Comic Book Resources shared a list of the 10 most universally beloved Nintendo games of all time, adding to the growing trend of list-driven articles in gaming and entertainment media. The excerpt we got only includes the headline, so we won’t dive into the specific titles or their ranking.
This release fits a familiar pattern. Recently, Polygon updated its 25 best Switch 2 games list. Meanwhile, Collider is publishing ranked articles on single-player games and roguelikes. Nintendo’s extensive library provides a solid foundation for these lists since few publishers boast as many titles that critics universally praise.
When they say “universally beloved,” it’s a measure we can quantify. Critic aggregate scores and sales figures serve as reliable indicators. Several Nintendo games rank high on Metacritic’s all-time list. The scores below come from Metacritic’s official ratings, not from the CBR piece.
The Switch 2 era shifts the landscape for these rankings. With Nintendo’s latest console, classic franchises are getting another spotlight. Outlets like Polygon now compare new-generation titles alongside the classics. A list of “most beloved” games competes with “best on current hardware” lists for the same audience.
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) Metacritic score | 99 |
| Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) Metacritic score | 97 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch) Metacritic score | 97 |
| Super Mario Odyssey (Switch) Metacritic score | 97 |
| Entries on Polygon’s current Switch 2 best-of list | 25 |
Community Pulse: We don’t have player or reviewer sentiment data linked to this article, so we aren’t quoting anyone. Lists like this often spark discussions about what’s missing and the order of titles. Expect to see that kind of debate in comment sections and social media rather than reflected in the rankings themselves.
What To Watch
- Which titles CBR ranks at the top, and if they align with the Metacritic leaders or emphasize sales and cultural impact.
- Whether Switch 2 titles start popping up on “all-time” Nintendo lists or remain within hardware-specific rankings like Polygon’s.
- How other outlets respond with their own Nintendo rankings in the weeks ahead.
Marcus Webb
Marcus Webb covers esports, competitive gaming, and community stories for Explosion.com. A former semi-professional Counter-Strike player, Marcus transitioned to journalism 5 years ago and has since covered major tournaments including The International, League of Legends Worlds, and the Valorant Champions Tour. He brings a player's perspective to competitive gaming coverage and is known for his data-driven analysis of player performance and meta shifts.
