Mailbox: Switch Game Pricing, Shovelware, Self-Nerfing

And here we are again, entering the last third of the year, kicking furiously to keep our head above the water as the deluge of big new video games washes in. What’s that floating like a flotsam-y life raft on the surface? Why, it’s the Nintendo Life Mailbox. Grab on!

Yes, it’s time for our monthly letters page feature. Got something you want to get off your chest? We’re ready and waiting to read about your game-related ponderings.

Each month we’ll highlight a Star Letter, the writer of which will receive a month’s subscription to our ad-free Supporter scheme. Check out the submission guidelines at the bottom of this page.

Not a huge selection this month – presumably you’ve all been busy playing the video games. So, let’s dry these few missives in the sun and get reading, shall we?

Nintendo Life Mailbox – September 2025

“frightfully confusing” (***STAR LETTER***)

Nintendo variable pricing for Switch 1 and 2 games is becoming a frightfully confusing situation. Let’s run down some costs here first of all for physical games:

Metroid Prime 4 (switch 2 version): £58.99 RRP
Metroid Prime 4 (switch 1 version): £49.99 RRP
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Switch 2): £66.99 RRP
Mario Galaxy 1+2 (Switch 1): £58.99 RRP

So… How on earth is the SWITCH 2 version of Metroid Prime 4, a game that took 8 years of development and is clearly one of Nintendo’s most expensive projects, the same price as ports of two old Wii Mario games for Switch 1?

I have actually managed via a third party seller to acquire a Metroid Prime 4, Switch 2 version pre-order for £48.85. That is insane value, and yet Nintendo are charging through the roof for what can only be objectively described as a less significant gaming experience.

When Bill Trinnen said variable pricing was based on the overall experience and value proposition, I’m sorry but, absolute porkies Bill. This situation belies any logic and I cannot get my head around it. Please understand? How Bill, How!?
YoshiTails

Putting aside the fact that nobody knows yet if Prime 4 is “insane value” at that price, Nintendo charges what they think people will pay, end of. Bill’s being a bit vague, but he’s not telling porkies. Nintendo looks at the Galaxy bundle and sees not a pair of polished-up ports pushed out on an ageing console, but two 10/10 all-timers (and they’ve got the review scores to prove it) brought together in a convenient package. An “objectively…less significant gaming experience” it is not.

The price tag stings for you and me — people who paid and played these games years ago — but millions of people will pay £58.99 and be over the moon with them. And the rest of us? Maybe we’ll pick up Galaxy 2 down the road.

As for Metroid, the series is growing, but it’s not in Mario’s league sales-wise. If they want to sell decent numbers (to people beyond Metroid devotees who would pay $90 if they had to), 60 quid is a reasonable ask – the value-proposition sweet spot for that game, by Nintendo’s judgement.

And Nintendo would never (publicly) use dev time and the associated costs to justify higher price points because it would bite them in the ass when ‘Mario Party Boogaloo’ arrives in 12 months’ time and everyone starts complaining it isn’t $40. – Ed.

“I want to vet”

One of the big problems with Shovelware is it makes new game discovery almost impossible. Back in the DSi games, I would occasionally download random games that just sounded kind of fun and discovered a lot of real gems this way. Today, I find myself scrolling through the weekly Nintendo Download section you fine people provide and I sometimes see a title that looks like it might be fun, but I’m afraid to get burned by some false-advertising shovelware game. This means that there are probably some real indie gems out there that are getting overlooked.

My question: Since Nintendo doesn’t seem to be in a rush to fix this issue, what steps should I take when I want to vet a new, fun-sounding game to see if it’s legit? What are the tells that you’re going to get a piece of shovelware garbage?
Pak-Man

We covered how to avoid ‘keyword bingo’ and ‘scam’ games a while ago, so check out that article if you missed it. Generally, though, those are fairly easy to spot – and that goes for the AI-slop and rubbish that outfits like Aldora and Pakotime pump out weekly.

I get the sense you mean games which might look like a Downwell or a VVVVVV or a [insert brilliant pixel-art game here] from the outside but turn out to be low-effort rubbish? Most games that look like Vampire Survivors are not Vampire Survivors! I understand the predicament.

It’s still quite rare, though, to find a good game with literally zero positivity somewhere on the internet. If you’ve run out of bona fide classics in your backlog and want to get adventurous or catch up on gems you missed, I’d make sure to find a clip of the game running at least. Seeing it in motion will filter out plenty.

And the rest? That uncertainty is part of the thrill, I suppose! I don’t remember the last time I bought a game on a whim without knowing exactly what it was. – Ed.

“nerf yourself”

Dear Nintendo Life,

A big part of the Donkey Kong series is the amazing boss battles, so I was disappointed with the lack of difficulty in Donkey Kong Bananza. I know that a counterargument is that if you want more difficulty, you should use less hearts and recovery items, but I don’t find it fun to “nerf” yourself. That’s like saying “If you think Super Mario Bros. is too easy, you should play it blindfolded.” In his YouTube channel, Sakurai discussed the importance of “risk and reward,” so not only should games have options for difficulty, but games should encourage players to go for the highest difficulty that they can handle. I feel that a good example of this in a platformer is Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair—not only did that game have customizable difficulty, but it had an in-game reward system that encouraged you to go for higher difficulty. I just find it sad that more and more games are giving out rewards with no risk. Back in my day, games weren’t afraid to challenge you. And, by gum, we liked it!
Oh dear. I’ve become Cranky Kong.
-Anonymous

I don’t know, I hit a wall with the final boss and still haven’t been back because I got distracted by banandium when I went back to the higher levels.

The whole difficulty discourse around Silksong wound me up (though not quite as much as ‘Silksong’s too cheap!’), although I get it — who’s got the time we had back in the day to spend a whole summer beating one incredibly difficult game? I also get not wanting to self-nerf.

More intelligently implemented options around difficulty are a good thing in my book. Nintendo often errs on the cautious side with its trad-style, three-hit-kill Mario and Zelda bosses, but I don’t come to those games looking for friction or mountain to summit. Ed.

“the same guy”

Hello hello! It’s the same guy who went on a tirade last month about Blaster Master Zero being underrated! (I hope I got a few new believers).

I did end up giving Just Shaped and Beats a whirl per your recommendations and you know what? I’m a fan. What you see is what you get, it’s no nonsense, the beats are beautiful, it’s addicting, and there are two connections to Mega Man. Sort of.

A track by Bossfight features in the game. Bossfight also did a stellar remix of Wily Stage 1 from Mega Man 2 (even a live performance!). And the track Yokuman Stage? Lifted straight from the fangame Mega Man Unlimited.

That’s enough rambling from me though, have a great day/night.

P.S. Silksong coming out is challenging Shinobi: Art of Vengeance as my Game of the Year and it hurts the Sega child in me.
BardSkittle

Yes. Spreading the good word of the JS&B sickos. Excellent work. – Ed.

Bonus Letters

“One game desperately missing in the Switch library is the Disney Afternoon Collection. Why do you think this port still hasn’t happened after eight years?” – DwaynesGames

I heard Miyamoto vetoed the Switch release because seeing Baloo done up like a pilot weirded him out. – Ed.

“PLEASE REVIEW ALL ARCADE ARCHIVE GAMES THEY DESERVE IT” – Anonymous

I would! Unfortunately, you and I are the only ones who read them. – Ed.

“If you are interested in getting more information just respond back to this email.” – Ricky

… – Ed.

“Still holding out for Wii Music 2 though.” – Maxz

I’ll play Joy-Con 2 mouth organ (steady), you grab the Switch 2 Camera theremin. – Ed.

That’s all for this month! Thanks to everyone who wrote in, whether you were featured above or not.

Got something you’d like to get off your chest? A burning question you need answered? A correction you can’t contain? Follow the instructions below, then, and we look forward to rifling through your missives.

Nintendo Life Mailbox submission advice and guidelines

• Letters, not essays, please – Bear in mind that your letter may appear on the site, and 1000 words ruminating on the Legend of Heroes series and asking Alana for her personal ranking isn’t likely to make the cut. Short and sweet is the order of the day. (If you’re after a general guide, 100-200 words would be ample for most topics.)
• Don’t go crazy with multiple correspondences – Ideally, just the one letter a month, please!
• Don’t be disheartened if your letter doesn’t appear in the monthly article – We anticipate a substantial inbox, and we’ll only be able to highlight a handful every month. So if your particular letter isn’t chosen for the article, please don’t get disheartened!

How to send a Letter to the Nintendo Life Mailbox

• Head to Nintendo Life’s Contact page and select the subject “Reader Letters” from the drop-down menu (it’s already done for you in the link above). Type your name, email, and beautifully crafted letter into the appropriate box, hit send, and boom — you’re done!