Before I begin this list, I would like to define to you what I would not consider a spin-off. Games such as the Metroid Prime series or the Four Swords series are simply "sub series" within their franchises, so games such as this, which are set within the main universe but have small gameplay changes will not be considered a spin-off on this list.
In addition, Super Smash Bros. is also not considered a spin-off, because it is a collaboration of all of Nintendo's franchises, rather than a spinning off of one.
Now that we have that out of the way, please enjoy the Top 10 Nintendo Spin-Offs.
Number 10
Wario Land (series)
Parent Franchise: Super Mario
Wario Land was a game that put the Super Mario villain, Wario, into a protagonist role. However, Wario Land is very unique among most Nintendo platforming games, because rather than the goal being to save something, the goal is simply to gain money. In fact, Wario is generally perceived as the "bad guy" in most of the Wario Land games, stopping people who actually have somewhat good intentions for the world, but get in the way of Wario's greed.
Number 9
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (series)
Parent Franchise: Pokemon
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is a Pokemon game that finally stars the Pokemon. In this series, you play as a human who has somehow turned into a Pokemon. The Pokemon you become is determined by a personality quiz at the start of the game. Throughout the game, you go across the vast game world rescuing helpless Pokemon from dungeons whilst recruiting new Pokemon to your cause. The stories in the game are generally good and the gameplay is quite fun. It gives a whole new meaning to "Gotta Catch 'em All!"
Number 8
Yoshi's Island (series)
Parent Franchise: Super Mario
Yet another character introduced in the Super Mario franchise that was so popular he got his own game. Yoshi's Island is a sort of a prequel to the Super Mario franchise, telling the story of how the many Yoshis of Yoshi's Island fought to save Mario & Luigi from Bowser when they were just infants. Yoshi's Island is arguably a better platformer than Super Mario, and its creation was a fantastic idea.
Number 7
Luigi's Mansion (series)
Parent Franchise: Super Mario
Luigi's Mansion came as a huge surprise to many Nintendo fans. While Nintendo had tons of spin-offs from the Mario franchise, they surprisingly never had one that focussed on Luigi. Luigi's Mansion was the answer to this. Luigi finally got put in the starring role and got to save Mario, defending him from some of Mario's scariest enemies: the Boos. The game was so well loved, that it even received a sequel last year, developing a new franchise that made Luigi his own unique character from Mario.
Number 6
WarioWare (series)
Parent Franchise: Wario Land
WarioWare is actually a spin-off of a spin-off. It is a spin-off of the Wario Land series that I mentioned earlier on this list. WarioWare is a unique type of party game, giving the player a long sequence of five-second games to complete, trying not to miss any of the objectives. WarioWare was a huge hit, giving some fun, fast-paced gameplay with a wide-range of fantastic characters. Wario's greed took a whole new level, and WarioWare has become one of the most loved franchises in Nintendo history.
Number 5
Mario Kart (series)
Parent Franchise: Super Mario
Do not quote me on this, but I believe Mario Kart was the first racing video game to feature characters from other games. While people loved seeing Mario jump around the Mushroom Kingdom, they absolutely adored seeing Mario and his friends get competitive on the track. Mario Kart continues to be one of the best-selling and most-competetive series Nintendo owns, constantly providing endless fun for all who play.
Number 4
Paper Mario (series)
Parent Franchise: Super Mario
Anyone who first heard of Paper Mario back when it was announced probably thought it was the stupidest idea ever. Why make a Mario game where everything is paper? Well, Paper Mario turned out to be a fantastic RPG series that is somewhat of a cult-favorite among Nintendo fans. While it's latest entry wasn't so hot, the series has a legacy of fantastic stories, characters and environments that no other Nintendo franchise, even the main series Mario games, can truly reproduce.
Number 3
Mario Party (series)
Parent Franchise: Super Mario
A game where Mario characters compete to be the best at games. Absolutely brilliant. The Mario Party series is one of the most fun, competitive and absolutely chaotic Nintendo franchises out there, and truly brings out the worst in the Mario franchise. No matter how poorly designed the games are, Mario Party tends to be fun if you play it with friends. Trust me, these games never get old, and you will always find new ways of yelling and screaming at your friends in every single game you play.
Number 2
Diddy Kong Racing
Parent Franchise: Donkey Kong
Diddy Kong Racing is one of the best-kart racing games ever created, and for a good reason! Not only does it put Diddy Kong in his second starring role, but it also introduces a fun new world and cast of characters that make the experience all the better. Unlike Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing is actually an adventure-based racing game, fit with its own story, unique battle games and bosses.
Number 1
Pokemon Snap
Parent Franchise: Pokemon
If you had an N64, you likely played this game at some point and thought it was the best thing ever. Honestly, who came up with this idea? The whole point of the game is to take pictures of Pokemon. It sounds extremely boring in concept, but in actuality, it is the single greatest Nintendo spin-off title ever created. The game gives a whole new outlook on the Pokemon series as a whole, and actually lets the player feel like they are part of the game. No matter how many times you have played the game, every time you rediscover one of the many "secrets,"you are always exciting. There are so many fun ways to enjoy Pokemon, but Pokemon Snap was simply the pinnacle.
Article By:
Giuliano V.
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