For the record, I originally had 202*2* in the year but this was originally written on New Year's Eve.

Things we missed last week: Bubble Bobble was the Archives release, and that game that was listed as a December 31 release and I couldn't tell if that was a filler date actually DID launch in Toy Soldiers HD.

The first week of the year is typically quiet, though there will probably be a brisk business... Read more...

The House of Indies will teach the news desk to assume a light downloads week going forward, we assume.

Things we missed last week: TWENTY FIVE GAMES dropped with no warning, including the House of Indies games; Floppy Knights, Mortal Shell, The Captain, The Punchuin, Sonority, Sail Forth, Melatonin, Hyper Gunsport, and Sports Story. Surely there won't be a repeat this week, right?

Well... not likely,... Read more...

That explains all those updates we've been getting this year.

Some older Nintendo games have been found to have security holes that can be exploited by simply playing online.

The "ENLBufferPwn" exploit, rated as a 9.8 / 10 (Critical) on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scale, has been found in older Nintendo games dating back to Mario Kart 7... Read more...

Five days of shadowdrops and other reveals.

Nintendo has posted a series of videos this week advertising new indie titles - including multiple titles available the day of the videos.

Note: Does not resolve issue where Thwomps are, apparently, tankies.

A software update is now available for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that resolves a couple of issues with the latest round of DLC courses.

The 2.2.1 update makes the following fixes, according to Nintendo:

Jupiter expands beyond their usual Picross format with a new twist on the format.

Picross X: Picbits vs. Uzboross is releasing in North America and Europe on December 19 following the August release in Japan. The game launches at $19.99 (or equivalent pricing) and will have a 25% discount until January 3.

The hook for Picross X involves quick-paced 5x5 puzzles and a more cartoony art style. More than 100 puzzles with different twists and rules are included. Co-op is available with up to eight players.

...this week is all about the sales, let's be real here.

This week's totals (outside of Japan, where commerce keeps going next weekend) barely creep into the double digits, which given some weeks this year is a downright blessing. Some fun out of Japan, where the listing for "Aero Strikers: World Invasion" got Google-translated into "Erotic Strikers" which left me with several dozen questions, but aside from that you have a lot of stuff being sent out to die.

The only thing worse than the font is the timing of the announcement (Jump Festa or not, 2 am on Sunday morning?)

Following a listing by the ESRB, Square Enix has announced one of the most requested Switch series will come to the platform next year.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters - hi-res 2D versions of the games available on PC and mobile - will come to Switch next spring, according to a posting on the company's website. The announcement was made on the 35th anniversary of the Famicom release of the original Final Fantasy.

That last one is highly questionable.m

Four more Genesis titles have just landed in the library for subscribers to the Switch Online Expansion Pack.

Evoking memories of long, long RPGs.

A pair of Persona can now be pre-purchased ahead of their launch next month.

Persona 3 Portable and 4 Golden are now live for pre-order on the eShop for US$19.99 or equivalent each, alongside a dual pack for $39.49 US. The charge would occur on the 12th and unlock on January 19.

Atlus has released... Read more...

The person who gave Adol Christian his own ship to wreck is either getting promoted or sacked, we're not sure which.

Nihon Falcom is preparing a pair of Ys titles for 2023 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the venerable series.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana will launch in spring 2023 in Japan, a remastered version of the 2010 PSP action RPG which was itself a remake of Wanderers of Ys - the third game in... Read more...

With two more to come before the year's out and the last one to come with native versions of their home game.

The slow lurching of the Amiibo train will continue in 2023 with four more of the Smash Fighters Pass 2 figures.

Sephiroth and Kazuya Amiibo figures will launch on January 13, according to a new trailer posted by Nintendo of America's social media. Pyra and Mythra will follow sometime later in 2023, though it is not known if they will come in a dual pack as with Minecraft's Steve and Alex a couple of months ago.

North America gets to enjoy what Japan has had for a while.

One of the latest projects of Shigeru Miyamoto is about to open to the world.

Universal Studios and Nintendo have announced the first Super Nintendo World outside Japan will open at the Hollywood (California) resort on February 17. The Mario-themed park opened at Universal Studios in Osaka in March of 2021.

And some good news for collectors.

A new trailer has revealed online features and the release date for the next Mega Man Legacy Collection.

The trailer below has confirmed an April 14, 2023 launch date for the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection - a compilation of the ten games (across six stories) in the Game Boy Advance-based... Read more...

Five of which are actually good.

Spoony bards, train suplexes, and androgynous pirates may be coming to Switch shortly.

The ESRB has added Switch (and PlayStation 4) to the list of platforms that have content ratings for "FINAL FANTASY" I - VI that previously had only PC listed; these represent the Pixel Remaster versions that were released on PC in 2021-22.

Yeah, you forgot about this one didn't you?

The next seasonal update for Mario Strikers: Battle League will come right before a set of semifinals.

Landing tomorrow night, the update will bring Birdo and Bowser Jr as playable characters, a new urban stadium, and gear that increases speed and technical stats.

A trailer is below:

"You're going to sit there and spin a giant slot machine - isn't that right, Zach?"

Things we missed last week: Pac-Mania was the Archives title as that seems determined to go out with a bang for 2022, and a third Thunderful game in a week by way of Paper Cut Mansion.

Now that the Switch eShop has a 2K problem of its own to deal with for 2022, let's roll into the last major release... Read more...

Where, when, and how to listen to the Kirby and the Rainbow Curse RetroActive

It's finally time for Radio Free Nintendo's Episode 800, where we will be doing a LIVE RetroActive on Kirby and the Rainbow Curse.

How did Pokemon fare against a future Switch game (?) and Dad of Boy?

The bulk of the US Thanksgiving weekend left a major shakeup on the software charts in the latest sales survey from the NPD Group.

All rankings, unless noted, are based on revenue from October 30 - November 26. Third parties can contribute eShop data.

The monthly hardware result was up 45% year... Read more...

As inevitable as waifus, same turn reinforcements, and the green units being stupid.

Fire Emblem: Engage has announced its first expansion pass and it's going back to school.

The pass will include new emblems including Tiki (original version) and the house leaders from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, alongside "support items" and other items.

The pass will be available from the game's launch day (January 20), with three other packs available through 2023.