Nintendo is no stranger to incredible franchises. The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and Metroid are all some of the best in gaming history.
As such, trying to determine what the best Nintendo franchise is can be an incredibly difficult endeavor. How do you rank what’s already the best of the best?
Call us Ethan Hunt, because we’re here for this impossible mission. Let’s review the very best Nintendo franchises.
Kirby
For better or worse, the Kirby franchise has had the stigma of being a straightforward platformer. The Kirby and the Forgotten Land came along and reminded us how creative these games can be.
Yes, some traditional 2D platformers, like the Dream Land games, can be simple, but the Kirby franchise is full of creativity and unique designs.
Canvas Curse is one of the best uses of the Nintendo DS’ touch screen, and Epic Yarn is one of the most adorable games ever made.
Donkey Kong
From its humble roots as an arcade classic in the 1980s to the challenging platformers of today, Donkey Kong has been a Nintendo staple for longer than you realize.
The franchise arguably peaked with the Donkey Kong Country games for Super Nintendo. They combined excellent presentation, precise platforming, and iconic music.
We’ve seen a return to form with new modern updates, and we can’t wait for the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza for Switch 2.
Pikmin
The Pikmin franchise has come a long way from its debut on the Nintendo GameCube.
Nintendo’s real-time strategy franchise has improved with every release. Few games in the genre, if any, can compete with how well the game controls.
What makes Pikmin most impressive, though, is its ability to provide an impressive amount of content that is both accessible and challenging.
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Fire Emblem
From the RTS to turn-based strategy, Nintendo has made a name for itself in the genre.
Fire Emblem has done an excellent job of providing not only excellent tactical gameplay but also a deep, enriching story.
I remember being hooked from day one when Fire Emblem debuted in North America on the Game Boy Advance. I grew attached to the characters, invested in their stories, and cried when they perished in combat.
Super Smash Bros.
There’s a subset of gamers who feel like the list should begin and end here. I get it: Smash Bros. isn’t just a video game. It’s an event.
Living our childhood dreams and wondering who would win in a fight between Mario, Link, Sonic, and Cloud is more fun than you could imagine.
Best of all, Super Smash Bros. toes the line between being an accessible party title and a serious fighting game.
Animal Crossing
Like many of you, I didn’t know what to expect from Animal Crossing when it first came out. Nevertheless, after hearing positive things about it, I gave it a shot.
I never expected to be so addicted to doing chores for my neighbors. Yet that’s what happened. Sure, I wanted to upgrade my house, but I had so much fun chatting with them and developing friendships.
Over the years, Animal Crossing has become one of the most immersive life simulators you can play today.
Mario Kart
The Switch 2 is the second straight Nintendo console to launch alongside a Mario Kart game. If you ask me, it’s a brilliant business decision.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was one of the best selling games of the last generation for a reason. It’s Mario Kart perfected, a celebration of the franchise’s achievements in one package.
What makes Mario Kart great is how well older titles hold up today. They’re just as much fun to play today as they were when they were released.
Pokémon
If we’re ranking these Nintendo franchises in terms of popularity, the list ends here.
There’s no denying how popular Pokémon is, even if today’s games tend to miss the mark.
Still, the earlier games are so good that they help carry the franchise. Plus, if Game Freak ever delivers on a modern Pokémon title, the sky’s the limit for how many copies it would sell.
Metroid
For whatever reason, the Metroid franchise comes and goes. Despite the success of Super Metroid and Metroid Prime, it completely skipped the Nintendo 64 and Wii U.
When these games are at their best, there’s nothing quite like them. The series spawned its own genre for a reason.
Whether you’re playing the traditional 2D entries of the first-person Prime games, Metroid is an incredibly immersive, brilliant franchise, and I wish we’d see more of it.
The Legend of Zelda
Part of what makes the Zelda franchise so good is how adorable it is.
We’ve seen games range from everything you can think of, bringing elements of countless genres into one cohesive package.
It feels like every mainline Zelda title does something so new and innovative that the entire industry takes notice. No other franchise in Nintendo’s portfolio is as good or impactful as Zelda, except for one.
Super Mario Bros.
Come on now, did you expect anything else to top the list of best Nintendo franchises?
Even when the games felt uninspiring (looking at you, New Super Mario Bros.), these games are unlike anything else.
Thankfully, we were all reminded of how incredible the games can be on the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario Wonder are near perfect platformers. There’s so much creativity on display that you have no choice but to tip your hat.
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