Nintendohas been a staple in the gaming industry for decades, from theNintendo Wiito theNintendo DS. Everyone wanted aNintendoconsole in some shape or form, mainly due to the portability and advancements in technology that they usually bring.Nintendohas its fair share of exclusive franchises and has many series that have been around for years with no sign of stopping any time soon.
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Nintendogames and devices are a key part of many gamers' childhood and adolescent years, with this often following into their adulthood and beyond. Boasting vibrant colors and fun gameplay, games onNintendoconsoles have always brought joy to players.
10Super Mario
Who could forget the iconicSuper Mariologo? It was first released in 1985 and is still a hugely popular video game, starting with 2Dplatformersand eventually introducing 3D graphics and open-world aspects. The game series has a plethora of much-loved characters such as Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach.
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Super Mariohas also spawned a variety of spin-offssuch asMario Kart, andYoshi’sgame series. Mario has been a staple in homes on consoles such as theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)and theNintendo Switch.Super Mario Makerwas a highly anticipated gaming tool for players to finally create their ownSuper Mariolevels.
9Splatoon
Nintendo’svery own shooter game,Splatoon, is a much-loved addition to the Nintendo lineup. WithSplatoonreleased on theWii Uin 2015 andSplatoon 2being released on theNintendo Switchin 2017, the game series has garnered a wide player base.
Colorful and unique,Splatoonbrings a fresh spin on the shooter genre. Players control a quid-like creature known as an inkling (or an octoling if they have theOcto Expansion) and use ink to traverse the arena. There’s a plethora of weapons and fashion available, and plenty of game modes to keep players coming back for more.
8Mario Kart
Mario Kartis one of the most popular spin-offs of theSuper Marioseries,especially for families. It made its debut in 1992 on theSNESconsole and has been a much-loved Nintendo staple ever since. More recently,Mario Kart 8 Deluxewas a highly anticipated game for theNintendo Switch, with players excited to get their hands on some fresh new racing tracks.
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TheMario Kart 8 Booster Course Packshows thatNintendohas no plans to stop producingMario Kartcontent any time soon, so fans can rest assured they’ll have a ton of new tracks in the future.
7Wario
Mostly known as one of the antagonists from theSuper Marioseries,Warioeventually got his own spin-off games. The most popular spin-off was the iconicWarioWare, a game that boasts a wide range offun mini-gamesthat test players' patience and gaming skills. The main point is to beat the mini-games as quickly as possible and not fail.
The mini-games are placed in a randomly generated order, creating a fast-paced gameplay experience. WithWarioWare: Get It Together!being released on theNintendo Switchconsole, fans of the series were delighted to have some newWariocontent in their hands.
6Kirby
Kirbyis a small, round, pink ball. He’s an adorable part of theNintendofamily and has been a much-loved character for years.Kirbygames mostly revolve around platforms, with the older entries focusing on side-scrolling elements. As technology advanced though,Kirbyfinally became a 3D entity, and the games went in the direction of a more open platform experience.
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To this day,Kirbyis still a fan favorite.Kirby and the Forgotten Landtook the player base by storm, allowingKirbyto use his powers tobecome a car, vending machine, and even a traffic cone.
5Harvest Moon
TheHarvest Moonseries is an iconic part of the farming simulator genre. Cozy vibes and good times are found throughoutfarming simulatorgames and are perfect for relaxing at the end of a stressful day.
Taking care of a farm and crops may seem like a chore to some, but inHarvest Moon, it is a blast. Players get to build relationships with their fellow residents of the village and get to know them personally, making the player feel like they’re truly part of the community.
4The Legend Of Zelda
Zeldais one of those gaming franchises that everyone has heard of. Whether they’d played it or not, they knew about the iconicblonde-haired characterwith a green hat and sword. Link embarks on a plethora of adventures throughout the entries in the franchise and has been included on a large portion of theNintendogaming consoles.
Blending puzzle games with combat, theZeldafranchise is much-loved amongstNintendofans and has garnered a few spin-offs. The great thing aboutZeldagames is that each game has a different story, making each experience fresh and interesting for new players.
3Pokemon
The much-loved franchise ofPokemonis adored by fans all around the globe. Everyone knows ofPokemon, either through themselves or their children. From the iconic anime series to the plethora of games available,Pokemonis continuously garnering more and more popularity and love throughout the years. Whether their favoritePokemonis Pikachu or Mimikyu, most players just want to catch them all.
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With the release ofPokemon Legends: Arceus, fans of the franchise were delighted by the brand new open-world design aspect of the world ofPokemon. Fans are hungry for morePokemongames that follow due to the refreshing playstyle and game environments.
2Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing New Horizonstook the world by storm during its release period, with many people buying aNintendo Switchconsole solely for the game. It quickly became one of the highest-selling video games to date for theNintendo Switchand is an incredibly popular entry into theAnimal Crossingseries.
However, as much asNew Horizonswas a success with the fans of the franchise, many expressed their disappointment with the lack of content after hours of playing. Games likeNew Leafhad much more involved gameplay and depth to thecharacters, whereas many have describedNew Horizonsas more flat and focused on decorating the island.
1Wii Sports
One of the most iconic sports games to date,Wii Sportscaptured the attention of gamers all around the globe with its release. Players could now play games like table tennis and golf with their very own Mii characters.Wii Sports Resortwas a much more fleshed-out version of the originalWii Sportsand boasted a plethora of fun sports games for the whole family.
It’s a nostalgic game for many and was a huge part of their childhood.Nintendofans were ecstatic to find out aboutNintendo Switch Sports, theNintendo Switch’sfirst entry into theNintendo Sportsseries. At the time of writing, it’s still fairly new, but sales and reviews for the game have been strong thus far.