Top 100 Nintendo Games, As Chosen By Nintendo Life & IGN

25. Super Mario 64 (N64)

The '90s were jam-packed with game developers striving to bring their mascots into the 3D realm, with most believing that these colourful characters were only ever destined to live in two dimensions. Enter Super Mario 64.

Not only was Super Mario 64 Mario’s first dabble into a 3D space (something that would become a staple for years to come) but it was also the launch title for the Nintendo 64, making the plumber's first 3D adventure a huge risk for Nintendo. The risk paid off.

Super Mario 64 is not only one of the greatest games for the N64, but it’s still, perhaps arguably, one of the greatest 3D platforming games of all time. Not bad for a nearly 30-year-old game that despite having a familiar face, took an enormous swing.

Dale Driver (IGN)

24. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)

The story of how Majora's Mask got made is buckwild: the team behind Ocarina of Time was challenged to create a new game using the same engine and assets in just one year. They almost made it, finishing in 15 months. In a testament to the power of creativity under strict limitations, Majora's Mask is one of the most interesting, fun, unique, and emotional Zelda games.

The repetitive three-day structure, the strict character schedules, the smaller world scale, and the perfect freedom to shift events within that structure let Majora's cast of characters shine in a way that no other Zelda game does.

By the time you're done, you've learned the eccentricities, habits, desires, and fears of every single Clock Town resident, and you've likely become deeply attached to them. Meanwhile, the looming giant moon and overall dark, haunting atmosphere of Majora's Mask add to the emotional stakes, as the consequences for Link not stepping into their lives are too dire to think about for long.

Rife with some of the weirdest and grimmest quests in the series, but also some of the most beautiful and moving, Majora's Mask remains a complete standout in the series even 25 years after its release.

Rebekah Valentine (IGN)

23. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

After a sidestep with Super Mario Sunshine, Nintendo decided to go back to its platforming roots for its next 3D Mario, but then flipped those fundamentals completely on their head with Super Mario Galaxy. It’s miniature planet playgrounds play home to a whole host of experimental ideas that went far and beyond a simple hop and jump, in no small part thanks to a lack of typical surefooted gravity.

This newfound floatiness, clever integration with the Wii remote, and kaleidoscopic colourscape were soundtracked perfectly by bombastic orchestration that never threatened to let your senses rest. It pushed the Wii as far as it could go, proving a perfect example of Nintendo squeezing every ounce of joy out of the technical limitations of its hardware, and it would only be beaten on the platform by its ever-so-slightly more impressive follow-up.

Simon Cardy (IGN)

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22. Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2)

Arguably, no Nintendo game feels as good to play as Donkey Kong Bananza. DK’s destructive, expressive moveset and the underground world’s intentionally-designed breakable layers are a perfect match, and whether you’re punching through a wall of stone or surfing on a chunk of sand you tore up from the ground, Bananza is always foundationally fun and immensely satisfying.

It’s a remarkable achievement of synergy between a world and its main character, and it’s endlessly enjoyable to experiment in this dynamic toybox and discover the ways each unique layer reacts to and crumbles before you.

Bananza builds around its phenomenal game feel by taking inspiration from the highlights of the Switch era’s game design philosophy: Breath of the Wild’s sequence-breaking freedom, Tears of the Kingdom’s bonkers mechanical ambition, Super Mario Odyssey’s platforming creativity, and Splatoon’s fresh personality – and it hands all of these newer ideas to its oldest character, resulting in a modern Nintendo masterpiece that’s simultaneously nostalgic for all eras of Donkey Kong and a striking original direction for one of gaming’s most historic characters.

It also redefines the original Nintendo relationship: for the last 40 years, saying “DK and Pauline” evoked memories of the giant ape kidnapping Lady and dragging her up 75 meters. For the next 40, it’ll bring back memories of DK and his best friend joyously singing and punching their way down to the planet's core.

Logan Plant (IGN)

21. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)

A Link Between Worlds is quietly one of Zelda’s most important games. The humble 3DS adventure had big shoes to fill as a sequel to the SNES classic A Link to the Past, and it ended up meeting those expectations and then some.

This top-down entry struck a perfect balance between old and new, as we revisited the iconic Hyrule map from 1992 while engaging with Nintendo’s first experimental steps that directly led to Breath of the Wild, where Link was free to tackle Lorule’s eight dungeons in any order.

To facilitate this convention-breaking change, Link almost immediately gains access to his entire toolkit through its smart item rental system, which is responsible for introducing fan-favourite Ravio, who boldly sets up shop in Link’s house.

We haven’t even mentioned A Link Between Worlds’ ingenious main mechanic: Link merges with the wall and becomes a painting, forcing you to think about a top-down space in three dimensions. This simple concept leads to some of the most inventive puzzles in the series.

ALBW also broke Zelda’s growing pattern of slow starts that was widely criticised in Skyward Sword two years earlier. There’s no six-hour tutorial here – you’re swinging your sword in the first mini dungeon within 10 minutes of booting it up. You can see Breath of the Wild’s open-air DNA sprinkled throughout every inch of A Link Between Worlds, and the Zelda series wouldn’t be where it is today without this overlooked gem.

Logan Plant (IGN)

20. Resident Evil 4 (GCN)

By the time Resident Evil 4 rolled around, the played-out formula of the series was in need of a reinvention. Not only did Resident Evil 4 shatter expectations, it quickly became recognised as one of the greatest games of all time when it initially (and exclusively) launched on the Nintendo GameCube in 2005.

Resident Evil 4 once again puts you in the shoes of Leon S. Kennedy, who is in rural Spain on a mission to rescue the president’s daughter. Predictably, that plot quickly thickens as he gets pulled into a new threat and a new deadly virus threatens to sweep the world. Coupled with the fresh location for the series was a brand new over-the-shoulder playstyle, a playstyle that still heavily influences the genre to this day.

Resident Evil was (and is still considered) a traditional PlayStation series, and although this wasn't the first of the franchise to be playable on a Nintendo console, it was unquestionably the most impactful. For a full year, the GameCube was the ONLY platform where you could play what is often considered to be the best of the series, and that alone makes Resident Evil 4 a stone-cold Nintendo classic.

Dale Driver (IGN)

19. Final Fantasy III (SNES)

You can fiercely debate what the best Final Fantasy is for hours, but for us, one Super Nintendo game in particular has to be in the conversation, and possibly at the top.

The first game to be directed by Yoshinori Kitase, who would then lead the charge on VII and VIII, Final Fantasy VI (or III, if you prefer) was wildly ambitious; even now, it’s almost unmatched in terms of scale. Marking a huge departure from the series’ medieval, traditional fantasy roots and led by a trio of protagonists, it retains the ATB turn-based battle system’s simplicity with a plethora of customisation options in the form of Espers and the sheer number of party members you can have.

In fact, that huge cast of characters almost all get time in the spotlight, whether taking the lead in the party or swapping perspectives between different groups. The visual and musical spectacle of putting a miniature opera inside a game has never been attempted again. The entire second half runs the gamut from anger to faith to despair to hope. There are so many little optional secrets that breathe life into this world, a world which evolves, transforms, and is torn apart throughout. And who can forget Kefka, one of gaming’s most despicable villains?

Final Fantasy VI is, quite simply, timeless, with a political, emotional story that’s forever resonant and impressively customisable gameplay that means no two playthroughs are quite the same.

Alana Hagues (Nintendo Life)

18. Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)

After several entries failed to meet sales expectations, Intelligent Systems started developing Fire Emblem Awakening as the tactical RPG franchise’s final sendoff, including every feature they desired to ensure they had no regrets.

But they didn’t know at the time that Awakening’s big additions – like its new Casual mode that disabled permadeath and a renewed focus on relationship-building, marriage, and children – would prove to be very popular as it surged to become the best-selling game in franchise history.

Deservingly so, as Awakening is a fantastic strategy RPG with great maps and mechanics, fan-favourite characters you feel emotionally invested in, and best-in-class writing and localisation that make every dialogue box worth reading. Awakening’s characters may not have had feet, but the game itself gave the Fire Emblem series legs for years to follow.

Logan Plant (IGN)

17. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)

Rarely has a game felt quite as culturally relevant on release as Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020. While everyone hunkered down indoors, separated from friends and family, Nintendo released a game which was all about the outdoors, all about friends, all about being together. We all needed it, and we all welcomed it.

New Horizons didn’t reinvent the Animal Crossing wheel, but it sure as hell refined it. Nintendo took the tried and tested formula and threw in enough bells (literally) and whistles to make the experience feel simultaneously new and familiar. Picturing an Animal Crossing game without terraforming and crafting just doesn’t feel right now, and we have New Horizons to thank for that.

We all have stories of the countless hours we spent with the game that first summer — our daily routines of fishing, chopping, and shell collecting, the excitement of finally landing that dream villager, or our learned manipulations of the ‘stalk market’. More than a few of us have hit that island reset button to capture the magic all over again, and the Happy Home Designer DLC only encouraged us to return for another hundred hours.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons might forever be remembered for the global context into which it was released, but five years on, there are few Nintendo games that we’d rather cosy up with after a long day of real life.

Jim Norman (Nintendo Life)

16. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN)

It’s difficult to imagine another Nintendo game that’s enjoyed such a drastic shift in perception since its initial reveal. Originally showcased at 2001 Space World, The Wind Waker was widely derided for its cel-shaded visuals; a controversial creative choice for fans excited by a previous tease that depicted a more realistic take on Link and Ganondorf.

Leave it to Nintendo to deliver a delightful surprise, though. The Wind Waker is one of the most expressive Zelda entries, with Link’s journey across the Great Sea aboard The King of Red Lions providing memories that put most adventures to shame.

Whether you’re plundering treasure from the ocean floor, sneaking your way through the menacing Forsaken Fortress, or simply enjoying the sights, sounds, and music of Windfall Island, Zelda has rarely exuded such a remarkable air of, yes, adventure.

While (some) fans may have once scoffed at the visuals, The Wind Waker remains timeless, looking just as beautiful today as it did back in 2002. There’s a reason folks are desperate for a Switch port; this marks a serious high point for the Zelda series. A simply stunning game through and through.

Ollie Reynolds (Nintendo Life)

15. Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver (DS)

The DS remakes of Pokémon Gold And Silver are the legendary monster-battling RPG series at its finest. Giving the Game Boy Color’s best games a visual upgrade was always going to be a crowd-pleaser, but it also allowed new Nintendo players to grab hold of one of the greatest handheld adventures to ever exist.

Much emphasis is often placed on the big postgame reveal of the whole of Red and Blue’s Kanto region existing beyond the Pokémon League's walls, but that shouldn’t take away from just how good the journey leading up to that point in Johto is.

With memorable moments such as the Lake of Rage’s Red Gyarados and legendary encounters with either Ho-Oh or Lugia sticking long in the memory. Simply put, HeartGold and SoulSilver are Pokémon at its very best.

Simon Cardy (IGN)

14. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

After flipping the gravity switch and creating a masterpiece with Galaxy, you'd be forgiven for thinking Nintendo's finest were treading water with a direct sequel, playing for time while they figured out where Mario could possibly go after conquering the cosmos.

Remarkably, Super Mario Galaxy 2 leaves the first game feeling a little vanilla, a little 'safe' by comparison. It throws out ideas and mechanics at breakneck pace, moving gleefully from one novelty to the next, never slowing down, never looking back, never dropping the ball.

Yet its 'more is more' approach never overwhelms, either, only entertains - whether you're riding your dinosaur pal, spinning to create cloud platforms, or warping between galaxies on a starship shaped like your face. Only the first game's touching storybook narrative is missing from the mix, but it's hard to feel its absence with this much going on. And who plays Mario for the story?

Galaxy 2 is a riotous carnival on a cosmic scale, a game that throws a thousand ideas at the wall and, in doing so, demonstrates what sets Nintendo apart from practically every other developer on the planet: improbably, every one of those ideas sticks.

Gavin Lane (Nintendo Life)

13. Metroid Prime Remastered (Switch)

While the 2024 remaster polished up Metroid Prime’s visual lustre, it’s a testimony to developer Retro’s original design that little else had to be changed to make a 2002 game feel as if it were designed today. The (then) controversial decision to flip a genre-defining third-person 2D series into what on the surface looked like a first-person shooter quickly proved to be the right choice.

More than any Metroid game before it, Metroid Prime made us feel like we were locked behind Samus’s visor, isolated and cut off, focused solely on survival and finding a way out. As Samus, players had to face an ever-escalating alien threat head-on while Indiana Jonesing through temple ruins and using some of the coolest special powers (morph ball!) to get the next door open.

It was – and is – vintage Metroid, and at the same time something truly new and special.

Peer Schneider (IGN)

12. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

Some NES games haven’t aged well. Super Mario Bros. 3 is not one of them. This is one of those rare games that, if it were released now as a ‘retro throwback’, we wouldn’t bat an eyelid. In fact, it would probably rank amongst our favourite games of any given year.

The third entry refined and expanded upon everything that made the 1985 original so special. You’ve got multiple themed worlds that still look great, incredible power-ups like the Super Leaf and Tanooki Suit, and a handful of charming minigames to mix things up a bit.

But where SMB3 truly shines is in its movement, which feels almost impossibly slick and responsive no matter the situation. With gameplay and presentation that would go on to influence every subsequent entry, all the way up to Super Mario Bros. Wonder, it’s really no surprise that we consider this the very best game on NES. It’s a remarkable feat, and one of the finest achievements from Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka.

Ollie Reynolds (Nintendo Life)

11. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)

“Everyone Is Here!” Those three words paired with the seemingly impossible return of Solid Snake set the Nintendo world on fire, and the hype burned brightly throughout Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s escalating series of utterly mindblowing character reveals.

What started as the ultimate museum of Nintendo and Smash Bros. history quickly transformed into a celebration of video games as a whole. When the Smash logo kicked in at the end of a Nintendo Direct, you knew something special was imminent – anything felt possible, because everything truly was possible. Banjo & Kazooie. Fatal Fury and Tekken. Persona 5 and Dragon Quest. Minecraft Steve, whose reveal may have literally broken the internet.

With Ultimate, Smash director Masahiro Sakurai and Nintendo pulled off a genuine miracle in game development that may never be repeated again. It’s overwhelming to think about how many phone calls had to be made and how many corporate executives had to say “yes” to make all these guest appearances happen, a feeling only magnified when we first saw the Mickey Mouse keychain indicating Sora finally got his invitation.

But on top of the flashy reveals and playground fantasies made reality, Ultimate is just a phenomenal fighting game, with great action that scales between two and eight players, a staggering amount of content to dive into, and an unbelievable attention to detail across everything from character movesets that reference other games to possibly the best collection of video game music ever assembled. Ultimate is the crowning achievement of the Super Smash Bros. series, Sakurai’s impressive career, and one of Nintendo’s greatest accomplishments of all time.

Logan Plant (IGN)

10. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)

When Mario Kart 8 launched on the floundering Wii U in 2014, no one would have guessed that it would go on to become the fifth best-selling video game of all time, thanks to its Deluxe rerelease on Nintendo Switch.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is far more than a drag-and-drop port, however, as the additions it stacks on top of an already amazing gameplay foundation result in the best kart racer ever made, and one of the finest Nintendo games of all time. There are a whopping 96 tracks to choose from including some of the best the series has ever seen, like the three-part descent down Mount Wario that feels ripped straight out of an action movie. It’s got a huge roster of characters along with guest appearances from other Nintendo franchises such as Zelda, Splatoon, and Animal Crossing – not to mention the stunning renditions of Mute City and Big Blue that make us long for a new F-Zero in HD.

Speaking of graphics, Mario Kart 8 remains one of the best-looking Nintendo games ever, with great art direction and minute attention to detail that makes every moment shine, like Mario’s moustache fluttering in the wind or the iconic Luigi death stare. If you’re having friends or family over, your best bet is still to break out Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. You’re practically guaranteed to have a great time – until someone hits you with a blue shell and passes you at the finish line, at least.

Logan Plant (IGN)

9. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

A Link to the Past seemed like an anachronism when it debuted in Japan in 1991 – and players playing it for the first time today may be surprised how sophisticated – and modern – it still feels more than 30 years later. Its all-star EAD design team created a compelling quest that effectively creates the illusion of an open world, with each new item Link discovers acting as both a weapon and a key – a path to becoming stronger, solving puzzles, and unlocking new areas.

But the moment players discover the Magic Mirror, the brilliant design fully reveals itself. The world map exists twice – and the small differences matter greatly. An instant hit back then and an undisputed classic today, A Link to the Past created the template for gaming history’s best action-adventure games.

Peer Schneider (IGN)

8. Super Metroid (SNES)

Following an explosive introduction to Ridley, Super Metroid first takes you on a reunion tour of the original Metroid’s greatest hits, where you see what’s changed on the planet Zebes. But once Samus Aran descends to Brinstar and the perfect atmospheric music kicks in, you know you’re about to experience an all-timer.

And Super Metroid never lets up for a single second, taking players on a practically flawless journey whose groundbreaking non-linear design continues to inspire metroidvania developers more than 30 years later (it’s even in the name!). Its mood is magnificently eerie; its sprites and colours still astonish to this day; its unexpected secrets are supremely satisfying to uncover; it’s a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

While the credits rolled after the empowering, emotional finale against Mother Brain and the adrenaline-fueled escape from Zebes, our collective understanding of the action-adventure genre looked a lot like Maridia’s glass tunnel: completely shattered.

Logan Plant (IGN)

7. Chrono Trigger (SNES)

Thirty years after its debut on the SNES, and Chrono Trigger still remains not just one of the best Nintendo games of all time, but one of the best games ever made, period.

As someone who played the Nintendo DS remake of Chrono Trigger for the first time as an adult, I was astounded at how well it holds up to this day. It's immediately charming in its detailed sprite work and lovely, varied environments. And its soundtrack is arguably one of, if not the finest work of Yasunori Mitsuda, with sweeping orchestral moments, earworm dungeon themes, and tender emotional peaks. The story itself is familiar at first, with a typical young boy hero caught up in a magic adventure beyond his understanding.

But the plot quickly twists and turns, jumping between several time periods, introducing surprising cast members like a frog man, a robot, and one of the villains, and skillfully conducts one of the most surprising twists in gaming that the player can choose to resolve...or not, depending on how they want to play Chrono Trigger. The ATB battle system and the mixture of scripted and environmental encounters feel natural and fresh, without becoming obnoxious or grindy.

Chrono Trigger has a number of hidden sidequests that give more insight into the lovable characters making up your party, if you want them, a few legendary items to find, and a long list of alternative endings. And yet, there's nothing about Chrono Trigger that overstays its welcome or feels like filler. Every era, every beat, every path is exact in its placement and timing, concluding at last in one of the most epic RPG final boss fights in history. RPGs themselves will continue to grow and evolve, era after era, but it's difficult to imagine what could dethrone the perfect harmony formed by all the excellent components of Chrono Trigger working together.

Rebekah Valentine (IGN)

6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time reinvented the combination of action, puzzle-solving, and exploration gameplay already perfected in A Link to the Past for a new generation. While its predecessor’s 2D style has aged just a tad better than Ocarina of Time’s polygonal world, it remains one of gaming’s most notable achievements. Ocarina of Time takes the series’ trademark puzzle dungeons and gives them new depth – literally – by transforming them into 3D playgrounds.

Rather than just replicating Mario 64’s innovations, it de-emphasises platform jumping and instead invents a lock-on combat system that has been featured in nearly every action game since. Add to that horseback riding, a rich atmosphere underscored by unforgettable music and sound, and genre-defining puzzle design, and it’s easy to see why many Nintendo fans consider it the crowning action-adventure achievement.

Peer Schneider (IGN)

5. Tetris (GB)

Ever close your eyes when you’re trying to sleep and all you see are the same seven shapes seemingly imprinted on the underside of your eyelids? You aren't alone. Scientists say that every person in possession of a Game Boy in 1989 suffered from this very condition.

What is there to say about Tetris that hasn’t been said already? A simple, yet masterful puzzle game centred around slotting a series of falling shapes into groups of lines while battling the ever-increasing speed of the Tetriminoes and your finger reflexes.

Although first created by Alexey Pajitnov four years prior, it was its arrival on the Game Boy that truly made it reach a global audience and become a sensation rarely seen, if ever, equalled. And despite being four decades old, there’s still nothing quite like it. That simplicity and ability for anyone to just pick up and play - helped by numerous versions and reinventions over the years - have made Tetris stand the test of time and remain, to this day, amongst the purest fun you can have with a video game.

Simon Cardy (IGN)

4. Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)

Deciding on the greatest 3D Mario game will always be a matter of personal taste. Some hold the nostalgic invention of Mario 64 close to their hearts, while others yearn for the out-of-this-world creativity delivered in spades by the Galaxy games. Our pick is Super Mario Odyssey, the Switch’s only original 3D Mario, but one so complete it warrants a generation of its own to savour.

Granting everyone’s favourite parkour plumber a new hat companion, Cappy, that expands his pool of abilities massively, he’s an absolute delight to control as he dashes, double jumps, and hops into the brains of all manner of outlandish creatures from T-Rexes to Chain Chomps.

Set across multiple expansive worlds full of secrets and collectables, and soundtracked by an outrageously enjoyable funk-infested soundtrack, it's a true evolution of a time-old formula. Whether dodging taxi cabs in the vibrant metropolis of New Donk City with its odes to platformers past, or bouncing around the sherbert-sweet pastels and gelatinous joys of the Luncheon Kingdom, it's a complete wonder from start to finish. Mario has never looked, sounded, or played this good. At least, when it comes to three dimensions…

Simon Cardy (IGN)

3. Super Mario World (SNES)

It's incredible to think that Super Mario World launched alongside the SNES, because it remains not just one of the platform's shining lights, but one of the best video games of all time.

Following the sublime Super Mario Bros. 3 was never going to be an easy task – and the fact that the sequel would be on an entirely new system could only have made things even more challenging for director Takashi Tezuka and producer Shigeru Miyamoto.

However, the team at Nintendo EAD produced a 2D platformer that's positively bursting with life and gleeful invention; this is a game that confidently builds on what came before it, yet manages to break fresh ground and set a new standard in the genre.

Super Mario World arguably established a series tradition that still holds true today – it introduces gameplay mechanics and features which are seen only fleetingly before the game moves onto the next fresh idea.

There's ridable Yoshis, Switch Palaces, Ghost Houses, multiple exits, underwater sections, The Star Road... the list goes on. This is all bound together in an explorable, node-based overworld which rewards repeat play and encourages you to find all 96 stage exits – a task which, even 35 years later, is a badge of honour for any self-respecting Nintendo fan.

Damien McFerran (Nintendo Life)

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)

For some of us, that first bite will always be sweetest.

Breath of the Wild came after nearly two decades of Eiji Aonuma and co. following Ocarina’s familiar recipe. A new Zelda was still a treat, but it was essentially the same dish with different seasoning (a novel time-loop narrative, gorgeous cel-shaded stylings, some sword waggle) and tiredness had crept in with the timeline. Could the 'wonder' be restored? Could the series evolve without losing the elements that made it 'Zelda'?

Nintendo answered those questions emphatically in 2017, and it was hard to imagine going back to the old template. 'Zelda but open-world' covers it only in the grossest, most reductive sense, ignoring the impeccable polish needed to avoid bogging down the adventure with dreary waypoint checklists or creating a playground of pure jank.

The underlying physics system and the emergent interactions it affords work in tandem with Hyrule's meticulously designed geography. A dozen distractions draw your eye from any point on the map — a peculiar rocky outcrop, a grassy knoll, a mountain peak that pierces the rays of the setting sun — and each one offers an irresistible micro-adventure should you make a detour.

It was a perfect showcase for Switch, too, proving that the little tablet could handle games of the grandest scale. Hyrule went everywhere with you, and your in-game instincts and ponderances blossomed beyond the screen, creeping into your daily life. Hmm, that tree on the hill, a prime Korok hiding spot! But how to glide over there...

BOTW or TOTK, then? They're both essential, of course, offering variations on the same delicious dish. Three-quarters of Team NL would take the Wild over Kingdom and the kitchen sink, though. An extraordinary video game.

Gavin Lane (Nintendo Life)

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)

Breath of the Wild may be the more important game, but we at IGN firmly believe The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the better one, and that Link’s epic adventure across the skies, lands, and depths of Hyrule is the greatest Nintendo game of all time. This wildly ambitious sequel introduced an unbelievable amount of inventive, well-executed ideas that built on Breath of the Wild’s groundbreaking formula while also improving upon some of its predecessor’s shortcomings, once again raising the bar for Nintendo’s legendary franchise.

Link’s new set of abilities is so creatively and technically impressive that it made developers across the world both jealous of and inspired by what Nintendo managed to pull off. Whether it’s ascending through nearly any ceiling in Hyrule or using Ultrahand to build the Zonai machine of your dreams – or simply a bridge made up of 20 logs – Tears of the Kingdom’s buffet of complex, polished mechanics encourage player experimentation and ignite the most personal, improvisational, and magical open world masterpiece we’ve ever experienced.

Breath of the Wild’s unmatched organic discovery returned and was only enhanced by Tears of the Kingdom’s wider enemy variety and more fleshed-out Hyrule – including its terrifying, inverted basement known as the Depths – and the quest reached its zenith with a climactic finale that’s a worthy sendoff to the grand journey Link has just taken. But in the end, the journey of Tears of the Kingdom is shaped by our imaginations, where every success is a triumph, every failure’s a story worth telling, and every solution feels uniquely yours.

You could argue the significance of other Nintendo games over Tears of the Kingdom. But no game better showcases the most important elements of Nintendo’s core design philosophy that’s allowed them to push this medium forward over more than 40 years of game development: innovation, creativity, a focus on fun for everyone, and a fearlessness to try weird things. Right now, Tears of the Kingdom is Nintendo’s crowning achievement, but there’s no doubt in our minds that something will eventually dethrone it. That’s just what they do.

Logan Plant (IGN)