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Metacritic isn't beloved by all, but the aggregator still gives a useful barometer of where key IPs and companies sit in the mainstream gaming industry. Its 'Best Video Games' feature emphasizes something we've all been painfully aware of - 2016 was a quiet year for Nintendo.

For one thing, both Wii U and 3DS either lacked releases or broad media interest (or a bit of both) with the systems lagging behind in terms of games eligible for a rating - in other words, games with a decent number of applicable reviews to tally up. By Metacritic's format the Wii U had just 44 scored games, and the 3DS had 57; for comparison the PS4 had 445 and the Xbox One 294.

Of those Wii U and 3DS games reviewed, none secured an average of 90 or above, though only 13 games managed that across all systems. The Wii U and 3DS top 10s (with Metacritic's score) are below:

Wii U

  1. Axiom Verge - 89%
  2. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 86%
  3. Mutant Mudds Super Challenge - 83%
  4. SEVERED - 83%
  5. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE - 80%
  6. Jotun: Valhalla Edition - 79%
  7. Pokkén Tournament - 76%
  8. Paper Mario: Color Splash - 75%
  9. Star Fox Guard - 74%
  10. Star Fox Zero - 69%

3DS

  1. Picross 3D: Round 2 - 89%
  2. Fire Emblem Fates: Special Edition - 88%
  3. Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation - 88%
  4. Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest - 87%
  5. Pokémon Sun - 87%
  6. Pokémon Moon - 87%
  7. Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright - 86%
  8. Monster Hunter Generations - 85%
  9. Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - 85%
  10. Rhythm Heaven Megamix - 84%

Clearly that 3DS chart is somewhat distorted by all of the iterations and variations of Fire Emblem Fates and Pokémon, but the Wii U chart does at least show how reliant the system has been upon major download releases to pick up the slack.

Some interesting results, in any case; 2017's list will hopefully have plenty of highly rated Switch games to consider.

With thanks to everyone that sent this in.

[source metacritic.com]