The new year is already well under way, but Nintendo is still celebrating with a New Year's eShop sale. The Switch New Year's sale includes some first-party Nintendo games that rarely go on sale, such as Super Mario Maker 2 and Splatoon 2, along with some high profile third-party games like the Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Megamix and Divinity: Original Sin 2.

Here's a sampling of what's on offer in the Switch New Year's Sale.

Nintendo New Year's Sale

Nintendo has the full list of games on sale on the official Switch New Year's sale page. Stay tuned for more game news and deals.

Last night, Nintendo dropped a surprise announcement covering Super Mario Maker 2's final big content update. There's a slew of new power-ups to shake up your level designing, but the real star for Super Mario Maker 2's final update is World Maker.

World Maker lets you string together a handful of courses on a Super Mario World style map, then string up to eight of these together. Essentially, you're making your very own 2D Mario game here.

You'll choose from a number of classic background styles, like snow, cave, and volcano. Plus you can arrange the courses however you like — straight path to the goal, bonus stages hidden on the map, or close to whatever you can dream of.

And you can create in so many more ways now. The big final Super Mario Maker 2 update is introducing more than a dozen new elements. These are limited to certain styles and include:

• Super Mario Bros. 2 mushroom (lets you pick up enemies; works in SMB theme)
• Key that summons Phanto (same)
• Super Mario Bros. 3 Frog Suit (lets you swim with ease and run on water)
• Super Mario World balloon (slowly fly through the air)
• Super Mario Bros. U Super Acorn (glide through the air)
• Boomerang Flower (Super Mario 3D World only)
• Cannon Box (Super Mario 3D World only)
• Propeller Box (Super Mario 3D World only)
• Red Pow Box (destroys multiple blocks, Super Mario 3D World only)
• Goomba Mask (avoid enemies, Super Mario 3D World only)
• Bullet Bill Mask (fly horizontally, Super Mario 3D World only)

As if that wasn't enough, the update introduces all seven Koopalings, each with different behaviors and skills. They aren't compatible with 3D World style, though. They're accompanied by the Mechakoopa enemy, in the normal fire-shooting form and a laser-shooting one; they also fly in night stages. Like the Koopalings, the Mechakoopas aren't compatible with 3D World stages.

Finally, there's the on/off trampoline switch for 3D World, which turns certain platforms into super-bouncy trampolines.

It's a heck of a final update, though we are a bit disappointed there wasn't a final style to fill that tantalizing gap next to Super Mario 3D World. Still, between this, The Legend of Zelda update, and SMM2 being pretty great on its own, there's a lot to dig into here.

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Super Mario Maker 2 news as it develops.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Unfortunately, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is only an option for Nintendo Switch owners. If you’ve got one (or more), though, then you’re in luck. It definitely earns the “Ultimate” part of its name with the amount of variety and content on offer here. There are over 70 characters to choose from, along with every stage from the series’ history.

It offers several robust single-player options if you aren’t keen on online matches, plus plenty of co-op options. But if online is what you’re looking for, it’s usually top-notch as well. The ranking system means you typically won’t get matched with someone way out of you league, so everyone can enjoy their time with Smash Ultimate.

If you're looking for another brawler for other systems, Brawlhalla is another great choice — and it's a lot like Super Smash, but in the best ways possible. 

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Whatever the reason you need to keep the kids entertained and out of trouble, these games should give you plenty of options. Let us know what your fail-safe games are for keeping the kids busy, and be sure to give us a like and share on social media if you enjoyed what you read!

Be sure to check out these other awesome kid-centric games in case you didn't already find what you were looking for: 

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• Fantastic family-friendly games
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• Great PC games for kids
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• Xbox One games for kids
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• PS4 games for kids
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Madden NFL 20

The most recent Madden game, Madden NFL 20, packs enough content to keep any football fan busy for a long, long time. Its story mode, Face of the Franchise, lets you create a career football player and follow them through the college divisions all the way to the top of the NFL. It might not be quite so engaging the further you get into it, but it’s still a very solid experience. The real magic is on the field in normal matches, though.

Madden 20 introduces a new feature to the formula with X-Factor Superstar Abilities. These are unique to star players, created with their own real-life strengths and abilities in mind that shake up how you execute your plays and approach each situation. Madden 20 also offers challenge modes, dynamic Playbooks, and basically anything football lovers might want in a Madden game.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Speaking of Dragon Quest, If monster-catchers and MMOs aren’t really your kids’ thing, then Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age fills that RPG niche very well indeed. It’s the latest and arguably one of the best in the long-running Dragon Quest series. It’s brighter, more colorful, absolutely jam-packed with things to do, and as always, the localization is some of the best in the industry. 

You’ll do the usual RPG things — gather a party of misfits, journey around the world, and try to save it from evil — but like all Dragon Quest games, XI offsets the familiar with a huge heart and plenty of character.

Despite being the 11th title in the series, you don’t really need any prior experience with Dragon Quest to appreciate it, though references to earlier games mean fans get the most out of it. Better yet, it’s available on every platform except Xbox One. The Switch version has added content, but the base version on PS4 and PC is still a modern classic and an excellent single-player experience.

Minecraft

Minecraft is a pretty obvious choice for games to keep your kids entertained. Heck, they (and you) might even be completely sick of it by now. If that’s the case, fear not. There’s still plenty more you can do with Minecraft. Multiplayer games, either of your own creation or on dedicated servers, are always an option to shake things up, as are survival games.

Minecraft has countless excellent creative servers for building themed or guided worlds as well and frequently demos new “snapshots” of upcoming features on PC (like the Busy Bees trailer above). Basically, Minecraft never stops, and there’s always something new to try — even if it’s just venturing into a new world.

But if you're absolutely fed up with Minecraft, there are other alternatives. Roblox is one, a combination of world builder and game designer where you can create your own games within the game. Dragon Quest Builders 2 is another, offering a more guided take on the "build anything" idea, a story, and tons of the series' trademark charm. Even though it's not as open as Minecraft, you can still create pretty much anything you can dream of.

Cities: Skylines

Cities: Skylines is one for the older kids. It’s an incredibly deep, immersive simulator-strategy game where you’re in complete control of your very own... well, city. And we mean “complete. control.”

You’ll determine everything from road layout and economic strategy to sewer maintenance and development zoning. Every choice you make determines how your city grows — or collapses in a spectacular mess around your ears.

Cities: Skylines has a number of well-realized expansions, too, adding even more content. Some focus on nightlife, while others focus on industry and parks and recreation. Still others focus on tourism and alternative energy production.

It’s on the Switch and PlayStation 4 as well, though the PC and Xbox One versions are the only ones that allow for modding. Also, note that the Switch version doesn’t always perform the best.

Of course, you could always go old-school and pick up the ultimate classic, Sim City 2000 on Good Old Games. It's perfect for any age group. 

Temtem

You might have heard about Temtem when it entered early access back in January. It’s pretty obviously inspired by Pokemon, but there are some key differences that make it worthwhile even if you’ve caught ‘em all elsewhere.

Temtem is essentially an MMO — designed to play with others and explore together — while Pokemon is essentially a single-player experience. Temtem takes place on a brightly colored archipelago, too, and really cranks up the Indiana Jones feels: the sense of exploring a strange, magical new world.

And there’s even more, though. Developer Crema Games has a host of new content additions planned for the next year. These are designed to flesh out the end-game content and provide even more ways to enjoy the game.

If you’re looking for something more traditional, though, Pokemon Sword and Shield on Nintendo Switch would definitely fit the bill. The latest Pokemon games don’t shake the formula up that much, but they’re fresh, fun, and full of life.

LittleBigPlanet 3 or Super Mario Maker 2

LittleBigPlanet 3 or Super Mario Maker 2 are tied to PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, respectively. But if you have either of those systems on hand, both titles offer a mind-boggling amount of content to keep the kids busy and encourage imagination. Maybe they'll learn a thing or two along the way.

Both games have a story mode of sorts, traditional platforming adventures that put your skills to the test. They’re really just for getting ideas for the main attraction, though: level building.

At their cores, Little Big Planet and Super Mario Maker 2 are level creators. You’ll choose from a vast array of tools and themes to design anything you can imagine. Obviously, Super Mario Maker 2 is all about making Mario levels, but Little Big Planet really lets your imagination run wild. Plus, both have multiplayer modes so you can play together or with friends.

A Hat in Time

A Hat in Time is another product of the 3D platformer renaissance, but it’s far from derivative. Hat Kid travels through space — until she doesn’t anymore. She’s lost all her space fuel and must explore all the worlds she can reach to find more. Fortunately, Hat Kid gets special powers from all the hats she creates, so there’s never a dull moment on her travels.

Whether you’re solving The Murder on the Owl Express or dealing with the ruthless Mafia of Cooks, the worlds are absolutely stuffed with things to do and uncover. It’s cute and funny, plus a little bit chaotic when it needs to be. There really isn’t anything quite like A Hat in Time.

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Pretty much any Lego game is worth trying out if you’re interested in the franchise. But for sheer breadth of content, you can’t get any better than Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. This isn’t the new Lego Star Wars, though; it’s the 2009 Complete Saga, which means Episodes 1-6.

Aside from meaning you’ve got six Lego games to play through in one package and more playable characters than you can shake a lightsaber at, it also means basically any computer can play it. There’s co-op play involved as well if more than one person wants to join in the fun. With character customization, hidden bonuses, and challenge modes, busy you and your younglings will be for a long time.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

We considered Yooka-Laylee one of the best PC games for kids a while back (and it's made it on almost every list for kids we've done since it released).

But we can’t deny Playtonic improved the formula even more with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. It foregoes the original’s devotion to the 3D collect-a-thons of old and combines Donkey Kong Country style platforming with top-down exploration and puzzle-solving inspired by 2D Zelda games.

It’s gorgeous, it’s colorful, and there are enough hidden collectibles and secrets to encourage multiple playthroughs. In short, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is just plain fun. Even better, it’s available on all modern platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

It's tough keeping the littl'uns occupied at the best of times. But if you're stuck at home for any reason, finding ways to keep the kids busy becomes a necessity. Fortunately, video games fill that need pretty darn well. There's a ton of kid-friendly options to choose from, but picking out the best ones can be more difficult than it might seem.

That's why we've put together this list of the best games for keeping the kids entertained at any time. They're all good for any age, and none can be completed quickly.

Super Mario Maker 2's course upload cap just got a meaty increase, growing from 64 up to 100. The change comes as Nintendo celebrates SMM2 hitting a major milestone: there have been more than 10 million playable courses uploaded since the game launched last year.

That's an incredible number of courses, and even though we could try to figure out how long it would take to play them all, we aren't going to. It's just a lot. 

Relatively speaking, that number is not surprising either. Not only does Super Mario Maker 2 include a vast number of additional course-making tools over the original game, but it also recently added a Legend of Zelda makeover. That's not to mention SMM2 basically does almost everything better than the first Super Mario Maker.

There are a ton of ways to go about making your dream course, whether it's the trash trial from hell or a carefully designed platforming masterpiece.

Of course, not all courses are created equal. That's why we have some ideas of the best Super Mario Maker 2 courses you should try and some handy tips for how you can try and get your own courses seen more.

Super Mario Maker 2 isn't going anywhere soon, and we'll likely see more updates, content, and tweaks as the year goes on. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Super Mario Maker 2 news as it builds up.

Some truly amazing games came out in 2019. From monolithic AAAs like Gears 5 and Pokemon Sword and Shield to unassuming indies like Wattam and Disco Elysium, the last year of the decade hasn't left us wanting.

To celebrate the year that was, we've collected our highest-reviewed games of 2019 into a pseudo "best of" list. We're a small staff at GameSkinny, so going the traditional "staff voting route" didn't really make a whole lot of sense. The most democratic way to make a list like this was to include any game with a score of "8" or higher. 

Such a rubric might not be perfect as it leaves out some of the year's tentpole titles like Modern Warfare and Death Stranding, but a list like this is never perfect. It will always create some form of controversy. 

So without further ado, here is GameSkinny's "Best Games of 2019" list. We have arranged the following games in alphabetical order. Be sure to sound off in the comments at the end of the article. We're certain you will have thoughts — and we want to hear them! 

A Place for the Unwilling

Publisher: ALPixel Games
Developer: ALPixel Games
Initial Release Date: July 25, 2019
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: A Place for the Unwilling offers a delightfully sinister tale of mystery and destruction with a staggering number of branching paths that guarantee no playthrough will be the same.

Read the review. 

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Bandai Namco
Initial Release Date: January 18, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The VR Mode is the big draw of Bandai Namco's new flight combat simulator, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, but it is more limited than you might have hoped.

Read the review. 

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Triumph Studios
Initial Release Date: August 6, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: The turn-based strategy game of the year has arrived, and the unexpected transition from fantasy to sci-fi is handled superbly.

Read the review. 

Ape Out

Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developers: Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzzillo, Matt Boch
Initial Release Date: February 28, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: There's a lot to love about Ape Out and not many glaring flaws to point to... It may be a simple game with basic controls, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still provide a challenge that rewards sound, strategic play. 

Read the review. 

Astral Chain

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Platinum Games
Initial Release Date: August 30, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Astral Chain presents an experience that might be familiar to those familiar with Platinum Games, but there's enough to keep you engaged and excited... But even if you're just looking for a new, fairly linear story to dive into, or dying to get your hands on a game whose combat actually involves new ideas and executes them well, then this is the game for you.

Read the review. 

Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Initial Release Date: May 21, 2019
Platforms: PS4, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: It's more of the same Atelier, but it also takes the best from its predecessors to synthesize a fun and customizable adventure. It might not be a huge leap forward for the series, but it combines the best elements from previous Atelier games to make this new entry a contender for best of the crop and an excellent starting point for newbies.

Read the review. 

Atelier Ryza Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Initial Release Date: September 26, 2019
Platforms: PS4, PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Atelier Ryza is the best Atelier game to date, with some much-needed improvements that make for a more compelling package on the whole.

Read the review. 

Blasphemous

Publisher: Team 17
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Initial Release Date: September 10, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: If you love SNES platformers and aren't concerned by the possibility of an angry god pressing its "smite" button to rain lightning upon you, Blasphemous is simply a must-play.

Read the review. 

Blazing Chrome

Publisher: The Arcade Crew, Limited Run Games
Developer: JoyMasher
Initial Release Date: July 11, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Rad and totally kickass, Blazing Chrome stands as one of the best run n' gun games of all time. A worthy successor to the Contra crown from concept to execution.

Read the review. 

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Artplay
Initial Release Date: June 18, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night stands as one of the best Vania games of recent memory, and one of the most satisfying games of 2019 so far.

Read the review. 

Borderlands 3

Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Gearbox Software
Initial Release Date: September 13, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Borderlands 3 is the best Borderlands has ever been. It's beautiful, funny, and frantic in the best ways. There are issues, but those shouldn't deter you too much from having an absolute blast.

Read the review. 

Cadence of Hyrule

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Brace Yourself Games
Initial Release Date: June 13, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Cadence of Hyrule is a fresh approach to the classic 2D Legend titles that looks and sounds amazing, but it doesn't last long.

Read the review. 

Cardpocalypse

Publisher: Versus Evil
Developer: Gambrinous
Initial Release Date: December 6, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Cute graphics, funny writing, and good gameplay make Cardpocalypse a rousing good time.

Read the review. 

Children of Morta

Publisher: 11 Bit Studios
Developer: Dead Mage Studios
Initial Release Date: September 3, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Children of Morta is a standout roguelike RPG with a solid central hook, satisfying gameplay, and gorgeous art style all piled on top of huge replay value.

Read the review. 

Code Vein

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Bandai Namco
Initial Release Date: June 5, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Code Vein is an anime souls-like featuring great customization and a wonderfully bizarre world.

Read the review. 

Control

Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Initial Release Date: August 27, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Control is undoubtedly Remedy's biggest and weirdest game yet. In many ways, it's also their best, all while it paves the way for a Marvel-like connected universe.

Read the review. 

Cooking Simulator

Publisher: PlayWay
Developers: Big Cheese Studio, Wastelands Interactive
Initial Release Date: June 6, 2019
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The simple fact that Cooking Simulator does what it says on the label makes it a must-have for anyone who loves cooking as much as they love gaming.

Read the review. 

Dark Devotion

Publisher: The Arcade Crew, DotEmu, Maple Whispering Co.
Developer: Hibernian Workshop
Initial Release Date: April 25, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Get ready to die with another killer 2D souls-like that flips the script in several ways for a refreshing take on the genre.

Read the review. 

Devil May Cry 5

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Initial Release Date: March 8, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Devil May Cry 5 is back, bringing with it the same hack-and-slash action that made it one of the best action franchises of all time.

Read the review. 

Dick Wilde 2

Publisher: PlayStack
Developer: Bolverk Games
Initial Release Date: February 19, 2019
Platforms (VR): PS4, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: With humor, stylish visuals, and solid shooting mechanics, Bolverk Games' Dick Wilde 2 is a great little VR diversion for those that dig on-rails shooters.

Read the review.

Disco Elysium

Publisher: ZA/UM
Developer: ZA/UM
Initial Release Date: October 15, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Looking for something even weirder than Torment and with even more character customization options? Disco Elysium is RPG of the year. Hell, maybe even the decade.

Read the review.

Doraemon: Story of Seasons

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developers: Marvelous Inc., Brownies Inc.
Initial Release Date: October 10, 2019
Platforms: PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Doraemon: Story of Seasons borrows from both franchises while managing to be a stand-out farm-sim game in its own right.

Read the review.

Dragon Star Varnir

Publisher: Idea Factory
Developer: Compile Heart
Initial Release Date: June 11, 2019
Platforms: PS4, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Dragon Star Varnir could use some polishing in a few areas, but the combat, setting, and story make for a dark and compelling RPG nonetheless.

Read the review.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

Publisher: Square-Enix
Developers: Square-Enix, Omega Force
Initial Release Date: July 12, 2019
Platforms: PS4, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes just about everything that made the original so enjoyable and improves upon it.

Read the review.

Etrian Odyssey Nexus

Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Initial Release Date: February 5, 2019
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Etrian Odyssey Nexus is an excellent way to end the franchise's time on the 3DS, beckoning old and new fans alike back into the labyrinth.

Read the review.

Far Cry New Dawn

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Initial Release Date: February 15, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Far Cry New Dawn recycles the same general setting from last year's Far Cry 5, but this time with a post-apocalyptic twist and healthy injection of creative, colorful, and bombastic content.

Read the review.

Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark

Publisher: 1C Entertainment
Developer: 6 eyes Studio
Initial Release Date: August 16, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark is a deep and engrossing tactical RPG no genre fan should miss. With interesting characters and complex combat, it's a poster child for the greatest the genre can provide.

Read the review. 

FIFA 20

Publisher: EA Games
Developers: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Initial Release Date: September 27, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: For fun and realistic gameplay, FIFA 20 can't be beat, though the specter of card packs looms large over the game's Ultimate Team mode.

Read the review. 

Figment

Publisher: Bedtime Digital Games
Developer: Bedtime Digital Games
Initial Release Date: September 22, 2019
Platforms: PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Figment turns a touchy topic into an engaging puzzle adventure that's filled with heart and some excellent setting and soundtrack designs.

Read the review. 

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Publisher: Nintendo
Developers: Intelligent Systems, Koei Tecmo
Initial Release Date: July 26, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the definitive Fire Emblem experience, with a compelling story, streamlined gameplay, and a staggering amount of content.

Read the review. 

Gears 5

Publisher: Xbox Game Studio
Developer: The Coalition
Initial Release Date: September 10, 2019
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: The Coalition has set a new benchmark for Microsoft's first-party campaigns. By taking huge risks, subverting expectations, and delivering a visual spectacle, Gears 5 is the best in the series.

Read the review. 

God's Trigger

Publisher: Techland
Developer: One More Level
Initial Release Date: April 18, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Heaven's under new management. It takes a little while to come into its own, but God’s Trigger is a decent weekend’s worth of splatterpunk entertainment.

Read the review. 

Gorn

Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Free Lives
Initial Release Date: August 24, 2019
Platforms (VR): PS4, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Gorn is challenging, horrifying, hilarious, and a genuine joy to play. It manages to be brilliant in both short bursts and long sessions.

Read the review. 

Heroland

Publisher: XSeed Games, FuRyu, Marvelous Inc.
Developer: FuRyu, Netchubiyori Limited
Initial Release Date: December 3, 2019
Platforms: PS4, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Heroland offers a hilarious take on working life, RPGs, and fan culture, wrapped in a clever combat system.

Read the review.

Indivisible

Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Lab Zero Games
Initial Release Date: October 8, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Indivisible brings its own mix of genres, packed with the best group of characters in years.

Read the review.

Ion Fury

Publisher: 3D Realms, 1C Company
Developers: Voidpoint LLC
Initial Release Date: February 28, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Ion Fury mixes old and new in a throwback FPS that deftly builds its own enduring identity.

Read the review.

John Wick Hex

Publisher: Good Shepherd Entertainment
Developer: Bithell Games
Initial Release Date: October 8, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: John Wick Hex puts you in the well-trained shoes of a master assassin, but without a lot of planning, you'll find yourself no more use than a kid with a water pistol.

Read the review.

Judgment

Publisher: Sega
Developers: Sega, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Initial Release Date: June 25, 2019
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Though there are some hiccups along the way, Judgment proves without a doubt that Ryu Ga Gotoku studio doesn't need Kazuma Kiryu to sell a great game.

Read the review.

Katana Zero

Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Askiisoft
Initial Release Date: April 18, 2019
Platforms: PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: If I have one complaint about Katana ZERO, it's that there's not already a sequel.

Read the review.

Kingdom Hearts 3

Publisher: Square-Enix
Developer: Square-Enix
Initial Release Date: January 25, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Kingdom Hearts 3 delivers an amazingly fun and intense experience in a long-awaited title that lives up to the hype.

Read the review.

Luigi's Mansion 3

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Next Level Games
Initial Release Date: October 31, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Luigi's Mansion 3 is almost non-stop fun and is another must-have for the Switch's library.

Read the review.

Madden NFL 20

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Tiburon
Initial Release Date: August 2, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Madden NFL 20's major new features are good on their own, but they are even better as a foundation for the years to come.

Read the review.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Team Ninja
Initial Release Date: July 19, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 is a more-than-solid release that will interest most Switch owners. While some fans of the original games might have gripes, it's still likely to be a solid choice.

Read the review.

Metro Exodus

Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: 4A Games
Initial Release Date: February 15, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Metro Exodus, 4A's new first-person shooter, is almost a perfect game, introducing exciting new elements while still offering the classic Metro experience.

Read the review.

Mini-Mech Mayhem

Publisher: FuturLab
Developer: FuturLab
Initial Release Date: June 18, 2019
Platforms (VR): PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: If you want a new, randomized strategy title for the PSVR that you can sink dozens of hours into, Mini-Mech Mayhem should be on your wishlist immediately.

Read the review.

MLB The Show 19

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: SIE San Diego Studio
Initial Release Date: March 26, 2019
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The Show is back with the latest, but just barely the greatest addition to the world of baseball video games.

Read the review.

Mortal Kombat 11

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Initial Release Date: April 23, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Almost three decades since the original, Mortal Kombat 11 proves the fighter's might is still strong.

Read the review.

Need for Speed: Heat

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Ghost Games
initial Release Date: November 8, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Though it still can't match the scope of Forza Horizon 4, Need for Speed: Heat is a great racing game in its own right.

Read the review.

NHL 20

Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Vancouver
Initial Release Date: September 13, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 9/10

What we said: NHL 20 delivers an enjoyable simulation of the NHL experience, with new modes and features adding additional fun to the strong framework provided by prior years' releases.

Read the review.

Night Call

Publisher: Raw Fury, MonkeyMoon
Developers: BlackMuffin, MonkeyMoon
Initial Release Date: July 17, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Night Call is an intriguing ride through Paris full of intriguing tales and conversations. Too bad its detective elements aren't as compelling.

Read the review.

One Finger Death Punch 2

Publisher: Silver Dollar Games
Developer: Silver Dollar Games
Initial Release Date: April 15, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: One Finger Death Punch 2 is a deep, rhythmic fighting game that attempts to replicate the feel of classic kung fu movies.

Read the review.

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

Publisher: Atlus
Developer: P-Studio
Initial Release Date: June 4, 2019
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Rating: 9/10

What we said: New Cinema Labyrinth is a brilliant combination of game mechanics with a heap of Persona charm and style that's sure to keep you busy for a long time to come.

Read the review.

Planet Zoo

Publisher: Frontier Developments
Developer: Frontier Developments
Initial Release Date: November 5, 2019
Platforms: PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Planet Zoo is a deep management sim featuring some beautiful animal recreations. It's a must-have for any animal lover.

Read the review.

Pokemon Sword and Shield

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak 
Initial Release Date: November 15, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Pokemon Sword and Shield breathe a joyous breath of life back into the series, with great improvements and a stellar batch of new 'mon.

Read the review.

RAD

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Double Fine
Initial Release Date: August 20, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: RAD is a fantastic roguelike that creates a world worth fighting for and a game well worth playing over and over again.

Read the review.

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw

Publisher: Double Damage Games
Developer: Double Damage Games
Initial Release Date: October 20, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Despite a few stumbles, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is one of the best space sims of recent memory, with strong characters, fast-paced combat, and amazing music.

Read the review.

Remnant: From the Ashes

Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment
Developer: Gunfire Games
Initial Release Date: August 20, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Remnant: From the Ashes is a tough-as-nails cooperative shooter that brings together the best elements of games like Dark Souls and Left 4 Dead.

Read the review.

Ring Fit Adventure

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo 
Initial Release Date: October 18, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Ring Fit Adventure may be the best exercise video game, blending strength and aerobics training into an impeccably designed package.

Read the review.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Publisher: From Software, Activision
Developer: From Software
Initial Release Date: March 22, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is probably the best game From Software has ever made, and it's worth every second of your time playing.

Read the review.

Shenmue 3

Publisher: Deep Silver, Shibuya Productions
Developers: Ys Net, Yu Suzuki
Initial Release Date: November 19, 2019
Platforms: PS4, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: For better or worse, Shenmue 3 is a blast from the past. It's a beautiful world marred only by its insistence to stay the same.

Read the review.

Sparklite

Publisher: Merge Games
Developer: Red Blue Games
Initial Release Date: November 14, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Sparklite is a good example of how creativity and sharp game design can elevate a genre even if you thought you'd seen everything it has to offer.

Read the review.

Spinnortality

Publisher: James Patton
Developer: James Patton
Initial Release Date: February 1, 2019
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Spinnortality is tightly focused on the bleak but shiny transhumanist megacorp side of cyberpunk, putting it in unique territory.

Read the review.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Initial Release Date: November 15, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has some technical issues and poor pacing but is still an amazing single-player Star Wars game.

Read the review.

Steel Division 2

Publisher: Eugen Systems
Developer: Eugen Systems
Initial Release Date: June 20, 2019
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Steel Division 2 proves to be a much better game than its predecessor in terms of graphics and mechanics, even if it still needs to solve a few balancing problems before it can be called "definitive."

Read the review.

Stranded Sails

Publisher: Maple Whispering Co
Developer: Lemonbomb Entertainment
Initial Release Date: October 17, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Though it's a bit more survival-focused than other games of its kind, Stranded Sails is still a mostly quaint and worthwhile farm life sim any genre fan will enjoy.

Read the review.

Stranger Things 3: The Game

Publisher: BonusXP
Developer: BonusXP
Initial Release Date: July 4, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, Android
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Stranger Things 3 has taken over the pop culture world like it always does when a new season hits Netflix. If you've binged it already and need more, the console game is a fun adaptation worth any fan's time.

Read the review.

Super Mario Maker 2

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Initial Release Date: June 28, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Super Mario Maker 2 fulfills just about everything it set out to do, making it a must-play for Mario fans.

Read the review.

Team Sonic Racing

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sumo Digital
Initial Release Date: May 21, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, iOS
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Team Sonic Racing is closer to a 3D Sonic game to a kart racer, and we love it. Sonic Heroes Racing, anyone?

Read the review.

The Blackout Club

Publisher: Question
Developer: Question
Initial Release Date: July 29, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Stranger things have happened, but they're rarely as scary or as fun as The Blackout Club, a dynamic co-op adventure that beckons with its bellowing song of hypnosis.

Read the review.

The Church in the Darkness

Publisher: Fellow Traveler
Developer: Paranoid Productions
Initial Release Date: August 2, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The Church in the Darkness is an ambitious game and delivers on its premise almost all the way. It's worth sipping this Kool-Aid.

Read the review.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3

Publisher: NISA
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Initial Release Date: October 22, 2019
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Trails of Cold Steel 3 is a masterclass in storytelling that improves nearly everything in the franchise's history.

Read the review.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Publisher: Nintendo
Developers: Grezzo
Initial Release Date: September 20, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: With a host of enhancements that more than make it worth playing for newcomers and old fans alike, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remains a brilliant example of impeccable design.

Read the review.

The Outer Worlds

Publisher: Private Division, Take-Two Interactive
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Initial Release Date: October 25, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The Outer Worlds is a goofy, full to the brim RPG that liberally samples from other giants in the genre. It's a fun romp through a neon universe.

Read the review.

The Sinking City

Publisher: Bigben Interactive
Developer: Frogwares
Initial Release Date: June 25, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: With a distinct lack of hand-holding, in-depth investigative mechanics, and a solid mix of open-world design with mythos monsters, The Sinking City is the standard for Lovecraftian games.

Read the review.

The Sojourn

Publisher: Iceberg Interactive
Developer: Shifting Tides
Initial Release Date: September 20, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 9/10

What we said: The Sojourn elevates simple mechanics and creative level design to create a thoroughly enjoyable puzzling experience and a game any fan of the genre should play.

Read the review.

The Surge 2

Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Developer: Deck 13
Initial Release Date: September 24, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: With more options, more weapons, and a much bigger environment to play with, The Surge 2 improves on everything from its predecessor.

Read the review.

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove

Publisher: HumaNature Studios
Developer: HumaNature Studios
Initial Release Date: March 1, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove isn't a blast FROM the past, it's a blast TO the past.

Read the review.

Tom Clancy's The Division 2

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developers: Massive Entertainment
Initial Release Date: March 15, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The Division 2 is an improvement on the first game in almost every way, and it's both a fun game and a satisfying investment.

Read the review.

Trine 4

Publisher: Modus Games
Developer: Frozenbyte
Initial Release Date: October 8, 2019
Platforms: PS4, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The puzzles and banter are as good as they've ever been, though Trine 4 has a hard time overcoming some dodgy combat mechanics.

Read the review.

Trover Saves the Universe

Publisher: Squanch Games
Developer: Squanch Games
Initial Release Date: May 31, 2019
Platforms: PS4 (VR), Xbox One, PC (VR), Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: A surprisingly entertaining platformer smothered in Roiland-brand humor. Trover Save the Universe is a title well worth playing whether you have a VR headset or not.

Read the review.

Truberbrook

Publisher: Headup Games
Developers: btf GmBH
Initial Release Date: March 12, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Truberbrook has a few faults, but its engaging characters, enjoyable narrative, and fantastic atmosphere make it easy to recommend.

Read the review.

Vambrace Cold Soul

Publisher: Headup Games
Developer: Devespresso Games
Initial Release Date: May 28, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: If you don't mind being actively abused and tortured for hours on end, Vambrace can become extremely addicting for fans of either Darkest Dungeon or classic SNES RPGs.

Read the review.

Void Bastards

Publisher: Humble Bundle
Developer: Blu Manchu
Initial Release Date: May 28, 2019
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Void Bastards is a roguelite shooter that encourages experimentation and smart thinking in outer space, and it mostly works to great effect.

Read the review.

Wattam

Publisher: Annapurna
Developer: Funomena, SIE Santa Monica Studio
Initial Release Date: December 17, 2019
Platforms: PS4, PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Wattam is a rare wonder of a game, full of hope, charm, and poop. But it's also one of the kindest games to come out all year.

Read the review.

We. The Revolution

Publisher: Klabater
Developer: Polyash
Initial Release Date: March 21, 2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: All told, We. The Revolution comes together to make a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Read the review.

What the Golf? 

Publisher: Triband
Developer: Triband
Initial Release Date: October 1, 2019
Platforms: PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: What the Golf? is a funny hole-in-one success of a game that keeps surprising and captivating with unfiltered creativity.

Read the review.

Witcheye

Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Moon Kid
Initial Release Date: August 15, 2019
Platforms: Android, iOS
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Witcheye is the most fun you can have as a floating eye in a mobile game.

Read the review.

Yoshi's Crafted World

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: good-Feel
Initial Release Date: March 29, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Don't let the green dino's mid-tier status fool you. With fluid platforming, incredible attention to detail, and a huge variety of content, Yoshi's Crafted World is a must-have Switch game.

Read the review.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution

Publisher: Konami
Developer: Other Ocean Interactive
Initial Release Date: August 20, 2019
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution is the most complete Yu-Gi-Oh! title to date, with a great price tag for its infinitely replayable content.

Read the review.

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That's it for our list of the best games of 2019. What were your favorite games? Sound off in the comments below. 

Super Mario Maker 2 has not had many updates since it launched back in June. Granted, it's hard to improve on near-perfection, but Nintendo is finally releasing the game's first big content update. It features new items, enemies, and Link from The Legend of Zelda, though he will only be in certain modes.

In Super Mario Bros mode, you'll be able to add and find the Master Sword item. Doing so brings a bit of the characteristic quirkiness of Link's Awakening to Super Mario Maker 2, letting you play as Link.

It's not just Mario with a Link costume, though. You'll slash through enemies with your sword, block projectiles with the Hylian Shield, blast your way through obstacles with Link's bombs, dash with the Pegasus Boots, and even tackle long-distance items and enemies with the bow and arrow.

You may notice many of these, including a jump attack and the ability to aim your arrows, were not in the original Legend of Zelda. It's a bit odd, then, that this particular feature is only available in Super Mario Bros. mode. But hey, we aren't complaining. Keep the crossovers coming.

On top of that, Super Mario Maker 2 update 2.0 introduces a handful of other new enemies and items, such as:

• Dash Block: Available in the Super Mario 3D World style, the Dash Block course part gives Mario a major speed burst when stepped on.
  
  
• Frozen Coin: These coins are surrounded by a block of ice and can only be released if melted by fireballs or other fire elements, including a certain angry sun.
  
  
• P Block: When a P Switch is hit in the course, invisible P Blocks temporarily turn into hard platforms, or vice-versa.
  
  
• Spike: This classic enemy coughs up massive spike balls and launches them at Mario. If used in the snow environment, Spike will toss snowballs instead!
  
  
• Pokey: The iconic stacked cactus joins Super Mario Maker 2 for the first time. Players can edit the height of each Pokey. Night mode introduces flying Pokeys, while adding wings turns them into homing Pokeys.

Finally is a brand-new mode called Ninji Speed Run. This mode tasks you with racing through Nintendo-designed stages to try and clear them in record time. Clearing courses earns stamps you can use to obtain Mii costumes. Each course will be available for about a week.

That's all you need to know about Super Mario Maker 2's big 2.0 content update, but stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Super Mario Maker 2 news as it develops.

Super Mario Maker 2

Rating: 4.5/5 stars (485 total ratings)
Price: $43.94
Buy it from: Amazon

We'd be remiss if we didn't include Super Mario Maker 2 in our list, the follow-up to the excellent Super Mario Maker for the Wii U. It's the game series that lets you design, play, and share your own Super Mario levels, using items and obstacles from throughout Mario history and offering multiple aesthetic styles to suit your creative needs.

As comprehensive as the original was, it might seem like there's no way to improve. But Super Mario Maker 2 did improve, adding even more items, even more ways to design your stages, multiplayer options, and a special new Super Mario 3D Land style that lets you create stages with 3D elements.

On top of that is a much more expanded single-player mode, one that goes far beyond simple tutorials to use for building and sharing stages. The idea is that Mario must help rebuild Peach's castle. While it exists mostly to teach players how to make their own stages, the included levels are easily some of the best designed Mario stages in general, essentially adding a new 2D Mario game on top of the Maker components.

Even those who spent hundreds of hours with the original found Super Mario Maker 2 to be exciting and fresh.

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And that's it for our Nintendo merchandise gift guide for this year. Hopefully, this list of awesome Nintendo products helped you find a gift for your favorite Nintendo fan — or at least got your gears turning! 

The Art of Bravely Default

Rating: 5/5 stars (11 total ratings)
Price: $23.49 (Hardcover)
Buy it from: Amazon

Bravely Default isn't a new game, but it's only just now we're getting the lovely art book we've needed since the game launched. Bravely Default itself is a solid RPG, but one of the best things about it is how completely gorgeous it is, alongside the way the story plays with RPG storytelling and its Final Fantasy roots.

Dark Horse Books — the same ones that published the Mario Odyssey art book — brings us 256 pages stuffed full of content. There's the usual art, of course, following location and character designs from conception through to the finished product. There's also never-before-localized commentary from the development team, covering the story and its origins plus general commentary on the development process.

This is a natural fit for anyone who's played Bravely Default, though should it already be on your intended recipient's shelf, Dark Horse published a similar book based on the game's sequel, Bravely Second.

Dragon Quest XI Luminary's Crest Slim Fit T-Shirt

Rating: 90% 5 stars (150 total ratings)
Price: $18.81
Buy it from: Redbubble

Like Fire Emblem, Dragon Quest still hasn't quite reached a level of popularity in the West that generates a wealth of merchandise. But the Luminary, the hero of Dragon Quest XI, is probably a bit more well known now thanks to his debut in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Whether your intended recipient has played DQXI or just knows the Luminary as that quirky character with the random moveset from Smash, the Luminary's Crest T-shirt from Redbubble is a great way to show off some of that Dragon Quest fan love. The design itself is central to the game, plus it's understated enough to be something you could wear anywhere, unlike some of the character-centric shirts that tend to be just a tad too loud for normal wear.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition

Rating: 5/5 stars (239 total ratings)
Price: $49.99
Buy it from: Amazon

Dragon Quest XI was one of the best RPGs that launched on the PlayStation 4 last year. Though Dragon Quest traditionally doesn't push too many boundaries in terms of RPG conventions, DQXI brought the series forward by leaps and bounds, with more character interactions, a bigger world, and a particularly potent plot twist that turns those conventions upside down.

And now it's on the Nintendo Switch. It isn't just the regular game, either. The "definitive edition" moniker is well earned, as the Switch version includes new content, side chapters fleshing out every main character's story, a section that lets you explore elements from previous Dragon Quest worlds, and even the ability to play almost the entire game with SNES-style graphics.

Players take control of the nameless Hero, the Luminary of ancient legends reincarnated for reasons unknown. There's a bit of a hitch in this setup, though, since the Hero ends up in prison precisely because he's the Luminary. From there, players meet up with an eclectic and fantastic cast of characters and travel around the (huge) world to uncover the mystery behind the Luminary and the dark plans unfolding behind the scenes.

This is a meaty game, with a long main storyline on top of an extended post-game set of challenges

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars (540 total ratings)
Price: $49.94
Buy it from: Amazon

Speaking of love for retro, Nintendo released an enhanced version of the classic The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on the Switch this year. Structurally, it's almost exactly like the Game Boy and Game Boy Color original, but that's not a bad thing. It isn't considered one of the best games in the storied Zelda series for nothing, and it places a greater emphasis on exploration and storytelling than many of the Zelda games that followed it.

Link wakes up on a strange island and finds out he has to also wake up a mysterious creature known as the Wind Fish. He can't figure out why everyone on the island reminds him of people in Hyrule — or why creatures from other Nintendo franchises are wandering around. It's a surreal adventure tightly woven around some wildly unique personalities.

While the core gameplay remains largely untouched, the game's visuals and soundtrack received some excellent upgrades. The entire game looks like a mix of toybox and diorama style in what, alongside Crafted World, stands out as one of the year's most innovative use of visuals in a game.

If you can't tell already, we liked it. A lot. You can see all the reasons why here if you're interested.

The NES Encyclopedia

Rating: 4.5 stars (12 reviews)
Price: $37.04 (Hardcover) or $29.95 (Paperback)
Buy it from: Amazon

This is the quintessential guide to everything Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). There's a comprehensive, but concise, overview of that period in gaming and the system itself, along with a detailed entry for every NES game released — all 714 of them — plus the 160 unlicensed games. It's the only book of its kind.

The author is considered an expert in retro gaming as well, so you know it's coming not just from a reliable author, but from someone with personal experience of, and passion for, the topic. The enthusiasm for retro gaming is only getting stronger, so this would be a perfect gift for someone who already has the latest Nintendo products and even the NES Classic.

Plus, the author is currently compiling an SNES Encyclopedia, which means we just sorted your Christmas 2020 plans for you as well. You're welcome.

Poke Ball Classics

If that certain someone isn't a plushie fan or can't carry their favorite stuffie around with them, the Poke Ball Classics collection is a consideration. It's a range of professional attire and accessories for adults (or those who have to pretend to be adults during the day).

Though the wallet is shown above, the line contains a number of choices.

\n
• Wallet — $49.99
\n
• Cuff Links and Tie Bar — $60.00
\n
• Silk Bow-Tie — $20.00
\n
• Dress Socks — $14.00
\n
• Individual Pokemon-themed Neckties — $25.00 each
\n
• 128-page Faux Leather Journal — $27.50
\n

It's a great reminder of the child at heart, that the things we love don't have to fall away just because time passes and we grow up. And they look cool, which is always a bonus.

Pokemon Sitting Cuties Plush

Ratings: Generally 5 stars (number of ratings varies depending on which plush)
Price: $10.99
Buy it from: The Pokemon Center

The National Pokedex in Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield might not include all 1,000+ Pokemon this time around, but the spirit of Gotta Catch 'Em All is alive and well with The Pokemon Center's line of Pokemon Sitting Cuties.

Right now, the line includes every Pokemon from Generations 1 and 2, which equates to 253 different plushies. These range in size from 5-inches to roughly 8-inches, but all are $10.99.

As you'd expect, they all sit up somehow, which makes them easy to display or even just to sit around without worrying about them falling over and becoming the dog's next meal.

The size also means these could be great individual stocking stuffers or grouped together as more than one, and they won't take up much space for the recipient either.

The Art of Super Mario Odyssey

Rating: 4.5/5 (9 reviews)
Price: $34.98 (Hardcover)
Buy it from: Amazon

Super Mario Odyssey, the beloved plumber's first Nintendo Switch outing, has been around for two years now, and many players have seen all there is to see. What they may not have seen, though, is how it all came to be.

Publisher Dark Horse Books recently put out The Art of Super Mario Odyssey, an in-depth art book presenting the various kingdoms Mario ventures to in a completely new light.

And it's not light on content either, with 368 pages worth of material. From finished products and concept art, to cut designs and stories from the development team, this artbook is a must-have for Mario Odyssey fans.

Luigi's Mansion 3

Rating: 4.5/5 stars (145 total ratings)
Price: $59.99
Buy it from: Amazon

Luigi's Mansion first appeared on the GameCube way back in 2001, and despite being well-received, it's only seen two sequels since then. It's kind of okay, though, because the most recent of those, Luigi's Mansion 3, is a polished game that's an absolute blast to play from start to finish.

Luigi, Mario, Peach, and some Toads are on vacation at the ominously named Last Resort Hotel. Everything seems perfect until night falls, the hotel owner reveals she's in alliance with Luigi's old nemesis King Boo, and everyone except Luigi has been sealed inside portraits.

Fortunately, Luigi soon recovers his trusty Poltergust vacuum that lets him suck up ghosts and basically everything else. From there, it's up to the player to explore all 17 floors in the massive haunted hotel, uncovering secrets, solving puzzles, playing with toilets, and fighting off hordes of ghosts.

It's definitely one of the better-looking games on the Switch. You're rewarded for paying attention to the details as well since many puzzle solutions are found by carefully examining what's around you. All in all, Luigi's Mansion 3 is just plain fun for any age.

Keep Calm and Have an Apple Gel Mug

Rating: 95% 5-star ratings (out of 66)
Price: $15.76
Buy it from: Redbubble

2019 has been an excellent year for RPGs on the Switch, but one that sort of got lost in the shuffle is Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition. It's a remaster of a game that's largely considered the best in the long-running Tales of series, and it made its debut on a Nintendo system with the Switch earlier this year.

For a while, Apple Gels are quite literally your lifeblood in the game, being the most basic — and affordable — method of restoring your health and keeping you going. This mug does the same thing for whatever your essential building block of life might be, whether it's coffee, tea, or something else entirely.

It's a fun little reminder to take a break and give yourself a nice little treat in the middle of the day. 

Etrian Odyssey Nexus

Ratings: 4.5/5 stars (50 total ratings)
Price: $29.97
Buy it from: Amazon

The 3DS still saw some new releases in early 2019 as well, with Etrian Odyssey Nexus being one of the more prominent ones. It's a celebration of, and possibly farewell to, Atlus' long-running Etrian Odyssey series that first debuted back on the original DS.

Etrian Odyssey Nexus is a throwback to traditional, first-person dungeon crawler RPG mixes, where you put together a party of five adventurers and explore a series of labyrinths. The exploration is the real star here, since Etrian Odyssey games require you to draw your map as you explore, documenting shortcuts, secrets, walls — or not, if you don't want to (but you should).

These labyrinths aren't for the fainthearted, either. Etrian Odyssey is known for being one of the more challenging RPG series on the 3DS, and Nexus is no exception (though as always, the difficulty can be changed at any time to suit your needs).

Overcoming the challenges in each labyrinth requires some careful party planning, and that's one of the game's biggest strengths. You have access to over a dozen unique classes pulled from all the previous Etrian Odyssey games, each with its own set of skill trees that offers a ton of customization options. No two EO parties will be the same and each offers a tremendous level of freedom in how each player approaches the game and keep things fresh for a long time.

We go into more detail in our review here.

I Am Ferdinand Von Aegir T-Shirt

Ratings: 90% 5/5 stars (118 total ratings)
Price: $17.36
Buy it from: Redbubble

Maybe the person on your list already has Fire Emblem: Three Houses. If so, and if they're active on the Internet at all, they're probably familiar with this little gem of a phrase.

For a bit of context, Ferdinand is a character in the Black Eagles House, the son of the imperial prime minister and someone who has rather a good opinion of himself. Every character has a sound byte play when you first choose them during your turn. Dorothea, the former opera songstress, says, "That's my cue!" while the ever-impatient Lysithea says "Let's make this quick...".

Ferdinand? He says "I am Ferdinand Von Aegir!" That's it. That's all his enemies need to know, because for Ferdinand, the entire world is encapsulated in that one statement.

Naturally, this immediately turned Ferdinand and his catchphrase into a meme and even webcomic material. There isn't much Three Houses merchandise available, but this one, with its humor and stronger connections to the gameplay experience itself, is definitely one of the better pieces out there.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Rating: 5 stars (496 total ratings)
Price: $57.85
Buy it from: Amazon

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an absolute must-have for any fan of RPGs or strategy games. It accommodates players of all skill and interest levels, and that's not something many strategy games do. It's a marriage of traditional Fire Emblem strategy gameplay with an RPG-style school setting that offers players an unprecedented level of customization. 

Then there's the story. Three Houses boasts a sprawling storyline split into four main branches depending on the player's choices. Each branch shares a similar first part, then they all diverge wildly, covering completely separate storylines and characters.

There's no "true" ending here, giving extra weight to the initial House choice and which students players choose to recruit into their armies. Fortunately, there are ways to shorten subsequent playthroughs, so experiencing each story won't just be a slog.

It's also one of the most accessible Fire Emblem games to date. There's Classic mode, where dead units stay dead, and Casual mode, where characters who drop to 0 HP just retreat. Then there's Normal and Hard difficulty, with the soul-shattering Maddening mode recently added as the highest difficulty level in the game. Stat crunching menu lovers can spend time optimizing every student, or you can skip the instructions part and let the game do it for you.

You can see our review of it as well if you need some more specific details, and we even have a range of Three Houses guides to point your happy recipient in the right direction should they need some assistance.

Yoshi's Crafted World

Rating: 4.6/5 (350 total ratings)
Price: $43.94
Buy it from: Amazon

With all the big releases and epic adventures that released on Nintendo Switch this year, it's easy to forget Mario's lovable dino-sidekick Yoshi had their own game release this year as well.

Yoshi's Crafted World follows in the footsteps of Yoshi's Woolly World on the Wii U and 3DS, sending Yoshi across a variety of absolutely gorgeous worlds stuffed full of detail to retrieve some special Gems stolen by an evil Magikoopa.

Crafted World goes beyond Woolly World in the detail department, though. Every item in the game is a handicraft item, made from cardboard, straws — anything and everything you'd expect to see in a craft project of some kind. Most of these are used in puzzles of some kind or can be interacted with to earn a special item or coins as well, and it's easily the best use of graphics and environment in a game this year.

Like most Yoshi games, Crafted World isn't designed for your hardcore challenge seeker. It's fairly easy, though trying to find all the collectibles is a challenge in itself. Still, someone who appreciates solid and fun design and is happy to just get lost in the world for a while would be a good match for Yoshi's Crafted World.

If you need more information about it, head over to our review for a more thorough description.

Nintendo Switch Lite

Rating: 4.5/5 stars (322 total ratings)
Price: $199.95
Buy it from: Amazon

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a more portable variant of the standard Nintendo Switch. While it sacrifices the ability to connect to a TV and it lacks HD Rumble — which means there's a handful of games it can't play — it's also a heck of a lot easier to carry around. It's also generally more comfortable to play in handheld mode.

Otherwise, it does everything the same, with a display that's just a bit clearer than the original Switch, longer battery life, and improved backlight and sound settings.

If you're buying for someone who mostly plays portable systems or who needs their own Switch outside the family unit, then this is definitely a better buy than the base model — not least because it's $100 less than the original Switch. Check out our full review and detailed comparisons here.

It's holiday 2019 already. Christmas is almost upon us, and it's time to start thinking about all the rad Nintendo merchandise you're going to gift that special someone. Luckily, we've done a lot of the leg work and put together a list of 16 awesome gifts to kickstart your holiday journey. 

The Nintendo Switch has been out for two years now, but 2019 was an extra-good year for Nintendo fans. Just in the past 10 months alone, we've seen several high-quality new titles added to the system's library, ranging from epic RPGs to games that let you build your own levels. The 3DS even got an excellent new title earlier in the year.

But what to do when that special someone already bought the latest games? We've got you covered there, too, with a selection of non-game merchandise to suit a variety of interests and tastes.

Let's see what we've got below. 

ELEAGUE and Nintendo are teaming up again for an eSports initiative — but it's not the start of a proper Nintendo eSports program.

Instead, it's a three-part series showing off some of the top players and tense moments from the Big N's pre-E3 tournaments this past June.

It's officially titled ELEAGUE Presents The Nintendo 2019 World Championships and focuses on taking viewers behind the scenes. The series will show off the backstage areas and the various teams from around the world that took part in the summer's Super Mario Maker 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Splatoon 2 competitions.

The first episode is set to air August 25 (Sunday) at 1 p.m. EST on CBS, with the following two episodes airing at 2 p.m. EST on September 7 and 1:30 p.m. EST September 14, both also on CBS.

ELEAGUE is one of the more widely broadcast eSports brands, with games running the gamut from FIFA to Gears and Mortal Kombat. It's the brand's second partnership with Nintendo, following last year's Super Smash Bros Ultimate-centric broadcast, and it's safe to say Nintendo is sort of the black sheep in ELEAGUE's lineup.

That's because Nintendo has yet to create an official eSports league or recognize some of its most popular multiplayer games as candidates for a proper eSports competition.

Instead, it emphasizes special tournaments. These usually take the form of the yearly pre-E3 competitions or in-game competitions, like the Smash Ultimate online tournaments or recently departed Splatfests, as ways to focus on "fun" competition.

Still, the company is focused on bringing a variety of experiences to as wide an audience as possible, with broadening the Switch's install base a primary goal. With all that in mind, it's not entirely surprising Nintendo hasn't taken The eSports plunge yet, however much its fans might want it.

Nintendo's latest financial report shows, and among other things, that the Nintendo Switch has sold 36.87 million units since its launch in March 2017.

During this past quarter alone, the Switch sold 2.13 million units, which is an increase from last year's 1.88 million. 

Nintendo connects the healthy hardware sales to equally healthy software sales. Total software sales amounted to 22.62 million units, which is an increase of more than 5 million from the same time last year, bringing software sales for the Switch's lifetime thus far up to 210.13 million.

The excellent Super Mario Maker 2 alone sold 2.42 million copies in just three days. With continued updates planned for improving the game's quality of life and so many courses to experience, those numbers will probably continue to climb.

It's not all about new software, though. Most of Nintendo's highly anticipated titles launch later this year, but evergreen software continues to hold strong. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for example, sold 1.2 million units in the previous quarter, bringing its total sales up to 17.89 million.

This might seem like just a bunch of numbers, but here's some reference to put things in context.

The Nintendo 3DS has been on the market for eight years now, and the Switch for two and a half. However, as of this past quarter, total software sales for the 3DS are at 379.60 million. The 3DS family of systems total hardware sales is at 75.28 million.

In other words, the Switch is doing very well indeed. The 3DS continues to decline, of course, and will only continue to drop off, while the Switch is getting a hardware upgrade and a new form with the Nintendo Switch Lite.

Future comparisons would need to take into account the other big sellers on the market — and it's arguable the Switch is already rivaling Sony's PlayStation 4 in terms of total sales over the course of its lifetime.

Thirty-two course upload limit, begone! Super Mario Maker 2 players can now upload a maximum of 64 courses to the Course World as of today, marking the first increase in course upload caps the game is set to receive.

The 32-course limit has been a contentious topic among the Super Mario Maker 2 community since the game's release, as the original Wii U title offered 100 upload slots to course makers. For some (many) creators, 32 slots just wasn't enough.

Creators can start filling up those extra slots up to the 64 limit today, but this isn't the last limit increase the game is going to see. According to the official Nintendo of America Twitter and an in-game notification, Nintendo will be raising the upload cap again at a later date.

The course ID shared in the tweet is the development team's first released course since Super Mario Maker 2 released, and with luck, it won't be the last. The original Super Mario Maker included a number of special guest-made courses that were unique, to say the least.

This is, hopefully, the first of many updates to Nintendo's level-making-and-sharing title, and the community already has a laundry list of potential additions they'd want. How Nintendo will continue to grow Super Mario Maker 2 will be interesting, but it will surely be a slow drip.

Super Mario Maker 2 has been out for a while now, and if how things have gone with the game so far is any indication, creators have only begun to scratch the surface of what crazy shenanigans are possible in the level editor.

From murder mysteries to table tennis to mini-golf, people are getting more creative with the engine day by day. The problem is that short of combing through each of the Course World tabs for hours to get your fix of the best new Mario Maker 2 courses, there isn't really a great way to search out the most stunning, fun, challenging, and creative levels.

That's where we come in! We've done the combing for you, so you don't have to. Here are (some of) the 10 best Super Mario Maker 2 levels so far!

Super Mario Bros. Abridged

Creator: Griffin! 
Course ID: MKT-YB4-FTG

Created by Griffin McElroy of My Brother, My Brother, And Me fame, Super Mario Bros. Abridged is incredibly impressive. Griffin has condensed and crammed the entirety of Super Mario Bros. for the NES into one short level, by compressing each of its stages into bite-sized pieces.

Each short stage is lovingly recreated, and there are even warp zones to allow you to skip all the way to the end,though we'd recommend playing through the whole thing!

Getting Over It with Super Mario

Creator: hellbarf
Course ID: D44-FJG-VJG

If you thought that last level was tough... maybe skip this one. If you're familiar with Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, you already know a little bit of what to expect out of this stage. If you don't, prepare for frustration.

Creator hellbarf's simple act of turning stage 1-1 on its side, forcing you to climb all the way up the stage, creates a trial-and-error heavy level that is incredibly difficult despite the fact that you're unlikely to die. You'll just fall back to the start and lose all of your progress, again and again and again.

WarioWare, Inc.

Creator: k1rbygam3z
Course ID: PW5-54X-VQF

Though there are a bunch of stages that feature quick-fire minigame challenges, this one is our favorite. This WarioWare, Inc.-inspired stage is an exercise in stress, just like the game it's based on. The level's 10 minigames are fun, creative, and feature just the right level of difficulty to keep players coming back despite the lack of checkpoints.

The Great Plateau

Creator: Garrett64
Course ID: R0C-3X4-DQF

No surprises here: Garrett64's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stage is a global favorite in Mario Maker 2, and it is so for good reason. Plenty of exploration stages exist, and many are notable (we're going to get to another one later on in the list!) but the brilliant way in which Garrett64 creates a Zelda-like atmosphere in the level makes this one something special.

The best way to play this stage is to take your time exploring the shrines, getting chased by the guardian, and taking in the scenery. Don't be afraid to let the timer run out a few times just because you're exploring, there's a ton of stuff to find out there.

Tetris Musical Madness!

Creator: Bossman
Course ID: M3D-G6Y-X3G

One of our favorite subgenres of Super Mario Maker 2 stages are the rhythm challenge stages. Usually, these are short-but-sweet stages where you must time your jumps to the beat in order to win.

Much like the 20-second speedrun stages, if your timing is on point, you'll be fine, but a combination of tense and pulsing music, with an abundance of obstacles, makes Tetris Musical Madness a blast to play.

Spin-Jump Up The Skytree!

Creator: Griffin!
Course ID: 0N1-G0N-2VG

Another Griffin McElroy joint, Spin-Jump Up The Skytree is a decent introduction into the kind of precision platforming you'll need if you want to challenge levels by famed "kaizo" level makers like GlitchCat, Panga, and GrandPOOBear.

Griffin is stingy with checkpoints here, but if you persevere, you'll find a creatively designed and satisfyingly difficult stage.

Random Level Generator 1.0

Creator: SKELUX
Course ID: Y08-JMQ-C3G

In an incredibly ambitious move, creator SKELUX has, in effect, created a stage that is different every time you play it.

Using a combination of Bob-ombs and Magikoopas, you get to see platforms and pits get carved out of the blocks before you actually play the stage. Then, after you clear it, SKELUX allows you to go back through a door, causing the stage to be carved away further, challenging players to see how many cycles of the randomizer they can clear. It's a unique concept, and one that we hadn't seen before.

Kamek's Transformation Curse

Creator: Lea96
Course ID: R1D-788-WYF

Massive creativity points to Lea96, who has, with some sly camera manipulation, created a stage where it seems like you're controlling a Monty Mole through a series of platforming puzzles.

Though the stage isn't necessarily difficult, the theming and storytelling on display is clear, to say nothing of the fact that trying to control Monty Mole is a hilarious exercise in and of itself.

The Dragon's Lair

Creator: Arispect
Course ID: 63M-B3H-3HG

Another exploration stage in the vein of The Great Plateau, The Dragon's Lair offers a bit more space to play around, a few more puzzles, and a higher difficulty level than its Zelda-inspired cousin. The theming, however, is still wonderful, so expect the timer to run out on you as you explore the half-sunken undersea temple to find the dragon within.

Cliffy Me Softly With His Song

Creator: com_poser
Course ID: SSW-FGK-PYF

Now that we've warmed you up, here's a real jerk of a level to close out. In a stunning feat of both musicianship and level design, com_poser has designed an incredibly difficult rhythm challenge level to the tune of "Killing Me Softly (With His Song)."

As you play, you'll notice that even though the stage is not as linear as most rhythm challenges, jumping and performing actions along to the beat makes things a whole lot easier. Be warned, this is by far the toughest level on the list; we haven't even beaten it (yet).

Protip: If you get to the end, be patient and don't jump up to the final door right away. You need the dry bones shell to survive an end-level troll!

Now that we've given your our favorite Super Mario Maker 2 levels, what are yours? Let us know in the comments. And if you want to check out my foosball-inspired level, the code is 2YR-M48-SNG!

This week, Nintendo unveiled a new Switch model that's not as exciting as it sounds. Gears 5 removed smoking but left all of the blood and guts the series is known for. And GameStop looks to stay alive by going retro. 

On top of that, we've got exclusive interviews with the developers of The Blackout Club, Teppen, and Redeemer. We have a few reviews, including Super Mario Maker 2 and Etherborn, as well as a handful of guides for some of the latest games, including Teppen, Dragon Quest Builders 2, and Dr. Mario World. 

Sit back. Relax. Enjoy. It's the weekend. What else are you gonna do? Play video games? 

• Gears 5 Won't Depict Tobacco Use After Non-Profit Claims It's Too Dangerous
  Gears 5 will pack all the violence and blood you'd expect from an M-rated game, but one thing will be missing.
  
  
• GameStop Looks to Consumer Innovation to Attract New Customers
  The fallen giant has plans for grassroots e-Sports, retro game shops, and more in an effort to re-assert its place in gaming culture.
  
  
• 8BitDo Might Have Created an Almost-Perfect Controller
  8BitDo, the maker of controllers for retro gaming, is putting out a new controller for (some) modern systems that allows for almost complete customization.
  
  
• Nintendo Switch Hardware Update Boasts Improved Battery Life
  Following last week's filings with the FCC, Nintendo announced the original Switch is getting a slightly enhanced model, along with two new sets of Joy-Con shortly after.
  
  
• Xbox Super Game Sale Live, Offers Savings on More Than Just Games (Until July 29)
  Xbox's huge summer sale brings discounts on new and classic games, plus hardware, consoles, and more.
  
  
• Surprise Mid-Week PSN Flash Sale Live Now (Until July 22)
  Sony's surprise mid-week Flash Sale offers some steep discounts on PS4, PS3, and PS Vita games and runs alongside the current retro sale.
  
  
• Gearbox is Giving Away Borderlands 3 Loot to Vault Insiders
  Sign up for the Vault Insider Program and get free loot for Borderlands 3, as well as other games in the franchise.
  
  
• Luigi's Mansion 3 Gets a Spook-tacular Release Date
  Luigi's Mansion 3 is launching on a most appropriate day indeed, in a break from Nintendo's usual release scheduling.
  
  
• Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD Confirmed for a Fall Release Date
  Super Monkey Ball is making a comeback this year with a remake of the Wii's Banana Blitz. The good news is it's coming West too.
  
  
• Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition Complete Out Soon
  Light of Hope is coming back again, this time with all previous DLC — including new marriage candidates — and some new features designed for consoles.
  
  
• New Pokemon Masters Trailer Offers Glimpse at 3-on-3 Battles, Sync Moves
  The new Pokemon Masters trailer shows off 3-on-3 fights, some Sync Pairs, and more, though it still doesn't provide a solid release date.
  
  
• GTA Online's Diamond Casino and Resort Opens Soon With Lots of New Content
  GTA Online's The Diamond offers new co-op missions, a snazzy customizable penthouse, and plenty of the usual casino pastimes to keep you busy.
  
  
• Dauntless Fortune and Glory Update Brings Trials Mode, New Hunt Pass
  The first expansion for Dauntless is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, and it brings a bevy of brand-new content, including a new Trials mode.
  
  
• 33 Confirmed Dead in Kyoto Animation Arson
  One of Kyoto Animation's studio buildings was hit by an arsonist this morning, claiming the lives of 33 employees.

• Super Mario Maker 2 Review: Everything Promised and More
  Super Mario Maker 2 fulfills just about everything it set out to do, making it a must-play for Mario fans.
  
  
• Etherborn Review: Grappling with the Unknown
  Etherborn stumbles at times in its execution and gets lost in an unnecessary narrative, but there's no denying the puzzle design is brilliant.
  
  
• Audeze Mobius 3D Headphones Review: Moving Through Sound
  Pricey, elegant, and seductive, Mobius is the classy, tuxedoed martini of headphones.

• The Surge 2 Hands-On Preview: More Cyber Souls
  Check out what we learned about The Surge 2 after some hands-on time with a demo build of this cyberpunk Souls-like.
  
  
• TEPPEN Interview with Ryozo Tsujimoto and Kazuki Morishita
  At Anime Expo 2019, we discussed the details of the newest Capcom crossover title.
  
  
• Among Demons and Deities: An Interview with The Blackout Club's Jordan Thomas
  With just a few days separating us from the 1.0 launch of The Blackout Club, we caught up with lead designer Jordan Thomas to talk story, ludology, and summoning otherworldly beings.
  
  
• Griftlands Alpha Impressions — A Hand Full of Aces
  Griftlands looked intriguing when we first saw it at E3 2019, but this deck-building rogue-like shows incredible promise right out of the gate.
  
  
• EXCLUSIVE Interview with Redeemer Devs, Sobaka
  Indie Developer Sobaka talks about the Enhanced Version of Redeemer, life as an indie developer and what's coming up next!
  
  
• How Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Was a Franchise Turning Point
  Digimon video games have a tortured history in the West, with flops and mimicry aplenty. That changed in a big way with the Cyber Sleuth games, though, when Digimon finally found its voice.

• Dr. Mario World Error Codes 0009, 0007, 0003 Explained
  Dr. Mario World is experiencing some baffling health problems at the moment, so we're here to tell you what error codes 0009, 0007, and 0003 mean.
  
  
• Dr. Mario World: All Characters and How to Unlock Them
  There are more than 40 Dr. Mario World characters you can unlock — if you're brave enough to take on Mario's own gacha system, that is.
  
  
• Griftlands Guide — What Are Negotiations and How Do They Work?
  Griftlands is a new deck-building roguelike, where the cards are used for more than just fighting. We've broken down how Negotiations work and how to talk your way to victory.
  
  
• Dragon Quest Builders 2 Puzzles Guide: Solutions and Locations
  Get more Mini Medals in Dragon Quest Builders 2 by finding and solving puzzles!
  
  
• How to Find Flurry Feathers in Dragon Quest Builders 2
  Wondering where to find Flurry Feathers in Dragon Quest Builders 2? This guide points you in the right direction. (Hint, it has to do with Chimaera).
  
  
• How to Build a Restaurant in Dragon Quest Builders 2
  Wondering how to build a restaurant to complete the Tablet Target in Dragon Quest Builders 2? This guide tells you which rooms to combine to check it off your list. 
  
  
• Complete Dragon Quest Builders 2 Mini Medal Rewards Guide
  Mini Medals give you access to cosmetic items, musical scores, and some weapons and armor in Dragon Quest builders 2. Here's how to get them and what you get for turning them in.
  
  
• How to Get Night Soil in Dragon Quest Builders 2
  Night Soil is essential for creating fertilizer and completing tablet targets for Mini Medals. This is how you get Night Soil.
  
  
• Dokkan Battle: How to Get Potara Medals for UR/LR Vegito
  Every player who's been at Dokkan Battle for a while should be trying to get Potara Medals toward LR Super Saiyan God SS Vegito.
  
  
• Teppen Nergigante Deck Guide: Decklist and Strategy
  Learn how to pilot one of the strongest and most difficult decks in Teppen, the Nergigante deck.
  
  
• Teppen Morrigan Deck Guide: Decklist and Strategy
  Morrigan's Darkness Illusion is one of the strongest hero arts in Teppen. Here's the decklist and strategy guide on how to use it.
  
  
• Teppen Rathalos Deck Guide: Decklist and Strategy
  Here is the best version of the aggressive Rathalos deck in Teppen, and a short guide on how to play it.
  
  
• Total War: Three Kingdoms Liu Bei Guide
  Follow this step-by-step guide and learn how to make Liu Bei a powerful ruler in Total War: Three Kingdoms.
  
  
• Teamfight Tactics Champion Traits and Buffs List
  Champions have various traits which give huge buffs to the team. Knowing what traits do what is an important aspect of team building.
  
  
• 15 Best New Mods for Minecraft 1.14 Java Edition
  Add or change different elements of your game starting from simple furniture and ending with an entire powerplant using these new mods for Minecraft 1.14.

Check back next weekend for another roundup of news, reviews, guides, and features. Be sure to check previous weeks for more content: 

• Nintendo Switch Lite, Stranger Things 3, Cyberpunk 2077
• Console Tariffs, Canceled WoW Successor, New PUBG, More
• E3 Previews + Roundups, Bloodstained, Harry Potter, More
• Sony Partners With Microsoft, Plus Rage 2, Super Mario Maker, More
• Days Gone, Sea of Thieves, Borderlands 3, More
• More PS5 News, MK11, World War Z, and Minecraft
• PUBG Banned Again (Again), PS5 News, New Star Wars, More

How much do you have to play a game before you say it's one of your favorite games?

Sometime during my past "85 hours or more" of Super Mario Maker 2, it's made its way into my favorite titles of all time. Which isn't a surprise; it just replaced the original Super Mario Maker in my heart.

Super Mario Maker 2 takes almost all of the best features from the original Wii U title and brings them to the Nintendo Switch along with a host of new creator tools and features. If the first game was your cup of tea, the second is going to be a whole pitcher.

Along with the host of new creator tools such as new enemies, Snake Blocks, the Super Mario 3D World style, new themes, and slopes (!!), comes the ability to browse and play fellow player-made courses (levels), and a fancy new story mode to play through. Anyone who even remotely enjoys the Mario games can find something enticing here to sink their teeth into.

Not keen on creating courses? You can simply spend your time with the game playing through its story mode, which features 100 courses showcasing much of what's possible in Super Mario Maker 2 (and a few things that aren't); or stick to the endless player-created courses available.

There's more than enough gameplay to be found in the game even if you don't want to get all creative with it and start making your own courses, but the creator toolset is itself a joy to play with. For some, like myself, the allure of creating courses is more powerful than the pull to play them. It's fluid, it's fun, and best of all it's easy to bring your ideas to life using the game's course maker.

Course Making

In Super Mario Maker 2, you build your courses using a sprawling grid-based layout that allows for hundreds of elements on a single area or sub-area. You can extend the course as long as you like, and you can create a sub-area (which can be the same size as the primary area) that is vertical instead of horizontal.

There are five distinct game styles to choose from, specifically Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros. U, and the brand new Super Mario 3D World styles.

With each style comes more than just a change in scenery and music. Some styles have different tools available, and the gameplay mechanics differ between them.

For instance, in the Super Mario Bros. style, the player is unable to slide down slopes and koopa shells can't be picked up. In exchange, it has the Big Mushroom item, which turns Mario gigantic and makes him able to break through certain types of blocks.

Another example lies in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style, which has its signature Super Leaf item and Shoe Goomba enemy, but the player is not able to do spin jumps as they're able to do in the latter three styles.

Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros. U, and Super Mario 3D World are all more complex gameplay-wise than the previously mentioned styles. Spin jumping is featured throughout all three, but wall-jumping is only available in NSMBU and SM3DW — and this is really only scratching the surface.

The hefty differences between each style allow course creators a constantly-surprising level of freedom when working up their next idea, but the Super Mario 3D World style is the least fleshed out of the three.

While SM3DW is technically the fastest of the five available styles, it's missing a number of tools available in others. It has its own unique set of tools to work with, but it's the most restrictive of the set and it is not possible to swap a course between SM3DW and any of the other styles.

The sheer variety of themes available in Super Mario Maker 2 was my biggest source of excitement before it came out (aside from slopes), and I am very happy to say they exceeded my expectations in every regard.

Course themes don't just set the stage here, some of them outright grant different gameplay experiences.

You've got Ground, you've got Underground, you've got Sky and Airship and Castle and Ghost House and Underwater — all from the original game — but you've also got the new Desert, Forest, and Snow themes. That's 10 themes!

Two of the new themes, Forest and Snow, are most notable because they bring new gimmicks without having to switch the course to nighttime.

The Forest theme has adjustable water akin to the lava in Castle theme courses — and, of course, the water doesn't outright kill you. This makes for some real weird courses, let me tell you.

The Snow theme does what you think: it makes the ground slippery. The bane of all those who call themselves gamers, but some course creators have found some creative ways to make use of this mechanic without it feeling like torture.

Amidst all this is the new ability to switch a course area or sub-area between day and nighttime. Daytime functions as normal, but nighttime brings out a whole new slew of gimmicks to work with.

A Ground night course? No more 1-Ups for you, those suckers are now Rotten Mushrooms that will chase you and deal damage.

A Forest night course? The water's now poison and insta-kills you just like lava.

A Desert night course? Well... it really depends on the course style! It gets real windy on the desert at night, apparently, and the direction and duration of wind gusts varies per style.

The sheer magnitude of uses that these new styles, themes, and related gimmicks have in conjunction with the size of the overall creator toolset cannot be understated.

Some may have claimed that your imagination was the limit in the original Super Mario Maker, but that is something you really feel here with the sequel.

With Yamamura's Dojo present to give players creation tips and tutorials, anyone can get into creating courses with minimal set up and knowledge. Players can also do local co-op and create courses in docked mode, which is both fun and relatively easy to work with as long as both creators are communicating.

Playing Courses

There's more new here than just the shiny new story mode. Story mode is great in its own right, but the bulk of the game consists of trying your hand at player-made courses, which can be done solo, in online multiplayer, or with other players locally on other Nintendo Switches.

Super Mario Maker 2's online multiplayer modes, co-op and versus, are the big new kahunas to its gameplay variety. In co-op, players work together to finish courses; in versus, they go against each other with the first to reach the goal.

In theory, these modes should be great. I know a lot of people like them even now, but to me, these are currently the biggest blemishes on Super Mario Maker 2's otherwise blemish-free existence.

Both online cooperative and versus are plagued with lag, lag so bad I'm curious how anyone can fully enjoy these modes as they stand because that just seems like lunacy.

Every single co-op and versus match I've gotten into, I've chugged around at a uncomfortably variable speeds, sometimes feeling like I'm moving one pixel per second and sometimes a whopping 20 pixels per second. Sometimes I move at totally normal speed for a few seconds straight — amazing! ... Not.

I would love nothing more than to enjoy these modes for what they are, perhaps even with local multiplayer (which isn't available outside of the Course Maker, so you have to download a course to do it), but I hate feeling like I'm moving through molasses, and it's hard to understand the people who do enjoy the game's online multiplayer as it stands.

Outside of these two modes that will hopefully be fixed are Endless Challenge, the game's replacement for the original's 100-Mario Challenge, and, of course, just sifting through trending, popular, or new courses for a good time.

Thanks to the new Boo! option, which functions as a foil to Liking something, Endless Challenge is more bearable than much of what a player would run into in the first game's 100-Mario Challenge.

There are still plenty of sub-par courses you'll run into, but courses that receive enough Boo!s don't get put into the Endless Challenge pool very often. It's curation at its most simple, but it's made playing the mode more enjoyable than its predecessor.

There's not much else to say about playing courses but "It's Mario." Because it is, in fact, Mario, and if you're familiar with the series at all, this is an easy title to jump right into without having to worry about the more in-depth mechanics put on display in Expert and Super Expert difficulties.

There is more than enough content in Easy and Normal for players of any skill level to take on without having to stress about pixel-perfect jumps, kaizo blocks, and all that jazz.

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Super Mario Maker 2 is exactly the sequel players of the original Wii U title were looking for, at least for this fan.

I put hundreds of hours into the original Super Mario Maker; I bought a Wii U for that game, but after my dog's well-placed paw put my Wii U out of commission a couple of years ago, I'd been high and dry. All I've really wanted was more SMM.

Aside from the janky online multiplayer, Super Mario Maker 2 is basically the perfect sequel, and like its predecessor, the series once again has opened creative doors I never even knew were there.

Pros

• Easy to understand and use course editor
• Literally limitless courses to play
• Co-op course making is surprisingly fun, provided you communicate
• All the new maker tools aren't just comprehensive, they're perpetually surprising

Cons

• Online multiplayer, both co-op and versus, is a laggy mess

If online co-op worked worth a heck, Super Mario Maker 2 would be an easy 10 out of 10 GOTY hoedown throwdown; it'll still probably be my game of the year.

I have a serious weakness for this game. However, even with the (totally optional) less-than-optimal online multiplayer, it's still a fantastic time for both casual and hardcore gamers with a soft spot for Nintendo's mascot.

[Note: A copy of Super Mario Maker 2 was provided by Nintendo for the purpose of this review.]

I had a ton of ideas going into Super Mario Maker 2, and one of the first was a shmup course using rising and falling water levels using Cheep Cheeps as an obstacle for players. First, though, I had to learn how to make water rise and fall, rather than just rise.

You've surely seen player-made courses with water or lava rising up and falling back down, and you may have wanted to make a course using that feature but were unable to figure it out. I was in that boat, but it's actually incredibly easy to get your water or lava to go both up and down rather than just up.

First, you need to use either the Forest or Castle themes. The Forest theme allows for rising water, and the Castle theme allows for rising lava. This works in all styles, including Super Mario 3D World!

How to Adjust Variable Water Levels

When you tap on the steamboat water/lava icon on the left side of the screen, the overlay will change specifically for you to adjust the default and rising liquid levels.

It may look like you can only tap on the blinking dot, but the water widget is actually two separate widgets. You can separate the yellow bar from the yellow orb.

The bar is used for the default water level, and the orb used for the maximum or minimum water level.

You can set the default water level higher than the variable level, meaning you can make the water flood out rather than in. It's pretty neat!

How to Make Your Water Rise and Fall

Now, how do you make your water or lava repeatedly go up and down? Tap (not hold) on the orb to change it from one direction to two.

The orb will have a double-headed arrow rather than a single-headed arrow when it's set to make the water rise and fall. Easy peasy.

How to Set Rise and Fall Speeds

Tap and hold on the variable orb to bring up the rise and fall speed options. Yellow with one arrow is slowest, red with two is medium speed, and blue with three arrows is fastest.

Test which one you like best for your course before slapping it up on the Course World!

Finding this out helped me make that shmup level I dreamed of since the water level feature was revealed, and hopefully it'll help you make that perfect course in Super Mario Maker 2 as well!

It's been a few days now, and Super Mario Maker 2's array of courses is staggering, perhaps more so than Nintendo was prepared for.

Anyone who has put a course up sometime over the past three days can attest that getting plays is hard. Really hard. Probably too hard. No one likes to put a course up and have it sit there for days with absolutely no plays, but that's what's happening: Courses with 0 plays, are staying at 0 plays.

There are two things to know about the course system as a creator in Super Mario Maker 2 that isn't gone over at all in the game but affects all of us just the same.

0 Plays Means You'll Get No Plays

Courses with 0 plays are to the pool for Endless Challenge, but they are incredibly rare.

Most of the courses you're going to play in Endless are those that have been played at least once already, meaning you can't rely on it to get you your first plays.

The 'New Courses' Section Is Days Behind

At the time of writing, the New Courses category is displaying stages from release day, which was three days ago.

That's right: the New Courses section needs to be sifted through to play catch up. Most players seem to be focused on making courses rather than playing them.

It can be days before your courses hit the New Courses section because of the huge amount of backlog. This means you can't rely on the New Courses section to net your courses their first plays right now, either.

Sharing Is Caring

So what do you do? What do you do to get your courses those first crucial plays to be entered into the Endless Pool? The answer is sharing.

If you've got some confidence in your course-making skills or just want some plays, you should make good use the community and share your creations with other Super Mario Maker 2 players, who are more than happy to play other creators' courses to get some plays on their own.

The least stressful option is to wander over the Mario Maker community subreddit, which hosts daily course sharing threads. You have to make a Reddit account, but the threads are bustling and I myself have netted a fair amount of plays from them.

To increase the likelihood of other creators playing your course in these threads, provide some extra information about it such as the difficulty, style and theme, and a short description. The more pertinent information you present, the better your chances are of people playing your course.

You can also take to Twitter using the #MarioMaker2 and #スーパーマリオメーカー2 hashtags (just copy that second one). Use an image with your tweet to make it stand out more.

Having both the English and Japanese hashtags will greatly increase your chances of having someone notice your tweet as the Japanese SMM community has always been heavily Twitter-centric and is incredibly active.

Sharing courses on Twitter in the first game was actually incredibly easy thanks to the Super Mario Maker Bookmark website, which currently is not compatible with Super Mario Maker 2. Hopefully, this changes soon.

Of course, you can go to any online community that has an SMM2 forum or thread and ask for people to give your courses their first play or even just ask for feedback.

Course makers at large are starting to open their eyes to the New Courses bottleneck and understand that the wait to get your first plays can be stressful. There's no harm or shame in asking other plays to try your courses to get them the jump start they need to be relevant to the Endless Challenge pool, believe you me.

Moving Forward

It's going to take a while for the New Courses section to catch up if it even will at all, but it will surely get better with time, and perhaps Nintendo will alter the Endless algorithm even further.

For now, don't get discouraged if your courses aren't getting any plays. Either you wait for your courses to finally hit the New Courses section, or you get proactive and share them with the community. That second option is worth the extra steps, even if posting online isn't exactly your cup of tea.

If nothing else, be sure to go through the New Courses section sometime and give those courses the plays they need to get off the listing. The queue is never going to go down if people don't actually play the new courses. Why not pay it forward?

Today's Super Mario Maker 2 Direct revealed a truckload of new information about the upcoming game. Let's dive right into it, starting with the game's style, marked by a new twist. 

SMM2 will have the same styles as the other two games: Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U.

However, it also introduces the Super Mario 3D World style, including Cat Mario and Cat Bowser, which opens up a ton of new options for stage design.

These range from creating platforms Cat Mario can climb up to the clear pipes we've already seen in previous ads, setting tracks for Piranha Plants, bosses, and more:

• Floating crates
• Boxes that phase in and out
• Warp boxes
• Customizable track blocks
• Mushroom trampolines
• Skipsqueak enemies
• Koopa Troopa cars
• Pom Pom
• Charvaargh

The Direct only showed a bit of what fans can expect from the new style, with the promise of even more to come.

It's important to note that unlike the other styles in Super Mario Maker 2, which players can swap freely between as they create their stages, the Super Mario 3D World style cannot be swapped in and out. It's built on a completely separate engine thanks to the unique physics required for the stage mechanics.

New Themes, Items, and Bosses...Oh My!

SMM2 is introducing new themes as well: desert, forest, sky, and snow. Each has new music created by famous Mario composer Koji Kondo as well.

There are plenty of new items that will be available for all styles:

• on and off switches
• crane claws
• twisters
• fire-breathing red Yoshis
• parachutes
• icicles
• Dry Bones shell (for extra protection)
• Big Coins
• Angry Sun
• Boom Boom

And a lot more to come.

Slopes can now be customized into different gradients, and the water and lava levels can be adjusted, too. There's a new scrolling feature that gives players the ability to turn any stage into a side-scrolling stage, and the speed and direction of the scroll can be adjusted at will.

That opens the door to new vertical scrolling sub-areas, just like in the mainline Super Mario games.

The Angry Sun gets a counterpart this time as well, with the Moon item. It turns any stage to night and, unlike the Angry Sun, it doesn't hurt Mario. In fact, it's rather helpful. If Mario jumps and touches the moon, the moon then destroys all the enemies on screen at the time.

Different themes react in different ways to night mode. For instance, gravity is reduced in the sky theme, water turns to poison in the forest, and the slopes become dangerously slippery in the ice theme. Items will change somehow as well, though nothing specific was shown other than a rather frightening looking mushroom.

After unlocking night mode for each theme, the moon item doesn't have to be placed; players can just choose to include night mode from then on.

Finally, two players can work together to build their stages as well by sharing Joy-Con.

Story Mode comes to Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2 will build on the inclusion of 100+ pre-designed stages in Super Mario Maker 3D and expands on it in a big way. That's because SMM2 will include Story Mode for the first time in the series.

Story Mode sees Mario work to rebuild Princess Peach's castle from the ground up. To do this, he'll need to take on various missions for the constructors and other randos that happen to be around the castle as it redevelops.

Each request revolves around completing a specific course or clearing a set of conditions, and they reward Mario with a set number of coins; these coins are then used to build the castle.

A firm number of courses wasn't mentioned, but like its 3DS predecessor, SMM2 will have more than 100 courses to play through, along with the side quest courses.

Stage Share Mode Returns

Super Mario Maker 2 marks the return of the much-loved stage sharing mode from the original game.

Naturally, since it's an online mode, it will require a Nintendo Switch online membership.

Stage sharing is largely the same as before, though it does include some important new additions. One of them involves challenges. Players can create stages with challenges built in, such as clearing x number of enemies or gathering a set number of coins.

All players will have a Maker Profile, which lets them customize their Maker (think Mii 2.0) and earn Maker Coins for popular stages; these can be spent on outfits and the like for their Maker.

Players can search for courses using various tags, such as themes or features, or even multiplayer.

That's right, Super Mario Maker 2 will include multiplayer modes for stages: versus and co-op modes. Versus modes pits up to 4 players against each other in a race to finish the course first, while co-op mode has up to 4 player work together to finish a course.

If players are nearby and each has a copy of the game and a Nintendo Switch, then one player can host an online room for their play sessions, and the online element will be based on the host's connection.

Some Bundles

Nintendo is offering a few special deals for Super Mario Maker 2. One is a physical or digital bundle featuring the game and a 12-month subscription for Nintendo Switch Online for $69.99. If the purchaser already has a subscription, then the new 12 months will stack onto their existing subscription.

The other promotion is for existing NSO members. 2 game vouchers can be purchased for a total of $99.99 and then redeemed for 2 Nintendo Switch games, including pre-purchasing Super Mario Maker 2.

A list of eligible titles can be found here.

A sequel to Nintendo's Super Mario Maker is on its way, with Nintendo revealing Super Mario Maker 2 during this afternoon's Nintendo Direct presentation. This announcement was accompanied by a trailer highlighting some of the things that players will be able to do when creating their very own Mario levels in the new game.

Fans can build a wide range of levels in Super Mario Maker 2, including old-school 8-bit Mario offerings as well as more current 3D-style ones. All of these levels will be side-scrollers, and, in a major improvement over the original game, players will now be able to create slopes for the very first time.

The trailer further revealed all of the creatures that players can make use of, along with various mechanics. It even seems possible that two players might be able to work together on a level, as, near the end, both Mario and Luigi are shown in construction uniforms.

Super Mario Maker 2 will release exclusively on the Nintendo Switch in June of this year. It will be the first new entry in the franchise since Super Mario Maker launched on the Wii U in 2015, although a version of this original title was released for the 3DS in 2016.

Both versions of the game were received fairly well, with the Wii U version of the title earning an 88 out of 100 on Metacritic and the 3DS version coming in a bit lower at 73 out of 100. The game also won several awards, including "Best Console Game Nintendo Wii" and "Best Social/Casual/Online Game" at Gamescom as well as "Best Family Game" at the 2015 The Game Awards. It won two technical awards from NAVGTR, and it was nominated for several more.

Since the original launched in 2015, players have created over 7 million courses, and they have been played more than 600 million times. As such, today's announcement should mean that a lot of Mario fans are going to be having a lot of fun very soon with Super Mario Maker 2.