Opinion by J1 Reporter Katherine Dietz

In an age where a masterful game made by a small team costs $15, the price of mediocre games made by large companies continues to rise. On April 2, Nintendo announced that the next title in the Mario Kart series will cost $80, and physical copies will cost $90. 

Compared to the standard price of $60-70, the idea of paying $80 for a game came as quite the surprise. Even worse was the new concept of physical copies being more expensive than the digital downloads, which is a new idea in the industry that would only worsen the prioritization of digital media. 

The price of the game is enough to shock many, but coupled with the fact that the game will only be playable on the Nintendo Switch 2, which costs $450 before taxes, it’s easy to see why many Nintendo fans are skipping this game, and this console, altogether. 

The Switch 2, while making improvements from the original, still runs at a much slower rate than many modern consoles. Another issue facing the console is the seemingly very short battery life, with the console taking longer to charge than the amount of time it will keep that charge. 

Even the other exclusive games are not helping the console appeal to buyers, despite the fact that many are highly anticipated sequels, such as a new Donkey Kong game and a new game from critically acclaimed studio From Software. 

These games are practically guaranteed hits, but many are still unsure if they warrant the purchase of a new console, especially since the processing power of the Switch 2 is still being questioned. 

Many Nintendo fans are turning to other places for the new and exciting ideas that Nintendo was once known for, opting to buy from independent studios rather than large corporations for the next masterpiece games. 

If paying $80 for a game doesn’t appeal to you, then look for independently made games like Balatro, Hollow Knight, and Lethal Company, all of which you can easily sink hundreds of hours into, and all costing under $20. 

The games industry is one that is rapidly evolving, and it is thanks to independent developers that continue to innovate. These small budget games don’t need fancy graphics or high price tags to impress, just fun gameplay and well told stories, things becoming increasingly rare in games as profit becomes the main priority.