10 Best Nintendo Games NOT Made By Nintendo
“Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver” (2009)
Top 10 Must Have Features for Pokemon Switch
One of the biggest franchises on Nintendo platforms is the “Pokemon” series. And as most of you probably know, not a single entry was developed by Nintendo. The quality of GameFreak’s work on the series has been questionable in recent years, but we believe “HeartGold & SoulSilver” to be the sweet spot. The second generation of games is often considered to be the peak, and these DS remakes are the definitive versions. The enhanced visuals really pop, online connectivity made battling and trading easier, and there was just the right amount of new Pokemon to entice players rather than overwhelm them.
“Luigi’s Mansion 3” (2019)
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While the original “Luigi’s Mansion” was developed internally, its sequels were handled by Canadian studio Next Level Games. And of the two, “Luigi’s Mansion 3” is definitely the stronger. It follows Luigi and co. after they’re invited to what seems to be a fancy hotel, only to find it's a trap filled with ghosts. Sucking up specters with a vacuum cleaner just never gets old, especially since the themes of each floor grow increasingly more imaginative. Playing solo is pretty fun, but having a second player via Gooigi makes for great couch co-op in addition to the multiplayer modes. It’s no wonder then that, given the chance, Nintendo purchased the studio in 2021.
“Kirby Super Star Ultra” (2008)
The 10 BEST Kirby Games
Yes, it’s another DS remake. But we stand by the fact that “Super Star Ultra” is a genuinely wonderful “Kirby” game. While Nintendo has developed a couple games within the series, the majority of them were handled by HAL Laboratory, a studio we’ll talk about a few times. This remake of the Super Nintendo original was released for Kirby’s 15th anniversary and features multiple smaller campaigns to play through. In addition to the original ones, four new modes were added here. Some take more effort than others, but they’re all a blast thanks to the mechanics being perfectly translated to a handheld format. And it looks wonderful to boot.
“Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest” (1995)
In addition to Nintendo, the “Donkey Kong” series has had a handful of other developers. However, what many players consider to be the franchise’s golden age came in the 90s with Rare. While the first DKC game is an incredible platformer, the sequel is just a little better in every way. The visuals are a bit crisper, the level design a bit more expansive and varied, and the inclusion of the hovering Dixie Kong added some variety as well as ease for making it through tricky environments. While we did consider talking about Retro’s work on the series (don’t worry, we’ll get to them later), “Diddy’s Kong Quest” is just too perfect.
“EarthBound” (1994)
It seems every year, the cult of “EarthBound” grows a little bit larger. And for good reason. The groundbreaking RPG may not have performed too hot on release, but it has influenced an untold number of games since then. From its goofy humor to its modern setting to the way it altered traditional turn-based battle mechanics, “EarthBound” brought a lot of new features to the genre. The tale of Ness and his companions has been kept alive for years through love from fans and “Super Smash Bros.” appearances. Despite its status as an underrated Nintendo gem, it was actually co-developed by Creatures, Inc., formerly known as Ape, Inc., and HAL Laboratory.
“Fire Emblem: Three Houses” (2019)
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“Fire Emblem” may be another huge RPG series Nintendo has under its belt. But like “Pokemon,” none of those games have been developed by the company. Intelligent Systems have been the crafters of “Fire Emblem” since the beginning, but still aren’t even owned by Nintendo. Regardless, “Three Houses” saw the team firing on all cylinders. It follows a mercenary-turned-professor teaching students from three rival nations during a time of peace, until things take a turn for the worse. With different houses to side with, and wildly different NPCs to recruit, there’s a lot of content to dive into here. The narrative threads are deep and the big scale battles are momentous.
“Metroid Prime” (2002)
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Up until “Prime,” Nintendo had handled “Metroid’s” development with some help from Intelligent Systems. But for Samus’ first venture into 3D, it handed the keys to Retro Studios. We’re bending the rules a bit on what constitutes ‘not made by Nintendo;’ the studio was founded by former Iguana Entertainment head Jeff Spangenburg with help from Nintendo to make GameCube titles. However, it was Retro’s own engine built for a different game that inspired Nintendo to suggest they take on “Metroid.” Despite a fairly troubled development period, “Prime” would become one of the most beloved entries in the franchise. And Nintendo would outright purchase the studio just a few months before release.
“Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars” (1996)
10 Forgotten Legend Of Zelda Games
You probably all knew this was coming. Developed by Square before the Enix merger, “Super Mario RPG” took the wondrous world of Nintendo’s mascot and blended it perfectly with “Final Fantasy”-esque mechanics. The game overflows with charm, from its silly NPCs and dialogue to its toe-tapping soundtrack. Plus, it introduced teammates Geno and Mallow, characters so fantastic that fans still declare their love for them today, despite them only appearing here. While it got a pretty stellar remake in 2023, it also helped pave the way for future Mario RPGs from other studios, such as Intelligent Systems’ “Paper Mario” series and AlphaDream’s “Mario & Luigi” series.
“The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap” (2005)
10 Nintendo Games That NEVER Left Japan
“Zelda” is one of the franchises Nintendo is most guarded about, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t let other studios develop for it. In addition to handling the “Oracle” games on the Game Boy Color, Flagship co-developed “The Minish Cap” with Capcom. And it is hands-down one of the best 2D releases in the series. The “Wind Waker” art style looks wonderful in 32 bits and the game offered unique lore and an engaging villain that surprisingly wasn’t Ganon. Ezlo remains one of our personal favorite companions Link has ever teamed up with. And the concept of shrinking down for new areas is as magical as anything else “Zelda” offers.
“Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” (2018)
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Although it’s a giant love letter to all things Nintendo, “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” was co-developed by two different external studios. While the first two installments were made by HAL, development switched to Sora Ltd. when series creator Masahiro Sakurai left the company to form his own studio. Sakurai worked with Bandai Namco for “Ultimate,” which brought together every single fighter ever featured in “Smash,” as well as a ton of new ones. It wasn’t quantity over quality, either. The game is an absolute blast to play, and there’s a ton of variety in fighter move sets, items, modes, and levels. “Ultimate” is truly a remarkable feat and we probably won’t see something as grand in scope for a long time. What’s your favorite Nintendo game that was developed by a different studio? Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to subscribe for more great Nintendo videos!
