Top 100 Nintendo Games Ever Ranked

Nintendo has long been a defining name in the video game industry, offering countless memorable titles across various platforms. Determining the best games from Nintendo’s extensive catalog is a subjective challenge. However, many of these titles have contributed significantly to gaming history and culture. Below is a list of the top 100 Nintendo games, acknowledging their innovation, influence, and lasting legacy.

Top 100 Nintendo Games Ever Ranked

The ranking below reflects a thoughtful combination of historic impact, gameplay mechanics, and originality:

• 100. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem – Innovative horror mechanics with a Lovecraftian aesthetic.
• 99. GTA: Chinatown Wars – Remarkable adaptation for the Nintendo DS, blending open-world gameplay with unique controls.
• 98. Star Fox – Groundbreaking 3D shooter that defined polygonal graphics on the SNES.
• 97. Super Castlevania IV – A visually stunning reimagining of the classic platformer with exceptional music.
• 96. 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors – A pioneering visual novel experience on the Nintendo DS.
• 95. Fire Emblem Three Houses – A successful blend of strategic gameplay and character development.
• 94. Professor Layton and the Unwound Future – Engaging puzzles within a captivating time-travel narrative.
• 93. WWF No Mercy – Regarded as the greatest wrestling title, setting the standard for future games.
• 92. Kirby: Planet Robobot – A charming platformer that utilizes the 3DS’s capabilities effectively.
• 91. Diddy Kong Racing – A unique racing experience featuring multiple vehicle types and an adventure mode.
• 90. The World Ends With You – Celebrated for its art style and innovative dual-screen battle system.
• 89. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – Highlights puzzle-solving in beautifully crafted diorama-like levels.
• 88. Golden Sun: The Lost Age – A masterful RPG that improves upon its predecessor with expanded gameplay.
• 87. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour – A standout title in the golf genre, combining fun with strategy.
• 86. Super Monkey Ball 2 – Known for its addictive gameplay and precise controls.
• 85. Viewtiful Joe – An artistic and fast-paced side-scrolling action game.
• 84. F-Zero GX – An intense racer known for its difficulty and fluid gameplay mechanics.
• 83. Ring Fit Adventure – Combines fitness and RPG elements through engaging mechanics.
• 82. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – A unique courtroom drama that mixes humor with serious moments.
• 81. Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse – A classic action platformer that pushed the NES to its limits.
• 80. Mother 3 – A heartfelt story underpinned by innovative gameplay mechanics.
• 79. Elite Beat Agents – A rhythm game that showcases creativity with its quirky style.
• 78. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest – Features amazing levels and unforgettable music.
• 77. Super Mario Sunshine – A unique take on platforming, centered around cleaning in a vibrant world.
• 76. Secret of Mana – A landmark in JRPGs with beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay.
• 75. Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber – A sophisticated strategy game with rich character developments.
• 74. Wave Race 64 – A pioneering racing game that added environmental challenges to gameplay.
• 73. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor – An exhilarating rail shooter with intense action sequences.
• 72. Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader – Acclaimed as an outstanding space combat game.
• 71. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – A blend of massive exploration and high-octane mech battles.
• 70. Live A Live – A unique RPG with diverse settings and engaging storytelling.
• 69. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! – An iconic boxing game with challenging gameplay mechanics.
• 68. Wario Land 4 – A quirky platformer known for its unique art style and gameplay.
• 67. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga – A humorous RPG that excels in storytelling and combat.
• 66. Donkey Kong (Arcade) – A pioneering title that laid the groundwork for platformers.
• 65. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – A celebrated RPG with an engaging story and characters.
• 64. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – Enhances movement and combat, showcasing the franchise’s growth.
• 63. Street Fighter 2 Turbo – A classic fighting game that defined the genre and character roster.
• 62. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island – A visually stunning platformer with innovative mechanics.
• 61. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – Offers an iconic story with complex puzzles and character depth.
• 60. Pokémon Black and White 2 – A compelling continuation of the Pokémon legacy.
• 59. Perfect Dark – A sophisticated shooter that innovated multiplayer experience.
• 58. Donkey Kong ’94 – A reinvented classic that introduced new gameplay mechanics.
• 57. Splatoon 3 – Recent innovation in the shooter genre with stylish team-based gameplay.
• 56. Super Mario Party Jamboree – A beloved series that balances skill and chance in multiplayer experiences.
• 55. Bayonetta 2 – A stylish action game with deep combat mechanics.
• 54. Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Offers immersive social simulation with charming community interactions.
• 53. Metroid Dread – A return to classic 2D Metroid gameplay, balancing challenge and exploration.
• 52. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! – A wacky and fun series that challenges reflexes for quick laughs.
• 51. Advance Wars – A turn-based strategy classic that remains a benchmark for the genre.
• 50. Mario Kart Double Dash – Introduced cooperative racing mechanics, enhancing multiplayer fun.
• 49. Luigi’s Mansion 3 – A creative use of gameplay mechanics in a spooky, engaging atmosphere.
• 48. Wii Sports – Brought family-friendly gaming into the living room, promoting social play.
• 47. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (All Versions) – A beautifully crafted adventure with a whimsical story.
• 46. F-Zero X – High-speed track racing that emphasizes player skill and strategy.
• 45. Super Mario Bros. – The original game that set the standard for platforming.
• 44. Banjo-Kazooie – A beloved platformer known for its humor and creative level design.
• 43. Super Mario Bros. Wonder – A vibrant addition to the series, bringing fresh ideas to 2D platforming.
• 42. Mario Kart World – The latest iteration enhances the Mario Kart experience with innovative teamwork elements.
• 41. The Legend of Zelda – Established the action-adventure genre with rich, open world exploration.
• 40. Super Smash Bros. Melee – An enduring classic that shaped competitive fighting games.
• 39. Kirby and the Forgotten Land – A delightful 3D adventure with imaginative mechanics.
• 38. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars – A blend of RPG and platforming with humor and charm.
• 37. Metroid: Zero Mission (+ Metroid) – A masterful remake that expands on the original game.
• 36. GoldenEye 007 – Revolutionized the first-person shooter genre on consoles.
• 35. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – An innovative approach to cooperative and open-world gameplay.
• 34. Star Fox 64 – An iconic shooter experience with memorable characters and challenging gameplay.
• 33. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – A beautifully animated platformer with challenging gameplay mechanics.
• 32. EarthBound – A cult classic that blends humor with deep themes of childhood.
• 31. Mega Man 2 – A legendary action platformer recognized for its refined gameplay.
• 30. Pikmin 4 – The latest entry offers a rich blend of strategy and adventure.
• 29. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – A beloved RPG featuring engaging humor and character interactions.
• 28. Xenoblade Chronicles – Known for a rich story and vast world filled with exploration.
• 27. Pokémon Yellow (Red/Blue) – A timeless adventure that captivated generations of players.
• 26. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow – Refined gameplay set within a haunting atmosphere of exploration.
• 25. Super Mario 64 – Transformed 3D platforming and is often regarded as a benchmark.
• 24. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask – An emotionally gripping entry noted for its unique time mechanics.
• 23. Super Mario Galaxy – A stunningly designed platformer that redefined expectations on the Wii.
• 22. Donkey Kong Bananza – A new take on classic gameplay, emphasizing creative exploration.
• 21. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds – Introduced freedom to explore, influencing future titles.
• 20. Resident Evil 4 – An iconic survival horror title recognized for its gameplay innovation.
• 19. Final Fantasy 6 – Remarked for its intricate narrative and expansive character roster.
• 18. Fire Emblem: Awakening – Revitalized the series with accessible mechanics and rich storytelling.
• 17. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – A cultural phenomenon, promoting relaxation and creativity during isolating times.
• 16. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – Celebrated for its artistic style and expansive exploration.
• 15. Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver – Lauded for its nostalgia and comprehensive gameplay.
• 14. Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Builds upon its predecessor with even more creative mechanics.
• 13. Metroid Prime (+ Remastered) – A first-person adventure that showcased immersive atmosphere and exploration.
• 12. Super Mario Bros. 3 – Enhanced the original’s formula with slick gameplay and powerful mechanics.
• 11. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – A celebration of gaming history with a robust cast and gameplay depth.
• 10. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Evolved kart racing with exquisite track design and multiplayer fun.
• 9. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – Defined adventure gaming and influenced many subsequent titles.
• 8. Super Metroid – The epitome of the Metroidvania genre with its isolation and atmosphere.
• 7. Chrono Trigger – A timeless classic known for its compelling narrative and gameplay.
• 6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – An innovative adventure that shaped action RPGs for years to come.
• 5. Tetris – A groundbreaking puzzle game that became a global phenomenon.
• 4. Super Mario Odyssey – A masterclass in platforming, providing a fresh experience for players.
• 3. Super Mario World – A definitive platformer that set the standard for the genre.
• 2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – An expansive, open-world game that revolutionized the industry.
• 1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – A brilliant sequel that builds on its predecessor to create a masterpiece.

This ranking acknowledges the profound impact Nintendo has had on gaming culture. Each title reflects unique mechanics, engaging stories, and innovative design. What games would you include in your top ten Nintendo games? Join the conversation at El-Balad.