7 Best Nintendo Consoles Based on Games

To a certain degree, all Nintendo game systems are classics and fan favorites. But it’s hard to deny that some consoles are better simply because of their library of games. This list will attempt to rank the best consoles based strictly on the games available for that specific system. Needless to say, the rankings of these game systems were very difficult to arrange.

Disclaimer: I’d also like to mention that the consoles and games are ranked according to my own personal opinion. 

1) Nintendo Switch

As Nintendo’s latest console, the Switch has accumulated a lineup of some impressive gaming titles over the past 5 years. Fans got to see the newest entry to the Luigi’s Mansion series, with the addition of Luigi’s Mansion 3, as well as the arrival of the first main console addition to the Animal Crossing franchise in nearly 10 years with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning other A-list titles, such as Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey - with both having earned high praise from critics and fans. 

2) Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

One of my personal favorites, the SNES will forever be a classic console in the gaming world due to its large library of iconic games and the rush of nostalgia that accompanies them. This Nintendo console saw the debut of franchises like Star Fox and Mega Man X. It was also the main console for some of the best entries in a lot of other popular franchises, with the debut of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, and more.

3) Wii

I remember the days when there would be a long line of people waiting to get their hands on Nintendo’s newest piece of tech -  the good ole days. There are still games from this console that are replayed several times over, with the last Wii game released in 2020. A lot of classic titles spawned from the Wii era, including GameCube and Virtual Console titles that were able to run on the system. Wii originals, however, were full of classics of their own. Fans received two iconic Zelda titles during this time, with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword; the latter went on to receive an HD version for the Nintendo Switch. This in turn renewed excitement and attention to the game in addition to gathering a new batch of fans, who previously never experienced the masterpiece.Other mentionable titles include Super Paper Mario (highly underrated I’d say), Mario Kart Wii, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Super Smash Brawl, Epic Mickey (another underrated title), Rabbids Go Home, and Animal Crossing: City Folk. 

4) Nintendo DS Consoles

The DS era of Nintendo’s long-running history (including all variations of the console) was truly one of the best eras. The consoles not only paved the way for new technology in gaming, such as touch screens and internet connection capabilities, but its game library will also stand the test of time. The DS systems saw the arrival of Nintendogs + Cats, Pokémon Black and White,  as well as the debut of  Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and Mario and Luigi games that kept alive the loveable humor from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. One major notable title from the DS era is Animal Crossing: New Leaf, which, in my opinion, is the longest-lasting entry in the Animal Crossing series so far. 

5) Nintendo 64

The controller isn’t the only thing iconic about this Nintendo console. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, considered one of the best Nintendo games in existence, debuted on this system along with another fan-favorite Mario game, Super Mario 64. Both games are still actively discussed today, with Ocarina of Time receiving a remake for the Nintendo DS after a while. My personal favorite on the N64 was the introduction of the Paper Mario series. The game showed another side to the Super Mario franchise with its new art style and gameplay capabilities (honestly, who knew paper could be a literal game-changer).

6) Nintendo GameCube

One of Nintendo’s most recognizable and beloved gaming systems is the GameCube. This Nintendo console’s reign was the “era of sequels,” so to speak. The Mario franchise really shined during this time with the release of Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Smash Bros, Melee, and the debut of Luigi’s Mansion. The Zelda series didn’t receive as much attention this time around, but The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was enough to appease fans until the next Zelda title - it’s heavily referenced among the fandom even now. 

7) Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

I must admit that I don’t have much experience with this one. However, over the years I can’t ignore the fan praise and admiration for this console and its groundbreaking games. After all, this Nintendo console saw the birth of many popular and highly-praised franchises, such as Zelda and Metroid. I suppose one could say this console gave at-home gaming its first-ever jumpstart. Notable games from the NES era include The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, Mega Man series, Donkey Kong, Castlevania, and more. 

Conclusion

I know, I know, I hardly skimmed the surface of portable Nintendo consoles, but my focus for this was home consoles. The Nintendo DS was an exception because there were so many great titles for that era of gaming that it would have been blasphemous not to mention them. Anyway, nostalgia and personal biases aside, I doubt anyone could ever say that Nintendo has ever made a bad console - yes, that includes the misunderstood Wii U. We all have different tastes when it comes to gaming, but at least we can all agree that Nintendo is a worthy gaming-world champion.