Surprisingly, it didn’t reveal any sales figures for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, released on March 20th for the Switch. As for notable titles released last year, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom sold 4.09 million (up from 3.14 million in the previous quarter) while Mario and Luigi: Brothership sold 1.97 million (up from 1.4 million).

Super Mario Party Jamboree also saw a noticeable jump, selling 7.48 million units, about 1.3 million more than the previous quarter. With Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV out on July 24th, it should prove a successful release for the Switch 2 following its launch on June 5th.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom launched on September 26th and saw Princess Zelda take the leading role for the first time. Players embarked on a quest to save Hyrule and locate the missing Link, utilizing the Tri Rod to create copies of objects and enemies. They could also harness elements like Automatons and Swordfighter Form to fight alongside their Echoes. You can learn more in our review.

Mario and Luigi: Brothership is the first mainline title in the franchise since 2016’s Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam. Developed by Acquire of Octopath Traveler fame and launched on November 7th, it sees the brothers traversing Concordia, a shattered continent, via Shipshape Island to defeat a new foe, Glohm. Check out our review here.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

One day, Nintendo woke up, looked back on how underwhelming Super Princess Peach was, and decided to do something about it. The result is Princess Peach: Showtime!, with Peach harnessing multiple forms across various plays to stop the sorceress Grape and her Sour Bunch. With a fun story, enjoyable gameplay, and solid level design, there’s much to love, even if the performance would have been better.

In comparison, last year’s Super Mario RPG remake launched with over 301,000 units sold in Japan, while earlier this year, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door sold over 115,000 at launch in the region. Brothership’s launch sales are also lower than all past Mario and Luigi titles (not counting the remakes on 3DS) other than Paper Jam, which sold over 50,000 units on debut.

Slitterhead was another new release last week, though Bokeh Game Studios’ debut action horror title has seen muted sales upon launch, taking the No. 9 spot with only over 4,000 units sold. Meanwhile, the recently released Super Mario Party Jamboree enjoys continued strong sales, with over 43,000 units sold in its fourth week.

On the hardware side of things, last week saw the launch of the PS5 Pro, and the console has got off to a strong start in Japan. The new model sold over 78,000 units, with total sales for the PS5 in the region climbing to over 88,000 for the week. That makes it the best-selling console of the week in Japan, a rare instance of the Switch being outsold. Nintendo’s console sold over 64,000 units in comparison.

You can check out the full hardware and physical software sales charts for Japan for the week ending November 10 below.

Software sales (followed by lifetime sales):

1. [NSW] Mario & Luigi: Brothership – 63,441 (New)
2. [NSW] Super Mario Party Jamboree – 43,347 (409,831)
3. [NSW] Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – 6,729 (91,742)
4. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 6,245 (6,050,284)
5. [NSW] Battle Spirits CrossOver – 5,355 (New)
6. [NSW] Minecraft – 5,230 (3,671,568)
7. [NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 5,015 (7,948,548)
8. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – 4,907 (299,278)
9. [PS5] Slitterhead – 4,697 (New)
10. [NSW] Nintendo Switch Sports – 4,472 (1,457,553)

Hardware sales:

• PS5 – 88,160
• Nintendo Switch – 64,012
• Xbox Series X/S – 2,405

Now, however, with Octopath Traveler studio Acquire at the helm, everyone’s favourite plumber duo is back in a new sea-faring odyssey with Mario and Luigi: Brothership, which brings the series back with a bang, even if it it never quite touches the highest highs of the likes of Superstar Saga or Bowser’s Inside Story. By taking the established and familiar formula of past Mario and Luigi games and building upon it with some key new gameplay mechanics, this newest adventure serves as yet another strong RPG outing for Nintendo’s mustachioed mascot on the Switch.

"By taking the established and familiar formula of past Mario and Luigi games and building upon it with some key new gameplay mechanics, this newest adventure serves as yet another strong RPG outing for Nintendo’s mustachioed mascot on the Switch."

Mario and Luigi: Brothership sees the titular duo transported to the kingdom of Concordia, where trouble is afoot. Under mysterious circumstances, Concordia has split apart into multiple disparate islands that are now drifting off in different directions in the sea, following which it now falls to Mario and Luigi to rejoin the kingdom together. And how do they do that? With a pilotable ship-shaped island, called Shipshape Island, that drags all of the islands they have reconnected behind with it as it travels through the seas.

Narratively, Mario and Luigi: Brothership takes a while to get going. The story can feel a bit aimless in the early hours, and even after it does start gathering pace, the actual plot doesn’t ever feel as captivating or engaging as some of the best Mario RPGs in the past. Instead, the game’s biggest strength in this area lies in its writing. Typically enough for a Mario and Luigi game, Brothership is bursting to the seams with a bevy of charm, personality, and humour, with the latter’s effectiveness ranging from inciting sime chuckles here and there to being legitimately laugh-out-loud funny. Throughout their journey, Mario and Luigi also meet a vast and varied cast of characters, comprising of both familiar faces from the larger Mario franchise and entirely new characters, and these characters also elevate the narrative side of things in their own way. 

Contributing to the game’s abundance of charm is its gorgeous new visual aesthetic. Brothership sees the Mario and Luigi series finally transitioning fully into 3D, and in doing so, it also adopts a new, stylized look- and all of those changes work out for the better. Brothership is an absolutely gorgeous game, and it never misses a chance to flex its muscles, even if the frame rate can get a bit choppy occasionally. From the splashing water of a distant background waterfall to the way Luigi animates when he levels up, from the impressive level of detail crammed into the environments to how visually striking some of the game’s different environments can look, on more than a few occasions, I’ve been taken aback by how good this game looks. To match that, the game also delivers a spectacular soundtrack, which has had me humming a number of its tunes for the last few days.

"On more than a few occasions, I’ve been taken aback by how good this game looks."

And it plays great, too, of course, in a way that will be familiar to anyone who has played a Mario and Luigi game before. Combat is once again a particular highlight, delivering yet another strong dose of the series’ unique brand of turn-based action. Offensive and defensive moves both often require context-sensitive, timing-based button presses, something that’ll be plenty familiar to series fans, and the way the game keeps switching things up here cannot be praised enough. Hammer attacks, jumps, Bros. Attacks, and different dodges and blocks come with different QTEs, and from those QTEs themselves to the incredible animations you get to witness on-screen, none of it ever loses any charm. The trash mob battles can get a bit repetitive at times, especially given the game’s long runtime, but thankfully, thanks to the quickness of the battles and the variety on offer in the enemies you face and how to deal with them, such issues never feel too major.

Progression also feels like it strikes the exact right balance between being straightforward and feeling rewarding. Leveling up and watching your stats go up always remains gratifying, especially with every few levels allowing you to unlock a special, major upgrade for one of the two brothers, from unlocking a new gear slot to expanding their max HP to increasing their level up speed and more. Outside of that, the game also tasks you with equipping both brothers with the right and most optimal gear possible, while Battle Plugs, which are introduced several hours into the experience, also add yet more complexity and player freedom. None of the progression and customization systems here are going to pull up any trees, but their simplicity is exactly what ends up working in the game’s favour- it feels uncomplicated, yes, but it also always feels just engaging and mechanically rewarding enough. Besides, those who want something more complicated will certainly be rewarded for diving deeper into the Battle Plugs system.

The same can be said about exploration as well. Outside of combat, you spend a fair bit of time exploring environments, finding collectibles, doing side quests, and solving puzzles, and it’s all suitably enjoyable. The environmental puzzles and exploration in particular feel like highlights – the latter especially, thanks to the strong level design and biome diversity the game boasts – though the side quests can end up feeling a bit too thin and formulaic at times. Thankfully, the game benefits from strong writing and clever humour with many of its side quests as well.

"Combat is once again a particular highlight, delivering yet another strong dose of the series’ unique brand of turn-based action."

Meanwhile, the overarching structure tying the whole game together also works very well. Shipshape Island travels from island to island in real-time (though you also get the ability to speed up travel a few hours into the game, conveniently enough), and during that downtime, the game encourages you to go back to previous islands to explore newly opened up areas, explore your hub, talk to NPCs, do side quests, look for special reefs as you sail through the sea, and more. There’s a healthy variety of well-designed optional content interspersed throughout the excellent critical path content, and the game is, as a result, able to maintain solid pacing for most of its runtime.

All of this is, of course, familiar to anyone who has played a Mario and Luigi game before, though Brothership does introduce some of its own new ideas well. Take, for instance, Luigi Logic, which is one of the game’s most delightful additions. At certain times during a boss fight or when faced with an environmental puzzle or obstacle, Luigi can conjure up ridiculous plans to get the brothers out of the pickle they’re in, and as a Luigi aficionado myself, I couldn’t get enough of these moments. Though Brothership does de-emphasize the simultaneous control of both brothers a little bit when compared to its predecessors, the introduction of Luigi Logic helps make up for that.

Ultimately, though Mario and Luigi: Brothership has some minor annoyances here and there, but by and large, it’s a triumphant return for the titular duo’s RPG shenanigans. Oodles of charm, typically humourous writing, enjoyable combat, rewarding progression, compelling exploration, and gorgeous visuals come together in a voyage well worth undertaking.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch.

That’s as per data shared by GamesIndustry’s Christopher Dring on Twitter, who revealed that though Mario and Luigi: Brothership debuted in the No. 3 spot of the physical weekly UK charts for last week, its launch physical sales in the region are 23 percent lower than the Super Mario RPG remake, and 29 percent lower than the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake.

Of course, it remains to be seen how the game sells over a prolonged period, and how well it does in other regions, but early data does seem to be indicating that Brothership isn’t attracting quite the same level of attention.

Mario and Luigi: Brothership is available on the Nintendo Switch.

Mario & Luigi Brothership managed No.3 in the UK boxed charts this week. Launch sales were 23% lower than last year’s Super Mario RPG remake, and 29% down vs the Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door remake. May as well just stick with those remakes, right Nintendo?

— Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) November 11, 2024

The trailer, which you can view below, serves as a primer for the game, its characters, mechanics, and what have you, only in musical form, being set to a jolly sea shanty. Plenty of gameplay footage is also shown, showcasing a number of different locations and characters, combat mechanics, and more. 

As revealed recently, Mario and Luigi: Brothership is developed by Acquire, the studio behind Octopath Traveler. It is using Unreal Engine, making it the fourth Nintendo game to do so after Yoshi’s Crafted World, Pikmin 4, and Princess Peach: Showtime!

Mario and Luigi: Brothership launches on November 7 for Nintendo Switch.

Planet Coaster 2

It’s almost bizarre that it took this long for Frontier’s Planet Coaster to receive a sequel, especially given its success and acclaim. Planet Coaster 2 launches on November 6th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and once again has players building and managing a theme park. The twist is the addition of water attractions and rides, including water coasters, slides, and rivers. Everything is customizable, and your creations can be shared online with other players. You can also team up with others to create a park together or explore in first person as a visitor.

Empire of the Ants

Microids’ Empire of the Ants offers a real-time strategy experience at a decidedly smaller scale. Despite this, the overarching goal of your colony remains the same – survival and strategic domination. Throughout the 20-hour campaign, you’ll opt for different unit types (including other species like Snails and Rhino Beetles), unleash abilities, manage a war economy, and more. There’s also multiplayer three-player free-for-all and 1v1 ranked play.

Mario and Luigi: Brothership

The brothers find themselves exploring the world of Concordia, composed of multiple islands with different residents, climates, and challenges.

Utilizing Shipshape Island, a ship/island hybrid, to get around, Mario and Luigi also rely on different traversal techniques for platforming when they’re not relying on timing-based Bros. Attacks and Battle Plugs to conquer enemies. Launching on November 7th for Nintendo Switch, Brothership looks to be yet another incredible addition to the Switch’s hallowed line-up.

Slitterhead

From the mind of Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama and Bokeh Game Studio comes an unorthodox action-adventure set in Kowlong. Players control Hyoki, an amnesiac entity committed to defeating the Slitterheads, monstrous beings who can mimic humans. Hyoki’s main means of fighting is possession, taking over other beings and using their blood to create weapons.

It’s also great for getting around and accessing different parts of the city (depending on the host’s identity). Overall, it’s a significant departure from Toyama’s previous works, and we’re keen to see more when it launches on November 8th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Farming Simulator 25

After last year’s Farming Simulator 23 performed decently on phones (and horrendously on Nintendo Switch), GIANTS Software is finally releasing a full-fledged sequel for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC on November 12th. Farming Simulator 25 features over 20 new crops, more than 400 vehicles, tools from 150+ brands, and a new East Asian environment. Even more notable are the visual improvements over previous titles, from terrain deformation and dynamic weather to improved shadows.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

The legend of Erdrick is finally coming to contemporary consoles when Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake launches on November 14th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch. Featuring the HD-2D visual style, the story sees the protagonist, child of the great Ortega, embarking on a journey to defeat Baramos, the Archfiend.

Recruiting allies with customizable appearances and vocations, players can explore the world, engage in side quests, venture into dungeons, and even rescue monsters for battling in the new Monster Arena. There’s also a new Vocation, the Monster Wrangler, and quality-of-life features, like combat orders, which make for a more approachable experience.

LEGO Horizon Adventures

Have you ever wanted to re-experience Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn in a new way? Yes, aside from the upcoming remaster. In that case, Studio Gobo’s LEGO Horizon Adventures has you covered. It carries the charm and light-hearted atmosphere that the Lego series is known for, downplaying some of Zero Dawn’s darker elements in the process.

You’ll still play as Aloy in search of her mother, solo or teaming with other characters like Varl in an action-adventure (and not a beat ’em up where you’ll collect Studs like other Lego titles). It’s an odd ask, to be sure, but LEGO Horizon Adventures could surprise us when it launches on November 14th for PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

With the breakout success of its 2020 flight sim, it was only a matter of time before Microsoft went back to the well with Flight Simulator. Developed again by Asobo Studio, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launches on November 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Thus far, it looks like a staggering effort that builds upon its predecessor while completely blowing it out of the water.

A new Career System where you take tests, learn everything there is to know and then embark on different mission types, from commercial flights and rescue missions to escorting VIPs. There are new aircraft and avionics systems to master, a new flight planner with IFR charts and route planning, over 150 hand-crafted airports (alongside 40,000 procedurally generated airports); and 27 biomes that you can explore on foot. The original is one of the biggest games in scale, but Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 could very well dethrone it.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

If one big console exclusive wasn’t enough for Microsoft, then perhaps S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl will seal the deal. After multiple years of delays, to say nothing of the real-world challenges that GSC Game World endured, it’s finally launching on November 20th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. As Skif, players enter the Zone and pretty much have full reign if they can survive.

They’ll encounter other factions, both friendly and hostile, battle mutants, discover Artifacts, and have one too many run-ins with environment-altering Anomalies. The world is seamless, fully hand-crafted and teeming with secrets, which the developer says will necessitate over 100 hours to discover. There’s a lot of hype and expectations on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, and in just a few weeks, we’ll see if it finally delivers.

Tetris Forever

Why explore one golden year of the Tetris franchise when you could experience them all? Digital Eclipse’s Tetris Forever collects over 15 titles from the puzzle series into one collection, from recreating the very first Tetris released in 1984 to Japan-only games that are playable for the first time worldwide.

It even includes Tetris Time Warp, a brand-new title where players warp between different eras of Tetris in a single game, playable solo and with three other people. If you’re keen on history, there’s a museum with original ads and photos on top of new documentary featurettes detailing the original game’s development. Tetris Forever launches on November 12th for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Nine Sols

If the wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong has gone from depression to acceptance, Red Candle Games’ Nine Sols may provide a worthy diversion. Available earlier this year for PC, it’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch on November 26th.

Combining elements of platforming with hack-and-slash combat, including a robust parry system inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Nine Sols focuses on Yi, who embarks on a quest to slay the titular 9 Sols. Presenting sleek animated visuals, players learn more about Yi, the nature of New Kunlun and unlock abilities to access new areas. If you’re a fan of challenging combat or action platforms in general, it’s worth a look.

Towers of Aghasba (Early Access)

“Fantasy building with a mix of open-world exploration and restoration” describes Towers of Aghasba, which enters early access on November 19th for PS5 and PC. Inspired by films like Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke, it sees players building a new city for their people while venturing into the world to cleanse a mysterious corruption.

Early access features three ecosystems and town types, more than 40 creatures, over 120 plants, and 150 recipes for decorations. You can go it alone or play with up to three other players, engaging in combat, farming, fishing or discovering ancient ruins. If its gameplay can live up to the gorgeous aesthetic, then Towers of Aghasba could end up as yet another hallmark open-world sandbox crafting title.

Of course, that means that when Mario and Luigi: Brothership was announced, there was no shortage of people wondering who exactly was developing it, though other than revealing that some of the series’ original developers were working on the upcoming RPG, Nintendo did not shed light on what studio is leading the project, as is often the case with the company. 

That information, however, now seems to be out. As shared by @Nintendeal on Twitter, copyright information on Mario and Luigi: Brothership has emerged, and it has revealed that the game has been developed by Acquire. For those unfamiliar, in recent years, the studio has been best known for the Octopath Traveler series. Previously, it also developed Way of the Samurai and Tenchu games.

Interestingly, another recent leak suggested that Mario and Luigi: Brothership was built on Unreal Engine, the same engine Acquire used for the Octopath titles. 

Mario and Luigi: Brothership is due out on November 7 for Switch.

Specifically, it looks like upcoming turn-based RPG Mario and Luigi: Brothership was developed using Unreal Engine. That’s as per a logo of the engine spotted on the back of the game’s physical copy, as shared by @Nintendeal on Twitter. 

This would make Mario and Luigi: Brothership the fourth Nintendo title to have been developed on Epic Games’ engine, following in the footsteps of Princess Peach: Showtime! (which launched earlier this year), Pikmin 4 (which came out last year), and Yoshi’s Crafted World (which released in 2019). 

Mario and Luigi: Brothership is due out on November 7 for Nintendo Switch.