Nintendo has had a lot of outside developers work on games for them over the years, but none have been as impactful to the brand like HAL Laboratory. The primary company behind many classic Nintendo franchises, HAL is known for being the original creators of Kirby and a handful of other properties
There is no shortage of what kind of game HAL Laboratory can make, from simple platformers to a colorful RPG. And while there are so many great games in the developer's library, only a few stands out above the rest. It is worth noting that Kirby games will be restricted on this list to entries that best represent a style of game.
10 Pokemon Snap
Entering the world of Pokemon typically means building a team that is ready to battle against other Pokemon. But HAL Laboratory decided to celebrate the creatures that make the iconic franchise so special with Pokemon Snap, a game all about taking photos of Pokemon in their natural habitat.
A wholesome on-rails shooter, Pokemon Snap is about entering specific areas where players will have a limited amount of time to capture a photo of specific Pokemon they want to look for. Players can also interact with these creatures by throwing other objects from their vehicle, which will lead to specific scenarios that they wouldn't get to snap a photo of otherwise.
9 Kirby Air Ride
There have been a handful of spin-offs in the Kirby franchise, but only one has the pink puffball driving various vehicles. Kirby Air Ride is a racing game that pits other Kirbys against each other in three different modes: Air Mode, Top Mode, and City Trial.
While the first two modes are racing-focused, City Trial stands out as a unique experience as the main focus is wandering around an open area and collecting patches that will power-up a vehicle that will later equip players to go after each other in a battle at the end. Kirby Air Ride is the only Kirby game on the GameCube.
8 Part-Time UFO
Very rarely has HAL Laboratory published their own games in recent years, but one of the more beloved titles that they released that goes behind Nintendo is Part-Time UFO. This small puzzle game originally released on iOS before releasing on Nintendo Switch.
As a UFO named Jobski, the player is tasked with moving and stacking objects so that they will not topple over. Scenarios range from stacking boxes of oranges in the back of a truck to stacking a toy display. There are also various objectives that can be completed beyond just solving the main puzzle.
7 Kirby's Dream Course
While Mario has seemingly played every sport under the sun, it is rare to see Kirby taking part in anything sports-related unless it was briefly in a mini-game. But there is a semi-sports title that has Kirby's namesake in: the golf classicKirby's Dream Course.
In this SNES gem, Kirby turns himself into a ball that the player can hit into enemies. These enemies then become stars that will slowly unlock the courses hole. Once all enemies are defeated, the hole opens up and Kirby and progress forward. There is a main story mode as well as a two-player competitive mode.
6 BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!
HAL Laboratory has made a handful of digital exclusives for the Nintendo eShop, with their most prominent series to be entirely on the digital platform being BoxBoy! It is one of the rare series where almost every entry is critically acclaimed, but the newest entry of the franchise is BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!
Just like previous entries, BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! is about making it through a level by using the ability to create blocks. The puzzle platformer introduces a two-player co-op campaign where players can work together through a level, but both this and the other campaigns can be played alone. There is a total of 270 levels in all.
5 Kirby: Canvas Curse
The Nintendo DS introduced the unique mechanic of not just having two screens, but also one screen that can be interacted with using a stylus. While many games used this mechanic, one HAL Laboratory entry that is considered a great use of it was Kirby: Canvas Curse.
After Dream Land was turned into paint and Kirby was cursed to be a ball, the player must use the stylus to draw paths for the rolling Kirby as he navigates different worlds. The player can only draw a limited amount at the time, so they have to be careful in how they use their paint.
4 Kirby: Planet Robobot
The mainline games of the Kirby franchise are almost entirely 2D platformers, with the first games debuting on the Game Boy and the series evolving from there. While there are many great entries to choose from, there are many fans who think Kirby: Planet Robobot is the best of the series.
After an alien invasion has caused turmoil on Planet Popstar, Kirby goes on a mission to take down the main ship known as Access Ark. Gameplay is similar to other Kirby games, such as the ability to swallow enemies and take on their abilities, but the key gimmick is Kirby's mech suit that he can put on that makes him more powerful.
3 EarthBound
In collaborations with Ape Inc., HAL Laboratory dipped its toes into making role-playing games with the release of EarthBound on the SNES. While it was the first entry to be released in the U.S., this is the second entry in the overall Mother series of games. It also became one of the most influential RPGs out there.
Set in modern day, players take control of Ness and his friends as they work together to travel the world and seek out a method to take down Giygas, an evil force that is looking to conquer the world and wipe out humanity as they know it. HAL Laboratory would go on to make a sequel to EarthBound, but it was never released in the U.S.
2 Kirby And The Forgotten Land
While they made attempts in the past, HAL Laboratory had never made a true 3D platformer for Kirby prior to the Nintendo Switch generation. That changed with the release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which also happened to be one of the most critically-acclaimed titles in franchise history.
In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the pink puffball of a hero is brought to a brand-new world where Waddle Dees are being caged and taken away. Joined by a new ally in Elfilin, Kirby will run through stages finding these Waddle Dees and attempting to find a way home. This game introduces Mouthful Mode, where Kirby takes the form of various objects to solve puzzles.
1 Super Smash Bros Melee
One of Nintendo's biggest franchises is one that brings many of them together. Super Smash Bros. originated from HAL Laboratory before creator Masahiro Sakurai moved on from the studio and the development was shifted elsewhere. While they still worked on it, HAL Laboratory is best known for its work on Super Smash Bros. Melee.
The sequel to the original game, Melee introduced a larger roster and a handful of new stages. It also expanded single-player options with a revamped Classic Mode and mini-games such as Home-Run Contest. The platform fighter became a classic on the GameCube and still has an active community today even with many new entries that have followed.