Everybody is aware of that Nintendo is one of the biggest video game companies in the world and that it has been dominating the business for years. This beloved firm has put out a large number of wonderful unique titles all through the years, to the purpose that lots of them have even managed to revolutionize the gaming panorama without end.
Nintendo’s impression and affect on the online game business ought to by no means be underestimated, and the evaluate aggregation web site Open-Critic is the proper place to take a look at its efficiency in the previous few years. Naturally, their record of the highest-rated video video games comprises many critically acclaimed Nintendo video games, however the next are the very best ones, seeing as all of them have scores of 90 or extra.
Tremendous Mario Odyssey – Rating: 97
The Greatest Nintendo Recreation Of All Time (In accordance To Open-Critic)
Super Mario Odyssey is not only the highest-rated Nintendo game on Open-Critic, however it’s additionally the highest-rated online game of all time on that web site. It undoubtedly deserves this prestigious honor as a result of this 3D collect-a-thon platformer is likely one of the most enjoyable, polished, and revolutionary video games on the unique Swap, and it has impressed numerous avid gamers to purchase the console simply to strive it out.
Within the late 2000s and 2010s, 3D Mario video games have been closely criticized for being means too linear, so Tremendous Mario Odyssey introduced again the free-roaming formulation of Tremendous Mario 64 folks know and love, however translated it to a number of the largest and most packed ranges within the historical past of the sequence. Mixed with its refreshing and revolutionary Seize mechanic – which permits Mario to remodel into enemies to unravel varied challenges and puzzles – Tremendous Mario Odyssey is an especially enjoyable expertise that deserves to be considered among the best video games Nintendo has ever made.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild – Rating: 96
The Recreation That Single-Handedly Redefined The Open-World Style
Only one level beneath Tremendous Mario Odyssey, there’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a game that most Nintendo fans think would be at the top of the list, however that also has earned its rightful place in Open-Critic’s Prime 5. In spite of everything, this revolutionary launch title made 1000’s of individuals wish to purchase a Nintendo Swap on launch, months earlier than Odyssey even got here out.
Breath of the Wild blew the minds of avid gamers around the globe in 2017 by introducing an open-ended open-world map that the participant can discover nevertheless they need. This not solely signifies that they will full predominant quests in any order, however that every puzzle and problem will also be accomplished many alternative methods, as this sport rewards the participant for experimenting with its instruments. The crucial and industrial success of Breath of the Wild made a big impact on the business and instantly impressed many related titles, like Elden Ring and Sonic Forces.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom – Rating: 95
An Unimaginable Sequel That’s On Par With Its Predecessor
The truth that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has just one point less than its predecessor is a testomony to this sequel’s high quality and ambition. Its decrease rating could also be as a result of followers and critics alike weren’t proud of its rehashing of Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule map, however it greater than made up for that with its partaking extra content material and its sensible new mechanics.
In Tears of the Kingdom, gamers can’t solely discover the land of Hyrule, however two brand-new maps as nicely: the Sky Islands and the Depths, which add much more issues to do and a few much-needed selection to the general expertise. However this sport’s largest declare to fame is the gathering of Zonai talents Hyperlink has at his disposal, with crucial one being the Ultrahand, which permits gamers to combine and match varied objects to create autos and machines that develop how exploration, fight, and puzzle-solving will be approached.
Metroid Prime Remastered – Rating: 94
The Excellent Approach To Re-Expertise This GameCube Traditional
Nintendo followers have been shocked when the company shadow-dropped Metroid Prime Remastered in February 2023, particularly contemplating that rumors about this remaster had existed in the neighborhood for the reason that Swap’s launch. Fortuitously, nevertheless, it ended up surpassing all expectations, and it’s now thought-about one of the best ways to expertise the Nintendo GameCube traditional that without end revitalized the Metroid IP.
If there’s one factor that Metroid Prime Remastered excels at, it is ambiance: each single atmosphere that Samus Aran has to discover on this journey was already ominous, unnerving, and surprisingly lovely within the unique sport, however the remaster efficiently elevated all of them with detailed fashionable graphics and impeccable presentation. However, in fact, that’s simply the tip of the iceberg, as a result of every part else about this sport is sort of good, like its fast-paced first-person fight system, its delicate however wealthy lore, and its assortment of hectic and difficult boss fights.
Tremendous Mario 3D World – Rating: 93
One Of The Most Underrated Video games In The Whole Mario Franchise
The presence of Super Mario 3D World in Open-Critic’s list of top-rated games was an enormous shock, seeing because it was endlessly criticized for being far more linear than earlier 3D Mario entries on residence consoles. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to keep in mind that this isn’t solely an incredible 3D platformer by itself, however that the Wii U was in dire want of high-quality exclusives when it got here out, which explains why it obtained so many glowing opinions on the time.
Nonetheless, Tremendous Mario 3D World continues to be a wonderful and underrated title that every one Mario followers ought to try. All of its ranges are colourful, charming, and filled with creative mechanics and concepts that maintain issues recent and interesting. Finishing these platforming challenges alone may be very enjoyable, however doing it with the assistance of three associates in native multiplayer co-op is at a complete new degree and makes your complete expertise much more entertaining. Whereas Tremendous Mario 3D World’s Open-Critic rating solely applies to the unique Wii U model, anyone who’s excited by enjoying it can buy its Nintendo Swap port, which has many QoL enhancements and a brand-new marketing campaign titled Bowser’s Fury that brilliantly recontextualizes its gameplay.
Tremendous Smash Bros. Final – Rating: 92
This Enjoyable Combating Recreation Is A Stunning Celebration Of The Whole Gaming Trade
It must be no shock that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has such a high score on Open-Critic, contemplating that this is likely one of the most generally celebrated video video games Nintendo has ever put out. For starters, Masahiro Sakurai and his group took the Final a part of its title very significantly, as a result of this sport introduced again each single character that had been playable in earlier Tremendous Smash Bros. titles, together with Pichu, Ice Climbers, and Stable Snake.
The fight system was a much-needed enchancment, because the motion feels snappier and extra technical than in its direct predecessor, Tremendous Smash Bros. for Wii U. Whereas Final is brimming with content material, facet modes, phases, objects and extra, this sport’s predominant promoting level is its huge roster of playable fighters, which was made even greater by its two DLC packs that added icons from different firms, like Steve from Minecraft, Sephiroth from Closing Fantasy and Sora from Kingdom Hearts. This sport looks like a celebration of gaming as a complete, and the truth that it exists within the first place is totally mind-blowing.
Tremendous Smash Bros. For Wii U – Rating: 92
A Pleasant (Albeit Controversial) Entry In The Tremendous Smash Bros. Sequence
The fact that Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has the identical Open-Critic rating as Tremendous Smash Bros. Final is sort of puzzling, contemplating how inferior it feels when in comparison with its direct sequel. Don’t be mistaken, that is nonetheless a really enjoyable combating sport that polished many gameplay parts from Tremendous Smash Bros. Brawl whereas additionally including many in style characters that followers had been asking for years to its roster, like Rosalina, Greninja, Little Mac, Villager, Mega Man, and numerous extra.
Whereas its sequel is healthier in each conceivable means, it’s necessary to have a look at the context by which Tremendous Smash Bros. for Wii U was launched. Much like Tremendous Mario 3D World, this sport got here out throughout a time by which the console was missing strong exclusives, so it obtained optimistic opinions as a result of it lastly gave Wii U homeowners one thing nice to play with their associates. Evidently, Tremendous Smash Bros. Final wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for its predecessor, so Tremendous Smash Bros. for Wii U’s contributions to the gaming panorama are nonetheless extremely appreciated by many.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Rating: 92
The Greatest-Promoting Nintendo Swap Recreation Is An Enhanced Port Of A Wii U Unique
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is not only the best-selling video game on Nintendo Switch (with over 68 million copies bought), however it’s additionally among the many highest-rated Nintendo video games on Open-Critic. This isn’t a lot of a shock, nevertheless, as a result of it’s an incredible kart racer that has given Swap customers and their associates numerous hours of chaotic multiplayer enjoyable.
The unique Mario Kart 8 on Wii U was a strong sport with lovely presentation and an revolutionary gravity-shifting mechanic, however it fell flat in some areas, like its disappointing roster of playable drivers and its underwhelming Battle Mode. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe not solely mounted all of these points whereas concurrently preserving every part that made the unique sport so particular, however it additionally added much more content material, like new tracks and new characters (together with some from non-Mario video games). And simply when it appeared like this eleven-year-old port already had sufficient content material, Nintendo launched the Booster Course Cross in 2022, which added much more programs (48 in complete) for an affordable worth.
Donkey Kong Bananza – Rating: 91
The Predominant Purpose To Personal A Nintendo Swap 2 Proper Now
Donkey Kong Bananza saved the Nintendo Switch 2 during its first few months and is already thought-about among the best video video games launched in 2025. Whereas Mario Kart World was a really strong launch title, Bananza is a artistic and unforgettable expertise that shows the ability of the console, whereas additionally justifying its buy. Developed by the identical group behind Tremendous Mario Odyssey, that is the primary 3D Donkey Kong sport in twenty-six years, however it’s on a unique degree, to the purpose that it looks like a gentle reboot of the franchise.
Its destruction mechanics, which permit DK to destroy complete environments at his personal leisure, have been very fastidiously designed and develop the best way the participant can discover ranges and clear up their puzzles. However that’s not all, as a result of the chemistry between DK and Pauline is lovable, and it ends in the introduction of the totally different Bananza Types, which add some much-needed selection to the platforming gameplay. Donkey Kong Bananza is brimming with character in each nook, and its core gameplay is so sensible and so addictive that anyone who owns it inevitably finally ends up with tons of of hours of playtime registered on their Swap 2 consoles.
Bayonetta 2 – Rating: 91
A Bombastic Character Motion Recreation That Wouldn’t Exist With out Nintendo’s Involvement
The Bayonetta IP is developed by PlatinumGames and owned by Sega, but the second entry in the series, Bayonetta 2, was instantly funded and revealed by Nintendo, and is now thought-about among the best character motion video games of all time. This long-awaited sequel took every part that made the unique Bayonetta so nice – like its fight system, its presentation, its weapons, and its characters – and expanded on it to make an much more over-the-top and extra memorable expertise.
The fight system of Bayonetta 2 feels extremely polished and satisfying, because the titular witch can wield quite a lot of totally different weapons, strikes, and talents to defeat angels and demons. Moreover, and as is anticipated from PlatinumGames, the boss fights are a significant spotlight of this sport: they’re all cinematic and difficult encounters towards huge monsters and/or highly effective human-sized foes. Regardless of receiving glowing opinions from critics, the unique Wii U model of Bayonetta 2 bought fairly poorly. Fortuitously, it discovered new life on the Nintendo Swap, the place it was ported alongside the unique sport in early 2018.
