It’s hard to believe it’s December already! As the year starts to wind down, what better way to spend the holidays than gaming? Right? Well, if you’re seeking gaming inspiration, then look no further than our Pure Nintendo Playlist. Let’s find out what the crew is up to this week…

There’s no prize for guessing that Mario features heaviliy in our list lately, with not one, but two recent games to keep us hooked. We’re loving both Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario RPG. Incidentally, we talk about Super Mario RPG on our latest episode of the Pure Nintendo Podcast – and stay tuned for our upcoming review.

Meanwhile, ’tis the season for .. Metroidvanias? A couple of entries sneak into our list with 9 Years of Shadows and TEVI. We’re also enamoured with the likes of WarioWare and Professor Layton, not to mention Mario Kart and Splatoon 3.

Check out our latest playlist below to see the games we’re playing this week. What’s on your playlist? Let us know in the comments section!

Kirk

  • 9 Years of Shadows (Switch) – I’m reviewing this colorful and refreshingly accessible Metroidvania published by Freedom Games. 9 Years of Shadows’ somewhat musical approach to action RPGs has held my interest for longer than most games within this genre.
  • Arcadian Atlas (Switch) – Also for review, this mostly traditional fantasy SRPG features one element I’ve never encountered in all my years of turn-based combat: a jazz soundtrack. It also features a raccoon named Poncho. I’ll need some time with this one.
  • Persona 5 Royal (Switch) – As I’ve mentioned in the Pure Nintendo Podcast, I’m not cool enough to hang with the Phantom Thieves. But I’m going to do it anyway, thanks to this game’s 50% off sale. I started it once on PS4. Will I finish it on Switch? Only time will tell!

Justin

  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) – I’ve been playing the last wave (Wave 6) of the Mario Kart DLC courses and having a blast. My favorite ‘new’ course is DK Mountain — one of my favorites from the series! It’s reignited my love for the game and my need to complete 3 gold stars on each cup :) I’ve got the 200cc ones down, wanted to get the most difficult ones out of the way first but the Mirror ones are proving quite challenging.
  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch) – Still playing through this with our game night crew — we just finished World 3 and are on to the lava area next. Such amazing creativity in every level! I’m just having an amazing time playing through. I love some of the returning enemy types from Super Mario Bros. 3 and the new enemy variety is amazing.

Trev

  • Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS) – With the release of a new gameplay trailer for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, I was in the mood to revisit the series. And what better way than the one that started it all? Plus, playing the DS allowed my Switch to recharge between review games. Such as…
  • Super Mario RPG (Switch) – After just finishing the main story, I’m getting ready to enjoy some post-game content. My review should be worth the wait, and spoiler alert, this one is scoring high.
  • WarioWare: Move It! (Switch) – Don’t sleep on this one. The WarioWare games might be B-tier in terms of sales figures, but it’s AAA when it comes to grins and laughter. Check out my review to see why this game is a guaranteed party.

Nyleak

  • Stardew Valley (Switch) – I started playing this again because I needed something relaxing to pass the time on those boring winter nights. I haven’t played in a while so I’ve been enjoying all of the new updates, and started I started a new file on the beach farm that was recently added.
  • Splatoon 3 (Switch) – I recently checked my play time for Splatoon 3 and I’m almost ashamed to say it’s over 700 hours. It’s literally the only online multiplayer game that I enjoy, and I like to stay up late :)
  • Super Mario RPG (Switch) – I’ve played quite a bit of the story and I’m really enjoying my time with this awesome remake. I love all of the updated graphics and characters. I do wish the game was a little longer though, but only because I enjoy it so much.
  • Kingdom Eighties (Switch) – I’m currently playing this for a review. It’s very interesting and gives off a strong Stranger Things vibe. I’m hoping to have my review wrapped up by next week.

Jemma

  • SteamWorld Build (Switch) – This is the latest entry in the long-running series of diverse titles featuring steampunk robots in a post-apocalyptic future. This time around it’s a simulation game, allowing you build a whole town of robots in order to mine a special treasure to get you off a dying planet. I’m also lucky enough to be reviewing this title, so stay tuned!
  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch) – I’ve made it to Bowser! I’ve been taking my time with Mario’s latest platformer, and enjoying every second. It’s a true return to form (even though I loved the New series), with lovely sprites, fun levels, interesting enemies, wonderful surprises.
  • TEVI (Switch) – This metroidvania features a heavily Japanese-inspired theme, from Chibi characters to voiceovers that are completely in Japanese. This side-scrolling adventure features bullet-hell tropes as well, with enemies spewing blasts of energy at you on your journey. I’ll be posting a review of my thoughts on this one soon!
  • Pui Pui Molcar: Let’s Molcar Party! (Switch) – Have you seen this cute show on Netflix? It features vehicles that also happen to guinea pigs. It’s bonkers, but it’s adorable. This game features a bunch of these cute critters in a simple-yet-fun title that brings together elements of building, photography, minigames, and general good vibes. It’s aimed at a younger audience, but it works quite well. Watch for my upcoming review!

Enjoying our playlist? Check out our Pure Nintendo magazine and our weekly podcast for news, reviews, and much more!