It’s been three years since Nintendo started its big comeback from the Wii U days with the release of the Nintendo Switch. Yesterday, we took a look at how the console has performed in the three years since its debut, as well as where it could be headed in the coming months, so be sure to give that a read if you haven’t already.
Today, though, we’re celebrating the library of games that have already graced the platform by taking a look at some of our favorites from the past three years. To do that, I enlisted the help of some of our forum members, as well as a contribution from YouTuber AJ McRae from the Fanatix Four channel.
By the way, if there’s a game you believe should be on this list, it’s not too late to make yourself heard over at our forum thread. The goal of this article is simply to highlight some of our personal favorite games, but we’re sure there will be a lot of games that you prefer over the ones listed here. If that’s the case, just let us know!
Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Not many videogame consoles have the privilege of debuting alongside one of the best games in their libraries, but that’s exactly what happened with the Switch and Breath of the Wild. Thanks in no small part to the terrible performance of the Wii U hardware, Nintendo opted to wait and release the game on Switch alongside the Wii U version, and that means the console launched with what is my personal favorite game of all time.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was Nintendo’s first attempt at a truly open-world Zelda title, and for someone who typically doesn’t like open-world games, I had some worries. But the world in Breath of the Wild is so engrossing, beautiful, and rewarding, that I couldn’t go without looking at every nook and cranny I could find, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Even prior to the release of the DLC, I had nearly 300 hours of playtime on record, and that only increased once the DLC was made available. The two DLC packs, The Master Trials and The Champion’s Ballad, were released later in 2017, and they were both great. The latter expanded the story with some more backstory, but I was actually a big fan of the Master Trials as a format, it was really challenging and forced me to make good use of the items in the environment.
I absolutely recommend both the game, which you can buy on Amazon, and the expansion pass, which costs $19.99 in the eShop.
Super Mario Odyssey
Just like Zelda, Mario is a franchise that no Nintendo console can go without, and the company wasted no time in following up one great game with another. Super Mario Odyssey brought some significant changes to the franchise’s formula, starting with large, connected, and semi-open worlds that the player can explore to their own content, but still with some guidelines to make the story progress.
The sheer number of Power Moons to collect and the variety of missions required to obtain them were a breath of fresh air. Likewise, the ability to take control of enemies, characters, and inanimate objects to navigate the world was another big change for Mario, which has typically been based on power-ups like the Fire Flower, and it allowed players to traverse the world in ways that weren’t possible before.
Nintendo also started to show signs of its intent to support its games over longer periods of time, starting with the 8-bit Luigi challenges that gave players an extra reason to explore the game world again. More notably, though, Nintendo eventually released a free update that added a new mode called Balloon World. In it, players can hide balloons and look for balloons hidden by other players from all around the world, and it gave me motivation to master the controls and learn about some of the hidden portions of the game map.
2018 was a relatively slow year for Switch releases, but Nintendo saved its trump card right until the end of the year. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate generated a lot of hype and became the fastest-selling game in the history of the franchise, and that’s for a good reason. The game includes every character that’s ever been in the franchise and then some more. If that wasn’t enough, the company added more via DLC over the course of 2019, and there’s still more on the way. It also has the biggest number of stages and music tracks in the franchise, so it truly lives up to its name.
There are even more things that make this the biggest Smash Bros. title yet, including the fully-fledged adventure mode called World of Light and a Spirits mode that brings in even more characters from a myriad of franchises. Still, the game shines the most thanks to its multiplayer modes, and even though I haven’t played it myself, AJ McRae is still putting quite some time into it more than a year later. Here’s why he likes it so much:
“Super Smash Bros Ultimate is by far the most important Nintendo Switch game in my library and that’s for a few good reasons. First and foremost, it’s a fantastic celebration for gaming’s biggest franchises. If you love a big name gaming property, chances are it’s represented on some level in this game. Second, it’s a no-brainer when it comes to games that I’d pull out to play with a group of gamers regardless of skill level. Everyone knows that it’s a fantastic game to play with a group of family and friends for all of the chaotic items on high, random stages, 8 player smash you can handle. A lesser known fact though, it’s a really solid competitive game with a breadth of interesting characters to learn to play as and play against. It’s for those reasons that it’s my most played Switch game by a LONG shot and will continue to be so – likely for the rest of the platform’s life.”
Nintendo and PlatinumGames had quite a surprise for fans in 2019 when, instead of releasing Bayonetta 3, the companies decided to announce Astral Chain. It’s still very much the kind of action game you’d expect from PlatinumGames, though, and that means it’s phenomenal at what it does.
I reviewed the game when it released last year, and found that there wasn’t much to criticize aside from some platforming sections of the game. Combat is fast and fluid, and most importantly, very fun. There’s a lot of main and side missions to get through, and it keeps adding new ways to tackle the challenges ahead of you until the very end. On top of that, there’s extensive upgrade system and customization options, which help make the experience more unique to your tastes.
Add to that the fantastic art direction that makes stellar use of the Nintendo Switch’s processing power and exudes a strong anime vibe, pretty great voice acting, and a soundtrack that pumps you up perfectly for each fight, and it’s just a fantastic package overall.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
26 years after it was originally released, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening got a remake last year. Jumping from the GameBoy to the far more advanced hardware of the Nintendo Switch brings along a ton of improvements to the controls, graphics, and sound quality.
The art style Nintendo went with for this remake really won me over. It makes for a very unique-looking world and facial expressions are nothing short of adorable. The music is also as good as you’d expect from a Zelda game. I reviewed Link’s Awakening when it came out and found it a little too confusing to get through, but our forum member and moderator, Brandon H., quite enjoyed it:
“I loved the Links Awakening remake. Some people didn’t like the art style in it but I thought it fit well with the game. I never got the chance to play through the original gameboy version of the game so being able to play with updated controls/graphics is always welcome for a good classic. was the first game I got when I got my Switch Lite and thoroughly enjoyed beating it in a single weekend”
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
The Switch has been a captivating platform for ports of games from other consoles, and Square Enix jumped on that trend by bringing over the definitive edition of Dragon Quest XI, dubbed Dragon Quest XI S. It includes all of the original content of the game, but it does bring a fully orchestrated version of the original soundtrack.
It also includes a handful of new story content, with story portions focusing on each of the main characters of the game, English and Japanese options for voice acting, and a plentiful list of other improvements. I personally didn’t play the game, nor am I familiar with the Dragon Quest series, but our forum member +forster has had some fun with it:
“Dragon Quest 11 was really stand out for me this year, drove many hours into it. Also I think it stood apart, enough, from its previous ports due to the tweaks and extra Switch content. Graphics great, music great, really shows what a switch can do!”
I understand that this isn’t exactly an experience for most gamers, but Ring Fit Adventure actually delivers really well on its promise. It brings together exercise and a plot that gives you extra encouragement to keep working out, which actually works on me, as someone who tends to prefer gaming over exercising. There’s a ton of variety to the exercises you can do, and if the story mode is restrictive, there are mini-games and routines you can create for yourself to focus on what you want.
The Ring-Con looks really simple at first, but it offers plenty of resistance and it’s really surprising how hard it makes you work. It’s the first game to make use of the Switch’s alarm feature to remind you to keep exercising on a regular basis. It’s not a gym replacement, but it’s probably cheaper and easier to accommodate in your schedule. And, if you want to exercise while watching TV or something, the Ring-Com can be used standalone and it will keep count of how many times you press or pull on it.
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a way to exercise or stay active, and going out isn’t always a valid option, then this is definitely something to consider. The game is currently sold out at most retailers, but you can keep an eye on the Amazon listing if you want to grab it.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Luigi’s Mansion is one of those rare Nintendo franchises that doesn’t have that many entries in its history, and the third iteration makes me glad that the developers had plenty of time to work on it. The spooky adventures of Mario’s green-clad brother have always had a very unique charm to them, but Luigi’s Mansion 3 is bigger, better, and more varied than its predecessors.
I chose not to review this game, and usually, I do that with games I don’t like that much, but that is definitely not the case here. Everything about Luigi’s Mansion 3 feels stellar. The hotel you have to explore this time around is larger than the mansions in previous games, and the different floors for each theme offer so much variety in terms of visuals and mechanics that I enjoyed it through and through. For a game with base mechanics as simple as these, it’s honestly surprising how varied the gameplay is throughout the adventure.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a charming adventure that kept me hooked every second of the journey, but it’s a kind of fun that’s not easy to put into words. It’s just a fantastic game and one that I absolutely recommend. If you’re interested, you can grab it here.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
The last and most recent games on this list are Pokémon Sword and Shield, and I’ve already talked at length about why I love them in my full review. These are easily the best games in the franchise, and that’s because they drive it forward in many ways. The freedom of movement is bigger than ever, especially in the Wild Area, and seeing Pokémon on the fields, and seeing them react to your presence adds a whole new level of interaction with the game, while also removing some of the annoying parts (that is to say, random encounters).
In general, the game just wastes a lot less of your time. Many animation sequences have been sped up or shortened, some features are easier to access through quick shortcuts, you can manage your party and boxes from anywhere. And all of that comes in a beautiful package, despite some of the places where textures may appear too simple. It’s a huge step in the right direction, even if it’s not where some of us hoped the franchise would be at this point.
Our forum member and moderator Brandon H. is also a big fan of the latest entry in the Pokémon franchise. Here’s what he had to say:
“I fell out of Pokemon games around Diamond/pearl due to getting bored with them. I tried Black/White, X/Y, and Sun/Moon but never beat any of them due to just getting bored part way through. Sword/Shield are the first Pokemon games I’ve thoroughly enjoyed again. I didn’t feel like I had to grind all the time just to progress so that helped keep my attention. The story actually seemed good and kept my attention as well. The wild lands are quite the interesting concept that I like; what little grinding I did have to do was made easier by the early access to the wild lands and the areas of stronger pokemon it had. Can’t wait to see how the DLCs expand the wild lands along with the new areas.”
These are just what we consider the highlights of the library that the Nintendo Switch has built up over the past three years. There are many more great games from major publishers and indie developers alike, so if there’s something you would have liked to see here, let us know in the comments below or on this forum thread for everyone to see!
We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the forum thread and helped contribute to this article, as well as AJ McRae from Fanatix Four for contributing his opinion on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. We highly recommend you check out his YouTube channel using the links above.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The tiny Mideast nation of Kuwait has banned the release of the video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6,” which features the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and is set in part in the 1990s Gulf War.
The video game, a first-person shooter, follows CIA operators fighting at times in the United States and also in the Middle East. Game-play trailers for the game show burning oilfields, a painful reminder for Kuwaitis who saw Iraqis set fire to the fields, causing vast ecological and economic damage. Iraqi troops damaged or set fire to over 700 wells.
There also are images of Saddam and Iraq’s old three-star flag in the footage released by developers ahead of the game’s launch. The game’s multiplayer section, a popular feature of the series, includes what appears to be a desert shootout in Kuwait called Scud after the Soviet missiles Saddam fired in the war. Another is called Babylon, after the ancient city in Iraq.
Activision acknowledged in a statement that the game “has not been approved for release in Kuwait,” but did not elaborate.
“All pre-orders in Kuwait will be cancelled and refunded to the original point of purchase,” the company said. “We remain hopeful that local authorities will reconsider, and allow players in Kuwait to enjoy this all-new experience in the Black Ops series.”
Kuwait’s Media Ministry did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press over the decision.
“Call of Duty,” which first began in 2003 as a first-person shooter set in World War II, has expanded into an empire worth billions of dollars now owned by Microsoft. But it also has been controversial as its gameplay entered the realm of geopolitics. China and Russia both banned chapters in the franchise. In 2009, an entry in the gaming franchise allowed players to take part in a militant attack at a Russian airport, killing civilians.
But there have been other games recently that won praise for their handling of the Mideast. Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed: Mirage” published last year won praise for its portrayal of Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age in the 9th century.
