Ars Technica’s Top 20 video games of 2025

A mix of expected sequels and out-of-nowhere indie gems made 2025 a joy.

I didn't need to spend 60 hours with Donkey Kong Bananza for it to be my game of the year, but I'm convinced it's one of the greatest platformers in Nintendo history

Donkey Kong Bananza, from the moment it was announced, was a dream project of mine – a 3D Mario-style adventure starring a ...
GameSpot

DK Bananza's Chaotic Design Sets It Apart From Mario

Donkey Kong Bananza takes Nintendo's hallmark sandbox exploration and pushes it somewhere the studio rarely goes--pure chaos.

After 44 years as second banana, Donkey Kong Bananza makes Nintendo's first star a mascot to rival Mario and Link in the Switch 2 era

But Mario didn't even have a name in that 1981 debut – it was the then-villainous Donkey Kong who was the star of the show.

Arcade Archives Celebrates 500 Retro Releases With Special Commemorative Game

Last year in January, Hamster’s Arcade Archives series for the Switch and multiple other platforms reached 400 releases. Now, ...

How to unlock characters in Mario Kart World

You unlock characters in Mario Kart World via many different methods. Here’s how to unlock all characters in Mario Kart World ...