As one of the most-anticipated games of 2021, Gotham Knights has some big bat-shaped boots to fill when you take to the streets as one of Batman’s four protégés. While the Batman: Arkham series of video games focused on a lone caped crusader, developer Warner Bros. Montreal is taking a different approach and emphasizing co-op play as you protect the city in the wake of Batman’s death.
“We have entirely redesigned the combat system in order for it to work well in co-op,” executive producer Fleur Marty said to GamesRadar. “Of course, we’re still a brawler, and some of the mechanics won’t feel totally alien for people who played and enjoyed the Arkham series, but it is in many ways very different.”
According to creative director Patrick Redding, the drop-in and drop-out co-op gameplay resulted in a redesign of Gotham City, so that enemy encounters wouldn’t feel claustrophobic. “Gotham is a city of alleyways and rooftops, so the footprint for gameplay needs to be compatible with that,” Redding explained.
As players progress through the story, they’ll be able to level up their skills and abilities to keep pace with the supervillains who have taken over Gotham’s five boroughs. Progress is shared between characters, and you’ll be able to swap between Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin whenever you return to their base of operations, the Belfry.
New gear, costumes, and gear can also be unlocked in the Gotham Knights base of operations, allowing you to further refine your playstyle between the heroes. Enemies will also scale to your level, which results in you being able to spend more time experimenting with different characters and playstyles, which also results in less time spent grinding for experience points.
You can also check out our Gotham Knights interview with Redding and Marty, where we discussed making a distinctly new story, how the RPG systems work, and more.
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Arrow kicked off the CW’s sprawling universe of superheroes, but bow-wielding vigilantes will not carry the torch forward. The network has decided not to move forward with its Green Arrow and the Canaries spinoff, according to reports from Deadline and Variety.
Throughout Arrow’s seventh and eighth seasons, actress Katherine McNamara starred as Mia Smoak, the future daughter of characters Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak. Her character began life in a version of Star City set in 2040, but the run up to the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover brought her into the modern day, where she met and worked with her father before the Crisis event ultimately took his life and brought the Arrow series to an end in its eighth season.
Before the show ended, though, the CW gave us a backdoor pilot for a potential spinoff titled Green Arrow & The Canaries. The episode was set back in 2040, and featured McNamara as Mia Smoak, and brought over Katie Kassidy’s Laurel Lance and Juliana Harkavy’s Dinah Drake, two of the Canary heroes who appeared throughout Arrow’s run.
Due to silence on the spinoff after Arrow’s end and throughout 2020, the general consensus among fans was that the CW had decided not to move ahead with the show, though the network had not formally announced a decision one way or another until now. McNamara posted a message to her Twitter thanking fans for their support while mourning the official death of the potential series.
While Green Arrow and the Canaries will not be moving forward, the network has plenty of other superhero content on the way, including this year’s Superman & Lois, a new Wonder Girl series featuring a Latina lead and a potential spinoff for Black Lightning‘s Painkiller character. Meanwhile, the CW’s collection of upcoming superhero shows feature the latest seasons of The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman (featuring new Batwoman Javicia Leslie), and Stargirl, and the announced final seasons of Supergirl and Black Lightning.
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Disney+ will premiere its first Marvel Cinematic Universe show, WandaVision, on January 15, but it will be far from the last. The studio has a long roster of upcoming projects waiting in the wings, well into the future. One such project is the mysterious Moon Knight, which will star Oscar Isaac as the titular hero–a cult favorite C-lister who suffers from identity disorders that give him a laundry list of alter egos.
It was previously announced that the project would be helmed by Mohamed Diab (Crash) and Jeremy Slater (Umbrella Academy), but two new names have joined the team to direct episodes, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Indie auteurs Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who wrote and directed sci-fi mind-benders like The Endless, Spring, and the upcoming Synchronic, will be lending their skills to several episodes.
Benson and Moorhead are known for their unique style, eerie and surreal sensibilities, and strong directorial voices–though it’s worth noting that they also typically handle every aspect of production on their own films, from writing to producing to editing. Moon Knight will be their first credit solely as directors.
Also according to THR, Moon Knight is set to begin filming in Budapest in March. It does not currently have a release date on the schedule.
Following the premiere of WandaVision on January 15, Disney+ will expand its original MCU slate with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier on March 19, and Loki in May. The animated What If…? Is also set to hit the streaming service some time this year.
Dave Creek, who served as lead character designer on the Fox animated series Bob’s Burgers since it premiered in 2011, has died at 42 years old. The news was first reported by Cartoon Brew, which revealed the artist passed Thursday from injuries sustained during a skydiving accident over the weekend.
A statement from Fox, 20th Television, and Bento Box Entertainment, reads, “We are heartbroken at the tragic passing of Dave Creek, an extraordinary artist who had been with Bob’s Burgers from day one. He was not just an incredible talent but a beautiful person as well, and our hearts go out to his family, friends and all his colleagues at the show who loved him and are grieving today.”
According to Variety, Creek was a skydiving enthusiast and a quick glance at his Instagram account will see a number of dives he’s taken over the years, along with images of personal art projects, which included miniature tree houses attached to bonsai trees.
Following news of his passing, several of those who work on the show expressed their grief on Twitter, including writer Wendy Molyneux. “If you love Bob’s Burgers, you loved Dave Creek,” she wrote. “He was an adventurous funny outgoing amazing artist and one of the most incredible, interesting people I ever met. I often thought that Dave really knew how to live, and I wish he got to live some more. Rest In Peace, buddy.”
If you love Bob’s Burgers, you loved Dave Creek. He was an adventurous funny outgoing amazing artist and one of the most incredible, interesting people I ever met. I often thought that Dave really knew how to live, and I wish he got to live some more. Rest In Peace, buddy. 💔 https://t.co/PMf1jKT0Zc
Director Simon Chong also wrote about Creek, tweeting, “Today we tragically lost our Lead Character designer and friend, Dave Creek. A wonderfully brilliant and talented man who I can guarantee designed your favorite character on Bob’s at some point. I’ll miss you, buddy.”
Today we tragically lost our Lead Character designer and friend, Dave Creek. A wonderfully brilliant and talented man who I can guarantee designed your favourite character on Bob’s at some point. I’ll miss you, buddy x https://t.co/NOxEq1VOGw
You can see some other reactions from the Bob’s Burgers crew below.
We lost a great artist and a great friend at Bobs today – our lead character designer Dave Creek. Here’s one of his many designs, Lady Tinsel, and one of his incredible tree houses. pic.twitter.com/5yX4fZ8ZiQ
Actor Ray Fisher, known for his role as Cyborg in the 2017 Justice League film and in the upcoming HBO Max miniseries, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, has been at odds with WarnerMedia for over a year following his experience while filming Justice League with replacement director Joss Whedon. Fisher claimed on Thursday in a Twitter thread that longtime DC mastermind and WarnerMedia executive Geoff Johns would be leaving as part of recently-announced “remedial action.”
Fisher has lobbed accusations at WarnerMedia itself, director Joss Whedon, executives Geoff Johns, Jon Berg, and most recently, DC Films president Walter Hamada. Just before the new year, Fisher called Hamada “the most dangerous kind of enabler,” and suggested that Hamada attempted to undermine the investigation into Fisher’s Justice League accusations. Fisher ended the tweet saying that he would “not participate in any production associated with [Hamada].’
Walter Hamada is the most dangerous kind of enabler. His lies, and WB PR’s failed Sept 4th hit-piece, sought to undermine the very real issues of the Justice League investigation. I will not participate in any production associated with him. A>Ehttps://t.co/07OJ74PJra
The latest accusations come in the wake of a now-edited article from TheWrap, which stated that the cameo for Fisher’s character, Cyborg, was to be cut from the script of the long-gestating Flash film, and that the character would not be recast. In the piece, TheWrap characterized Fisher as having resigned from the role. Fisher took issue with the description of the situation.
“I strongly suggest TheWrap amend this article immediately,” Fisher wrote. “While I appreciate the reporter’s undying desire to do @wbpictures and Walter Hamada’s bidding–it is factually inaccurate. I did not publicly step down from anything.”
I strongly suggest that @TheWrap amend this article immediately. While I appreciate the reporter’s undying desire to do @wbpictures and Walter Hamada’s bidding—it is factually inaccurate. I did not publicly step down from anything. 1/5https://t.co/905q9eX2QX
“If @wbpictures has made the decision to remove me from The Flash, rather than address, in any way, Walter Hamada tampering with the JL investigation–that’s on them. The idea of removing the role, rather than recasting it, is only being used to try to avoid public backlash.”
Fisher continued to rail at Warner Bros. before doubling down on his previous claim that Joss Whedon left his HBO series The Nevers as a direct result of the WarnerMedia/Justice League investigation. Fisher then added that “Geoff Johns will be following suit.” In addition to his accusations of Whedon’s “gross, abusive, unprofessional…behavior,” Fisher also accused Johns of racist behavior last October.
Variety reports that Johns has multiple projects in progress at WarnerMedia and remains working with the company, and states that multiple sources were able to confirm the information. Johns continues his work as the showrunner on CW’s Stargirl, and is an executive producer on series like Doom Patrol, Batwoman, Titans, and Superman & Lois.
Walter Hamada recently renewed his contract with WarnerMedia to continue in his role as DC Films President, just a week after announcing WarnerMedia’s ambitious plan to release six DC films a year–with four aimed at theatrical release and two for release exclusively on HBO Max.
Despite the anticipation for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s sequel, Nintendo has been dead silent about the upcoming game since its announcement trailer in 2019. We know little about the game aside from vague inklings about its premise, which seems to involve Link and Zelda trying to put down for good what we presume to be the dead husk of Ganon. And we don’t even know if the game will be titled Breath of the Wild 2 or if it’ll have an entirely new subtitle.
But with Zelda’s 35th anniversary coming up, we’re getting a feeling that new details may be coming soon, so we’ve taken the time to reflect on the first BotW to find nine things we’d want to see from the sequel. For all the latest news about the game, be sure to check out our BotW 2 hub. Otherwise, what do you want to see in BotW 2? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to GameSpot for any future updates about the game.
Playable or Partner Zelda
Can we not have Zelda as the damsel in distress anymore? Wouldn’t it be cool to fight alongside her in a more cooperative experience? Nintendo has generally been good about having adventures you can play alongside friends with games like Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Kirby: Star Allies, so the idea of having Zelda and Link side by side out in the open world sounds like a dream come true. Although, on the flip side of the coin, it may cause other mechanical issues, as we could see triggering bullet-time as a nuisance for the other player if not implemented properly. Other ideas like having an AI-controlled Zelda follow you throughout the entire adventure, a fully playable Zelda, or even the ability to control both characters simultaneously, ala-Astral Chain, would be fantastic to see in the sequel.
We got some of this fulfilled with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, but we hope that Link and Zelda will have more meaningful gameplay together in the sequel going forward and not the prequel.
Bring Back Traditional Items
The Gale Boomerang, Hookshot, Bombchus, and so many other traditional Zelda equipment pieces would be exciting additions in a BotW sequel. We appreciated the throwback weapons you could use in the original BotW by scanning amiibo, like the Biggoron Sword and Twilight Bow. However, the series’ most time-honored tools and items would be an excellent way to change things up.
A great way for Nintendo to keep progression from feeling too linear would be to approach using tools and items as it did for A Link Between Worlds. In that game, all the items were made available to you from Ravio, and you could rent them for 50-100 rupees apiece, so there was no need to get them from dungeons in a specific order.
But what if Breath of the Wild 2 had this? You could rent all the items from the beginning if you grind enough rupees or take it at a slower pace and go item by item. Admittedly, the presence of traditional Zelda items might not mesh well against the physics-based items of BotW. Incorporating them as freely as A Link Between Worlds may make this a completely different experience. Maybe they could also implement the weapon durability system and make these items only last for so long. Who knows! But all we know is that we want some of those old Zelda items back!
Nero’s Arm Mechanics (From Devil May Cry)
While outright Devil May Cry fighting mechanics in a mainline Zelda game would be too much, this new seemingly arm-possessed Link in BotW 2 gives us some serious Nero vibes. We’re hoping the arm plays a part in adding new skills, like grappling abilities for exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, because that would be outright awesome. In the same vein as some Zelda equipment that should return, it could make an appropriate spiritual successor to the hookshot.
Bring Back Traditional Dungeons
We wouldn’t want to replace shrines, far from it, but we’re hoping that the main dungeons contain more of what made the original Zelda dungeons so memorable. Maps, compasses, keys, unique bosses, and maybe even tool-based puzzles could bring back some charm and familiarity to the experience. While the Divine Beasts were great, they lacked the progression and labyrinthian design that made conquering those classic Zelda dungeons so satisfying. If there’s anything to take from BotW’s Divine Beasts, it would be their open-ended nature to give exploration across each dungeon’s complex web of rooms an even greater sense of freedom.
The BotW sequel would be a perfect opportunity for classic Zelda dungeon design to return. Nintendo could easily justify it in the game’s world with all the Divine Beasts out of commission.
More Emphasis On Story
While BotW was an outstanding game mechanically, its story admittedly took a back seat, especially toward the end. Because the game was so focused on the power to chart your own adventure and do things in any order, there was little room for the characters and story to grow. And since the memories cutscenes were optional, many players may have missed out on even more of the story’s context.
Now that we’re on to the sequel, we’re hoping Nintendo decides to emphasize the story and its characters, allowing them to develop more meaningfully throughout the game. This might make the story more linear, but if the rest of the game is still open, we think this won’t be too much of a compromise, especially if it is good. Nintendo has proven that great stories can be told in the Zelda universe in the past with games like Wind Waker and Skyward Sword. And with BotW specifically, there’s still so much more to explore with Zelda, Link, and Hyrule at large. A sequel seems like the best place to do that!
New Explorable Areas Outside Of Hyrule (Or A Different Version)
Hyrule in BotW is massive and a great place to truly express the sense of freedom the game gives you. But if you’re exploring the same areas in the sequel, what will Nintendo do to freshen up the experience for people who poured hundreds of hours into the original? That sense of discovery would be gone. We’re hoping that BotW 2 has some Termina or Koholint Island area to explore if it’s set in the same Hyrule. Or at the very least, maybe a Dark World Hyrule or some Lorule-like variant where things are mostly the same but slightly different.
Swimming Upgrades
As much as ground and air movement was an astounding feat in BotW, I feel like swimming was something of an afterthought. It was clunky to move quickly, and there wasn’t even a dive option. If Nintendo could improve the overall experience of swimming and expand water exploration in the sequel, that would be awesome. We wouldn’t mind not fully diving underwater either; the time-honored Iron Boots method would still be more than enough to make things interesting.
Return The Darknut
There are plenty of other enemies in the Zelda series that should make a showing in the BotW sequel, but our personal wish is the return of Darknuts. Lynel’s were a tremendous challenge in BotW, but a good old fashioned one-on-one duel against one of those iron-clad knights is something that would bring a tear to our eye. In both Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, they were one of our favorite enemies to fight.
Let Us Pet Dogs!
‘Nuff said, if we can’t pet dogs in the sequel, it’s basically unplayable. Okay, maybe not, but in all seriousness, the dogs in BotW were pretty darn cute, and the feed-for-treasure mechanic was cool, but just let us pet the good bois. They deserve it.
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Things stomp along slowly but steadily in the MonsterVerse. Godzilla vs. Kong, first announced way back in 2017, seemed all set for a streaming debut as of late 2020–but in the joint venture between Legendary Entertainment and Warner Media, the latter threw a massive wrench in the works with its surprise announcement in December that it would put its entire 2021 theatrical line-up onto HBO Max.
After a brewing legal clash and some back and forth in the intervening weeks, The Hollywood Reporter is now indicating the two companies are nearing a deal to resolve release plans for Godzilla vs. Kong. An agreement means the parties are close to averting a potential legal confrontation. Deadline is also reporting that a settlement seems likely, with Godzilla vs. Kong keeping its previously announced simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max release date on May 21.
Meanwhile, another battle between the companies is persisting over Denis Villeneuve’s Dune–whose Oct. 1 release still seems complicated. The director famously slammed the decision to release digitally over theaters, placing blame in a Variety opinion piece on Warner Media’s parent company AT&T for “[hijacking] one of the most respectable and important studios in film history.”
“Streaming services are a positive and powerful addition to the movie and TV ecosystems,” Villeneuve wrote in Variety. “But I want the audience to understand that streaming alone can’t sustain the film industry as we knew it before COVID. Streaming can produce great content, but not movies of Dune’s scope and scale.”
The Steam winter sale may be over, but there are still plenty of deals on Steam games across the internet. Fanatical is one place where you can still pick up some sweet discounts, and right now, you can get 150 classic Atari games for only $2. The Atari Vault Complete Pack includes the base 100 games included with the Atari Vault as well as the 50-game add-on. This deal is only available until January 10, but stock is limited, so it may run out sooner than that–you’ll want to take advantage of this deal soon if you’re interested.
Atari Vault includes classic games from Atari’s arcade lineup as well as its 2600 library. With this $2 Steam key, you get iconic titles like Breakout, Missile Command, and Centipede in addition to Lunar Lander, Warlords, and Tempest. The Atari Vault Complete Pack normally goes for $15, so this deal is well worth it for retro game lovers.
If you’re looking for more excellent PC games at great prices, check out the Ubisoft bargain bin sale. It features some of the company’s best games as well as some of their DLC expansions.
Nintendo consoles have always been known as the family-friendly platform, filled with parent- and child-approved mascots like Mario, Link, Kirby, and Samus. With the Switch, Nintendo has merged its console and handheld markets, offering games that can be played both on the TV and in the palms of our hands. And more so than previous generations, the Switch has robust third-party support, significantly expanding the library to appeal to players of all ages. If you recently purchased a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite for your children, you may be wondering which Switch games are both fun and age-appropriate. We’ve rounded up over 30 of the best Nintendo Switch games for kids–and chances are, you’ll like playing them, too.
Our list contains the obvious standouts–Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, etc.–but also some games that might not be on your radar. Games of all different genres are represented, too, and many of these Nintendo Switch games have co-op or multiplayer so you can tag along with your little ones.
Super Mario Odyssey is arguably the best 3D platformer on Switch. Featuring a more open design, a ton of new tricks thanks to Mario’s sentient hat Cappy, and vibrant, colorful visuals, Odyssey is an absolute delight. It even has a welcome Assist mode that makes it more inviting to younger players and newcomers. For those with kids who aren’t quite ready to play entirely solo, the co-op mode lets one player control an invulnerable Cappy.
Super Mario Maker 2 is the perfect Switch game for kids to let their imaginations run wild. The drag-and-drop creator mode lets you easily build your own side-scrolling levels. It’s a ton of fun to take turns creating levels for each other to play. Mario Maker 2 also has an engaging story mode with more than 100 Nintendo-designed levels and a seemingly endless pool of user-created levels to enjoy. Fair warning, there are some extremely challenging user-created levels out there, but filtering allows you to find courses that fit your skill level.
Not to sound like a broken record here, but basically any Mario game is great for kids, including the fantastic New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which compiles two Wii U games in one delightful package. Featuring a stellar collection of inventive side-scrolling levels, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is classic Mario reborn with HD visuals. It also adds two new playable characters, Toadette and Nabbit, who are particularly great for inexperienced players. Toadette bounces back up when falling into pits, while Nabbit cannot be hurt by enemies, which makes them ideal for young kids learning the ropes of Mario platforming.
New Super Lucky’s Tale is a colorful 3D platformer starring an adorable fox. It harkens back to early 3D platformers like Spyro, offering simplistic gameplay that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages, regardless of skill level. Like the games it pays homage to, New Super Lucky’s Tale has heaps of collectibles that emphasize exploring every nook and cranny of each level. To spice things up, there are also 2D levels thrown into the mix, which complement the more open 3D areas quite well. For kids who love Mario, New Super Lucky’s Tale is a good bet.
Ideal for family game nights, Super Mario Party is the millionth (just kidding) entry in Nintendo’s long-running party game series. For anyone who has ever played Mario Party, the loop will be familiar. The title mode takes place on a game board, where each player rolls the dice and moves the number of spaces, collecting coins and securing stars. Between each round of turns, you play minigames to compete for coins. By design, every minigame is fast-paced and easy to grasp. Super Mario Party also adds a more strategic co-op mode that will likely appeal to older kids as well as a musical minigame and cooperative river rafting mode.
The best racing game on Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an enhanced version of the standout Wii U game. Considered by many to be the best Mario Kart game ever made, it has some serious replay value thanks to a wide variety of tracks both new and old and an engaging battle mode. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a wonderful cart racer that is ideal for both kids and adults. It’s an enjoyable experience whether you’re playing solo or against family and friends.
Minecraft, the most popular game of all time based on sales, really needs no introduction. The sandbox game has captivated millions of players young and old across the world. It’s a game that will appeal to kids who love building and tinkering with things. With Minecraft, your imagination is everything. You make your own rules and run with it, which is a premise plenty of kids thoroughly appreciate.
Minecraft Dungeons takes the pixelated world of the sandbox staple and merges it with Diablo-style gameplay. Played from an isometric perspective, Minecraft Dungeons has easy-to-learn action combat, a fairly deep loot system, and varied level design that makes for a constantly interesting dungeon-crawling experience. Most importantly, it’s kid-friendly and extremely accessible to players of all skill levels. It also has four player co-op both online and locally. Think of it as a charming introduction to action-RPGs.
Quite possibly the cutest game on Nintendo Switch, Yoshi’s Crafted World is a breezy side-scroller with charmingly inventive level design. The world Yoshi explores is primarily made of cardboard, which actually makes it look like a kid constructed it. It’s a familiar experience for anyone who has played a Yoshi platformer. Our dinosaur pal can turn enemies into eggs with his insatiable appetite and then fling them at other enemies, use them to solve puzzles, or sling them at collectibles. Crafted World has a pair of difficulty levels and two-player drop-in, drop-out co-op, so you can tag along with your youngster on their adventure and experience the joyous platforming and genuinely inventive boss battles alongside them.
The Mushroom Kingdom meets Ubisoft’s zany party franchise in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, one of the most bizarre mashups in recent memory. This Nintendo Switch exclusive pulls off the collaboration in style by offering a humorous story with great writing and XCOM-style tactics gameplay that is approachable for younger players. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle offers a great introduction to turn-based strategy games and includes multiple difficult levels to match your skill level. In addition to the delightful solo campaign, Mario + Rabbids has a two-player co-op mode and local multiplayer.
Splatoon 2 is one of the most popular multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch. There are numerous online modes across more than 20 maps, with the general premise revolving around covering the map with paint from paint guns, rollers, and other unique “weapons.” Splatoon 2 also has a co-op mode dubbed Salmon Run and a solo campaign. The Octo Expansion adds a more robust single-player campaign with more than 80 new levels. The only downside to Splatoon 2 is that it doesn’t support split-screen multiplayer. Otherwise, Splatoon 2 is the best game starring squid ever made.
All Mario sports games offer fun, light-hearted spins on popular sports. For Switch, the options have been slim, but there is a great one nonetheless: Mario Tennis Aces. It offers a quality tennis experience whether you’re playing solo or against friends and family. The single-player campaign features traditional matches, challenges with unique objectives, and boss battles that take place on dynamic courts. Each character in Mario Tennis Aces has unique moves to spice up gameplay in multiplayer and always keep you on your toes. Best of all, Mario Tennis Aces is easy to get the hang of and boasts both split-screen multiplayer and online matchmaking. It’s an ideal type of experience for kids who are just getting into sports games.
Kirby Star Allies is one of the rare Nintendo platformers that really begs to be played cooperatively. Yes, Yoshi’s Crafted World, which is also on this list, has cooperative play, but Star Allies is truly designed with it in mind. Thanks to Kirby’s new ability to befriend enemies, you can have up to three followers trail behind you, and one of them can be controlled by another player. Star Allies has some clever puzzles that require teamwork to solve them, and the side-scrolling action combat gets particularly frenzied when a real playing partner is tagging along for the adventure. Like most Kirby games, Star Allies is extremely forgiving, making it a stellar side-scroller on Nintendo Switch for even the youngest of players.
While it’s hard to recommend The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to novice young players, it’s easy to recommend it to preteens. As the first truly open-world The Legend of Zelda game, Breath of the Wild is a grand, sweeping experience filled with clever puzzles, tough enemies, and all of the wonder people have come to expect with Zelda games. Breath of the Wild really succeeds in capturing a near unparalleled sense of adventure, whether you’re riding on horseback, scaling a mountain, or working your way through a puzzle in one of the many Shrines. It’s the type of game that brings adults back to their childhoods, which makes it a rather perfect game to introduce to your own kids as well. For a more classic Zelda experience that’s much easier, check out The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for Switch.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the only pseudo-horror game on this list, and in reality, the only person that will be genuinely frightened by the game’s haunted hotel is Luigi himself. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a 3D adventure game filled with puzzles, none of which are too terribly challenging. It also has a ton of charm and humor thanks to the fun vacuum mechanics to suck up ghosts and Luigi’s ability to create a second, gooey version of himself–appropriately named Googi–to help him solve puzzles.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order‘s general premise will be familiar to anyone who has followed the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thanos is on the prowl for the six Infinity Stones, and it’s your job to stop him. Best played alongside other players, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 is essentially a button masher, but each of the dozens of playable characters have their own unique moves and plenty of stylistic flair. In a sense, Ultimate Alliance 3 feels closer to a game that would have released a generation or two ago, but it still offers tons of excitement. Critically, co-op can be played with up to four players and the approachable combat system means that kids of all ages can play as their favorite hero and take down baddies.
Many of us at GameSpot have logged hundreds of hours into Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the island simulation game that released last year. The beauty of Animal Crossing is that its tranquil setting and rather relaxed activities–fishing, bug-catching, chatting with fellow residents–appeal to players of all ages. Only one island can be created on a single Nintendo Switch, though, so your household might need multiple Switch consoles so everyone can play in harmony. Part of the joy of Animal Crossing is visiting your friends’ (and kids’!) islands, sharing resources, and hanging out in a calming, pleasant setting.
Originally meant to be a Harvest Moon clone, Stardew Valley has evolved over the years into one of the best farming and social sims ever made, setting a new standard for the genre. In Stardew Valley, your character leaves their dreary life in the city to go take over their grandfather’s farm in Stardew Valley, a vibrant rural community inhabited by colorful characters to befriend. While Stardew’s overt anti-capitalist themes might go over the head of your young one, its gameplay loop is gripping, allowing you to spend your days farming crops, fishing, exploring the local mines, forming friendships with the townsfolk, and discovering the game’s many secrets. Though you can get deep into the strategy of maximizing profits and optimizing your efficiency in Stardew, the game doesn’t require that level of play at all. You can easily spend your days pursuing whatever activities suit your fancy, making it a fantastic choice for kids of all ages.
Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee meld mainline Pokemon adventures with the simplistic catch mechanic of Pokemon Go. Distinguished mainly by the option to have either Pikachu or Eevee as your starter, the pair of Let’s Go games are remakes of Pokemon Yellow, taking you back to the Kanto region to catch the original 151 Pokemon and become a champion. The Let’s Go titles are a great way to introduce your kids to the world of Pokemon, especially if you played Yellow (or Red/Blue) as a child. Where Let’s Go differs is that random battles are replaced by visible Pokemon wandering in the grass. Once a battle is initiated, you merely try to catch the Pokemon in a straightforward minigame that resembles the technique of Pokemon Go. This streamlines Pokemon: Let’s Go in a big way, making it a worthy starter title to the ever-growing Pokemon universe. Plus, you can have any Pokemon follow you around and even travel on Charizard’s back–what more could you ask for?
For a more traditional Pokemon experience, Pokemon Sword and Shield are the latest games in the mainline franchise for Nintendo Switch. Though they have a familiar loop, Sword and Shield introduce a large open-world type area known as the Wild Area where you can discover and catch new Pokemon and explore diverse environments. Sword and Shield adopted Let’s Go’s feature of showing Pokemon on the map, but you still have to battle them like normal. With new raid events added regularly and a pair of expansions out now, it’s always a great time to jump in. Pokemon games don’t require extensive role-playing game knowledge to enjoy, though you can really get into the details if you want. Regardless, Sword and Shield are must-plays for young Pokemon fans and serve as great primers for JRPGs.
Untitled Goose Game is a game about pestering people as the very worst bird to ever live: the goose. In each section, you guide the aggravating goose through a series of vague objectives that require you to mess with the property of unassuming humans. Part sandbox, part stealth, part puzzle–Untitled Goose Game has an engaging gameplay loop. It’s more than just an incredibly meme-able experience. That said, it’s consistently hilarious.
Scibblenauts Mega Pack contains two great games that are both fun and educational for school-age children: Scribblenauts Unlimited and Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure. At their core, both titles are puzzle games, but they are novel in that they bring imaginative solutions to life. Problems need to be solved by typing out adjectives and objects, and Unlimited introduces compound ideas, letting you join two distinct words together to create a more elaborate object. Unmasked, meanwhile, melds the Scribblenauts fundamentals with a comic book adventure featuring DC superheroes and locations. Both games can be played solo or with another player. Scribblenauts Mega Pack is great for kids who know how to read but are still getting the hang of putting sentences together–these games let kids turn fragmented ideas into solutions in a fun way.
Virtually any of the many Lego games from Traveller’s Tales could be on this list, but Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 ups the ante from two-player drop-in, drop-out co-op to four player. Each Lego game transports you to the world of a popular media franchise that has been Lego-fied. In this case, you explore the world of Marvel as well-known superheroes, battling baddies with iconic gear and snagging all sorts of collectibles as you traverse the 3D levels. Lego games are really great for young kids who are just picking up the controller, and with four-player co-op, more of the family can get involved.
A Nintendo Switch launch title, Snipperclips is a cutesy and quite funny puzzle game that’s best played cooperatively. Two players can jump into the campaign as Snip and Clip, two sentient pieces of paper. The main conceit of Snipperclips is in the title–you have to snip and clip your way to success by literally cutting up your playing partner to solve puzzles and move onto the next puzzle. Additionally, up to four players can partake in a collection of puzzles and competitive games. These include unique takes on sports like basketball, but yes, you can also compete to see if you can snip your opponents to shreds before they get you. Snipperclips has the aesthetic of a childhood notebook filled with doodles, and it’s a lot of fun for both parents and kids.
Word of warning here: Overcooked 2 may cause family arguments, but it also might foster better communication skills between parents and kids. In all seriousness, the cooking simulator, which is more of a party game, is hilariously hectic fun for up to four players. Each player takes the role of a chef tasked with serving food to some very hungry though invisible customers. In a few short minutes, you’ll have to prepare dishes by retrieving meats, veggies, toppings, and more from designated bins. The challenge comes from the fact that the levels are dynamic, shifting throughout, forcing players to work in unison to find a speedy, efficient rhythm. It’s very simplistic from a control perspective, though its fast pace may make it a better fit for older kids and teens.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 was one of the more surprising games of 2019. While the original was good, Dragon Quest Builders 2 refined the formula to create one of the best action-RPGs for Switch. The adventure takes place across a large open world and combines a variety of ideas to create an engrossing experience. You spend a fair amount of your time building a village from the ground up, Minecraft-style, but you also embark on adventures, slaying monsters and warding off invaders while gathering resources. It’s bright and colorful and would appeal to kids who like Minecraft but want some more traditional questing to balance out the experience.
Inspired by classic role-playing sports games like Mario Golf for Game Boy Color, Golf Story is one of the best indie games on Nintendo Switch. You play as a golfer trying to resurrect his love for the game after decades away, leading you to seek out golf lessons from a rather inattentive instructor at a local club. From there, Golf Story becomes a mix of traditional golf, scavenger hunts, and absurd challenges that keep the gameplay fresh throughout. The writing is hilarious, the story is surprisingly heartwarming, and the top-down golf gameplay that’s injected with role-playing elements is thoroughly nostalgic. It’s also a solid, if quirky, introduction to the game of golf for kids and sports games in general.
In Good Job, you play as a kid who has become the CEO of a large corporation. Naturally, this is ridiculous, and Good Job knows it by encouraging you to cause mayhem as you work your way up a skyscraper, completing tasks on each floor. It’s a physics-based puzzler at heart, with every shelf, object, and unassuming worker reacting to your actions. It’s incredibly easy to be in the middle of a task only to accidentally destroy the work space with one clumsy move. Thankfully, Good Job doesn’t scold you for wreaking havoc; it lets you run free en route to becoming the most unfit (yet enthusiastic) kid CEO around. Two-player local co-op is supported, and Good Job is even more zany when playing with a partner.
Wilmot’s Warehouse is a puzzle game that’s all about organization. While this may sound unappealing, especially if you have a kid who absolutely loathes cleaning their room, Wilmot’s Warehouse makes tidying up fun. Wilmot, the titular warehouse employee, spends his time stacking products, but you can organize them however you see fit. After stacking, you will have to load the products eventually (people order lots of stuff), so coming up with a solid plan to get to stuff quickly is essential. It’s a relaxing game that can be played cooperatively with another player. And perhaps it will even inspire your little one to start thinking about how they organize their own stuff, too.
Compiling the first three 3D Mario games, Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a delightful collection that would appeal to kids of all ages. Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy each have touched-up visuals, but they largely remain stringently faithful to the original releases. For parents, Super Mario 3D All-Stars presents an opportunity to introduce Mario’s first few adventures in 3D to their kids. All three games are excellent and have aged pretty well, though Super Mario 64 is a tad rough around the edges. Unlike most games on this list, you really need to pick it up sooner rather than later. Super Mario 3D All-Stars will only be sold through March 31, 2021, and physical copies may sell out even sooner.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is an inventive new way to experience Nintendo’s flagship cart racing series. Obviously designed with kids in mind, Home Circuit comes with a remote-control car–either Mario or Luigi–and gates that are used to create a track in your living room. Your course setup is shown on screen, with added obstacles and flourishes created to make for a livelier atmosphere. The RC car responds to what happens in the game, too, speeding up when hitting boosts and stalling when struck by items.
Capcom’s limited-time Monster Hunter Rise demo is now live on the Switch eShop, and it supports local and online multiplayer for up to four players. To take advantage of the latter, however, you’ll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, but Nintendo is letting players try out the service free of charge right now.
To coincide with the release of the Monster Hunter Rise demo, Nintendo is offering a free seven-day NSO trial through its My Nintendo rewards program. It doesn’t cost any points to redeem the trial, so it’s available to everyone who has a Nintendo Account but not an existing subscription to the service.
This free trial is a limited-time offer; it will only be available until February 2, one day after the Monster Hunter Rise demo is scheduled to be delisted. You can also only redeem the offer once, and it will automatically convert into a one-month subscription after the seven-day period end unless you turn off automatic renewal before then.
The Monster Hunter Rise demo features four different quests: two training missions that teach players basic controls and actions, and two proper hunts. The latter two can be played solo or with other players, but you are only able to cumulatively play them 30 times. You can read our Monster Hunter Rise demo impressions here and watch some gameplay footage from an early access version of it above.
Although the demo doesn’t carry over any progress to the full game, you will get some bonus items for playing it. Those who have demo save data on their Switch will unlock an item booster pack in Monster Hunter Rise when it launches. The booster pack contains the following items:
Mega Potion x20
Pitfall Trap x5
Energy Drink x10
Mega Demondrug x5
Mega Armorskin x5
Monster Hunter Rise launches for Switch on March 26. Alongside the game, Capcom is releasing three new Amiibo figures that will each unlock a special set of layered armor. You can read more about the game’s different editions and preorder bonuses in our Monster Hunter Rise preorder guide.
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