October 19, 2026

Feature: Box Art Brawl

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Mission 1 Commence! by Ollie Reynolds Yesterday, 10am Image: Nintendo Life Hello everyone, and welcome back to another installment of Box Art Brawl! Before we dive into this week’s contest, let’s review how last week unfolded. We examined Wii Sports Resort for the, uh, Wii. To say the competition was unbalanced would be quite an understatement. Europe and Japan decisively won the poll with an impressive 84% turnout. North America captured the leftover 16% – better luck next time, right? This week, to commemorate the launch of Metal Slug Advance on Switch Online, we decided to take a look at the original box art for the GBA. Released in 2004 and created by the now-defunct Noise Factory, MS Advance garnered favorable reviews at launch, with gameplay effectively mirroring the mainline series exceptionally well. Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube853k North America and Europe join forces this week to face Japan, so let’s get started,... Read More

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October 19, 2026

Mailbox: Rising Costs, Non-Compliant EU Switches, WarioWare Fantasia

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Image: Nintendo Life Greetings to everyone at the Nintendo Life Mailbox. Is everyone doing well? It’s October, which signifies that with numerous video games being released simultaneously, we find ourselves abundant in games yet short on time (and finances, too). With Ocarina imminent, many are immersed in their gaming as the arrival of Zelda nears, and in addition, GOTY is peeking over the horizon. This is likely why the mailbox has been particularly sparse this month. Don’t forget, if you have anything you’d like to express, we are here and eager to hear your game-related reflections. Each month we’ll showcase a Star Letter, with the author receiving a month’s subscription to our ad-free Supporter program. Make sure to review the submission guidelines located at the bottom of this page. Let’s relax with a cozy drink and explore our dispatch box… Nintendo Life Mailbox – October 2026 Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life “unreasonable heights”... Read More

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October 19, 2026

Feature: The Seven-Year Silence: How Ocarina Of Time Held My Grief At Seven Years Old

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Image: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is often hailed as the best game ever created, praised for its dungeons, its soundtrack, and a critical heritage that remains the most acclaimed title in gaming history. For those of us who experienced it at that moment, it was to gaming what the transformation scene in The Wizard of Oz is when Dorothy’s world shifts to color: sheer enchantment and awe. However, for those who seek art to navigate the unfathomable, it represented something much more delicate and essential. In the summer of my seventh year, my universe crumbled, and that same winter, a Nintendo 64 cartridge became the only refuge I had left to come to terms with the loss of my father. In the summer preceding the European launch of Ocarina of Time on the N64, my father took his own life. My paternal figure, along with my... Read More

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October 19, 2026

After Star Wars: Zero Company and Galactic Racer, Lucasfilm says it will “continue to surprise”

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(Image credit: Electronic Arts) Video games set in a universe far, far away are arguably more captivating today than they have been for numerous years. But what has shifted? Lucasfilm Games executive Douglas Reilly mentions that the organization is now less limiting with the Star Wars franchise and hints at more forthcoming games that could astonish fans. This year alone, we have received two rather unexpected Star Wars titles. There’s Star Wars: Zero Company, a remarkable turn-based strategy game that forcefully integrates the XCOM formula into a completely different sci-fi universe. Then there’s Star Wars: Galactic Racer, an arcade racing title developed by some of the creators behind Burnout. Both have garnered outstanding reviews. In an interview with The Game Business Show, Reilly states that these partnerships arose from being “more adaptable regarding, like, who we’re open to receiving proposals from and good concepts can emerge from various sources.” Interview: Activision on Game Pass,... Read More

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October 19, 2026

Red Dead Redemption and Bully “nearly didn’t happen,” Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser says

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(Image credit: Rockstar Games) Red Dead Redemption and Bully are among Rockstar Games‘ most iconic successes – beyond the behemoth Grand Theft Auto franchise, naturally – but those esteemed titles were nearly never created, as stated by studio co-founder and former chief writer Dan Houser. In a conversation with IGN, the ex-Rockstar lead elucidates that entirely fresh and innovative titles encounter significantly greater obstacles in reaching completion compared to sequels. GTA Co-Creator Dan Houser on How 9/11 and a ‘Kick Me’ Sticker Altered Rockstar Games Permanently – YouTube Watch On “I believe there were numerous occasions when Red Dead was on the verge of not happening. I am convinced there were plenty of instances when Bully was almost scrapped, as well as many other situations where potential games could have faded away,” Houser remarks. “There are plenty of serendipitous instances, or a single successful prototype, or the game unexpectedly coming together, that rescue projects... Read More

One Column Transparent

Feature: Box Art Brawl

Mailbox: Rising Costs, Non-Compliant EU Switches, WarioWare Fantasia

Feature: The Seven-Year Silence: How Ocarina Of Time Held My Grief At Seven Years Old

After Star Wars: Zero Company and Galactic Racer, Lucasfilm says it will “continue to surprise”

Red Dead Redemption and Bully “nearly didn’t happen,” Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser says

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