10 Best-Selling Nintendo Franchises Ever, Ranked (2024)

Nintendo's best-selling franchises significantly contribute to the company's success. They drive hardware sales, create a loyal fan base, and generate consistent revenue through their merchandise and sales. These iconic franchises capture the interest of both long-time gamers and newcomers alike, with their innovative gameplay mechanics. Additionally, the nostalgia associated with these series fosters a sense of familiarity and connection, encouraging repeat purchases and engagement among various generations of gamers. Overall, these franchises are pivotal in sustaining Nintendo's competitive edge in the gaming industry.

Nintendo gained major prominence in the video game industry with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System in Oct. 1985, being responsible for saving it after the crash of 1983. Four years later, their iconic Game Boy popularized portable gaming. Each generation beyond them brought about more advanced and innovative consoles which, in turn, brought more advanced and innovative games to keep these franchises alive for decades. Ultimately, both aspects of gaming merged together after the Nintendo Switch was released in Mar. 2017.

10 Brain Age Is Designed for Mental Exercising

33.89 Million Copies Sold

The Brain Age franchise, also known as Brain Training in Japan and Europe, is a series of edutainment and puzzle games designed to literally 'train the player's brain'. Japanese neuroscientist, Ryuta Kawashima, created the research that each mini-game is based on — the purpose of which is to help children develop their brains, elderly people retain their wisdom, and medical patients recover their mental faculties. His likeness is used for each game as the virtual host.

Unlike most Nintendo DS games, the first two Brain Age games are played holding the handheld sideways, using the stylus as a pen. The games' interfaces can be rotated upside-down to accommodate left-handed players. Each game's equivalent of a Campaign Mode represents a test that Kawashima uses to determine the mental age of the player's brain. The best possible score is 20, while the worst is 80 — this is according to Kawashima's theory that the brain stops developing at the age of 20.

9 The Game & Watch Is the Game Boy’s Ancestor

43.40 Million Copies Sold

It seems strange to include a series of handheld electronic games in a list of best-selling franchises, but Nintendo is responsible for developing them. Their name, Game & Watch, reflects their dual functionality — a single game with a digital clock on a liquid-crystal display screen. Each game over the initial eleven-year lifespan is incredibly simplistic and is included in its own model, without any insertable cartridges like its successor, the Game Boy.

Many Game & Watch games were later re-released in compilation cartridges for later consoles, such as Game Boy Gallery: 5 games in 1. Some of the more popular games include Ball, Fire, and Oil Panic. When Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda celebrated their 35th anniversaries, Nintendo released that contained their respective classic 8-bit games.

8 Kirby Stands Out Among Its Peers With Its Copy Mechanic

50.76 Million Copies Sold

Although the cute pink puffball made his debut in Kirby's Dream Land, he wouldn't get his signature copy ability until the following game, Kirby's Adventure, came out. Created by Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby has appeared in over 50 games across a variety of genres — platforming, racing, puzzle, and even pinball. His simple and expressive design makes him endearing to players of all ages. The name "Kirby" is inspired by American lawyer John Kirby, who defended Nintendo in 1983.

HAL Laboratory producer, Tadashi Kamitake, states that Kirby's quirky personality and versatile nature allow him to embody two extremes: a compassionate friend and an unstoppable superhero. Consequentially, many of his enemies are nightmarish monstrosities, which can make players question if this franchise is meant for younger players. Then again, the concept of devouring enemies whole to claim their powers sounds horrifying on paper.

Kirby

A vibrant and imaginative universe unfolds as players follow the adventures of a pink, spherical hero known for his ability to inhale enemies and gain their powers. Set in the whimsical land of Dream Land, the series features a mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and action-packed gameplay. As the protagonist battles a variety of foes to protect his home from dark forces, the franchise combines charming visuals with innovative mechanics, creating a beloved and enduring series that appeals to gamers of all ages.

Created by

Masahiro Sakurai

Character(s)

Kirby

Video Game(s)

Kirby Air Ride , Kirby Fighters 2 , Kirby Super Star , Kirby's Epic Yarn , Kirby Mass Attack , Super Kirby Clash , Kirby Star Allies , Kirby's Adventure , Kirby Squeak Squad , Kirby's Block Ball , Kirby's Dream Land , Kirby: Canvas Curse , Kirby Battle Royale , Kirby's Dream Course , Kirby's Dream Land 2 , Kirby's Dream Buffet , Kirby's Dream Land 3 , Kirby: Planet Robobot , Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble , Kirby Super Star Ultra , Kirby & The Amazing Mirror , Kirby and the Rainbow Curse , Kirby and the Forgotten Land , Kirby's Return to Dream Land , Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

7 Mario First Originated in Donkey Kong

65.00 Million Copies Sold

The Donkey Kong franchise began as a series of simplistic arcade games. Mario (then called Jumpman) made his debut in the first game before he went on to establish his own franchise. Jumpman's goal was to rescue a maiden held captive by a gorilla that escaped into a construction zone, avoiding barrels and other obstacles along the way. The maiden was fleshed out in Super Mario Odyssey as Mario's ex-girlfriend, Pauline.

Rare reinvented the franchise as Donkey Kong Country — a series of platforming games that were incredibly popular for their digitized graphics, which took full advantage of the SNES' rendering capabilities. It also features a series of supporting Kong characters with unique attributes and a new villain, King K. Rool. This series was so successful that it completely overshadowed the original arcade series as the franchise's main adaptation.

9

10

Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country offers another fun, side-scrolling game for SNES gamers. In this game, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are on a mission to recover their stolen bananas. As the player, you can switch between characters, and each has his own strengths and weaknesses. This game involves lots of running, jumping, and rolling. Generally, Donkey Kong is able to defeat his enemies more easily than Diddy. But Diddy is faster, which has its own advantages at any given time.

Platformer

Franchise

Donkey Kong Country

Platform(s)

SNES , Game Boy Color , Game Boy Advance

Released

November 24, 1994

Developer(s)

Rare

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

4 Hours

Metascore

78 (GBA)

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6 Super Smash Bros. Popularized Crossover Fighting Games

73.74 Million Copies Sold

The Super Smash Bros. franchise is Nintendo's official crossover fighting game, featuring characters primarily from Nintendo's library as playable fighters. Later games include characters from various third-party companies — Sonic the Hedgehog, Castlevania, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, and Mega Man are among them. Despite using 3D models for each character, the gameplay is always in two dimensions. While other fighting games require complex joystick inputs executed to use special attacks, Super Smash Bros. keeps things simple.

Fighters claim victory by knocking their opponents outside the arena. There's no Hit Point mechanic (except in Stamina Mode), but fighters suffer knockback in proportion to their current damage percentage. An assortment of battlefields and items from the many represented franchises make battles chaotic and fun, while collectible trophies pay homage to each franchise's origins. The latest game in the franchise, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, features a staggering 82 fighters with all DLC.

See Also

1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die - PDFCOFFEE.COM

Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros. is a game that simultaneously forged and undid friendships. In a game that could have easily been a cheap marketing stunt, Nintendo delivered one of the most robust, exciting, and long-lasting fighter games ever released. It’s the game nobody asked for but everybody needed.

Fighting

Franchise

Super Smash Bros.

Platform(s)

Nintendo 64 , Wii

Released

April 26, 1999

Developer(s)

HAL Laboratory

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

e

5 Animal Crossing Attracts Many Non-Traditional Audiences

78.98 Million Copies Sold

Animal Crossing is a different breed of game from other Nintendo franchises. It's a life simulator that depicts a playable human character in a town populated by eccentric talking animals. The first game was the final first-party title ever released for the Nintendo 64 in Japan, though it was originally meant for the N64DD as a different game. Instead, the final product ended up being a game where players just hang out and socialize.

Players can explore and interact with the world in all kinds of ways — run errands, catch fish, gather fruit, buy furniture, and so on. The in-game clock progresses in real-time, regardless if the game is on or not. Animal neighbors are typically asleep at night, and shops operate on a set schedule. Unlike other life simulators, players do not require their characters to stay fed or healthy as they cannot die.

Animal Crossing

Simulation

Adventure

JRPG

Franchise

Animal Crossing

Platform(s)

Nintendo 64 , GameCube

Released

September 16, 2002

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Engine

Havok

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

100+ hours

4 The Legend of Zelda Is a Gaming Mythos

163.34 Million Copies Sold

The Legend of Zelda is Nintendo's trademark action-adventure franchise. Most games in the series follow the hero, Link, who embarks on quests to rescue Princess Zelda and defeat the primary antagonist, Ganon. In a typical Zelda game, players explore the vast land of Hyrule to conquer dungeons, solve puzzles, and slay monsters. The games are renowned for their immersive gameplay, intricate level design, and rich storytelling.

Unlike other Nintendo franchises, the Zelda franchise depicts its characters and setting throughout different eras. Each iteration of Link and Princess Zelda are separate characters from those in other games, disregarding the occasional direct sequel. The lore is so detailed that its timeline had to be split into three paths after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — the Child Timeline, the Adult Timeline, and the Downfall Timeline.

The Legend of Zelda

Begun in 1986, The Legend of Zelda franchise follows Link, Princess Zelda and other heroes in video games and other media.

Created by

Shigeru Miyamoto , Takashi Tezuka

First Film

The Legend of Zelda

First TV Show

The Legend of Zelda

Video Game(s)

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask , The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD , The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword , The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks , The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time , The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes , The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening , The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

3 The Wii Series Makes Moving Enjoyable

215.44 Million Copies Sold

The Wii franchise is Nintendo's answer to the health risks that typically stem from playing video games for a long period of time. As its name implies, the franchise was centered around the Nintendo Wii's motion-sensing controller, the Wii Remote. This unique approach encourages social and family-friendly gaming experiences that anyone can enjoy. Later games for the Nintendo Wii U require the Wii MotionPlus accessory, while later games for the Nintendo Switch require Joy-Cons.

The Wii franchise is split into four series. Wii Fit is dedicated to exercise and health improvement, Wii Sports features various sports that use unique controls, Wii Play utilizes Mii characters as avatars in a series of simpler games, and Wii Party is a compilation of minigames that plays very similarly to Mario Party. All four series are designed to appeal to a wide audience beyond traditional gamers.

Wii Sports

Warm up and throw yourself into the action with the hit sports game that will have you hooked faster than you can swing a tennis racquet! Wii Sports offers five distinct sports experiences, each using the Wii Remote to provide a natural, intuitive and realistic feel.

Sports

Platform(s)

Wii

Released

November 19, 2006

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

ESRB

E For Everyone due to Mild Violence

2 Pokémon Has Expanded So Much Beyond Gaming

480.00 Million Copies Sold

Though the Pokémon franchise started as Pokémon Red & Green in Japan, their immense success led to a manga series, a trading card game, and an anime series. When Pokémon Red & Blue were released in America, a global phenomenon dubbed "Pokémania" began. Essentially, Pokémon products were so popular that they could be sold just about everywhere, especially Pikachu. It died down in 2002, but the franchise remains incredibly successful.

The main series games are set in a world where humans coexist with Pokémon — creatures that can be contained inside specialized capsules called Poke Balls. Players usually have three primary goals — explore every inch of the game's world, catch every single Pokémon to complete their Pokédex, and raise a team of six Pokémon by having them engage in battles. The franchise's signature trading mechanic encourages socialization with other players who own a different version.

Pokemon

Expanding across a multitude of media, including TCGs, video games, manga, live-action movies and anime, the Pokémon franchise is set in a shared world of humans and creatures with a wide variety of special abilities.

Created by

Satoshi Tajiri

First Film

Pokemon: The First Movie

Latest Film

Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle

First TV Show

Pokémon

Latest TV Show

Pokémon Horizons

First Episode Air Date

April 1, 1997

Video Game(s)

Pokémon GO , Pokemon X and Y , Pokémon Legends: Arceus , Pokémon Scarlet and Violet , Pokémon Sword and Shield , Pokémon Diamond & Pearl , Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl , Pokemon Red and Blue , Detective Pikachu , Detective Pikachu Returns , Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! , Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!

1 Mario Is Successful Enough To Be Nintendo's Mascot

826.38 Million Copies Sold

As Nintendo's mascot, Mario is the star of the best-selling video game franchise of all time. The Mario franchise originally consisted of a series of platforming games and the Mario Bros. arcade game that preceded it. Within a few decades, the franchise expanded to cover a wide variety of gaming genres — racing, sports, role-playing, puzzle, strategy, and even party games. In fact, Super Mario Bros. is responsible for popularizing the side-scrolling platform genre.

Mario's success was so immense that it spawned several spinoff franchises, one of which was the aforementioned Donkey Kong franchise. The Yoshi and Wario franchises are based on the titular characters, both of which originated in a Mario game. Mario himself has appeared in over 200 video games, as of this article's publication. He inspired many other video game characters, including Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog.

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario is a platform game series created by Nintendo starring their mascot, Mario. It is the central series of the greater Mario franchise. At least one Super Mario game has been released for every major Nintendo video game console.

Created by

Shigeru Miyamoto

Character(s)

Mario , Luigi

Video Game(s)

Super Mario Bros. , Mario Kart , Paper Mario , Mario Party , Super Mario Run , Mario Golf