Top 10 Best Nintendo Games of All Time

The Top Ten
1 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time is a great game. It sometimes is a bit tricky, but nevertheless, it's an amazing game. I think it should be a little lower on the list, maybe at five.

I think this game is the best game in the world. It has had such an impact on modern gaming and is definitely the jewel in the franchise. I remember before finding this game, I never really understood the Zelda games as they were too confusing and I often got lost. But one day, while looking through the demos in Super Smash Bros: Brawl, I saw the difference in this game and played it. Ever since, this has been no doubt my favorite game.

Although Skyward Sword is my favorite, I have unwavering respect for this game. This is the definitive Zelda adventure, the first 3D Zelda adventure. It was so innovative when it came out! It still holds up today, despite being released 17 years ago. The proof that it holds up is the 3DS remake, which is an amazing game. There are six Zelda games in the top 20, so you know the series is good. But this was the game that really defined Zelda.

2 Super Smash Bros. Brawl

While I may not play this much anymore, when it came out, I was obsessed with this game. With well over 600 hours of total play time (not even counting Project M), I can safely say that this is the Nintendo game I have played the most. The introduction of 3rd party characters Sonic and Solid Snake really opened up the possibilities for the future of the series, and the sheer amount of content was staggering for a Wii game.

The Custom Stage Builder was rudimentary but serviceable enough to make some interesting maps for battles and couch-multiplayer "mini-games" my friends and I sometimes played, such as Tag and Spike Pit. While Melee may be more competitively viable and SSB4 may have expanded on many of Brawl's aspects, Brawl will always have a special place in my heart as my most enjoyed Nintendo game.

I'm not going to try to state it as a fact by saying, "It's the best game. Screw OoT!" Instead, I'm going to state it more as my own opinion. And I speak for all of the Smash series on this one, not just Brawl. I've played Nintendo games since I was in diapers, and without a doubt, the Super Smash Brothers series contains my favorite games of all time.

I remember when I got my first Smash game, Brawl. I was a child, so of course, I thought I was amazing. That was until I found out about the Smash community and the competitive scene. Right now, I play every Smash game, from 64 to Smash 4. I highly doubt I will be stopping anytime soon with all of the fun I have while playing them. So, without a doubt, Super Smash Bros, all four (or five with 3DS) games, are my favorite games ever.

3 Super Mario 64

This game was getting things right when other games had no clue. Movement was perfect, and this was months before Tomb Raider. The analog stick was revolutionary and is commonplace today, as well as the many ideas implemented within the game. It set a standard for all 3D games to live up to.

If you see this game and complain about the controls, I suggest you try again someday and spend as much time as possible in the very first area it drops you into. It's actually the tutorial zone. Once you have the controls down, proceed with the rest of the game, and good luck!

If it wasn't for the fact that Super Mario Galaxy is linear-mode, I would have chosen Mario Galaxy. But Super Mario 64 was revolutionary, the very first TRUE 3D game of all time with awesome graphics for the time, and it's one of the few N64 games that aged well. It might be the best, even though it's not my personal favorite.

4 Super Mario Bros. 3

My favorite game of all time by a wide margin, and I only got to play it when I was 21. After I played OoT as a kid, I was quite sure no game could provide me a more memorable experience, but this game proved me wrong. SMB3 is a blast from start to finish, and you can beat it 100 times and it'll still feel incredibly fresh.

Super Mario 3 is my favorite Mario game, and I just love all the cool abilities you get and all of the bosses you fight. I can't really expect a lot of hate from it.

Fun game, happy music, hard but super nice gameplay, cool bosses. The release of the Koopa Kids and some levels you can just fly over with the Super Leaf, like the Cape Feather in Super Mario World. Best game ever!

5 Super Smash Bros. Melee

Unlike the other Super Smash Bros games, Melee has the aspect of being both a party game and an extremely competitive multiplayer game. There is no other game that has such a unique community and history behind it. I suggest watching "The Smash Brothers" documentary on YouTube if you don't know much about Melee. It's the best documentary I have ever watched.

Sure, Wii U and Brawl have more characters, stages, etc., but that isn't what makes Melee so unique and enjoyable. The fact that it's so simplistic on the outside is what makes it so fun for anyone. The more you play, the more you realize how complex this game really is. Melee is the best mistake Nintendo has ever made. I doubt they could ever recreate what Melee has become.

At first glance, this game looks vastly inferior to its Wii sequel, with a roster of only 25 characters, half of which appear to be clones of each other, and a generally lower amount of features. What it lacks in miscellaneous extras, however, it makes up for with its vastly superior gameplay to Brawl. While in Brawl, the player feels like they are floating through an enormous glob of Jell-O, Melee's fast falling speed lends it to more immediate response, and is generally more fun as a result.

6 Super Mario Galaxy

Mario pretty much formed my childhood. I started off with the Wii and eventually moved on to improved consoles throughout the years, but never once have I forgotten about good old Mario. But we mustn't forget about his Luma friends and Rosalina herself, right?

This game is a gem in the world of Nintendo. From the incredibly cliché but still amazing start to the character redemption-filled finish (come on, you can't tell me watching Bowser Jr. dancing on that airship wasn't fun), you just never want to stop playing. I'm pretty sure I nearly cried the first time the credits rolled. The controls are impeccable, the challenge level is just right for its style, and the graphics are cutting-edge and crystal clear for a 2007 game. And the soundtrack is also incredible. I still listen to the single Family from time to time to fall asleep. All in all, Galaxy is simply a perfect game... I fail to see why it's not #1.

7 Super Mario World

I love this game! It is my favorite Mario game of all time! I just love playing as Mario and jumping on my good pal Yoshi.

The game that defined my childhood. No game makes me happier to this day.

Amazing game with a variety of levels, plus Yoshi!

8 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

My favorite game on the Wii U. I will say though, Smash Ultimate is better. It's not as fair, and a good deal harder, but that's part of why it's better. There's also The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is just amazing. But this game brings back a lot of memories, and I really had fun with it.

This is by far THE best Smash Bros. In terms of gameplay, it is the most fair and probably has the most balanced character roster out of all the games in the series, as well as the largest. It should definitely be ranked above Brawl.

Why do people like Melee and Brawl more than this? Yes, I like them too, but this game combines everything good about the other games and makes them better. This is also the most fair out of all the games as well.

9 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Majora's Mask is the darkest and most complex Zelda game, if not any game by Nintendo that is "suitable for all ages". Though Majora's Mask lacked the number of dungeons that Ocarina of Time had, it made up for it with its amazing plot as a sequel to an equally great game. It was sinister enough with the impending apocalypse of the nightmare fuel that is a grotesque moon. But the fact that, after every attempt to help someone from their pains and misfortunes, it all resets every 3 days, all to save the world from an equally emotionally strained kid wearing a cursed mask, adds to its depth. The game definitely made my childhood great and memorable.

This game is Ocarina's younger brother. The biggest feature of the game is by far the in-game clock. Everybody runs on a schedule, and you'll never be able to do it all in one cycle.

They fixed certain things that Ocarina had issues with, like swimming as a Zora, for example.

There are tons of stories to be found here. All of them are dark, and they get your mind to start wondering about the world and its inhabitants.

The only way to get the happy ending is to beat it!

10 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Underrated. I wish people would give this game a chance. This game has some of the best items and dungeons in the series and a deep character roster. The game also has an excellent story. It's the second best Zelda game.

Not my personal favorite. That is Super Mario 64. But this is the best Nintendo game and the best game ever. It feels like a sequel or updated version of Ocarina of Time. The true Zelda game, not Breath of the Wild.

Awesome gameplay, awesome atmosphere, awesome story, awesome ending. One of the best games ever.

The Contenders
11 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

I'll be honest. I didn't like the game at first because it didn't tell you what to do or where to go most of the time. And I hold true to that statement to this day, especially in the Forest Haven when you start. How the heck was I supposed to know to roll into the Great Deku Tree to get the Chuchus off? But it does give you a huge sense of accomplishment when you figure out the puzzles. I also didn't like how Link can't jump, but this was my first Zelda game (except BotW), so I wasn't used to that occurring through all the Zelda games. Overall, it's a great game.

This game is AMAZING! It's my favorite Legend of Zelda game. The childlike features and amazing soundtrack make a great game. Plus, the new HD version is superb, and I can't see any flaws. Sure, it can be annoying waiting and waiting in a sailboat, traveling around, but the game makes up for it. There's been loads of times I've gone to Dragon Roost Island just to dance around to the music. Personally, this game should be in the top 3 at least.

12 Super Mario Galaxy 2

This is an absolute masterpiece. If you own a Wii, get this now! Whilst I enjoyed the original Galaxy, this one is much better. Why is it lower on the list? The controls work well, and the level design is amazing. It is also much easier to navigate than the original game and has 242 stars. I have completed this game completely, and the amount of extra content is astounding. And the graphics are good, despite being on the not-very-powerful Wii. It's a shame that the new 3D Mario games aren't as innovative as this gem. I really hope for Galaxy 3 soon!

This game continued what SMG 1 started. This, as well as the first one, is a masterpiece. The variety of levels, the mechanics, and those graphics that pushed the Wii's little power to the absolute limit, along with the amount of levels and missions to complete... Everything. I will not forget this game. It truly deserves recognition.

I like Super Mario Galaxy 2. It's an excellent game and my personal favorite 3-D Mario game. No, I'm not going to say that Mario 64 is "better than the others 'cause it came first."

13 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This game is the best game Nintendo has created. Before this, I didn't play much Legend of Zelda. Of course, I played the original, and I also played a bit of Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time, but other than that, I hadn't played it much. However, my father got me this game and told me he loved the old Legend of Zelda, and wanted to play this one to see if it was any good, and if I would like it.

Then I got that first opening shot - one of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen. The graphics were absolutely beautiful, and the gameplay was awesome! I loved exploring Hyrule at my own pace and never having someone bug me to do the next quest. I adored collecting swords and shields and armor of all sorts of kinds. It was one of the best games I have ever played - no - the best game I've ever played. The story was amazing, character development was great, everything was awesome! 10/10

My favorite Nintendo game of all time is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I grew up with the N64 and played Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and others. While these games were revolutionary, none provided as much fun as Breath of the Wild. I was skeptical of the amazing reviews when this game came out, but after buying it myself, I completely agree. Never have I been so immersed in a game before. You can either go fast and play the story, or go slow, explore, find Koroks, and do side quests. It's all so immersive. And it looks beautiful every second I play.

14 Super Mario Bros.

This game resuscitated a dying industry and gave rise to the Nintendo empire. It deserves to be number one, or at least in the top five. At least Mario World and Mario 3 are higher on the list.

It might not be as good as most games Nintendo made later on, but still, it is the one that started it all!

This should be number 1 as this game saved the video game industry.

15 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

One of my favorite games of all time, in my opinion! I love it so much! I played it non-stop when I first got it.

Of all the Paper Mario games I have played (and I've played almost all of them), this one is the best. It should be in the top ten.

This is one of the best games of all time. It deserves a place in the top 10.

16 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

This is the best Smash game, hands down. I'm really happy they brought in more music, all the themes, and more fighters. The Story Mode is also great. They even brought back one of my favorite characters, the Wii Balance Board, as a Dojo owner. Thanks, Nintendo.

Definitely, this is the most complete and viable game of the Smash Bros. series, both casually and competitively. It should be in the top 10 as the representative of the series.

It should be higher, but I'm glad it's on the list.

17 Super Metroid

This is my second favorite game of all time, right below Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga. I've been playing it over and over again. After a mere seven playthroughs, I was already beating it in way less than two hours and in one sitting, and I enjoy every time because no playthrough is the same. The amount of sequence breaking this game allows makes it timeless, the soundtrack is fantastic, the controls are fluid (the wall jump is as well - if you can't do that, that's not the controller's fault, that's yours), and the replayability is out of the roof. Top off that with a simple yet incredible story, a heartbreaking ending, and beautiful graphics (even today), and you have yourself, in my opinion, the best game of all time.

And no, I am not blinded by nostalgia. The first time I played this game was when I was 18, and I was blown away. I went in fresh, and I still agree that Super Metroid is, in fact, the best game ever made.

18 Super Smash Bros.

The combination of 3D models and 2D explosions just does it for me.

Face it, all 4 of the Smash Bros games are perfection!

Oh, these bring back memories!

19 Star Fox 64

What?! 42nd?! This is the most amazing game I have ever played. It features unique levels, butt-kicking animals, easy-to-learn maneuvers, great graphics, challenging bosses, a versus mode, a training mode for beginners, different power-ups, and great critical reception. Shame on those who think Mario Kart DS is better! That game has crappy graphics, impossible controls, a pathetic battle mode, and a shameful track selection. How does that piece of crap compare to this cartridge of glory on a phenomenal console? How!

20 Pokemon Red

Perfect storyline. It doesn't try to be deep but is still very engaging and exciting to play through. The trainers you fight and the Pokémon you use are iconic. Nothing beats the initial Pokémania!

Why isn't this number one? This is my childhood in a nutshell. So life-changing, fun, and revolutionary. Nintendo wouldn't be half as successful if it wasn't for the Pokemon and Mario series.

I like Blue more, but great game as I have both the American and Japanese versions!

21 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

No doubt this is one of Link's most memorable adventures.

This game justifies the purchase of a SNES. So epic!

This is Ocarina of Time, just a tad worse.

22 Paper Mario

If this one's referring to Super Paper Mario, or if it's just referring to whichever game the reader played, it deserves to be ranked higher. The Paper Mario series is criminally underrated. Sticker Star did nothing to fix that, but the first three games are simply mind-blowing, with their creativity, music, and especially style. Nintendo really needs to make a Paper Mario game that can survive the death of the Wii U and is more alluring than Color Splash, as a final note to the fans upset with Sticker Star.

I loved this game and played it the whole way through. It's upsetting that the series didn't get very much recognition. I agree that it should've been in the top 10. The game was time and money very well spent.

A favorite of mine. Very cute and sentimental in its presentation. God-tier battle mechanics with really solid Mario-style levels and events. A must-play!

23 Mario Kart: Double Dash

This is way better than Mario kart 64. Every n64 game ever made is overrated because they were the first 3D games Nintendo ever made. The GameCube was a big step up

How is this better than Mario Kart 64 if you have to listen to Princess Peach's voice & Princess Daisy's voice?!

I can;t believe smash brothers brawl got ahead of this when all you do is fight.

24 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Wait... What? Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, the game that kept the SNES around for a whole year after its original US cancellation date, the game that revolutionized Mario games and platform games in general? This isn't my favorite Nintendo game, but it gets my vote simply because it needs to be higher. MUCH HIGHER.

This game is so fun and cute! It has a fun storyline and adorable characters and enemies!

It's pretty good. An underrated game, but not worth the five rehashes of the same game.

25 Donkey Kong Country Returns

This game is extremely fun. The graphics are outstanding and the gameplay is nice. The controls could be less difficult, but overall, this is a fun game you can enjoy with your friends.

This is so good. If you don't like it, something is wrong with you.

I played this game about 5 times. It is awesome.

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