If there's one video game company in the industry that knows its audience it would have to be Nintendo. Not only has the Japanese publisher been churning out hit after hit, they have been revolutionizing and leading the industry since 1983 when the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched in 1983 in Japan and 1985 in North America. They have moved from console to console and not looked back even once as they continue to push forward with new entries in their popular series while also introducing titles to keep it fresh.
GameZone has gathered our staff to discuss the Top 25 Nintendo published games of all time. Over a month period of time, we deliberated, we debated, we even exchanged a few red turtle shells to knock each other out of the running to nominate our favorite games, but most importantly, we gave tender care to our personal list that we reveal to you today.
Top Nintendo Games: 21-25 25 – Punch-Out!! (NES) 24 – Super Smash Bros Melee (GameCube) 23 – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii / GameCube) 22 – Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64) 21 – Paper Mario (N64)
20. Earthbound "Earthbound is an enticing and emotional game. The charm of Earthbound is hilarious and quirky with the dialogue being written for each and every character. It will have you going out of your way to talk to everyone to see what wacky comment each townsperson will say next." – Mike Fischer
"Baseball bats, hippies, and pop culture references may not be typical RPG fare, but those are the exact elements that made Earthbound so enjoyable for me. It’s insane how such quirky elements can actually fit into a grand title like Earthbound. Something that has always stuck with me is the melancholia that the game exudes. Earthbound is a funny and strange, but it’s also very emotional." – David Sanchez
"As strange as it was, Earthbound still exemplifies a bold way to approach the role-playing genre. It’s not marred by traditional Japanese characters nor does it follow an art style that comes off as a carbon copy of many other RPGs. Instead, Earthbound stands out for its clever writing and setting that doesn’t have many comparisons in the genre." – Dakota Grabowski
19. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask "Being the sequel to Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask had a lot running against it. However, the end-result was a dark and unique experience. With masks to collect and a 72 hour time limit during your adventure in Termina, it added certain intensity to the emotional experience as you stalk and help the citizens of Termina before the giant moon crashes into the unexpected parallel world below." – Mike Fischer
"Dark storytelling at its best. There’s no other way to describe this game. When I played Majora’s Mask for the first time, I was surprised at how different it was from Ocarina of Time. It was a shorter game, but it felt just as awesome. There’s really nothing quite like seeing the “Final Day” warning or hearing Link scream in agony as he dons a mask and transforms." – David Sanchez
"A welcome change to the formula, Majora’s Mask was a beautiful quick turnaround in production for the Zelda franchise. Rather than waiting years on end for a sequel, Majora’s Mask was there to offer another unique adventure only found in the Zelda franchise." – Dakota Grabowski
18. Super Mario Bros. "Super Mario Bros. singe-handedly redefined the side-scrolling platformer and revived the North American game industry. It also made the Nintendo Entertainment System a household name in the States. Famed game designer Hideo Kojima has said that Super Mario Bros. is the game that inspired him to join the game industry. The gameplay and music are timeless and still hold up to this day." – Jacob Lopez
"If there was one game that made us Nintendo fans to begin with, it was Super Mario Brothers. At a time when the video game industry was at an all-time low (damn you E.T. the Extra Terrestrial!), Mario came storming in with his simple yet entertaining platforming antics, wowing us across eight worlds with secrets galore. We still can’t get enough of the turtle shell trick on stage 3-2, the hidden warp pipes, or the fact that the princess…sigh…is in another castle." – Robert Workman
"It's been 25 years and people still look to Miyamoto's platformer for inspiration. Music has Beethoven's ninth symphony, film has Citizen Kane, and video games have Super Mario Bros." – Brian Rowe
17. Perfect Dark "Rare took all their knowledge from developing Golden Eye and upped the ante by creating one of the most advanced games for the Nintendo 64 which contained great graphics, compelling story, and tight controls. It was one of the reasons to purchase the expanded RAM for the Nintendo 64. There is no telling how many late nights my friends and I spend trying to beat the game." – Michael Knutson
"Dual-functioning weapons (e.g. a laptop turned gun that's also a sentry) and a range of awesome bots make this the penultimate multiplayer game on N64. It doesn't look like much today, but four players versus a Dark Sim is still a blast." – Brian Rowe
"Joanna Dark made waves within the gaming community as new heroine to cheer for. Even with the missteps in Perfect Dark Zero, Rare’s lovely Ms. Dark is still beloved today." – Dakota Grabowski
16. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island "Yoshi's Island was, at the time, Nintendo's biggest departure from Mario's 2D platforming formula. With its sprawling worlds, forgiving controls, and emphasis on 100 percent completion, it was essentially the granddaddy of modern platformers. Wildly creative, nearly endless, and completely beautiful even today, Yoshi's Island is a masterpiece that withstands the test of time." – Joe Donato
"Mario + Yoshi = perfect gaming duo in gaming today. Not many tag-teams compare to Nintendo’s finest human and dinosaur companionship that rivals Fred Flintstone and Dino. Yoshi's Island only furthered that friendship and helped make Yoshi a household name." – Dakota Grabowski
"Taking the spotlight away from Mario and focusing on Yoshi, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island took fans by surprise with not only a different protagonist, a whole different art style and gameplay elements, but also one of the most annoying moments in gaming. As Yoshi, you had to carry baby Mario across dozens of levels and keep him safe. Take a hit, however, and the little tyke goes flying in a bubble, bawling his eyes out until you save him, or the shy guys take him." – Michael Splechta
Check back tomorrow as we reveal our 11-15 selections that barely missed the Top 10.
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