It's a pretty busy time for Nintendo franchise anniversaries at the moment. As you'll no doubt remember, last year saw Mario's 35th birthday be celebrated in style with Switch rereleases of some of the series' best games, more merch than we could ever hope to buy and more. This year, we've already had Pokémon's 25th (with more celebrations for that to come) and Zelda's 35th (with more celebrations for that to hopefully come).
As it turns out, though, saying it's a 'pretty busy time' is a huge understatement. Our lovely video team decided to dive a little deeper, digging out more and more Nintendo anniversaries that just so happen to be taking place this year. We couldn't quite believe just how many of our favourite series are celebrating major milestones over the next few months, so feel free to join us in our amazement in the video above.
If you don't mind being spoiled before jumping in, the long list of Nintendo anniversaries in 2021 includes series like Donkey Kong (40th), Animal Crossing (20th), Pikmin (20th), Metroid (35th), Yoshi (30th), Kid Icarus (35th), and many more. Blimey...
We can't imagine Nintendo doing quite as much to celebrate any of these series as it did with Mario last year, but here's hoping for one or two little nods throughout the year.
Comments 45
Technically every year is an anniversary, everything needs a celebration!
Every single Nintendo series has an anniversary this year. Amazing!
Zelda will obviously get a blowout, the others may get a tweet.
Premature RIP Metroid.
I think Animal Crossing will be somehow prized with a celebration (may be a DLC) and I'm expecting at least one game for Metroid (remaster, collection, remake, 2D sequel... Anything but Prime 4) the others they will receive a twitter/Instagram post or a My Nintendo "gifts", if they do anything.
@Expa0 Metroid isn't dead. At least not so soon. If Prime 4 doesn't sells well... I'll start to get worried. That's why I expect at least one minor game this year (Trilogy collection, a 2D remake or sequel) to keep it in the media before MP4
I mentioned this in one of the mario 35th anniversary game take down articles. Hurry up an End Mario's 35th clap trap an celebrate what makes Nintendo actually a great video game creator....variety.
I hope someone like Lizardcube remakes the first Metroid.
I can’t wait to celebrate Mario’s 36th anniversary...
On a serious note, I actually want to see some gamecube ports or remasters. The gamecube is 20 years old and there are still many exclusive games that can only be played on it. It won’t happen, but it would be awesome if it did!
On average, any given year would be a round number anniversary for 20% of Nintendo's IPs...
Given the huge amount of IPs owned by Nintendo, it shouldn't be a surprise that some years would have a lot of anniversaries...
Well we haven't had a Donkey Kong game for ages so hopefully we'll get one of those this year. Would like a Yoshi game too but not sure how interested Nintendo are in Yoshi.
I wouldn't say no to a little kid icarus revival.
So many anniversaries
So many Nintendo will forget and instead shove a 60$ zelda emulator down our throats
I’m really hoping for something Metroid! Even a 35th anniversary poster would be enough for me!
I would love for Nintendo to celebrate Donkey Kong's 40th anniversary, actually I just really want a new DKC game.
I don't get the obsession with anniversaries. They happen every 5 years. they're not special unless it's a particular milestone like 10, 50, 100, e.t.c. - oh yeah, and also if the series has stayed relevant through that time.
It is if Nintendo decides to do anything with them. I don't expect any acknowledgement of anniversaries besides Zelda and Pokemon because according to some here on Nintendo Life, Nintendo can only focus on one at a time!
TBH, none of these have any chance of being acknowledged by Nintendo more than a simple tweet. You shouldn't expect Nintendo to throw a huge anniversary for something like Pikmin or Kid Icarus. To believe otherwise is just setting yourself up for disappointment.
F Zero says hi.
Seriously slack Nintendo.
@Nin10dood Even if they just threw together a shoddy emulator and slapped F-Zero or F-Zero 64 on the Switch, I would be happy.
NINJA APPROVED
Doesn't matter what Nintendo does. They could tell everyone the new Metroid is coming 2025 and people would thank Nintendo then ask where they can pre-order. Nintendo knows this.
@idrawrobots Like this year, Arms is celebrating its 4th anniversary!
Are Zelda and Pokemon really just the beginning? I mean Pokemon did get acknowledged by both a new game and 2 (hopefully the last) remakes, but Zelda got a skyward sword remake everybody knew was coming, a toss in about some joycons and no other news so far.
Hey, it could be worse; you could be a Sega fan waiting for an anniversary remake/remaster, compilation, or even simply a new installment of any of their mountain of IPs not named "Sonic".
Rip F-Zero....
We will remember u
Can we just admit that an Fzero on switch would look incredible? The GameCube version holds up today so you could imagine how amazing a new one would look
@Pineapple_Mohawk Right! There is only one way to properly celebrate then all. Bring back NES Remix 1&2 and do a SNES Remix 1&2. 😉
Add me onto the list of people a bit baffled by the modern fixation on random anniversaries. Really notable milestones are one thing, but Nintendo fans are acting like every property ever has to be celebrated every 5 - 10 years.
@Tandy255 Yo, an SNES Remix game would be awesome. I pumped a surprising amount of time into the NES Remix game on the 3DS.
@jump What do you mean? Does it mean everything needs an anniversary including stuff that are no longer existed? How do you know that?
@BloodNinja What is with the NINJA APPROVED phrase?
@Custom1991 It's a phrase used in all ninja approval processes, to allow users the experience of knowing that a ninja came by, approved something, then left.
NINJA APPROVED
@jump So basically, you want to celebrate every single thing existed due to their anniversary?
@BloodNinja Who are the ninja?
@Custom1991 I’VE SAID TOO MUCH
**poof** **smoke** **chopped log**
@BloodNinja ave !
@Yakuboto Uh, yeah! LOL
Remember this company called Konami? Remember these franchises called Castlevania and Goemon? Scramble? Frogger?
sadly Nintendo is only gonna celebrate Pokémon 25th anniversary and Legend of Zelda 35th anniversary, Metroid as always be ignored in her 35th anniversary.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/02/expect_to_hear_more_about_zeldas_35th_anniversary_this_summer_says_industry_insider
@ObeseChihuahua2 everyone know Nintendo is gonna celebrate Pokémon 25th anniversary and Legend of Zelda 35th anniversary, everyone dont get your hope for Nintendo celebrating Metroid 35th anniversary or Pikmin 20th anniversary.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/02/expect_to_hear_more_about_zeldas_35th_anniversary_this_summer_says_industry_insider
I expect.nothing, Pokemon and Mario are the exception due to their sales, but the other games will probably just get a dlc or blurb on twitter.
If Zeldas celebration is a full priced port of Skyward Sword, then I'm not holding my breath for Metroid getting anything.
@jbreez00 sorry to disapoint you, but Pokémon is gonna release of it older Gen until the death of universe or until theres no GEN left to be remade.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but... Nothing's going to happen
I know of no other company that tries so hard to limit their own profits as Nintendo. They're stubborn refusal to support their own legacy content drives so many people to piracy.
@Custom1991 Do you need me to explain that an anniversary is different to milestone so you can get the joke ;p
A lot of people are saying Nintendo won't celebrate any of these but we already know about the Pokémon celebration and also there's no way they're just going to not give us at least 3 Zelda ports and the Metroid prime trilogy but in terms of Pikmin and Dk yeah those probably won't get anything unless we're super lucky.
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