The 10 best Nintendo consoles (and Wii U) –

11. Wii U

As you know, the Virtual Boy was never released in Europe and therefore cannot be included in this list, but of the devices that did make it here, the Wii U is perhaps Nintendo’s least successful. And it’s really no wonder why, let’s start with something as simple as the name and design, which led many to think it was just a Wii upgrade rather than a new format. Despite an innovative design and some memorable titles, the Wii U also suffers from some major problems that prevented it from reaching its full potential. The most prominent of these is the Gamepad controller with display, which did not seem to be appreciated by game developers or gamers themselves. Although it offered new ways to play, it often felt like a solution to a problem that did not exist, and it lost its purpose when it was not adequately supported. Low sales and a different approach led to limited third-party support, and most of what came to the device was old garbage converted from other formats. Incidentally, this was the second time Nintendo had the knife at its throat, and under pressure it still delivered some memorable classics, not least The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario 3D World and Mario Kart 8. Despite some great exclusive titles and interesting ideas, the Wii U suffered badly from serious marketing failures, poor third-party support and limited technical capabilities, as well as an underutilized gimmick. As such, it is Nintendo’s worst console ever.

10. Game Boy Advance

In 2001, Nintendo released the sequel to the Game Boy with a much more powerful ARM7 CPU and a Sharp backlit color screen. It was 100% backwards compatible with everything released before the Game Boy, and it was rolled out in a dark purple plastic color that would later become the standard color for the Gamecube. With its 32-bit processor and thanks to games like Metroid: Zero Mission and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, it managed to catch on almost as well as the original, selling a staggering 81.5 million copies worldwide.

9. Nintendo Wii

Undoubtedly a very revolutionary part of gaming history, the Wii succeeded in getting people who had never played games to pick up a console. With its innovative motion-sensitive operating system and huge market penetration, it changed the way we play games, but not always for the better. The Wii’s greatest strength lay in its accessibility and innovation. With simple motion sensitivity, gamers of all ages could enjoy titles like Wii Sports, Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii, making the device a social success and a staple in living rooms around the world – making it Nintendo’s biggest home console success to date. Despite its family-friendly reputation, the Wii offered several great games, Super Mario Galaxy being the best example, but The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword also deserve a mention. In addition, the Wii offered great backwards compatibility with Gamecube games and Virtual Console where classic titles were revived. But Wii games often suffered from really poor game controls, replacing simple button presses with solutions such as controller shake and the like, which almost exclusively contributed to degradation. In addition, performance was weak and the HDMI port was missing, which should still be mentioned as real downsides. Today we remember the Wii more for how daring, innovative and popular it was than for its games, and in retrospect, from a gamer’s point of view, it must be considered one of Nintendo’s weakest devices.

8. Nintendo 3DS

After releasing innovative hardware such as the Nintendo DS and Wii, they took off again at the height of 3D cinema with the announcement of the Nintendo 3DS. With its groundbreaking 3D technology – which did not require special 3D glasses – the console was a technological achievement when it was released in 2011, and the media attention was enormous. The 3D feature was not just a gimmick, but was cleverly integrated into several games, adding an extra visual dimension and allowing Nintendo to offer something unique. Unfortunately, however, the 3D functionality was of the “okay then great” variety, so many people just turned the feature off, which also ate up batteries, and at one point the 3DS was just a DS with slightly better performance. But Nintendo delivered on gaming as usual with blockbusters like The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Super Mario 3D Land, Fire Emblem: Awakening and Pokémon X/Y – just to name a few. Backwards compatibility with DS games was another advantage, giving people a nice selection of games from the start. In addition, Street Pass and Spot Pass provided a nice social aspect. Unknowingly meeting other players at airports or restaurants and exchanging data was something that enhanced the experience. But in the end, the 3DS was unnecessarily expensive because of the 3D element that people turned off, and the performance still wasn’t very impressive, and it doesn’t quite pass muster in the Nintendo context.

7. Gamecube

There are two stories about the Gamecube. One is that it was the first traditional Nintendo game console to flop, but the other is much brighter. Nothing can change the fact that the Cube (as it was often popularly called) offered an impressive library of games, the most ergonomic controller in history and a technical achievement that surpassed both the Dreamcast and the PlayStation 2. While the Gamecube did not have the same number of timeless classics as Nintendo’s top consoles, it did include icons such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, the Metroid Prime -games and Super Smash Bros Melee – titles that are still considered some of the best in their respective series. The Gamecube also had an impressive array of third-party classics, primarily from Capcom and Sega, resulting in Resident Evil 4 and Super Monkey Ball, as well as cult classics such as Eternal Darkness and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Despite the lack of DVD support and limited online support, the Gamecube offered great gaming experiences, and many titles have aged with great dignity. In many ways, this is Nintendo’s last traditional game console, and its strong game selection, innovative controller and technical capabilities make it more than worthy of a place among Nintendo’s top seven consoles.

6. Nintendo DS

It’s easy to forget that the Game Boy Advance was released in 2001, but in 2004 it was time for its replacement, the Nintendo DS. It was probably launched at least partly as a response to the PSP and possibly smartphones, and with its dual screen, one of which was a touchscreen, it paved the way for an entirely new type of gameplay that allowed the use of both touch gestures and traditional buttons. This led to a host of unique and memorable experiences that were not available anywhere else. One of the greatest strengths of the Nintendo DS was its unparalleled range of games, which included both classic Nintendo titles and new franchises, often with fresh approaches. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Mario Kart DS and New Super Mario Bros. quickly became favorites, while Animal Crossing: Wild World and Pokémon Diamond/Pearl helped make pocket monsters more popular than ever. In addition, truly innovative phenomena like Brain Training and Nintendogs, as well as crazy projects like Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (Elite Beat Agents in the West), which led to the Nintendo DS finding a whole new audience. The DS managed to unite casual and hardcore gamers by offering a variety of experiences for all tastes and ages, making it the second best-selling device of all time. For good reason.

5. Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 was the first console Nintendo released with the knife at its throat after Sony decided to move forward with the PlayStation (which was originally a Super Nintendo accessory), and they teamed up with Silicon Graphics to truly offer some extraordinary visuals. With groundbreaking 3D graphics, innovative hand controls and a wonderful library of games, Nintendo managed to sell 33 million copies, despite the games being significantly more expensive than those for the PlayStation and Saturn, and despite the fact that the cartridges contained only a fraction of the contents of competitors’ CDs. Timeless classics such as Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time completely rewrote the rules of how platform and adventure games should work in 3D, while Goldeneye 007 revolutionized first-person shooters for console. Of course, we should also mention that it was with the Nintendo 64 that the now standardized analog stick was introduced, as well as the Rumble Pak, which changed the way we control and experience games. With standard four controller ports, the console became synonymous with local multiplayer, with classics like Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Party creating unforgettable game nights. The Nintendo 64 was simply a pioneer, earning its place as the fifth best among Nintendo consoles.

4. Game Boy

In retrospect, 35 years later, it is easy to snort at the fact that Nintendo’s first portable game console “only” had a small 2.5-inch Sharp screen that also showed only black-and-white graphics. However, this was extremely well thought out on Nintendo’s part and meant that you could play on your Game Boy for up to four times longer than on competing machines, which was crucial for sales, as the Atari Lynx and Sega Game Gear, for example, drained batteries like there was no tomorrow. However, the Game Boy would never have been the huge success it was had it not been for Tetris, perhaps the smartest launch title that best suited the format it was rolled out on of all time. Without the Nintendo Game Boy, we probably never would have had a Nintendo Switch and most likely no PSP or PS Vita either. Thanks Game Boy, we love you.

3. Super Nintendo

After fierce competition and Sega’s head start with the Mega Drive, Nintendo finally delivered the Super Nintendo, contributing greatly to defining what we still see today as the gold standard for 2D gaming. The Super Nintendo took everything that made the NES great and refined it further, not least the controller. With its iconic shoulder buttons and perfect button layout, the Super Nintendo controller became a model for all future consoles. And the games shined too. The graphics were more colorful, the music was magical and the Mode 7 technology produced impressive pseudo-3D effects. Timeless masterpieces such as Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Super Probotector, Final Fantasy VI and Street Fighter II arrived, games that are still considered some of the best of all time. We also want to pay tribute to the Super FX chip that made advanced graphics possible in titles like Star Fox and Yoshi’s Island. Moreover, the games have aged gracefully and their legacy lives on through constant reissues and modern sequels. The Super Nintendo is not only one of Nintendo’s best consoles, but also one of the best of all time, regardless of manufacturer.

2. Nintendo switch

The Wii U was a sales flop, at least in terms of Nintendo’s own expectations, their sales history in general and compared to its predecessor, the Wii, which sold a whopping 101 million units. Fortunately, the Japanese gaming giant took revenge and went on a Little Mac -like frenzy with its next console, the Switch, which has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide to date. From its launch, with Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, through years of brilliant family entertainment and titles such as Mario Kart 8: Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, this clever little console has catered to the deepest gaming needs of adults and provides great entertainment for the very young.

1. Not included

Choosing the best console from Nintendo is no easy task given the company’s incredible history. They’ve released many great devices over the years, but in the end, you can’t beat the NES. It was the console that saved the gaming industry after the 1983 crash and set the standard for how video games would be developed and experienced. It was here that several of Nintendo’s most iconic series were born and helped establish entire genres, with Super Mario Bros. going on to define the platform genre, The Legend of Zelda introducing open-world exploration and Metroid creating a sense of solitude and mystery that few games could match. The NES became the foundation for everything to come, and its influence can still be seen in modern games. But it wasn’t just the games that made the NES special; it was also the first truly thoughtful gaming console. With its simple but elegant controller design, slim cartridge size and strong third-party support, Nintendo managed to build a platform that felt both accessible and advanced for its time – and still surprisingly fun to play. While later consoles are clearly more powerful and feature-rich, it’s hard to find one that offered the same superior entertainment and had the same impact on the gaming world as the NES.