Nintendois one of the most talented and beloved video game companies, largely thanks to its work in 3D gaming. Ever since the ’90s, Nintendo has been the pioneer for 3D games, creating some of the most innovative and genre-defining titles in history.
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TheNintendo 64defined what 3D video games should be, and that foundation is still used as inspiration for modern titles. TheGameCubeandWiicontinued to innovate 3D gaming, producing some of the most legendary titles in the company’s history. The excellent catalog of 3D games continues to grow even to this day, providing many incredible adventures that everyone should experience at least once.
10Luigi’s Mansion Started An Iconic Series
Luigi’s Mansionwas a big departure from the Mario universe, trading the usual platforming for spooky puzzle-based action. Each ghost acts like a puzzle, requiring you to learn their pattern to figure out their weakness before using your vacuum to suck them up in an intense wrestling match.
The translucent effect of the ghosts was stunning for the time and has yet to be replicated in the series. Anyone who has played this game remembers the first time they crept into the dark, dusty foyer of the haunted mansion. It’s one of themost defining moments of the GameCube era.
9Splatoon 3 Redefined The Shooter Genre
Splatoon 3puts a unique twist on the shooter genre, filled with all the charm and imagination you’d expect from Nintendo. Instead of shooting each other, the goal is to shoot paint on the floors and walls to coat as much space with your team’s color.
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Matches last for three minutes, making them perfect for quick pick-up-and-play sessions and providing fast pacing for longer playtimes. The wide variety of modes, stages, and creative weapons keep the game feeling fresh and interesting. It’s a solid choice if you’re looking for an online multiplayer game forSwitch.
8Star Fox 64 Is A Timeless Space Opera
Star Fox 64 is one ofthe best rail-shooters ever.The game combines arcade-style on-rails action with all-range segments that allow you to explore 3D environments freely. While the campaign is short, there are dozens of paths and secrets to find, giving it phenomenal replay value.
Levels offer fast-paced dogfights, ranging from dodging collapsing buildings in a decaying city to fighting a massive lava monster in the Sun. It was impressive on N64 for having full voice acting, which produced some of the most iconic lines in video game history.
7Pokemon Legends: Arceus Revolutionized Its Series
Pokemon Legends: Arceusbreathed new life into the series and redefined what aPokemongame could be. Exploring has never felt more liberating, featuring a fully rotatable camera and vast open areas that give you the sense of going on an adventure.
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Pokemon Legends: Arceus revisits the Sinnoh region with the addition of Hisuian Pokemon to make the roster feel fresh. Random encounters are gone, giving way to a new system that lets you attempt to catch Pokemon without battling them. This was a much-needed update to the series and a must-play for Switch owners.
6F-Zero GX Is One Of The Coolest Racing Games Ever
Oh,F-Zero. You were too good for this world. This futuristic racer is one of the most short-lived and underrated Nintendo series ever. You race hover cars at speeds over 600 miles per hour in a brutal free-for-all against 29 other drivers. Anything goes in these races. You can crash into people and even run your opponents off the road as you speed toward first place.
F-Zero GX has some of thebest tracks in racing game history. This game was doing antigravity racing long before Mario Kart 8, and it’s a thrill to experience here. It’s a chaotically fun time and the coolest racing game Nintendo has ever made.
5The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Is A Masterpiece
PlayingTears of the Kingdomfeels like giving your imagination a hug. If you thought the world inBreath of the Wildwas massive, its sequel expands Hyrule even more with the addition of the stunning Sky Islands and vicious underground Depths. There has never been this much freedom and creativity in a Zelda game.
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The new Fuse mechanic leads to endless possibilities for exploration. Want to build a flying motorcycle? How about a missile-shooting fighter jet? There are boundless ways to traverse the land, leaving it up to you and your imagination to decide. Tears of the Kingdom fully encapsulates the wonder that makes Zelda so magical.
4Super Mario Odyssey Is The Series At Its Best
Super Mario Odysseytakes the 3D Mario formula and cranks it up to 11. This adventure provides more freedom and exploration than ever, with vast worlds filled with secrets and platforming challenges that make every level feel fresh and distinct.
Odyssey stands out thanks to the capture mechanic, which allows Mario to transform into objects and creatures, including a frog to reach higher areas and a dinosaur to demolish everything around you. No two captures feel the same, making the gameplay more fun a versatile than ever. It’s one of thebest Mario games on Switchand something everyone should experience.
3Metroid Prime Remastered Revisits A Beloved Classic
No one would blame you if you thought this was a brand-new title instead of a remaster of a game from 2002. Metroid Prime Remastered takes the already gorgeous visuals of the original and adds a new coat of paint that makes it look jaw-dropping.
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A first-person shooter was a bold way to adaptMetroidfor 3D, but it was more than worth it. Metroid Prime’s combat system was way ahead of its time and better than any other shooter from its era. The remaster comes with control schemes that emulate the GameCube and Wii versions and new controls that feel perfect for the Switch. If you like action games, you owe it to yourself to try this one.
2Super Mario 64 Revolutionized 3D Gaming
There would be no 3D Nintendo games withoutSuper Mario 64. This game defined what a 3D game should be, and countless 3D titles have looked to it for inspiration. At the time, there was no precedent for a game like this, so what Nintendo created is mind-boggling.
Mario feels amazing to control, and each level is iconic and allows you to explore at your own pace. Moving around feels fun, even if you have no goal in mind. To top it all off, the soundtrack is pure gold, with nothing but hit after hit. It’s one of the most influential games in history and still manages to impress.
1The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Is Pure Magic
Every once in a while, there will be a game that’s magical beyond words.Ocarina of Timeis one of them. This adventure takes you across one of the best fantasy worlds in gaming, filled with incredible dungeons, diverse landscapes, and a breathtaking soundtrack.
The story is a classic tale of good versus evil, with some of the most famous plot twists in gaming. The towns feel alive and distinct, with memorable characters and plenty of side quests. It’s one of thebest Zelda games everand a remarkable piece of video game history.
