Best Nintendo Games from each year:

Hi, Everybody! This here is a list of the best Nintendo games from each year, from 2000-2020. These games are in each category based on popularity and playability. If you don't see a game that you have enjoyed, share below.

2000: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Zelda's a simple game where you go in dungeons, unlock clues, fight creatures and save the princess. Majora's Mask took place 2 months after, and was released 2 years after Ocarina of Time, making it a direct sequel to the classic game. Link's personal quest takes him to Termina, a world that is parallel to Hyrule and Link learns that the Moon will crash into the world in 3 days. As play as Link, you'll try on different masks to become something different, solve complex puzzles and defeat difficult enemies. It's very easy to see why Majora's Mask is a favorite among Zelda fans, because of its darker tone, gameplay and graphics.

2001: Super Smash Bros. Melee

A crossover game where you play as any Nintendo character duking it out with your friends was first released back in 1999 on the Nintendo 64, then Smash Bros. Melee came out on the next-gen console, the Gamecube in 2001 and it became the best-selling game for the Game Cube! The graphics surprisingly hold up and this is the game that truly made people want to play Smash Bros.

2002: Metroid Prime

The first Metroid game came out in 1986, and Metroid Prime is considered the fifth installment and the first game of the "Prime" trilogy. Released in 2002 on the Game Cube, Metroid Prime shifted towards the first-person-shooter style, resulting in it to be one of the greatest video games ever made. When Samus is called to a distress signal and fights the Parasite Queen on the Orphan. It even got enhanced for the Wii in 2009. 

2003: Mario Kart: Double Dash

Anybody remember playing that game? Because I do! This was the game that got me into Mario Kart and racing games as a whole! Double Dash also became the second fast-selling game for the Game Cube and is also great follow up to Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit respectively. This was also the only game that allowed cooperative gameplay, so far at least, even allowing up to 16 players to play 20 of its characters. 

2004: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

And now, Paper Mario! While the first Paper Mario game was released on the N64, Thousand Year Door further popularized the Mario spin-off games and is considered of the best JRPGs ever. The game was praised for its plot, gameplay and art-style. This was great for Nintendo fans who wanted a completely different Mario game.

2005: Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart DS was the shit! When the DS officially came out, Mario Kart for the DS instantly became popular among players. I mean, I played this game all the time when I was a kid, at school, home, even on vacation! Took my DS almost everywhere. It had so many memorable circuits, impressive roster and memorable music. This wouldn't be a tiny hand-held Nintendo console without Mario Kart DS. 

2006: New Super Mario Bros.

There was always going to be another Mario Bros. title for the next Nintendo console, and that game was New Super Mario Bros., the graphics have held up mostly, the levels were very memorable and very hard and I would love to revisit this game if I still had my DS.

2007: Super Mario Galaxy

This was Nintendo's solution to Super Mario Sunshine. Mario Galaxy took Mario where no man has gone before, SPACE! Ok, that's the only time that I will make a Star Trek reference. It was excellent showcase for the Wii remote and nunchuck, the graphics still look great and the music is still amazing.

2008: Mario Kart Wii

When there's a new Nintendo console, there's Mario Kart. The game had old and new circuits from classic Mario Kart games, excellent music, competitive ability and awesome multiplayer. While the graphics don't exactly hold up and that the remote with the wheel thing was very hard to control, Mario Kart Wii was really great to play with friends.

2009: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Another Mario Bros. game with improved graphics came out on the Wii in 2009 and it did not disappoint. It had over 8 worlds, worthy bosses, very cool graphics and music. This was also the first time that you can play a Mario Bros. game in multiplayer. 

2010: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Mario Galaxy 2 took everything great from its predecessor and it made it better. You even had new power-ups and the chance to ride on Yoshi! How cool was that?! The game was praised for its creativity, innovation, gameplay and improvements. Although its difficulty was criticized, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a game that I would love to go back! Now, please Nintendo! Put this game on the Switch already!

2011: Kirby's Return to Dreamland

Kirby is another great character of Nintendo! The game has been in development since the days of the GameCube since 2005 and it was finally released in 2011 on the Wii. The game was praised for its return to its original format, graphics and story. The multiplayer was decent, which also lacked difficulty in the process. Would really love to also see this game on the Switch!

2012: New Super Mario Bros. U

With the release of the Wii U, a Mario Bros. game was inevitable. The game feels like one open map in a platform game as each of these world of levels are connected. You can even have a choice between going to the sea world or the snowy world. The graphics were great, it has incredible difficulty and it never fails to have us put Bowser in lava again. 

2013: Super Mario 3D World

This was Super Mario 3D Land for the people who didn't own a 3DS. Mario's 3D platform style was an awesome change of pace from the Mario Bros. format. As you play with your friends you can have the power-up of having features like a cat, which was very cool and different. 3D World re-released on the Switch with a brand new game called Bowser's Fury.

2014: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

After the Donkey Kong Country franchise was revived by Retro Studios, its sequel Tropical Freeze was pretty great with an enhanced port released on the Switch in 2018. The gameplay, graphics, level design and soundtrack were great but its difficulty had mixed results, but that's not going to stop anyone to enjoying Donkey Kong Country again. 

2015: Splatoon

Nintendo released a new IP in the form of Splatoon, where you compete in paint-gun fights with your friends in interesting locations. The game was fun, fresh and an awesome multi-player game on the Wii U, and its sequel, Splatoon 2 on the switch was even better. Splatoon 3 can't come any faster.

2016: Pokémon Go

Ok, technically it was released on our mobile devices rather than a licensed console, but this game brought so many people together to capture Pokemon and battle your friends in tournaments. While I could've picked any Pokemon game for any of these years, Pokémon Go was a great way to introduce people to Pokémon.

2017: Super Mario Odyssey

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the best Zelda game in a very long time! But Mario Odyssey was something that I enjoyed playing the most on the Nintendo Switch! The game incorporated an ability to have Mario's hat be alive and gain control of certain enemies. You went on globe trotting adventures including a city that's inspired by Manhattan and Chicago, a forest and the GODDAMN moon! That Odyssey song is so good and the graphics are great!

2018: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Everyone, and I do mean, EVERYONE IS HERE! Ever since that trailer from E3 dropped, I've been excited to play this game!! Smash Bros. Ultimate became the fastest-selling game on the Switch to its amazing roster of characters, playability and awesome multiplayer that has brought us back to the days of Melee. Not only is every character from Nintendo is on there, but Mega-Man, Sonic, Pac-Man, Simon Belmont, Cloud Strife and Ryu are in this! After the game's release, many DLC characters came out including Sephiroth, Kazuya, Banjo & Kazooie and Pyra & Mythra.

2019: Luigi's Mansion 3

Another Luigi's Mansion sequel was something that Nintendo fans wanted, and we got just that! King Boo is back again, and Luigi must stop him again. Along with new gameplay elements, you play as Luigi's doppelgänger, Gooigi with expanded multiplayer functionality. It's widely considered to be Luigi's best adventure yet. If you want to play more as Mario's brother, get into Luigi's Mansion 3, you don't necessarily have to play the first two games to get into it.

2020: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out at the best and worst time! At the start of COVID, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a game that was used as escapism from the current world issues and a way to interact with your friends online. New Horizons is arguably better than the other games with calming music, beautiful graphics and inventive ways of building your house and gathering supplies. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is already a Nintendo classic.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to comment your thoughts down below.