Top 10 Best Nintendo Consoles

The Top Ten
1 Nintendo 64

Ooh yeah, that's the best one. Where do I begin with this one? Sure, it only had two launch titles, but one of them - Super Mario 64 - would never get you bored. You know, a revolutionary system. The very first joystick ever, the controller is underrated but great (at least for me). Masterpieces like Smash Bros, Zelda OOT and MM, Banjo-Kazooie, and that launch title I just talked about. The graphics might not have aged well, but it's still a big improvement as those were the first games with such graphics, and on top of all that, it introduced gaming to a brand new 3D world.

This gives me a wonderful feeling of nostalgia. When I found this console, all dusty in my grandmother's closet, I was overjoyed! I fixed it up because it had been there so long. This may sound crazy, but the '90s is the most nostalgic decade for everyone. It has such a good feel. The N64 will always be a good chunk of Nintendo magic. And even if it isn't the best graphics, this is the only console that will make you wear a Michael Jordan jersey and ask where the Urkel-O's are.

2 Nintendo GameCube

Sure, the 64 was the nostalgic one, but did it age well? Not really. I mean, don't get me wrong, a lot of the games are cool, but very few have aged well. This is mostly because the 64 was one of the early 3D consoles, and Nintendo's first foray into 3D.

However, when we move to Nintendo's next 3D console, the Nintendo GameCube, we get some of the most memorable gameplay, music, and overall experiences Nintendo has offered. Unlike its predecessor, there are plenty of games on the GameCube that still look amazingly impressive to this day (Written in 2016, edited 2017).

Just to name a few GameCube games that offered legendary gameplay and amazing visuals that still hold up today, you have Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess (all three are amazing and haven't aged badly), Super Mario Sunshine, and many more.

The GameCube also marked the start of many Nintendo series with the newfound capabilities of the console (take the Mario 128 engine or Pikmin, for example). Another thing is how the GameCube was one of the first consoles to offer a Virtual Console of sorts. Games like Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition had multiple NES games built in, or Animal Crossing, which had collectible NES games that were playable.

The GameCube really defined Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario Tennis, and other subseries as true series, as the previous games were honestly not as good. It even started a new Luigi generation with Luigi's first real game, Luigi's Mansion, which is not only fun but also one of the best and gave Luigi a personality. This was further developed in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, where Luigi goes on a quest without Mario and tells you stories.

Overall, in my opinion, the GameCube is the best console of all time and definitely Nintendo's best, due to its overwhelming amount of fun, unique, and classic titles. These games not only play well to this day... more

3 Nintendo Wii

In my opinion, this is the third-best Nintendo home console. It has to be among the most unique Nintendo consoles but was a bestseller at its time. The best part, in my opinion, is that it is backwards compatible with GameCube games.

The Wii controllers aren't really the best but are among them, and it also has other controllers that you could use. It was surprising at that time to use wireless controllers, though not many people thought it was for them. The Wii also had its own shop where you could download many games.

The games do have many online features, and the controllers were attractive, but the console was powerful at its time, though the quality wasn't the best. The plugs it used weren't really that good.

The Wii brought gaming to everyone, not just Nintendo fans or gamers. With motion controls and backward compatibility, the console was essentially two in one. It also boasted a great feature of having many controller options for your games. You have the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, the Wheel, Zapper, Wii Classic Controller, and other options available. Thought the GameCube had the best controller? Well, you can plug that in too.

Some of the best games with titles like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3, 007 Goldeneye Remastered, Red Steel 2, Sonic Colors, and so many more made their mark on this console.

This console also sold more than 100 million units, surpassing the PS3 and Xbox 360 in sales. This proved that Nintendo is still a force to be reckoned with in the market.

4 Super Nintendo Entertainment System

While I never had a SNES, I know someone who does, and I also have ZSNES, an emulator that plays SNES games. I have to say, this thing is so great. It boasts amazing games, masterpieces like Mario World, ALttP, Kirby Super Star, Super Metroid, Star Fox, Mega Man, and many more. Not to mention the simple but well-working controller, which is responsive and of good quality.

There's also the fact that the 16-bit graphics and sound effects are amazing, even today in 2017. The music this system produces is purely amazing.

Well... Now you're playing with Super Power.

This is the best and last great Nintendo console. After this one, every fan moved to PlayStation because it was the spiritual successor to the SNES. Every major series by major developers like Konami, Capcom, Square, and Enix released games for the PSX, including Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest. Those who voted for the N64 are kids who can't understand what made Nintendo great in the 8- and 16-bit eras.

The N64 is easily Nintendo's worst console ever. If it weren't for Rare, it would have only three good games. Give me a break!

5 Nintendo Entertainment System

I just got a NES classic, and I can say that I love it! It plays just like the original. This system saved the video game industry. It was revolutionary at the time! The introduction of the D-Pad and 8-bit games with soundtracks and actual aesthetics. The best games are Mario 3, Zelda, and Mega Man. It will forever be a classic!

Without this, video games would not have become what they are now. Atari nearly destroyed video games, and the NES saved it. And WatchMojo put it as its best console ever.

I don't own one, but I do know this is better than handheld systems, which are only good for one thing: Pokemon. Nothing else. This is good for multiple games.

6 Nintendo 3DS

In my opinion, this is the fifth-best Nintendo handheld console. This is the first 3DS ever made. It looks like it is a boring handheld, but it is indeed full of tech. The graphics have been improved, there are more buttons, and it is able to play games in 3D. It has the home button, which helps to navigate through menus and a circle pad, which helps to move in circles. It is backward compatible with DS games and also has more apps.

Specifically, the New 3DS is the best dedicated handheld out there. It comes with a ton of features, such as a clamshell design, face-tracking 3D, AR camera functionality, a built-in stylus, StreetPass, and Miiverse (at one time), all notably missing from the Switch. The library is also stellar, with solid entries in notable Nintendo franchises and DS backwards compatibility.

My personal favorite part about the New 3DS is its Virtual Console. It is the best place to play NES, SNES, GB, GBC, DS, & 3DS games all in one system.

7 Nintendo Wii U

In my opinion, this is the second-best Nintendo home console. This is Nintendo's worst-selling home console due to the ads and the name. Though it has a lot of problems, it is one of the best Nintendo consoles ever made.

It is basically an upgraded version of the Wii with HD graphics and backwards compatibility with the Wii menu. The gamepad, in my opinion, is the ninth-best controller, though it does have a lot of disadvantages and is compatible with almost every single Nintendo controller. It is weaker than the PS3 and Xbox 360 but is without a doubt better than the original Wii.

The storage is pretty low but is still an awesome Nintendo console.

All of these systems are great, but if you look purely at the games, it is hard to argue against the Wii U. The best Mario Kart ever, the best Super Smash Brothers ever, some of the best Mario and Zelda games, DKC Tropical Freeze, Pikmin 3, Splatoon, and Super Mario Maker are all top-notch. With the ability to play all Wii games and many of the classics on Virtual Console, this console truly is the greatest.

8 Nintendo DS

Well, it's a great portable system. I think it has way too much overuse of the touch screen in certain games like Phantom Hourglass. But there are still some good games here, like New Super Mario Bros.

Very cool console. Has a good design, GBA slot, and long-lasting battery. Unfortunately, it's discontinued.

Best handheld game worth having, especially if you get only 3 hours of electric supply per day. Save for graphics, it is second to none in portable games.

9 Nintendo Switch

In my opinion, this is the best Nintendo console. This probably isn't surprising since it is technically a hybrid console. It uses a dock to be played on TV, which is a great idea for a console. The Joy-Cons do have a few problems, but they incorporate so much technology. You can just slide them into the console to switch to handheld mode anytime. The dock isn't the best, but it allows for a fast transformation.

Many Wii U games are now available on the Switch, and some have sequels. The console also offers a Pro Controller, which you can buy separately. In my opinion, it is the best Nintendo controller ever made. As the newest console, there may be more features coming in the future. It can also play virtual games like NES and SNES. The introduction of the Lite version essentially marked the end of the DS family. The modes demonstrate that it is more powerful than previous Nintendo consoles. The games in handheld mode are in HD and can play powerful games that previously only home consoles could handle. It is indeed a huge step forward from previous consoles.

10 Game Boy Advance

This was my first portable gaming console. It was a great improvement from the Game Boy and Game Boy Color due to the backlight and closable screen (just to help hide it in the middle of the night). I spent all my time using this, bringing it to school to trade or battle Pokemon, or just relaxing. During long trips or when I was just bored, the Game Boy Advance SP was always there for me.

This was the console that introduced me to the world of gaming when I was a kid. I still remember back when I was 4 years old, I got a Game Boy Advance SP in blue for Christmas in 2004, and I even got a copy of The Simpsons Road Rage to go with it. It had so many good games like the Super Mario Advance series (I played the Super Mario Bros 3 port, SMA4), Mario Kart Super Circuit (my first ever Mario Kart game), among many others!

It didn't age well, I agree, but at the time, it was a blast. Add good games like Pokemon, Superstar Saga, and Metroid Fusion to a revolutionary 32-bit PORTABLE system, and you got this little system. The SP version was also cool.

The Contenders
11 Game Boy

What can I say... it wasn't the Sega Game Gear (actually, I remember Sega beating Nintendo on every technical aspect), but I guess, again, the game library was definitive. I wasn't much of a fan of its screen, but hey, it was revolutionary.

This is truly the brick of legends. This thing was a gift from the gods to bless the world for all it has accomplished. Nothing tops the original Game Boy.

An original Game Boy that went on a weight loss program. Enough said.

12 Game Boy Color

As an early Gen Z, Game Boy Color is the first game console I've ever played, back in 2002. I was only a three-year-old baby at that time. I borrowed my older brother's Game Boy Color. The first software I played was "Pokémon Gold Version" and "Zelda: Oracle of Seasons."

Never owned one, so I don't know. But Pokemon Gen 1 looks really cool.

The natural step forward. Now with color.

13 Color TV-Game

Hahaha, nobody knows what this is. Yet, I do. It's Nintendo's first console. Everybody thinks the NES is, but it's actually this one.

14 Game & Watch

The first of the first, handheld-wise.

15 Virtual Boy

An innovative design that would not be touched again by any company until the 3DS. It's a shame they rushed the N64 into production and didn't finish development to normal Nintendo standards.

This console may have given people instant headaches and even blindness, but it inspired everybody, making them realize that 3D gaming is possible. This console was pretty bad. Nothing happened until 2010-2011 when the 3DS came out, then the Oculus Rift Experiment Kit came along. So that's history for you! (In 3D!)

This console was not good, but some of the games were outstanding!

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