
Only in the near past Nintendo gave us an perception into our gaming years on Change; it supplied a reminder that Mario is at all times watching once we play, and that we have devoted many days of the yr to this pretty interest of ours. Relying on area you get a neat web page of knowledge that covers your most performed video games, handheld / docked cut up, variety of video games performed and extra in addition to.
For those who nonetheless have not achieved it, head to the pages beneath and be sure to’re logged into your Nintendo Account.
Quite a lot of us in Nintendo Life Towers (also referred to as our particular person residence workplaces, however by no means thoughts) checked out our stats and among the outcomes have been… stunning. In some instances it reminds us of huge video games we reviewed, or video games that dominated our routines or particular months.
So, within the spirit of sharing, a few of our crew have determined to write down about their prime three video games together with some ideas on the outcomes. Take pleasure in!

Thomas Whitehead, deputy editor
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 141 hours
- The Nice Ace Legal professional Chronicles – 38 hours
- Monster Hunter Rise – 37 hours
I loved studying my stats, which have been a mixture of the anticipated and a few eyebrow-raising surprises. For instance I anticipated handheld play to dominate, with 70% of my time leaving that dock empty. I knew October could be my busiest month due to Metroid Dread, which I performed by way of twice inside a few weeks.
Total playtime was almost half of what it was in 2020, although – Change was my undisputed gaming system a yr in the past, however has had extra competitors this yr. It isn’t been gathering mud, although, and apparently I nonetheless began 38 new video games this yr; I do not assume I completed 38, however that is life.
As for the highest 3, #1 was assured as I play it somewhat each single day, it is a part of my morning routine. The Nice Ace Legal professional Chronicles has been a stunning shock although, as I’ve loved the very sluggish, gradual development; I’ve not even completed it but! It is a sequence that has at all times provided wonderful worth for cash, and let’s not neglect it is two video games in a single. That is a variety of studying and OBJECTIONS.
And Monster Hunter Rise is marvellous, if something I ought to have performed it extra. Wanting over my Change yr as an entire I’ve concluded that it was an excellent one, particularly contemplating the craziness of the final two years. Thanks quite a bit, humble little Change.

Kate Grey, workers author
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 184 hours
- Story of Seasons: Mates of Mineral City – 71 hours
- Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive City – 58 hours
I feel this paints a reasonably unfair image of me as a farm-crazy gamer! I play heaps of video games, and I put huge quantities of time into Ace Legal professional and Fata Morgana this yr… however in fact, those I spent essentially the most time in are those that reward you for normal check-ins. I do not assume it is notably consultant of my gaming habits, although. Nonetheless, discovering out that I spent 59% of my gaming time in transportable mode is sensible. I’ve at all times been a handheld gal.
Apparently, I’ve performed 41 video games this yr. Undecided if that counts video games that I’ve put in, and never touched, nevertheless it sounds about proper. My prime genres are Motion/Journey/Simulation/RPG/Puzzle, which I most likely might have guessed, though I am unsure what number of puzzle video games I’ve performed this yr, apart from Bonfire Peaks.
Taking a look at my Steam library for comparability, I spent a loooot of time in Valheim (92.9 hours) and Hades (191 hours, oh my god) in addition to 49 hours in Astroneer, 36 hours in Loop Hero, 23 hours into Raft, 17 hours in Resident Evil 4, 15 hours in Inscryption, and 31 hours in Chicory. Plenty of these video games I might have performed on Change in the event that they’d come out on the similar time… and I am doubtless going to do comparable numbers with Astroneer with regards to Change! And, properly, I am unable to verify how lengthy I’ve spent in Minecraft as a result of the web site is presently down, however I would estimate a minimum of 200-300 hours. See, I am completely an actual gamer.

Jon Cartwright, video producer
- Tremendous Smash Bros. Final – 176 hours
- Tetris 99 – 47 hours
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 35 hours
2021 goes down as one of many Change’s coolest years in my eyes. Tons of surprising revivals of area of interest gems that can really form how I view the system’s legacy…however my core stats replicate none of that with my three most performed video games being older releases. I performed extra video games than I did in 2020 however for a shorter period of time – I’ve excuses although!
I had a child simply on the finish of 2020 which has impacted when and the way I play video games. My handheld ratio is way increased than docked (63% transportable play), it is because the TV belongs to Bluey now. I’ve turn out to be extra selective with what video games I select to play and did not find yourself taking up many over 30 hours in size. My prime three all share one thing in widespread, these are video games I will play for a couple of minutes at a time however with their evergreen nature these minutes add up quick.

Gavin Lane, editor
It seems that as a result of I opted to not ship all my play information to The Man, I don’t have entry to my stats like everybody else. As a substitute, I get the next message:
Sadly, we don’t have sufficient information about your Play Exercise this yr to give you a full 2021 Nintendo Change 12 months in Overview.
Unhappy faces all ‘spherical. It’s most likely for the most effective. Regardless of shopping for a prodigious amount of video games, my general playtime has doubtless been fairly low this yr – thanks children — with older video games taking over a lot of my treasured free time (sure, by playtime Blasphemous might be my GOTY 2021). The variety of video games I’ve ‘performed for a short while’ is, frankly, embarrassing. Triple-figure backlog. Evening. Mare.
Taking a look at my profile, it’s… properly, it’s a bit complicated. Having migrated to a Change OLED in October, I haven’t redownloaded Bowser’s Fury and or Skyward Sword but, which might in any other case function in my prime 3. As issues stand, Metroid Dread, Tetris Impact: Related and er, Breath of the Wild are my most performed video games of 2021.
It’s these Korok seeds, see? Nonetheless received a handful to seek out after 280 hours. My ol’ mum did her 12 months in Overview, although, and revealed to me that she’s put a whopping 424 hours into BOTW this yr alone. Retirement, eh? What a grand lark that’ll be!

Ollie Reynolds, reviewer
- Tetris 99 – 27 hours
- Metroid Dread – 20 hours
- Cuphead – 16 hours
Effectively, this may educate me by no means to mortgage considered one of my Switches to anybody..! Simply previous to the launch of the OLED I would lent my Change to my brother, together with entry to my major account whereas he waited for the brand new console. Fact be informed, I have never performed one minute of Tetris 99 this yr, however his dependancy has brought on it to shoot to the highest spot!
No main surprises in any other case; I would performed my Change essentially the most on October thirteenth, which might’ve coincided properly with Metroid Dread’s launch. I am additionally not stunned within the slightest to see the vast majority of my time has been spent in transportable mode!

Gonçalo Lopes, reviewer
I am going for a pleasant little countdown for my prime 3, that are all completely different from my colleagues!
#3 – Haven (27 hours)
The Sport Baker’s Furi is a masterpiece that spoke to me on a number of ranges, so when Haven was introduced I most actually took discover. You gained’t must play it for lengthy till you begin to deeply look after Yu and Kai’s survival on the titular planet. Effectively written dialogue and wonderful voice appearing are rounded up by an incredible soundtrack by Danger.
#2 Wrestling Empire (94 hours)
January 2022 will mark the one yr anniversary of this ‘hidden gem’. It additionally marks twelve months of steady free updates supplied by a relentless Mat Dickie. Even with out the upcoming ‘free roam’ mode, it’s the finest wrestling sport ever made, out-wrestling by miles its actual life inspiration’s present state. Plus you should utilize Nintendo 64 consoles as weapons that randomly explode on affect.
#1 Health Boxing 2 (99 hours)
After 300 days straight in Ring Match Journey in 2020 I wanted one thing contemporary to proceed my each day exercise routine. I picked this one after spending fairly a while with the unique and it was good to have acquainted digital P.T.s making me shadow field each day to the sound of Darude’s Sandstorm. In case you’re nonetheless questioning: Sure, these do work. It’s all about self-discipline.
These are a few of our Change years in overview; make sure to share yours within the feedback beneath!