Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Metroid: Nintendo is the home of the biggest franchises and a unique standard of play. RomWize re-ranks the publisher's best games by its re-evaluated scores, each with its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"Direct sequel in a doubled world of light and darkness with deeper exploration mechanics. Tougher, denser and more oppressive in mood. Without quite matching the first one's clarity, it still hits an adventure peak and confirms Retro Studios as Nintendo royalty."
"Direct Mario 64 sequel, tropical playground to scrub with the FLUDD water pack. Wild idea, vertiginous gameplay and tough secret stages to crack. Not the purity of its forebear but a genuine invention. Nintendo's 3D platform peak on the console."
"A Link Between Worlds on 3DS is an absolute masterpiece. Link can merge with walls as a 2D painting in A Link to the Past's Hyrule. Revolutionary mechanics, total exploration freedom. A video game monument."
"For the first time Zelda is the hero, and her power to copy objects and foes as echoes reinvents puzzle solving. Bursting with ideas and freedom, this top-down Zelda stays playful and inventive right to the end."
"The action keeps its signature extravagance: sumptuous combos, Demon Slave summoning giant monsters and gleefully deranged staging. The pacing sometimes scatters and the story loses the plot, but the raw thrill of combat stays at the top of the genre."
"PlatinumGames delivers a frenetic action game where you steer a cop and a chained creature at once. Juggling both units is demanding yet exhilarating once it clicks, and the cyberpunk style still looks sharp on Switch."
"The color overhaul of the unforgettable Game Boy Zelda, with an exclusive color dungeon and a bonus photo grotto. The dreamlike Koholint story still ranks as top shelf writing, the dungeons still dazzle, the magic stays intact. An absolute essential of Nintendo's handheld."
"The best Smash Bros. before Ultimate. Generous roster, abundant modes, balanced gameplay. One of the best multiplayer party games ever made. Amiibo add a collector dimension. A complete and indispensable home version."
"The most accessible entry in the series without renouncing its strategic nature: commanding your Pikmin stays a rewarding puzzle, and the companion Oatchi smooths the logistics. The new night mode and caves bring genuine variety."
"The peak of the F-Zero saga, designed by Sega and Amusement Vision under Nintendo's watch. Mind-bending speed, dizzying tracks and AI hardwired for combat. Brutal difficulty but unmatched arcade racing thrills. Still undethroned today."
"A Japan-exclusive Nintendo gem, the missing link between Zelda and SaGa. Prince Sablé turns into a frog to swim or a snake to crawl. Cutscene-style auto-combat, Metroidvania exploration, irresistible humor. A real little Game Boy wonder, absolutely worth discovering even in Japanese."
"The first Bayonetta offered free with Bayonetta 2, a royal gift. Spectacular action, deep and satisfying combat system, Bayonetta herself is an icon. The WiiU version remains the best way to own both episodes in one."
"Yoshi's Island + Mario Brothers on GBA, Japanese version of Super Mario Advance 3. Yoshi's enchanting island in its original version, Mario Bros. included as bonus. Just as wonderful as the Western version."
