The history of Nintendo dates back to 1889 when founder Fusajiro Yamauchi created hanafuda playing cards. The company didn't experiment with the video game console industry until its first system in 1977, known as the Color TV-Game. However, Nintendo didn't become a well-known company until the success of the 1981 arcade game, Donkey Kong.
Since the establishment of Nintendo, there have been countless video game titles released across several systems under their name. The company has gained popularity for various characters like Mario and Kirby throughout the years, and many other franchise titles. Some have been tremendous hits while others are best forgotten.
10 The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker Sold 3 Million Copies Less Than Ocarina Of Time - 96
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the tenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series. The game was released for GameCube in 2003. Wind Waker begins with the well-known video game protagonist, Link, in his quest to rescue his sister from a sorcerer named Ganon.
While the game makes the cut for one of the highest-rated Nintendo games on Metacritic, its sales were somewhat low at 4.6 million copies, which is three million less than Ocarina of Time. Wind Waker later received a remastered edition for the Wii U in 2013.
9 The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess Features More Realistic Art Styles - 96
After the relatively few sales of Wind Waker, Nintendo went in a different direction in terms of the art style in Twilight Princess. Consequently, the game features a more realistic art style compared to the previous games. Twilight Princess was supposed to release exclusively on the GameCube, but after a delay, the game was released on both the GameCube and Wii in 2006. The game stars Link in his quest to prevent the kingdom of Hyrule from turning into a dark parallel dimension called the Twilight Realm. Twilight Princess performed much better than Wind Waker, and later got remastered for the Wii U in 2016.
8 GoldenEye 007 Makes First-Person Shooter Game History - 96
GoldenEye 007 is the game everyone's brother wanted to play, which limited people's time with games like Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. GoldenEye 007 was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997 and is a ground-breaking entry in the history of first-person shooter games. The game allows players to control the familiar secret agent character of James Bond in a campaign mode to prevent the financial downfall of London. However, the more entertaining aspect of GoldenEye 007 is the multiplayer death-match mode to defeat one's friends.
7 Super Mario Odyssey Is One Of The Fastest-Selling Switch Titles - 97
Super Mario Odyssey is one of the earlier releases for the Nintendo Switch in 2017, and a sequel is rumored to be in the works. The game follows Mario and his new companion, Cappy, who is a playable hat in the co-op mode. Mario and Cappy travel across several kingdoms to collect Power Moons and prevent the marriage between Bowser and Princess Peach. Many Mario fans praise Super Mario Odyssey for its originality, which makes it one of the fastest-selling Switch games in history and one of the best-selling Mario titles to date.
6 Metroid Prime Is A Favorite Among Metroid Fans - 97
While the success of Metroid Dread is unforgettable, fans can't forget the acclaimed entry, Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime is the first entry to receive a first-person perspective and 3D computer graphics. The game was released on GameCube in 2002 and is the fourth main installment in the Metroid series.
Players control the protagonist, Samus Aran, and have to take on opponents and solve puzzles along the way during her adventures. A remastered version of the game was released in 2009 as a Japan-exclusive for the Wii.
5 Perfect Dark Is A Great Successor To The GoldenEye Game - 97
Perfect Dark is one of the lesser-known titles compared to the other highest-rated video games. It's a first-person shooter released for the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Perfect Dark focuses on the life of Joanna Dark, who's a research agent at the Carrington Institute. She's on a mission to prevent an extraterrestrial conspiracy theory from spreading at a rival company named dataDyne. Perfect Dark can be considered an improvement from the 1997 title, GoldenEye 007, and received praise for its campaign and co-op modes.
4 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Remains A Beautiful Title - 97
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes Zelda fans to a whole new level in this 2017 release for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U. The story begins with Link waking up after being asleep for one hundred years, and immediately sets him on a journey to defeat Calamity Ganon and rescue Hyrule from its impending peril. The success of this best-selling video game results in the creation of the spin-off game, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and an upcoming sequel sometime this year.
3 Super Mario Galaxy 2 Is A Successful Sequel To The Original Game - 97
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the 2010 sequel to the first Super Mario Galaxy game, which was released in 2007 for the Wii (and was the first time gamers met Princess Rosalina). Super Mario Galaxy 2 follows Mario on various planets in outer space as he attempts to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser and prevent him from taking over the world with Power Stars and Grand Stars. This game remains one of the best-selling video games for the Wii despite its notorious difficulty.
2 Super Mario Galaxy Introduces Players To Princess Rosalina - 97
Nintendo fans first meet the iconic character of Princess Rosalina and her star friend, Lumas, in the 2007 game Super Mario Galaxy. This Wii game is the third 3D title in the Super Mario series and makes Nintendo history by being the first title to win the BAFTA Award for Best Game.
Super Mario Galaxy remains the highest-rated video game on GameRankings and is a favorite among Mario fans. The game was later selected for inclusion in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection for the Nintendo Switch.
1 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Is The Highest-Rated Game On Metacritic - 99
According to Metacritic, the best Nintendo game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The Nintendo 64 game, released in 1998, is merely one point away from a perfect score on Metacritic, which is the highest rating in the site's history. Players take on the familiar role of Link and complete dungeons throughout his adventures in Hyrule. This title makes history by being the first to include 3D graphics and is a cult favorite among Zelda fans. Ocarina of Time lives up to its hype as one of the greatest video games ever made.