The weekend is almost upon us, and that can only mean one thing – game time! We’re back with another playlist to highlight which games the Pure Nintendo team is playing lately.

One thing we seem to have in common this week is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, thanks to a new batch of DLC. The first wave – the Golden Dash Cup and Lucky Cat Cup – feature a lot of fun tracks previously only found in handheld form, with gems from the GBA, DS, 3DS, and MK Tour versions making their way to the Switch. As always, it’s a ton of fun and we can’t wait for more! It’s bound to be on our playlist every time.

Other playlist highlights include a few classic titles, like Dr. Mario 64 and Alien Soldier, along with a sprinkling of Zelda games (there’s always room for The Legend of Zelda, after all – check out our latest Zelda podcast if you don’t believe us).

Whether you’re looking for gaming inspiration or you’re just curious about what we’ve been up to lately, check out our playlist below to see it all. More importantly, what are you playing right now? How’s that backlog of games going anyway? Let us know in the comments section below!

Pure Nintendo playlist

Roger

  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) – With the release of the first wave of new tracks, I’ll be spending time honing my skills and preparing for the Pure Nintendo Cup (that’s a thing, right?)
  • Dawn of the Monsters (Switch) – A sidescrolling beat ’em up where I can play as a giant monster, taking out other giant monsters? Yes please! I love the artwork too! It’s a fun co-op. You can also check out Pure Nintendo’s Dawn of the Monsters interview.
  • Young Souls (Switch): Speaking of co-ops, I have been playing Young Souls for a review, and wow, I am really enjoying this game. Check out my Young Souls review for more details!

Ted

  • Nintendo Switch Folders (Switch) – I know it’s not a game, but I’ve had way too much fun creating folders on my Switch. I’ve got one for multiplayer games that my girlfriend and I like to play, I’ve got a Pokémon folder, I’ve got a backlog folder full of purchased games that are yet to be played, and I’ve also got a folder specifically made for my daughter. So she can head straight there and select her favourites instead of scrolling through my 140+ games!
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) – I had to get my trophies in the new tracks – and also teach my five-year-old a lesson, too! Very much enjoying the new tracks and can’t wait for all the future waves.

Jes

  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (switch) – I always loved Mario kart and the brand new booster course pack is exactly what I needed. The new tracks are a lot of fun and if this is how the DLC packs start, I can’t wait to see what tracks get added next.
  • Alien Soldier (Sega Genesis – Nintendo Switch Online) – Recently 3 new Sega Genesis games were added to the online pack and one of them was one of my childhood favorites, Alien Soldier. It’s an incredibly difficult game but super rewarding. I highly recommend it to people who loved Gunstar Heroes. For me I just needed another excuse to go back and play this great game.
  • F-Zero X (Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online) – F-Zero X was added to N64 Switch Online and it’s been a blast to revisit this game. Playing it online with friends has also been a unique experience, something I never imagined I would ever be able to do with this game. It’s a hard racing game but if you put in the time and patience, it’s a ton of fun. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to keep racing so I can unlock all the remaining vehicles…

Trev

  • Rune Factory 5 (Switch) – It’s my name on the byline, but my wife has played a lot more than me. See our review of this good, but not great, entry.
  • Tempest 4000 (Switch) – Now that it’s in the hands of non-press, my time atop the leaderboards has ended. But I should have a review of this one up any day now. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a very good game.
  • The Legend of Zelda: TriForce Heroes (3DS) – I took a break from my BOTW replay, but I managed to get another TFH online session going, this time with Kaelyn and Kirk. Koopa Kast is coming up!
  • The Pinball Arcade (Wii U) – I’ve actually been playing quite a bit of pinball lately. Still, I’m highlighting this game (and the Wii U version, no less) because the Bally and Williams tables are somehow still available for purchase. I know, they lost the rights in 2018, but what can I say? Star Trek The Next Generation, and the Pinbot games are some I recommend. You can even nab games that are in Pinball FX3 for a slightly different feel.

Justin

  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) – Tried out the new courses with some friends over for some local couch co-op fun — the courses were solid although I’m hoping DK Mountain gets in the DLC passes somewhere, loved that course! And yes, bring on the PN Cup.
  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES – Nintendo Switch Online) – After talking about A Link Between Worlds on the last Koopa Kast, I had to revisit its progenitor. What a fantastic game! Such great music, sound effects, gameplay — just loving playing through it again.
  • Dr. Mario 64 (Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online) – If you’re not playing this game, phew, you’re missing out! I don’t remember liking Dr. Mario games as much as say Tetris back in the day, but man, Dr. Mario is quickly becoming one of my favorite puzzle games.

Jemma

  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) – As a lifelong Mario Kart fan, there was no way I wasn’t playing this on day one. I’m enjoying the new tracks, which bring a mix of nostalgia and freshness to the game. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in the next wave! No playlist is complete with Mario Kart!
  • Puzzle & Dragons (Switch) – This is a fun mash-up of genres, though it’s mostly a match-three game. It’s also done the rounds on most consoles over the years, but comes in at a low enough price to appeal to fans. Check out my Puzzle & Dragons review for all the details!
  • Inukari: Chase of Deception (Switch) – I’ve just started playing this retro-inspired platformer about a fox spirit who must save the world from the greed of humanity. Watch out for my upcoming review!