Despite their age, these Nintendo classics are just as fun to play today as they were at release. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at the most enduring games from Nintendo that prove great design never goes out of style.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the games from Nintendo
00:14whose graphics, gameplay, and or overall experiences still hold up when played today.
00:19Number 10. Pokemon Gold and Silver
00:40When revisiting the Game Boy Pokemon titles, there are some clear issues with red and blue.
00:44Balancing issues, bugs, and a black and white color palette are just a few things that hold them back.
00:49Their immediate successors fixed many of these problems, though, giving them much better longevity.
00:53Overpowered Pokemon types are now weak to new ones. The classic graphics are in vibrant colors.
00:58There's even a day and night cycle, which is impressive to implement on an 8-bit console.
01:09Gold and Silver even arguably has the franchise's best post-game content, still, with the entire Kanto region from the previous games,
01:16although that may say more about Pokemon.
01:19Regardless, Gold and Silver are games whose value, like their namesake medals, continue to grow.
01:32Number 9. Diddy Kong Racing
01:34Kart racing games in general hold up beautifully. Among the older titles in the genre, the often overshadowed Diddy Kong Racing is our pick.
01:47Unlike many racers, this game offers a surprisingly robust story mode with a hub world to explore, items and objectives to collect outside of winning races, and bosses to defeat.
01:56The variety of gameplay extends to the races too, since, in addition to the usual karts, you can race with hovercrafts and planes as well.
02:11Plus, the colorful cast of characters and infectiously catchy music just makes Diddy Kong Racing a fun time no matter when you're playing it.
02:18Number 8. Earthbound
02:34Despite being overlooked when it was first released, Earthbound has become the poster child for cult-hit video games.
02:39Although its combat is as classic as an RPG can get, it's the presentation where Earthbound truly shines.
02:44It's American-like setting, unconventional heroes, goofy story, and bizarre characters make it unlike anything else, despite inspiring other games.
02:59Other RPGs have you fighting monsters and knights, but Earthbound pits you against hot coffee, aliens, and piles of vomit.
03:05Despite its title, Earthbound is anything but down to earth, and its reputation only continues to soar.
03:14Number 7. Super Mario World 2, Yoshi's Island
03:29Mario platformers age like wine. This is common knowledge.
03:32Yoshi's first time in the spotlight is as fine a vintage as you could ask for.
03:36Yoshi must rescue a baby Luigi with his brother in tow, while journeying through several brightly colored bouncy worlds.
03:42Swallowing enemies and shooting them out as eggs makes for some creative and fun gameplay.
03:53The game has tight, responsive controls, intricately crafted stages, and beautiful music.
03:58And sure, babysitting an infant Mario may not be everyone's cup of tea, particularly once he starts wailing, but Yoshi's Island is still a spectacular 2D platformer.
04:07Number 6. Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door
04:12Number 6. Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door
04:27We've established that Mario ages perfectly, but RPGs also endure for longer than most games.
04:32And the Paper Mario art style may be paper thin, but it's eternal enough to last a thousand years.
04:37The second game in the Paper Mario series refines the timed button press battle mechanics, while also adding new partner characters with unique abilities.
04:45The story and characters are funny and engrossing, and the locations are imaginative.
04:58And with the new remake of the Thousand Year Door launching last year, it just proves that Mario's RPG outings are still as beloved today as they were 20 years ago.
05:06Number 5. Metroid Prime
05:25Metroidvania titles age pretty gracefully, and the Metroid series' first foray into three dimensions still looks in place fantastically decades later.
05:32Metroid Prime effortlessly blends FPS elements with tried-and-true exploration and platforming.
05:37The beautifully expansive world of Talon IV is brimming with atmosphere and secrets,
05:41and it's underscored by an incredible soundtrack and shockingly timeless graphics that make each new area come to life.
05:47Whether Samus is battling space pirates or solving puzzles, Metroid Prime feels like a truly immersive experience.
05:57I guess you could say that it's still in its prime.
06:00Number 4. Super Smash Bros. Melee
06:10Super Smash Bros. Melee
06:20Fighting games have a pretty long shelf life, and Super Smash Bros. Melee has had an incredibly enduring popularity.
06:25The crossover fighter may not have the positively massive rosters of the later entries in the series,
06:30but Melee is still widely played, with professional tournaments being held even today.
06:43While the draw of pitting Nintendo's greatest characters against each other remains evergreen,
06:47it's the incredibly precise and speedy way the characters control that has Melee feeling just as satisfying to play today as it was at the turn of the millennium.
06:55The wide variety of modes, wacky items, and music drawn from dozens of other games certainly don't hurt either.
07:09Number 3. Star Fox 64
07:20This space opera shooter franchise has tried and failed again and again to surpass the greatness of Star Fox 64.
07:27But there's just no beating it.
07:28The Star Fox team's battles against the evil Andross and his forces play out across various routes on each playthrough,
07:34helping every time you play feel unique.
07:36Gameplay is split between multiple vehicles, which always helps.
07:51As for the characters, Star Fox 64 is loaded to the brim with iconic animal heroes and villains who deliver a barrage of cheesy one-liners.
07:58Even doing a barrel roll wouldn't be enough to shake off this game's legacy.
08:02Number 2. The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker
08:09There are many classic Zelda titles, but we'd argue that this one has aged the best of the bunch.
08:24Wind Waker's cel-shaded art style may have been criticized upon its release, but time has proven the haters wrong,
08:30since its gorgeous graphics are positively eternal.
08:33Meanwhile, Link's voyages on the Great Sea feature an almost open world level of detail and variety.
08:46The charming characters and simple yet fun combat makes exploring every nook and cranny rewarding.
08:52And it's all set to a sweeping soundtrack that's arguably one of the Zelda franchise's best.
08:56Life comes in waves, and Wind Waker is still riding high.
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09:22Number 1. Super Mario World
09:34We've already extolled Mario's timeless appeal in spin-off games, but Super Mario World is one of the absolute gold standards,
09:41not only of Mario games, but of video gaming as a medium.
09:44The 16-bit graphics look good no matter what year it is.
09:47The platforming is fine-tuned to perfection.
09:49It's loaded with secrets and hidden areas.
09:52The music is catchy and has been stuck in our heads for decades.
10:02Honestly, there are plenty of fantastic Mario platformers, but Super Mario World leaps and bounds over most of them.
10:08Much like Mario himself, this game simply does not age.
10:12Is there a timeless Nintendo game we forgot?
10:23We need your help.
10:24Tell us your favorites in the comments.
10:26Did you enjoy this video?
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