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In Nintendo Power's 20th Anniversary Issue the magazine printed a "definitive list" of the 20 best games for each of Nintendo's nine gaming systems. The reason for there being eight "best of" lists instead of one big list like the 100 Best Games of All Time or the Top 200 Games was so that the games could be judged more fairly. The criteria for what made the list was impact, fun factor, and long lasting appeal. The Virtual Boy's list only included one game, since the console received less than 20 during its short lifetime.

Best of the Best[]

Nintendo Entertainment System[]

  1. The Legend of Zelda - 1987
  2. Super Mario Bros. 3 - 1990
  3. Mega Man 2 - 1989
  4. Super Mario Bros. - 1985
  5. Metroid - 1987
  6. Mike Tyson's Punch Out - 1987
  7. Contra - 1988
  8. Super Mario Bros. 2 - 1988
  9. Castlevania III: Dracula's Castle - 1990
  10. Ninja Gaiden - 1989
  11. Mega Man 3 - 1990
  12. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - 1988
  13. DuckTales - 1989
  14. Castlevania - 1987
  15. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest - 1988
  16. Maniac Mansion - 1990
  17. Bionic Commando - 1988
  18. Dragon Warrior IV - 1992
  19. Final Fantasy - 1990
  20. Kid Icarus - 1987

Game Boy/Game Boy Color[]

  1. Tetris DX - 1998
  2. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX - 1998
  3. Pokémon Red and Blue - 1998
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons - 2001
  5. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages - 2001
  6. Pokémon Gold and Silver - 2000
  7. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins- 1992
  8. Donkey Kong - 1994
  9. Wario Land 3 - 2000
  10. Kirby's Dream Land 2 - 1995
  11. Metal Gear Solid - 2000
  12. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 1991
  13. Pokémon Puzzle Challenge - 2000
  14. Mega Man V - 1994
  15. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan - 1990
  16. Mario's Picross - 1995
  17. Dr. Mario - 1990
  18. Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters - 1991
  19. Shantae - 2002
  20. Operation C - 1991

Virtual Boy[]

  1. Virtual Boy Wario Land - 1995

Super Nintendo Entertainment System[]

  1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - 1992
  2. Super Mario World - 1991
  3. Final Fantasy III - 1994
  4. Super Metroid - 1994
  5. Chrono Trigger - 1995
  6. Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting - 1993
  7. Contra III: The Alien Wars - 1992
  8. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - 1995
  9. Super Mario Kart - 1992
  10. Super Castlevania IV - 1991
  11. Mega Man X - 1994
  12. ActRaiser - 1991
  13. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time - 1992
  14. Super Punch-Out!! - 1994
  15. Secret of Mana - 1993
  16. Final Fantasy II - 1991
  17. F-Zero - 1991
  18. Axelay - 1992
  19. Earthworm Jim - 1994
  20. Pilotwings - 1991

Nintendo 64[]

  1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - 1998
  2. Super Mario 64 - 1996
  3. Mario Kart 64 - 1997
  4. GoldenEye 007 - 1997
  5. Star Fox 64 - 1997
  6. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - 2000
  7. WWF No Mercy - 2000
  8. Jet Force Gemini - 1999
  9. Wave Race 64 - 1996
  10. Conker's Bad Fur Day - 2001
  11. F-Zero X - 1998
  12. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron - 1998
  13. Paper Mario - 2001
  14. Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber - 2000
  15. Super Smash Bros. - 1999
  16. Rayman 2: The Great Escape - 1999
  17. Mario Golf - 1999
  18. Rocket: Robot on Wheels - 1999
  19. Pokémon Snap - 1999
  20. Blast Corps - 1997

Game Boy Advance[]

  1. Metroid: Zero Mission - 2004
  2. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow - 2001
  3. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - 2003
  4. Astro Boy: Omega Factor - 2004
  5. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - 2005
  6. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! - 2003
  7. Gunstar Super Heroes - 2005
  8. Drill Dozer - 2006
  9. Metroid Fusion - 2002
  10. Advance Wars - 2001
  11. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire - 2003
  12. Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance - 2002
  13. Golden Sun - 2001
  14. Mega Man & Bass - 2003
  15. Fire Emblem - 2003
  16. Mega Man Zero 2 - 2003
  17. Golden Sun: The Lost Age - 2003
  18. Mario Golf: Advance Tour - 2004
  19. Mario vs. Donkey Kong - 2004
  20. Wario Land 4 - 2001

Nintendo GameCube[]

  1. Resident Evil 4 - 2005
  2. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - 2003
  3. Super Smash Bros. Melee - 2001
  4. Metroid Prime - 2002
  5. Soul Calibur II - 2003
  6. Super Mario Sunshine - 2002
  7. Pikmin - 2001
  8. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door - 2004
  9. Resident Evil - 2002
  10. Viewtiful Joe - 2003
  11. Beyond Good & Evil - 2003
  12. Mario Kart: Double Dash‼ - 2003
  13. Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg - 2004
  14. Luigi's Mansion - 2001
  15. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes - 2001
  16. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - 2003
  17. Skies of Arcadia Legends - 2003
  18. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - 2005
  19. Animal Crossing - 2002
  20. Super Monkey Ball - 2001

Nintendo DS/Lite[]

  1. Elite Beat Agents - 2006
  2. New Super Mario Bros. - 2006
  3. Mario Kart DS - 2005
  4. The World Ends With You - 2008
  5. Tetris DS - 2006
  6. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow - 2005
  7. Contra 4 - 2007
  8. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - 2007
  9. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All - 2007
  10. Sonic Rush Adventure - 2007
  11. Trauma Center: Under the Knife - 2005
  12. Professor Layton and the Curious Village - 2008
  13. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - 2006
  14. Advance Wars: Dual Strike - 2005
  15. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl - 2007
  16. Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword - 2008
  17. WarioWare: Touched! - 2005
  18. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time - 2005
  19. Animal Crossing: Wild World - 2005
  20. Cooking Mama - 2006

Wii[]

  1. Super Mario Galaxy - 2007
  2. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 2006
  3. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 2008
  4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - 2007
  5. Mario Kart Wii - 2008
  6. Nights: Journey of Dreams - 2007
  7. Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure - 2007
  8. Wii Sports - 2006
  9. No More Heroes - 2008
  10. Super Paper Mario - 2007
  11. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles - 2007
  12. WarioWare: Smooth Moves - 2007
  13. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn - 2007
  14. Sonic and the Secret Rings - 2007
  15. Boom Blox - 2008
  16. Bully: Scholarship Edition - 2008
  17. Ōkami - 2008
  18. Wii Fit - 2008
  19. Trauma Center: New Blood - 2007
  20. Guitar Hero III - 2007

See also[]

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