10 Nintendo Games We Want On iOS

Devon Taylor (@DevonTaylor113)

It’s been a long wait, but Nintendo finally announced they would start making games for devices other than their own Nintendo DS line of devices. That means you may soon be playing with Mario and his buddies on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Ever since the smartphone took over the world, the landscape of mobile gaming has shifted dramatically. It’s so easy to just play a few levels of Angry Birds while you’re on the bus, or try to finally get past that frustrating Candy Crush stage. There are hundreds of millions of these devices already in people’s hands. If Nintendo were to release even a few of their most popular games for a few bucks each, profits would soar.

Here are the 10 classic titles that we are really hoping hit the Apple App Store soon.

(All images copyright of Nintendo)

10. Mike Tyson’s Punch Out

One of the first branded sports titles, Mike Tyson’s Punch Out was one of a kind. You played as Little Mac, an undersized, underweight, up-and-coming boxer. After going through a series of cartoon-like fighters with specific patterns and weaknesses (who can forget trying to hit King Hippo in the belly button?), you get to face off against the baddest man on the planet. Yes, Mike Tyson was the final boss and he was almost impossible to beat.

After Tyson’s loss to Buster Douglas, Nintendo declined to renew the licensing agreement to use his name. The final fighter was replaced with the fictional Mr. Dream. But since Tyson has enjoyed a bit of a pop culture comeback in recent years, we think Nintendo should put him back in the game for an iOS release.

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9. Star Fox

There has been a version of Star Fox for pretty much every Nintendo console, barring the original NES, the ill-fated Virtual Boy, and surprisingly the original Wii. There is a game planned for the new Wii U that is due to be released later this year, however.

Star Fox is the perfect mix between family-safe cartoon characters (Fox McCloud, Slippy Toad, and Peppy Hare) and 3D aerial dogfights. A release on iOS could include multiplayer over bluetooth or WiFi, meaning you can shoot down your friends in an epic online battle. Plus we just really want to do some barrel rolls on our iPhones.

8. Super Mario 64

The first 3D Mario game and the flagship title for the company’s Nintendo 64 console. Disgarding the previous Mario tradition of being a side-scrolling game, it was also one of the first open-world games, where you could roam around the castle without actually playing any of the levels or missions. If that sounds familiar, it’s because games like Grand Theft Auto perfected the genre.

It is a classic game that is still loved by many gamers today. It is one of the most popular titles on the Wii’s Virtual Console and still has an active speed run community. If Grand Theft Auto 3 and GTA: Vice City can be successful iOS hits, then Super Mario 64 would be a smash.

7. Goldeneye 007

Forget the campaign! Nintendo could release this with just the multiplayer and it would sell millions. Proximity mines, golden guns, and slappers only! If you don’t want to absolutely crush your friends by running around as OddJob and shooting them in the back in a Goldeneye remake, then there is something wrong with you. This game was one of the early first person shooters that had a big influence on the Call of Duty and Battlefield games that dominate today.

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6. Metroid

Metroid is one of the oldest Nintendo franchises, first appearing on the NES. It was also one of the first games to feature a female protagonist. Underneath that awesome armoured suit is Samus Aran, a female bounty hunter who hunts down aliens for the Galactic Federation. Typically a side-scrolling adventure game that combines action-adventure with shooting and non-linear gameplay, Metroid would make the perfect iOS game. There hasn’t been a new Metroid game since 2010, so maybe Nintendo could make a completely new Samus adventure rather than simply port over an old version.

5. Mario Kart

We don’t even care which version, although we have nostalgic memories of Mario Kart 64. Much like Star Fox and Goldeneye, the multiplayer aspect of this game would be amazing. Whipping out your iPhone to throw banana peels and spiked shells at your friends would be amazing. Nintendo recently released Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U, with new characters, karts, and anti-gravity racing. Yes, please!

4. Super Mario All-Stars

So we couldn’t decide which classic Mario game to include, so we went with them all. Super Mario All-Stars includes the original three versions of Mario Bros. for the NES, plus the lost-levels that were originally only released in Japan. Later versions also included the excellent Super Mario World game that was released for the Super Nintendo. We want them all! That’s like five Mario games in one.

3. Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash brothers is the perfect multiplayer game for Nintendo to put on iOS. The game that debuted on the Ninendo 64 still has a huge following, especially amongst the exploding scene of competitive gaming. With over 50 Nintendo characters to choose from, the company could rake in big bucks by offering some of them as DLC. Online leaderboards would fuel the competitive fire.

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2. Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises, and has spawned numerous games across all of their consoles and handheld devices. Nostalgic gamers would kill for a version of Ocarina of Time or Majora’s Mask on their phone or tablet. A classic mix of RPG, action, and puzzle solving, The Legend of Zelda games have a history that dates back to 1986. That’s almost 30 years! The series has sold well over 60 million copies and a release on iOS could balloon that number even higher.

1. Pokemon

What else could take the number one spot on this list but the game that was specifically made just for handheld devices? Pokemon is a worldwide phenomenon. Originally released for the GameBoy, Pokemon is a certified money printing machine. As of 2013, the series has raked in over $40.98 billion (USD) in gross revenues. A successful trading card game and television show keep the franchise alive between game releases, which continue to come out for the Nintendo DS and 3DS. Almost every video game fan would gladly shell out a few dollars for the ability to play Pokemon on their phone.

Devon Taylor (@DevonTaylor113)

Devon has been writing about random things online since 2013. His favorite video game is Rocket League, his favorite TV show is The Sopranos, and he hated the last season of Game of Thrones. Follow him @DevonTaylor113.