Nintendo is a part of Generation X’s DNA, going back to Donkey Kong in the arcade, Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System and Tetris on the GameBoy. Now comes the company’s Switch 2, which was released in June and quickly became the fastest-selling console in U.S. history. A look:

Mario Kart World: This franchise has long been popular across generations. Hit the gas and go!

Puyo Puyo Tetris: Combines a tile-matching game with a classic shape-stacking game.

EA Sports Madden NFL 26: This uses AI to convert real NFL data into gaming attributes.

Donkey Kong Bananza: Guide the gorilla through a multilevel adventure. And smash a bunch of stuff along the way.

Fun for all. While the system can handle complex games, some of the most popular titles are fast, fun and easy to grasp.
Better hardware. The system loads games quickly and includes a sharp, 7.9-inch built-in screen.
Connect. GameShare via GameChat lets you play select titles against others online, with only one needing to own the game.

It’s expensive. The Switch 2 starts at $450. And games can run up to $80.
Online issues. “Connecting with friends still has some friction points,” says P.J. McNealy, CEO of Digital World Research. The process is a bit complex.
Game quality matters. Some downloadable games try to copy established titles. Research before you buy. —Chris Morris

Ink you got way back when may be due for a refresh

WHEN SHE WAS younger, Joy Ho-weiler solidified her love for dragons by getting one tattooed on her right arm. After more than two decades, the image had become faded and distorted. A new artist “had to go over the entire thing, so it was a whole fresh look,” says Howeiler, 52, of Spokane Valley, Washington.

People who were in their 20s and 30s during the tattoo boom of the ’90s are finding themselves in tattoo parlors again—for touch-ups.

“Over time, you’re losing collagen in your skin,” says Maci Copeland, a Denver tattoo artist, “so the ink spreads out.” —Maisy Fernandez

WHEN I SEE the Progressive Insurance ads where Dr. Rick teaches people our age how not to become their parents, I scowl. Then I think, Scowling is what my parents would do.

So how can we stop turning into our parents? I called my friend Daniel Levitin, a neuroscientist and author of Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives, to find out.

Embrace change. Because new stuff can be hard to learn, we might avoid it. But it’s worth trying. Both Levitin and I have adopted new social rules popular with the younger set: We text first to ask if we can call ... and we don’t leave voicemails.

Soak it all in. Engage in activities that force you to interact with the outside world. Physical activities also help. Try pickleball.

Expand your social circle. Don’t segregate by age. We can’t live in a solely Gen X society. —Joel Stein