing out every single battle ever, there are eight playable characters with different paths telling a more condensed version of the story. Each path focuses on the most important and iconic moments, such as Super Saiyan Goku’s first fight against Full Power Frieza on Planet Namek. While having to go through eight different characters can be tiring, Episode Battles do a good enough job covering the biggest battles in the series.
But what makes Episode Battles interesting is the ability to go off branching narratives. For example, during the Cell arc in the anime, Piccolo fights Cell (1st form) off while Goku and Gohan wait for Trunks and Vegeta. However, Sparking Zero gives you the option to choose the opposite. By having Goku fight Cell instead (and winning), this prevents the Cell Games from ever happening, and now Goku gets to live happily ever after together with the Androids.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
This doesn’t happen with every single major plot point, so it doesn’t lose its novelty. I was always pleasantly surprised and excited whenever these options popped up on my screen.
Another way of getting branching events is satisfying certain hidden conditions in specific battles. For example, when Vegeta and Trunks spar in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber in Vegeta’s story route, defeating Trunks unlocks an entirely new path where the father and son duo manage to defeat Perfect Cell during the Cell Games, mirroring the canon events of the anime where Goku and Gohan did so instead. These were surprising, yet satisfying ways of unlocking more what-if scenarios.
Unfortunately, Sparking Zero doesn’t actually tell you what these conditions are, which is rather annoying. On the bright side, since it took a little over a year for the game to come to Switch and Switch 2, you can easily find this information online, although I wish the game were clearer about it.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Additionally, this is where Switch 2’s performance takes a bit of a dip. During the comic-book style cutscenes, panels would change and there’d be a noticeable lag, especially transitioning into a battle. Although that’s not a huge issue once you get into the fight itself, as performance is nearly flawless there, where it matters the most.
This is the case for both handheld and docked mode. The performance issues also spill over into the menus. Whenever I would browse the main menus looking at game modes, like Episode Battle or the Shop, it would start to chug.
As you participate in battles, you’ll earn in-game currency Zeni that you can spend to unlock new characters and costumes. Thankfully, I didn’t feel like I was being nickel-and-dimed. I earned Zeni at a steady rate and the progression in acquiring unlockables felt natural. While there are microtransactions, I never felt the need to go out of my way to purchase them, which I appreciated.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Sparking Zero also has a custom battle mode, where you can engineer battles like you’re playing out some sort of Dragon Ball fantasy. There’s an option to add dialogue to give your scenarios some narrative flavour, but overall this mode feels more like an afterthought than anything else. It wasn’t compelling enough like the Episode Battles, so I didn’t spend much time with it.
On the flip side, the online battle system is robust. Performance was practically perfect here, and I didn’t experience any connection drops during the matches I played.
Sparking Zero smartly balances online fights, too. You and your opponent have 15 DP, and each character costs a certain amount. While you can have a total of five characters on your team, the more powerful ones like Vegito Blue cost a whopping 10 DP, meaning that you only have 5 DP leftover for weaker characters like Master Roshi, Cell Jr, or even base form Early Goku to put on your team.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
To add an extra layer of strategy, many characters can transform during battle. So you could pick Goku (Z- End) in his base form, who costs 5 DP, but eventually transform him up to Super Saiyan 3, making him more powerful as the battle goes on. Your Goku might be a bit beat up by that time, but that lets you bypass Super Saiyan 3 Goku’s more expensive 7 DP cost to use him right off the bat.
This prevents you and your opponent from strolling into fights with high-powered characters, and you actually have to think about your team composition. If your Vegito Blue falls in battle, the rest of your team might not be able to pick up the slack.
Conclusion
Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero delivers a commendable 3D brawler experience even if some visual and performance issues persist. The immense roster is sure to please any Dragon Ball fan, no matter what age or era they entered the franchise. The branching narratives in Episode Battles and the online play are fun staples to the game, and it feels right at home on Switch 2.
Rockstar

50 Best Super Nintendo (SNES) Games Of All Time

21st November 2025 marks 35 years since Nintendo launched the Super Famicom in Japan. It would take the best part of two years for the system to roll out worldwide — and it looked quite a bit different in some places — but the titles this 16-bit system hosted are some of the most acclaimed, most beloved video games ever created.
To celebrate, we're republishing our list of the 50 best SNES games ever made. Enjoy! And, if you can, make some time to play a few of these this weekend...
There was something special about the 16-bit generation, with the Super Nintendo and SEGA's Genesis / Mega Drive representing a pinnacle of gaming for many. It was a period in Nintendo history when many fan-favourite series and characters were refined into a form we're still familiar with today.
We've compiled this list of the very best SNES games of all time to take a look back at all those formative games that came out on this incredible system back in the early '90s, at the height of the 'Console Wars'.
We've assembled Top 50 lists for every Nintendo console, so the curious amongst you can check out the best NES games that came before and the best N64 games which came after — or even find the latest entries in these series in our best Switch games list. But for now, let's stick with 16-bit.
The 50 Top SNES Games
50. Soul Blazer (SNES)


7.6
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Enix / Developer: Quintet
Release Date: 27th Oct 1992 (USA) / 27th Jan 1994 (UK/EU)
There's no denying the quirky charm emanating from Soul Blazer as you take part in the quest, but what makes this game such a joy is the incredible controls and unique gameplay elements throughout.
Taking some of ActRaiser's better ideas and running with them, the game is sometimes criticised for being a bit too easy, but that's only if you take the time to meticulously complete every task in each area. Given the crushing difficulty of some 8- and 16-bit games, there's nothing wrong with a helping hand, though. At least that's what we say these days.
If you want to see what the action-RPG genre was really all about in the SNES days, look no further than this classic.
49. Street Fighter Alpha 2 (SNES)


7.6
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: Nov 1996 (USA) / 19th Dec 1996 (UK/EU)
Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting is arguably the best entry in Capcom's premier fighting franchise on the SNES, but there are more than enough flavours of Street Fighter II floating around to satisfy all tastes. While not the best Street Fighter on the system, squeezing Alpha 2 onto the Super Nintendo was a hugely impressive feat that deserves your admiration.
You can play the arcade port of the game already on Switch as part of the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, but the SNES port is still a sparkling example of what could be accomplished on the console.
48. Mega Man X3 (SNES)


7.6
Review 6/10
Profile
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 1996 (USA) / 1996 (UK/EU)
By no means a bad game, Mega Man X3 is just a disappointing one. From a design standpoint, there's simply too much that feels lazy and incomplete compared to X or X2.
Unremarkable weapons, illogical solutions to environmental puzzles, and repetitive boss fights take some of the shine off the series, although franchise fans will find enough here to warrant a playthrough.
Those looking to dip a toe, however, would be much better served by either of its predecessors.
47. U.N. Squadron (SNES)


7.6
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 3rd Sep 1991 (USA) / 10th Dec 1992 (UK/EU)
The occasional instances of slowdown in U.N. Squadron are unfortunate, but there's not much else to fault with this excellent 1991 shooter from Capcom. The difficulty curve is well-judged in what is a challenging game, at least once you get past the opening level, which may be a little too tough.
With some great music, varied stages, exciting action, and intriguing bosses, U.N. Squadron is a game that's enjoyable to play through again and again. So hop to it.
46. Killer Instinct (SNES)


7.6
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Release Date: 30th Aug 1995 (USA)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
A great-looking game from genre-hopping studio Rare, the SNES port of arcade fighter Killer Instinct is yet another feather in the Twycross studio’s considerable cap.
Bringing the arcade experience into the home on 16-bit hardware was most impressive back in the day, and the series would go on to be one of the few fighting games to appear on Nintendo’s next console. Both games are easy enough to catch up with on NSO these days, too.
45. Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen (SNES)


7.6
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Quest
Release Date: 15th May 1995 (USA) / 3rd Jul 2009 (UK/EU)
The Super NES Ogre Battle cartridge is quite rare (and, therefore, expensive), but this unique game still stands as one of the best strategic offerings of the 16-bit era and remains an absolute must-have for strategy game fans.
Developer Quest would go on to produce Tactics Ogre and the masterful Ogre Battle 64, but don't miss out on this formative, turn-based tactical gem.
44. Batman Returns (SNES)


7.6
Review 7/10
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
Release Date: 31st Mar 1993 (USA) / 30th Apr 1993 (UK/EU)
Batman Returns is considered one of the best Batman films, and the video game version matches those sentiments. The SNES release capitalised on the hugely popular side-scrolling beat-‘em-up genre where Batman brawls with various characters from the movie, such as 16-bit versions of Danny Devito's Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman.
It wears its Final Fight inspirations on its sleeve, but that's no bad thing at all. With plenty of stages that really show off the excellent visuals, too (the Batmobile bit and the Circus Trainstick in our minds), Konami delivered another great tie-in. Merry Christmas, indeed, Mr Wayne.
43. The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES)


7.7
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
Release Date: 1994 (USA)
A game that did the brilliant Batman: The Animated Series proud, following its Batman Returns brawler, Konami delivered once more with The Adventures of Batman & Robin.
Despite the title, Batman is the only playable character here, but every single level is loosely based on an episode from the show. Fowl Play, for example, is set in Gotham Museum and based on I've Got Batman in my Basement. You can even change what gadgets ol' Bats has on him in the Batcave; it's probably the most authentic way to experience the show without watching it.
You should definitely watch it, though.
42. Star Fox (SNES)


7.7
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: 1st Mar 1993 (USA) / 3rd Jun 1993 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
Star Fox is obviously a classic, and its use of the Super FX chip resulted in an experience that felt awe-inspiring to anybody who witnessed it on their Super NES back in 1993.
It's a little more jarring for players these days, especially if you got into the Star Fox series in the 64-bit era. If anything less than a silky 60fps makes you violently ill, you'll want to sit this one out, but the underlying game design still shines through.
Those who were there at the beginning and are pining for the return of Fox, Peppy, and Falco — and even the ever-rubbish Slippy — will thoroughly enjoy jumping back in the cockpit of an Arwing and saving Corneria again, though. The fact that it's now available on Switch makes accepting that mission all the easier.
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41. Prince of Persia (SNES)


7.7
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Arsys Software
Release Date: 1st Nov 1992 (USA) / 1st Nov 1992 (UK/EU)
With more (and larger) levels, great visuals and music, and various other enhancements, there's a strong argument that the 16-bit SNES version is the best version of Prince of Persia ever made. Whether you agree with that sentiment or not, it's absolutely worth investigating.
Blurring the lines between port and remake, this was created by Arsys Software (who would go on to help Polyphony Digital with Gran Turismo) and is essentially the same game as always, but with many new features and an increased level count — upped from the original 13 to 20 — that make it a must-play even for those who know the original inside out.
40. Harvest Moon (SNES)


7.7
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Natsume / Developer: Natsume
Release Date: Jun 1997 (USA) / 4th Jan 2008 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
Harvest Moon's brand of wholesome fun is uniquely appealing, and for the most part, it's a well-constructed, addictive simulation with huge spadefuls of charm.
The SNES edition is a superb starting point for Natsume's series, and it's still one of the stronger entries in the franchise even today. Go ahead and grab it on NSO to find out for yourself where this cosy life-sim series started off.
39. The Lost Vikings (SNES)


7.7
Profile
Publisher: Interplay / Developer: Silicon & Synapse
Release Date: 14th Aug 1992 (USA) / 28th Oct 1993 (UK/EU)
This puzzle-platformer has you taking control of three Vikings (Baleog, Erik, and Olaf) as they try to change their status from lost to found.
The Lost Vikings subsequently appeared on various systems (and forms part of the Blizzard Arcade Collection on Switch), but it started out on SNES and it's a top-quality production with great animation, tight controls, and a good dose of humour.
38. Super Mario Kart (SNES)


7.8
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: 1st Sep 1992 (USA) / 21st Jan 1993 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
The game that birthed an entire genre (albeit a genre it dominates to the point where you wonder how other companies gather energy to bother making a kart racer), Super Mario Kart got so much just right from the off that it remains surprisingly playable and accessible decades later.
There's no worrying about picking karts or wheels here; you select your character and hit the track. The split-screen layout (present even when racing solo) encourages a second player to pick up the pad, and it's certainly a game best enjoyed with a friend, or foe. The Battle mode also stands the test of time superbly, and that iconic power-slide move still feels natural and intuitive.
The mainline games that followed may have refined the formula to the Nth degree, but despite feeling bare-bones by comparison, controls, track design, and item balance remain nigh-on perfect in this first outing. Super Mario Kart is fun distilled, and the original's narrow focus can end up being a benefit – especially if you're looking for pick-up-and-play multiplayer.
37. Secret of Evermore (SNES)


7.8
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Squaresoft / Developer: Squaresoft
Release Date: 15th Oct 1995 (USA) / 22nd Feb 1996 (UK/EU)
Secret of Evermore is a refreshing take on the Secret of Mana gameplay formula and serves up one of the more unique and interesting Squaresoft RPG storylines of the 16-bit generation.
The high level of difficulty at times might turn you off, but if you've got the mettle to stick it out, you'll find that the quest is one well worth experiencing. And if you enjoyed Mana, you'll find a lot to like here, as it's very similar in style and presentation.
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36. SimCity (SNES)


7.8
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: 23rd Aug 1991 (USA) / 24th Sep 1992 (UK/EU)
An incredibly charming port of a huge experience, SimCity is one of the best value-for-money propositions in the 16-bit console's library, potentially offering months and months of city-building, in a package that's a little more approachable than versions on more powerful PC hardware.
Developed in-house by Nintendo itself, action fans are obviously going to be disappointed by the lack of instant gratification, but this excellent Nintendo-flavoured version of Will Wright's classic is a title to tickle your grey matter. The designer gets namechecked in the game, too, as green-haired advisor Dr. Wright shows you the city-building ropes.
Speaking of Wrights, we're not sure if rights issues prevent it from coming to Nintendo Switch Online, but it came to Wii Virtual Console in the 2000s and we'd love the doctor to see us again. And if Nintendo wanted to patch in SNES mouse support — which, oddly, the original didn't have — that'd be just grand. Fingers crossed.
35. NBA Jam (SNES)


7.8
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment / Developer: Midway
Release Date: 4th Apr 1994 (USA) / 10th Mar 1996 (UK/EU)
Fast-paced and addictive with catchy music and visuals that are still easy on the eyes today, NBA Jam has aged very well and stands as the definitive basketball game of its generation.
This 1995 SNES port delivered an admirable home-console version of Midway's arcade original from '93. And although there were many sequels that tweaked the formula, updating the roster and adding extra bells and whistles, none bettered the original in core gameplay quality. Jam swished it first time.
34. Super Bomberman (SNES)


7.8
Profile
Publisher: Hudson Soft / Developer: Hudson Soft
Release Date: 10th May 1993 (USA)
One of Hudson's many Bombermen, 1993's Super Bomberman was a hoot with up to three friends and a Super Multitap.
There's an argument that says 'the more, the merrier' when it comes to Bomberman multiplayer, but this first effort on the SNES (the first of five, of which we saw three in the West) nails the basics beautifully.
33. Sunset Riders (SNES)


7.9
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
Release Date: 6th Aug 1993 (USA) / 30th Sep 1993 (UK/EU)
Konami's Sunset Riders stands tall amongst the plethora of amazing side-scrolling run-and-gun games on consoles of the 16-bit era. It is bright, colourful, fantastically well animated, with superb music and sound.
Combining imaginative characterisation and humour with well-paced action set-pieces, plus variety in its gameplay, it understands its place as a Western and within its gaming genre. This is 'pulp' gaming at its finest and possibly the most entertaining 16-bit Wild West game money can buy.
32. Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)


7.9
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 14th Sep 1994 (USA) / 26th Jan 1995 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
It's Punch-Out!! with more colour, more character, 16-bit visuals, and the same timing-based gameplay that makes every entry in this series a pleasure to revisit.
The arcade original is available on Switch as part of Hamster's Arcade Archives line, and Super Punch-Out!! comes as part of the Nintendo Switch Online collection, so it's easy to get your hands on these days.
Which is nice, because it's up there with the finest games on the system.
31. Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES)


7.9
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: LucasArts
Release Date: Sep 1993 (USA) / 1993 (UK/EU)
Zombies Ate My Neighbors feels like what you get if you somehow turned Contra into a second-rate horror movie. If shooting everything in sight and blowing stuff up is your thing (and given your penchant for video games, we'll go out on a limb and say it probably is), you're going to love this unusual Super Nintendo action title.
Developed by LucasArts and put out by Konami, it might be a little on the strange side, but any time you're given the opportunity to shoot a zombie in the face with a bazooka, you know you're in for a real treat.
30. ActRaiser (SNES)


7.9
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Quintet
Release Date: Nov 1991 (USA) / 18th Mar 1993 (UK/EU)
Combining an overhead 'god' mode with some side-on, sword-swinging, platforming goodness, ActRaiser wraps put two distinct styles of gameplay with an incredible score by Yuzo Koshiro (you may have noticed that we're quite partial to his tunes around these parts).
In isolation, the component gameplay parts perhaps don't hold up as well as they might, but taken as a whole with its brilliant soundtrack, Quintet's game is unmissable.
29. The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (SNES)


7.9
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
Release Date: Feb 1992 (USA) / 1994 (UK/EU)
Another Konami classic, The Legend of the Mystical Ninja is a fun, colourful, challenging action-adventure of the kind we wish we saw more of; playing as "Kid Ninja" — or Goemon, for fans of his Nintendo 64 adventures — reminds us that a little personality goes a long way in making games memorable.
Its challenging, deceptively simple gameplay is paired with a wacky, irreverent story, and surprising minigames keep things fresh. Spawning a series that would continue after the SNES was gone, if you're looking for something light-hearted, addictive, and rewarding, it's hard to go wrong with the Mystical Ninja.
28. F-Zero (SNES)


7.9
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: Aug 1991 (USA) / 1992 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
F-Zero was an incredible template on which its sublime successors were modelled, and for that we shall forever be thankful.
That's not to say the original isn't a gem in its own right — it's a racing classic that feels fast and tight to this day — but its lack of multiplayer tends to put it behind its sequels, at least in our minds (a criticism that F-Zero 99 addressed).
Still, this remains a thrilling 16-bit ride and we're more than happy to fire it up again (via Nintendo Switch Online if we don't happen to have our SNES hooked up) whenever the notion takes us.
27. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (SNES)


7.9
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Natsume / Developer: Neverland
Release Date: 23rd Feb 1995 (USA)
Lufia II is easily one of the top-tier Super Nintendo RPGs; challenging, humorous, and a joy to play. Combine its unique visual stylings, the efficient turn-based combat system, and the beautifully orchestrated soundtrack, and you get one absolutely unforgettable RPG experience on a system with its fair share of those.
Before we all got spoiled with the full-motion video and millions of polygons per second of today's epic role-playing games, we had things like this that had much more to them than flashy visual effects and voice-overs.
26. Tetris Attack (SNES)


7.9
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Intelligent Systems
Release Date: 1st Aug 1996 (USA) / 28th Nov 1996 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
The Tetris branding was a misnomer here, a pure marketing strategy to give this wonderful puzzler a leg up in the West. Panel de Pon is a cracking puzzle game that doesn't resemble Tetris in the slightest — the blocks rise rather than fall, for a start — and if you've never played it before, you're in for a real treat.
If you've somehow misplaced your original cart (how very careless), you can check it out most easily on Switch, although you won't find Tetris Attack anywhere on the menu screen of your NSO Super NES app. It's listed under its Japanese title, almost certainly due to Nintendo not wanting to pay The Tetris Company to use the name again.
It's so incredibly addictive that Capcom's Shinji Mikami had to ban the game while his team was developing the original Resident Evil. As recommendations go, that's not a bad one! Tetris it ain't, but it's bloody good nonetheless.
25. Illusion of Gaia (SNES)


7.9
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Quintet
Release Date: 1st Sep 1994 (USA) / 27th Apr 1995 (UK/EU)
Although not as close to perfection as its two siblings — Soul Blazer and the later Terranigma — it's not hard to see why Nintendo themselves published Illusion of Gaia outside Japan.
Known as Illusion of Time in Europe, it is incredibly linear compared to the other two, with not a single side quest other than collecting Red Jewels and many areas becoming forever inaccessible as the game progresses, severely limiting your sense of freedom. Monsters don't respawn, either, making repeat visits to dungeons pointless.
However, aided by a larger narrative, a great soundtrack, and improved visuals, it still manages to be one of the most entertaining action RPGs on the SNES, and a fitting second game in the trilogy.
24. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (SNES)


7.9
Review 7/10
Profile
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 15th Jul 1992 (USA) / 19th Jan 2007 (UK/EU)
Capcom essentially created a genre with this game. While one-on-one fighters existed prior to its release (the original Street Fighter being just one example), this game pioneered many concepts which are now commonplace.
The first Street Fighter II on the SNES remains a solid fighter, but pure nostalgia might not be enough for some. When you consider the two direct SNES sequels added so much, it can be hard to go back.
If you're one of the few who preferred the 'purity' of the game before Capcom started tweaking, adding new fighters and filling the titles with daft adjectives and punctuation, this still packs a punch, though.
23. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (SNES)


8.0
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Release Date: 22nd Nov 1996 (USA) / 19th Dec 1996 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
Rounding out the DKC trilogy, Dixie and Kiddy's adventure to find DK and Diddy is still a pleasure today.
It arguably can't quite reach the highs of the second chapter in Rare's trio of DK delights, but Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! looked better than ever and gave you some choice with a non-linear map to explore and options should you hit a roadblock.
So, while we'd start with the earlier games if you're playing via NSO, this capped off the Countries on SNES nicely.
22. Terranigma (SNES)


8.1
Review 10/10
Profile
Publisher: Enix / Developer: Quintet
Release Date: 19th Dec 1996 (UK/EU)
Few role-playing experiences are quite as enjoyable or engrossing as Terranigma, 16-bit or otherwise. Not only is the quest absolutely epic in size, but the way the storyline continues to evolve and unfold gives it a cinematic feel.
Terranigma did for action RPGs what games like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger did for the more traditional RPG market; it's one of those games that once you play, you'll never forget it.
21. Mega Man X2 (SNES)


8.1
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: Jan 1995 (USA) / 18th Oct 1995 (UK/EU)
Like so many games in Capcom's blue-hued back catalogue, Mega Man X2 doesn't really do much in the way of innovation. You could argue that it feels more like a level pack for the previous game if you were feeling uncharitable, but given the sheer quality of its predecessor, it's hard to get upset.
While it's obviously a bit less original, X2 is very solid and delivers 'more of the same' with style.
20. Final Fantasy II (SNES)


8.1
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Squaresoft
Release Date: 23rd Nov 1991 (USA) / 11th Jun 2010 (UK/EU)
Final Fantasy IV (or II as US gamers knew it in '91) might show its age, but the SNES version remains a brilliant way to experience this seminal series entry.
There's still something quite charming and engaging about this classic, a testament to its staying power, and any RPG fan who missed out will quickly recognise what all the fuss was about.
Of course, you might want to check it out in Pixel Remaster form now — it's certainly the easiest way if you own a Switch — but whatever way you play it, just know you're picking up an all-timer.
19. Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (SNES)


8.1
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 18th Jul 1994 (USA) / Aug 1994 (UK/EU)
Following on from Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter II added four new fighters and some excellent gameplay modes, yet arguably doesn't manage to overshadow its predecessor.
Turbo was, for many, the game where SF2 reached its peak; by the time Super came around, the SNES was about to give way to 32-bit systems and the popularity of one-on-one fighters was starting to diminish. But this is still an exceptionally enjoyable fighter with plenty of depth, appealing visuals, and excellent two-player potential.
18. Kirby Super Star (SNES)


8.2
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: HAL Laboratory
Release Date: 20th Sep 1996 (USA) / 23rd Jan 1997 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
This is less a game and more a smorgasbord of ideas thrown at the SNES which, somewhat improbably, congeals into a satisfying blend of games, sub-games, and minigames.
There are nine in total but the titular character is a versatile hero that manages to suck up these experimental bits and pieces and meld them into a whole greater than the sum of its parts. 'Cohesive' might be generous, but Kirby Super Star is thoroughly entertaining and well worth a look.
17. Secret of Mana (SNES)


8.2
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Squaresoft
Release Date: 3rd Oct 1993 (USA) / 24th Nov 1994 (UK/EU)
Secret of Mana manages to take the action-adventure stylings of The Legend of Zelda and add that trademark Square RPG feel to it.
Easily available these days as part of the Collection of Mana, the combat may take some gamers a little time to get used to if you prefer more traditional role-playing games or you're coming from Squaresoft stablemate Final Fantasy, but you absolutely don't want to miss this beloved SNES classic if you're an action-RPG fan.
16. Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES)


8.3
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
Release Date: 26th Mar 1992 (USA) / 12th Sep 1992 (UK/EU)
Contra III: The Alien Wars (or Super Probotector: Alien Rebels in Europe) is rightly cited as a shining star in the Super Nintendo catalogue, and the game has lost little of that lustre all these years later. You get fluid run-and-gunning, naturally, plus gorgeous presentation, tight controls, and a sheer intensity and attitude — an inimitable mood and tone — that set it apart from the pack.
Available on Switch as part of Konami's Contra Anniversary Collection, its refreshingly short completion time and ingenious stage structure come together beautifully to offset the one or two design drawbacks in the top-down levels. Those aside, Contra III still manages to strike the same chords it did in 1992.
15. Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting (SNES)


8.3
Review 8/10
Profile
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: Aug 1993 (USA) / Aug 1993 (UK/EU)
Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting was a big deal when it launched on the SNES back in 1993. The Street Fighter craze was in full force and it was genuinely exciting to see the original game refined and improved in such a manner; you could finally play as the four boss fighters and the additional speed injection made things much faster and enjoyable.
Turbo is an improvement over its predecessor and offers more depth and entertainment as a result. Coming just a year after its predecessor, this was an essential Super NES purchase regardless.
14. Super Castlevania IV (SNES)


8.3
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
Release Date: 4th Dec 1991 (USA) / 23rd Nov 1992 (UK/EU)
In Europe, Super Castlevania IV actually released before Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, which gives you some indication of why so many fans directly compare them, despite the power difference between the NES and SNES.
On many levels, Super Castlevania IV (which is essentially a retelling of the original game) scales things back. There are no branching pathways and Simon Belmont is the only character you get to control. However, in practically every other respect, Super Castlevania IV is arguably the better of the two.
The visuals and music are taken to an entirely new level thanks to the power of the 16-bit console, with the soundtrack, in particular, being one of the best you'll hear on any cartridge-based system. The gameplay, which makes good use of the SNES' Mode 7 capabilities, is as tight and engaging as you like, even if it's a little less challenging than the NES entries. A true classic.
13. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)


8.6
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Release Date: 21st Nov 1994 (USA) / 24th Nov 1994 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
Rare's first foray into the world of DK and his cronies. Despite the visuals not wowing like they did back in 1994, the template put down in Donkey Kong Country would influence every DK title to come.
The redesigned DK looked brilliant, Dave Wise's music sounded incredible, and every aspect of the game demonstrated a stunning attention to detail that really showcased the hardware's impressive audio-visual capabilities, even as the dawn of the polygonal era approached.
While not quite as polished as you remember, DKC is still a classic that should be tracked down and enjoyed (which is much easier now that it's included in the Nintendo Switch Online SNES library).
12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (SNES)


8.6
Profile
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
Release Date: 1992 (USA) / 1992 (UK/EU)
What's a 16-bit console without a classic arcade-style side-scrolling beat 'em up? Turtles in Time matched the popularity of the licence and tapped into the zeitgeist in the early '90s, coming from Konami at a time when it seemed the company had trouble producing a bad video game.
This is an expensive cart to track down these days and for many years, despite tricky licensing issues, we hoped we'd see it again on a Nintendo console. Fortunately, our wishes came true with the Cowabunga Collection!
11. Mega Man X (SNES)


8.7
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: Jan 1994 (USA) / 1st May 1994 (UK/EU)
Mega Man X is a fantastic game. It retains the charm and pacing of the classic 8-bit series and adds a much-appreciated spin of its own. With plenty of hidden items and upgrades (don't forget the super-secret one in Armored Armadillo's stage) and a host of fun new weapons to use, Mega Man X is a game worth playing again and again. And again.
Later entries in this sub-series might be a bit of a mixed bag, but there's no denying that this first one was — and is — a masterpiece.
10. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)


8.8
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Release Date: 20th Nov 1995 (USA) / 14th Dec 1995 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (not Diddy Kong's Quest) is a beautiful, secret-filled game with a gorgeous soundtrack that helps create an atmosphere that sticks in the memory long after you've put down the pad. You end up returning to this simply to enjoy your surroundings and have 'that feeling' again.
In fact, we've found that to be a feature of many Rare games, and the second DKC on SNES is a prime example. Debate will rage as to which entry is the greatest, but regardless, this is up there with the very, very best on the console.
9. Super Mario All-Stars (SNES)


8.8
Review 7/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: 11th Aug 1993 (USA) / 16th Dec 1993 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
An extremely impressive package featuring the NES Super Mario Bros. games with a 16-bit lick of paint, Super Mario All-Stars was a convenient way to revisit the classics.
With the exception of Super Mario Bros. 2 (we'd say that All-Stars actually contains the 'best' version of that game), the originals ultimately still offer the prime, 'canon' experience, we'd argue. If you're playing this via Nintendo Switch Online, they're all accessible, so you can easily see for yourselves.
However, for anybody who first experienced the NES games in this package, we understand if All-Stars offers the ultimate nostalgia trip and represents peak 2D Mario for you. Everyone's a winner, however you play 'em.
8. EarthBound (SNES)


8.8
Review 10/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: HAL Laboratory
Release Date: 2nd Jun 1995 (USA) / 18th Jul 2013 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
EarthBound succeeds at not only being one of the most unique and refreshing RPG experiences ever created, but also one of the most epic and entertaining as well. Combining classic RPG gameplay elements with a heart-warming modern spin, the game somehow feels familiar yet strange all at the same time.
With a peerless visual style, soundtrack and storyline, playing EarthBound is like revisiting a vivid childhood memory of fun and adventure. You can't repeat the past, but you can certainly revisit it. Mother!
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7. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)


8.8
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Squaresoft
Release Date: 13th May 1996 (USA) / 22nd Aug 2008 (UK/EU)
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is not only a brilliant game in its own right, it's a history lesson in how the Mario role-playing series began.
Anyone who has played the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi series should play Square's original title that started it all - either in original 16-bit form or via the excellent Switch remake.
Super Mario RPG paved the way and inspired both, and we should be eternally thankful to Squaresoft for injecting character and humour into the plumber's repertoire.
6. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)


8.9
Review 10/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: 4th Oct 1995 (USA) / 6th Oct 1995 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
Yoshi's Island is the absolute summit of not just Yoshi games, but platformer games in general, with a wonderful vision of pastel colours, majestic backdrops, and character-oozing sprites.
Honestly, it's difficult to remember any other game that matches or even comes close to the amount of detail that Yoshi's Island did, past or present. The presentation is second to none on the system. The level of charm is astronomical. There will be moments when you refrain from killing an enemy just to watch its animation.
With its deep exploration-based platforming and gorgeous art style, Yoshi's Island is still a joy to play all these years later. Yoshi's Island isn't just a great game: it's a reminder of why this silly hobby of ours is so wonderful.
5. Final Fantasy III (SNES)


9.0
Review 9/10
Profile
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Squaresoft
Release Date: 11th Oct 1994 (USA) / 18th Mar 2011 (UK/EU)
For many, Final Fantasy VI (or III as we in the West used to call it) is the pinnacle of the genre. You can't help but appreciate how epic and enthralling a quest Square was able to cook up for this sixth release in the series, and it still feels as magnificent and relevant today as it did decades ago.
If you've somehow never played Final Fantasy VI in any of its various forms over the years, you truly owe it to yourself to experience one of the best in the series - or any series. This one featured on the SNES classic, but there are various ways to play, including the rather great GBA and Pixel Remaster re-releases.
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4. Chrono Trigger (SNES)


9.2
Review 10/10
Profile
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Squaresoft
Release Date: 11th Aug 1995 (USA) / 20th May 2011 (UK/EU)
Chrono Trigger is, and will always be, one of the most unforgettable RPG experiences ever to grace a video game console. Even the first time you play it, you'll immediately know that you're experiencing something special.
It brought so many new ideas to the table that give it the game unique look and feel, and on a remarkable system noted for its extensive catalogue of RPGs, Chrono Trigger is at the very top of the SNES pile.
3. Super Metroid (SNES)


9.3
Review 10/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Release Date: 18th Apr 1994 (USA) / 28th Jul 1994 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
We dislike overusing the word 'masterpiece' (although in a list like this, it's almost unavoidable), but in this case, it's absolutely accurate.
Super Metroid is the standard by which all Metroid games are judged, and an impossibly high one, at that. If you're a franchise fan, you'll have played this to death. If, however, you've never dipped your toes into Nintendo's pool of sci-fi action exploration, this is the one you need to play.
It's...a masterpiece. That's all there is to it.
2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)


9.3
Review 10/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: 13th Apr 1992 (USA) / 24th Sep 1992 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one of the best games of all time, and if you haven't experienced it yourself... you probably have through one of the other Zelda games, such was its influence on the series and the entire action-adventure genre.
Link could move diagonally and run thanks to the Pegasus Boots, and he could swipe his sword sideways, allowing for a much wider range when attacking. In fact, A Link to the Past introduced many mainstays of the franchise, including various stalwart items and the idea of parallel worlds.
There's no shortage of 2D and 3D Zeldas to choose from these days, but this 16-bit entry codified the core elements of a 'Zelda game.' It's still got that touch of magic about it many years later. Unmissable.
1. Super Mario World (SNES)


9.3
Review 10/10
Profile
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: 23rd Aug 1991 (USA) / 11th Apr 1992 (UK/EU)
Available On: Nintendo Switch Online
There is endless debate about whether Super Mario Bros. 3 or Super Mario World is the better game. For our money, they are two sides of the same coin — two faces of a monumental peak in the video game landscape.
This remains an incredible achievement of invention and sheer entertainment that the 2D platforming genre has struggled to match ever since. Introducing Yoshi and an expanded overworld with multiple paths, Mario World overflows with secrets and secret exits that were perfect for fuelling playground gossip and elevating it to the upper-est echelons of platform video games, 2D or otherwise.
Decades on, it still doesn't get much better than this. All games have flaws, but if there exists an exception to that rule, Super Mario World is it.
And that's a wrap on the best Super NES games of all time!
Super Nintendo FAQ
Nicely done getting through all 50! We're going to wrap things up by answering some common questions people have about the Super NES and its games.
When was the SNES console released?
Depending on your region, the SNES release date varied from territory to territory.
As was typical at the time, Europeans had to wait nearly 16 months for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to arrive on UK shores, with mainland Europe having to wait even longer!
Here's when the Super NES released in the major gaming regions back in 1990 / 1991 / 1992:
Japan: November 21st, 1990
US: August 23rd, 1991
UK: April 11th, 1992
Europe: June 1992
How many SNES games are there?
According to Wikipedia’s list of Super NES games, a total of 1,738 Nintendo GameCube games were released during the console’s entire lifespan.
There’s some variation in the number of releases between Europe, Japan, and US territories, but you'll find all SNES games listed by region on that page.
What were the best two-player SNES games?
The Super NES was a great system to play with friends, not least because it brought arcade-quality games like Street Fighter II into the home for the first time.
Here's our pick of the best multiplayer SNES games from the article above. If you'd like more details, scroll up to find them - we’ve included the rankings to help you find them.
#38 - Super Mario Kart
#35 - Super Bomberman
#34 - NBA Jam
#32 - Zombies Ate My Neighbors
#27 - Tetris Attack
#24 - Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
#19 - Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
#18 - Kirby Super Star
#16 - Contra III: The Alien Wars
#15 - Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting
#12 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
It's worth noting that technically Super Mario World has a multiplayer component, but it's a matter of passing the controller and taking turns and we've not counted it in the picks above. If you were looking for a great multiplayer game and were handed Super Mario World, you'd be a little disappointed, right?
What are the best SNES-exclusive games?
Thankfully, most of the SNES games above have been re-released on other platforms over the years, but a small handful remain exclusive to the console. Here's our pick of the best SNES exclusives from the article above...
#49 - Soul Blazer
#37 - Secret of Evermore
#28 - Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
#26 - Illusion of Gaia
#25 - The Legend of the Mystical Ninja
#22 - Terranigma
Where can you buy SNES games?
If you've got your old Super NES out of the cupboard and are looking for some boxed games, online marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace should probably be your first port of call.
Alternatively, you may be able to find original boxed games at specialist second-hand retailers.
However, bear in mind that most of these games are over 30 years old and original boxed copies are rare these days, especially in good condition. Be prepared to pay large sums for the most popular SNES games.
How big are SNES games?
The size of individual Super NES games varied, but the largest games were Tales of Phantasia and Star Ocean, which contained 48 Megabits (6 Megabytes) of data.
For comparison's sake, Super Mario World is 4 Megabits (.5 Megabytes).
How can I add a game to this article?
Much like our Top 50 lists covering other Nintendo consoles, this list is dictated by User Ratings for each game in the Nintendo Life game database. As such, the order is fluid and can fluctuate even after publication.
Haven't rated your favourite SNES games? Simply find your game of choice in the search bar below and give it a score out of 10. The score will immediately be counted towards the total and reflected in the ordering.
Note. In order for games to become eligible, they need a minimum of 50 User Ratings in total.
Rockstar

Kirby Air Riders: The Best Custom Machines We've Seen So Far

Now that Kirby Air Riders is out in the wild (and really very good), players have been creating all manner of unofficial air-riding fun in the game's surprisingly decent machine customisation mode.
Within this mode, you can select any of your unlocked vehicles (so make sure to check out our guide on how to unlock all of those in the game) to then design liveries using all the shapes, stickers, icons, and so on that you unlock across the game's activities.
In this guide, we've rounded u the best custom machine designs we've seen so far in the user-created content shop. Indeed, as reported, Nintendo has gotten involved due to some bikini-clad...is that...Chef Kawasaki?!
So, seeing as everyone has been so eager to get creating, we've decided to take a look at some of the best community-created machines that we've seen so far. We'll update this guide with more as we spot them.
Kirby Air Riders: Best Custom Machines
Mario & Pals
Possibly the one category with the most entries so far, we've got Mushroom Kingdom residents up the Wazoo over here. Special shoutout goes to the excellent Captain Toad and that DK effort.




Mario and pals never miss a party — Images: Nintendo Life
Minecraft
Yep. The creepers are here.

Image: Nintendo Life
Minecraft made it![/image]

Nintendo Consoles

Of course we were gonna get some tributes to Nintendo consoles over the years, and the varying Machine shapes are lending themselves quite nicely to the endeavour. It turns out Wagon Star makes a very good base for GameCubes!


Nintendo Consoles? Oh, We Got Nintendo Consoles — Images: Nintendo Life
Pokémon

Another rather obvious one, and we have to say, we're loving the Poké Ball here, some very neat work.


Pokémon players, take your positions — Images: Nintendo Life
Spongebob Squarepants

Yes, it's another cartoon that seems impossible to kill (not that we'd want to, we love SpongeBob). In fact, we love him so much here, he is looking fine...but where's Patrick?

SpongeBob is a secret speed demon — Image: Nintendo Life
The Simpsons
It may have driven off a cliff in terms of the quality of the writing in its episodes these days, but The Simpsons still has legendary drawing power, and is proving mighty popular in the early hours of machine customisation.
Look, here's Lisa, shoved under an engine, and Homer with his head shaped like a star!


Everybody still loves The Simpsons! — Images: Nintendo Life
And now for something completely different...
As we've said, Nintendo has been cracking down, so there's not too much outlandish stuff out there just yet. However, we do have some questions about a few of these:


Images: Nintendo Life


Images: Nintendo Life
How do I access and buy Custom Machines?
To find community-created machines in Kirby Air Riders for yourself, you'll need to:
Go to the Connect settings in the game's menu, as shown below
Enter the Machine Market and choose whether you want to list your own creation (more on that in a sec) or buy another person's unique design



Images: Nintendo Life
Once in the market, you can:
Choose to filter your search by machine type, so you only see designs for the one you want, or filter by popularity, price, or friends-only creations
There's also an ID Search function that can be used by buyers and sellers!


Images: Nintendo Life
Machines all cost coins, which you earn in-game, and the price ranges from some insanely expensive 300,000 coin creations right down to the most bargain of basements you can imagine.
How do I make my own Custom Machines?
Now, if you're anything like us, you'll already be itching to get stuck in and make your own creations to sell. Hey, this could be a very cool hobby just to rake in as many coins as possible. So how do you get going with it?
First up, go to the extras menu in the game, then head to My Machine.
Once in here, you'll get to choose from your available craft before heading into the creation suite.


Images: Nintendo Life
Here you've got access to any and all accessories decals, sounds, effects, and patterns you've unlocked through play (or bought in the Miles Shop).
All you need now is some inspiration!
Rockstar

"A Cornerstone Of Gaming History" - Microsoft, Xbox, & Activision Team Up To Make Original Zork Trilogy Open-Source

Infocom's original Zork trilogy is now open-source under an MIT license, thanks to the combined efforts of Microsoft’s Open Source Programs Office (OSPO), Xbox, and Activision (h/t: The Verge).
The three classic text adventures — which Microsoft OSPO director Stacey Haffner and the Microsoft vice president of developer community Scott Hanselman referred to in the announcement as "a cornerstone of gaming history" — were originally released between 1980 to 1982 for various home computers (such as the TRS-80 CoCo and Apple II), and have their roots in an earlier game that was developed between 1977 and 1979 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a PDP-10 mainframe computer.
This original version was created by a group of individuals, including Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels, and Dave Lebling, with three of its four creators later going on to help form the influential adventure game company, Infocom, in 1979.
The latter version, on the other hand, was the work of Dave Lebling and Marc Blank, and was written in a new language called ZIL (Zork Implementation Language), which was designed so that games could be easily ported to different home computers with the help of a "Z-Code interpreter" rather than having to write everything again from scratch whenever they wanted to target a new machine.
The source code for all three games has been preserved for a while, thanks to the internet archivist Jason Scott, but according to the terms of the MIT license, people may now "use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software" as long as they include the correct copyright notice and this permission notice included. The repositories for all three games are available below, and include the source code and "accompanying documentation where available, such as build notes, comments, and historically relevant files":
Zork I
Zork II
Zork III
In particular, this initiative seems to be targeted at helping educators first and foremost, with Haffner and Hanselman stating the goal of this license change is "to place historically important code in the hands of students, teachers, and developers so they can study it, learn from it, and, perhaps most importantly, play it."
This does not include "commercial packaging or marketing materials" associated with the titles, and "it also does not grant rights to any trademarks or brands, which remain with their respective owners."

Rockstar

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