Chibi-Robo!

Adventure platformer series started in 2005

A series developed Skip Ltd about a helper robot working for a family called Chibi-Robo, referring to his short 10cm height. You must play as Chibi-Robo as he helps the family with tasks such as cleaning, finding lost items and solving troubles between family members, though you must manage Chibi-Robo's short battery life carefully.

Clubhouse Games (US) / Classic Games (EU)

Tabletop game series started in 2005

A series of game compilations, featuring a varierty of popular tabletop games and card games, with a big focus on multiplayer. This series ties into Nintendo's own history, featuring games like Hanafuda, Mahjong and Shogi, which Nintendo were famous for manufacturing before moving into the videogame industry.

Cooking

Edutainment series started in 2006

A series of educational cooking guides, where a chef character guides the player through the cooking instructions via a synthetic computerised voice that provides commentary. These guides also provide detailed explanations of ingredients and procedures, along with photos and video explanations.

Excite

Racing series started in 1984

A series of fast-paced racing games usually based on off-road vehicles, such as motorcycles, monster trucks and animal-themed robot vehicles.

F-Zero

Racing series started in 1990

A series of set in the distant future, F-Zero is a type of racing created to imitate the excitement of Formula 1 racing by bored millionaires looking to be entertained. These games feature twisting courses raced through at ultra-high speeds that allow for unique dynamic movements. The racers range from human bounty hunters to aliens.

Face Training

Edutainment series started in 2007

A series of face training software created in collaboration with Japanese beauty expert, Fumiko Inudo. The game captures the player's face via a camera peripheral for the DS or the built-in camera in the DSi, and guides the player on how to flex their face.

Famicom Detective Club

Adventure series started in 1988

A series of murder mystery cases conducted by a young man in the Japanese countryside. The player must ask questions, examine clues, and take and show evidence in order to solve various mysteries.

Famicom Mukashi Banashi

Adventure series started in 1987

A series of visual novels based on Japanese folklore tales. Yuyuki is about Goku, a monkey that lands on Earth inside of a meteor and becomes an unlikely hero, despite prior crimes committed. The other tale, Shin Onigashima, is about Donbe and Hikari, a pair of orphans that set out to save their adoptive parents after an evil dragon turns the villagers of the island into soul-sucking oni.

Fire Emblem

Tactical RPG series started in 1990

A series of tactical RPGs, or strategy games, where permanent death is a key feature; placing a soldier in an overly risky situation can lead to you losing them for the rest of the game. The games feature a fantasy Middle Ages setting where heroes wield swords and magic to take down opposing nations and evil dragons.

Flipnote Studio

Animation series started in 2008

A series of animation software that emulates a notebook. As such, you can use it for writing notes, or you can draw multiple drawings and flick through them to make a short animation. The software featured limited colours, but plenty of tools, and these animations could be uploaded to the Internet for other players to watch.

Fluidity (US)/Hydroventure (EU)

Puzzle series started in 2011

A series of 2D platforming games where the player must guide a pool of water by tilting the level around it, and freezing the water into ice or condensing the water into vapour, in order to overcome various physics-based obstacles.

Fossil Fighters

RPG series started in 2008

A series of turn-based RPGs where players must excavate parts of prehistoric creatures, clean the fossils using the stylus without accidentally damaging them and revive the fossils to their former glory to fight off other dinosaurs and monsters of the past.

Freakyforms

Simulation series started in 2011

A series of games featuring customisable creatures called "Freakyforms", that the player can freely create and take for walks on a customisable planet with customisable biomes.

Game & Watch

Multiple genre franchise started in 1980

A franchise of dedicated monochrome game consoles, containing simplistic games. Game & Watch consoles are named as such, as they can also be used to tell the time, and some models also featured an Alarm feature. Most games came with an easier Game A option and a more difficult Game B option.

Ganbaru Watashi

Household budgeting series started in 2007

A series of software used to help families spend money responsibly, by reducing unnecessary purchases and providing tools to plan for more meaningful purchases in the future. The software can calculate mortgage and debt payments and display changes in spending and income via easy-to-read graphs.

Golden Sun

RPG series started in 2001

A series of RPGs that were created to fix the lack of RPGs early on in the Game Boy Advance's life. The series focuses on a group of characters that utilise elemental magic through the use of creatures called Djinn. The first two games make up two halves of the same story, whilst the third game takes place after a time skip.

Golf

Sports series started in 1984

A series of games that aim to emulate the popular international sport, golf, where players must use metal clubs to hit small balls across a large area of land, so that they can land in the hole at the end. The player must avoid hitting the ball into sand traps and bodies of water, whilst taking advantage of where the wind is blowing.

Gumshoe

Shooter platformer series started in 1984

A series of games where the player must use the NES Zapper or arcade light-gun to spook the protagonist into jumping, hence platforming around the stage by shooting. The protagonist, detective and ex-FBI agent Mr. Stevenson, must collect five diamonds within the next 24 hours to save his daughter from the mafia.

Hogan's Alley

Shooter series started in 1984

A series of games where the player must shoot cardboard cut-outs of gangsters, whilst not accidentally shooting the innocent pedestrian cut-outs. The series is based on Hogan's Alley, a real-life shooting range used by the National Guard of the United States.

Ice Climber

Platformer series started in 1985

A series of games where the player must help the titular Ice Climbers, Nana and Popo, climb various mountains, being wary of slippery ice, occasional snowstorms and the various arctic creatures that inhabit the island. Vegetables can be collected for bonus points, and the Ice Climbers can reach a condor or butterfly at the summit to escape.

Jam with the Band

Music series started in 2004

A series of rhythm games when the player can choose from a variety of songs, ranging from Japanese pop music to classical orchestral music, and can play as one of the instruments in the selected song. The series was planned as far back as 1999 under the title "Game Boy Music" but wouldn't release until 2004 on the Nintendo DS.

Joushiki Ryoku

Common sense training series started in 2006

A series of games made under the supervision of the Japanese Common Sense Test Association,  a private organisation that conducts the Japanese Common Sense Test, used to gauge a person's understanding of basic economics, law and local politics, as well as the person's cultural knowledge, life skills and manners. This series of games presents questions from the Japanese Common Sense Test in a simplistic quiz format, so that players can practice for the real deal.

Kid Icarus

Platformer series started in 1986

A series of games that draw heavily from Greek mythology, following the story of Pit as he fights Medusa and protects Angel Land from the forces of the Underworld. Despite being mostly a platformer series, the latest game, "Kid Icarus Uprising", is more of an on-rails shooter.

Kirby

Action platformer franchise started in 1984

A franchise of games initially created by Masuhiro Sakurai, starring the hugely popular pink blob Kirby. Throughout the games, Kirby fights foes such as King Dedede, to preserve peace in Dream Land. Kirby is able to inhale entire enemies and steal their powers to use as his own, and is also capable of flying by holding his breath.

Kururin

Puzzle series started in 2001

A series of games where the player must pilot a horizontally-long vehicle called a "Helirin", which automatically rotates clockwise or anti-clockwise. The difficulty is in the level design; the various levels frequently feature obstacles and narrow corridors that the player must specifically maneuverer around.

Kyle Hyde

Point-and-click adventure series started in 2007

A series of two games developed by CING that follow the adventures of Kyle Hyde, a former detective living in the 70s/80s who has a habit of running into mysteries that need to be solved.

The Legend of Zelda

Action adventure franchise started in 1986

A franchise of action adventure games originally created by Shigeru Miyamoto and currently headed by Eiji Aonuma, the Legend of Zelda features the hero Link navigating through various dungeons, unlocking new paths by finding new items and fighting off the minions of Ganon with the Master Sword, so that he can rescue Zelda.

The Legendary Starfy

Action platformer franchise started in 2002

A series of platformers that focus on "marine action", with primarily underwater levels and sea creatures as prominent main characters, with the main character, Starfy, being a starfish. The series didn't release outside of Japan until its final game. Additionally, the first game in the series was the last game Gunpei Yokoi worked on.

Mach Rider

Vehicular combat series started in 1985

A series of front-facing racing games where the player must drive a motorcycle with mounted machine guns down a long highway in a post-apocalyptic future, gunning down enemy bikers who try to get in your way.

Magical

RPG series started in 2001

A series of RPGs that revolve around the students of a magic academy called Will-O-Wisp, located on one of the six planets in the Baklava solar system. These students utilise a large array of elemental magics to solve mysteries and fight off space pirates.

Master of Illusion (US) / Magic Made Fun (EU)

Magic demonstration series started in 2006

A series that uses the Nintendo DS to make you a magician to your friends. This series features "magic training" which helps develop the players ability to perform magic tricks, often using the pack of cards that comes included with the main game.

Metroid

Multiple genre franchise started in 1986

A franchise of action games and FPS games, Metroid is a science fiction franchise set in the distant future. The bounty hunter Samus Aran must infiltrate enemy alien territory under orders of the Galactic Federation and must collect new weapons to defeat terrifying alien beasts, like the ginormous Kraid and the evil mastermind Ridley.

Mii

Multiple genre franchise started in 2006

A franchise of all sorts of games that heavily features Miis, customisable avatars that were a selling point of the Wii, and continue to feature in sports games, party games and even adventure and life simulation games to this very day.

NBA Courtside

Sports series started in 1998

A series of games that feature the popular international sport, basketball, where players must travel across the court by bouncing the ball against the ground whilst moving, and throw the ball into the opposing teams hoop to score goals. All NBA Courtside games feature legendary Los Angeles Laker player, the late Kobe Bryant.

NES Remix

Arcade action series started in 2013

A series of games where the player must clear a "level" selected from a scene of one of Nintendo's first-party NES games. These "levels" include popular fan-made challenges like speedrunning and scenarios that weren't originally possible, such as playing as Link in the original "Donkey Kong" game. "Levels" must be cleared quickly.

Nintendo Labo

Toys-to-life series started in 2018

A series of games that combines cardboard construction kits with the Switch console and Joy-Con controllers to create "Toy-Cons", advanced controllers that make full use of the Joy-Cons various features. These games include full assembly instructions and a "Garage" feature that lets you program software for the "Toy-Cons".

Nintendo Wars

Tactical strategy series started in 1988

A series of war simulation games where the aim is to produce weapons, occupy cities, destroy enemy forces and control enemy bases. These games are simple to understand, with a lack of luck-based elements, meaning the outcome of the battle can be predicted.

Nintendogs

Pet-raising simulation series started in 2005

A series of games where you can interact with and take care of dogs, as well as cats in the sequel. There's several versions of both entries, but the dog breeds that can be adopted at the beginning of the game and certain obtainable items are different for each version. Dog breeds and items can be exchanged via the multiplayer "Bark Mode".

Picross

Picture logic puzzle series started in 1995

A series of games based on nonograms: picture puzzles that are solved by using a series of numbers to identify what squares need to be filled-in. This simplistic series has crossed-over with several popular Nintendo series, such as "The Legend of Zelda" and "Pokémon".

PictureBook Games

Party game series started in 2009

A series of games that imitate a multiplayer table-top game experience. The first game is a traditional board game where you must roll dice to progress through the board, and the second game is a card game with a heavy focus on bluffing.

Pikmin

Real-time strategy series started in 2001

A series of games where you must direct a group of plant-based creatures called Pikmin. Individually, Pikmin are weak, but in great numbers and under your instruction, they help carry large objects and fight against the gigantic wildlife found in this series, such as Bulborbs and Dweevils.

Pilotwings

Amateur flight simulation series started in 1990

A series of games often used to showcase new 3D technology, such as the SNES's FX chip, the N64's 3D graphics and the Nintendo 3DS's glasses-free 3D effect, Pilotwings allows players to pilot various aerial vehicles to beat missions and aim for high schools. The 3DS game takes place in Wuhu Island, featured in the "Wii Sports" series.

Pinball

Pinball series started in 2001

A series of games that mimic the electronic mechanical machine game, pinball, where players must control a pair of paddles to hit a ball into certain areas of the machine, and score points by hitting bumpers, targets and ramps.

Play Action Football

American Football simulation series started in 1990

A series of games that simulate games of American football: a sport where the players must carry the ball to the opposing team's "end zone" or kick the ball through the opposing team's goalpost. This sport is much more aggressive than other common sports, allowing for full-body tackles and requiring protective gear like helmets.

Pokémon

RPG franchise started in 1996

A franchise of games where the player can catch creatures called Pokémon and complete various goals, such as battling Pokémon to become the regional Pokémon champion, or catching every Pokémon to complete their encyclopedia, the Pokédex. Mainline games are sold in two versions, to encourage trading rare Pokémon with friends.

Polarium

Puzzle series started in 2004

A series of games that feature white and black tiles, which are flipped by selecting them in a single stroke. When the entire row has been made to be a single colour, that row disappears.

Pullblox (EU) / Pushmo (US)

Puzzle series started in 2011

A series of games where local children have gotten themselves stuck in playground equipment called "Pullblox", and it's up to Mallo to solve these "Pullblox" puzzles. Solving the puzzles requires pulling out various parts of the "Pullblox", to create a type of 3D structure that can be used to navigate to the top.

Punch-Out!!

Sports series started in 1983

A series of games where player controls Little Mac, a small boxer from the Bronx who must fight his way to become the Boxing Champion. Each fight is similar to a boss fight; the player must learn the opponent's vulnerable moments and weaknesses, in order to get critical punches in.

Puzzle League

Puzzle series started in 1995

A competitive puzzle series where players must swap horizontally adjacent blocks around, to get four matching blocks in a row or column. These four matching blocks will disappear, and blocks above them will fall down, which can cause additional blocks to match, creating combos.

R.O.B.

Puzzle series started in 1985

A puzzle series that all use the Robotic Operating Buddy (ROB) peripheral for the NES. ROB would look to the TV for instructions on how to move its arms via light signals, allowing ROB to interact with the games using spinning gyros and stackable blocks.

Rhythm Heaven (US) / Rhythm Paradise (EU)

Rhythm series started in 2006

A series of games where players must press specific buttons in time with the rhythm of the minigame. Each minigame lasts for a couple minutes each, and each features its own memorable song. Boss stages will "remix" the previous group of levels into one big level, based around a new song and testing your prior knowledge.

Sin & Punishment

Rail shooter series started in 2000

A game series developed by Treasure, the first game features the protagonist Saki Amamiya fighting against Ruffians, mutated hostile artificial livestock, with a gun-sword that can be used to dispose of enemies close and afar. Saki's gun can shoot regular shots or weaker, homing shots, depending on what the situation requires.

Snipperclips

Puzzle series started in 2017

A series of games where two players must control sentient paper characters called Snip and Clip. When these characters overlap, they can cut the overlapping area off of the other player, allowing the characters to assume new shapes. The puzzles in these games will require the players to cut each other into new shapes to progress.

Soccer

Sport series started in 1985

A game series featuring the most popular international sport, soccer, otherwise known as association football. The sport usually features eleven players, with the basic task of kicking the football into the opposing team's goal without touching the ball with hands and without the aggressive contact usually allowed in American football.

Space Fever

Fixed shooter series started in 1979

A series of "Space Invader" clones made before Nintendo had their first unique hit with "Donkey Kong", this series features multiple alien layouts, additional music and with certain versions, full colour and bigger aliens.

Sparkle Snapshots

Photography series started in 2009

A game series that allows users to bring a virtual photo booth with them wherever they go. Photos can be saved to an SD card to be transferred to a computer, or printed from a printer. The 3DS entry features stereoscopic editing tools and extra downloadable content.

Star Fox

Multi-genre franchise started in 1993

A franchise that initially started in the rail-shooter genre, Star Fox was created by Miyamoto with the intention of creating a shooting game with a 3D perspective. The various characters of Star Fox are all based on animals and, after the first game, are fully voice-acted. Fox and his crew must fight their way to the evil Andross in their Arwing starcrafts.

StarTropics

Action adventure series started in 2009

A game series that features top-down exploration, very similar to "the Legend of Zelda" series. However, combat options only appear when traversing dungeons. The player takes control of Mike Jones as he explores mysterious islands and different time periods to fight off the alien menace, Zoda. Notably, this series never released in Japan.

Steel Diver

Submarine simulator series started in 2011

A game series where the player must pilot a submarine with somewhat complex control mechanisms while navigating narrow underwater passages and shooting down enemy subs. The submarine's control panel is interacted with via the touch screen, and certain sections using the periscope require gyro controls.

Style Savvy (US) / Style Boutique (EU)

Fashion coordination series started in 2009

A game series that places the player as the manager of a fictional boutique, where you must help customers coordinate outfits, often fulfilling certain tastes and purposes. Certain entries allow the player to gain access to outfits based on real fashion brands and clothes based on Nintendo characters.

Super Mario

Platformer franchise started in 1981

Nintendo's mascot franchise, the aim of this series is to control a moustachioed plumber named Mario and jump from platform to platform, to reach the goal at the end of the level. This franchise includes 3D games where Mario has to collect stars from platforming challenges, and spin-offs such as "Mario Kart" and "Mario Party".

Super Smash Bros.

Fighting series started in 1999

A game series where various Nintendo characters, such as characters from the "Super Mario", "Legend of Zelda", "Metroid", "Kirby", "Pokemon" series, fight each other in a free-for-all. Players must fight to knock each other off of the stage to win. This series heavily features and influences other Nintendo franchises and even third-party titles.

Swapnote

Drawing series started in 2011

A series of drawing applications that allow you to draw pictures on notes using the Nintendo 3DS's touch screen. These notes could then be sent to other users over the Internet. The mascot character of this series, Nikki, became very popular, starring in her own standalone game and making cameo appearances in other game series.

Tabi no Yubisashi Kaiwachou DS

Phrasebook series started in 2006

A software series of real life phrasebooks written by the Joho Center Publishing Bureau Inc. These phrasebooks can be used to help users pronounce foreign words and speak foreign phrases by breaking down words phonetically or by playing the word pronunciation via the Nintendo DS's speakers. This can be helpful while travelling.

Tennis

Sports series started in 1984

A game series featuring the racket sport, tennis. The goal of tennis is to use your racket to hit the tennis ball over the net, and to the other side of the tennis court. If the player on the other side fails to hit the play back with their racket, the first player gains a point.

Thru

Puzzle series started in 2010

A game series where the player assumes the role of a 3D shape and rotates themselves to fit through gaps in walls. There are multiple, increasingly complex shapes that the player can control, and additional mechanics such as collecting crystals that can boost the players score.

Urban Champion

Fighting series started in 1984

A fighting game series where the player must fight random citizens they meet on the street for the title of "Urban Champion", by avoiding falling flower pots, patrolling police cars and by ultimately knocking their opponent down an open manhole.

Wario

Multiple genre series started in 1994

The villainous doppelganger of Nintendo's mascot, Mario, the greedy Wario has his own plethora games, mainly consisting of the frantic minigame series "WarioWare" and the platformer-adventure series "Wario Land", as well as many other spin-offs.

Wave Race

Racing series started in 1992

A racing game series where players ride on jet skis and must drive through pairs of buoys, while keeping ahead of other racers. The difficulty lies in keeping control of the vehicle while going over treacherous ocean waves.

Wild Gunman

Sports series started in 1984

A simple light gun series where the player must draw and shoot their gun before the enemy draws and shoots. The enemies in the NES version are based on the actors who played the enemies in the arcade version.

X

Space combat simulation series started in 1992

X is a series of graphically basic 3D games where the player must pilot a space tank named VIXIV and accomplish missions sent by the commander. These missions can vary between annihilating target enemies, transporting cargo and defending vulnerable ally bases.

Xenoblade Chronicles

Action RPG series started in 2010

Xenoblade Chronicles is a series of action RPGs where players engage in seamless battles, in natural environments that have developed on the back of ginormous creatures, often referred to as titans. There's a large emphasis on the mature storyline that features themes of war and revenge.

Yakuman

Board game series started in 1983

Yakuman is a series of Mahjong games, specifically the game of Japanese Mahjong or "riichi Mahjong". This version of Mahjong is somewhat similar to the card game Poker, where the players must collect specific Mahjong tiles  to complete various possible hands, with more specific (Yakuman) hands being worth loads more points.

Yoshi

Multiple genre series started in 1991

The quirky green steed of Mario, Yoshi has his own collection of various spin-offs, most notably, his collectathon platformer series "Yoshi's Island" and "Yoshi's World", as well as various puzzle games.