NL 10s – 20 Years of Opinions
Initially, although, some numbers and housekeeping.
The Stats
After eradicating re-releases and ports from the equation, Nintendo Life has given out 10/10 scores to 69 video games over 20 years. (Sure, sure, that is simply the quantity it occurs to be!) That averages to only beneath 3.5 ‘Excellent’ video games per yr.
That may sound rather a lot, nevertheless it’s value remembering the sheer variety of evaluations we have printed, together with migrations from the VC Opinions period and our newer Mini Overview format. Bear in mind, additionally, that Digital Console releases resulted in an inflow of 8-, 16-, and 64-bit classics, producing a clutch of ‘classic’ 10/10s early doorways. The positioning could also be 20, however we have coated almost half a century of video video games!
Digging into the backend, the info says we at present have…7,599 evaluations within the archives. Blimey.
That averages to roughly one evaluate a day. Each single day, for 20 years. Some years have been busier than others (we had a mind-boggling 609 go stay in 2018, for example), nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly astonishing. An enormous shoutout and thanks to all NL workers and contributors, previous and current, who helped make the location what it’s from the mid-2000s proper so far.
The Royal ‘We’ & Different Misconceptions
For the Change 2 technology, NL switched from utilizing first-person plural (‘we’) in evaluations to the singular (‘I’), partly to assist treatment confusion for readers who weren’t acquainted with the conference. “How will you give GAME X a 7 if you gave GAME Y a 9, and that is objectively higher?!” Erm, is it? Did I? That was a unique particular person… *checks notes* over a decade in the past.
Continuity is most well-liked, with one author tackling the identical collection, for example – one thing we endeavour to do each time attainable. Regardless, a evaluate cannot be something however the subjective opinion of the author, and a snapshot of their considering on the time. That must be self-evident, however nonetheless, it appears to confuse lots of people! Likewise, it isn’t an editor’s job to arbitrarily push scores up or down based on private desire or what ‘the location’ awarded the same sport.
Some video games beneath might need you elevating an eyebrow, and a pair you may not have even heard of. Simply keep in mind, if there’s one thing beneath that you simply would not give a ten…that is superb! In some circumstances, you may discover feedback from the unique reviewer exploring in the event that they nonetheless maintain the sport in such excessive esteem years after the very fact. (A giant thanks to those that contributed!)
The Bar (What constitutes a ten/10 in 2026?)
In 2026, for us, it is elevating the style bar which makes for the very best attainable rating.
Executing completely and having ‘nothing mistaken with it’ is not sufficient as of late – there needs to be an ambition in a sport’s design that pushes on the limits, that expands the likelihood area.
As an illustration, a sequel to a sport we gave 10/10 years in the past would not routinely get one for being ‘higher’ by comparability. You may see a number of video games beneath that acquired re-released later and did not hit the identical excessive in a contemporary context. Video games evolve and the medium strikes ahead; the very best examples should transcend merely refining what got here earlier than. In some style, a ten ought to break new floor.
It is value remembering, too, that there actually isn’t any such factor as a ‘excellent’ sport. Let’s remind ourselves of our present standards for awarding our highest rating, as communicated in our Scoring Coverage:
10/10 — OutstandingThe pinnacle of a given style on the time of launch, these titles elevate the bar in nearly all crucial classes. You’ll be able to make sure that a sport awarded this rating has the very best high quality presentation and expertly honed gameplay, but additionally breaks boundaries and pushes the {industry} ahead in a significant method.
Okay, sufficient preamble. Sufficient caveats. Sufficient signage to faucet when the feedback are available in. Under is each online game Nintendo Life has awarded a ten/10 rating in its 20-year historical past, offered in launch date order.
Be aware. The place a number of variations of the identical title have gotten prime marks — RE4, Hyperlink’s Awakening, BOTW, for instance — we have distilled them right into a single entry and famous the duplicates.
Let’s begin at the start and have a good time some exceptionally good video video games ‘we’ have had the pleasure of reviewing…
Each Recreation NL Awarded 10/10 (2005-2025)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Writer: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
We start with an all-timer, one of many most interesting NES video games ever made.
“Mega Man 2 is a textbook instance of a sequel achieved proper,” stated Philip J Reed, dearly departed good friend of the location who rated this one very extremely in his 2013 Digital Console evaluate.
Constructing on the strengths of the primary sport whereas refining the bits that did not work so properly, whether or not this or its sequel is the very best Mega Man sport is a debate that may rage eternally (and Mega Man X says hello), nevertheless it’s powerful to disagree with Philip’s evaluation. That is an 8-bit masterpiece.
Tremendous Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
What’s there to say? It is the sport that tops our Prime 50 NES record, it is the very best NES sport on NSO, it is the jewel that’s Tremendous Mario Bros. 3.
Wondrous when it was first launched, it is a type of uncommon ‘previous’ video games that does not want caveats or a historical past lesson for any participant of any ability stage to understand and revel in in 2026. It is nonetheless, merely, excellent.
Together with varied VC releases and the GBA port (the snappily titled Tremendous Mario Advance 4: Tremendous Mario Bros. 3), we have had 4 evaluations of this on the location over time, every one a ten.
And eyebrows throughout the land remained completely horizontal. Maybe the subsequent one may show extra divisive?
Tremendous Mario World (SNES)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Maybe not. From one GOAT to a different, Tremendous Mario World is…properly, it is Tremendous Mario World, is not it.
“I keep in mind studying the 96/100 scoring evaluate in Concern 112 of Pc and Video Video games journal,” says our authentic reviewer Jamie O’Neill. “The sport was hyped as being particular proper from the Tremendous Famicom’s launch, so I went on a journey of saving for a PC Engine to purchasing a Mega Drive as an alternative, however I used to be satisfied to promote my Mega Drive to play Tremendous Mario World.”
As with its predecessor, time hasn’t dulled this, both. “Its Nintendo artistry feels much more particular now,” says Jamie, “to the purpose that I’ve a Tremendous Mario World cartridge completely slotted into my spare, authentic Recreation Boy Advance, with 326 lives collected on one save slot.”
The Legend of Zelda: A Hyperlink to the Previous (SNES)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
I promise, there might be a few ‘Huh?’ moments, however this record, naturally, is propped up primarily by pillars of the medium.
The Legend of Zelda rolled out the blueprint, which Zelda II promptly rolled up and threw out the window. A Hyperlink to the Previous, true to its title, went again in time to the supply and laid the foundations for a quarter-century of the collection.
Even after the transfer to 3D, Zelda III (as no person calls it) remained the one to observe, the one to beat. Poor Zelda IV by no means stood an opportunity…
The Legend of Zelda: Hyperlink’s Awakening (GB)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Hyperlink’s Awakening: “Maintain my beer.”
Hyperlink’s Awakening took its predecessor’s template and, remarkably, shrunk it right down to Recreation Boy proportions with out diminishing the collection’ scope or creativeness, throwing in some Lynchian spice to beautiful impact. “It might be troublesome to argue in opposition to The Legend of Zelda: Hyperlink’s Awakening being the top of gaming on the Recreation Boy system,” Corbie Dillard stated in 2009. Troublesome, certainly.
This affecting little journey got here again colourised in DX kind, too, gaining one other NL 10 within the course of – one thing that the Change remake could not fairly handle. “The HD remake is charming, attractive, and pointless,” says Jacob Crites, our reviewer for the GBC model. “Hyperlink’s Awakening (and the colourised DX) stays a timeless, dreamy labour of affection, which first started as an after-hours undertaking by a handful of passionate Nintendo programmers.”
Okay, that is the basic Marios and Zeldas out of the way in which. Doubt there will be many extra of them exhibiting up down the road.
Tremendous Metroid (SNES)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1
The Alpha to Symphony of the Night time’s Omega, Tremendous Metroid — very similar to A Hyperlink to the Previous — took the weather of the 8-bit authentic and codified them right into a style.
The wall-jump timing could also be finickier than we might see from Nintendo immediately, nevertheless it’s troublesome to seek out fault with this first-party masterpiece over three many years on. Varied VC releases imply we have had a trio of Tremendous Metroid evaluations over time, all from completely different reviewers, all 10s.
Sure, every part seems to be so as. Shifting on.
EarthBound (SNES)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: HAL Laboratory
A phenomenal journey from the thoughts of Shigesato Itoi, EarthBound left an indelible mark on a gaming technology who related with this RPG’s touching themes, surreal comedy, and modern-day setting.
“It stays an absolute must-play for any Nintendo fan,” stated Dave Frear in our 2016 retro evaluate, and Europeans who missed out within the ’90s have fortunately been in a position to catch up within the years since. Simply playable as of late on NSO, try Zion’s good video in case you’re after a style of this sport’s magic, and why it is so significant to so many.
Chrono Set off (SNES)
Writer: Sq. Enix / Developer: Squaresoft
Naturellement.
Greater than 30 years on and Squaresoft’s epic RPG has aged just like the most interesting fermented grape juice. “Chrono Set off is, and can all the time be, probably the most unforgettable RPG experiences ever to grace a online game console,” Corbie stated 15 years in the past. Fairly proper.
Tremendous Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Mario’s again, though to be honest, it is a Mario sport in identify solely. Yoshi’s the star of this outstanding piece of software program, a sport which introduced a pastel wonderland to life on 16-bit {hardware} in a approach by no means earlier than seen.
“If what Miyamoto and Tezuka crafted is not a murals, then the definition of ‘artwork’ must be amended,” stated Kaes Delgrego in our 2009 evaluate.
The jury’s nonetheless out on Child Mario and his anxiety-inducing wails, however I feel we will all agree that Yoshi’s Island is certainly a murals.
Techniques Ogre: Let Us Cling Collectively (SNES)
Writer: Quest / Developer: Quest
“A real basic and a vital endeavor for technique RPG veterans in every single place,” is how the stunning Gonçalo “Shiryu” Lopes described the sport in 2016. Does he really feel the identical a decade on?
“Being a late-generation Tremendous Famicom sport, the pixel artwork alone rivalled next-generation 2D video games (actually, it was re-released untouched on the PS1). However what actually impresses is the quantity of lore the plot brings to the desk. An incredible medieval fantasy world to discover, one tactical battle at a time.”
And would you continue to give it a ten immediately, Shiryu? “Completely, sure.”
Beautiful. For a minute there, I assumed this record could be nothing however plumbers and elves in floppy hats, plus the occasional bounty hunter. Appears to be like like we have lastly moved o—
Tremendous Mario 64 (N64)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Hmm. Effectively, sure. In fact. Thoughts-blowing, genre-defining, industry-shaping, paradigm-shifting – you recognize the drill.
It is Tremendous Mario 64’s thirtieth anniversary later this yr, so let’s not go utilizing up all the massive phrases on it immediately. We have got from now till June to consider one thing new to say about it.
Within the meantime, have a take heed to the Dire Dire Docks theme and get a bit misty-eyed on the recollections it conjures and the thrilling gaming frontier first explored on this sport.
Terranigma (SNES)
Writer: Enix / Developer: Quintet
The final entry within the Gaia trilogy by no means launched in North America, that means that, for as soon as, it was American and never European avid gamers who missed out on a basic. Terranigma is an epic journey that rightly sits within the pantheon of nice SNES RPGs alongside your Chrono Triggers and your Last Fantasies and your Manas.
“There are actually only a few role-playing sport experiences fairly as pleasant or engrossing,” wrote Corbie again in 2009.
Banjo-Kazooie (N64)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Uncommon
A private favorite, this one. I respect that the mild double entendres and goofy humour do not work for everybody, and the everyday digicam management caveats of the period apply, however it is a lovingly crafted slice of fairytale platforming perfection. It is acquired every part you might need from the style, warts and all, wrapped up in a superbly offered package deal that does not outstay its welcome.
The acquainted and apparent Mario 64 comparisons do it a disservice, and praising one doesn’t suggest crapping on the opposite. They’re each glorious video games, and Nintendo set an {industry} template, completely.
If, for some arbitrary list-or-podcast-related purpose, I might solely select one 64-bit platformer to play forevermore, although, it could be Banjo.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
And there it’s. Each the N64 authentic and the 3DS remake acquired a ten/10 on this right here web site from Corbie and former editor Thomas Whitehead respectively.
This yr marks the fortieth anniversary of the Zelda collection, so, as with Mario 64, let’s not scrape the barrel for decent new Ocarina takes immediately, hmm? When you’re studying this and have not ever performed it, to the N64 NSO app with you! (Be sure you use the right pad, although.)
Ogre Battle 64: Particular person of Lordly Caliber (N64)
Writer: Sq. Enix / Developer: Quest
Possessed of the best subtitle ever bestowed upon videogamekind — none of that ‘Origins’ or ‘Retribution’ garbage right here! — Ogre Battle 64 was a outstanding technique RPG on a system which lacked RPGs of virtually any stripe. “When probably the most well-known one on the system is Quest 64, you recognize issues are fairly dire,” says Marcel van Duyn now, who reviewed the sport for us again within the olden occasions (2010).
“An intriguing story of appreciable size with slightly deep tactical gameplay, it is nonetheless properly value trying out to this present day.” With a subtitle of this calibre, you would be a 64-carat idiot to not.
Metroid Prime (GCN)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Retro Studios
Prime 1 takes the prime spot in each its authentic and Remastered guises, the latter being “the definitive model of the studio’s magnum opus,” based on our resident (evil) staffer Ollie Reynolds, who reviewed each the Change remaster and the most recent collection entry.
“Even eradicating the plain nostalgia for me, Prime continues to be an extremely particular sport. Exploring its distinctive biomes is a continuing pleasure, and in shifting over to a first-person perspective, Metroid by no means felt so immersive.”
SoulCalibur II (GCN)
Writer: Namco / Developer: Namco
“It should damage plenty of fashionable preventing video games for you,” stated PJ O’Reilly in his latest retro evaluate of SoulCalibur II, and that is the one damaging he might give you. The GameCube launch was the one one to return with Hyperlink as a playable character, which made it the de facto finest model of Namco’s multiplatform fighter.
“I really like this sport a lot, and spent a lot time with it when it launched that I used to be a bit involved replaying, years later, that point would lastly have taken the shine off, nevertheless it’s as improbable as ever! SC2 simply has that particular preventing juju that all the time feels nice to leap into. Info.”
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Writer: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
“Within the TWENTY(!) years because the launch of Resident Evil 4, the one sport that may actually maintain a candle to its pioneering mix of motion and horror is its personal remake,” says Andi Hamilton, who reviewed the GC authentic again in 2005. “The whole lot modified after Resident Evil 4 and we’re nonetheless seeing video games influenced by it. It was the simplest 10 I would given again then and it is nonetheless a simple 10/10 proper now. Class by no means fades.”
And two years later, Push Sq. editor extraordinaire Sammy Barker put the Wii Version via its paces for us, handing out one other 10. Hey, Sammy, would you continue to give it prime marks in a post-REM4KE world?
“Sure, I feel I’d,” Sammy hollers over the wall of our digital cubicle at Hookshot Towers. “It is an all-time basic that modified third-person shooters eternally. And I truly assume it is a uncommon instance of Wii controls bettering the gameplay.”
Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 (DS)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: iNiS
It is Elite Beat Brokers+. Or Elite Beat Agent Redux. However not likely. The connection between the Japan-only Ouendan video games and EBA is appropriately unconventional; the one resolution is to play and revel in all of them, in fact. Over to Marcel for his 2026 ideas:
“Nintendo was weirdly keen about rhythm and music video games within the mid-2000s, bringing us not simply Donkey Konga, but additionally Rhythm Heaven, Band Brothers, Wii Music, and naturally, Ouendan. Ouendan 2 is a stellar successor to the primary title – it is completely loaded with content material, has loads of replay worth, a smashing number of catchy songs, a bunch of fully insane eventualities and extremely addictive gameplay.
“Elite Beat Brokers was a wonderful try and Westernise the collection, however in my eyes Ouendan 2 stays the top. It is a disgrace we have not seen the collection since, however on the very least its legacy endures to this present day within the fan-made PC sport Osu!.”
Tremendous Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Sure, it is a 10 for Galaxy. Particularly, the Wii model, utilizing the controller it was designed for, with an correct infra-red pointer that does not want resetting each 30 seconds.
Nintendo Life founder, CEO, and overlord Anthony Dickens reviewed this a technique again in 2007. Is Galaxy nonetheless a ten, Ant? “Powerful query. I discover the controls with Change a bit janky (in comparison with the Wii distant).”
Ollie likewise discovered the controls a bit finicky with the Change model, and Ant “would not suggest it over Odyssey,” though, “if I had been nonetheless in 2007, then yeah, the ten was appropriate. It set the bar.”
World of Goo (WiiWare)
Writer: 2D Boy / Developer: 2D Boy
One other sport which, nice as it’s on Change, is hampered to a level by fashionable gyro-based pointer controls slipping out of alignment each few seconds. Significantly, whereas they eradicate the opportunity of unintentionally selecting up your Christmas tree lights, the lack of the Sensor Bar was an enormous blow to pointer video games that required accuracy. The Wii’s infra-red authentic nonetheless feels unbelievable, although.
A part of the indie-game vanguard again within the late ’00s, Corbie awarded World of Goo prime marks approach again within the WiiWare-World.com days (shoutouts to the trustworthy who keep in mind these), and 2D Boy’s mix of excellent, gooey puzzling, beautiful artwork and audio, and caustic, comical social commentary nonetheless holds up superbly. Particular 10 materials.
Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Retro Studios
This Trilogy assortment left the bottom video games just about untouched, content-wise, however added widescreen help and Wiimote management choices, plus a number of different bits and items. “The beefed-up visuals and agile controls make the expertise really feel new to old-comers,” stated Jon Wahlgren in NL’s 2009 evaluate, “and the tight presentation is icing on an already scrumptious cake.” Yum.
Purists lamented some lacking water ripple and beam results, tweaks which stopped it being 100% definitive for some, however in a pre-Remastered world when the Prime collection was certainly a trilogy, this was a shocking disc and considered one of Nintendo’s finest compilation releases.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (DS)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: AlphaDream
Wrestling with Famous person Saga as the very best Mario & Luigi sport on our reader-ranked Mario RPG record, Bowser’s Inside Story is the one M&L to get the “Excellent” remedy from us, and considered one of solely two retail-released DS video games on this record.
Corbie summed it up thusly in 2009: “Bowser’s Inside Story is the type of sport that may remind you why you’re keen on enjoying video video games within the first place and is well among the best DS releases”.
New Tremendous Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Some individuals turned their noses up at this department of the Tremendous Mario Bros. collection from the start, and plenty of a participant raised on the highs of the 8- and 16-bit entries wasn’t impressed by the ‘New’ eras sterile polygons within the Wii-DS days. I get it. These incessant ‘wah’s generally is a bit a lot, and modern-day comparisons to Marvel’s expressive animation have solely hardened these criticisms.
It is easy to neglect, although, simply how well-received New Tremendous Mario Bros. Wii was, and Corbie, particularly, adored it. Bringing hectic party-style four-player to a Mario platformer for the primary time, it additionally accommodates an excellent single-player which acquired overshadowed within the multiplayer-focused advertising and marketing. You have to love that pink field, too.
Maybe it is too early for a reappraisal (give it one other decade for the nostalgia to essentially hit with Mario’s ‘prequel-trilogy’ technology), however this was a novel, artistic, and dare I say underrated Mario sport, if such a factor exists. When you handed over it in 2009, give it one other look earlier than these costs shoot up.
That takes us to the top of the ’00s. Head to the subsequent web page to choose issues up within the 2010s…
Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 earlier than becoming a member of the location full-time the next yr, rising via the ranks to turn into Editor. He can at present be discovered squashed beneath a Change backlog the scale of Normandy.
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