Persona 5 Christmas Cakes Match Well With Those Persona 5 Tea Sets
Remember those Persona 5 themed blended tea sets I reported on a while back? Well now you can have some delicious Persona 5 themed Christmas cakes to go with it, thanks to a set of these very items from Japanese bakery Priroll. Priroll has them available now for preorder on their site until November 25th, with each one running for about $50 each. If you order one at least seven days prior to the date you want them, they'll come on time.
As a bonus for buyers, star-shaped can badges featuring the same design as the cake you ordered will be included with each purchase. And since it's a limited time campaign for Christmas, the cakes will have an increased amount of strawberry pulp. Check out the gallery below to see all the possible designs:
According to previous reports, Persona 5 Royal (the updated re-release of the original Persona 5) shipped over 400K copies in its first month in Japan. Royal also topped the sales charts in both Taiwan and South Korea. Plus, it was in the top ten for both the UK and US charts during its opening weeks.
Back in February of this year I was able to sit down with the head of Atlus West PR, Arianne Advincula, for a quick interview. We discussed the challenges faced working with a game that has already been released in Japan, changes in the English localization between the original P5 and Royal, how streaming policies have been handled since its launch in the West, the EFIGS localization, and more.
Recently Persona 5 the Animation received a full Blu-ray boxset release this September, which also included a new English dub featuring the original voice cast.
You can read our review of Persona 5 Royal written by yours truly, in which I state that "Atlus has packed Persona 5 Royal full of new content that is sure to delight newcomers and even veterans of the original with a far more robust experience." There's also our post review discussion featuring myself and Video Manager Mario Rivera as we broke down some of our favorite parts of the game. And be sure to check out Staff Writer David Gill's editorial detailing why the game reminded him of what he missed about college and why Staff Writer Peter Hunt Szpytek felt this was the game he needed in 2020.
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Rainbow Six Siege Operation Neon Dawn Brings Another Solid Operator with Aruni
Revealed earlier this week, the Rainbow Six Siege Year 5 Season 4 (Y5S4) update, also known as Operation Neon Dawn, is right around the corner. Like Operation Shadow Legacy, which featured Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher looking old and grizzled, this new update will only feature one Operator (a Defender this time), a map rework, and several other changes to make each encounter more balanced and engaging.
I had the opportunity to go hands-on with Aruni, the new Defender, as well as played a few matches on the reworked Skyscraper map. Like the Operations before it, I think Neon Dawn is another solid update to one of this generation's best first-person shooters.
Aruni, the Newest Defender in Rainbow Six Siege
Aruni is the first Thai operator to join the Rainbow Six Siege roster. She is described as dedicated, dynamic, and intelligent. More importantly, she is a great anchor who can secure any given area pretty well.
This is due to her gadget, the Surya Gate. To put it simply, Aruni has the ability to deploy a laser gate on walls, hatches, doors, and windows. Fellow defense Operators will be able to go through the Surya Gates without being harmed. However, moving too close to the laser gate will give away your position as the gate shuts off if you or a teammate are within close proximity to it. It will do pretty significant damage to enemy Operators — 40 damage, to be exact — and will destroy any drone or projectile, both friendly and unfriendly, that attempt to move past it.
Aruni has a total of three Surya Gates she can deploy, allowing her to secure any point pretty well. She can also move any of these gates after they've been deployed, as they can be picked up after they've been deployed.
If an enemy, projectile, or drone comes in contact with the laser gate, it will deactivate, leaving that space wide open for anything to come through. When the gate has been used, the gadget will begin to spark. Once it stops sparking, you can shoot at the device and reactivate the gate.
Another ability that really sets her apart from everyone else is her melee attack. Due to her prosthetic arm, her melee attack packs more of a punch. I'm not entirely sure it will make it to the final build of Neon Dawn, but you can make pretty sizable holes in soft walls which is pretty useful.
In terms of her stats and weaponry, she is considered an Operator that is moderately difficult to play with. She has moderate speed and armor as well. You can equip Aruni with a P10 RONI submachine gun or Mk 14 EBR marksman rifle as her primary, the PRB92 as her handgun, and barbed wire or bulletproof camera as her second gadget.
Other features coming to Neon Dawn
Like recent updates, Operation Neon Dawn includes a reworked map. This time around, Skyscraper gets some much-needed changes that make it more balanced and competitive. The number of balconies has been reduced and relocated to attempt to force Attackers inside the building. Bomb sites have also been relocated to make it more balanced.
A number of accessibility features have been added to Rainbow Six Siege. Voice to Text and Text to Voice options for the in-game chat channel has been added. Additionally, you can now adjust the size of the font, as well as adjust the audio and visual cues for the chat.
Several balance changes are coming to some of Rainbow Six Siege's most popular Operators. Hibana will now have three configuration options for her X-Kairos Launcher; you can now choose to shoot 2, 4, or 6 X-Kairos. Echo's Yokai drone will now be visible when it is on ceilings. Lastly, Jager's Active Defense System will have a 10-second cooldown; the gadget cannot takeout projectiles while it is on cooldown. Additionally, the ADS will have an infinite amount of charges rather than the 2 it currently has.
My Impressions
I had a couple of hours to check out the new Operator and map rework coming with Operation Neon Dawn. From what I've played, the changes generally seem great. Like previous Operations, the updates don't drastically change the game by any means, but it seems different enough to make the game more balanced, competitive, and fun.
As previously stated above, the Skyscraper map rework changed its bombsites and balconies to make it more balanced and competitive; I feel like Ubisoft has succeeded in doing just that. While I haven't played too much of the Skyscraper map, I do remember it being the map "where I just hang upside down outside and try to pick people off from the balcony." I felt like staying on the balcony did not feel as safe as usual, really forcing us to move inside.
Additionally, like other map reworks, I really like how they've redesigned Skyscraper's look. Going back to the old version of the map, it is pretty difficult to differentiate between all the rooms. The reworked version adds a bit more "personality" to the map, with different colors and landmarks that make each room better suited for shot-calling.
While the Skyscraper rework is great, it is Aruni that steals the show for Operation Neon Dawn. I really like the addition of the Surya Gates. Going into the preview, I thought the laser gates would be a bit overpowered. However, that notion quickly changed just one match in. While the gadget is solid for securing any given site, it never felt like the gates really stopped any defender from getting in. Both hard and soft breachers could easily find ways around the gates. Also, if you have the means to do so, you could just waste some utility and deactivate the gate if you really need to.
I also really liked Aruni's melee attack. Instead of the typical bop with your gun, you use your red prosthetic arm (which totally reminded me of Metal Gear Solid V, a great video game) to punch your opponents. Not only does the attack do more damage, but it also makes bigger holes in soft walls, making her great for creating holes without wasting utility.
I feel like I say this every time I preview one of these updates, but Operation Neon Dawn brings more solid additions to one of the best first-person shooters around. Aruni is a fun Defender I can see myself using frequently and the Skyscraper map rework seems to include the changes it needed to make it more competitive. Operation Neon Dawn is a great update to close off this year's season.
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Sega Sammy Continues to Restructure Due to COVID-Related Losses
Sega Sammy Holdings, the parent company of Sega and Atlus and more, continues to restructure the company as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sega has been mitigating lost revenue using aggressive strategies such as selling most of its arcade operations business, reducing its stake in Sanrio (the company over the popular Hello Kitty brand), and dissolving a small subsidiary. And Sega's most recent action is now reportedly asking 650 staff members to retire early.
Below are Sega's main financial results for its second quarter:
As noted, it faced its worst negative results in the first quarter, while it "recorded an ordinary income in the second quarter accounting period." Due to the poorly performing first quarter, Sega faced "extraordinary losses" in its Amusement Center Operations area (the arcade machine side of Sega). However, some of that loss was mitigated thanks to the performance of its Consumer area.
Previously they announced that it would shift a significant part of its arcades game development staff to consoles. Famitsu then reached out to the company regarding the news of Sega Group selling 85.1% shares of Sega Entertainment to Genda. The shares transfer, happening on December 30th, 2020, means that most of over 200 Amusement centers and Game Centers owned by Sega in Japan will now be owned by Genda. Most likely many shops will be closed as the sale was decided on due to the crisis many shops are facing with said pandemic.
For more of an in-depth look into the ins and outs of the arcade business and why Sega made this decision and its consequences, check out this detailed breakdown from our Senior News Editor Iyane Agossah. On August 30th the company previously closed down its iconic arcade in Akihabara, the famous "electronics and otaku mecca" of Tokyo.
CEO Haruki Satomi announced at TGS 2020 during the Sega Fan Meet-up 2020, a new project titled Virtua Fighter x Esports Project. A teaser trailer was published and can be found below. In the reveal tweet, the company mentions the Virtua Fighter series is coming back for the 60th anniversary of the company, meaning the "Virtua Fighter X Esports Project" will include at least a brand new Virtua Fighter game. Additional details will be coming at a later date.
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Demon's Souls Will Get Japanese Voice Work for PS5 Version
According to a post from the Japanese PlayStation blog, it has been revealed that Demon's Souls will be getting Japanese voice acting for the PS5 remake. This is a brand new addition and pretty big news since the original PS3 version only had English voice work.
The main Demon's Souls Japanese voice cast features Saori Hayami as the Maiden in Black, Ryoko Shiraishi as the Monumental, Katsuhisa Hoki as Old King Allant, Fumiko Orikasa as Maiden Astraea, Tatsuhisa Suzuki as Ostrava of Boletaria, and Ken Narita as the Crestfallen Warrior.
The cast will also include Kazuhiko Inoue, Nobutoshi Canna, Taitem Kusunoki, Mie Sonozaki, Ryota Takeuchi, Mutsumi Tamura, Cho, Rica Fukami, Issei Futamata, Kotono Mitsuishi, Masuo Amada, Nobuaki Kanemitsu, Naomi Kusumi, Katsuhiko Sasaki, Toshiko Sawada, Masanori Takeda, Mitsuaki Hoshino, and Hiroshi Yanaka.
A recent State of Play video detailed some of the upgrades made to Demon's Souls' graphics, gameplay, sound design, and more.
According to the video, enemy attack patterns and movement are all exactly the same but benefit from the title running at 60FPS. This is because the developers are using the original code for the core gameplay mechanics. There's also a performance mode, which reportedly features the aforementioned 60FPS and dynamic 4K resolution, and a cinematic mode that runs at native 4K and 30FPS. However, a recent detailed analysis from Digital Foundry has revealed that the game misses that 4K benchmark at actually runs at 1440p 60FPS.
Sound quality, as mentioned before, has seen a massive improvement as well. Players will be able to hear human foes preparing to ambush you from behind, creatures slithering around in lower floors and more. You can watch the full video posted above to find out much more about the game.
According to a previous PlayStation blog post, the character creation mode is extremely robust and allows for players to customize some beautiful protagonists for photo mode. And speaking of the photo mode you'll have several filters and options for composing that perfect shot. You'll also be able to use the filters outside of photo mode, which will allow you to finetune the game's visuals to your liking.
It was also announced that Demon's Souls will have a Digital Deluxe Edition. This version of the game will cost $89.99 and will only be available via the PlayStation Store. Compared to the standard edition, you'll gain access to a number of in-game items including specific armor and weapons. Additionally, you'll also be able to net the game's original soundtrack for your listening pleasure.
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Demon's Souls State of Play Shares Development and Gameplay Insight
In a brand new 12 minute State of Play video, SIE Worldwide Studios Creative Director Gavin Moore shares development and gameplay insight into Demon's Souls. Slated for a November 12th release, Demon's Souls is a PS3 title remade from the ground up for PS5.
Moore starts the video with gameplay from the Gates of Boletaria as he demonstrates the basic gameplay mechanics. Starting with how stamina governs attacks, blocking, and dodging and that players must take care to note their own position relative to the enemy's. Fans of the original PS3 title will notice that the enemy attack patterns and movement are all exactly the same but benefit from the title running at 60FPS. This is because the developers are using the original code for the core gameplay mechanics.
There's a performance mode, which reportedly features the aforementioned 60FPS and dynamic 4K resolution, and a cinematic mode that runs at native 4K and 30FPS. However, a recent detailed analysis from Digital Foundry has revealed that the game misses that 4K benchmark at actually runs at 1440p 60FPS.
Not only has graphics and framerate been improvement but there have also been massive improvements in sound quality. Players will be able to hear human foes preparing to ambush you from behind, creatures slithering around in lower floors and more. You can watch the full video posted above to find out much more about the game.
According to a previous PlayStation blog post, the character creation mode is extremely robust and allows for players to customize some beautiful protagonists for photo mode. And speaking of the photo mode you'll have several filters and options for composing that perfect shot. You'll also be able to use the filters outside of photo mode, which will allow you to finetune the game's visuals to your liking.
It was also announced that Demon's Souls will have a Digital Deluxe Edition. This version of the game will cost $89.99 and will only be available via the PlayStation Store. Compared to the standard edition, you'll gain access to a number of in-game items including specific armor and weapons. Additionally, you'll also be able to net the game's original soundtrack for your listening pleasure.
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Mass Effect Legendary Edition Revealed, Coming to Both Current and Next-Gen Consoles in Spring 2021
After months of rumors and leaks Bioware has official revealed Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which is a collection of the entire trilogy fully remastered and with new content. The announcement was made today to coincide with N7 Day (November 7th), which is essentially the official gamer holiday related to all things Mass Effect. It was also teased yesterday by publication Venture Beat's Jeff Grubb, who blatantly tweeted out a blurred image of what looked to be the collection's box art.
The announcement came from VP and General Manager of BioWare, Casey Hudson, in an official blog post. Hudson stated that their "team at BioWare has been hard at work updating the textures, shaders, models, effects, and technical features of three enormous games" and that "it's been amazing to see the adventures of Commander Shepard take on new life in super-sharp resolution, faster framerates, and beautiful visual enhancements."
According to said blog post Mass Effect Legendary Edition will include single-player base content and DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, plus promo weapons, armors, and packs — all remastered and optimized for 4k Ultra HD. It will be available in Spring 2021 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC, with forward compatibility and targeted enhancements on Xbox Series X and PS5.
This also means that Grubb's other prediction was confirmed correct and the Legendary Edition will not be heading to Nintendo Switch. Also as previously reported on, the game's launch is slated for next year — specifically Spring 2021.
The evidence for the worst kept gaming secret in a while really started to mount back in July, when a listing on Amazon popped up for an art book titled The Art of the Mass Effect Trilogy: Expanded Edition. Since then, retailers from two different European countries, both Portugal and the Czech Republic, listed the trilogy for pre-order on their websites. And in October there was a rating for release for the title in South Korea that popped up.
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The Witcher Season 2 Halts Production After Several Positive COVID Results
Netflix has halted production in the UK on The Witcher season 2 after four confirmed positive results for COVID-19, according to a report from Deadline. An isolated round of testing will be carried out on all staff and actors; however, the confirmed cases are not from the lead cast. Production and filming at Arborfield Studios, west of London, will continue once it has been deemed safe to proceed.
This is the second time that production has halted for season 2, as the first time was back in March following a lead actor testing positive which then stretched to mid-August due to lockdown in the UK. Thue Rasmussen, the actor who played Eskel in the series, has had to drop out of the show due to COVID-19 rescheduling issues. Despite these setbacks, the third season is apparently already in the works.
Netflix has officially announced that Kim Bodnia will be playing the role of Vesemir in the upcoming season 2. This news comes after the reveal that the animated series The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf will be starring the same character. Other recurring characters include Sorceress Tissaia de Vries played by MyAnna Buring, Stregobor by actor Lars Mikkelsen, Therica Wilson-Read, Sorceress Sabrina, and Vilgefortz, mage and member of the Chapter of Sorcerers played by Mahesh Jadu.
Netflix also revealed more of the season 2 cast, which was drawn from Game of Thrones and other shows. The Witcher in general is one of the most popular releases of 2019 and has garnered plenty of attention from fans, to the point of the show still being in high demand even now. Following the show's success, the book publisher has announced they'll be reprinting 500,000 copies of the original novel to meet demand. Henry Cavill, the actor who plays Geralt of Rivia, confirmed on his Instagram that season two will be in pre-production soon.
Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich addressed some criticisms of The Witcher in an extensive and informative Twitter thread about the creative process and how certain decisions are made when adapting any sort of media. However, in a recent interview with TV Guide Hissrich stated that the multiple timelines of The Witcher's first season was "obviously one of the most controversial aspects of the show," and while she defended this approach to telling the story, she acknowledged that some audiences found this storytelling device to be confusing.
In that regard, Hissrich explained that Season 2 of the show "will be a lot easier to follow," and that the next season "aligns all of our characters on a similar timeline." While the show seemingly will still utilize a structure taking place over different periods of time, Hissrich stated that its approach will be done "in a different way" that should hopefully be more appealing to audiences.
It seems the series launch has had a positive affect on the games, as it caused a large resurgence in The Witcher 3′s player count — which hit over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam, more players than during its launch. Be sure to check out our own review for the Netflix series The Witcher here.
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Mass Effect Trilogy Remaster Looks Like It's Finally Being Unveiled Tomorrow
Tomorrow is N7 Day (November 7), which is basically the official gamer holiday related to all things Mass Effect. After years upon years of requests from fans to see a remaster of the full trilogy announced on this date, well, it looks like tomorrow will finally see those prayers answered.
A handful of reporters around the video game industry began teasing today that BioWare is set to announce the remastered collection of the Mass Effect trilogy bright and early tomorrow morning to kick off N7 day. Likely the most apparent tease of this information came from Venture Beat's Jeff Grubb, who blatantly tweeted out a blurred image of what looks to be the collection's box art. Despite being fuzzy, it's really easy to make out the franchise's iconic logo sitting in the middle of the image. The art also looks to be divided into blue and red sections, which seems to be a callback to the Renegade and Paragon system that we've come to know since the first entry in the series.
— Jeff Grubb (@JeffGrubb) November 6, 2020
To this point, we've heard rumors about the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition — which is what the collection is said to be called — for months at this point. Not only is the existence of this ME bundle about to be confirmed, but previous reports that point to the collection launching in 2021 sound like they'll be spot-on as well. Assuming that all of this previously-reported information ends up being true, the main question that we have about the Legendary Edition at this time is in regards to the platforms it'll be releasing on.
Either way, we'll know more officially tomorrow once EA and BioWare decide to share more information tomorrow. We'll be here to deliver that news to you once it ends up going live.
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Bloodborne is Still Locked to 30fps on PS5, Would Need an Update to be Changed
Of all games in the PS4 that many are likely looking forward to replaying on the next-gen PS5, From Software's Bloodborne is surely near the top of a lot of lists. Sadly, with the PS5 now in the hands of quite a few reviewers around the globe, it sounds as though Bloodborne itself won't be taking advantage of the upgraded hardware.
Alongside PS5 reviews going live this morning, new information about how Bloodborne performs on the console has now been made clear and, essentially, the news is what we feared it would be. Bloodborne is still locked to 30 frames-per-second on PS5, despite the fact that the PS5 itself is surely capable of allowing the game to run at a higher level.
The reason that the game hasn't received any sort of boost on PS5 is because, for starters, the developers haven't pushed out an update that would upgrade it. Beyond that, however, Bloodborne was designed to lock the frame rate at 30fps, meaning that even though it is playable on PS5, the console can't boost the FPS any higher than what the game allows for.
Okay, embargo is up and I'm allowed to talk about PlayStation 5 back compat now. All I have to say is Sekiro is 60fps, Dark Souks 3 is 60fps (it's locked at 30 on Xbox Series X, rip), and Bloodborne is still 30fps with bad frame pacing.
— Lance McDonald (@manfightdragon) November 6, 2020
Sadly, the only way in which Bloodborne could be "fixed" on PS5 at this point is if the game's developers happened to release an update that would either do this aforementioned optimization for the game on PS5, or at the very least, release another patch that could unlock the frame rate. The prospects of this happening any time soon though seem pretty slim. Not only is the game's developer, FromSoftware, plenty busy with other projects right now, but considering that this isn't even a property that they outright own, their desire to put in the work to optimize the title for PS5 might not exist. Then again, since Sony owns Bloodborne, perhaps they could assign Japan Studio, who also assisted with work on the game, to do this task instead.
At this point in time, it seems like Bloodborne could stand a better chance of being remastered entirely for PS5 rather than being upgraded, which is something we have heard rumors of in the past. Either way, I know that I'll be crossing my own fingers that arguably my favorite PS4 game can get some love thrown its way down the road.
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DualShockers Definitives — The Top 10 Essential Nintendo Switch Games
Welcome to the first official Nintendo Switch DualShockers Definitives list! This week has been a hard one for DualShockers staff, thanks to much arguing and nit-picking over which games in the amazing Nintendo Switch library make the Top 10.
If you missed the original post, here is a quick TLDR on what this is all about:
The DualShockers Definitives series is a living list, updated seasonally, where we hash out which ten essential games are must-buys for each platform — the ones we would put in a time capsule today if we were making one. The list is intended to grow over time as new releases take the spotlight or older games age like fine wine.
With all of the introduction out of the way, here are the Top 10 Essential games for the Nintendo Switch (as of Fall 2020):
10. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
Though Dragon Quest XI may have gotten the bump off the Top 10 PS4 games this year, it makes a fresh-faced appearance on the Nintendo Switch Top 10. And for good reason — Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition (despite the extravagant title) is the best version of this game on the market. Though late to the game compared to its 2018 release on other major consoles, the Nintendo Switch version adds refinements to the game's established equation and a fantastic 2D mode that harkens back to the series' heyday.
Check out the review of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition; you can purchase the game physically on Amazon.
9. Dead Cells
Speaking of satisfying pick-up-and-play goodness, no game hits that handheld market better than Dead Cells. A procedurally generated 2D action platformer, Dead Cells merges a lot of amazing Castlevania, Metroid, and Ori and the Blind Forest-like mechanics in one satisfying package. Tight gameplay shines through, and you can easily spend dozens of hours getting lost and perfecting the art of speedrunning through the game's campaign.
Check out the DualShockers review of Dead Cells; you can grab the game physically via Amazon.
8. Hollow Knight
Despite being one of the earliest Metroidvanias from this generation, Hollow Knight has only gotten better with age. Developed from a Kickstarter project from Team Cherry, the game picked up a massive cult following over complex and interesting tweaks to the genre. With a distinct combat style and harder difficulty pacing, this game is a challenge — but one everyone with a Nintendo Switch should take.
You can grab Hollow Knight physically via Amazon.
7. Luigi's Mansion 3
While this is only our third Luigi's Mansion game in nearly 20 years, a rarity for most of Nintendo's other franchises, Luigi's Mansion 3 is an experience that easily justifies the long wait since Dark Moon. This full-fledged sequel delivers on just about every aspect from gameplay, to visuals, and especially to giving players a well-crafted, spooky adventure of puzzle-solving and exploration. Though I hope we get a return trip to the series sometime sooner rather than later, Luigi's Mansion 3 shows better than ever that Luigi is more than capable of carrying his own game, even one that's meant to give us happiness at his expense.
Check out the review of Luigi's Mansion 3; the game is available physically via Amazon.
6. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Another entry from 2019, Fire Emblem: Three Houses takes the established tactical RPG series and polishes it to near perfection. With many arguing that this will be the Persona 5 to the Fire Emblem series, it is a must-play for anyone with a Nintendo Switch — even if this is your first time dipping into a notoriously inaccessible genre. With excellent gameplay and an engrossing story, the title is a GotY contender and a clear cut example of a Nintendo Switch definitive.
Check out the review of Fire Emblem: Three Houses; the game is available physically via Amazon.
5. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
To some extent, no game collection for any Nintendo console is complete without an Animal Crossing game. Thankfully, Animal Crossing: New Horizons seems to be the best of the bunch — a perfect entry point to new and veteran gamers, and one of the most adopted games for anyone with the hardware. This is a game that must be on your shortlist… even if you abandon your island after the first month.
Check out the DualShockers review of Animal Crossing: New Horizons; the game is available physically via Amazon.
4. Super Mario Odyssey
With the two tent-pole games topping the list, Super Mario Odyssey takes a close third to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's undisputed among fans of the game and critics that Super Mario Odyssey is one of (if not the) best 3D Mario to date, a tough crowd when considering Super Mario 64 and the Super Mario Galaxy series. Thanks to the innovative Cappy-possession mechanic, players are still uncovering gameplay secrets to this day.
Check out the DualShockers review of Super Mario Odyssey; the game is available physically via Amazon.
3. Hades
Hades is the latest and arguably finest entry in developer Supergiant's pantheon of exceptional video games. It's absolutely the most gameplay-focused and content-rich experience in their portfolio, and we've practically never found a dull moment within it. With the game being a clear favorite for 2020 Game of the Year, we will have to see how this fares as it ages.
Check out the DualShockers review of Hades; the game is available digitally via the Nintendo eShop.
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
It should be no surprise that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has carved out a spot on the list. Whether you argue on either side of "Is Smash Bros. a fighting game?" debate, it is unquestionably the pinnacle party game for Nintendo Switch and the best handheld version on the market. Whether this phases out the legacy of Melee has yet to be seen, however we know that this title alone will keep the Nintendo Switch next to the TV well beyond this generation.
Check out the review for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate; you can grab the game physically on Amazon.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The final game to top the list was Nintendo Switch's first: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. A game as visually striking as it is imaginative, Nintendo listened to fans when they said they wanted a more directionless approach. The result is a return to form for the amazing The Legend of Zelda series, as we explore creative gameplay design not touched by the series in some time.
Check out the DualShockers review of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild; the game is available physically via Amazon.
As it stands, that is our current DualShockers Definitives ranking of the Top 10 games for Nintendo Switch; for an extended rankings chart, make sure to check out our dedicated page.
Changes to the List
November 6, 2020: Mario Kart Deluxe (11th), Tetris 99 (12th), Astral Chain (15th), and The Messenger (16th) fall out of the Top 10 list, and onto the Extended list. Hades (3rd), Animal Crossing: New Horizons (5th), and Luigi's Mansion 3 (7th) are new additions to the list.
Super Mario Odyssey has moved down the list to 4th (from 3rd); Fire Emblem: Three Houses has moved down the list to 6th (from 4th); Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition has moved down the list to 10th (from 9th).
Hollow Knight has moved up the list to 8th (from 15th); Dead Cells has moved up the list to 9th (from 10th).
November 1, 2019: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2nd), Fire Emblem: Three Houses (4th), Astral Chain (6th), Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition (7th), and Tetris 99 (9th) are newcomers to the list. Super Mario Odyssey got bumped from 2nd to 3rd. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe got bumped from 4th to 5th. The Messenger advanced from 11th place to 8th. Dead Cells got bumped to 10th.
Celeste (12th), Splatoon 2 (13th), Stardew Valley (13th), Octopath Traveller (16th), Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (18th), and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (19th) all got bumped from the Top 10 list.
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