Issue #484

May 24, 2026

Thoughts on Yoshi’s Switch 2 debut

Hey, hope you're well. Chris here, back in your inbox, with your latest Nintendo round-up for the week that was. Let's get into issue #484 of Hanafuda Report.

This week I've been testing a new Belkin charging case for the Switch 2, complete with a neat integrated battery. It feels like a pretty smart package for those who play handheld a ton.

In addition to that I also started playing the new Yoshi game. As you'd expect it's a fairly gentle experience, but one that seems to have plenty of ideas. I played through the first few levels here if you want to get a feel for it. I've linked a few reviews below — and although generally favourable, there are some mixed opinions on this one.

There's around 35 games coming to the eShop next week. Full list below for you as usual.

Ok, that's a wrap from me.

P.S. — Please excuse any typos you find this week, I've injured a finger, which is making me appear a tad clumsy in places.

Cheers,
Chris ✌️

🎮 Currently Playing: Yoshi & The Mysterious Book

REVIEW Yoshi and The Mysterious Book: Don’t judge this by its cover — "Instead of retreading past formulas, the Switch 2 game presents a truly unique framework, full of invention and compelling platforming". Andy adds that this is "Nintendo’s most unique 2D platformer in a long time".

Andy Robinson // VGC

REVIEW Yoshi and The Mysterious Book — Another Yoshi review, this one highlighting the exceptional amount of gameplay variety on offer here. Finally, here's Nintendo Life's review, which wasn't so keen on it, particularly for older players.

Dan Rykert // Giant Bomb

▶ Announcement trailer: Pictonico! — A new WarioWare-esque mobile game from Nintendo. What took em so long.

Nintendo // YouTube

REVIEW Bubsy 4D: A maligned mascot finally gets a good game

Nile Bowie // Nintendo Life

▶ This Switch 2 case more than doubles your battery life

Hanafuda Report // YouTube

INTERVIEW How 80s anime, a legendary Gundam director and It Takes Two talent combined for the Switch 2's next hit Orbitals

Tom Regan // Eurogamer

REVIEW Mixtape — "I was mesmerized by its world and characters, but the very next morning I am struggling to think of what I actually experienced".

Willem Hilhorst // Nintendo World Report

As L.A. Noire turns 15, Virtuos says it wants to bring GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 to Nintendo Switch — Fine with me. TBH, I'm surprised GTA V didn't arrive on the Switch years ago….

Sam Comrie // Pocket Tactics

REVIEW Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition

John Rairdin // Nintendo World Report

"It's almost like a religion" – The incredible journey to document Nintendo's history in Brazil

Jack Yarwood // Time Extension

INTERVIEW “It Would Have Felt Wrong To Make A Game That Fundamentally Changes The Premise And Still Calls Itself Coffee Talk” – Lead Writer Anna Winterstein On Coffee Talk Tokyo’s Narrative

Mikhail Madnani // Nintendo Insider

PREVIEW The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

James Stine // Nova Crystallis

Becoming a Dad didn't end my love for video games. It reignited my passion for them — "games are a vital intermission in a life filled with new priorities".

Jordan Minor // PCMag

Hyrule's broken sword — "the Master Sword has great importance to the story — but mechanically? It’s kind of mid.".

Maddy Myers // Mothership

▶ How Star Fox 64 teaches you to trust your instincts — This is a good look at the design decisions found within Star Fox on the N64.

Nintendo World Report // YouTube

Upcoming Releases

⭐️ = One to Watch

📦 = Physical Release

🔑 = Game Key Card

🎮 = Demo Available

Sat

23

Syr and the Stars' Revival — A sim about building out your room to become a successful streamer.
Bubu Battle Royale

Tue

26

Top Shot Pool
📦 Birushana: Winds of Fate — Visual novel. (Physical release)
LumenTale: Memories of Trey — 3D monster collector RPG.
Realm of Ink — Swordplay fantasy action roguelite. EU release date.

Wed

27

⭐️ Néro and Sci: Integral Edition — A unqiue looking maths-based puzzle platformer.
Schrödinger's Call — Listen to the voices on the other end of the phone in this picture book visual novel.
⭐️ Do You Even Forklift? — A silly physics-based forklist action game set in Japan.
⭐️ Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5 — Solve puzzles in the creepy factory. Action adventure survival.
Nitro City Racing — Budget racer.

Thu

28

Rica Mode — It's an ASMR visual novel starring VTuber Rica Hanamiya. I'm not familiar.
Egg Console Hercules PC-8801mkIISR — Face a gauntlet of trials in this 1986 action-puzzler.
⭐️📦 Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next! — 15 Nick characters take to the court. It has Garfield in it, so it must be good. (Physical release)
Alien Cat Story — 2D sci-fi puzzle platformer.
Sokobear Winter — Budget puzzle game.
Beat the Champions — Over the top arcade football (soccer).
⭐️ One Move Away — First-person puzzle game about moving. Think Unpacked in reverse.
⭐️ Wall World 2 — A mining rogue-lite experience.
Island Robot Farm — Build and grow an island farm.
Formula 2026: Rise of Legends — 3D high-speed circuit racing.
⭐️2️⃣📦 Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen — This looks notably better than the last Bluey game. Also on the original Switch. (Physical release)
⭐️ Kabuto Park — Cute bug-catching.
⭐️ Micro Overdrive: Home Tour — If you liked Micro Machines this is worth a look.
N.E.R.D — Story-driven escape room puzzler, complete with 'gripping' interactive movie.
2️⃣ One Military Camp — Build and manage a military camp.
2️⃣ Touhou Yukkuri Mountain: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition — Stack things, merge things, ala Suika game but 3D. Also on the original Switch.
⭐️2️⃣ Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP Nintendo Switch 2 Edition — Spruced up zombie-hunting action. M for mature. Also on the original Switch.

Fri

29

⭐️ My Little Puppy — It's essentially All Dogs Go To Heaven: The Videogame.
Kiko's Apple Adventure — Spatial puzzler.
A Frog's Job 2: Froggina — Froggy action platformer that mixes both 2D and 3D.
Midnight Swamp — Dark "eerie fairy tales" point-and-click adventure.
⭐️🎮 Into the Slimy Mines — Number puzzles a plenty.

Release dates are for Europe & U.S. markets unless otherwise stated.
Data sourced in collaboration with Switch Scores.

Quick Links

No details just yet, but Donkey Kong LEGO has been teased.
Kidbash looks rad, and its been slated for an early 2027 release.
Reggie has spoken about how the NES & SNES Classics helped Nintendo ride out the Wii U era.
Rocket League is moving to using Unreal Engine 6 as part of a "new era".
Play-Asia has a bunch of various Zelda soundtracks on sale right now.
Red Dead Redemption 2 has overtaken Wii Sports in the all-time best sellers list.

This newsletter remains accessible and sustainable thanks to the ongoing support of Hanafuda Club members. They get exclusive access to the Club Lounge, a place to discuss all things Nintendo with other likeminded readers.

→ Join them and enjoy other great, members-only perks!

Thanks to: Seany!, Perfect Flyer, FrozenTrout, GeeDuhb, MindFad, Paul Pace, Evelynn, CapnGoat, m12y, Geen, Sylverstone Khandr …and others.

Upcoming Releases

Quick Links

Belkin’s Charging Case Pro for Nintendo Switch 2

An interview with the solo dev behind Sektori — a must-play shooter that’s now on Switch 2

Ahead of price rises, Nintendo announce a custom Switch 2 bundle with one of three hit games