Whether you’re a fan of Nintendo or not, it’s hard to argue with the impact that many of the brand’s most iconic franchises have had on the gaming industry, if not the world, over the years. From the early days of video game technology, Nintendo has been there to leave its mark on things, and through that, it has helped to shape what gaming is and can be.
Nintendo’s biggest games haven’t just been important to making Nintendo what it is today, but have also revolutionized entertainment. Focusing heavily on family-friendly franchises, Nintendo games have become a foundation of many childhood gaming experiences, and that nostalgia bleeds into our adult lives. Add to that the important innovations that Nintendo has made over the years, and we see that Nintendo has truly changed the way we think about gaming.
For this list, we looked only at games that were developed by Nintendo or for which Nintendo was a key publisher for the game.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Released In 2020 For The Nintendo Switch
Generally, when we think of games that have been important to history, we tend to think of ones from decades past. However, Animal Crossing: New Horizons had a solid impact on the video game world, mostly just by the coincidence of when it was released.
The COVID-19 pandemic and ACNH both kicked off around the same time, with much of the world going into quarantine the same month that ACNH launched. This presented a unique circumstance where people needed a means of connecting with the outside world. A way to host virtual birthday parties and graduations. Even just something wholesome and cheerful to take their minds off what was happening in the world around them. Animal Crossing was the perfect solution.
It gave people exactly what they needed at that time. And ACNH introduced thousands of people to gaming who had previously never considered it.
Super Mario 64
Released In 1996 For The N64
Super Mario 64 may not be anywhere near today’s standards of 3D game worlds, but it helped to forge the path to it. When Super Mario 64 launched, 3D gaming was a very new experience, and many other games of that time prove that developers were struggling to master how to make it work.
Super Mario 64 still had some hurdles that it didn’t quite master, but it still offered us all a picture of what was to come. We could run around in a 3D environment better than ever before, with controls that anyone could figure out, and led the way for the world of gaming to smooth out the rough edges.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Released In 2017 For The Wii U And Nintendo Switch
Another relatively new game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild showed us what an open world game could be like. Similar to Super Mario 64, this wasn’t the first time a game had an open world, but BOTW changed how it could be used.
BOTW allows players to enjoy simply exploring a large world and seeing what secrets and side adventures can be found. Of course, this also meant that many players may have never gone back to the main story to fight Calamity Ganon, but thankfully, he was just waiting for Link anyway.
Super Metroid
Released In 1994 For The SNES
One of the most common terms in gaming today originated, in part, with Super Metroid. The “Metroidvania” formula of gaming may combine aspects of several games, but the design and gameplay details that Super Metroid introduced have remained key to the term. It’s gone on to inspire countless developers since its launch, and remains a favorite game for many players even after 30 years.
There are few games in history that have laid such a key foundation for those to come as Super Metroid did. Its influence on game mechanics has spread to nearly every genre in different ways. Even its storytelling changed the general views on how a game should be played, with Samus working to save a life rather than destroy it.
Wii Sports
Released In 2006 For The Wii
Wii Sports and its series of similar games were not only a massive success as one of the best-selling video games of all time, but their innovations changed the landscape of video games. The use of motion controls opened doors to a new level of creativity in game design. Similarly, using the motion controls in this way inspired many people to look at gaming as a way to exercise, something that was previously unheard of.
Even senior care centers and physical therapy programs began using Wii Sports to help people get a little extra movement in, and inspired many future games and apps to look at ways to use technology to promote healthy habits.
Pokémon Red And Blue
Released In 1998 For The Game Boy
There are few franchises as iconic as that of Pokémon. Between its series of video games, anime, manga, TCG, merchandise, movies, and so much more, Pokémon feels as though it has always been here. The lines are blurred for many of us about which things came first between the TCG, shows, and games.
Pokémon actually began with the 1996 Japanese release of the video games which would later come to North America as Pokémon Red and Blue. The popularity kicked off the global phenomenon we see today, and now it’s hard to imagine living in a world without Pokémon.
Mario Kart
Released In 1992 For The SNES
Since its original launch on the SNES in 1992, Mario Kart games have been massive console-selling titles for Nintendo, often being one of the biggest-selling games for every console. The original not only made split-screen multiplayer a common way to play multiplayer, but it also established the entire idea of kart racing, inspiring many imitations over the years.
Mario Kart went the extra mile by adding fun items with unique mechanics and the ability to drift into go-karts. Ultimately, bringing popular Super Mario characters to a racing game using go-karts was, and still is, one of the best decisions that Nintendo could have made.
The Legend Of Zelda
Released In 1986 For The NES
The Legend of Zelda is one of the biggest franchises for Nintendo, with timelines and lore that seem to branch off into numerous directions as the games continue to evolve. We didn’t know any of that when that first game launched, however, and it gave us a fun adventure and world to explore. It provided an early approach to open-world gaming, with puzzles and secrets to find along the way.
That said, The Legend of Zelda was also a revolutionary title when it came to technology. This was the introduction of battery-back up saving that allowed players to have so much more freedom and fun, playing for longer periods of time and saving our progress.
Tetris
Released In 1989 For The Game Boy
While it’s heavily debated whether Tetris is truly a Nintendo title, the classic title that released in 1989 for the Game Boy is often credited as being what introduced it to the world. The simple and addictive nature of Tetris helped to establish the idea of casual gaming, while defining the puzzle genre. Its basic mechanics have continued to inspire games ever since, with many paying homage to this icon.
Its music, addictive puzzle gameplay, and the familiar tetromino shapes have all become so heavily embedded in the very culture of our world, that it’s impossible to not mention Tetris‘s importance for Nintendo and gaming in general.
Super Mario Bros.
Released In 1985 For The NES
There’s good reason for Mario being Nintendo’s mascot, as Super Mario Bros. is easily the most important Nintendo game ever created. Gaming was disappearing when Super Mario Bros. came around, after a massive industry crash in 1983 made it hard to market any game, particularly to home markets.
The classic side-scrolling platformer captured hearts and showed people everywhere what could be done with video games. Its controls were easy to use, and the combination of Super Mario Bros. and the NES made having video games in your home a common occurrence. It not only helped Nintendo to find its footing but also opened the doors for the entire video game industry.
- Date Founded
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September 23, 1889
- CEO
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Satoru Iwata
- Subsidiaries
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Nintendo EPD, Nintendo SPD, Nintendo EAD
- Consoles
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Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Game Boy, Nintendo Game Boy Color, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Switch Lite
- Services
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Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo is one of the world’s most successful and popular video game companies. It was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, who started the company by making Japanese playing cards. When Nintendo broke into the video game industry, it exploded in popularity. Nintendo has released several consoles over the years, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Nintendo 64, Gameboy, Wii, and the Nintendo Switch. The company has also created several iconic franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Pokémon.