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Best overall

Nintendo

SCORE8.3STRONG

Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, Switch

BEST FORPlayers who prioritize first-party game quality. Nintendo's first-party library averages the highest Metacritic scores of any major publisher, with 15+ titles scoring 90+ on a single platform.
Reviewed by the Clientele Research Team · Last checked 1 month ago (2026-08-03)
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Scores. Click any row to see our rationale
Game Quality▼9.5/10

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom scored 96/100 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder scored 93/100, both in 2023. No mainline Mario or Zelda title has scored below 85 since 2001.

Player Respect▼7/10

No microtransactions in mainline Mario, Zelda, or Metroid titles. Nintendo issues copyright takedowns on YouTube fan content and held first-party Switch games at $60–70 with no discounts for years.

Catalog Depth▼9.5/10

Over 30 distinct franchises including Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, Kirby, Donkey Kong, Splatoon, Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem, and Pikmin. The deepest exclusive catalog of any console maker.

Value▼6.5/10

Nintendo Switch Online costs $19.99 per year but offers fewer features than competing services. First-party titles like Tears of the Kingdom stayed at $70 through 2025 with no sales on Nintendo's own storefront.

Innovation▼9/10

Nintendo Switch's portable-home hybrid concept redefined the console market in 2017. Switch 2 launched in 2025 with magnetic Joy-Con and mouse-mode input. Nintendo also created motion controls with the Wii and handheld-console convergence.

KNOWN FOR
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)Super Mario Odyssey (2017)The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023)Metroid Prime Remastered (2023)
PROS
✓15+ first-party games scored 90+ on Metacritic across Switch alone. No other publisher matches that consistency.
✓Zero microtransactions in any mainline Mario, Zelda, or Metroid title. All gameplay content is included at purchase.
✓Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World both launched in 2025, keeping Nintendo's first-party output flowing across genres from platforming to racing.
✓Switch 2's backward compatibility lets you carry your existing Switch library forward, with paid upgrade packs available for games like Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild.
✓Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack ($49.99/year) throws in N64, GameCube, and Genesis classics alongside newer console-exclusive perks like GameChat.
✓Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Kirby Air Riders are both slated for 2025-2026, showing steady output across multiple franchises rather than reliance on one flagship series.
CONS
✕First-party titles stay at $60–70 for 3+ years post-launch with no discounts on Nintendo's own eShop.
✕Nintendo enforces copyright takedowns on fan-made YouTube remasters, tribute games, and music covers.
✕You need a separate Nintendo Switch Online subscription ($19.99/year minimum) just to play online. It's not bundled with hardware.
✕Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs for games like Tears of the Kingdom mean early Switch adopters may need to pay again for improved versions.
✕No mobile gaming push of consequence. Nintendo has scaled back major new mobile titles since 2020, limiting where you can play outside the Switch ecosystem.
✕Third-party ports to Switch 2 often run behind PS5/Xbox versions technically, so multiplatform AAA games may look or run worse here.
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