Stressed Out? These Chill Video Games Will Help You Relax
When life feels overwhelming, there's nothing like escaping into a new world. Whether you're tending to a peaceful farm, embarking on an epic adventure, or solving cozy puzzles to clear your mind, the right game can offer the perfect digital retreat. No matter your mood, there's a relaxing game waiting to help you unwind.
Some games can give you the meditative calm of cultivating land, while others can keep you entranced with high-stakes fantasy battles and spellbinding adventures. Whatever your ideal vibe, these games can offer the perfect escape from the stresses of everyday life. Below, find our favorite picks for getting away from it all.
For more, check out our best online games to play with friends or the best family games for the Nintendo Switch.
In what may be one of the coziest games of all time, you inherit a rundown farm and help it thrive, Harvest Moon style. This colorful farming sim lets you escape city life to cultivate crops, raise animals and even start a family. Between mining in monster-filled caves, participating in local festivals and building relationships with the townsfolk, there's always something to keep you busy.
The best part of Stardew Valley is the fact that you don't have to participate in every single aspect of the game if you don't want to. There's plenty of fun to be had in the simple joy of harvesting your crops, making some quick cash and doing it all over again the next day. Plus, you can play with friends in the game's multiplayer mode.
Available platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux
See at Stardew Valley
A heartfelt adventure about ferrying lost souls to the afterlife may not seem like a relaxing escape, but wait until you play it. As Stella, the new Spiritfarer, you'll befriend unique characters, help them fulfill their last wishes, and help them say their final goodbyes while building and managing your own boat.
The beautiful, hand-drawn visuals and gentle pacing create a comforting atmosphere that's easy to get lost in, and it'll put a smile on your face even as it explores heavy themes like love and loss. Equal parts management sim and emotional adventure, Spiritfarer is a beautiful take on saying goodbye that still manages to inspire hope while keeping you entertained.
Available platforms: Xbox One, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux
See at Thunder Lotus Games
The first new Dragon Age game in a decade whisks players back to Thedas, where the lines between reality and the Fade have dangerously blurred. As part of the Veilguard, you'll create a your character, choose a faction and explore beautiful landscapes teeming with secrets with plenty of enemies to fell.
Branching dialogue, companions to romance and all the Dragon Age lore you can handle make this one adventure that'll stick in your mind long after the credits roll. The choices you'll be forced to make won't always be easy, nor will the path to finding disillusioned mage-turned-villain Solas. But they'll always be engaging, and this fantasy world is one that'll have you eager to step into each play session.
Available platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Windows
See at Electronic Arts
In this grand traditional roleplaying adventure, every decision shapes your journey and changes the world you're exploring. And it's a colorfully weird and bizarre one at that, populated by mind-flayers, monsters and irresistible elfin vampires who may or may not kill you.
Using turn-based combat inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, you'll power through challenging battles, take on complex puzzles and form unlikely alliances. But there's still plenty of fun to be had, too. You'll never feel closer to a cast of characters as you will in this installment of the long-running Baldur's Gate series, which consistently feels as alive as the very world you live in.
Available platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Windows, Mac
See at Larian Studios
Love tidying up? Love staying at home and getting cozy with a coffee and a blanket on the sofa? You've found your next perfect game. A Little to the Left is a charming puzzler that satisfies the soul with simple yet challenging organizing tasks like straightening and placing picture frames (hence the name).
From sorting pencils to lining up cat food cans, each puzzle assigns a bit of order to a chaotic world. But beware of the cat, who can always mess up a "purrfect" placement when you least expect it. Perfect for fans of soothing gameplay, it's a fun reminder to take a step back and breathe.
Available platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Windows, Mac
See at Max Inferno
In this sprawling open-world Mario game, our favorite plumber sets off on a globe-trotting adventure like never before. The fun goes global as he hunts for Princess Peach, stolen away by Bowser to marry. Like most Mario games before it, Super Mario Odyssey is a lighthearted platformer with its own fun twist.
With his new companion Cappy, Mario can "become" enemies and objects like light bulbs, animals and more as you explore tons of new kingdoms and secret areas. From cityscapes (with amazing music) to desert dunes, each kingdom is packed full of memorable Mario moments that'll have you coming back for more. And you'll have plenty of time to explore every nook and cranny.
Available platforms: Nintendo Switch
See at Nintendo
Astro Bot may be one of the cheeriest games to ever land on PlaySation. Take on the role of this happy little robot as you explore worlds based on various elements teeming with references to other PlayStation games, hardware and pop culture from yesteryear.
Leap, dodge and explore vibrant 3D worlds that feel like they were ripped straight from a new Mario platformer. Then rescue your favorite PlayStation characters, from Kratos to PaRappa the Rapper, and watch them interact in a massive hub where all your collections and new friends can hang out. It's pure, unadulterated bliss (and a great reason to invest in a PS5 if you haven't already).
Available platforms: PlayStation 5
See at Playstation
This beloved Switch game flips traditional Zelda gameplay on its head, serving up an open-world experience that's as vast as it is beautiful. Explore the ruins of a doomed Hyrule as you work to uncover the secret behind slaying its newest foe. Threats lurk everywhere as you climb, cook and fight your way through shrines and dungeons with towering enemies.
There's a bittersweet yet heartfelt story at the center of it all, but the real joy lies in exploring every single area you can to unearth delightful secrets and take in the serenity of vast landscapes. And when you're finished, there's always its equally fantastic sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, to take in.
Available platforms: Nintendo Switch
See at Nintendo
This free-to-play open world adventure takes you to Teyvat, where you can take part in a massive RPG experience like no other from your favorite console, PC or your phone. With a cast of unique characters, each with their own abilities, you can find your favorite cast and swap between them.
Want a different character to play with? The game's fairly generous gacha system helps you unlock additional heroes to get through the game in the way you want -- and if you like what you see, there are other games from HoYoVerse if you want to try them, like Honkai Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero.
Available platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Windows, iOS, Android
See at Genshin Impact
Want to blast off into space? This expansive exploration game gives you a universe-sized sandbox that lets you travel to countless planets, each with their own unique ecosystems, alien creatures and loot. Name new, uncharted worlds, trade with distant civilizations or build a home base wherever you like.
You have seemingly endless upgrades, plenty of familiar survival mechanics and multiplayer mode to play with, which makes No Man's Sky a unique experience that's only grown larger with every update. Space is waiting -- all you need to do is jump in your ship.
Available platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mac
See at No Man's Sky
This Elder Scrolls roleplaying game drops you into the rugged, dragon-infested land of Tamriel, where you're free to follow your destiny or wander its forests, snowy mountains and bustling towns. The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim may be well over a decade old, but there's a reason it's been ported to nearly every system and platform -- it's one of the greatest action RPGs ever made.
As the Dragonborn, you have powers that let you fight off legendary creatures and become a legend yourself if you play your cards right. Every choice and path you take makes your journey unique, with tons of customization options for every type of play style. Plus, you can get this game on just about any platform, so take your pick.
Available platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Windows
See at Bethesda Games
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Digital Trends
32 minutes ago
- Digital Trends
Nintendo Switch 2 review: exactly the upgrade we needed, with a few catches
Nintendo Switch 2 MSRP $450.00 Score Details 'Even with some kinks to work out, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the exact follow up it needed to be.' Pros More premium design 120 Hz display is a big upgrade A major power boost Mouse mode is ingenious Social features are truly innovative Cons Disappointing UI Battery is a downgrade Poor screen sharing 'Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.' How do you follow up a console as beloved as the Nintendo Switch? It's a question Nintendo has been blessed, or perhaps cursed, to answer for decades now. Every hardware success story comes with the burden of a follow-up and the pressure to wow people with the next big thing. Recommended Videos Nintendo has tried to live up to that challenge time and time again, attempting — and sometimes failing — to innovate at all costs. For the first time in decades, the Nintendo Switch 2 finally shows a company that knows when it's finally time to zag. Nintendo's latest console is perhaps its most straightforward hardware release since the Game Boy Advance. It asks a simple question that fans have proposed for eight years: What if the Nintendo Switch was better? That's exactly what you get with its successor. That streamlined ambition pays off in the form of a handheld-console hybrid that addresses every issue with its predecessor and more. Increased power, an excellent display, and more technical flexibility make the Switch 2 feel like Nintendo's first true 'next-gen' console. That's not to say that there aren't some good zigs along the way, as the system's impressive mouse controls feel like they're destined to rise above gimmick status. But the Nintendo Switch 2 very much feels like the second coming of the Super Nintendo rather than a repeat of the Wii U. It's very safe by modern Nintendo standards, and it has a lot of battles in its future as it launches amid a rapidly evolving portable landscape, but it's exactly what a Switch follow up likely needed to be — even if it won't set the world on fire. Switch 2 specs Size 116mm x 272mm x 13.9mm (4.5 inches x 10.7 x .55 inches) with Joy-Con 2 attached Weight 401g / 534g with Joy-Con 2 attached Screen 7.9-inch LCD, 1080p, HDR10, VRR up to 120Hz CPU/GPU Nvidia 8x ARM Cortex A78C 998MHz (docked), 1101MHz (handheld), Max 1.6GHz/ Ampere GPU architecture 1007MHz (docked), 561MHz (handheld) Max 1.4GHz Memory bandwidth of 102GB/s (docked), or 68GB/s (handheld), with 3GB (9GB for games) reserved for system memory Storage 256GB Wireless Yes Video output 4K docked, 1080p handheld Audio output 3D audio Speakers Stereo USB connector 2 USB Type-C ports Headphone/mic jack Built-in mic with noise-cancelling tech, but audio jack included in the new Pro Controller Game card slot Nintendo Switch game cards microSD card slot Supports microSD Express Internal battery Lithium-ion battery/522mAh or ~20Whr Battery life 2 – 6.5 hours Charging time TBD Availability On sale from June 5, 2025 Switch 2 design and comfort Rather than going back to the drawing board for its next console, the Switch 2's design is very much a touch up of what came before. The Switch's core pillars remain the same: This is a hybrid handheld/home console with detachable controls. There's a touch display sandwiched between two Joy-cons, a kickstand for tabletop support, and a dock that seamlessly hooks it all up to a TV. It looks almost exactly the same from a distance, but the details add up here. The Switch 2 has a more premium sheen to it all around. It's a sleek, dense tablet that feels more like an iPad than a plastic toy. That's the first signal that this is Nintendo trying to finally make a console that's keeping pace with its peers. The key difference is that it's significantly larger than the original Switch. That size primarily benefits the system's 7.9 inch LCD display, which looks enormous even compared to the Nintendo Switch OLED. The system is much heavier for that change too, with over 100g of new weight over the original Switch model. I do feel a bit more strain when I'm playing in handheld mode, though it's still manageable compared to something like the Lenovo Legion Go S. If the Switch already felt heavy for you, though, this might be a workout on your wrists. The system at least accounts for the added weight in a few ways. For one, the new Joy-con controllers are made from a slick black plastic that's smooth in the hands. They have also been rounded in a way that feels more natural in my palms, even if the lack of controller grips still makes for some odd ergonomics. If that's still not enough for you, the Switch 2 sees some significant improvements for tabletop mode. The newly designed kickstand is far sturdier than the original model's and easier to maneuver than the Switch OLED. Its range of viewing angles mean that it can almost stand up vertically and lay down fairly flat at around a 20 degree angle. I set it up at an acute angle on a tray table during a flight and it was not moved by a patch of light turbulence. Other improvements are of the no brainer variety. There's a USB-C port on the top as well as the bottom, which means that players can now charge it while in tabletop mode. Then there's the system's one big magic trick: magnets. How do they work? Well, the Joy-cons can simply be attached to the console by lightly slotting them into the sides of the display, where they tightly snap into place. If that has you nervous, don't be; they feel more secure when inserted than they do on the old Switch. My Joy-cons frequently pop out on my OLED at this point. That seems far less likely to happen on Switch 2, as they stay locked in place unless I hold down release buttons behind each trigger. They pop off with just a small bit of force, but there's still enough pressure required in the button press to ensure kids won't pull them off by accident. They're easy to pull off from the new dock too, as its rounded edges are built to make them easy to reach. I don't know how it will hold up to wear and tear over the years, but it's an impressive bit of engineering that makes the original Switch feel rudimentary in retrospect. Switch 2 UI: Menus, eShop, and more If I have one complaint about the system's safe design ethos, it's the UI. I've long been less than thrilled with the original Switch's full interface, full of plain white menus with no customization options. I had hoped that a new Nintendo console would bring a total redesign, but that's not the case. The Switch 2's menus look identical to that of its predecessors. Even new features like GameChat have been built with those minimal white menus in mind. It successfully gets across the idea that the ecosystem is consistent, but it's a bit of a letdown compared to other consoles on the market. The differences are minimal in most cases. My game library now has a tab where I can group games together as I please. I now have the option to set a button remapping shortcut to my pop-out home menu. There's better integration into the Switch mobile app, as I can instantly transfer screenshots and video there just as I can on the PlayStation app. These are largely additions that could have been added to the original Switch with a routine free update. The only noticeable improvement is in the eShop, which has received a much-needed overhaul. The entire app now loads significantly faster now, allowing me to continuously scroll a tab while game thumbnails load in an instant. There are some new discoverability tools built in too, like a recommendation feature that will take you to a random game page based on your play history. It's far less of a pain to use than the original Switch eShop, so I'll take that small victory. Switch 2 display and performance: HDR, VRR, and more I was a little worried at first when Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 would use an LCD panel rather than sticking with OLED, but those fears have been calmed. Though the 7.9-inch screen isn't exactly up to par with the OLED, it's close enough that most casual fans won't notice the difference. It will also be an enormous upgrade for anyone still using the washed-out base Switch. Colors are vivid, as evidenced by the bright and bubbly Mario Kart World, and HDR helps keep the display light. I've yet to pick up any kind of noticeable haze while in handheld mode. Even more impressive is the fact that it's a 1080p display capable of outputting up to 120 frames per second, something that I never would have imagined from a Nintendo system. I've gotten to toy around with exactly what VRR can do in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which shows its frame rate potential in action. We won't really get to see just how powerful it is until more games go all out, but my early testing has yielded very smooth frame rates across the board. Mario Kart World impresses at 60fps, even when flying over an open-world where I can see very far off in the distance. An improved display isn't much without power that takes advantage of it, though. That's where the Switch 2 comes in clutch thanks to its very capable custom Nvidia chipset. You can see its power in games like Cyberpunk 2077 that bring the Switch 2 in line with the Steam Deck, but the upgrade is most noticeable when looking at some of the original Switch's ugliest games. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was a bit of a tech nightmare when it launched, with a stuttering frame rate and jagged lines everywhere. It is a completely different experience on Switch 2 running at 60 frames per second with clean edges. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is the other showpiece that's sure to turn heads. That game hardly functioned on Switch, but it comes alive here. I couldn't believe how it looked when I started dashing around the world at 60fps with more monsters popping up on screen at a time. That's not to say that everything is magically fixed. There's still plenty of pop-in and ugly textures, but that has more to do with the game built on spaghetti. The fact that the Switch 2 can salvage it at all is impressive. The real test will be how brand-new games made to run on PS5 and Xbox Series X hold up. More testing will come in time, but we at least have some samples that give us an idea of what to expect long term. Split Fiction, for instance, works on the system only with some noticeable cutbacks to resolution and frame rate. It's still an impressive feat when looking at its underpowered predecessor, but you have to keep in mind that we're at the start of what will likely be an eight-year life cycle, one that probably cuts through another console generation. There's no doubt in my mind that this tech will start to feel old in four years' time, or even less if Valve moves to make a new Steam Deck. Nintendo has caught up here, but it's still playing from behind. DLSS support will help bridge the gap, but don't be surprised if the features that impress you today have you yearning for an upgrade tomorrow. It's great to see 4K support finally available on a Nintendo console too. Mario Kart World shines on my display, and that makes me more eager to dock my system. All of these bells and whistles do come at a significant cost, though. My system got surprisingly hot the first day I put it through its paces, which explains the dock's need for a cooling fan. The power is a major drain on battery life too, which is the big problem with Switch 2. Despite the fact that the 5,220 mAh battery is a massive leap over its predecessor, it depletes far quicker than I'm used to coming off the OLED. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour feels like a relatively modest game, but even that drained my battery in around three hours. Games like Mario Kart World can get down to around two and a half hours, and even that number is variable when you factor in features like GameChat. I'd say that battery life is about on par with what the original Switch's was at launch — maybe even a bit worse — but at least you're getting a significantly better image during that time. That makes it all a bit easier to swallow, but it's still the system's one major weakness. Switch 2 games: first party, third-party, and upgrades Like any Nintendo console, the Switch 2 will live and die by its games. We won't have a full picture of how robust its library is for a few years, but the system is off to a good enough start with some promising things on the horizon. On the first-party front, the main attraction is Mario Kart World. That's the system's Breath of the Wild equivalent, meant to be a launch day blockbuster that survives the system's lifespan. It's undoubtedly fun and an obvious must-have for anyone looking to use the console socially, but like the Switch 2 itself, it's a safe start. It's a reliable kart racer whose wow factor rests solely on a novel, but somewhat sparse open-world. It's not Zelda caliber, but it's a good showpiece for features like GameChat and camera integration. Aside from that, Nintendo's first-party efforts are a waiting game that will reward anyone who decides to wait for the holidays to grab the system. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a neat idea for a tech demo, but it only teases what the system can do. Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends Z-A, and Kirby Air Riders will all have to prove that the system's success doesn't rest solely on Zelda or a new 3D Mario game. Based on what we've demoed, it seems like at least some of those games will deliver. To help fill the gaps, Nintendo will release several Switch 2 Editions of the Switch's greatest hits. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom look better than ever on the new device, but titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet really do feel like new experiences to some extent. These updates aren't a good enough reason to fully replay a game, but they do help broaden what's available out the gate for those who have some gaps in their Switch library. The most important difference between this console launch and Nintendo's previous ones is how third-party developers are playing a role. The launch line up has already given us some big games from Cyberpunk 2077 to Sonic X Shadow Generations. Some games are a better fit than others. While Split Fiction loses some of its visual luster on Switch 2, Civilization 7's mouse control support makes it a better fit here than on PS5 or Xbox Series X. All that really matters here is that third-party partners seem to be all-in on the system, which puts the Switch 2 in a much healthier software position from the jump. Switch 2 controls: new Joy-cons, mouse mode For its controls, the Switch 2 comes with a new iteration on the Joy-cons. If you simply hated the feel of those controls on Switch, the new versions won't do much to change your mind. The joysticks are a little bigger, but they're otherwise the same in terms of feel. I'm the rare sicko who loved using the original Joy-cons in a grip, but that's less viable here. The newly redesigned grip is a big misfire, as its side grips aren't rounded on top. The space where you'd usually rest your palms is flat, which leaves your hands awkwardly hovering in negative space. If you hate using the Joy-cons, you'll really want to grab a traditional Pro Controller (the new version for Switch 2 is a small, but great upgrade thanks to added back buttons). You do at least get some slight tweaks here that were much needed. The joysticks are bigger, as are the shoulder buttons on the detached Joy-cons. I would have loved to see some extra ergonomic considerations here, but the small improvement is on brand for the console's grand theme: It's the Switch, but just a little better. The new Joy-cons get rid of the Switch's rarely used IR sensors, which aren't missed. It does keep HD Rumble, a feature that never really did much to differentiate itself from regular old rumble. It still feels a little plain next to the Dualsense's full haptic feedback, but it does come with a surprising trick or two. As Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will teach you, the vibration can get so fast that the controllers can actually simulate sounds like a 1-Up in Mario. I don't know if that will amount to anything more than a fun party fact, but it's something. The truly new feature is the Joy-cons' mouse functionality, and that's the big area where the Switch 2 really feels innovative in terms of what it does for play. Both controllers can be placed on a flat surface and moved around like a mouse, both to control supported games and to navigate the Switch's menus like a desktop. It's a goofy idea on paper that works remarkably well in practice. Based on my testing, the mice are pinpoint accurate even when I'm using my jeans as a mousepad instead of a table. Using them to place buildings in Civilization 7 or play high-speed minigames in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour feels natural, like using a PC mouse. The Joy-con triggers just so happen to be in the perfect spot to function as clickers too. It all seems strange at first, but I've adapted to it incredibly well and am quietly hoping this is the one feature that competitors take from this generation. I will note that during my initial testing, I was able to accidentally trigger the mouse cursor on screen while just holding the Joy-cons normally. I have not been able to reproduce that since, but it does seem as though the sensors can be a bit sensitive. Thankfully, you can disable the functionality in the settings menu if you're worried about it screwing you up at the worst moment possible. It's not just that the Switch 2 has a mouse; it's that it has two that can be used simultaneously. That's where the console gets more into gimmick territory, but there's some potential waiting to be unlocked here. You can use two controllers simultaneously as mice, which opens the door for some original experiences. In Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, for instance, I can play a minigame where I steer a ship's wheel and control a cockpit full of controls around it. Another rhythm minigame tasks me with catching beats in a line formed between my Joy-cons. Those controls can seamlessly pair with motion support too, allowing players to pick up their Joy-con to shoot a basket in Drag X Drive and then place it back down to keep driving. Inventive ideas like that leave lots of rooms for designers to experiment. But realistically, I don't think that will happen very much. The two-mouse setup very much feels like the kind of feature Nintendo will play with in first party games, but is minimally used elsewhere. Even Mario Kart World doesn't try to use the feature, and that's the console's big launch game. The real future for mouse controls feels like it's in first person shooters, strategy games, and other PC friendly genres that rarely adapt well to controllers. That's less exciting than the idea of inventing entirely new games, but it's a practical truth that'll likely limit a good idea. Switch 2 social features: GameChat, game sharing, camera support While mouse controls are a strong innovation, they aren't the Switch 2's real tentpole feature. That would be the system's surprisingly impressive social functionality. GameChat allows players to essentially set up a Zoom call within their system on the fly with the press of the new C button. Up to four players can enter a chat at once, using USB-connected cameras to share their video. I've been using Nintendo's official 1080p camera during testing, but I've also plugged in a random Logitech cam and that worked with no friction. Video comes in fairly clear and the face tracking tech always keeps my head in frame even when I'm using a transparent background. Transparency mode works fairly well, though it does occasionally pick up some visual noise in the tapestry behind my couch. While a microphone can be plugged in, the console itself has one built in that can work even when docked. My early tests with it have been shockingly positive. I figured that it wouldn't pick me up clearly when sitting far away from my dock, but I was coming in loud and clear according to the people I've chatted with. The microphone knows whether you're using the console docked or in handheld mode and seems to regulate the volume based on that quite well. More impressive is how well it handles background noise. My dock is directly in front of my TV, so game audio was pushing straight into it during my tests. The noise reduction seemed to cut that out entirely, only bringing my voice through. That's not the only magic trick either. GameChat features a speech-to-text option that will transcribe all chat audio live with surprising accuracy. It even splits that transcription up based on whoever is speaking. There's even a text-to-speech option that's just as impressive. By opening the GameChat menu, I can pull up an on-screen keyboard, type something in, and have it read out loud. What's better is that I was able to plug a keyboard into my dock through its USB port and start typing in that box instantly, no settings change required. While not every USB accessory works quite as seamlessly (my XR glasses don't connect, and plugging in a mouse doesn't seem to work for menus, though the option seems to be supported in some games), it's a big step for a Nintendo console. As great as GameChat can be, there are some big catches. Players can all screen share while in a chat, but the video comes through at the kind of frame rate that you see when you try to put a video in a PowerPoint slide. It's not a very viable way to actually watch someone play a game, which is a shame considering that there's a lot of potential there. I couldn't make out much at all when I expanded a friend's window and tried to watch his choppy, low resolution Mario Kart World gameplay. More successful is Game Share, the second piece of the system's social offerings. Players are able to share select games with friends either locally or while in GameChat. Doing so instantly lets a player jump into that game without downloading it. During a test, a friend invited me to join him in Super Mario Odyssey while we were chatting. A feed of Odyssey popped up on my screen and I was instantly controlling Cappy. The resolution and frame rate can be rough during dips, but the feed looks a lot better than screen shared games do. Lag seems to be quite minimal too based on my testing, as I was able to jump my pal over a river with accuracy. The feature only works for supported games, but it does genuinely feel like the console's most revolutionary idea so far. If you were to isolate any small upgrade that I've discussed in this review, the Switch 2 might sound like a modest upgrade. The more I've tested, though, the more I'm finding secret depth to it all. The power boost is significant, mouse controls are a great addition, and GameChat has exceeded my expectations so far. The design and UI still do leave me feeling like I'm using the same console, but everything starts to add up as I get more into a day-to-day groove with it. I have years of testing ahead of me, and we intended to treat this review as a work in progress just as we do with all console reviews, but we're starting from a high point. The games will decide whether we go up or down from here. How we tested the Switch 2 Our initial Nintendo Switch 2 review was largely based on hands-on time with our review unit, but we also incorporated some testing we did pre-launch. That included a bit of our first hands-on session with Nintendo Switch 2 in April, but we cross-referenced any findings there with our review unit to verify that information was still accurate. We also incorporated impressions based on a full day of testing the week before the console came out, as we had a chance to test some camera and GameChat features in depth and felt comfortable having those inform some of our final impressions. Once we got our hands on the system, we tested it extensively in a variety of use cases. We tested it on a 4K TV, a cruddy hotel screen, handheld mode, tabletop mode. We took it on the subway and used mouse controls on an airplane tray table. We tested a large variety of games including Mario Kart World, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Rune Factory: Legends of Azuma and more. We tested several Nintendo Switch games on Switch 2, including games that got official updates and ones that did not. We used Balatro to test the touch screen, Fitness Boxing 3 to put the Joy-con 2 gyroscopes to the test, and Lumines Remastered to test latency on TV. Many more were tested alongside those examples. We tested GameChat extensively with other members of the press, stress testing it as best as possible. That included Game Share testing, as well as seeing how well the connection held up on hotel wi-fi. We used Nintendo's camera when testing GameChat, but we also tested other webcams, as well as third-party devices like USB keyboards and mice. Other peripherals tested included the Nintendo Switch Pro controller and the Joy-con wheel. While we feel comfortable enough to put out a scored review, we will continue to test the system post-launch and update this review with any relevant findings throughout the system's lifespan.
The Verge
an hour ago
- The Verge
Apple turns up the speed on Podcasts and adds a new emoji game to News
Apple's next major software updates are getting a huge new feature for playback speed sickos like me: you'll be able to listen to shows on the Podcasts app at as much as 3x speed, Apple notes in a press release about new services features. Previously, the maximum was 2x. You can move to super speed from the podcast play screen in the Podcast app, but you'll have to do a little bit of work to get there, based on my testing in the first iOS 26 developer beta. When you tap the playback speed button, a small popup appears that shows buttons for a few different speeds: 0.8, 1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, and 2. To more finely adjust playback speeds or access ones faster than 2x, you need to swipe on the buttons to get to a dial. The popup also includes a new 'Enhance Dialogue' option that you can tap on or off. 'Using real-time audio processing and machine learning, users can turn on Enhance Dialogue to hear speech more clearly over background sounds,' according to Apple's press release. With Apple's new suite of updates, Apple News Plus subscribers will get access to a new daily puzzle game called Emoji Game. ' Emoji Game brings to life one of users' favorite ways to communicate in a fun and engaging way, with players challenged to use emoji to complete three phrases, with the goal of solving the puzzle in as few moves as possible,' Apple says. I'm not an Apple News Plus subscriber, but I do love emoji and puzzle games, so I might have to check this out. In the press release, Apple also highlights some features that appeared in Monday's WWDC 2025 keynote, including updated boarding passes with Live Activities and the ability to make a 'Digital ID' in your Apple Wallet with a US passport.
Business Wire
4 hours ago
- Business Wire
Nintendo News: Splatoon Raiders, the First-Ever Splatoon Spinoff Game, is Coming to Nintendo Switch 2!
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a new trailer released today, Nintendo announced the first-ever Splatoon spinoff game, Splatoon Raiders, coming exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 system. In the role of a mechanic, players will go on an adventure in the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside the splat-tacular Deep Cut trio. Check out the trailer here: More info regarding the title will be shared in the future. Additionally, a free update for the Splatoon 3 game is coming to Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on June 12. The update features the Splatlands collection, consisting of new weapons from the Barazushi and Emberz brands. Based on previous weapons, these new additions have fresh looks with different sub and special weapons. There are a total of 30 new weapon kits in this collection. A returning stage from the original Splatoon game on Wii U, called Urchin Underpass, will also be added to the stage rotation. Plus, all weapon Freshness caps will be raised and players can earn new in-game Badges. A new stat will be added for Anarchy Battle (Series) called Series Weapon Power. It will track a player's effectiveness per weapon based on their win/loss ratio in battles – and will then match them with players of a similar power. This makes it possible for players to try new weapons without being disadvantaged and push the limits their favorite weapons. Further, with this new update Splatoon 3 players on Nintendo Switch 2 can enjoy more detailed visuals and a smoother appearance in locations like Splatsville and the Grand Festival Grounds. Today's trailer also confirmed that Splatoon 3 players will be able to play together across both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. To stay up to date on the latest research findings from the Squid Research Lab, follow the official Splatoon North American X account. For more information about Splatoon 3, please visit the website. As Deep Cut would say: 'Catch ya later!' a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the site.
