Mailbox: 3D Mario Predictions, Gaming Redemptions, Grammar Talk

Greetings, Nintendo Lifers. We’re back once again to meticulously sift through your electronic correspondences as we open the door and set down the small flag on the Nintendo Life Mailbox.

Have something you wish to express? We’re eager and prepared to delve into your gaming-related reflections. Each month we will showcase a Star Letter, with its author being rewarded a month’s subscription to our ad-free Supporter program. Make sure to review the submission criteria at the bottom of this page.

It’s November, which signifies that titles are being hurled at us akin to T-shirts from one of those cannons we’ve only witnessed on The Simpsons. So let’s get moving swiftly so we can return to gearing up for GOTY a month from now…

Nintendo Life Mailbox – November 2025

“gramers” (***STAR LETTER***)

Alright, genuine conversation. Grammar discourse for gamers who are attentive to language: gramers.

What’s your stance on employing ‘release’ as an intransitive verb? As in, “the game releases next month.”

It seems to have gained notable traction over recent years, even in official promotions, although I might just be becoming more attuned to it.

The majority of dictionaries recognize only the transitive usage (“the game _was_ released (by Nintendo)”/“Nintendo released the game”), yet that doesn’t appear to deter anyone from using the verb without an object.

Is this a modern phenomenon, or has it existed as long as video games have been… releasing?

I view myself as more of a descriptivist than a prescriptivist, so please try not to mind the absence of an object. However, I’d like to hear your expert insights on this matter as seasoned writers with an adorable sense of impeccable grammar & spelling, etc.
Maxz

Very nice. That concluding sentence had me twitching.

I’m not fond of it. Nonetheless, ‘it releases’ is so prevalent that I’ve acquiesced and use it myself these days. It no longer sounds unnatural to my ears, and alternating it with ‘launches’ adds some variety to the language.

Regardless, the grammar authorities have larger issues to address. I’m currently in a tussle with ‘addicting’. And don’t even get me started on the true grammatical abomination of our era, ‘I could care less’… *retching, weeping, withering* – Ed.

“boulder-falling”

With “Close to You” being Nintendo Picture’s inaugural in-house produced short film, I wonder if we might witness dormant Nintendo franchises resurrected in the form of animations. It’s considerably less of a time and financial commitment to create an animation than to produce a new AAA game. Nintendo could craft short animations of these inactive franchises to genuinely assess audience interest in potential new games. Picture an F-Zero race brilliantly animated to be as cinematic as conceivable, or the Golden Sun boulder-falling introduction animated like a Miyazaki film.

These are merely a few concepts that come to mind, but what would you like to witness? More crucially, do you believe favorable reception to animations could lead to new game developments?
Kazman2007

It’s a lovely concept, yet I don’t envision it materializing. A cinematic F-Zero race would be thrilling for about four minutes, and then discussions would quickly shift to the rationale behind the short. “We just wanted to try something cool!” wouldn’t satisfy the hardcore fans. They/we would feel slighted, deceived, trolled, despite the impressive F-Zero aspect.

Pikmin remains an active concern for Nintendo; they recently updated Pikmin 4, all the other titles are available on Switch, and Pikmin Bloom continues to thrive. Even if these serve as training exercises for Nintendo Pictures, they won’t squander their marketing potential on IP that has no active sales.

Here’s hoping for a Rhythm Heaven short next year, then. – Ed.

“every single box”

Greetings, Nintendo Life!
Recently, because of its mention on this site, I acquired Trails in the Sky 1st chapter, and I absolutely loved it. I’ve started the subsequent game in the series (on my PC, sadly.) and I genuinely feel like I’ve discovered a series that satisfies every single requirement of what I treasure in a game. Remarkable soundtrack, a significant focus on character interactions, a JRPG, overall comforting vibes, and I utterly adore the characters and the universe. The only other title I’ve felt was crafted solely for me hasn’t even been released yet! (Hazuki Dies: She Has No Name on Steam, be sure to check out the demo)
Two points. Firstly, thank you for showcasing Trails the 1st on your Nintendo Life website! I greatly value it. Secondly, have any of you found that “ideal game series” for yourselves? I’m curious.
Regardless, thanks for all that you do! I truly appreciate it.
Bluelink45

And we appreciate you, Bluelink! If executed well, I can’t think of a genre I outright dislike, which, conversely, complicates identifying a ‘perfect’ series. Pikmin, perhaps? That series offers a wonderful blend of elements, but truly it’s variety that keeps me engaged.

‘This is a game about trauma’ in the PR blurb is a personal red flag for me at the moment – I look forward to the time when I’m not avoiding it out of self-preservation. Fortunately, variety is Switch’s strongest asset, and Nintendo’s specialty is uplifting vibes and playful movement. Speaking of which… – Ed.

“good guesses”

Hi Nintendo Life,

I’ve been a part of this marvelous community for quite some time now, and this is the first occasion I’m reaching out to you all.

I understand you aren’t Nintendo themselves, but any educated guesses on when the next 3D Mario game might be announced/released for the Switch 2? The mainline Super Mario series is my favorite game series of all time, and I’m excited to see what sort of adventures await Mario on Nintendo’s latest console. And yes, I did play Donkey Kong Bananza – it’s definitely a good game. But I am particularly eager for that next 3D Mario!

Wishing you all a delightful day.
D-Star92

We’re all anticipating the next proper 3D Mario, but attempting to forecast Nintendo’s moves is a fool’s endeavor. Fortunately, I am that fool, so let’s say *gazes into the distance while opening a tab on the laptop and studying decades of Nintendo Direct dates*…

Wednesday, June 10th announcement for a Thursday, September 10th release. You heard it here first, folks! Pulled that one straight from my… mind. – Ed.

“lukewarm”

Mario Kart World Appreciation
(Sorry if this message is overly lengthy!)

I remain astonished by the lukewarm reaction toward Mario Kart World. The dismissiveness seems to stem from individuals who aren’t aware of the high skill ceiling and depth of gameplay. In some respects, I comprehend the viewpoint, as I concur that meandering along the main path through a track like Salty Salty Speedway can be rather dull. The fact is, those who cherish Mario Kart

World doesn’t compete in that manner. We are preparing for wall rides and rail combos that frequently enable us to bypass whole segments of the course. Gradually, a racer begins to perceive water as a hindrance to steer clear of (since it’s slower than other terrains) rather than as the unavoidable route. Incorporate the tactical choices regarding when and where to optimally utilize items and which of the several paths is the most advantageous at the given moment, and you have a game filled with tremendous complexity and replay value.

Although Mario Kart is a timeless favorite for casual gaming, I wish more individuals would take the small leap of genuinely mastering a track in Time Trials. First, observe the provided Nintendo staff ghost to identify the key shortcuts and grasp how it appears to race a clean line. Once you surpass the staff ghost, if you’re bold enough, check out the absurd world record ghost to see just how elevated the skill ceiling can be. You start realizing that you’re losing time with slightly careless turns and by missing out on inventive turbo boost chances, not to mention the truly expert maneuvers like leaping off the track during curves to wall ride along the narrow verge of the road instead and connecting shortcut combos that arise where brilliant Nintendo track design meets exceptional skill. (Did Nintendo intentionally craft that outrageous shortcut? You can never be entirely certain!) There are tiers to the skill ceiling and you begin to perceive just how much risk and challenge you are prepared to undertake in Time Trials and additionally in your other preferred game modes as well.

By the way, count me among the enthusiasts calling for updates. I am thoroughly hoping for additional tracks, a dedicated mode for traditional 3-lap races, and 200cc. The concept I’ve encountered about more intricate missions in Free Roam for unlocking new characters or tracks could also be quite intriguing. But darn it, I adore Mario Kart World already! It’s provided me with stretches of gaming joy that are becoming increasingly scarce as the years roll on (to the extent of nearly activating parental controls on myself after staying up playing until 2:00 AM for a third consecutive night). Happy racing everyone!
Scott

I concur that there’s a wealth of complexity and World will serve as my go-to Mario Kart for many years ahead – I just haven’t had the chance to play it lately due to everything else!

And we’re certainly going to receive updates. I’ve heard they sold quite a number of copies of this. – Ed.

“a degree of enjoyment”

I’m at a stage where I feel it’s time to cease purchasing Pokémon games. I was examining the flat, N64-quality wall textures in Legends Z-A and finally, the facade has been removed.
I’ve been faithfully buying Pokémon games as a tradition throughout the entire series, and experiencing a degree of enjoyment with them. Generally, though, it’s more just to play the new one because I played the previous one. They have exhibited very little innovation over the decades. This is the most lucrative entertainment franchise in the globe, and comparing the love and effort allocated to Zelda, Mario, and numerous others – not to mention indie games that dedicate thought and affection to every detail – frustrates me endlessly. We expect so little from them, and they regard their devoted fans with minimal respect.
At this juncture, I won’t lose much by skipping the next installment in Pokémon, and I’ll be voicing my opinion with my wallet.
Barton

I agree that ‘mediocre’ isn’t sufficient for titles like this. There’s no shortage of software available, and considering the last generation of Pokémon titles, you’ll likely be okay passing on the next one and channeling that dollar into a good selection of indie masterpieces instead.

Or simply wait a few months and see how circumstances unfold. Being present on day one to engage in the discussion is nice, but the games aren’t going anywhere. – Ed.

“eager for a Bubsy”

You know, I’ve always been a fan of a solid redemption story. Bubsy 4D is on the horizon (that demo was truly amazing) and it amazes me that I’m looking forward to a Bubsy title, but here we are.

On the other hand, it’s being developed by Fabraz, who created the fantastic Demon Turf (easy recommendation by the way) and are also working on its sequel, Demon Tides, which appears stunning.

To a lesser degree, Yooka Replaylee has just released and the overall consensus is quite positive.

Any memorable gaming redemption tales you can think of? Cheers everyone. Happy gaming!
Lewis

Cyberpunk comes to mind right away. No Man’s Sky, for sure (thanks, Jim). It can happen! There’s still optimism for Mighty No.9! Perhaps when I receive my 3DS code… – Ed.

Bonus Correspondence

“Please Nintendo, Navi says “Listen!” But will you?” – YoshiTails

*removes Airpods* Sorry, what was that? – Ed.

“Just wanted to touch base and see if you’d had a chance to mull over our suggestion on improving home settings for enhanced health.” – Dennis

No, you’re good, Dennis. – Ed.

“Hello there! Just checking back into your inbox to see if you’re poised to unveil the secrets of exceptional data collection.” – Randall

As in data from the universe or just truly first-rate data collection? Dennis may have been slightly off-topic, but at least he was clear. Please be more specific with your spam, Randall. – Ed.

Blockity, block, block, block. Okay, that’s sufficient for this month. Thanks to everyone who wrote in, whether you were included above or not.

Got something you’d like to express? A pressing question you need addressed? A correction you can’t keep quiet about? Follow the guidelines below, and we look forward to sorting through your letters.

Nintendo Life Mailbox submission recommendations and protocols

• Letters, not essays, please – Remember that your letter might be showcased on the site, and 1000 words reflecting on the Legend of Heroes series and inquiring about Alana’s personal ranking is unlikely to make the cut. Concise and direct is the motto here. (If you’re seeking a general guideline, 100-200 words would suffice for most subjects.)
• Don’t go overboard with numerous submissions – Ideally, just one letter a month, please!
• Don’t be discouraged if your letter doesn’t show up in the monthly article – We anticipate a significant number of letters, and we’ll only be able to highlight a select few each month. So if your specific letter isn’t included, please don’t lose heart!

How to send a Letter to the Nintendo Life Mailbox

• Head over to Nintendo Life’s Contact page and choose the subject “Reader Letters” from the dropdown menu (it’s pre-selected for you in the link above). Input your name, email, and artfully composed letter into the designated fields, hit send, and voila — you’re finished!