# The 10 Best Nintendo Games Ever Made

> ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, asked 5 times each, rank The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as the #1 of the best Nintendo games ever made, followed by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario 64. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998). Claude and Gemini put it first; the combined vote across all 15 answers made it #1.

Source: https://clankerlists.com/lists/best-nintendo-games-ever-made · Collected 2026-10-06 · Games

| Rank | Pick | ChatGPT | Claude | Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time](https://clankerlists.com/items/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time) (N64, 1998) | #2 | #1 | #1 |
| 2 | [The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild](https://clankerlists.com/items/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild) (Switch, 2017) | #1 | #3 | #2 |
| 3 | [Super Mario 64](https://clankerlists.com/items/super-mario-64) (N64, 1996) | #7 | #2 | #3 |
| 4 | [Super Mario Galaxy](https://clankerlists.com/items/super-mario-galaxy) (Wii, 2007) | #3 | #5 | #6 |
| 5 | [Super Mario World](https://clankerlists.com/items/super-mario-world) (SNES, 1990) | #4 | #9 | #4 |
| 6 | [The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past](https://clankerlists.com/items/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past) (SNES, 1991) | #6 | #6 | #8 |
| 7 | [Metroid Prime](https://clankerlists.com/items/metroid-prime) (GameCube, 2002) | #5 | #10 | #7 |
| 8 | [Super Metroid](https://clankerlists.com/items/super-metroid) (SNES, 1994) | — | #7 | #5 |
| 9 | [Super Mario Bros. 3](https://clankerlists.com/items/super-mario-bros-3) (NES, 1988) | #8 | #4 | — |
| 10 | [Mario Kart 8 Deluxe](https://clankerlists.com/items/mario-kart-8) (Switch, 2017) | #12 | #8 | #11 |

## 1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The game that taught 3D adventure how to work. Hyrule Field, Z-targeting and a time-hopping quest still feel masterful. Claude and Gemini both had it as their #1, and it never dropped out of anyone's top five.

## 2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Nintendo tore up the Zelda rulebook and handed players an open world with a climb-anything, try-anything spirit. ChatGPT crowned it its #1, and it was in every top-two conversation.

## 3. Super Mario 64

Mario's leap into 3D set the template for camera control, analog movement and playful freedom. Claude loved it near the top; it's a pillar of the genre and still a joy to run around in.

## 4. Super Mario Galaxy

Gravity-bending planetoids, an orchestral score and nonstop invention make this the Wii's crown jewel. ChatGPT ranked it near the very top, and it's the most inventive Mario of its era.

## 5. Super Mario World

The SNES launch-era masterpiece: Yoshi, the cape feather, secret exits and a map full of surprises. Precise, generous and endlessly replayable, it's 2D Mario at its most confident and charming.

## 6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

A top-down Zelda with a Light World, a Dark World and dungeons that still set the standard. It earned a spot in all three engines' lists, and its design DNA runs through the series.

## 7. Metroid Prime

Samus goes first-person without losing an ounce of Metroid atmosphere. Scanning, exploring and eerie isolation on Tallon IV make it one of the best-crafted adventures Nintendo ever published.

## 8. Super Metroid

The 2D blueprint for exploration games, with a lonely alien world and brilliant sequence breaks. Gemini rated it highly, while ChatGPT never listed it. The genre is named partly after it for good reason.

## 9. Super Mario Bros. 3

Raccoon suits, airships and a world map that felt huge on the NES. Claude had it near its top five, while Gemini left it out. It remains a landmark of power-up design.

## 10. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The definitive kart racer: every track and battle mode from the Wii U original, with sharp anti-gravity courses. It scrapes into the list as the party game everyone owns and keeps playing.

## Lone wolves

- Super Mario Odyssey: only ChatGPT

## Questions

**What Nintendo game should I play right now?**

Start with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998). Already played it? Try The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or, for something less obvious, Super Mario Bros. 3.

**According to AI, what is #1 of the best Nintendo games ever made?**

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998). Claude and Gemini put it first; the combined vote across all 15 answers made it #1.

**Do ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini agree on the best Nintendo games ever made?**

Partly. 8 of the 10 picks made all 3 AIs' lists. The biggest split was Super Mario Bros. 3: ChatGPT #8, Claude #4, Gemini didn't list it.

**Which best Nintendo games ever made did only one AI pick?**

Super Mario Odyssey (only ChatGPT).

**How was this ranking of the best Nintendo games ever made made?**

We asked ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini "What are the 10 best Nintendo games ever made? Rank them from 1 to 10, best first." 5 times each, every time in a fresh chat, in 2026-10. A #1 earns 10 points and a #10 earns 1; each AI's points are averaged over its runs and each AI gets an equal say.