Nintendo is a major player in the gaming industry having created many revolutionary games. As one of the oldest video game companies Nintendo has stood the test of time by adapting to changing trends while staying true to its roots. Many competitors have emerged over the years and countless great games have been released, but Nintendo games still hold a special place.
From the Legend of Zelda series to Super Mario Bros Nintendo's portfolio has a wide variety of titles that gamers of all ages enjoy. One of the best things about Nintendo games is their replayability. People still play classic games that are two decades old, especially games that influenced countless other games.
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1. The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
If you are a Nintendo fan chances are you have played atleast one The Legend of Zelda video game. One of the oldest but still widely played games in this series is Ocarina of Time. The games story Link's transformation abilities, and the sweet-bitter ending all hold a special place in fans hearts.
Ocarina of Time revolutionized 3D games in an era when they were uncommon. It was the first Nintendo game to use the Z-targeting system which has now become a common element in most games. Another thing that OoT popularized was contextual buttons. The game's controls were designed to correspond to the current situation instead of giving multiple buttons for different things. Talking rolling and throwing pots all used the same button.
2. Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 was the first 3D game in the series and was released as a launch title for the infamous Nintendo 64. The game changed the way Mario was controlled by using the analog stick in the middle of the then-unusual N64 controller. With the buttery smooth movement of the title character the game was a stepping stone for other 3D games.
Nintendo games are known for their soundtracks and Super Mario 64 is no exception. Fans still love Koji Kondo's iconic music to this day. The game was groundbreaking for its time and the developers used in-game portraits to avoid the low RAM and storage of the time. The intense level design was a game-changer and fans loved it instantly. A good example of this is that Super Mario 64 is one of the most popular games for speedrunners, influencing an entire community of gamers.
3. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The most common way to travel in The Legend of Zelda games was previously on the back of Link's trusty steed Epona. Breath of the Wild changed this significantly by introducing new ways to travel. The most effective way is the paraglider which quickly became a fan favorite and was used in many games. The paraglider features a new stamina system that allows players to run climb and glide for a certain amount of time. These are two things that many games like Genshin Impact and Immortals Phoenix Rising are compared to BoTW for.
Of course, Breath of the Wild also influenced games through its seamless open world. It is implementation is straightforward and simple but well done. There is no set order you must follow to tackle the game. Instead of completing a set of shrines you can travel around the map as you please. Breath of the Wild is still a reference point for many game developers with many saying they drew inspiration from the game.
4. Wii Sports
The Nintendo Wii was bundled with Wii Sports and both the console and the game were very successful. Wii Sports was not aimed at a specific audience as it was one of the most accessible and easy to play sports. Bowling boxing and many other sports could be played via a wireless remote control and your movements were copied and displayed on the screen.
This innovative and intuitive gameplay attracted many players and Wii Sports was one of the main reasons why many people bought a Nintendo Wii. This led to many players purchasing other games even though they initially only wanted to play Wii Sports. Wii Sports took full advantage of the Nintendo Wii is motion sensors ensuring that anyone could jump on it and have a good time regardless of their taste or age. It paved the way for the future of inclusive family-focused video games.
5. Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong is the crown jewel of Nintendo and a first in many categories. It is one of the first platforming games that had a story that held it together so basically the first Donkey Kong can be credited with saving Nintendo of America from a major financial crisis. The game was a huge success and cemented Nintendo's future in the gaming industry.
Donkey Kong is considered the gateway to modern gaming because of its innovative gameplay. You control Mario and you have to rescue Pauline by passing four difficult levels. The way the stages are laid out you have to strategize to get to the end. No one could have predicted that a simple plumber character would become one of the most famous characters in video games.
6. Pokemon Red
The Pokémon phenomenon began after the release of Pokémon Red. The game was the start of a multi-million dollar franchise and introduced new mechanics to video games. Catching and battling creatures is still the inspiration for games like PalWorld, while turn-based rock-paper-scissors combat is still a mainstay of many gaming franchises.
Pokémon Red also emphasizes the social aspect that most games ignored at the time. The introduction of trading between players completely revolutionized the gameplay ensuring that players would have more reasons to discuss the game.
7. Tetris
Tetris is the invention of Alexey Pajitnov and a major factor in the success of Nintendo's Game Boy. In particular the Game Boy version of the game was a huge success redefining the puzzle genre. More importantly many non gamers bought Game Boys to play Tetris which was easy because the two were linked together.
The concept of Tetris may be simple but making sure the blocks fit exactly on the screen is also the games greatest strength. The easy to understand but difficult to master gameplay formula gave Tetris a unique identity while influencing future games like Treasure Stack and Nintendo's own Dr. Mario.
8. Super Mario Kart
Super Mario Kart is a pioneer in the kart racing genre. In this game you will have to race with many characters from Nintendo's Super Mario series and drive their unique vehicles. Not only does the game include many iconic maps with including Rainbow Road, but the original Super Mario Kart also had multiplayer ensuring that players could race against each other.
The unique shell and banana power-ups bring something new to the game and different variations of these power-ups appear in other kart racing games. In addition to the power-up system many kart racing games use the drifting mechanic that Super Mario Kart initially popularized.
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