Nintendo games that were ahead of their time

Key takeaways

• Nintendo's innovative gameplay loops revolutionized the gaming landscape with titles like Super Mario 64 and Zelda: A Link to the Past.
• Super Smash Bros. The unique fighting mechanics spawned an iconic franchise praised for its innovative gameplay and crossover appeal.
• Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow kicked off the most valuable entertainment IP, its monster-catching formula repeated in future games.

Nintendo is known by many as one of the greatest video game companies of all time. The company single-handedly brought video games back from the brink of extinction, creating several IPs that have become video game royalty for many reasons.

The company has always prioritized innovative gameplay loops in its first-party titles, explaining why most of its games are known for revolutionizing the gaming landscape. From fun platformers to amazing adventure games, Nintendo has dipped its hands into many genres with stellar results.

8 Super Mario 64

The Gaming Revolution was Nintendo's first attempt at a 3D platformer

Super Mario 64 One of the most important 3D platformers ever made. As the gaming landscape evolved, fans wanted their titles to discard their 2D roots as the hardware allowed for more complex visuals. Flounder with the launch of Mario's rival, Sonic Sonic AdventureA game that needs more time in the oven.

Meanwhile, Super Mario 64 It surprised everyone with its smooth movement mechanics, excellent over-the-shoulder camera, and innovative level design that makes the most of this 3D landscape. It showed developers what 3D gaming could achieve and served as the template for most video games to build on in this new generation.

7 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

An adventure game that broke new ground for the genre

The The Legend of Zelda The SNES needed to make a big splash to let gamers enjoy a grand adventure for the ages. It was achieved with A link to the pastAn amazing video game that features an iconic art style, simple yet engaging combat, and exploration that rewards players for uncovering mysteries.

The world may be divided into regions, however A link to the past Feels a lot like a segmented open world, which provides a much-needed sense of scale to hammer home the epic nature of this adventure. until today, A link to the past Full of charm and technical excellence.

6 Super Smash Bros

Debuted unique fighting mechanics that have become iconic

Nintendo prides itself on developing games for all ages. So, it was easy to see why the fighting game would be a strong sell on the console. However, Masahiro Sakurai laid down an irresistible pitch that spawned one of the most iconic fighting game franchises of all time.

Super Smash Bros A momentary hit for the Nintendo 64 serving as a crossover fighting game with minor platforming elements was a joy to watch. Taking enemies off the stage instead of beating them to a pulp was something fans couldn't get enough of and couldn't help. Super Smash Bros Stand out as one of the most unique fighting games available courtesy of its innovative gameplay mechanics.

5 Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow

The kick-start of the most valuable entertainment IP of all time

• 	Pokemon Red and Blue	Pokemon Yellow
  system	Nintendo	Nintendo
  Platform(s)	Nintendo game boy	Nintendo game boy
  issued	1998-09-28	1999-10-18
  Genre(s)	JRPG	JRPG, Adventure, Strategy

Pokemon The most valuable entertainment IP of all time, but this franchise had to start somewhere. Around the time of the Game Boy, Nintendo funded the development of a monster-catching title by Game Freak that quickly established itself as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made.

The idea of ​​capturing Pokémon of all shapes and sizes that players could use in battle was amazing and helped establish a formula that would be repeated in future games with a few innovations added to the mix. PokemonThe modern reputation may not be as shiny, but fans still remember the magical times when they played Pokemon Red, the blue and yellow and assembled a team of powerful Pokémon that could wipe out the toughest trainers in a flash.

4 Wii Sports

Allowed for popular motion controls and fun party gaming experiences

Wii Sports is a video game that broke new ground when it came to demonstrating what motion controls could bring to the gaming experience. This alone turned the Nintendo Wii into a party console that fans could boot up to have a good time with their friends.

Featuring a litany of simple yet engaging games that gamers can play, Wii Sports Breaks new ground for motion control in video games. This forced other competitors to try their hand at motion control gaming, with mixed results.

3 Super Metroid

This game, along with Castlevania, became the name for a gaming genre that fans couldn't get enough of.

It's just a given that the game known for learning a genre name was ahead of its time in more ways than one. Super Metroid It was a classic evolution of 2D action-platformers, introducing new powers along the way where players could unlock paths and discover secrets they couldn't reach before.

It's a simple but great way to reward players for making progress and keeping track of the map and every corner they haven't been able to explore before. This formula helped both Super Metroid and Castlevania Create the Metroidvania genre.

2 Super Mario Bros

Helped restore the reputation of the gaming industry after the video game crash of '83.

After the video game crash of 1983, most people assumed that the gaming industry was dying and that this form of entertainment would soon be a thing of the past. However, Nintendo proved everyone wrong by making major waves in the Western market with its innovative gameplay offerings.

One of the most popular video games to go down in video game history Super Mario BrosA game that almost everyone has played at least once. This retro platformer was a breath of fresh air at the time, allowing players to play several challenging levels to finally save Princess Peach from Bowser's evil hands.

1 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

One of the greatest video games ever made, bringing many innovative mechanics

With the launch of the Nintendo 64, it was clear that the company needed to do something magical to help its famous people. The Legend of Zelda The series gets a major foothold on this home console. However, no one expected Nintendo to blow everyone's expectations out of the water with a game that sits comfortably as one of the greatest action-adventure games of all time.

Ocarina of Time It feels like an open-world game at times, inspiring other developers to create adventure games that try to channel the magic of this title. Even after all the time that has passed since the release of this game, there is something Ocarina of Time That keeps players coming back for more.