Pokémon Champions questions answered: Is it free and how do you link to Pokémon Home?
After a long wait, Pokémon Champions is now here, delivering the kind of competitive battling fans of the series have been itching for. But as with any new release, there are all sorts of questions players might have. So, from the price, platforms, number of Pokémon and more, here are the answers to your burning Pokémon Champions FAQs. Pokémon Champions questions answered For ease of reading, we've split things up into different sections for you to check out down below. Is Pokémon Champions free? Yes, Pokémon Champions is free. The game was confirmed to be free-to-play right from the start, meaning all you need to do is head to the eShop to download it. Is Pokémon Champions out yet? Yes, Pokémon Champions is out now. It officially launched on 8 April 2026. Is Pokémon Champions on mobile? No, Pokémon Champions is not on mobile. The game has been confirmed to be getting a port for both iOS and Android later in 2026, but for now, it is a Nintendo Switch exclusive. How do you link Pokémon Champions to Pokémon Home? To link Pokémon Champions and Pokémon Home, you need to follow these simple steps: Boot up Pokémon Home on your Nintendo Switch console Log in, and select the Pokémon Champions icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen Confirm that the Pokémon Champions account listed is the one you want to link Your Pokémon Champions and Pokémon Home accounts will now be linked From here on out, you can now use Pokémon Home to transfer Pokémon in and out of the game at your leisure. How many Pokémon are in Pokémon Champions? There are 185 total Pokémon in Pokémon Champions. Naturally, this number cuts out a lot of competitively unviable Pokémon that players are probably never going to use. However, it also cuts out a fair few popular Pokémon, somewhat limiting the number of interesting strategies that players can cook up on their own. View Green Video on the source website What new Mega Abilities are in Pokémon Champions? With the new Mega Pokémon from Pokémon Legends: Z-A being added to Champions, there are a whole host of new Mega Abilities. Here's the full list of new Megas and their respective Abilities: Mega Clefable – Magic Bounce Mega Victreebel –Innards Out Mega Starmie –Huge Power Mega Dragonite –Multiscale Mega Meganium –Mega Sol Mega Feraligatr –Dragonize Mega Skarmory – Stalwart Mega Chimeco –Levitate Mega Froslass – Snow Warning Mega Emboar – Mold Breaker Mega Excadrill – Piercing Drill Mega Chandelure –Infiltrator Mega Golurk –Unseen Fist Mega Chesnaught – Bulletproof Mega Delphox –Levitate Mega Greninja –Protean Mega Floette –Fairy Aura Mega Meowstic –Trace Mega Hawlucha – No Guard Mega Crabominable –Iron Fist Mega Drampa –Berserk Mega Scovillain –Spicy Spray Mega Glimmora –Adaptability Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Winds and Waves: Release date speculation, pre-orders, platforms, trailers & more
We have an estimate for its specific release window, too.
Pokémon Day 2026 finally gave us our first proper look at Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, with The Pokémon Company confirming that the new pair of RPGs will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027; although there isn’t a specific release date yet, both games are planned for a simultaneous worldwide release, so fans should all be setting out at roughly the same time. There is still plenty being kept under wraps, however. Nintendo has shown off the broad setting, the main characters, the three partner starter Pokémon, and a pair of unusual Pikachu variants, but there is no full story synopsis just yet, nor do we have a specific date or price to work with. Still, there is more than enough to start piecing things together. From the release window and likely pre-order situation to platforms, gameplay details, and the trailer itself, here is everything we know so far about Pokémon Winds and Waves. When is the Pokémon Winds and Waves release date? Our speculation There is no specific release date yet for Pokémon Winds and Waves outside of its current 2027 release date window, which was confirmed during its announcement trailer on Pokémon Day 2026. However, we predict the seasonal release window for both games will be in late 2027 — either October or November — as that’s the usual window for the franchise’s other recent games over the years, including Scarlet & Violet and Pokémon Legends: Z-A. That is, until we start seeing deeper gameplay showcases and retailer pages revealing otherwise anyway; either way, we will be updating this guide as soon as we hear more. Can I pre-order Pokémon Winds and Waves? Although Nintendo has both Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves available to wishlist, neither game is available to pre-order at any retailers; this is because pre-orders usually don’t go live until the game is at most a year away from launch. So, if Pokemon Winds & Waves are coming out in late 2027 as predicted, we’ll likely start seeing pre-orders go live either in late 2026 or early 2027; then, you’ll be able to pre-purchase the games at the usual storefronts like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target in the US — alongside the UK retailers like Amazon, Currys, GAME, Argos, Smyths, and ShopTo. When that happens, we’ll be adding all of the direct links here, so that you’ve got a convenient hub to compare the best prices and pre-order bonuses. Which consoles and platforms can play Pokémon Winds and Waves? Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves are officially confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch 2 alone. The games are launching exclusively on Nintendo’s current hardware, with no sign of a confirmed release for the original 2017 Nintendo Switch. With all of the controversy past modern Pokémon games in the Nintendo Switch ecosystem have received for being graphically and technologically compromised, it seems like Pokémon developer Game Freak has finally been able to develop a new mainline entry made solely for the Nintendo Switch 2 system — with no compromises by needing to work on the original system, too. Be that as it may, things could always change between now and the games’ release, but we’ll keep an eye on any new updates. View Green Video on the source website Pokémon Winds and Waves gameplay and story details Nintendo has yet to go into full deep-dive mode on gameplay, but the official overview paints a fairly clear picture of the kind of adventure we are in for; Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves are another pair of open-world games set across a region of islands and surrounding sea, with local Pokémon living in distinctive ecosystems shaped by that environment. The publisher also hints that the journey will involve pushing through natural hazards and difficult routes, which suggests the setting itself could play a bigger role in the adventure than usual. Like with Scarlet & Violet, we also know that your player character’s outfit changes depending on which version you pick, giving the two releases a bit of their own visual identity straight away. As for your starter, the three base partner Pokémon are Browt (Grass), Pombon (Fire), and Gecqua (Water). Nintendo has also teased two special Pikachu, Mr Windychu and Ms Wavychu, though what part they play in the story remains a mystery for now. In short, there is enough here to start getting excited, but the finer plot details are still being kept close to the chest View Riddle on the source website Is there a Pokémon Winds and Waves trailer? View oEmbed on the source website Yes, Pokemon Winds and Waves has its official announcement trailer, which was revealed as part of the 27 February 2026 Pokémon Presents broadcast. At this stage, it is very much a scene-setter rather than a blow-by-blow systems explainer, but it does give us our first proper feel for the world, tone, and look of both versions. From that trailer and Pokémon Winds and Waves’ official website, we get a look at the island setting, the sea-heavy overworld, the two playable looks, the first three partner Pokémon, and the special Pikachu pair. What we have not had yet is the kind of longer gameplay breakdown that really gets into battles, progression, and any potential new mechanics. That will likely come further down the line, but for now, the announcement trailer is the main one to watch. Read more on Pokémon: Best Pokémon gifts - the greatest merch Best Pokémon games on Switch - our ranking Best shiny Pokémon - the coolest creatures Best Dragon-type Pokémon - who's your fave? All cat Pokémon - the felines to catch Pokémon natures guide - all you need to know Pokémon type chart - strengths and weaknesses explained Legendary Pokémon - the full list Pokémon Scarlet and Violet cheats - handy hacks Pokémon Emerald cheats - what you need to know Pokémon Fire Red cheats - all codes Pokémon Go friend codes - and how to find them Pokémon games in order - where to start Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Champions: Release date, times, platforms, full Pokémon list & trailers
The latest on the mobile versions & all the Pokémon you can recruit.
After being announced all the way back in early 2025, the release date for Pokémon Champions is nearly here — coming to a couple of specific platforms at certain times, depending on your timezone. What's more, along with Pocket Monsters you can use from other games via Pokémon Home, Pokémon Champions has a full list of Pokémon you can access in the game to use as well. Along with what Pokémon are natively available, what the game is coming, and when it will be arriving on other platforms, here is everything we know about Pokémon Champions so far. When is the Pokémon Champions release date? The release date for Pokémon Champions is Wednesday 8 April 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch consoles, as confirmed during the March Pokémon Present. As well as this, Nintendo confirmed that on release day, players will be able to get their hands on a Starter Pack bundle that includes extra benefits like more Pokémon storage space, an extra battle song and more. Both an Android and iOS mobile release is also in development, but will launch at a later date. What times does Pokémon Champions come out? Fan Pokemon website Serebii has shared on X (formerly Twitter), that the Pokemon Company has confirmed Pokemon Champions will release at around 3am UTC on 8 April. This means will release at the following times in various timezones: 8pm PDT (April 7) 4AM BST (April 8) 11PM EDT (April 7) 4am CET (April 8) 12pm JST (Aprl 8) 12am BRT (April 8) 1pm AET (April 8) What is Pokémon Champions? Pokémon Champions is a free-to-start, turn-based strategy spin-off built to focus entirely on Pokémon battles rather than a dedicated open-world RPG. Developed by The Pokémon Works in collaboration with Game Freak, it centres on online competition, with Ranked, Casual, and Private Battles available in both Single and Double formats. Players can put together teams by recruiting Pokémon in-game or by bringing certain partners over through Pokémon Home (from Scarlet & Violet, Legends: Z-A, FireRed & LeafGreen, etc), while cross-platform play is planned across Nintendo Switch and mobile. Along with supporting major power-up mechanics from mainline games via the player's Omni Ring — Mega Evolution, Z-moves, Gigantamax, Dynamax, and Terastallization — Champions is replacing the use of the latest mainline Pokémon games at official Play! Pokemon VGC events, like the Pokemon World Championships; with that, players can consistently take part in the competitive scene without having to start over every few years with the newest title, as Champions can simply update its meta with the latest mechanics as the meta evolves with new games. Which consoles and platforms can play Pokémon Champions? After launching on both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch consoles on 8 April, Pokémon Champions will also be released on iOS and Android mobile devices later this year. Does Pokémon Champions have an iOS & Android mobile release date? The mobile phone versions of Pokémon Champions on iOS and Android have not been given a specific release date yet, but the ports are definitely coming out later in 2026; we expect to be given a specific date after the Nintendo Switch consoles' launch. This can usually be the case with multi-platform games, as developers sometimes want to hold off on giving specifics about additional ports in case the first needs some quick post-launch updates. Nevertheless, we will be updating this guide as soon as we know more. Full list of available Pokémon in Champions Confirmed by Serebii, Pokémon Champions has 162 Pokémon that are available to rent in the game by recruiting for free and spending Victory Points — instead of using those you have through Pokémon Home; the full list of Pokémon available to rent in Champions is as follows: Venusaur — Grass/Poison type Charizard — Fire/Flying type Blastoise — Water type Beedrill — Bug/Poison type Pikachu — Electric type Raichu — Electric type Raichu (Alolan) — Electric/Psychic type Clefable — Fairy type Ninetales — Fire type Ninetales (Alolan) — Ice/Fairy type Arcanine — Fire type Arcanine (Hisuian) — Fire/Rock type Alakazam — Psychic type Victreebel — Grass/Poison type Slowbro — Water/Psychic type Slowbro (Galarian) — Poison/Psychic type Gengar — Ghost/Poison type Kangaskhan — Normal type Starmie — Water/Psychic type Pinsir — Bug type Tauros — Normal type Gyarados — Water/Flying type Ditto — Normal type Vaporeon — Water type Jolteon — Electric type Flareon — Fire type Aerodactyl — Rock/Flying type Snorlax — Normal type Dragonite — Dragon/Flying type Meganium — Grass type Typhlosion — Fire type Typhlosion (Hisuian) — Fire/Ghost type Feraligatr — Water type Ampharos — Electric type Azumarill — Water/Fairy type Politoed — Water type Espeon — Psychic type Umbreon — Dark type Slowking — Water/Psychic type Steelix — Steel/Ground type Scizor — Bug/Steel type Heracross — Bug/Fighting type Skarmory — Steel/Flying type Houndoom — Dark/Fire type Tyranitar — Rock/Dark type Pelipper — Water/Flying type Gardevoir — Psychic/Fairy type Sableye — Dark/Ghost type Aggron — Steel/Rock type Torkoal — Fire type Altaria — Dragon/Flying type Milotic — Water type Castform — Normal type Absol — Dark type Metagross — Steel/Psychic type Torterra — Grass/Ground type Infernape — Fire/Fighting type Empoleon — Water/Steel type Lopunny — Normal type Spiritomb — Ghost/Dark type Garchomp — Dragon/Ground type Lucario — Fighting/Steel type Hippowdon — Ground type Abomasnow — Grass/Ice type Weavile — Dark/Ice type Rhyperior — Ground/Rock type Leafeon — Grass type Glaceon — Ice type Gliscor — Ground/Flying type Mamoswine — Ice/Ground type Gallade — Psychic/Fighting type Froslass — Ice/Ghost type Rotom — Electric/Ghost type Serperior — Grass type Emboar — Fire/Fighting type Samurott — Water type Samurott (Hisuian) — Water/Dark type Excadrill — Ground/Steel type Audino — Normal type Conkeldurr — Fighting type Whimsicott — Grass/Fairy type Krookodile — Ground/Dark type Garbodor — Poison type Zoroark — Dark type Zoroark (Hisuian) — Normal/Ghost type Vanilluxe — Ice type Emolga — Electric/Flying type Chandelure — Ghost/Fire type Stunfisk (Galarian) — Ground/Steel type Golurk — Ground/Ghost type Hydreigon — Dark/Dragon type Volcarona — Bug/Fire type Chesnaught — Grass/Fighting type Delphox — Fire/Psychic type Greninja — Water/Dark type Diggersby — Normal/Ground type Talonflame — Fire/Flying type Vivillon — Bug/Flying type Floette — Fairy type Furfrou — Normal type Meowstic — Psychic type Aegislash — Steel/Ghost type Clawitzer — Water type Tyrantrum — Rock/Dragon type Aurorus — Rock/Ice type Sylveon — Fairy type Hawlucha — Fighting/Flying type Goodra — Dragon type Klefki — Steel/Fairy type Trevenant — Ghost/Grass type Gourgeist — Ghost/Grass type Noivern — Flying/Dragon type Decidueye — Grass/Ghost type Decidueye (Hisuian) — Grass/Fighting type Incineroar — Fire/Dark type Primarina — Water/Fairy type Toucannon — Normal/Flying type Crabominable — Fighting/Ice type Lycanroc — Rock type Toxapex — Poison/Water type Mudsdale — Ground type Araquanid — Water/Bug type Tsareena — Grass type Oranguru — Normal/Psychic type Mimikyu — Ghost/Fairy type Drampa — Normal/Dragon type Kommo-o — Dragon/Fighting type Corviknight — Flying/Steel type Appletun — Grass/Dragon type Sandaconda — Ground type Polteageist — Ghost type Hatterene — Psychic/Fairy type Grimmsnarl — Dark/Fairy type Mr. Rime — Ice/Psychic type Runerigus — Ground/Ghost type Alcremie — Fairy type Morpeko — Electric/Dark type Dragapult — Dragon/Ghost type Kleavor — Bug/Rock type Ursaluna — Ground/Normal type Basculegion — Water/Ghost type Sneasler — Fighting/Poison type Meowscarada — Grass/Dark type Skeledirge — Fire/Ghost type Quaquaval — Water/Fighting type Pawmot — Electric/Fighting type Maushold — Normal type Garganacl — Rock type Armarouge — Fire/Psychic type Ceruledge — Fire/Ghost type Scovillain — Grass/Fire type Tinkaton — Fairy/Steel type Palafin — Water type Orthworm — Steel type Glimmora — Rock/Poison type Dondozo — Water type Tatsugiri — Dragon/Water type Farigiraf — Normal/Psychic type Kingambit — Dark/Steel type Sinistcha — Grass/Ghost type Archaludon — Steel/Dragon type Hydrapple — Grass/Dragon type View Riddle on the source website Is there a trailer for Pokémon Champions? Several Pokémon Champions trailers have dropped since the game's announcement in early 2025; starting with the reveal trailer on Pokémon Day that year. Late 2025 overview After a few months of silence, the Pokémon Company dropped a two-minute gameplay reveal showing snippets of battles and the game's Pokémon recruitment feature. Pokémon Day 2026 trailer To add to the Pokémon Day celebrations in 2026, Champions has given an exciting new minute-and-a-half trailer — hinting at how the new battle-focused spin-off will take the lead on the video game series' competitive battling scene. View oEmbed on the source website Overview trailer View oEmbed on the source website Ahead of the game's release date, the overview trailer gave us the biggest look at Pokemon Champions' gameplay yet; not only does this trailer give us a proper deep dive into how the Pokemon recruitment mechanic works, but also how battles and currencies work, new abilities for Legends: Z-A starter's Mega Evolutions (Feraligatr, Meganium, and Emboar), and even breakdowns on how to easily optimise Pokemon with natures and EVs. World overview trailer View oEmbed on the source website The last trailer we've seen before the Pokémon Champions' release date, this new overview was essentially a new cutscene showing off the game's world of the Battle Arena in the city of Frontier, along with revealing two of its characters as they start a Pokémon battle: Carawat (owner of the Battle Arena) and Kajima (Mayor of Frontier). Read more on Pokémon: Best Pokémon gifts - the greatest merch Best Pokémon games on Switch - our ranking Best shiny Pokémon - the coolest creatures Best Dragon-type Pokémon - who's your fave? All cat Pokémon - the felines to catch Pokémon natures guide - all you need to know Pokémon type chart - strengths and weaknesses explained Legendary Pokémon - the full list Pokémon Scarlet and Violet cheats - handy hacks Pokémon Emerald cheats - what you need to know Pokémon Fire Red cheats - all codes Pokémon Go friend codes - and how to find them Pokémon games in order - where to start Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Pokopia Cloud Islands: All unique Island codes and how to use them
Thanks to Cloud Islands in Pokémon Pokoipa, you can jet off to foreign lands and get your hands on all sorts of new items. Whether you're visiting a friend's Island, or heading to one of a few special ones, it's a great way to get some inspiration for your own home. So, for a quick explainer on how Cloud Islands work, and a list of the unique ones, read on! How to visit Cloud Islands in Pokémon Pokopia explained Before you can visit Cloud Islands, you first need to obtain the Mysterious Goggles item. You can purchase them from the PC Shop once you've reached Environment Level 3 in the starting area. Once you've got them, put them on from your inventory, and a screen will open up asking you to input a code. Pop the code for the Island you want to visit into the box, and you'll be off to visit it in no time! This is the method you'll use to visit your friends' Islands, but there are a few special ones you can visit too. On which note… Pokémon Pokopia Cloud Islands: All unique Island codes At the time of writing, there are three unique Cloud Islands that have been released, although more are undoubtedly coming in the future. Here is a list of all the official unique Cloud Islands and their codes: Developer Island: PXQC G03S (Made by the developers of Pokémon Pokopia) Hidetaka Kano's Island: QBRK 7FVM (Made by star of Pokémon Pokopia adverts in Japan) Rino Sashihara's Island: MGL4 83P4 (Made by star of Pokémon Pokopia adverts in Japan) Color Peach Island: 0XGP 4N31 (An Island spotlighting Pecha Berries and pink decorations) IKEA Island: TBC (Made by IKEA designers) View Green Video on the source website Read more: Pokémon Pokopia review – our final verdict Pokémon Pokopia beginner's guide – tips, tricks and first things to do Pokémon Pokopia multiplayer explained – how to play with other people Pokémon Pokopia recipes – all food and ingredients How to get Beans, Tomatoes and Wheat in Pokopia – get gardening! Is Pokopia on Switch 1? – Nintendo's weird loophole explained How many Pokémon are in Pokopia? – the full list Pokémon Pokopia limited-time events – when is the next one? How to get Smooth Rock in Pokopia – Smooth Tall Grass Habitat explained Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie cast: Full list of actors and characters
It's-a me, Mario. That's not the voice, the voice will be different.
Following his blockbuster showing in 2023, Mario is back on the big screen with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Adapting the iconic Nintendo Wii game of the same name, the film features a host of returning characters as well as a few new faces. So, for the full list of who is joining Chris Pratt on his second adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom, here's a look at the full cast of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie cast. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie cast: Full list of actors and characters Here is the cast of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: Chris Pratt as Mario Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach Charlie Day as Luigi Jack Black as Bowser Keegan-Michael Key as Toad Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr Donald Glover as Yoshi Brie Larson as Rosalina Glen Powell as Fox McCloud Luis Guzmán as Wart Issa Rae as Honey Queen Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek Chris Pratt as Mario Who is Mario? Mario is a plumber from Brooklyn who was transported to the Mushroom Kingdom via a Warp Pipe. In the first movie, he takes on Bowser and his armies in order to save Princess Peach, imprisoning him in the process. Where have you seen Chris Pratt before? Following a breakout role as Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation, Pratt has gone on to star in the Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World franchises, as well as The Magnificent Seven, Passengers and The Lego Movie. Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach Who is Princess Peach? The ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach was kidnapped by Bowser who intended to marry her. After escaping Bowser's Castle and being transported to Brooklyn, she helped Mario and the others to fight Bowser. Where have you seen Anya Taylor-Joy before? Taylor-Joy is perhaps best known as Beth Harmon in The Queen's Gambit, but has also appeared in Peaky Blinders, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Northman, Emma, The Menu, Last Night in Soho and more. Charlie Day as Luigi Who is Luigi? Luigi is the cowardly younger brother of Mario, who was transported to the Mushroom Kingdom along with him. Where have you seen Charlie Day before? Day is best known for playing Charlie Kelly in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. His film roles include Pacific Rim, Horrible Bosses, Monsters University and The Lego Movie, and he is a co-creator of Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest. Jack Black as Bowser Who is Bowser? King of the Koopas and ruler of the Dark Lands. In the first film, Bowser had an infatuation with Princess Peach and attempted to kidnap and marry her, before being defeated by Mario, shrunk down by a Mini Mushroom and kept imprisoned in a jar. Where have you seen Jack Black before? Jack Black recently starred as Steve in A Minecraft Movie, but is widely known for appearances in School of Rock, High Fidelity, Kung Fu Panda, Tropic Thunder and many more. He is also one half of the comedy music duo Tenacious D. Keegan-Michael Key as Toad Who is Toad? Toad is a resident of the Mushroom Kingdom and was the first character to meet Mario in the Mushroom Kingdom. Fiercely loyal to Princess Peach, he assisted Mario in defeating and shrinking Bowser at the end of the first film. Where have you seen Keegan-Michael Key before? Key is best-known as one half of the comedy duo Key & Peele along with Jordan Peele. He has appeared in several films including Horrible Bosses 2, Pitch Perfect 2, Wonka, The Lego Movie and Toy Story 4. Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr Who is Bowser Jr? Bowser Jr is Bowser's son and Prince of the Koopas. Where have you seen Benny Safdie before? Benny Safdie is perhaps best-known as a filmmaker, collaborating with his brother Josh on Uncut Gems and Good Time, and for his solo directorial debut The Smashing Machine. On camera, he's been in Oppenheimer, Licorice Pizza, Happy Gilmore 2 and more. Donald Glover as Yoshi Who is Yoshi? Yoshi is a green, dinosaur-like creature who hatches from an egg before joining Mario and Luigi on their adventure. Where have you seen Donald Glover before? As well as playing Troy in the hit sitcom Community, he created and starred in Atlanta alongside roles in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and writing for 30 Rock. He is also known for his music under the name Childish Gambino. Brie Larson as Rosalina Who is Rosalina? Rosalina is a princess from outer space, and is the adoptive mother of the Lumas, a species of star-like creatures. Where have you seen Brie Larson before: Larson won an Oscar for the critically-acclaimed 2015 film Room, and has also starred in multiple films in the MCU as Captain Marvel. She has also had roles in the likes of Kong: Skull Island, 21 Jump Street, Scott Pilgrim vs the World and more. Glen Powell as Fox McCloud Who is Fox McCloud? Fox is an elite pilot and the star of the Star Fox video games, in which he leads the eponymous Star Fox team. Where have you seen Glen Powell before? Following smaller roles in Spy Kids 3-D, Hidden Figures and more, Powell has more recently appeared in Top Gun: Maverick, Hit Man, Anyone but You, The Running Man and 2026's How to Make a Killing. Luis Guzmán as Wart Who is Wart? Wart is a villainous, frog-like character who featured as the main antagonist of the 1988 Super Mario Bros 2 video game. Where have you seen Luis Guzmán before? Guzmán has had a storied career collaborating with the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson on Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch-Drunk Love, and Stephen Soderbergh on Out of Sight and Traffic. He has also featured in Carlito's Way, The Hard Way, and more recently has portrayed Gomez Addams on Netflix's Wednesday. Issa Rae as Honey Queen Who is Honey Queen? Honey Queen is a queen bee who rules over the Honeyhive Galaxy. Where have you seen Issa Rae before? Rae first came to prominence after co-writing and starring in the HBO comedy series Insecure, before going on to roles in Barbie, American Fiction, Vengeance, The Hate U Give and more. Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek Who is Kamek? Kamek is a wizard-like Magikoopa who serves as Bowser's most trusted advisor. Where have you seen Kevin Michael Richardson before? Kevin Michael Richardson has been in voice acting for several decades, appearing in Lilo & Stitch, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, TMNT, Transformers Prime and more. The Super Mario Galaxy movie is currently showing in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Does The Super Mario Galaxy Movie have a post-credits scene?
So, you’ve sat through 90 plus minutes of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. And you’re wondering, does this thing have any post-credits scenes? Ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularised the practice of plonking a little teaser or coda at the end of the credits scroll, very few genre movie franchises have been safe from these little teasing nuggets. So, what’s the story with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Does it have post-credits scenes? Keep on reading to find out! Does the Super Mario Galaxy Movie have post-credits scenes? Yes, we can confirm The Super Mario Galaxy Movie does have post-credits scenes. In fact, you need to stay for two post credits scenes, my friend. So, while you're waiting for the credits to scroll by, you’d better get comfy and do some scrolling of your own on your phone! In classic MCU fashion, there's one scene in the middle of the credits, and there's another one right at the very end of the scroll. What happens in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie mid-credits scene? The mid-credits scene in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is more of a jokey one. In this first bonus moment, you’ll see Bowser and Bowser Junior being taunted by their jailor, who is a nihilistic little star called Lumalee. Fans of the first film will remember that, back in the previous movie, Lumalee was imprisoned by Bowser alongside Luigi, regularly making dark jokes for the parents to enjoy. Now, Lumalee is the one holding Bowser captive, meaning that the roles have completely reversed. View Green Video on the source website What happens in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie post-credits scene? At the very end of the credits, there's a little tease of a character for next time. And it is Daisy! In this little scene, Daisy saves a sad civilian from being mugged by a monkey in a spacesport, calling back to a scene from earlier in the film. The yellow-dress-wearing princess, who was first seen in 1989’s Super Mario Land game for the Game Boy, is clearly being set up for a role in the next Mario film! We don’t know much about what Nintendo is planning for its Mario movies going forward, but we’ll be sure to let you know as we hear more! Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
McDonald's Mario Happy Meal explained: All toys to collect
It's-a me, Super Mario Galaxy Movie Happy Meal toy.
To celebrate the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a whole host of McDonald's Mario Happy Meal toys are on the way. It's been a big few weeks for Maccies, with the recent McDonald's cards promo, and this is set to add to that. We're still waiting on news of the new McDonald's x Pokémon collab, which will hopefully deliver all sorts of new, limited-edition cards into our hands. But until then, here's what you need to know about the new McDonald's Mario Happy Meal toys, including the full list and what you'll get in the box. McDonald's Mario Happy Meal explained: All toys to collect The Super Mario Happy Meal is now available at McDonald's in the UK, USA and Canada, and comes with its own unique Happy Meal box. Included in the Happy Meal is a little book about Mario's adventures in both of the Mario movies, but more importantly, there are of course a selection of toys to collect. In total, there are 12 different Mario Happy Meal toys on offer, all of which are inspired by characters from the film. These are: Mario Frog Luigi Wonder Bowser Jr Peach Yoshi Bowser Jr Rosalina Toad Birdo Fire Mario Luma Bowser Every toy also comes with a number on the bottom denoting which part of the set it is. Of course, with the Happy Meals directly tying in to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, you'll want to check our quick explainer to get up to date with everything you need to know about the sequel! In the meantime, we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that a new 3D Mario game isn't too far away, but we might be waiting a while! View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream release date, platforms and pre-orders
A whopping 13 years after its predecessor landed, the Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream release date is now almost upon us! Plopping a bunch of Miis on an island and watching them do whatever it is that Miis do, it's like The Sims, but taken in an unmistakably Nintendo direction. If you've been enjoying the demo and want to know when Tomodachi Life 2 is set to release, here's what you need to know! When is the Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream release date? Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream will release on 16 April 2026. The game was first announced during the March 2025 Nintendo Direct, coming as a very pleasant surprise to fans of the series. In fact, fans were so excited to see the return of Tomodachi Life, that its announcement on X by Nintendo of Japan received more likes than the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2! Can you play Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream on Nintendo Switch 1? Yes! Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch 1. In fact, like a few games during this strange switchover period, the game is actually releasing specifically as a Switch 1 title, and will not have its own dedicated Switch 2 version. Of course, like any Switch 1 games, it will be playable on the Switch 2 thanks to the console's backwards compatibility. View Green Video on the source website Can I pre-order Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream? Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is currently available for pre-orders. Players can grab themselves a copy of the game directly from the Nintendo eShop. While you're there, why not download the Living the Dream demo and get started on your Miis right now? Is there a Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream trailer? If you're curious about what Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is all about, you can check out this deep dive into what you can look forward to: View oEmbed on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – is it streaming?
Everything you need to know about the new videogame sequel.
2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie was the second-highest-grossing film of that year, making over $1.3 billion worldwide, putting it just behind the global sensation that was Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig's Barbie. The film quickly became the highest-grossing film based on a video game of all time, while Jack Black won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for favourite villain and the movie was nominated for many more industry gongs. Following sibling plumbers Mario and Luigi in their attempts to save Princess Peach and defeat the evil Bowser (remember 'Peaches, Peaches, Peaches-Peaches-Peaches'?), The Super Mario Bros. Movie took the core storyline of the iconic Nintendo games and turned it into a blockbuster. It's only natural that a sequel was in store. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie comes out very soon - read on to find out all you need to know... How to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – is it streaming? No, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is not streaming yet – until further notice, the only way to watch the movie will be to go to the cinema when it releases on Wednesday 1 April. However, viewers in the UK can gear up for the new movie by watching the first film, which is currently available to stream on ITVX (either for free with ads or on a paid subscription). The Super Mario Galaxy Movie cast – Who stars in the film? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/03/Mario-Galaxy-992e20c.jpg" width="2415" height="1608" alt="Luigi (Charlie Day), Mario (Chris Pratt), Yoshi (Donald Glover) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) inThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie" title="Luigi (Charlie Day), Mario (Chris Pratt), Yoshi (Donald Glover) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) inThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie" /> Reprising their roles from the first movie are Chris Pratt and Charlie Day as Mario and Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad. Meanwhile, there are a couple of major new additions to the cast, with Donald Glover set to voice Yoshi and Brie Larson taking on the role of Princess Rosalina. It's certainly a star-studded bunch! You can see the full cast list for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie below: Chris Pratt as Mario Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach Charlie Day as Luigi Jack Black as Bowser Keegan-Michael Key as Toad Benny Safdie as Bowser, Jr. Donald Glover as Yoshi Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek Brie Larson as Princess Rosalina Luis Guzmán as Wart Issa Rae as the Honey Queen Juliet Jelenic as Lumalee Ed Skudder as R.O.B. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie plot – What is it about? The new movie takes inspiration from 2007 videogame Super Mario Galaxy, which saw Mario launched into outer space. Across his journey, he meets Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), guardian of the cosmos who lives in the Comet Observatory. Along the way, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad will meet Yoshi (Donald Glover) and come face-to-face with Bowser once again - but this time, Bowser isn't alone. His son, Bowser, Jr. (Benny Safdie), will be another obstacle in the way of the film's heroes. Fans can expect a lot more of the adventure and laughs served up by the first film, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie looks set to be another win for both family viewers and video game fanatics alike. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer You can watch the trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie here: View Green Video on the source website The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is in cinemas from Wednesday 1 April 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to play Pokémon Pokopia on Switch 1: Nintendo's weird loophole explained
If you’re wondering if Pokémon Pokopia is natively on the original Nintendo Switch 1, the short answer is no — but there is one way you can play the game on the older console. In the event that you have someone in your life who owns a Nintendo Switch 2 and you don't, there is a handy feature you can use to enjoy the cosy Pokémon adventure in your own right. So, whether you’re asking if Pokopia will come to Switch 1, looking for a Pokopia on Switch 1 release, or simply trying to find out how the current loophole works, here’s everything you need to know. How to play Pokémon Pokopia on Switch 1 If you want to play Pokopia on Switch 1, the only current method is through the Nintendo Switch 2's GameShare feature — available in the Pokémon Center of Palette Town, which is only accessible through the Withered Wasteland when you learn Rock Smash. GameShare lets one supported Switch 2 game be shared to another system, including an original Nintendo Switch, so another player can join in without owning the game themselves. Nintendo also confirms on Pokémon Pokopia's game page that only Nintendo Switch 2 consoles can share games, while both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch systems can receive them over a local wireless connection. Something to note is that you can only use GameShare with a Switch 2 and Switch 1 via a local wireless connection, and you cannot do it online. This means if you want to use GameShare with someone on a Switch 1, they have to be with you in person. Fellow Switch 2 owners can make use of GameChat to use GameShare online. What's more, anyone receiving software via GameShare can only use it for the duration of that session. Once the GameShare session ends, the shared version of the game is no longer playable. View Green Video on the source website It's quite a strange decision, considering it doesn't appear to be a very intensive game to run, especially when you consider that the much more expansive Pokémon Legends: Z-A managed to get a Switch 1 version. For that reason, we can only assume that Pokopia is another title in Nintendo's gradual move away from the Switch 1, and towards the Switch 2 being its one and only console. Read more on Pokémon Pokopia: Pokopia review: Our final verdict Pokopia beginner's guide: Tips, tricks and first things to do Pokopia multiplayer explained How to move grass and flowers in Pokopia How to get Beans, Tomatoes and Wheat in Pokopia Are there shinies in Pokopia? When is the next Pokopia event? Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
2026 video game release dates: PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC and Switch
Every game you need to know for this month and beyond.
We're starting to suspect that someone is speeding up the simulation, as there's no other way to explain that we're already into April, and what's more, the games are coming at us thick and fast, with some big hitters coming out this month. 2025 was a bumper year, but 2026 has delivered some great games already, such as Resident Evil: Requiem and Pokémon Pokopia, but it's hard to ignore the Grand Theft Auto 6 elephant in the room. Still, November is far away, and there are games like Crimson Desert and Marathon that will no doubt keep many of us ticking over in the months to come. No doubt, there are still many games that haven't been announced yet, either, such as first-party titles from Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2, which will turn one year old this June. But there are oodles of games to get through, so read on to check out all the upcoming video game release dates in 2026 and beyond! March 2026 video game release dates Blue Prince (Switch 2) – 3 March Scott Pilgrim EX (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch) – 3 March Pokémon Pokopia (Switch 2) – 5 March Marathon (PC, Ps5 and Xbox Series X/S) — 5 March Never Grace: The Witch and the Curse (PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch) – 5 March Slay the Spire 2 (PC) — 5 March (Early Access) 1347 Ex Voto (PC, PS5) — 12 March Solasta II (PC) – 12 March Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 12 March Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 13 March Crimson Desert (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 19 March Death Stranding 2 (PC) — 19 March Ghost Master: Resurrection (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 20 March Copa City (PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5) – 26 March Screamer (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 26 March Life is Strange: Reunion (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 26 March Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park (Switch 2) – 26 March April 2026 video game release dates Pokémon Champions (Switch, Switch 2) – 8 April Tiny Bookshop (PS5) – 10 April Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Switch 2, Switch) – 16 April Mouse P.I. For Hire (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 16 April ShantyTown (PC) – 16 April Masters of Albion (PC) – 22 April Tides of Tomorrow (PC, PS5) – 22 April Pragmata (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 24 April Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred (PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4) – 28 April Invincible VS (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 30 April Saros (PS5) – 30 April May 2026 video game release dates Mixtape (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 7 May Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Switch 2) – 12 May Directive 8020 (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 12 May Forza Horizon 6 (PC, Xbox Series X/S) – 19 May Coffee Talk Tokyo (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch) – 21 May Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (Switch 2) – 21 May Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 22 May 007 First Light (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 27 May June 2026 video game release dates Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Xbox Series X/S, Switch) – 3 June Gothic 1 Remake (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 5 June Denshattack! (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 17 June Dead or Alive 6 Last Round (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 25 June Nocturne (PC) – 30 June July 2026 video game release dates Peace Island (PC) – 1 July Granblue Fantasy: Relink (Switch 2) – 9 July Digimon Story: Time Stranger (Switch 2, Switch) – 10 July Ratatan (Switch 2) – 16 July August 2026 video game release dates Beast of Reincarnation (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 4 August Marvel: TOKON Fighting Souls (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Switch 2) – 6 August Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 September 2026 video game release dates Halloween: The Game (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 8 September Phantom Blade Zero (PC, PS5) – 9 September Marvel's Wolverine (PS5) – 15 September November 2026 video game release dates Grand Theft Auto 6 (Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 19th November December 2026 video game release dates Beautiful Light (PC) – TBC 2026 video game release dates TBC Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave (Switch 2) Danganronpa 2x2 (Switch 2, Switch) Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2, Switch The Duskbloods (Switch 2) IKUMA - The Frozen Compass (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Onimusha: Way of the Sword (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Star Wars: Zero Company (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Rhythm Heaven Groove (Switch 2) Sea of Remnants (PC, PS5) Enter the Gungeon 2 (PC, Switch 2) Game of Thrones: War for Westeros (PC) Frostrail (PC) Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra (TBA) Super Meat Boy 3D (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) The Blood of Dawnwalker (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Valor Mortis (PC,PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Witchbrook (PC, Xbox, Switch) Zero Parades (PC, PS5) Skate 4 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows) While we wait for more dates to be confirmed, check out our top picks on various platforms: The very best PS4 & PS5 games The best Xbox One and Series X/S games The best PC games The best Nintendo Switch games ever Best Switch Lite games - take these on the go! Best Switch games for kids The best VR games to play in 2022 Best mobile games Best Pokémon games on Switch Best horror games on Xbox Game Pass Best Assassin's Creed games Free PS Plus games this month Free Xbox Game Pass games this month TBC video game release dates The following games are confirmed to be in development but do not have official release dates as of yet: DECAPOLICE (Switch, PS5, PS5, PC) - 2026 Thick as Thieves (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - 2026 Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet (PS5) Okami 2 (platforms TBC) Tides of Annihilation (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Project Robot (platforms TBC) Game of Thrones: Kingsroad (iOS, Android) Stranger than Heaven (platforms TBC) Virtua Fighter 6 (platforms TBC) Turok Origins (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Stage Fright (PC) Catly (Switch, PC, Apple Watch) Assassin's Creed Jade (iOS, Android) Beyond Good and Evil 2 (platforms TBC) Big Walk (platforms TBC) - 2025 Cyberpunk 2 (platforms TBC) Dangerous Driving 2 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) Den of Wolves (PC) The Elder Scrolls 6 (platforms TBC) Everwild (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) Exoborne: Master the Apocalypse (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Exodus (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 (platforms TBC) Gears of War: E-Day (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Human Fall Flat 2 (platforms TBC) Jurassic Park: Survival (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Kemuri (platforms TBC) Last Sentinel (platforms TBC) Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior (PC) John Carpenter's Toxic Commando (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Judas (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Light No Fire (platforms TBC) Little Devil Inside (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) Mass Effect sequel (platforms TBC) Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 (platforms TBC) OD (Xbox Series X/S) Off the Grid (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Perfect Dark (PC, Xbox Series X/S) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - 2026 Physint (platforms TBC) Shadows of the Damned Remastered (platforms TBC) Star Wars Eclipse (platforms TBC) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake (PC, PS5) Silent Hill: Townfall (platforms TBC) Terminator Survival Project (platforms TBC) Throne and Liberty (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) Tom Clancy's The Division: Resurgence (iOS, Android) Transformers: Reactivate (PC and consoles TBC) The Witcher 4 (platforms TBC) The Witcher Canis Majoris (platforms TBC) The Witcher Sirius (platforms TBC) Recently released games While waiting for those upcoming games to drop, you might wonder if you've missed some big games in recent months. With that in mind, these are the video game release dates that may have passed you by over the last few months. February 2026 video game release dates Unemployment Simulator 2018 (PC) – 3rd February Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2, Switch) – 5th February Ghost Gunners (PC) – 6th February My Hero Academia: All's Justice (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 6th February Nioh 3 (PS5) – 6th February Mewgenics (PC) – 10th February Romeo is a Dead Man (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 11th February Mario Tennis Fever (Switch 2) – 12th February Ride 6 (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 12th February High on Life 2 (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 13th February Reanimal (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 13th February Avowed (PS5) – 17th February Demon Tides (PC) – 19th February Styx: Blades of Greed (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 19th February Ys X: Proud Nordics (PC, PS5, Switch 2) – 20th February Tides of Tomorrow (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 24th February Tales of Berseria Remastered (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2, Switch) – 26th February Resident Evil Requiem (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2) – 27th February January 2026 video game release dates Hytale Early Access (PC) – 13th January Streetdog BMX (PC) – 14th January The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (PC, PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch) – 15th January Brokenlore: Unfollow (PC, PS5) – 16th January MIO: Memories In Orbit (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2, Switch) – 20th January Arknights: Endfield (PC, PS5, Mobile) – 22nd January Final Fantasy VII: Remake Intergrade (Switch 2) - 22nd January Dynasty Warriors: Origins (Switch 2) - 22nd January Hermit and Pig (PC) – 23rd January Banquet For Fools (PC) – 23rd January Escape from Ever After (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2, Switch) – 23rd January Highguard (PC, PS5) – 26th January The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 28th January Cairn (PC, PS5) – 29th January I Hate This Place (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 29th January Code Vein 2 (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5) – 30th January December 2025 video game release dates MARVEL Cosmic Invasion (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch) - 1st December Destiny 2: Renegades (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - 2nd December Assassin's Creed Shadows (Nintendo Switch 2) - 2nd December Blood: Refreshed Supply (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch) - 4th December Football Manager 2026 Touch (Switch 2, Switch) - 4th December Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch 2, Switch) - 4th December Octopath Traveler 0 (Switch 2, Switch) - 4th December Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (PS5) - 8th December Skate Story (PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2) - 8th December And that's your lot. We'll be sure to update this page as more video game release dates are confirmed for 2025 and beyond. We certainly won't be short of things to play in the coming months! Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Pokopia sales numbers: How much money has it made?
Pokémon go to the shop and buy this game!
2026 is already off to a flyer for Nintendo thanks to some pretty great Pokémon Pokopia sales numbers. The game hasn't been out for long, but this Pokémon-themed life sim has captured the attention of Switch 2 owners everywhere. We now have some confirmed sales figures to look at, so if you're wondering how many copies Pokopia has sold, here's what we know. Pokémon Pokopia sales numbers: How much money has it made? At the time of writing, Pokémon Pokopia has sold more than 2.2 million copies worldwide, with this figure coming from the first four days after launch. This news comes from a joint corporate press release from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. At a cost of £60 – the UK RRP – that equates to around £132m (~$177m) of total sales, though this is of course a very rough estimation. As well as the total 2.2m sales, it was further confirmed that 1m of these sales were in Japan alone. While that may come as a surprise to some, it's worth bearing in mind that Pokopia was surprisingly undersupplied to retailers in the west, with shops in the UK, US and Europe quickly running out of stock early on. Not to be deterred, the game has sat comfortably at the top of the Nintendo eShop in these regions since launch. Considering these figures are not even from the first full week of sales, it's an impressive achievement for the game. For comparison, the main series Pokémon Legends: Z-A sold approximately 5.8m copies in its first week, with 3.89m of those on the Switch 2. Pokopia, it should be noted, is a Switch 2 exclusive, and therefore is no doubt missing out on a rather substantial market of players that are yet to upgrade from their Switch 1 consoles. View Green Video on the source website Pokémon Pokopia review – our final verdict Pokémon Pokopia beginner's guide – tips, tricks and first things to do Pokémon Pokopia multiplayer explained – how to play with other people How to get Beans, Tomatoes and Wheat in Pokopia – get gardening! Is Pokopia on Switch 1? – Nintendo's weird loophole explained How many Pokémon are in Pokopia? – the full list Pokémon Pokopia limited-time events – when is the next one? How to get Smooth Rock in Pokopia – Smooth Tall Grass Habitat explained Are there shinies in Pokopia? – shiny Pokémon explained
Slay the Spire 2 platforms: Is STS2 on PS5 or Nintendo Switch?
It's been seven years since the first game fully released – nine since its early access launch – but Slay the Spire 2 is finally here. The original game is now available on anything and everything. PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, iOS and Android – you name it! But with STS2 being such a new game, what platforms is it on? Here's what you need to know about Slay the Spire 2 on console. Slay the Spire 2 platforms: Is STS2 on console? At the time of writing, Slay the Spire 2 is only available on PC. Like its predecessor, Slay the Spire 2 launched in early access, and will fully launch once developer MegaCrit is happy with the quality and amount of content on offer. It hasn't been confirmed thus far, but it seems like a given that the game will be released on consoles eventually, and we expect that this will happen alongside the full release date, when the game officially leaves early access. On which note… Slay the Spire 2 console release date speculation We predict that Slay the Spire 2 will release on consoles in late 2027 to early 2028. On the game's Steam page, the developers have stated that while they have no definite timeframe, they expect that it will be in early access for one to two years. This is based on development of the first game, which they expected to spend one year in early access but took one-and-a-half years. We think it's best to expect a longer development period, as developers often come up with new ideas as work progresses, extending the development cycle further – just look at Silksong! For that reason, while a 2027 release is by no means unlikely, we are leaning towards 2028 instead. When it does come out, though, you can almost guarantee that it will be releasing on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2. Of course, this is all just speculation, and the team at MegaCrit could pull a blinder and churn through early access in no time flat, so take this with a grain of salt! But until the day arrives, sorry to all you console roguelikers out there, but you'll have to pick Slay the Spire 2 up on PC. View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Pokopia beginner's guide: Tips, tricks and first things to do
You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, as despite its cutesy appearance, Pokémon Pokopia is a surprisingly deep game. Once you're done with the game's quick tutorial, you're confronted with an enormous world that can be quite daunting at first. With so much to do, where do you even start? That's why we've put together a little Pokopia beginner's guide to help you out, telling you what you should start out with, as well as some nifty tips and tricks to make exploring and revamping your island a breeze. Let's get into it! First things to do in Pokémon Pokopia View Green Video on the source website Across the first few hours, there's a lot you can do, but we reckon these five things are the most important to focus on to help get you started. Collect Leppa Berries Once you've finished the tutorial section in which you meet the three Kanto starters, Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander, you should go and collect a few Leppa Berries. Eating Leppa Berries restores your PP, which lets you use your moves. Use Water Gun to bring a few trees back to life, and then headbutt them by pressing A to knock the Berries off. Unlock Cut and Rock Smash Early on, there's not much point in exploring as you won't have the tools to do it, so just progress the main story for a bit until you meet both Scyther and Hitmonchan. These two will teach you the moves Cut and Rock Smash respectively. Cut lets you chop up bits of grass, vines and dead wood, the last of which can be refined into Lumber which is a very useful crafting material. Rock Smash lets you, well, smash rocks. Beyond letting you access new sections of the map by breaking through nearby walls, you can also use it to free trapped springs – more on that later. Increase your storage and backpack space Once you can use Scyther to get some Lumber, you can use the Crafting Table to build Storage Boxes. It's very worth your while to craft a few of these straight away, as it means you'll be able to dump all of your random bits and bobs inside before you head off exploring, keeping your materials a bit more organised. For similar reasons, you should buy some backpack upgrades from the PC Shop. These 'Packing Tips' are marked by a backpack icon, and are worth buying as soon as they become available. Find Drifloon Once you've got Rock Smash unlocked, you can follow the path left from the Pokémon Center, break through the rocks and find Drifloon floating around. They'll ask for a home, which you can build them by placing three campfires in a row and getting Charmander to light them. Once they've moved in, you can show Drifloon a doll once a day to be transported to a Dream Island where you can gather a ton of resources very quickly, similar to Explorer's Shores in Dragon Quest Builders. Find Drilbur and unlock Rototiller Lastly, you can break the rocks just behind and to the right of the Pokémon Center to find an area with a little allotment where you can meet Drilbur. Help Drilbur jazz up its home, and you'll be taught the move Rototiller, a very useful ability with two main applications. First, you can use it to till the ground to make space to plant crops like beans and wheat. Secondly, you can use it to pick up and move things like grass patches and flowers around without having to cut them up and replace them. Pokémon Pokopia tips and tricks Beyond these five steps you should focus on early on, we've also got a bunch of little tips and tricks to make your life a bit easier. Inhaling items Instead of just picking things up by manually pressing Y, you can hold down Y to inhale everything at once. This is especially useful when you're harvesting materials, as many of them will often drop all at once. Build some rivers In some parts of the map, you'll see what looks like a trench or empty pond dug into the ground. Near these locations, you'll find a block in the wall with water leaking out of it. Breaking these blocks with Rock Smash will free a trapped spring, which will flow down to make a river or pond. This immediately brings the area back to life, saving you from having to Water Gun it all yourself, and increases the humidity a bit in the process. Climbing Vines Dotted around the world, you'll find Vines hanging from cave ceilings and down cliff walls. While you can use Cut to get some materials from these, you can also use them to climb, helping you reach some otherwise inaccessible areas with ease. Craft Wooden Steps and Bridge Planks Before you go exploring, it's worth heading to your Crafting Table and creating a bunch of Wooden Steps and Bridge Planks. Since the island is falling apart, you'll regularly come across bridges or stairs that have pieces missing, making them impossible to traverse. Having some Steps and Planks in your inventory at all times means you can place them willy nilly and get where you need to go straight away. Don't buy the Habitat Tips from the PC Shop (at least, not at first) The PC Shop has some buyable tips that tell you how to build some hidden Habitats that you haven't discovered yet. It can be tempting to buy these straight away and get to using them, but we don't think it's worth it until later down the line. Early on, you really won't be struggling to find new Habitat Tips yourself while exploring, and within a few hours, you'll find that you already have too many to build at once anyway. You're better off building slowly, improving the area for the Pokémon you already have, and picking up one or two new additions now and then, instead of trying to get as many as possible all in at the start. Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
New Pokémon game earns rave reviews to become highest-rated game in franchise history
Upcoming Pokémon spin-off Pokémon Pokopia has certainly gone down well with critics, managing to rack up the highest Metacritic score in Pokémon history. First announced during the September 2025 Nintendo Direct, Pokopia comes from the studio behind fellow RPG spin-off Dragon Quest Builders, Omega Force. It combines the creature collection elements of the Pokémon series with the life simulation elements of the likes of Animal Crossing, seeing players revamp a seemingly deserted island to attract Pokémon and humans back. While players are yet to get their hands on the title, critics – ourselves included – have lauded the game, launching Pokopia to an impressive 88 rating on review aggregator Metacritic. At the time of writing, this places Pokopia neck and neck with Resident Evil Requiem and fantasy CRPG Esoteric Ebb as the joint highest-rated game of 2026. Perhaps more impressively, however, is that this 88 rating also means Pokopia is now the highest-rated Pokémon game of all time on the website, according to critic reviews. View Green Video on the source website Although technically sharing the top spot with Pokémon Y, the presence of its counterpart Pokémon X one point below on an 87 rating gives Pokopia the bragging rights as a standalone title. It's an impressive achievement, managing to eclipse several other franchise heavy hitters including Pokémon Sun and Moon, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and Pokémon Black and White, all of which sit alongside X at an 87 rating. It also represents a significantly higher score than any Pokémon game has had in recent years. 2022's Pokémon Legends: Arceus had been the last title in the series to score above 80, while Sun and Moon were the last to breach an 85-rating way back in November 2016. Pokopia arrives at the start of Pokémon's 30th anniversary year in which there have already been ports of the classic GBA titles FireRed and LeafGreen. With the upcoming Pokémon Champions spin-off and next year's 10th Generation Pokémon Winds and Waves now confirmed, both Nintendo and Game Freak will be hoping that Pokopia is the start of a turning tide back towards critical acclaim for the series. Read more: Is Pokopia on Switch 1? Pokopia beginner's guide: Tips, tricks and first things to do Pokopia multiplayer explained How to move grass and flowers in Pokopia How to get Beans, Tomatoes and Wheat in Pokopia View Riddle on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Classic Collection rumours explained: Are the original games really coming to Switch 2?
With Pokémon’s 30th anniversary fast approaching, many are expecting something big, and there are wild rumours afoot, so as such, we've got the Pokémon Classic Collection rumours explained to see if the original games in some form or another really are coming to Switch 2. The upcoming Pokémon Day marks 30 years since Pokémon Red and Green launched on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1996, so even in the absence of leaks, it was always inevitable that there would be rumblings that something big could be revealed. The way in which these classic titles could return is up for debate as well, but, as for a theoretical Pokémon Classic Collection and what that could entail, read on! Pokémon Classic Collection rumours explained: Are the original games really coming to Switch 2? Currently, there is no concrete evidence that the original Pokémon games are coming to the Nintendo Switch or Switch 2. Much of the recent excitement stems from Riddler Khu on X (formerly Twitter), who posted images of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen with the caption "They will return soon". If there is any truth to this rumour, we'd expect to find out during the official Pokémon Presents anniversary live stream on 27 February. View oEmbed on the source website Riddler Khu has, in the past, been proven correct with Pokémon leaks, but in recent years has had a spottier track record. Centro LEAKS, who revealed much of the Pokémon Gen 10 leaks, also took to X to add some further details. View oEmbed on the source website If they are to be eShop paid releases, this would separate them from Nintendo’s other re-release efforts, which typically come to the subscription-based Nintendo Switch Online service, such as the recent GameCube titles. However, there are some sources pointing to full-on remakes instead, as reported by Game Rant. It wouldn’t be the first time Pokémon games were remade, with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen being remakes of Pokémon Red and Blue on the Game Boy Advance in 2004. Pokémon Red and Blue also received an enhanced edition in 1998, Pokémon Yellow, and this was remade as Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! in 2018. But, as for now, all we can do is wait and speculate. It isn't long until we find out, but if more substantiated evidence comes to light, we will update this page accordingly! Read more on Pokémon: Pokémon Go Raids schedule - upcoming battles Best Pokémon gifts - the greatest merch Best Pokémon games on Switch - our ranking Best shiny Pokémon - the coolest creatures Best Dragon-type Pokémon - who's your fave? All cat Pokémon - the felines to catch Pokémon natures guide - all you need to know Pokémon type chart - strengths and weaknesses explained Legendary Pokémon - the full list Pokémon Scarlet and Violet cheats - handy hacks Pokémon Emerald cheats - what you need to know Pokémon Fire Red cheats - all codes Pokémon Go friend codes - and how to find them Pokémon games in order - where to start Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Animal Crossing 3.0 update today (15th January): What changes in the patch notes?
The day has finally come, as we can now access the Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update today (15th January), as well as the Animal Crossing Switch 2 Edition, so let’s see what changes in the patch notes! We’ve already got you covered if you’re after what to expect in the new Animal Crossing update, as well as how to get the new Animal Crossing update and DLC. Of course, you won’t be able to access some of the new additions if you are still playing on the original Switch, but you could pick up a bargain with our round-up of the best Switch 2 deals! The difference between the two consoles is quite staggering, and fans seem to love the new unit if the sales figures are anything to go by. But, as for that Animal Crossing 3.0 update and all of its juicy patch notes, read on! View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Animal Crossing 3.0 update today (15th January): What changes in the patch notes? Below, courtesy of big Nintendo itself, are the full patch notes for the Animal Crossing 3.0 update that went live on 15th January 2026: The previously announced new content and features have been added. It’s now possible to craft up to 10 items at once if you have enough materials. Items stored in your home storage can now be used as DIY materials. The DIY Recipes app now includes a page where you can check hotel DIY requests and items requested by Tom Nook as you progress through the game. Items obtained by linking with Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp can now always be ordered from Nook Shopping. Super Mario Bros items can now be ordered from Nook Shopping without linking to a Nintendo Account. While outdoors on an island, holding down the L Button allows you to move while facing the same direction. When changing the island tune at Resident Services, Isabelle will now suggest recommended melodies, including the original island tune. When changing the island flag at Resident Services, you can now revert it to the original design from when the island was created. You can now purchase up to 50 Customization Kits at once from Nook’s Cranny. Several items, including Snowflakes, can now be sold at the drop-off box at Nook’s Cranny. You will receive a Pearl every time you give a scallop to Pascal. You can now ask Leif to remove weeds when there are 30 or more weeds on your island, either on Harv’s Island or during his visits The fee for asking Leif to remove weeds has been reduced. New tips have been added to the Island Life 101 app. Additional Nook Miles tasks have been added alongside the new features. The order of some collaboration items has been updated in the catalogs used for photo studios and hotel decorating. Other adjustments and corrections were made to improve the gameplay experience. Nintendo Switch 2 Specific Updates Fixed an issue where the startup sound for Nook Shopping on the smartphone would not play correctly. NookLink (Nintendo Switch App) Updates Added new articles to the Island Newspaper. The Catalog now supports new items added in Ver. 3.0.0. View Green Video on the source website Read more on the Nintendo Switch 2: Nintendo Switch 2 release date - key details Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - where to buy Nintendo Switch 2 vs original Switch - what are the differences? Do Switch 1 controllers work with Switch 2? Do Switch 2 games work on Switch 1? Switch 2 backwards compatibility explained - can you play OG Switch games on Switch 2? Switch 2 games - confirmed and predicted games Mario Kart World - everything we know! Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to update Animal Crossing: New Horizons and get the new DLC
How to manually update Animal Crossing 3.0 and unlock the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade.
Rejoice, Animal Crossing fans! The Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade is here, and so is update patch v3.0! These two colliding upgrades will give your game a huge shot in the arm, and keep you enjoying your island even longer. If you're wondering what's available in the latest version of the game, and how to upgrade, you can read on for everything you need to know. How to update Animal Crossing: New Horizons How do I manually update Animal Crossing: New Horizons? If you've been asking yourself that question, you'll need to follow these steps to update Animal Crossing on your Nintendo Switch or Switch 2: Make sure your Nintendo Switch is connected to the internet (press the 'System Settings' cog on the console home page, head to 'Internet Settings' and connect the console to your Wifi) Ensure that your copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is closed (hover over the game on your console home page and press the X button to close the software) Try to open the game, and you should be prompted to download the Animal Crossing update! If, for some reason, the update doesn't seem to be coming, try this back-up plan: Hover over the game on your console home page and press the + button In the menu that appears, head to 'Software Update' and select the option titled 'Via the Internet' The console will then search for updates - if you have one to download, it will prompt you to do so. What version is the new Animal Crossing update? Thanks to this update, the new Animal Crossing version number is Ver. 3.0 - this has added a huge amount of new content. First is the addition of the new hotel, with Kapp'n's family turning the island into a vacation hotspot. Players will be able to design hotel rooms for guests, fitting certain themes to match their vibes. You'll also be able to interact with guests on the island during their stay. You'll now also be able to craft specialty goods using DIY, exchanging them for hotel tickets. These hotel tickets can be spent in the souvenir shop to buy exclusive items, as well as hotel-themed items. Slumber Island is another new addition. With a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you and your friends can visit the island together to decorate as a team. Alternatively, if you're after a restart, Resetti's Reset Service lets you reset particular areas of your island, instantly cleaning up any items, decorations, plants and more that you've placed, letting you start completely anew. Of course, there are a bunch of new items to use as well, including new LEGO, Legend of Zelda and Splatoon crossovers. How to get the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade DLC in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Of course, if you want the Switch 2 upgrade, you'll first have to actually have a Switch 2. Once that's sorted, all you need to do is head to the Nintendo eShop. From there, you'll be able to purchase the Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for £54.99. Alternatively, if you already own the base game, the upgrade will only cost you £4.19! After this, download any updates that come you're way, and you're good to go! Read more on Animal Crossing: Animal Crossing Gyroids guide - where to find them How to get Brewster in Animal Crossing Animal Crossing ordinances guide - what do they do? How to get the best turnip price every week in Animal Crossing Animal Crossing's best and most popular villagers The best Animal Crossing dream islands to explore Animal Crossing shooting stars guide How to restart your game in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
When is the Dispatch Nintendo Switch release date?
When is Dispatch dispatching on the Switch?
With the first episodes going live in October 2025, Dispatch fast proved itself to be one of the best games of last year; however, it was only limited to PC and PlayStation 5, and so we’ll be looking at when the Dispatch Nintendo Switch release date is. With a brilliant cast featuring the likes of Aaron Paul and a great story, we reckoned Dispatch was the perfect game to play over the Christmas break, owing to it being more like a TV series presented in bite-sized chunks. With how good the game is, it perhaps shouldn’t have come as any sort of surprise that the game exceeded three million units sold. With such success, though, the question remains if there will be a Dispatch Season 2, and if Dispatch will come to Xbox. But you don’t need to worry about any of that just now, as you have the whole first game to look forward to! Read on to find out the Dispatch Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 release date! When is the Dispatch Nintendo Switch release date? The Dispatch Nintendo Switch release date is 28th January 2026. This is for both the original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2. Unlike the launch on PC and PS5, the full game will be available at launch, rather than coming out in an episodic format. Currently, it appears that there is no physical release for Dispatch, with the Nintendo eShop being the only place to buy the Switch or Switch 2 Edition. There is a 10% discount for pre-orders, so you might want to act fast if you are keen on picking it up! Dispatch on Switch versus Switch 2: Platform differences explained The Nintendo Switch 2 edition features a higher resolution and framerate. This means that your experience playing it should be a bit smoother. That being said, the action of the game means you don’t need to be running it at 120 FPS, so OG Switch owners really shouldn’t miss out on too much! View oEmbed on the source website If you buy it for the original Switch and then pick up a Switch 2 at a later date, upgrading it to the Switch 2 version is free, as confirmed by developers AdHoc Studio on X (formerly Twitter). While you wait for the Nintendo Switch release date, you can also check out our big interview with the Dispatch cast over on the Radio Times Gaming YouTube channel! View oEmbed on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Nintendo Year in Review 2025: Release date window confirmed for your Wrapped-like stats
The time has almost come for the working year to end, and I don't know about you, but I'll spending plenty of time on my Nintendo Switch 2 over the Christmas break. Let's hang on a minute, though. Hasn't every gaming company on the planet been doing their version of Spotify Wrapped right now? Where's the Nintendo version, then? Indeed, we've already seen Discord Checkpoint, PlayStation Wrapped and Steam Year in Review. Nintendo and Xbox seem to be the only holdouts in terms of the major platform holders. So, when are we getting the pile of stats from Nintendo? Keep reading and you'll find out more. When is Nintendo's Year in Review coming out? The Nintendo Year in Review will be launching in January 2026, Nintendo has confirmed on its official social media channels. When we have a precise date, we'll be sure to update this page. Indeed, this does mean that Nintendo can actually give you stats from the whole year, rather than just the year to date (which is what a lot of these things actually seem to focus on). With big games like Metroid Prime 4, Pokémon Legends Z-A, Kirby Air Riders, Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World all launching this year, which one will be top of your list in terms of most hours played? You'll find out in the new year! View oEmbed on the source website How to see your Nintendo Switch Year in Review This is how it worked last year! Of course, the process might be a little different this time out, and we'll be sure to update this page when the time comes. Last year, to see your personalised Nintendo recap, you simply needed to head to the official Nintendo Switch Year in Review website. Once you logged in using your Nintendo Account and clicked the red 'Get started' button, you’d be able to see the following stats in order: Your first game The number of games you played and total number of hours Your Most played games Your gaming trends (pie chart showing percentages of the different genres you spent your time playing) The month you played your Switch most in (click the left and right arrows to see how many hours you spent gaming each month and what game you played most each month) Choose your favourite game How to share your personalised Year in Review Your points balance (Gold and Platinum) We'll be sure to update this page when the 2025 Nintendo Year in Review becomes available! Read more on the Nintendo Switch 2: Nintendo Switch 2 vs original Switch - what are the differences? Do Switch 1 controllers work with Switch 2? Do Switch 2 games work on Switch 1? Switch 2 backwards compatibility explained - can you play OG Switch games on Switch 2? Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Game Awards 2025: Date, UK time, nominees and how to watch
Tonight's the night, folks! The Game Awards 2025 is kicking off soon, and Geoff Keighley is about to download a giant ZIP-file of trailers straight into the gaming industry's mind. Of course, there's also the small matter of giving out some awards. Will Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 run rampant again like it did at The Golden Joystick Awards last month? Only time, and the patience to sit through 50 world premieres, will tell! In the build-up, everyone has been trying to guess which games will be revealed in the marketing component of the evening. Our gracious host Geoff posted about a mysterious statue in the Mojave Desert, but we can tick this one off our list as it is now (mostly) solved! Of course, who can forget the hype and hopium of last month, when Valve announced a slew of new hardware, which caused many to speculate that a Half-Life 3 announcement was imminent. Who knows? Perhaps Gabe Newell will return to port after giving his new superyacht a spin. On that topic, perhaps Valve will actually reveal the price of the new hardware, but given how much the price of memory modules is soaring, that seems unlikely. Another spoiled surprise may be the official reveal that Leon S. Kennedy is to be the second playable protagonist of Resident Evil Requiem, as the PlayStation Store let slip recently. View oEmbed on the source website We know for certain that we'll get to see what the future of Tomb Raider will look like, as it's been confirmed that an announcement is to be made during the event. Speaking of iconic characters and what their future will look like, there's rumblings that James Bond: 007 First Light will feature in the show somehow. What we don't know is whether or not we will see more of Hideo Kojima's O.D. or an official announcement of Death Stranding 2 on PC, which the US age classification board ESRB blew the lid off recently. In Microsoft land, we've had some glimpses of the new Fable and a teaser for Forza Horizon 6, so it would be good to see more of those, too. Perhaps it will be revealed that Forza Horizon 6 will release day-and-date on PlayStation 5. And finally, we've had some in-depth playthroughs of The Blood of Dawnwalker, so perhaps it's time for a little release date announcement... With all that said, let's see what we do know about The Game Awards 2025 and how and when to watch it! When are The Game Awards 2025? The Game Awards 2025 take place on 11th December 2025, with the show being broadcast live from Los Angeles. That's today, fact fans! Because the show begins in the evening in LA, that does mean that for those of us in Europe and further east, the show will actually be taking place on the morning of 12th December 2025. You can find more information on specific times down below. What time does The Game Awards 2025 start in the UK? The Game Awards 2025 begin at 12:30am GMT on 12th December 2025. If you're in a different time zone, here's what time the show will begin for you: US West Coast (PST) – 4:30pm, 11th December US Mountain (MST) – 5:30pm, 11th December US Central (CST) – 6:30pm, 11th December US East Coast (EST) – 7:30pm, 11th December Central Europe (CEST) – 1:30am, 12th December Singapore (SGT) – 8:30am, 12th December Japan (JST) – 9:30am, 12th December Australia East Coast (AEDT) – 11:30am, 12th December New Zealand (NZDT) – 1:30pm, 12th December How to watch The Game Awards 2025 View oEmbed on the source website You can watch The Game Awards right here by clicking into the player above! Get a fizzy drink, tape your eyes open and prepare to be amazed (probably). The Game Awards will be streamed live on a variety of platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, X, Facebook Live, Steam, and for the first time, Amazon Prime. Full list of The Game Awards 2025 nominees The nominees for this year's Game Awards have now been confirmed. You can check out the nominations, as announced by Geoff himself, in the video below, or scroll further down for the full list. View oEmbed on the source website Game of the Year Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Donkey Kong Bananza Hades II Hollow Knight: Silksong Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Best Game Direction Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Ghost of Yōtei Hades II Split Fiction Best Narrative Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Ghost of Yōtei Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Silent Hill f Best Art Direction Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Ghost of Yōtei Hades II Hollow Knight: Silksong Best Score and Music Hollow Knight: Silksong Hades II Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Ghost of Yōtei Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Best Audio Design Battlefield 6 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Ghost of Yōtei Silent Hill f Best Performance Ben Starr – Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Charlie Cox – Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Erika Ishii – Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei Jennifer English – Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Konatsu Kato – Hinako Shimizu in Silent Hill f Troy Baker – Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Innovation in Accessibility Assassin's Creed Shadows Atomfall Doom: The Dark Ages EA Sports FC 26 South of Midnight Games for Impact Consume Me Despelote Lost Records: Bloom & Rage South of Midnight Wanderstop Best Ongoing Final Fantasy XIV Fortnite Helldivers 2 Marvel Rivals No Man's Sky View Green Video on the source website Best Community Support Baldur's Gate 3 Final Fantasy XIV Fortnite Helldivers 2 No Man's Sky Best Independent Game Absolum Ball x Pit Blue Prince Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Hades II Hollow Knight: Silkso ng Best Debut Indie Game Blue Prince Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Despelote Dispatch Megabonk Best Mobile Game Destiny: Rising Persona 5: The Phantom X Sonic Rumble Umamusume: Pretty Derby Wuthering Waves Best VR/AR Game Alien Arken age Ghost Town Deadpool VR Midnight Walk Best Action Game Battlefield 6 Doom: The Dark Ages Hades II Ninja Gaiden 4 Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Best Action/Adventure Game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Ghost of Yōtei Hollow Knight: Silksong Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Split Fiction Best Role-Playing Game Avowed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Monster Hunter Wilds The Outer Worlds 2 Best Fighting Game 2XKO Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage Best Family Game Donkey Kong Bananza LEGO Party! LEGO Voyagers Mario Kart World Sonic Racing: Crossworlds Split Fiction Best Sim/Strategy Game The Alters Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles Jurassic World Evolution 3 Sid Meier's Civilization 7 Tempest Rising Two Point Museum Best Sports/Racing Game EA Sports FC 26 F1 25 Mario Kart World Rematch Sonic Racing: Crossworlds Best Multiplayer Game Arc Raiders Battlefield 6 Elden Ring Nightreign Peak Split Fiction Best Adaptation A Minecraft Movie Devil May Cry Splinter Cell: Deathwatch The Last of Us: Season 2 Until Dawn Most Anticipated Game 007 First Light Grand Theft Auto 6 Marvel's Wolverine Resident Evil Requiem The Witcher 4 Content Creator of the Year Caedrel Kai Cenat MoistCr1TiKaL Sakura Miko The Burnt Peanut Best Esports Game Counter-Strike 2 DOTA 2 League of Legends Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Valorant Best Esports Athlete Brawk (Brock Somerhalder) – Valorant Chovy (Jeong Ji-Hoon) – League of Legends Forsaken (Jason Susanto) – Valorant Kakeru (Kakeru Watanabe) – Street Fighter MenaRD (Saul Leonardo) – Street Fighter Zywoo (Mathieu Herbaut) – Counter-Strike 2 Best Esports Team G – League of Legends NRG – Valorant Team Falcons – DOTA 2 Liquid PH – Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Vitality – Counter-Strike 2 Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date, gameplay and latest news
After first being announced in 2017, the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date is nigh upon us, and we've got everything you need to know, including the Metroid Prime 4 launch time, pre-orders, gameplay and story details, trailers and more! We certainly liked what we played in the Metroid Prime 4 preview, and reviews point to the game being well worth the wait. If you're new to the series or can't quite remember what happened in previous games, then be sure to check out the Metroid timeline and chronological story, which also goes over the best order to play the games in. To get the best Metroid Prime 4 experience, you'll definitely want to pick it up for the Switch 2, and if you haven't got one yet, we've got the best places to buy one. But there's very little time until Metroid prime 4 comes out, so read on! View oEmbed on the source website When is the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date? Metroid Prime 4: Beyond releases on 4th December 2025 for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. For a long time, all we had to go on was a vague 2025 release window, and at one point, banners spotted on the London Underground advertised the game as "Out Now". View oEmbed on the source website This bizarre mix-up was quickly corrected, however, with new posters going up a few days later with the same old 2025 release date we already knew about. Thankfully, all that speculation is now dead and buried, with Nintendo confirming the official release date in their September 2025 Nintendo Direct. When is the Metroid Prime 4 launch time? Metroid Prime 4 will launch at local time midnight 12:00AM Thursday 4th December. This is the same across the world, except for countries that observe multiple time zones, such as the United States, where Nintendo uses Eastern Standard Time (EST) to time releases, meaning players living in time zones west of EST can start playing on the evening of 3rd December, such as folks in Pacific Standard Time (PST) who can start playing Metroid Prime 4 at 9PM PST, the lucky dogs... Can I pre-order Metroid Prime 4? Yes! Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is now available to pre-order. Nintendo Switch 2 owners can purchase the game digitally from the Nintendo eShop for £58.99 / $69.99 / €69.99. Alternatively, you can get it for slightly cheaper on the Nintendo Switch 1, again from the eShop, for £49.99 / $59.99 / €59.99. Later on, you can pay £7.99 to upgrade to the superior Switch 2 version if you choose to. As for physical copies, it doesn't look like they're available to pre-order just yet, but we'll keep an eye out for them, so be sure to check back! Which consoles and platforms can play Metroid Prime 4? Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Despite the Nintendo Switch 2 having already been announced, the game strangely wasn't confirmed for the console for a while, though that has now been resolved. That being said, it is interesting that the game is receiving a cross-platform release, with other first-party Nintendo titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza releasing as Switch 2 exclusives. View Green Video on the source website Metroid Prime 4 gameplay and story details Thanks to its official reveal trailer, we now know a little bit about the gameplay in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Surprise, surprise, it's first-person again. The famous scanner is back, as is the Morph Ball, which looks like it shares the physics and controls of the earlier Prime games. We also know that the Missile Launcher and Standard Blaster are back – as you'd expect. It's developed by Metroid Prime studio Retro Studios, and if you've played any of the previous three games you should know what to look forward to. For the story, details are also thin. We know that it's set in the Cosmic Year 20X9 and Sylux is involved as an antagonist, leading an attack on a Galactic Federation Research Facility along with Space Pirates and, of course, Metroids. We did get a bit more information in March's Nintendo Direct, which confirmed that the game takes place on the planet Viewros where Samus is stranded and has to find a way home. Strangely, she also now has some psychic abilities which look like they'll largely be used for solving puzzles dotted around the game. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Is there a Metroid Prime 4 trailer? Yes! There is a Metroid Prime 4: Beyond trailer, which reveals the game's new logo and name, shows off some gameplay, teases the story and gives us a good look at the game's gorgeous visuals. Check it out below: View oEmbed on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Go Winter Holiday events 2025: Confirmed dates and what to expect
With the year winding down to a close, you might naturally want to slip into hibernation mode, but we’re afraid to say that it’s all systems Go, as there is going to be plenty to keep you busy as part of Pokémon Go Winter Holiday Events for 2025. We’ve got all the confirmed dates of all the events and what to expect so that you don’t miss a beat of Pokémon Go holiday goodness. That is, of course, you aren’t too preoccupied playing through the Pokémon Legends Z-A DLC when it drops this December, which adds new Pokémon to the Legends Z-A Pokédex, including fearsome Mega Evolutions. Better polish up the ol’ Master Ball! It might just then be enough to tide us over until Pokémon Pokopia, if you have a Switch 2, that is, as playing Pokopia on a Switch 1 is a bit complicated… So much Pokémon, so little time! With that said, let’s get straight to it and see what awaits in the upcoming Pokémon Go Winter Holiday events. When are the Pokémon Go Winter Holiday events for 2025? There are two Winter Holiday Events taking place in December 2025 in Pokémon Go, and these are: Winter Holiday Part 1 – Thursday 18th December to Wednesday 24th December Winter Holiday Part 2 – Wednesday 24th December to Monday 29th December Around these dates are other experiences which can be found below: Journey to Paldea – Tuesday 2nd to Tuesday 9th December December Community Day – Saturday 6th to Sunday 7th December Well Armed – Thursday 11th to Tuesday 16th December Max Battle Day – Sunday 14th December Research Day – Saturday 20th December Winter Weekend – Saturday 27th to Sunday 28th December New Year's 2026 – Thursday 31st December to Sunday 4th January What to expect from the Pokémon Go Winter Holiday events Typically, Holiday Events feature a whole range of activities for Trainers to get up to. Last year, which was also split into two parts, we got: 2x Catch XP Themed Pokémon spawns increased Themed Pokémon in Raid Battles Themed Field Research Timed Research available Collection Challenge available PokéStop Showcase available New avatar items There were also two PokéStop showcases and new avatar items. For this year, we’re expecting much of the same, but as soon as we know more, we’ll update this page with all the official details! View Green Video on the source website Read more on Pokémon: Pokémon Go Raids schedule - upcoming battles Best Pokémon gifts - the greatest merch Best Pokémon games on Switch - our ranking Best shiny Pokémon - the coolest creatures Best Dragon-type Pokémon - who's your fave? All cat Pokémon - the felines to catch Pokémon natures guide - all you need to know Pokémon type chart - strengths and weaknesses explained Legendary Pokémon - the full list Pokémon Scarlet and Violet cheats - handy hacks Pokémon Emerald cheats - what you need to know Pokémon Fire Red cheats - all codes Pokémon Go friend codes - and how to find them Pokémon games in order - where to start Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Golden Joysticks 2025: Full list of winners from this year's show
Awards season has finally arrived for those of us in the games industry, and with one of the strongest years gaming has ever seen, The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 were certainly a big deal. The 43rd edition of an event that has been running since 1983, plenty of studios saw success on the night, but one game in particular managed to stand out above the rest (more on that below). Between Best Indie Game, Studio of the Year, Best Lead Performer and Ultimate Game of the Year, there were so many categories on offer. We at Radio Times Gaming were privileged to be official media partners for the event, so were there to witness it all happen live. So, if you're curious who all the winners of the Golden Joysticks 2025 were, you can read on for the full list! When was The Golden Joysticks 2025? The Golden Joysticks 2025 awards ceremony took place on Thursday 20th November 2025. This year's event was held live in London, with the full show being streamed online. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/clair-obscur-expedition-33-golden-joysticks-win-6764274.jpg" width="4096" height="2160" alt="Guillaume Broche, Nicholas Maxson-Francome, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, Devora Wilde, Aliona Baranova, Rich Keeble and the team from Kepler Interactive celebrating their Golden Joysticks wins." title="clair-obscur-expedition-33-golden-joysticks-win" /> Unlike The Game Awards, this show is purely for doling out awards to the best of the best in the games industry, so there weren't too many trailers to catch up on. Who hosted The Golden Joysticks 2025? The host of The Golden Joysticks 2025 was Maggie Robertson. Robertson has had roles in the likes of Baldur's Gate 3, Destiny 2, God of War Ragnarök and Smite. Her biggest role, however, came as Lady Dimitrescu in 2021's Resident Evil Village, for which she won the 2021 Golden Joystick for Performance of the Year, as well as Best Performance at The Game Awards. She was joined by a series of guest presenters including Alix Wilton Regan (Cyberpunk 2077), Doug Cockle (The Witcher) Ciara Berkley (The Witcher 4), Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33), Shai Matheson (LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight) and many more. Full list of The Golden Joysticks 2025 winners The full list of nominees for The Golden Joysticks 2025 is as follows: Ultimate Game of the Year Blue Prince Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (WINNER) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Donkey Kong Bananza Ghost of Yōtei Hades II Hollow Knight: Silksong Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 PEAK Silent Hill f Split Fiction Best Storytelling Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (WINNER) Silent Hill f Blue Prince Mafia: The Old Country Lost Records: Bloom & Rage The Hundred Line – Last Defence Academy Best Multiplayer Game Battlefield 6 Peak (WINNER) Elden Ring Nightreign Split Fiction Mario Kart World Rematch Best Visual Design Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (WINNER) The Midnight Walk Ghost of Yōtei Sword of the Sea Assassin's Creed Shadows Best Indie Game Blue Prince (WINNER) Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Wanderstop Skin Deep despelote Herdling Abiotic Factor Baby Steps Caves of Qud Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor Best Indie Game – Self Published Hollow Knight: Silksong (WINNER) Hades II Sword of the Sea Peak Keep Driving Spilled! Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders Deltarune Promise Mascot Agency Consume Me View Green Video on the source website Still Playing Award – PC and Console Minecraft (WINNER) Dead by Daylight Helldivers 2 Naraka: Bladepoint Satisfactory Call of Duty: Warzone Marvel Rivals Fortnite Apex Legends Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege X GTA Online Warframe Still Playing Award – Mobile Call of Duty: Mobile Pokémon Go (WINNER) Subway Surfers Clash Royale Honkai: Star Rail Genshin Impact Zenless Zone Zero Roblox Free Fire PUBG Mobile Best Remake / Remaster Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (WINNER) Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter The Talos Principle: Reawakened Gears of War: Reloaded Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Studio of the Year Team Cherry Sandfall Interactive (WINNER) Aggro Crab and Landfall Bloober Team Sloclap Rebellion Best Game Expansion Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants Lies of P: Overture (WINNER) No Man's Sky: Voyagers Atomfall Story Expansion Pack: The Red Strain Assassin's Creed Shadows – Claws of Awaji Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest Best Audio Design Ghost of Yōtei (WINNER) Battlefield 6 Donkey Kong Bananza Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Two Point Museum Cronos: The New Dawn Best Soundtrack Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (WINNER) South of Midnight Silent Hill f Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream Deltarune Sword of the Sea Best Lead Performer Jennifer English – Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (WINNER) Troy Baker – Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Tom McKay – Henry in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Alex Jordan – Jan Dolski in The Alters Erika Ishii – Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei Adriyan Rae – Hazel in South of Midnight Best Supporting Performer Troy Baker – Higgs Monaghan in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Jim High – Erik in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Ben Starr – Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (WINNER) Lucy Griffiths – Alva in Eriskholm: The Stolen Dream Logan Cunningham – Hades, Poseidon, Charon, Polyphemus, Chronos and the Storyteller in Hades II Marios Gavrilis – Emmerich Voss in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PC Game of the Year Hollow Knight: Silksong (WINNER) The Alters Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Peak Abiotic Factor Dune: Awakening Console Game of the Year Donkey Kong Bananza Monster Hunter Wilds Ghost of Yōtei (WINNER) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Mario Kart World Best Early Access Game Grounded 2 Schedule I 9 Kings R.E.P.O. (WINNER) skate. White Knuckle Best Gaming Hardware Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD Elgato Facecam 4K Razer Blade 16 AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (WINNER) Best Game Adaptation Devil May Cry (Netflix) Arcane Season 2 (Netflix) (WINNER) The Last of Us Season 2 (HBO) A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures) Secret Level (Prime Video) Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount Pictures) Best Game Trailer Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2 (WINNER) Battlefield 6: Official Launch Live Action Trailer Rhythm Doctor – Official Release Date Trailer The Expanse: Osiris Reborn – Announcement Trailer Romeo Is A Dead Man – Announcement Trailer Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Official CGI Trailer – Live a Life Medieval Breakthrough Award Schedule I (WINNER) Critics' Choice Award Donkey Kong Bananza (WINNER) Hall of Fame The Sims (WINNER) Most Wanted Game Grand Theft Auto 6 (WINNER) Resident Evil Requiem The Witcher 4 Black Myth: Zhong Kui LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight 007 First Light Exodus Subnautica 2 Light No Fire The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Saros The Blood of Dawnwalker Crimson Desert Kingdom Hearts 4 Marvel's Wolverine Hell Let Loose: Vietnam OD – Knock Onimusha: Way of the Sword Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. 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Kirby Air Riders review: Friendship ended with Mario Kart, now Kirby is my best friend
The best way I can describe Kirby Air Riders is that it is, at its core, an intensely GameCube-coded game. For some, that might be a turn-off; why would you want to play a game reminiscent of a gimmicky console from 2001? For others – myself included – a game like Air Riders harks back to an era that may have been a bit quirky and off-kilter, but was nothing if not fun. Air Riders is a sequel to 2003's Kirby Air Ride, and unsurprisingly, it plays very similarly. The controls are simple, and while it can be a touch difficult to get used to the way you turn and drift if you're used to games like Mario Kart, within a few races you'll be absolutely flying. One of the core mechanics is the classic Kirby concept of absorbing enemies to steal their powers. By absorbing enemies during a race, not only will you get a nifty speed boost, but you'll also get their corresponding ability, letting you blast enemies with balls of fire or slash them with vast sword swipes. Races are fast, chaotic, and surprisingly tough once you turn the AI difficulty up a few notches. Before each race, you'll have the chance to choose one of 20 iconic characters, as well as a vehicle, each of which has its own spread of stats and its own unique quirks. Depending on how you want to play, the combination of rider and vehicle you choose can have some major impacts on your approach to the race. Meta Knight on the Winged Star may not exactly speed through the more grounded tracks like Floria Fields, but stick him on Airtopia Ruins where his penchant for flying can truly shine and you're golden. The fact that your approach to the game is so heavily influenced by the vehicles you use means that there's a surprising amount of skill expression, and plenty of flexibility. Two players can race with entirely opposing strategies and still perform well, as opposed to a game like Mario Kart, in which (at least for the average player) how well you perform is determined by how well you can drift and how lucky you get with item pickups. There are a few different modes to choose from, each with a slightly different offering. Air Ride is simply a one-off race; choose your rider and vehicle, choose your track and off you go. Top Ride is essentially the same, but from a top-down perspective instead. A brand-new mode for Air Riders is Road Trip. One could say that it's Air Riders's closest thing to a story mode, but that would be a bit of a stretch. Instead, it feels much more like a spin on the Classic Mode from Super Smash Bros., in which you take on a series of challenges, increasing in difficulty as you go, collecting upgrades along the way as you journey to where your vehicle apparently longs to go. As far as story-adjacent modes go, it's good fun, although after playing it through around one-and-a-half times, I can't say I have much interest in playing through it much more. Undoubtedly, though, Air Riders's best mode by far is City Trial, a racing-slash-party game collectathon. Players are given a set amount of time to wheel around the floating island of Skyah, flitting between city, pirate ship, volcano and more, collecting upgrades, exchanging vehicles and smashing up other riders and even a world boss now and again. At the end of this madcap rush for upgrades, players are then chucked headlong into a minigame, almost reminiscent of a vehicular Mario Party, with each minigame tailored to a particular build. Again, depending on your choice of rider and vehicle, you will be stellar at some minigames and hopelessly outmatched in others, adding a bit of strategy when it comes to voting for the minigame you want to play – in multiplayer the game does thankfully recommend which option your build is best suited for. And that brings me onto where Kirby Air Riders truly shines. This is an absolute blast to play in multiplayer. Single player is great fun as well, don't get me wrong, but when you're thrown into the frenzied melee of City Tour along with 15 other players freewheeling around, smacking each other all over the map, it's hard not to sit there grinning like a child. Unfortunately, since this is just the review period, my multiplayer experience has been limited to playing online, but I am already excited to head home for Christmas and bust this game out with some friends and just go nuts. Air Riders is an interesting game. Thinking about it, I'm not convinced that there's a huge amount of replay value on offer here. Once you've run the gauntlet of modes in single player a few times, I can't say I have much desire to play any more of them on my lonesome. But Air Riders isn't really a traditional racing game – as I've alluded to a few times already, it's much more fitting to think of it as a party game. When you do that, what you'll find is that Kirby Air Riders is riotously fun, and manages to modernise the GameCube original without losing any of its zany, eccentric charm. When I sit down solo with my Switch 2 over the next few weeks, this is probably not a game I'm going to boot up. But when I'm dossing about with friends and looking to just kick back for some ridiculous, rip-roaring multiplayer fun, Kirby Air Riders is going to be very high on my list. Kirby Air Riders releases on 20th November 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2. Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond preview – worth the wait?
After eight years of development, Prime is back with a bang.
It's been eight years since Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was first announced. Eighteen years since Metroid Prime 3. Over such lengthy waits, you could forgive fans for losing hope in the game – that it was doomed to development hell, that it may not even arrive, or simply losing interest in it. But for the most part, Metroid fans are as excited for Metroid Prime 4 than they ever have been (if not more so), and following a hands-on preview, I can say that they are certainly right to be. Metroid Prime 4 opens up with a short, tutorial-like level that explains the basics of the game to you. After taking down a rather simple boss at the end, a mysterious explosion of energy ripples across the planet, and Samus awakes moments later in the jungle of an unknown world. Viewros is, or rather was, home to the Lamorn, a once-highly advanced but long since dead civilisation. Samus, lucky her, is the chosen one, selected by the last of the Lamorn to take their knowledge off-planet to spread their story with the universe. Unfortunately, she'll first have to find three keys to get the teleport working – thus begins our story proper. For anyone that has played previous Metroid Prime titles, Metroid Prime 4 doesn't massively shake things up, but polishes them to a mirror sheen. Gunplay is fantastic, and as someone that typically only plays shooters on PC and therefore cannot aim with a controller to save his life, I am exceedingly thankful for the Switch 2's new mouse functionality. At first, your weaponry is very bare bones, limited to just your most basic blaster shots. As you proceed, Samus will begin to restore her suit's capabilities, adding missiles and the like back into her arsenal. The jungles of Lamorn look fantastic, and are a joy to explore. As you proceed through, you're encouraged to make heavy use of Samus's visor to scan anything and everything you see. Beyond interesting factoids about the flora and fauna, this does deliver some very helpful information about how best to dispatch the various hostile creatures you come across. The world is also full of puzzles, none of which are particularly hard to solve, but are satisfying nonetheless. Between the jungle setting, puzzle-heavy gameplay and the concept of the Lamorn and their lost civilisation, I couldn't help but feel like Metroid Prime 4 has an air of The Legend of Zelda about it – a big plus, in my book. Central to Samus's abilities in Metroid Prime 4 are the psychic powers afforded her by the Lamorn. These abilities allow Samus to telekinetically interact with various doors, orbs, switches and more, shifting everything into the right place to solve some harder puzzles. They also have some combat applications, allowing Samus to guide missiles in slow-motion towards their target, something that comes in very handy upon fighting the next boss. View Green Video on the source website Going into this preview, the one thing I was most excited for was the prospect of the new motorcycle that has been so heavily teased, but alas, the motorcycle comes in a later section of the game. I had around 75 minutes to play Metroid Prime 4, and while that feels like enough to see the basics of what the game has to offer, I was certainly disappointed not to have longer. Not because I didn't think that 75 minutes was enough to see what Metroid Prime 4 has to offer, but the very opposite. The best thing you can say after one of these preview events is, "I wish I could have played more." It's safe to say that this was all I was thinking as I left the jungle for the next Lamornian vista to explore. When a game takes so long to come out as Metroid Prime 4, a certain mythos forms around it, with expectations growing higher and higher as the years pass. I can't say for sure whether Metroid Prime 4 will live up to those lofty expectations for some fans. What I can say, however, is that Metroid Prime 4 is shaping up to be everything I wanted from it, and certainly the follow-up to 3 that we've been waiting for. I just hope the rest of the game continues what this preview has started. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond releases on 4th December 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
When is the next Nintendo Direct? Confirmed date, time and what to expect
The day of the Switch 2 Direct is upon us!
While Nintendo Directs typically focus on new games for the Nintendo Switch 2, the next one is set to be a bit different. While upcoming titles like Kirby Air Riders and Metroid Prime 4 are still on everyone's minds, Nintendo is choosing to use the next Nintendo Direct to share some more information about another of its media ventures. So, with a big trailer set to drop, here's what you need to know about when the next Nintendo Direct takes place, how and when to watch it, and what to expect! When is the next Nintendo Direct? Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct will take place on Wednesday 12th November 2025. This was announced by Nintendo itself via its social media channels on 10th November. View oEmbed on the source website Keep reading for more key details! What time will Nintendo Direct start in the UK? The Nintendo Direct will take place at 2pm UK time on Wednesday 12th November 2025. It will exclusively cover information about the upcoming The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, set to release in cinemas in 2026. Nintendo has explicitly confirmed that "No game information will be included in this presentation." How to watch Nintendo Direct in the UK View oEmbed on the source website Today's Nintendo Direct will be shown on the official Nintendo YouTube channels. We've included the UK channel above, so you should be able to tune in there. When 2pm arrives, click into that player and prepare to be blown away (hopefully). What will be shown at the next Nintendo Direct? The next Nintendo Direct is focused on The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to the hit 2023 animation from Nintendo and Illumination. The Direct will show off the premiere of the first trailer for the film, during which we expect to see some new characters join the series. Some leaked promotional materials appear to suggest that Yoshi will play a rather prominent role in the movie – or at least in the movie's merchandise. It should be made clear that this Direct will not include any content about upcoming Nintendo games! View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Nintendo Switch 2 sales numbers: How many units have been sold?
The Nintendo Switch 2 was always going to sell well, but even Nintendo probably wasn't expecting the record-breaking sales the console has seen thus far. After eight years of the Switch 1, in which it became the second highest-selling console of all time, players were desperate to get their hands on its souped-up successor. The Switch 2 is performing so well already, in fact, that after only six months, it's already creeping up on the lifetime sales of the Wii U. But how many total units has the Nintendo Switch 2 sold? You can read on for the full details. Nintendo Switch 2 sales numbers: How many units have been sold? At the time of writing, Nintendo has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 has sold more than 10.36 million units according to Nintendo's November financial results, making it the biggest console launch in history. Nintendo clocked up more than 3.5 million units sold in only four days, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo console ever. This was followed up on 1st July 2025, with Nintendo sharing on its official website that the console had sold 1.8m units in the Americas, 1.47m in Japan, 1.18m in Europe and 0.55m units in the rest of the world. Nintendo has since removed this information from its website. The most recent update came at the beginning of August, when Nintendo published its financial results for the quarter ending 30th June, confirming that the console had passed the 6m sales mark, keeping them on track to meet their projected sales of 15m by March 2026. Beyond this, it was also confirmed that Mario Kart World is, unsurprisingly, the platform's top seller, with 96.7 per cent of Switch 2 owners also purchasing the game. This equates to around 5.63 million units, out of a total of 8.67 million games sold, making it the second biggest launch in the series after Mario Kart Wii. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website In comparison to these console sales, the Nintendo Switch 1 only managed to sell 4.7 million units in its first six months, according to IGN, while the Switch 2 is now only 3.2 million units away from beating the Wii U's lifetime sales of 13.5 million units. But more impressively than that, the Nintendo Switch 2 is officially also the fastest-selling home video game console of all time, as confirmed by Daniel Ahmad, director of research and insights at Niko Partners. View oEmbed on the source website "For reference, it took the PS4 two weeks to sell 2.1m units and six weeks to sell 4.2m units. It took the PS5 seven weeks to sell through 4.4m units," he wrote on Twitter, now X, although he clarifies that the PS5's sales figures were likely dampened by supply constraints at launch and the fact it initially only launched in select markets. Nevertheless, the Switch 2's launch marks a remarkable start to the console's lifetime. The Switch 1 is currently the second highest-selling home console of all time, sitting on 152m units sold, and following this strong start, Nintendo will be hoping that its successor can replicate those numbers in the long run. View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A trade codes – Full list and how to use them
Ever since Generation 1, one of the most annoying things about Pokémon has been trade evolutions. But thanks to Pokémon Legends: Z-A trade codes, that's not an issue we'll have to deal with anymore! These handy codes will let you and another player trade the same Pokémon to easily evolve it and get that particular Pokédex entry sorted for good. We've also got a list of Mystery Gift Codes if you need to stock up on some extra supplies! But for the full list of trade codes in Pokémon Legends: Z-A as well as how to use them, read on! Full list of Pokémon Legends: Z-A trade codes Before we get into the list, we'd like to credit YouTuber Austin John Plays who set these codes up for the community to use! Here is the full list of trade codes and evolutions for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, including any held items you need: Haunter / Gengar: 0066 0066 Machoke / Machamp: 0126 0126 Kadabra / Alakazam: 0063 0063 Scyther / Scizor: 0176 0176 (Must be holding Metal Coat) Onix / Steelix: 0197 0197 (Must be holding Metal Coat) Slowpoke / Slowking: 0137 0137 (Must be holding King's Rock) Pumpkaboo / Gourgeist: 0204 0204 Phantump / Trevenant: 0182 0182 Spritzee / Aromatisse: 0096 0096 Swirlix / Slurpuff: 0098 0098 How to use trade codes in Pokémon Legends: Z-A To use trade codes in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, you need to first use Link Trade. You can do this by opening up the menu by pressing 'X', and then select the following options: Link Play Link Trade Faraway Players Once you've connected to Link Trade, you'll be given a prompt to enter a code – enter the code corresponding to the Pokémon listed above that you want to trade. Wait for the trade to connect, and you should see that you're matched up with a player who wants to trade the same Pokémon. Make sure to check that you're both trading the same Pokémon, and that both Pokémon are holding the necessary held item if required, and then accept the trade. Once the trade goes through, the Pokémon you received will evolve, completing that page in your Pokédex if you hadn't already! View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Winds and Waves rumours: Gen 10 leaks explained
It's been a shockingly long time since Pokémon's Generation 9 launched, suggesting that Game Freak has been hard at work on something big. And if recent leaks are to be believed, then that something big is Generation 10, and it could be set to completely revolutionise the series. So, if you're curious about all the rumours of what's reportedly set to be called Pokémon Winds and Waves, here's what you need to know about the recent Gen 10 leaks. Pokémon Winds and Waves rumours: Gen 10 leaks explained The rumours about Pokémon Winds and Waves are circulating following a 'teraleak' in which a huge amount of information about alleged upcoming Game Freak projects was leaked online. The leaks come from Centro Leaks, one of the most reputable sources of Pokémon leaks around, so while it is certainly worth taking all of this information with a several grains of salt, there is plenty to suggest that the leaks are real. Development of the games will allegedly be led by Shigeru Ohmori, the primary director of the main series games since 2014's Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and the leaks and reportedly are sourced from Ohmori's own internal documents. Pokémon Winds and Waves will apparently take place in a new region based on southeast Asia, and more specifically, Indonesia, with the nature and island setting of southeast Asia playing a major role. This reportedly further applies to the box legendaries, the 'Storm' and 'Wave' Pokémon, which control – surprise, surprise – the wind and waves. Weather is also said to play a role in battles, with references made to "Tenko-Waza" (天候技) which roughly translates to "weather moves". The games will supposedly feature an evil team that destroys nature for profit, contrasting with your rival, a local child who has grown up in and around the nature of the islands. According to the leaks, you'll progress through the game via a combination of Gyms and defeating Titan Pokémon, similar to in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, with many of the game's challenges relating to sustainability and nature. Excitingly, it would be the first game in the series to be developed on a new internal engine – Pokémon Engine X – which would promise a huge upgrade on the graphics seen in previous entries in the series. Lastly, it appears that the game is slated for a 2026 release date with further DLC to come in 2027, although no exact release month has been specified thus far. View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.