Summary
Nintendo is most often associated with the platforming, adventure or RPG genres, since those are the types of games they tend to publish. But, to the surprise of most fans, they are also responsible for a good number of shooter games that are not only surprisingly good, but some of them even changed the industry forever.
Whether it’s afirst-personor athird-personshooter, these are some of the best exponents of the genre that Nintendo has published over its lifetime and throughout many consoles. It should be clarified thatshoot ‘em ups were not considered for this list, as they’re an entirely different category of their own.
While it’s considered the weakest in its series,Metroid Prime Huntersis still an impressive first-person shooter that was developed exclusively for theNintendo DS. This was a fully 3D game at a time when most titles on the handheld system were 2D.
The shooting in this game feels quite good and precise because it’s done with the touch screen. And it even features a solid multiplayer mode that introduces a new group of bounty hunters that you can play with. This mode was really entertaining, and it’s the main reasonMetroid Prime Huntersis still beloved to this day.
Nintendo is no stranger to making fun shooting galleries, so when it was time to create a video game that would showthe capabilities of the Wii Zapper peripheral, Shigeru Miyamoto and his team took it as an opportunity to create something that would bridge the gap between scrolling shooters and regular shooters. And to make it even better, they decided to set it in the world ofThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
As the title suggests,Link’s Crossbow Trainingis basically an excuse for players to try out the Wii Zapper, but it ended up being a surprisingly deep experience, with lots of enemies, modes and levels to enjoy. It would be awesome to see Nintendo revisit this idea someday and turn it into a full-fledged game.
Developed by Marvelous and published on the Switch by Nintendo themselves,Daemon X Machinawas a return to form for the once forgotten mech game genre. It turned out quite well, as this game was well received by fans of the genre.
While there are swords and other melee weapons in this game, most of the combat inDaemon X Machinais done with guns, which all feels very dynamic thanks to the quick movement of the machines themselves. The best part is its vast customization of weapons, abilities, and items, which let each player pilot any type of mech they want.
While nowadays it may be cemented as one of Nintendo’s flagship IPs,Splatoonreally broke new ground when it was released back in 2015. Not only was this a brand-new franchise that was developed and published by the company, but this was their attempt to break through the multiplayer shooter genre, which has always been extremely profitable in the industry.
Splatoonended up being a huge success for the company, as its colorful art style, creative mechanics and addictive multiplayer element that got more content via free updatesmadeSplatoonone of the biggest games on theWii U, and led to theSplatoonmorphing into an excellent franchise.
TheMetroid Primeseries is the best thing that ever happened to theMetroidfranchise. All three home console entries are magnificent games, and the second one, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, is no exception. This is yet another excellent adventure, in which Samus Aran has to explore an alien planet, unlock new powers and defeat powerful enemies.
While the plot doesn’t feature many classic elements from the franchise, like Ridley or the Space Pirates, and the Dark Aether sections can be frustrating,Metroid Prime 2: Echoesis an incredible game, with great shooting mechanics, a captivating atmosphere andsome truly memorable bosses.
Splatoonbecame such a big IP that its sequel was part of the marketing of theNintendo Switchduring its first year. Meaning,Splatoon 2was not only a treat for loyal fans of the first installment, but it was also an introduction to this franchise for many.
Splatoon 2didn’t need to do much to improve on its established formula, but what it did was enough to keep things fresh and interesting with fun new main and sub-weapons, a deeper single player mode, the new Salmon Run mode, and even the incredible Octo Expansion DLC a year later. All of these additions solidified this game as a worthwhile third-person shooter experience.
Retro Studios was fortunate enough to develop an entire trilogy ofMetroid Primegames, with the third one being made for the Nintendo Wii. This meant that it had to make use of the console’s motion controls, and they managed to make them work extremely well.
Almost every mechanic inMetroid Prime 3: Corruptionis done with motion controls. The shooting is perfectly precise, and other interactions, like activating doors or using the Grappe Voltage, feel satisfying as well. Coupled with an engaging plot, an interesting new cast of characters and some of the best bosses in the franchise,this game was an excellent way to finish off the trilogy.
After many years of playingSplatoon 2, players were surprised to find out that a third installment would also be coming to the Nintendo Switch. And it did not disappoint, seeing asSplatoon 3’s multiplayer mode is still being played by millions of people worldwide, cementing itself as the most popular game of the franchise.
Splatoon 3took everything that made the previous entries so good and improved on themto make a truly satisfying player experience. There’s the expansive Hub City of Splatsville, an even better story, the new and improved Salmon Run Next Wave, all the new main and sub weapons, the Three Way Splatfests and much more.Splatoon 3is Nintendo’s best multiplayer third-person shooter.
Who would’ve said that a licensed game based on aJames Bondmoviewould end up changing the genre forever? That’s exactly what happened whenGoldenEye 007was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1997.
Developed by Rare, it was made during a time in which first-person shooters were thriving on PC, so this was a groundbreaking title with a satisfying control scheme that worked really well with the Nintendo 64’s controller. With great level design, an arsenal of fun weapons to use and an addictive multiplayer component,GoldenEye 007was the blueprint for every console FPSs that came after it.
As great as its sequels are, there’s no denying that the originalMetroid Primeis the best game in the series. When Rare Studios were assigned the difficult task of bringing theMetroidseries to the third dimension on the Nintendo GameCube, it seemed impossible. They managed to figured it out, however, by turning it into a first-person shooter.
Seeing everything through the eyes of Samus Aran was a breath of fresh air, as it led to a deeper level of exploration. Using all her weapons, gadgets and abilities to uncover new areas or face intimidating enemies never felt so satisfying. With a captivating atmosphere, incredible boss fights and intricate level design,Metroid Primeis one of the best video games Nintendo ever published. And it got even better thanks to the recentMetroid Prime Remastered.
