Several Nintendo franchises have achieved global fame—Super Mario, Pokémon and Kirby among them—but a number of series from the company have remained in the background despite strong individual entries. Below are ten Nintendo franchises that, according to recent coverage, deserve greater recognition or renewed support.
10. Astral Chain
Astral Chain debuted in 2019 and, although it remains a single-game series so far, it earned attention for its distinctive futuristic, anime-influenced art style and engaging gameplay. Players combine their character’s abilities with robotic partners called Legions to fight enemies and traverse environments, a mechanic that contributes both to combat and exploration.
9. Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong is a foundational Nintendo franchise, yet it has gone more than a decade without a new major installment. That gap is notable given titles like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze are frequently cited among the best 2D platformers ever released.
Observers argue the series could have received additional releases over the years and wider recognition had Nintendo continued to produce new entries.
8. Mario Strikers
The Mario Strikers series blends soccer with the chaotic, item-driven action typical of Mario party-style games. The franchise maintained momentum until the release of Mario Strikers: Battle League, which failed to stand out as previous entries did.
Some suggest that if developer Next Level Games addresses the issues present in Battle League, a subsequent release could restore the series’ reputation.
7. Wave Race
Wave Race centers on jet-ski racing and has been praised for its sense of speed and water simulation. Its GameCube follow-up, Wave Race: Blue Storm, introduced notably improved water effects.
Despite its qualities, Wave Race never reached the widespread popularity of Nintendo’s biggest franchises—possibly due to its challenging physics, which can be difficult for some players to master.
6. Yoshi
Yoshi, a spin-off from the Mario universe, has produced several sequels but few have matched the acclaim of classics like Yoshi’s Island or Woolly World. The Nintendo Switch entry Yoshi’s Crafted World received a muted reception compared with earlier highs.
A follow-up that captures the design and gameplay strengths of the most beloved Yoshi titles could help revive the franchise’s standing.
5. Arms
Arms launched early in the Nintendo Switch lifecycle as a motion-controlled fighting game featuring characters with extendable arms. The concept drew attention for its unique combat mechanics.
However, Arms struggled from a lack of robust single-player content, leaving it heavily reliant on competitive multiplayer to retain players. That lack of solo modes limited its long-term engagement for some audiences.
4. Pushmo
Pushmo began in 2011 as a new IP for the Nintendo 3DS and spawned sequels such as Crashmo, Stretchmo and Pushmo World. The puzzle series centers on pushing and pulling blocks to create scalable platforms and reach a flag at the top of each level, with each sequel introducing new mechanics like block stretching.
Accessibility to these games has diminished since the Nintendo eShop for 3DS and Wii U was disabled in 2023, leaving the series less available. The coverage suggests releasing new Pushmo titles would be a logical way to preserve and expand the franchise.
3. Chibi-Robo
Chibi-Robo first arrived on the GameCube in 2006 during a period when the console was already struggling, which limited the original game’s exposure. A follow-up, Chibi-Robo! Park Patrol for the Nintendo DS, had potential but its U.S. availability was restricted to Walmart, and it did not see a European release.
A 2009 Wii version of the original was released only in Japan, further restricting the franchise’s international reach and contributing to its limited success on Nintendo platforms.
2. F-Zero
F-Zero is Nintendo’s high-speed futuristic racing series and has achieved classic status among fans. The franchise is currently available through Nintendo Switch Online for subscribers. Its challenging gameplay may have limited broader mainstream adoption.
Although Nintendo reportedly considered removing support for F-Zero shortly after a release, the game later received strong updates. Still, with Mario Kart occupying the company’s flagship racing role, F-Zero has not returned with new mainline installments.
1. Kid Icarus
Kid Icarus launched in 1986 and received a Game Boy sequel in 1991 in North America. The series then went 15 years without a new entry, until the protagonist Pit resurfaced in Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii—a surprising reappearance after a prolonged absence.
Kid Icarus Uprising later revived the franchise in a different direction: an on-rails shooter with notable gameplay, a clever difficulty system, strong visuals and memorable dialogue. Despite those qualities, the series has not produced new releases since, leaving fans wishing for further entries.
