Name a better game (hint: you can't)

I just wrapped IGN's Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen walkthrough! It was a solo project and across two months I wrote 110 full walkthrough pages with checkmarks for every item, TM/HM, Trainer, and Pokémon (almost 3,000 checks in total!), and a ton more I am so, so happy with how it turned out 🥹

I work at Kotaku now! :) You can go watch back today's KFGD to hear me talk about it a little if you want. You could also read my alma mater @gibiz.bsky.social to learn more! www.gamesindustry.biz/kotaku-hires...

The lack of a filter in Tomodachi Life has completely killed my interest in seeing what people are sharing online. It's all <famous person/character> said <R-rated thing>, and it's deeply uninteresting to me. I've never liked Cards Against Humanity, and that's what it's turned into.

Star Fox Zero should be used in driver's ed classes to showcase the dangers of texting and driving

Yes I did

One of my favorite video reviews I've ever done (especially the last five seconds) www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCFV...

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a big, digital dollhouse. It’s childlike fun to dress them up, feed them dinner, and meddle in their romantic drama. But what good are toys if you can’t play with your friends, or at the very least show them off? My review: www.ign.com/articles/tom...

Add me to your Tomodachi Life island!

This is my new obsession

We're sending Reb off this week on NVC. We're all going to miss her so much, but can't wait to see what she does next.

Check out our IGN Playlist of the best-reviewed games of 2026 so far, from Resident Evil Requiem to Marathon: https://bit.ly/3PSrDxC

Altano x Miyamoto is a must-read interview:

By some miracle, for the second time in ten months I got to sit down with Shigeru Miyamoto, this time at the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto. As always, he was an absolute delight: www.ign.com/articles/ill...

Whoops

Seems like future first-party Switch 2 games are going to be $69.99 digital and $79.99 physical. Yoshi is $59.99/$69.99, but if we compare that to the UK prices (which has been higher for physical since launch), we can see Yoshi is a cheaper title compared to the other full-priced first-party games.

Link's Crossbow Training is underrated www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAVn...

I'm over the moon with Switch 2's new handheld mode update. Instead of waiting for months hoping your favorite Switch game happens to be chosen to get a free update or Switch 2 Edition ranges from $5-$20 for contrived reasons, this makes them all look better at the press of a button. Brilliant!

Coolest intro I've ever seen at a sporting event

Boost Mode for Switch 1 games was the biggest fix I've wanted on Switch 2 since June. Tropical Freeze looks great in handheld now!!

Nintendo Hot Takes youtu.be/T6tjrRbeATo?...

Love this trailer. Discovering attributes of enemies and using them to find secrets is a fantastic concept for a relaxed, kid-friendly platformer. This is a very Modern Nintendo game, with emphasis on systems interacting with each other. Can't wait for it!

Nintendo Direct discourse is so deeply uninteresting. Pokopia is less than a week old. We just got a trailer and date for a new Yoshi game. There is no shortage of things to play. And, it's been obvious since January that Nintendo's schedule for the first half of 2026 was pretty much known.

I wrote about how Resident Evil Requiem works so well as a Hollywood style legacy sequel for one of my favorite characters and why that's a really rare thing for video games. It would make my day if you read it <3 www.ign.com/articles/res...

Minishoot Adventures is incredible so far. Incredible Zelda homage with tons of its own ideas. Can't recommend it enough!

Nintendo's latest Indie World Showcase showed new looks at a bunch of cool indie games, from Blue Prince to Denshattack!, Blighted, and more coming to Switch. https://bit.ly/4u3Eb4K

That was my favorite Indie World in a very long time. Been waiting for Minishoot Adventures on Switch for a while now, Denshattack looks fantastic, Mixtape, Blue Prince, The Midnight Walk are great gets, and Heave Ho 2 was a wonderful announcement. Great show!

With Pokemon off the table... What is Nintendo's November game?

Pokemon Winds and Waves: I'm really impressed. I never hesitate to criticize Pokemon and don't think I've liked a mainline game (besides Arceus) since... 3DS? But that trailer really blew me away. Great concept and significantly improved visuals. An enormous game to add to Switch 2's future outlook.

Up early and gonna be on NVC watching Pokémon Presents with @shinycaseyd.bsky.social, @adventnick.bsky.social, and @loganjplant.bsky.social! Come watch with us on ign.com or your fav streaming platform ✨ We'll be doing a post show too! I'M SO STOKED

Pokémon

I'm really excited for Pokopia next week. I've been feeling since its reveal that it has a chance to blow up and be the biggest hit Switch 2 has this year, and the reaction to this week's Treehouse strengthened that thought. I think the casual Switch owners are going to pay attention to this one.

That Survivor 50 premiere was 10/10, so happy Coach is back on my TV screen in 2026

Twilight Princess turning 20 the same year Zelda turns 40 felt like the perfect time for a replay

Add Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition to the pile of sloppy releases www.ign.com/articles/im-...

For Zelda's 40th anniversary, Seth, Brian, and I each wrote a short story about why we love this series. It's a lot more personal than what we usually write, and I'd really appreciate it if you checked it out! www.ign.com/articles/our...

I don't know if this a hot take, but I don't think "reused animations" has ever once bothered me in a video game, ever

I pre-ordered FireRed

Many of you know I love/hate the Switch 2 Edition titles, and " "Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" is a great contender for the new worst one

I'm opening a Mario Kart World lobby for the next hour: MLY N2Y

I wish I connected with Mario Tennis Fever more, but I'm pretty much done. As someone who's played tennis forever, I think Aces' take on mind games and abilities are a far better representation of arcadey tennis than Fever's, which relies too strongly on gimmicks that distract from the core sport

Playing Virtual Boy in 2026 feels like discovering my favorite band of all time released an experimental EP 30 years ago that no one bought. It only has one great song, but I love experiencing their entire discography so I really don't mind. I'd never recommend it, but it's a great treasure for me.

Here we go

The future has arrived

You should read @shinycaseyd.bsky.social's excellent Pokemon Pokopia preview on IGN. I played the same demo as Casey at a separate event and think it has a chance to be the best and most successful Pokemon spinoff ever. www.ign.com/articles/pok...

Where the hell is a new Mario Super Sluggers