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There is no official, definitive ranking of the 100 best Nintendo games. This list is an editorial selection of Nintendo-published games across the company’s hardware generations, judged for design influence, originality, lasting playability, and how well each remains a recommendation today. It is not a ranking of every game released on a Nintendo console, and the ordering is a guide rather than an objective verdict.
What counts as a Nintendo game?
“Nintendo game” can mean a game published by Nintendo, developed by Nintendo, or simply released on Nintendo hardware. Those scopes produce different lists. This ranking focuses on Nintendo-published games, with the occasional title closely tied to Nintendo’s own studios or franchises; it does not attempt to include every third-party classic that appeared on a Nintendo system.
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That distinction matters when comparing published rankings. Nintendo Life’s reader-rated list focuses on first-party-published games and selected second-party titles, and its order can change as users submit ratings. Its November 2025 collaboration with IGN uses a broader scope that also includes third-party franchises originating as Nintendo platform exclusives or closely associated with Nintendo hardware. Neither is an official Nintendo ranking, and they are not interchangeable datasets. Nintendo Life’s reader-ranked list
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The choices below prioritize four questions: Did the game introduce or refine an important idea? Does its play remain enjoyable and distinctive? Has it influenced Nintendo’s games or the wider medium? Can a reader reasonably access and enjoy it now, whether through a modern release or a classic-games library? These criteria favor range over a single genre or era; a landmark adventure, a focused puzzle game, and a multiplayer favorite can all belong among the best for different reasons.
#1 Best Overall
- Learn the ways of the Assassins and seek vengeance for the betrayal of your family
- Journey through 15th-century Renaissance Italy and become the most legendary leader of the Brotherhood, then embark on a final quest of discovery as you learn the truth about the Creed
- Includes enhanced features for the Nintendo Switch system, such as HD Rumble and more
Sales and ratings offer context, not a substitute for those judgments. Nintendo’s official Switch sales table reports worldwide lifetime software units as of June 30, 2026, includes bundled and downloaded copies, and covers Switch software—not all Nintendo generations. Nintendo’s official software sales data
100 best Nintendo games: a guide by play style
A meaningful “top 100” should help you choose what to play, not pretend one universal order fits every player. The selections below are grouped by the kind of experience they offer rather than assigned a falsely precise rank. Start with the style you want, then use the availability notes to choose a version you can actually play.
Rank #2
- GAME LIST: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version), Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Versions for other regions of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) can be downloaded separately from the store. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker supports online play for up to 6 players.
- DIGITAL BOOKS: Metal Gear Solid 4: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 4: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Screenplay Book, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Master Book. All are accessible via the in-game Start Menu.
- METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 SAVE-DATA BONUS*: If a user has saved data for any title included in METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1, you can receive in-game items usable in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) respectively. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Bonus: Gold Camouflage. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) Bonus: GOLD Uniform.
- GAME-KEY CARD. 40GB - Full game download via internet required.
Platformers and action-adventures
- Super Mario Bros. — A compact, foundational platform game whose clear movement and level design still make it an easy starting point.
- Super Mario Bros. 3 — Expands the original’s tight platforming with a memorable set of worlds and power-ups.
- Super Mario World — A defining 2D Mario adventure with inventive stages and a broad, satisfying map.
- Super Mario 64 — A landmark in translating platforming into three dimensions, built around expressive movement and exploration.
- Super Mario Sunshine — A more eccentric 3D Mario, with water-powered movement and a tropical setting.
- Super Mario Galaxy — A playful, visually inventive platformer that reshapes space and gravity around compact challenges.
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 — A tightly packed follow-up that pushes its predecessor’s level ideas further.
- Super Mario 3D World — A bright, flexible platformer that works especially well with friends locally.
- Super Mario Odyssey — A modern 3D Mario built around exploration, movement, and the many uses of Cappy.
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe — A substantial 2D Mario option with approachable cooperative play.
- Donkey Kong Country — A visually striking platformer with precise movement and a distinctive soundtrack.
- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest — A demanding, inventive sequel with memorable stages and strong momentum.
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze — A polished, challenging platformer whose level variety rewards careful play.
- Kirby’s Adventure — A welcoming platformer that establishes the copy-ability ideas central to Kirby.
- Kirby Super Star — A varied collection of short adventures that makes Kirby’s abilities easy to experiment with.
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land — A colorful transition to 3D, with an inviting pace and imaginative stages.
- Metroid — The original exploration-heavy action game that helped define the Metroid side of the genre.
- Super Metroid — A masterclass in atmospheric exploration, interconnected spaces, and gradual discovery.
- Metroid Prime — A first-person interpretation of Metroid that preserves exploration and environmental storytelling.
- Metroid Dread — A modern, brisk 2D entry that balances agile combat with tense pursuit sequences.
- The Legend of Zelda — A foundational adventure built around exploration, secrets, and player-led discovery.
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past — A richly structured top-down adventure with a memorable dual-world design.
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening — A compact, imaginative quest with a distinctive tone and puzzle-filled dungeons.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — A landmark 3D adventure whose targeting, exploration, and dungeon structure shaped many successors.
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask — A more unusual Zelda, organized around a repeating three-day cycle and a haunting world.
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker — A buoyant sea-faring adventure distinguished by expressive animation and open horizons.
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess — A broad, atmospheric adventure with a darker tone and substantial dungeons.
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword — A story-forward Zelda whose motion-focused combat makes it a distinctive entry.
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — A landmark open-world adventure that encourages experimentation and self-directed exploration.
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — Builds on its predecessor with creative construction and a strikingly layered world.
Role-playing games and strategy
- Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue — The original creature-collecting adventure and a natural entry point to the series’ core loop.
- Pokémon Gold / Pokémon Silver — A substantial sequel that expands the world and deepens the collection-and-battle formula.
- Pokémon Ruby / Pokémon Sapphire — A fresh region and memorable creature roster make these strong series entries.
- Pokémon Black / Pokémon White — A story-focused pair that gives its region and characters unusual emphasis.
- Pokémon X / Pokémon Y — A major visual and structural shift for the main series, with a new region to explore.
- Pokémon Sun / Pokémon Moon — A more character-led adventure that refreshes the series’ familiar progression.
- Pokémon Sword / Pokémon Shield — A modern mainline pair with a large wild area and a broad selection of creatures.
- Pokémon Scarlet / Pokémon Violet — An open-world take on Pokémon whose exploration is its clearest distinguishing feature.
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus — A more exploration-driven spin-off that changes how players encounter and catch Pokémon.
- EarthBound — A funny, oddball RPG whose contemporary setting and dialogue remain distinctive.
- Paper Mario — A charming RPG that mixes turn-based battles with light timing challenges.
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door — A witty, characterful adventure with a particularly engaging battle system.
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga — A lively RPG built around cooperative button inputs and comic timing.
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses — A strategy RPG that pairs tactical battles with relationships and consequential choices.
- Fire Emblem: Awakening — A welcoming entry that helped bring the strategy series to a wider audience.
- Advance Wars — A clear, approachable turn-based strategy game with satisfying tactical puzzles.
- Golden Sun — A classic handheld RPG with elemental abilities and dungeon puzzles.
- Xenoblade Chronicles — A large-scale RPG whose world and real-time combat invite long journeys.
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 — A sprawling sequel with a distinct cast, world, and combat rhythm.
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 — A substantial RPG that brings the series’ themes and systems together in an expansive adventure.
Racing, party games, and multiplayer
- Mario Kart 64 — A foundational 3D kart racer with enduring local multiplayer appeal.
- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! — Its two-racer karts make teamwork and character combinations central to the fun.
- Mario Kart Wii — A fast, accessible entry with a broad roster and memorable tracks.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — A polished, content-rich kart racer and one of the strongest choices for mixed-skill groups.
- Super Smash Bros. Melee — A fast, technical fighter with a long competitive life.
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl — A playful crossover fighter with a large cast and substantial solo content.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — A huge celebration of gaming characters and a flexible party or competitive fighter.
- Super Mario Party — A board-game-style party option built around short minigames and local play.
- Mario Party 2 — A classic board-and-minigame entry with a strong focus on group sessions.
- Wii Sports — A simple, immediately legible collection that made motion-controlled play social.
- Wii Sports Resort — A broader follow-up with more activities and refined motion play.
- Nintendo Switch Sports — A current-generation, pick-up-and-play sports collection for local or online sessions.
- Splatoon 2 — A team shooter that makes territory control and movement more important than conventional aiming.
- Splatoon 3 — A polished evolution of Nintendo’s colorful, objective-focused shooter.
- Animal Crossing — The original life-simulation game’s gentle routine and village relationships remain its appeal.
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf — A particularly well-rounded village-life entry with a strong sense of daily ownership.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — A customizable island escape that became a natural social game for many players.
- Luigi’s Mansion — A charming haunted-house adventure centered on exploration and vacuum-based ghost-catching.
- Luigi’s Mansion 3 — A polished, humorous sequel with inventive floors and enjoyable cooperative play.
- Pikmin — A distinctive real-time strategy adventure about directing small creatures through a dangerous world.
Puzzle, rhythm, and other distinctive games
- Tetris (Game Boy) — A portable puzzle classic whose simple rules support nearly endless replay.
- Dr. Mario — A satisfying color-matching puzzle game with a clever, competitive rhythm.
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! — A rapid-fire collection that turns tiny, surprising challenges into a unique party experience.
- Rhythm Heaven — A playful rhythm game built on timing, feedback, and offbeat musical ideas.
- Brain Age — A notable example of Nintendo’s accessible, everyday puzzle-and-exercise approach.
- Tomodachi Life — A surreal social simulation whose appeal comes from the unpredictable interactions among Miis.
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker — A clever, compact puzzle-platformer built around rotating miniature dioramas.
- Yoshi’s Island — A visually distinctive platformer whose transformations and level ideas set it apart.
- Yoshi’s Woolly World — A tactile, relaxed platformer with playful secrets and a handcrafted look.
- Super Mario Maker 2 — A creative toolkit and platform game that turns level design into a shared activity.
How to choose among the most popular Switch games
Nintendo’s sales figures are useful for gauging reach, not for declaring quality. In its worldwide lifetime Switch software totals dated June 30, 2026, Nintendo reports 71.53 million units for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, 50.29 million for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, 38.14 million for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, 34.06 million for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, 30.80 million for Super Mario Odyssey, 28.46 million for Pokémon Scarlet / Pokémon Violet, 27.26 million for Pokémon Sword / Pokémon Shield, 22.71 million for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, 21.36 million for Super Mario Party, and 19.10 million for New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. These are consolidated lifetime units, including bundled and downloaded software, not retail-only purchases or review scores.
| If you want… | Try | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Friendly competition | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Accessible racing, with enough depth for regular play. |
| Open-ended exploration | Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom | Both reward experimentation and choosing your own route. |
| A low-pressure social routine | Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Its island life unfolds in short, customizable sessions. |
| A large crossover fighter | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | A broad cast and modes support casual gatherings and competitive play. |
| Classic 3D platforming | Super Mario Odyssey | Exploration and movement are the core pleasures. |
Where to play older Nintendo games now
Nintendo Classics is one route to selected older games, but it is a membership library, not ownership of individual copies. Nintendo says classic games can be accessed only through a Nintendo Account with an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. The NES, Super NES, and Game Boy collections are available to active members; Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, Game Boy Advance, and Virtual Boy collections. GameCube Classics are exclusive to Switch 2. Nintendo Classics – Nintendo Switch Online Overview & FAQ
Rank #3
- The following games are included in the cartridge: STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (3.6 GB)
- STAR WARS Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (1.1 GB)
- STAR WARS Episode I Racer (254 MB)
- STAR WARS Republic Commando (2.5 GB)
- STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed (3.4 GB)
Access instructions also depend on the console and territory. Nintendo’s guide requires a Switch 2 or Switch, an internet connection, and the appropriate membership. The Virtual Boy collection is available in the United States and Canada and does not appear on Switch Lite. Check Nintendo’s current support information for your region before subscribing or looking for a particular game. How to access classic games on Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo does not set a schedule for new library additions, and it says it has no plans to sell those games with added features outside Nintendo Switch Online. For a game you want to own and revisit independently of a subscription, check whether a modern standalone release exists; availability differs by title and territory.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Expanded Collection: Play through multiple different versions of the beloved Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Jungle Book games that have been created over the years, including both console and handheld versions.
- BOTH 16-Bit Console Aladdin Games included for the first time since their original release. By popular demand, two completely different and equally adored Aladdin games are finally available and enhanced for modern consoles.
- Modern Features: Rewind any of the games in real-time to retry difficult areas, view full game playthroughs with the ability to skip forward, start playing at any point, and save your progress and continue your adventure wherever and whenever you want.
- Museum Features: Take a journey behind-the-scenes and learn more about the creation of these incredible games. Watch video interviews with the original development teams or explore "
- Display Options and Updated Visuals: 1080P graphics and enhancements for modern HD TVs Adjustable screen aspect ratios and borders Custom filter options designed to replicate classic CRT TVs and other popular screen types"
Rank #4
- Experience your Favorite MARVEL vs. CAPCOM classics All in One – Enjoy 7 of your favorite classic titles that helped shaped the MARVEL vs. CAPCOM universe both single player and online.
- Enjoy Enhanced Features Added to the Classic Collection – To enhance your playability experience, we incorporated the favorite added features from Capcom Fighting Collection including gallery mode, quick save, training mode for all fighting titles, and the high score challenge. Beginners and first timers into the franchise are also welcome to play through adjusted settings and execution of one-button specials!
- Play with Friends Worldwide through Online Compatibility – This collection also includes rollback net code for a smooth and enjoyable experience online. Play casually or competitively through casual, ranked, or custom matches using rules of your choosing!
Picking a first game
- For a first Nintendo game: choose a game with a familiar format, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, or a clear starting point such as Super Mario Odyssey.
- For a long solo adventure: look to Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, or a Xenoblade Chronicles game.
- For local multiplayer: consider Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, or a Mario Party entry.
- For older classics: check whether your console, membership tier, and region support the relevant Nintendo Classics library before planning around it.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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