Highlights
- Nintendo fans may have missed out on some of the company's lesser-known games, such as Earthbound: Beginnings and Secret of Evermore.
- Donkey Kong 64, Wario World, and Drill Dozer are underrated gems that deserve more attention, showcasing Nintendo's prowess in the platforming genre.
- Kirby's Epic Yarn and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks offer unique and enjoyable experiences, while Xenoblade Chronicles X and Kid Icarus: Uprising remain hidden treasures waiting to be discovered by Nintendo fans. ARMS has the potential to become a major fighting game franchise for Nintendo.
Nintendo has been publishing video games since the medium's beginnings in arcades in the early 1980s. Today, they are one of the few remaining companies publishing AAA titles and have even recently expanded into the world of animated movies with The Super Mario Bros. Movie. However, there are lots of games that even their most hardcore fans haven't played.
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Spanning Nintendo's history from NES to Nintendo Switch, these games may be some fans' favorite Nintendo games. Other Nintendo fans, sadly, have likely not paid them their fair due, despite some of them being gems hidden in plain sight. Whether it's a spin-off they never heard of or a critically-panned game they disregarded, these examples should be sought out.
Updated on October 6th, 2023 by Geoffrey Martin: This List has been updated to include a video version of the article. The video version details every entry in the piece, showing off each game for readers who have never seen the gameplay in action.
10 Earthbound: Beginnings
Earthbound is a niche title in Nintendo's library, mostly known by the casual fan for the inclusion of Ness in Super Smash Bros. Its Japan-exclusive sequel, Mother 3, has also eluded a Western release and has become the subject of meme culture. However, few Nintendo fans pay any respect to the very first title in the Mother RPG franchise.
Debuting on the NES in 1989, simply titled Mother, this game laid the groundwork for Earthbound, and many future RPG franchises after it. It's available on Nintendo Switch Online under the title Earthbound Beginnings after being Japan-exclusive for many years, but it certainly deserves the attention of both Nintendo fans and RPG fanatics.
9 Secret Of Evermore
Although the SNES's Secret of Mana, which was released in 1993, is notably one of the most critically-acclaimed RPGs on the platform, Square followed it up two years later with Secret of Evermore. The two games don't take place in the same universe, but many fans passed up the opportunity to play this game since it wasn't released in Japan.
For fans of Secret of Mana, Secret of Evermore contains a lot of the same aspects that make the original SNES RPG fun: a real-time battle system, multiple playable characters, and art design. However, its in-game world involves players traveling realms based on different time periods, such as the Middle Ages or prehistoric times.
8 Donkey Kong 64
Although Donkey Kong 64 is the origin of the now-infamous "DK Rap," lots of Nintendo fans haven't played the first 3D platformer in the Donkey Kong franchise. For most fans, the Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Country Returns games showed that Mario's first antagonist has always been meant to be playable as a 2D platformer.
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Nevertheless, Donkey Kong 64 has Rareware behind it, the studio that made Banjo-Kazooie and Conker's Bad Fur Day. Though some aspects have aged since it was released over 20 years ago, Donkey Kong 64 remains a solid 3D platformer that'll feel fresh for fans of the genre, though it has yet to be added to Nintendo's virtual console library.
7 Drill Dozer
When it was first released on GameBoy Advance in 2005, Drill Dozer seemed like a promising new IP for Nintendo. The platformer places players in the shoes of Jill, who must operate her Drill Dozer to conquer levels and bosses. The character of Jill even cameoed as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which was released in 2007 in Japan.
Sadly, Drill Dozer has not received any future installments, despite positive reviews among other GameBoy Advance titles. Hopefully, if Nintendo one day adds it to their Nintendo Switch Online catalog, modern-day video game fans will give this title the attention it rightfully deserved all the way back in 2005.
6 Wario World
Although the microgame-focused WarioWare franchise has kept Mario's nemesis relevant in the video game world, few know about his 3D platformer on GameCube. Wario World was released in 2003, following Wario on an adventure to recover stolen treasure. The gameplay, however, is vastly different than Super Mario Sunshine and Luigi's Mansion.
Particularly, Wario gets to use his iconic Shoulder Bash move in Wario World, which originated in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 for the GameBoy. Although some critics felt the game was too short, that just makes it the perfect length for Nintendo fans who are curious to see how Wario fared in the realm of 3D platforming.
5 Kirby's Epic Yarn
The Kirby franchise has often turned hardcore video game fans away due to being too easy and kid-friendly. That's especially true of Kirby's Epic Yarn, a Nintendo Wii title that ups the easiness by featuring no way for players to die or lose all their lives. However, this is what makes the game so enjoyable; it's a breezy romp through a yarn aesthetic world.
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Furthermore, the game is as fun as it gets for a Nintendo game, allowing Kirby to take on many yarn-like forms as he progresses through the game. It even has the capability for a second player, who takes on the role of the just-as-cute Prince Fluff. Overall, Kirby's Epic Yarn might be too easy, but who says video games can't be a walk in the park?
4 The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
It's hard to argue that any title in The Legend of Zelda's catalog is underrated, but if one was, it would be Spirit Tracks. The Nintendo DS title was released in 2009 and offers one of the most unique stories in the Zelda series. After Princess Zelda's body is taken by the evil demon Malladus, Link must team up with her spirit embodying the armor of a Phantom.
Though the game, like any Zelda title, had a lot of anticipation prior to its release, it hasn't had as timeless of an impact as other titles like Breath of the Wild or Ocarina of Time. Still, it's a fun, unique adventure in the land of Hyrule, and even inspired a Super Smash Bros. for 3DS stage based on the Spirit Train that players ride in the game.
3 Xenoblade Chronicles X
The popularity of the Xenoblade franchise has exponentially grown in recent years thanks to Shulk's inclusion in Super Smash Bros and Nintendo's support of new titles. However, the Wii U open-world RPG Xenoblade Chronicles X sadly passed under the radar for many casual Nintendo fans. For those who haven't played it, it's certainly worth the try.
What makes Xenoblade Chronicles X unique to the franchise, aside from its story and setting, is characters get to operate giant mechs that allow them to quickly navigate the open world. Especially for fans who appreciated the freedom of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Xenoblade Chronicles X is a diamond waiting to be discovered.
2 Kid Icarus: Uprising
For those that have played Kid Icarus: Uprising, they know all too well that it's one of the best titles on the Nintendo 3DS. Directed by Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai, Kid Icarus: Uprising translates the Greek mythology-inspired NES title to a 3D rail shooter in the vein of Star Fox, but its difficult control scheme turned a lot of potential fans off.
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Following rumors that the game may be ported to the Switch, it'd be the perfect chance for those who didn't give it a fair shot in 2013 to try again. The game has the potential for a strong online community with its versus mode, as well as a large fanbase that can grow attached to its lovable and charismatic characters.
1 ARMS
Released in 2017, ARMS was an early original IP for the Nintendo Switch. In the game, players control a boxer with long, spring-like arms battling opponents in a 3D ring. The game sold incredibly well, and even got its own character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with Min-Min, but failed to catch on the way Splatoon did on the Wii U.
However, with more support for an online community, ARMS could have the potential to be Nintendo's biggest fighting game franchise after Super Smash Bros. Perhaps at some point, Nintendo will put enough faith in the series to make an ARMS 2, this time with even more characters and appeal to fans who didn't check it out the first time around.