Ranking the 10 Best Nintendo Series from Greatest to Least Great – Part 1

Nintendo is a special company that has put out many beloved game series. Some have grown so iconic that it’s hard to imagine the video game industry without them, while others enjoy a smaller cult following. Let’s take a look at the ten best Nintendo series. This will be a two-part article, and spoilers: the most obvious choice isn’t #1.

1. Donkey Kong

While Super Mario might be Nintendo’s most iconic franchise, Mario wouldn’t exist without the original Donkey Kong arcade game. In addition, the Donkey Kong series has put out consistently high-quality, atmospheric games that take the player on an immersive journey. The Donkey Kong Country trilogy is one of the greatest series on the SNES, hands down. Every time a new Donkey Kong game comes out, the creators put so much care and thoughtfulness into its creation, and it always shows through. Donkey Kong Bananza for the Switch 2 looks like it will rival even the greatest Mario games in quality. Who doesn’t want to go smashing through an underground world?

2. Super Mario

Of course, the iconic plumber couldn’t be absent from this list. Mario has jumped his way through all sorts of adventures for four decades. He’s been to space, he’s used a sentient cap to shapeshift, he’s cleaned up a tropical island, and much more. It’s impossible to overstate the importance that Mario has in the video game world, but beyond his influence, his games are always so much fun to play. It’s always satisfying to stomp on a Goomba’s head or land that perfect jump to a precarious platform. Mario will always be one of the most iconic characters in the video game world.

3. Mario Kart

Not only is the mainline Mario series a winner, but the spinoffs are as well. Probably the most well-known spinoff is Mario Kart. Putting Mario characters in go-karts and having them race around imaginative tracks while throwing Koopa shells and banana peels at each other was a genius move on Nintendo’s part. After nine mainline entries and a few mobile and arcade spinoffs, the series is still racing high. Players will never tire of tossing Koopa shells at their friends and yelling when they get hit by a blue shell inches from the finish line.

4. The Legend of Zelda

When Link was first dropped into Hyrule and told to collect pieces of the Triforce, players were enthralled at the open adventure. Everyone remembers that epic Hyrule music theme and how it’s dangerous to go alone. Ever since then, every Zelda adventure has been a journey through immersive worlds and dangerous monsters. The series continually reinvents itself, making every adventure feel fresh and epic. As Link and Zelda get reincarnated over and over throughout the centuries, players can look forward to more heroic adventures with fresh twists.

5. Animal Crossing

This is probably the Nintendo series that steals the most time. Gamers all over the world remember how Animal Crossing: New Horizons helped to soothe their troubled souls during the COVID pandemic. Even without that mark on its legacy, the series where you build your own life and befriend animal neighbors is ridiculously charming and addictive. There’s something so satisfying about finally saving enough Bells to get that item that’s just perfect for your house and collecting that final art piece or fossil to fill the museum. No wonder fans are eagerly awaiting news for the Switch 2’s entry.

Now for Part 2

Thanks for reading Part 1 of the Top 10 Greatest Nintendo Series, but we’re not finished. You can find Part 2 of the list right here. Did your favorites not make the Top 5? See if they make the Top 10.