Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Metroid: Nintendo is the home of the biggest franchises and a unique standard of play. RomWize re-ranks the publisher's best games by its re-evaluated scores, each with its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"Still the benchmark open-world on Switch. Climbing anything and gliding wherever you want feels liberating, and the physics-driven systems reward experimentation. Weapon durability remains divisive, yet exploring Hyrule keeps its quiet magic."
"A relentless shower of fresh ideas. Possessing enemies with Cappy reinvents every kingdom, and the sheer density of Moons keeps you poking at corners. Mario has never controlled with this much expressive, joyful freedom."
"The sequel dares to rebuild everything around Fuse and Ultrahand. Cobbling together absurd contraptions becomes an endless playground, and the sky and depths genuinely expand Hyrule. A bit overwhelming at first, but wildly creative."
"An exemplary restoration. The remaster smooths the controls without betraying the original, and Tallon IV's lonely atmosphere still grips you. Scanning the environment can slow the pace, but the aiming and exploration have aged beautifully."
"The ultimate fan fantasy taken to its limit. With a colossal roster and stages spanning gaming history, it's couch chaos at its finest. Mastering a character takes patience, but for local multiplayer nothing touches it."
"Super Mario Bros. Deluxe on GBC is the definitive portable version of the founding classic. The original game plus extra challenges, hidden levels and scores to beat. An absolute GBC must."
"Absolute masterpiece that redefined open-world action-adventure. Total freedom, organic exploration, reactive physics and chemistry. WiiU execution is slightly inferior to Switch but the experience remains transcendent."
"First Metroid Prime, revolutionary FPS-adventure transposing Samus to 3D. Tallon IV exploration, encyclopedic environmental scanning, strategic combat with special visors. Isolated and atmospheric mood, ingenious backtracking level design. Wii Edition offers precise Wiimote controls, more natural than the original GameCube. An absolute Metroid series peak, essential."
"Fire Emblem Awakening on 3DS saved the franchise and created a new generation of fans. Character support system, pair-up in combat and optional permadeath. Epic storytelling and memorable cast. A masterpiece."
"The definitive kart racer on Switch. Driving is wildly accessible yet the skill ceiling stays deep, and with the DLC the track count is staggering. Local or online, it's still the safest bet for any game night."
"The legendary Tetris bundled with the Game Boy. Tetrominoes, lines to clear, endless A-Type or goal-based B-Type. Iconic OST by Hirokazu Tanaka, link-cable versus revolutionary for 1989. One of the greatest games ever, period. The cartridge that sold the Game Boy to the world."
"A cornerstone of 3D adventure, plain and simple. Hyrule becomes a tangible world, Z-targeting reinvents combat, the dungeons are design masterclasses and Kondo's score lodges itself in the collective memory. Hard to spend two sentences on this peak without falling into obvious praise."
"Side-scrolling Mario back in top form. Wonder Flowers trigger gleefully unpredictable level twists, and the art direction radiates pure joy. Local co-op is chaotic in the best way, and almost nothing repeats itself."
"Direct sequel to Mario Galaxy, harder, denser, more inventive. Yoshi finally playable with complementary abilities (tongue, transformations). Fifty galaxies with ever crazier ideas, Nintendo level design at absolute peak. Secret green stars for ultimate challenge, Comet mode for speedrun. Even more orchestral musically. Considered by many superior to the first, the peak of all-time 3D platforming. Absolute must-own."
"Stylish action at its peak. The Witch Time dodge rewards boldness, and chaining combos stays gloriously fluid. The set pieces border on excess, but that's exactly what makes Bayonetta such a rush to play."
"Cosmic survival horror by Silicon Knights, arguably one of the most singular entries in the genre. A sanity meter that breaks the game itself, a saga spanning two thousand years and thirteen protagonists. Ideas still stunning twenty years on. A genuine one of a kind."
"Super Mario Galaxy revolutionizes 3D platforming by sending Mario into space, running on spherical planets with shifting gravity. Forty themed galaxies with constantly renewed ideas, stars to collect, Co-Star partner for second player. Sublime cosmic art direction, memorable orchestral soundtrack by Mahito Yokota. Wiimote+Nunchuk to point Star Bits. Absolute masterpiece, platforming peak."
"Super Mario Advance 4 Super Mario Bros. 3 on GBA, Western version. SMB3 in your palm with the 90 NES levels and exclusive bonus levels. One of the best Mario ports on handheld."
"Twilight Princess marks a return to mature, darker, more cinematic Zelda. Farmhand Link becomes wolf hero in Midna's twilight realm, descends into monumental dungeons stuffed with ideas. Mastered sword combat, brilliant puzzles, Epona mount returns. Wii version with Wiimote swordplay, GameCube version for nostalgia. An absolute series peak, seven years of Zelda condensed."
"Zelda no Densetsu Toki no Ocarina 3D on 3DS, original Japanese version of Ocarina of Time 3D. The definitive version of the greatest video game ever made in its original Japanese presentation. For collectors."
