We couldn't imagine our gaming lives without these wonderful Nintendo games. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re showcasing the best Nintendo game of every year, from 2000 to 2024.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we are showcasing the best Nintendo game of
00:12every year from 2000 to 2024. We're only including games that were developed or
00:18published by Nintendo and we're going off of North American release dates.
00:252000 The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask
00:42Making a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time was always going to be tricky but
00:47Nintendo managed to blend familiar with the unique for the phenomenal Majora's
00:52Mask. It put Link in the strange land of Termina where the Skull Kid planned to
00:57bring the moon crashing down in just three days time. New transformation
01:01mechanics of Link's Deku, Goron, and Zora forms provided varied gameplay that was
01:07also a blast. But what has stuck with fans over the years was the game's mature
01:12themes. Nintendo tackled grief, uncertainty, love, and fear in ways no
01:18Zelda game had before or has since. Although some were thrown off by the
01:23time loop structure, Majora's Mask has amassed a passionate following over the
01:28years.
01:382001 Super Smash Brothers Melee
01:48When there are still legions of players who insist on playing this game at
01:54tournaments, despite several sequels released since, you know you've made
01:58something special. Super Smash Bros. Melee was the game to have in the GameCube's
02:03first year. The roster expanded greatly with fan favorites like Bowser and Mewtwo
02:08as well as more obscure inclusions like the Ice Climbers and Marth and Roy, the
02:13introduction to Fire Emblem for many. Everything was faster, smoother, and more
02:18enjoyable than everything in the N64 version. On top of incredible mechanics
02:23and visuals, new modes like the single-player adventure and event
02:27matches offered new ways to play and challenge ourselves. It really is a
02:32remarkable fighter.
02:442002 Metroid Prime
02:55Since Metroid skipped the N64, fans were eager to see what Samus's first 3D game
03:02would be like. Needless to say, Prime blew away their expectations. Nintendo and
03:08brand-new developer Retro Studios delivered an incredible sci-fi adventure
03:13through the corrupted planet Talon 4. Although a first-person shooter, it
03:18maintained the elements, style, and difficulty that made Metroid so
03:22captivating to begin with. Uncovering the planet's past, collecting power-ups, and
03:27dealing with hostile wildlife on top of space pirate forces, it was a mesmerizing
03:33hook that kept players digging. It remains one of the best transitions into
03:383D we've ever seen, and began one of the franchise's most highly praised eras with
03:44several sequels.
03:522003 The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker
03:59Although some were initially against the cell-shaded art style of Wind Waker,
04:09there's no denying the game's beauty, or how well it's aged in the two decades
04:14since its release. Following a new version of the hero, players set out to
04:18sail the high seas to save their sister while unraveling the larger picture they
04:23unwittingly played a part in. Paired with the wonderful art style was some of the
04:27series' best music, and some of its most charming characters. Regardless of
04:32certain aspects that could test your patience, like the Triforce quest, the
04:36game nailed its exploration. Discovering a new island and what it had in store
04:41for Link made the great sea worthy of sinking in time.
04:462004 Paper Mario The Thousand-Year Door
05:07In what might still be the strongest entry in the series, The Thousand-Year
05:13Door took Mario on a lovely new journey to rescue Princess Peach. Only this time,
05:18it was from the vile alien group, the X-Nauts. This game has charm and whimsy
05:25bursting out of every seam. Its writing is delightful, from its classic
05:30characters like Bowser and Peach, to newcomers like Koops and Vivian. Its
05:35papercraft visuals and mechanics, and its turn-based battles, are simply a joy. It's
05:40honestly hard to find something to dislike. There's a good reason it has
05:44been championed as the pinnacle of Paper Mario by the fanbase over the years. It's
05:48just that good.
05:592005 Mario Kart DS
06:10There are few Nintendo franchises that create a pure fun factor like Mario
06:16Kart. Being able to take it on the go was, and please forgive us for the pun, a game
06:21changer. The DS version of Nintendo's Premiere Racer somehow packed all of the
06:26glory and addictiveness of its console counterparts into a smaller package. It
06:31controlled like a dream and looked fantastic for its time. It also had
06:36incredible tracks that have stood the test of time, like Waluigi Pinball, Peach
06:40Gardens, and Tick Tock Clock. Additionally, it was the first game in
06:44the series to include online play. The ability to challenge friends and
06:49strangers only added longevity and kept players coming back for more.
06:562006 The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess
07:19A swan song for the Gamecube and a launch title for the Wii, Twilight
07:24Princess was in a unique position. But, no matter where you played it, you were
07:29in for a treat. It took players back to Hyrule, where an invading leader of the
07:34Twilight Realm threatened to bring darkness to the kingdom. It was darker
07:38than Wind Waker in more ways than one. While its slow start and forced wolf
07:42sections have been criticized, it was undeniably grander in scope, in the size
07:47of its world, and its story. Also working in its favor were strong dungeons and
07:53boss fights, the best combat up to that point in the series, and Midna, who
07:58remains the best companion Link has ever teamed up with.
08:112007 Super Mario Galaxy
08:23Since Mario had saved the Mushroom Kingdom dozens of times, Nintendo took
08:28him somewhere new for his first outing on the Wii. Super Mario Galaxy saw the
08:33hero venture into space, and it was more magnificent than we could have hoped for.
08:37It once again saw him chasing after Bowser to rescue Peach, but with help
08:42from new characters, Rosalina and her Lumas. The level design here is still
08:47just as remarkable now as it was in 2007. Every galaxy overflows with fun and
08:54creativity, making for an experience that you simply never want to end. It's also
08:59one of the earliest instances of Nintendo using a live symphony orchestra,
09:03combining the catchiness of classic Mario with sweeping grandeur.
09:182008 Super Smash Bros. Brawl
09:30Although die-hard fans don't look back on Brawl as fondly as Melee, it's still
09:35more than deserving of praise. Yes, tripping is a dumb mechanic and its
09:40online functionality often struggled, but it was still tremendous fun to square
09:45off against your friends in tense matches, with new inclusions like Final
09:50Smash's just increasing the chaos. One of its biggest draws was the Subspace
09:55Emissary, an expansive story mode for single-player or co-op which featured
10:00varied level designs, boss fights, and character team-ups that Nintendo has yet
10:05to replicate. It was also when Smash began its focus on the history of
10:09gaming, highlighting a ton of video game music throughout the years and including
10:14the first third-party fighters, Solid Snake and Sonic.
10:252009 Mario & Luigi Bowser's Inside Story
10:39Debuting in 2003, the Mario & Luigi series have a few installments worthy
10:44of the Best Entry title. 2009's Bowser's Inside Story is one of them. It follows
10:50the brothers after their sucked-inside Bowser, who was tricked by Fawful, a mad
10:55scientist who also takes over the Mushroom Kingdom in their absence.
10:58Everything is just as cheerfully wacky as you'd expect with a premise like
11:03that. Puzzle and battle mechanics for Mario & Luigi were fine-tuned over
11:08previous entries, as they helped Bowser from the inside. And Bowser had his own
11:13set of skills for players to enjoy as he fought against Fawful's antics. The
11:18back-and-forth narrative brought endless delight, and is still one of the funniest
11:22adventures the Mario Bros. have gone on.
11:302010 Super Mario Galaxy 2
11:36We know we already spoke about the first one, but when looking at Nintendo's
11:46output in 2010, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is simply the best. The developers somehow
11:52managed to catch lightning in a bottle twice. Galaxy design is just as
11:57pristinely crafted as it was the first time around, if not more so. Now within a
12:02succinct world map that made jumping into levels easier. It delivers joy and
12:07excitement at every turn, not just through mechanics, scope, and design, but
12:13through music and art direction as well. Plus, we heartily welcomed the return of
12:18Yoshi, who was absent from the original, and came with new, fun-filled power-ups.
12:23It's hard to improve on perfection, but that's exactly what Nintendo did.
12:332011 Pokemon Black and White
12:48With Pokemon, you generally know what you're getting into, but in Black and
12:53White, Game Freak brought just enough new to make them stand out. This was
12:58primarily seen in the story, with the sympathetic villain N, who grew up
13:02alongside Pokemon and wanted to separate them from their trainers. Even still,
13:07everything that works about the franchise was kept well intact. Battles
13:11still offered a wonderful hook, now with a few new features, and we still poured
13:16hours into training our monsters for glory. The Unova region came to life
13:20through crisp visuals that took full advantage of the DS. To this day, Black
13:25and White are still some of the most highly regarded entries in the series.
13:362012 Xenoblade Chronicles
13:42Although it was released in Japan in 2010, it took a massive fan campaign to
13:59get Xenoblade Chronicles in the West in 2012, and we are eternally grateful for
14:05those fans. Set in a fascinating world with deep lore, it followed Shulk, a boy
14:10on a quest to avenge his people, following a brutal attack. Not only was
14:15its story extensive and profound, but its world was full of life. And it was a
14:22visually impressive powerhouse for the Wii. Playing it was also a joy, with the
14:27battle system walking a fine, well-balanced line. It was just complex
14:32enough to be enticing to longtime JRPG fans, but simple enough for new players
14:38to wrap their heads around.
14:40I'll take the next watch. You get some rest.
14:44Okay, I'll try.
14:472013 Super Mario 3D World
14:59In one of the best games for the Wii U, Nintendo blended the scope of Mario's
15:043D adventures with the chaos of his multiplayer 2D ones. Not since Super
15:10Mario Bros. 2 had the lineup offered different play styles, where Peach was
15:14the slowest but had the ability to briefly float, Toad was the quickest but
15:19couldn't jump as well. It added another layer onto the glorious level design
15:23that comes with every Mario game. And while playing alone was still a
15:27masterclass in delivering glee, playing together kicked everything up a notch. So
15:33long as your friends or siblings didn't drive you mad. Plus, the cat suit is one
15:38of the most useful power-ups in Mario's long career, and certainly his most
15:43adorable.
15:512014 Mario Kart 8
15:55While the Switch's deluxe version would end up surpassing it, that doesn't mean
16:07the original iteration isn't downright fantastic. Mario Kart 8 is such a strong
16:13foundation that Nintendo would coast off of it for years to come.
16:17Its visuals are immaculate, with colors that make every single course pop off
16:22the screen. And those courses are arguably the best the franchise has ever
16:26seen, whether you're racing down brand new ones or impressive recreations of
16:31classics. It's an undeniable multiplayer juggernaut, including its strong online
16:37mode that could leave you raging, as per tradition with this series. Additionally,
16:42we have to mention the flawless soundtrack, composed of multiple
16:46toe-tapping groovy jams.
16:522015 Super Mario Maker
17:10Nintendo is clearly the master of platformer design, as seen in multiple
17:15Mario games. But with Super Mario Maker, it gave players the opportunity and tools
17:20to create their own levels, and it was absolutely marvelous. Those who owned a
17:26Wii U flocked to the game, and we saw unbound creativity take off. From pleasant
17:32breezy strolls to some of the most intense platforming known to man, players
17:37endlessly impressed us with their ideas. The UI for creating your own was so
17:43simple to use, too. It was just as much fun to navigate fan-made courses as it
17:48was to obsess over our own, delighting in the possibility of connecting with
17:53other players in a brand new way.
18:042016 Fire Emblem Fates
18:18With this 3DS installment, Fire Emblem took a page out of Pokemon's book and
18:23released a few different versions. But the story went in completely different
18:28directions, depending on which you chose. It followed Corrin, torn between two
18:33kingdoms at war. Birthright saw them side with the one they were born in, while
18:38Conquest saw them side with the one they were raised in. However, the third version,
18:43Revelation, denounced both while revealing who was pulling the strings behind the
18:47warfare. The strength of its story varied between the versions, but complex
18:51characterization was always impressive. The developers at Intelligent Systems
18:56refined the franchise's tactical battle mechanics and implemented great
19:01worldbuilding, no matter which version you played.
19:132017 The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild
19:30Not only is Breath of the Wild the best game Nintendo released in 2017, it's one
19:35of the company's best games, period. There had been plenty of open-world action
19:41adventures before, yet this managed to take that formula and reinvent it, all
19:46while maintaining the allure of the Zelda franchise. Never before had we felt
19:51such freedom in a game, to go anywhere, climb anything, and uncover Hyrule's many
19:57secrets, on the surface, as well as what happened 100 years before. Each and
20:03every corner was packed with something to draw you in. Whether it be a puzzle or
20:08shrine, an eccentric NPC, a combat encounter, or just a moment of pure bliss
20:14and beauty, accentuated by lovely visuals and serene music.
20:20And when the hero wielding the sword that seals the darkness delivered his final
20:27blow, the princess used her sacred power to seal away Calamity Ganon.
20:352018 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
20:39In terms of video game celebration, it isn't likely we'll see something like Super
20:51Smash Bros. Ultimate again. Amid a plethora of Nintendo characters were icons
20:57from across the medium, a historical commemoration that continued in DLC. And
21:02in their own ways, they each offered unique, impressive movesets that made them
21:07viable combatants. That's not to mention all of the stages, music, and newly
21:12introduced spirits, which pleased the game historian in all of us. On top of
21:18paying homage to the decades of important games, Ultimate never ceased on what was
21:23most important. It's just damn fun to play. And with a multitude of modes and
21:29customization options, there are so many great ways to play it.
21:373, 2, 1, TIME!
21:412019 Fire Emblem Three Houses
21:53Despite decades of renowned releases, many fans declare Three Houses to be
21:59Fire Emblem's finest. While the battle mechanics were as strong as ever, where it
22:04really succeeded was its story. It improved on the three storyline structure of
22:09Fates, not through separate versions, but by giving players a choice. Beginning in
22:14a time of peace between three kingdoms, players chose which kingdom's students to
22:18teach at a school, though you could recruit others to your class. Every
22:23character, from the quirkiest to the most headstrong, was superbly written. That
22:28made it so when war did break out between the three kingdoms, you felt the weight
22:33of your choices. Plus, that added a huge level of replayability.
22:462020 Animal Crossing New Horizons
22:50Animal Crossing has long been a cozy go-to for Nintendo fans. With New
23:03Horizons, the formula was perfected. On an island devoid of much personality, it
23:08gave us the opportunity to build up a community of cute critters while
23:12restructuring our new home as we saw fit. With every addition to our house, every
23:18donation to our museum, and every landscape change, we built our islands
23:23into lovely digital abodes. The level of satisfaction we gained when it all came
23:28together was unmatched within the series. Not for nothing, it was also the
23:33perfect game at the perfect time, releasing during the onset of the COVID-19
23:38pandemic and giving many players something much more positive to focus on.
23:482021 Metroid Dread
24:02Nintendo could brainstorm for years and never come up with a better title than
24:07Dread, because that feeling is exactly what we felt throughout the entire
24:12playtime, and we wholeheartedly mean that as a compliment. Following the
24:17re-immersion of the X-Parasite, which can copy the form of whatever it infects,
24:22Samus braves the deadly planet of ZDR in search of answers. Adding to the trouble
24:28are government-issued robots that went rogue and now hunt her with extremely
24:33deadly force. Metroid Dread is an incredible tool to test your skills
24:38against, tiptoeing right up to the line of being a grueling challenge while
24:42remaining fair and rewarding. Every boss fight and environmental obstacle is a
24:47pleasure to conquer, uplifted by flawless mechanics.
25:002022 Kirby and the Forgotten Land
25:09The ability to be cute may not seem like an important selling point, but it
25:17certainly is for Kirby. The adorable pink puffball has largely stuck to 2D
25:22gameplay over the years, but with Forgotten Land, Nintendo took him to full
25:273D, and we loved every second of it. In a seemingly post-apocalyptic landscape,
25:34Kirby set out to rescue his kidnapped Waddle Dee pals. Popular power-ups from
25:39previous games returned, with new evolutionary features that made them more
25:43powerful. But Kirby could now suck up different objects to take on their form,
25:48like cars, light bulbs, and vending machines. Whenever these appeared, they
25:53offered some of the best aspects of their levels, heightening an already
25:57delightful adventure.
26:052023 The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
26:19Breath of the Wild was the biggest success Zelda had ever seen. So,
26:24naturally, Nintendo made a sequel. Tears of the Kingdom built upon its
26:28predecessor in wonderful ways. Sky Islands offered unique challenges you
26:33couldn't get on the surface, and while the depths below could grow a bit
26:37tedious, they were still a tense environment to encounter in moderation.
26:42Of course, Link's new bag of tricks stole the show. The ability to fuse
26:47materials to weapons made for a wealth of options when facing enemies, the
26:51power to reverse time in object and enemy movement saved us a hassle more
26:56times than we can count, and the focus on building different vehicles and
27:00devices let every player's imagination run wild.
27:312024 The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom
27:45Many players had been begging to play as the franchise's namesake for
27:49years. With Echoes of Wisdom, Nintendo finally relented. After Link is sucked
27:54into a mysterious rift and many more appear across Hyrule, Zelda takes
27:59center stage. This is far from the only thing that makes the game great,
28:03though. It's the first new top-down entry in years, which both surprised and
28:07satisfied older fans, and brought the return of more traditional dungeons,
28:12most of which shine. Zelda's mechanics are also cause for celebration.
28:17Creating copies of various objects and enemies allowed for an untold number
28:21of solutions to any given problem, highlighting player choice. Plus, like
28:27the Link's Awakening remake before it, the visual style is endlessly charming.
28:42Is there a Nintendo gem you think should replace one of these games?
28:46Share your thoughts in the comments below.
28:56In the mood for more awesome gaming content? Be sure to check out this video
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