Nintendo has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Here’s my list of the best games the company has produced this past decade.

For most of my life, Nintendo has always been my go-to console to play on. Whether it was on the Nintendo 64, the various GameBoy’s, the GameCube, the Wii, the 3DS, the Wii U, and the Switch, I’ve been a constant supporter through it all. The company has had it’s ups and downs the last decade, that’s for sure. Most notably, the stale ending to the Wii, as well as the failure that was the Wii U, even though it had some solid gems.

However, the 3DS has always been solid and I’ve played a lot of fun games on it. The same can be said about the Switch, which has been a massive success so far and it’s continuing to break records. Plus, the game releases have nothing short of phenomenal. So, this list will be ranking 10 of the best Nintendo games I’ve played this past decade. It’ll range from Wii games, to the most recent consoles, the Switch. Yes, there will also be some 3DS games as well. There are far too many games to name, so I’ll be throwing in some honorable mentions as well. For the sake of this list, I’ll try to keep it versatile and stick to one game per series. So, even though I may consider two Zelda games to be worthy of this list, I’ll on place one.

Compared to my other lists, some games on her may have released on the same year.

10. Pokemon Sun and Moon on Nintendo 3DS (2016)

Although I don’t think it comes close to the best Pokemon game Game Freak has ever made, it’s definitely a good one. I enjoy how it’s some what different compared to the rest, which was a somewhat fresh take on the entire series. Thinking back on it, I wish Sword and Shield would’ve expanded on what this game established a bit since the most recent entry is far different from the rest. It’s not bad by any means, regardless of all the hate it was receiving prior to its release. But, yeah, Sun and Moon is a great Pokemon game and one of the best the 3DS ever produced.

9. Pikmin 3 on Nintendo Wii U (2013)

I think it’s a shame this game doesn’t get as much love as it should. It’s probably due to the fact that it released on the Wii U, which, as I mentioned before, was a pretty big failure. This game is pretty delightful and, in my opinion, is one of the best games in the series. It’s a very unique game and one that takes a lot of patience and smart decision-making in order to advance, but I’ve always enjoyed a challenge and it offers just that. I can’t forget to mention that it’s simply fun to play with all the different ways you can play and beat the levels.

8. Bravely Default on Nintendo 3DS (2012)

Bravely Default is probably the best RPG to release on the 3DS. The aspect I can praise the most about it is the story. It’s very detailed and full of different twists that I never really expected from a Nintendo game. It’s also pretty dark compared to other Nintendo RPG’s I have played in the past, which only enriches its appeal. The game did spawn another successful sequel and I’m looking forward to learning more about Bravely Default II next year.

7. Astral Chain on Nintendo Switch (2019)

Although it did receive mostly positive reviews, and very positive at that, I don’t think Astral Chain gets enough credit. PlatinumGames is a fantastic developer, especially when it sticks to what it knows best, and that’s pure action game. Astral Chain delivers that and much more, including bright and stunning worlds with its unique art style, and interesting story, and different gameplay elements. Some of those include solving puzzles and mixing up different skills and elements to add even more depth to the combat. I highly recommend this game on the Switch.

6. Xenoblade Chronicles on Nintendo Wii (2010)

For many, Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the best Wii games and, if I’m being honest, I can’t really disagree with them. Although it isn’t my personal favorite, I can’t deny what it did for that console and the genre altogether. The game is massive in scale, especially considering some of the limitations of the Wii. The story is also extremely captivating from the very beginning. Most of all, the combat is very exciting and fun to play.

5. Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Nintendo Switch (2019)

Without a doubt, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the best entry in the series. Being on the Switch, I loved how it takes full advantage of the console’s power to deliver an extremely memorable experience. It tells a great story, has very interesting gameplay which is very rewarding once you figure it out, and the levels/stages you play on are all very fun to play. Sure, the controls can be a bit tedious at times, and the difficulty of some of the bosses and creatures doesn’t help. But, once you have it all figured out, it’s definitely a fun time.

4. Mario Kart 8 on Nintendo Wii U (2014)

The definitive version is definitely the Deluxe version on the Switch. However, the original came out on the Wii U and it’s still one of the best games that console ever produced. It’s still a fantastic game to play and will still be fun years from now until the next one is released. If I’m being honest, though, I don’t see how the entry surpasses this one. Mario Kart 8 has the most racers to choose from, the most racetracks and courses to play on, and the soundtrack is unmatched. Then again, who am I to doubt Nintendo at this point?

3. Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Switch (2017)

In my opinion, Odyssey is the best Mario game since Sunshine. It’s definitely the biggest in terms of world exploration, the creativity of how you beat these worlds, and all the different places and characters you see. Some fans weren’t the biggest fans of all the changes, but I thought it was brilliant. In order to deliver a different experience while still keeping the fun included, you have to try new things while still remembering what makes these games so great. I feel Nintendo did exactly that with Odyssey and I hope there’s a sequel being planned in the future.

2. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Nintendo Wii U (2014)

This is another game I feel doesn’t get the love it deserves. In my opinion, it’s the best Wii U game and one of the best plat-formers of this generation of games. It’s incredibly challenging at times and it has made me rage quit a lot, but it’s also the reason why it keeps you coming back for more. It’s an extremely satisfying feeling to finally get past a certain level. There are only a handful of games that deliver the feeling Tropical Freeze does while you’re playing. The levels are designed extremely well and I can’t forget the soundtrack, which is awesome.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch (2017)

Not only is it the best Nintendo game of the past decade, it’s one of the greatest games of all time. What Nintendo was able to accomplish with this entry in the Zelda series is very impressive, especially when you consider just how many good games are included in this series. It was able to break many of the conventions and tropes of the Zelda series and create and entirely new experience. I do wish there was a more coherent and focused story, traditional dungeons, and a better villain. But, there’s simply too much to like about this game to focus on the minor negatives. This is an astonishing achievement in gaming and the best Nintendo game of the decade.

Honorable mentions

• Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Nintendo Wii (2010)
• Bayonetta 2 on Nintendo Wii U (2014)
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo Switch (2018)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD on Nintendo Wii U (2013)
• Super Mario 3D World on Nintendo Wii U (2013)
• Splatoon 2 on Nintendo Switch (2017)
• Octopath Traveler on Nintendo Switch (2018)
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on Nintendo 3DS (2014)
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses on Nintendo Switch (2019)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword on Nintendo Wii (2011)

What are some of your favorite Nintendo games of the last decade? Feel free to comment and discuss down below!