Welcome to 2026! We hope the new year is off to a grand start. The Nintendo eShop certainly doesn’t rest, despite a slightly quieter update than usual this week. Apart from a lot of Switch games, there’s a new Tetris event along with a new way to play the addictive Suikia Game.

First up is the 51st MAXIMUS event for Tetris 99. This event celebrates the release of the upcoming Animal Crossing update, featuring unlockable music and designs inspired by the cozy critters from the island. The event runs from Jan 8-12, just in time for the new New Horizons on Jan 15.

Suika Game was a smash hit when it released in 2023 – particularly in Japan. Last year, we were teased with a new version of the game for Switch 2 called Suika Game Planet. Well, it’s finally here! So get your brain ready for some relaxing puzzle vibes as we merge fruit in a whole new way. This is one game we’ll be sure to talk about on an upcoming episode of the Pure Nintendo Podcast, so stay tuned.

What’s on your wishlist this week? Let us know what you’re picking up and playing!

Activities

• Tetris 99 51^st MAXIMUS CUP – Welcome back, neighbor! Some friendly familiar faces from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game are popping up in the Tetris 99 game for its 51st MAXIMUS CUP event! Nintendo Switch Online members playing the Tetris 99 online mode during the event period can collect 100 event points to unlock a new theme featuring art, music and Tetrimino designs inspired by the updated content in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The Tetris 99 51^st MAXIMUS CUP event will run from Jan. 8 at 11 p.m. PT to Jan. 12 at 10:59 p.m. PT. Also, don’t forget that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will receive a brand-new update on Jan. 15!

New this week on Nintendo Switch 2

• Arcade Archives 2 SPACE INVADERS PART II
• Suika Game Planet
• Tomba! Special Edition

New this week on Nintendo Switch

• A Planet of Mine MasterMine Edition – Available Jan. 13
• AAA Games Ultimate Collection
• Adventure Reborn
• BattleTanks – Animal Wars – Available Jan. 14
• Best of Upscale Studio Bundle: 5 in 1
• Big Hops – Available Jan. 12
• Biplanes – Available Jan. 12
• Blablublas Battle Royale Shooter
• Clothing Store Simulator
• Construction Sim: City and Road Builder
• Crayon Animal
• Direction Quad – Available Jan. 14
• Dunkirk – The Forgotten Soldier – Available Jan. 10
• Geo IQ World Master
• Go Kart Island – Available Jan. 9
• Gray War Conflict
• Hero Seekers
• Hidden Cats in Istanbul
• I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival
• Jelly & Toast – Available Jan. 9
• Lovely Spot the Difference Fantasy Edition
• Mist
• Mom Life Simulator
• Need for Race Street King & Formula Auto Sport Racing Pack
• Owlen and the Spirits of the Past
• Pin Strike 2
• Pool & Snooker Fever: 2 in 1 Bundle – Available Jan. 9
• Pursuit
• Sheriff Park Ranger – Available Jan. 13
• Speedster’s Collection
• SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia In The Americas
• Sugoroku New Year’s Party
• Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights – Available Jan. 13
• Tile Jong
• ULTIMATE BATTLE SIMULATOR
• Van Life: Home Simulator
• Wander Scoop
• Whiskers Warehouse – Logic Puzzle Game
• Zumba – Marble Candy Rush

The post New Suika game and Tetris event join this week’s eShop roundup appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, Jemma, Kirk, and Trev count down our favorite games of 2025. It’s been a HUGE year, so let’s find out what we enjoyed playing the most!

On last week’s episode, we celebrated the holidays – and the associated sales. We also talked about Hollow Knight: Silksong and Cult of the Lamb’s upcoming DLC. This week is all about the best games of 2025. We each count down our top-ten titles, including the likes Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Hyrule Warirors, and Mario Kart World. Plus a few surprises like the excellent No Sleep for Kaname Date. But what made our number one game of the year? Tune in to find out!

Thank you to all our listeners for joining us this year, we really appreciate it! We’re taking a short break – just one week off! – but we’ll be back with all-new episodes in our next season on January 12. Until then, game on everyone.

Support us on the Pure Nintendo Podcast

And don’t forget to follow us on Blue Sky to keep up to date with our news and reviews, and support us over at Patreon.com/PureNintendo! Our next issue of the Pure Nintendo Magazine has just been shipped, so keep your eyes on your mailbox for your copy!

Until next time, game on everyone!

The post We count down the best games of 2025! Pure Nintendo Podcast E144 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, we begin with a quick look at Mario’s first Thanksgiving Parade appearance before delving into how we’re preparing for Metroid Prime 4’s immenent release.

On last week’s episode, we talked about Nintendo’s latest big release with Kirby Air Riders. We revisit this chaotic game, but we’re also gearing up for the next big release – Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. It’s so close now! We talk about the series, our fave entries, and much more.

We also look at the latest Online Classics hitting the Switch and Switch 2 with two NES and two Gameboy games heading our way recently. This included the classic toughness of Battletoads for NES. Jem tried it for the first time and gives her thoughts!

We’re playing a ton of games this week, from Kirby Air Riders to Hades II, along with Metroid Prime Remastered, Outlaws, and Adventure of Samsara. Plus Kirk gives us a preview of an upcoming game where digging holes is key. Sounds like fun!

It’s all happening on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, your weekly dose of all things Nintendo! With well over 100 episodes down, we’re excited to bring you more Nintendo content each and every week. We may be nearing the end of the year, but there’s still so much to look forward with Metroid Prime 4 now so close. So be sure to tune in each and every Monday for your latest dose of all things Nintendo on the Pure Nintendo Podcast!

Support us on the Pure Nintendo Podcast!

And don’t forget to follow us on Blue Sky to keep up to date with our news and reviews, and support us over at Patreon.com/PureNintendo! Our next issue of the Pure Nintendo Magazine has just been shipped, so keep your eyes on your mailbox for your copy!

Until next time, game on everyone!

The post Mario’s first Thanksgiving! Plus we prepare for Metroid 4! appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

ILA: A Frosty Glide is a cozy, 3D platformer for the Nintendo Switch. It marks the debut for indie developer Magic Rain Studios, delivering a charming experience that fills us with high hopes for the team’s future.

The setting is a wintry wonderland full of mystery. You play the role of a young witch searching for her missing cat through the snowy land. Clues like letters and pawprints are dotted about the place, leading you further into a mysterious world.

The simple gameplay involves walking, jumping, and gliding. The controls are easy to pick up. Gliding feels particularly fun and satisfying, with various upgrades along the way that allow you to travel farther and faster. This is where the game gets its “frosty glide” moniker; your broomstick acts somewhat like an airborne skateboard. There are even a few snowboarding sections to help break things up. These are a neat addition that bring a spot of fast-paced action to proceedings.

There are light puzzle elements, too. Most of the progression relies on finding a button or other trigger to open new pathways. These are never overly taxing, contributing to the relaxed tone of the game.You can rotate the camera with the R-stick, giving you some control over the perspective. This works well most of the time, though the foreground of the environment can occasionally interfere with things. It’s not bad at all, and rotating further will help you find that sweet spot, but there are a few jangly moments that cause some stuttering when things don’t quite fit on the screen properly.

The only other aspect missing from ILA is a map. While most of the time you’ll be led to your next destination by those aforementioned clues, I found myself accidentally straying from the path or falling from a great height, becoming disoriented and unsure of how to proceed. I backtracked a fair bit until I found my way again. There are unlockable shortcuts that help reduce the need to retrace your steps, but it’s more about losing your place. A map or even a compass would help with this slight inconvenience.

There are no enemies to distract or impede your progress, firmly planting this one in the cozy genre. The only time you’ll “die” is when you fall into water or off a cliff into the abyss. A quick respawn means you can continue your journey immediately.

There are also plenty of collectibles to keep you invested in exploration. These come in the form of clothing, like scarves and hats, along with letters, fish bones, and broomsticks. It’s fun and satisfying to discover these items hidden around the landscape. Be sure to check behind each and every tree!

ILA isn’t a long journey, lasting a few hours. Once the credits roll, you can jump back in to complete your collectathon, providing a little more longevity. Adding to the game’s cozy nature is a subtle soundtrack that sits soothingly in the background. The simple tunes fit the snowy mountains perfectly, adding a serenity that works well with the game’s aesthetics.

Overall, ILA: A Frosty Glide is a lovely looking outing about love, loss, and collectables. While some of the camerawork could be improved, and a map or compass would help with navigation, the cute characters and sweet story easily make up for those shortcomings. ILA is a cozy title that will satisfy anyone looking for a quiet journey through a wintry wonderland.

The post Review: ILA: A Frosty Glide (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, we delve into the latest release from Nintendo with Kirby Air Riders.

In our last episode, we broke down the brand-new Mario Galaxy Movie trailer. This week, we’re all about Kirby’s latest outing with Kirby Air Riders. This fast-paced racer has a lot under the hood, and we’re excited to dissect it all. City Trial, Road Trip, online play, and more. There’s so much to this one!

We also take a look at the recently released pics from the Legend of Zelda Movie, which is filming right now in New Zealand. What do we think of the costumes and scenery? And where’s Link’s hat?

We discuss the latest gaming news, including Tomb Raider’s shadow drop, plus our thoughts on the Game of the Year Awards, and the games we’re playing. We also have Kirk’s Corner of course, this week with an interesting JRPG heading our way next year.

It’s all happening on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, your weekly dose of all things Nintendo! With well over 100 episodes down, we’re excited to bring you more Nintendo content each and every week. We may be nearing the end of the year, but there’s still so much to look forward with Metroid Prime 4 and Kirby Air Riders yet to come our way. So be sure to tune in each and every Monday for your latest dose of all things Nintendo on the Pure Nintendo Podcast!

Support us on the Pure Nintendo Podcast!

And don’t forget to follow us on Blue Sky to keep up to date with our news and reviews, and support us over at Patreon.com/PureNintendo! Our next issue of the Pure Nintendo Magazine has just been shipped, so keep your eyes on your mailbox for your copy!

Until next time, game on everyone!

The post Why we love Kirby Air Riders! Pure Nintendo Podcast E139 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.