Ranking Every Nintendo Console From Worst to Best

Which Nintendo console is the best of all time? Analyzing the company's 130+ year history with the NES, GameCube, and more.

[OtterX]

Glad to see SNES take the top! It really is timeless. Graphics and gameplay that even the youngbloods can appreciate today (still influencing modern indies!), but we aging gamers hold such fond memories of experiencing firsthand. Man, what a time to grow up.

I still hold my NES and Gameboy in the top 3... I still love playing them today and were so groundbreaking for me, but I completely understand that it doesn't hold the same timelessness for everyone that the SNES has. My 6 year old daughter adores Super Mario World, but doesn't get into the original SMB as much.

Good list!

[Profchaos]

Isn't that the truth.
I find the best Nintendo console seems to always be the one you grew up with.

Some younger people now swear that the Wii is the best console ever while I don't hold it in as high regard for me it was super Mario bros 1 2 and especially 3 that defined my entry point into gaming.

I kind of wish I had a SNES also I didn't have much exposure to it in the 90s going from NES to mega drive and having friends who mostly did the same I only got to play it a handful of times I liked it but wasn't until I was way older I discovered stuff like earthbound and really understood clicked with it.

[RAFTECH26]

For me…it would be

SNES
N64
Nintendo DS
Game boy
Switch
NES
GameCube
Wii

[Profchaos]

Where do you have the Wii U besides the bin

[BeHunted]

Wii? That sold like hotcakes here in the UK. Difficult to find for ages.

[Kakashi Hatake]

Couldn't agree more with number 1.

[GamingSinceForever]

1. N64
2. NES (insane library, but the worst console design ever)
3. Super Nintendo
4. Switch

[Profchaos]

For me it's
1 NES
2 switch
3 SNES
4 wii
5 n64
6 GameCube
7 wii U

I cut my teeth gaming on the NES and then owned a mega drive followed by ps so I don't have the same nostalgia for the SNES as most people but pretty much most systems after the fact are interchangeable depending on my mood there's something amazing on each system even the Wii U.

[Nintentional]

as a longtime Nintendo fan since 1995.

1. Switch - it can play most Nintendo classics, has the best modern lineup of Nintendo IP representation, and nearly the best entries in almost all major Nintendo franchises. Also online play for Mario Kart and Smash, as well as great third party support. Solidified hybrid nature as being so useful for gaming. Having both a handheld and home console in one is immensley convenient, since I can take games to work and continue them at home. It's the console that saved Nintendo's ass from the financial mess that was the Wii U.

2. Wii - people love to bash this console, but it was a tiny beast with a unique, wonderfully creative library. Great design, and it has a built in Gamecube allowing you to play that library via component cables (actual Gamecube component is $200+ on ebay). Xenoblade Chronicles, Smash Bros Brawl, Mario Galaxy 2, DKC Returns, Punchout, Sin and Punishment Star Successor, Trauma Center, Wario Ware Smooth Moves, Monster Hunter Tri, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Red Steel 2, Guitar Hero 3, Muramasa The Demon Blade. The list goes on and on, and on top of it all you get the virtual console that had everything from Genesis, to Neo GEO games, to SNES and NES, as well as 64.

3. 3DS. A phenomenal library, great social features like Streetpass, a robust UI that has a ton of features missing from Switch, and tons of great 3rd party exclusives like Monster Hunter and Resident Evil, as well as solid entries in Nintendo staple franchises.

4. SNES. Still have mine, had some of the best graphics without the need for add ons like Sega 32X, a ton of lengthy, infinitely replayable JRPG's, some of the greatest entries in Metroid, Zelda, Mario and Donkey Kong franchises. A ton of great 3rd party exclusives like Megaman X, Castlevania IV, R-Type 3, Contra 3, and Disney games like Aladdin. Plus if you break off an easily removable piece of plastic inside the console, you fan fit Japanese Super Famicom cartridges 👌

5. DS- one of my first systems I was able to buy with my own money from my first job. Absolutely nostalgic trip for me to go back to with a super creative and unique library given the stylus touch controls.

[ghostrider32]

N64 had the best wrestling games.

[Snookies12]

SNES probably deserves the top spot, but to me the top three (SNES, N64 and GameCube) could be somewhat interchangeable in terms of placement. Those will always be my favorites.