Hello everyone,
Welcome to Gaming Influence, a reboot of the same name I created back in WrestleCorp. However, not only will I be giving my thoughts on certain video games and video game series, but also video game movies, video game anime, video game digital presentations, etc.
For this edition of Gaming Influence, I will be doing something different. I will be ranking which video game series from a certain Japanese video game company needs a revival.
Which Japanese video game company I am referring to? I am referring to Nintendo.
Anyway, let's get started!
Even though Nintendo has a lot of franchises and a few of them recently made a comeback, there are still certain Nintendo franchises that deserve a revival which I will be discussing in this article/editorial.
When discussing which franchises from Nintendo I want to be revived, I will focus on series/franchises including sub-series of those series/franchises that haven't had a game or announced a game in development in that franchise within the past five-plus years. So keep that in mind when this list was made.
In addition, due to a Nintendo Direct in September 2023, this list has been changed so originally, F-Zero was #1, but since that series finally has a new game now, I have updated the list to keep up with the modern times, but other than that, pretty much everything else is about the same. While you're at it, check out my thoughts on the Nintendo Direct in September 2023 here:
Gaming Influence: Thoughts - Nintendo Direct 9.14.2023
Anyway, let's get started!
Here are my honorable mentions of Nintendo franchises that I want to be revived that didn't make it on my list:
Honorable Mentions: Mario Baseball, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Country, Dr. Mario, 1080°, Art Academy, Dillon's Rolling Western, Fossil Fighters, Hotel Dusk, Pushmo, Style Savvy
Now, let's start with my #20 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Nintendogs is a series of real-time pet simulation games developed and published by Nintendo.
This series was very popular back in the Nintendo DS and somewhat in the 3DS days as well. It's a pretty cozy game where it's a real-time pet simulator where you just take care of your pets and it's very adorable. The last Nintendogs game was Nintendogs + Cats which was released on Nintendo 3DS back in 2011. It has been twelve years since the last Nintendogs game and I'm surprised that Nintendo hasn't made a new game in the series since then. I feel like Nintendogs is one of those series that can reach a broad audience on both the casual and hardcore side.
The fact that Nintendo hasn't made a new game in the series makes me believe that Nintendo has no interest in making a new game for the series at this time. It's unfortunate as well as I feel like Nintendogs can be a huge franchise for the company that can reach a huge demographic for both casual and hardcore audiences. It's possible that we might see re-releases and ports of the games on modern consoles down the line, but until then, don't see Nintendogs making a comeback anytime soon which is a shame.
Here's my #19 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Pilotwings is a series of amateur flight simulator games developed and published by Nintendo.
One of the more niche Nintendo franchises this franchise is mainly used to showcase the Nintendo hardware and what it's capable of. We only have three games within this franchise and the last game we had in this franchise was Pilotwings Resort which was released on Nintendo 3DS in late 2012 worldwide. It has been eleven years since we last got a Pilotwings game and it's pretty much Nintendo's own Microsoft Flight Simulator which I feel like they could've done more of it if they wanted to.
Unless the next Nintendo console has something that will showcase the capabilities of the hardware, I personally don't see a new Pilotwings game from Nintendo as it doesn't seem to be a priority to them at this time and they'll just stick on re-releasing, and porting the old games on modern consoles which they have done so with Nintendo Switch Online already. As much as I want to see it happen, I don't see it happening anytime soon or for a while.
Here's my #18 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Mario & Luigi is a series of role-playing games developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo.
This is one of the more popular franchises that Nintendo has due to having Mario in it which would definitely have more eyes on because of the popularity of Mario as a whole. This is one of the role-playing game series that have Mario as the focus as they're well known during their time in the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS era. The last Mario & Luigi game was Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey which was released on Nintendo 3DS in 2018. It is a remake of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story that was released on Nintendo DS in 2009. It's been five years since the release of that remake and the fact that it didn't sell well during that time led to the bankruptcy of AlphaDream, the developers of the Mario & Luigi series, the next year in 2019. As of right now, there's no developer for the Mario & Luigi series at this time which is pretty much why this series is currently dead at this time.
Despite AlphaDream being deceased, I still think there's a future for the series as I think that Nintendo will probably outsource the series to a different developer to develop the games for them. Since the series has a fanbase and with Mario & Luigi being a popular series, I do see the series making a comeback one day, but until they find a developer to develop the games for them, we'll have to wait and see on when they'll be coming back with a new game in the series.
Here's my #17 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Wave Race is a series of racing games developed and published by Nintendo.
This is another niche Nintendo franchise that is similar to Pilotwings where this franchise is mainly used to showcase the Nintendo hardware that they were showcasing at the time to show what the hardware is capable of. Just like with Pilotwings, there have only been three games within the series and the last one was Wave Race: Blue Storm which was released on the GameCube in 2001. So it's been twenty-two years since the last Wave Race game which is insane. This was another racing series that Nintendo has which I feel like Nintendo could expand upon instead of just having Mario Kart which should be its main racing game series, but should also have other ones too to have variety in terms of the racing genre on Nintendo's side of things.
Just like with Pilotwings, this series is basically used as a tech demo for Nintendo hardware itself so unless the next Nintendo console has something that will showcase what the hardware is capable of doing, we'll unlikely get a new game within the series as it's probably not happening. However, just like with Pilotwings, they'll probably just re-release and port the games onto modern consoles which they have already with Nintendo Switch Online. I just don't expect a new game within the series at this point and time.
Here's my #16 Nintendo franchise I want a revival for:
StarTropics is a series of action-adventure games developed and published by Nintendo.
A lot of you probably never heard of this series if you're younger, but if you're older, you might know of this series, or at least heard of it, as this series only exists on the NES. There were only two games within the series the last one was Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II was released on the NES in 1994. So basically it has almost been thirty years since the last StarTropics which is absurd. This series is kind of similar to Legend of Zelda in terms of gameplay and so forth, but it has its own story and characters which does stand out from Legend of Zelda in that aspect.
Personally, since this series is so dormant, and unless, for some reason, they plan on a big revival for this series, I just don't see a revival of this series at all. The only thing we're going to get from this series is just a re-release and port of this series on modern consoles which we already have with Nintendo Switch Online. That's the best we're going to get and I do want this series to come back as it's different from Legend of Zelda, but I just don't see it happening.
Here's my #15 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Osu! Tatakae! Ouedan is a series of rhythm games developed by iNiS and published by Nintendo.
This series is mainly exclusive to Japan which is why a lot of Western people wouldn't know that this series exists in the first place. This series is similar to the Rhytmn Heaven series as it's basically a rhythm game series. This series never came out in the West as we got Elite Beat Agents instead which is basically Osu! Tatakae! Ouedan, but for the West. Unfortunately for this series, this series not only hasn't come out outside of Japan, but the last game the series had is Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Takatae! Ouedan 2 which was released exclusively in Japan on the Nintendo DS in 2007. Basically, there hasn't been a new game in this series in sixteen years which is absurd. Granted, Nintendo does have other rhythm game series like WarioWare and Rhythm Heaven, but like every other rhythm game series out there, this one has its own charm and personality that's different from the other series that they have.
The fact that Japan didn't even have a new game in the series shows me that Nintendo has no interest in reviving this series at all which is disappointing as this series definitely has a lot of promise and could stand out among the other rhythm game series that they have. However, it doesn't look like they have any interest in bringing back this franchise at all, but I do see them possibly re-releasing and porting these games on modern consoles in the future. Until then, this series is pretty much dead at the moment, but if it comes back, I'll be happy and would love it to come to the West as well.
Here's my #14 Japanese-exclusive game from Nintendo that I want to come to the West:
Densetsu no Starfy is a platformer series developed by Tose and published by Nintendo.
This is another series that is probably not well known in the West as there was only one game from the series that was released in the West which is The Legendary Starfy it was released on the Nintendo DS in 2008 where it didn't sell well so which is why it feels forgotten for the most part and it's been a while since we last gotten a game in the series in the West. It's been fifteen years since the last game in the series as it's not only dead in the West, but also in Japan as well. The series is basically a platformer series mostly similar to Kirby as it's very charming and full of personality which could do well if Nintendo has the interest of continuing the series.
As of now, I don't see Nintendo bringing this franchise back since they have other platformers like Mario, Donkey Kong Country, Yoshi, and Kirby to be specific, but Densetsu no Starfy also has something that stands out from the rest of the platformers that Nintendo has as well. However, the fact that they didn't make a new game in the series in over a decade said to me that Nintendo has no interest in bringing this series back which is a shame as I feel like it could've done well if done properly. The only thing I can see coming from this franchise is re-releasing and porting the games on modern consoles and Starfy continuing to be an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Other than that, don't see this franchise coming back anytime soon.
Here's my #13 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Pokémon Stadium is a series of strategy games developed and published by Nintendo.
Oh yes, one of the old classic Pokémon spin-offs that were a lot of fun back in the day when it was released. There are only two games within the series the last game in this series was Pokémon Stadium 2 which was released in 2000 in Japan and the West in 2001 on the Nintendo 64. It has been twenty-two years since the last game and that's insane since this is one of the more popular Pokémon spin-offs in the past. This series in a way still has the traditional aspects of the mainline Pokémon games, but definitely has more strategy than usual which makes the games stand out from the mainline as well as having fun minigames to play as well.
The fact that it's been two decades since the last Pokémon Stadium game, it shows that Nintendo and the Pokémon Company have no interest in bringing back this series anytime soon. The only thing that keeps the Pokémon Stadium series going is re-releasing and porting the games on modern consoles as both Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2 are on Nintendo Switch Online. Other than that, don't see Pokémon Stadium coming back, but would love to see it happen because if it happened for Pokémon Snap, it could happen for Pokémon Stadium as well.
Here's my #12 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Chibi-Robo! is a series of adventure video games developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo.
Oh yes! At this point, you might know about the memes of Chibi-Robo with Chibi-Robo being on fire being angry. Yes, that character actually belongs to a Nintendo franchise which unfortunately no longer exists at this time as the last game of this series was Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash as it was released on Nintendo 3DS in 2015. Unfortunately, that game took the series in a different direction in a bad way which led to poor sales and as a result, the franchise has been dormant ever since. The main core of Chibi-Robo! is mainly an adventure series that lets players explore areas and collect items so it's a nice adventure game series that Nintendo doesn't really have at the moment which would make it stand out among other Nintendo franchises that they have right now.
The fact that the series was killed by Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash that where the developers mentioned that if this game doesn't sell well, the series is pretty much done. We know what happened and from then on, Chibi-Robo is now being used as a meme at this point which is unfortunate as the true core of Chibi-Robo! games were actually fun and different. I personally don't see Nintendo reviving this series anytime soon except maybe re-releasing and porting the old games on modern consoles, but that's it as I don't see a new original game from them at this time.
Here's my #11 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Panel de Pon is a series of puzzle games developed and published by Nintendo.
Whether you call it Panel de Pon or Puzzle League, it's basically the same series and it's a lot of fun as this series is very addicting. It's a series that mainly got revised a lot in the West as they try to use other Nintendo properties that are more known like Mario, Yoshi, Pokémon, and Animal Crossing to market the series a lot better. In a way, it was successful, but it's a shame that Panel de Pon as a brand didn't go as well in the West as I feel like it could've done well if given a chance. The last game within the series that has Panel de Pon as the name would be Panel de Pon DS in Japan on Nintendo DS in 2007 which has been sixteen years since then which is insane. Nintendo doesn't really have a lot of puzzle series so even though they still incorporate them in their other games as mini-games, there hasn't been an actual puzzle-focused game since.
Even though I can see Nintendo bringing this franchise back in a mini capacity by putting the game in other franchises like they did with Animal Crossing as a mini-game, but an actual new original game in the series itself, I just don't see it happening. Luckily, we do have Panel de Pon on Nintendo Switch Online, but that's all we're going to get I believe which is a shame as puzzle games are starting to get more popular nowadays with Tetris and Puyo Puyo as examples. We'll see what the future holds for this franchise, but at this time, don't see it making a comeback anytime soon.
Now, we're in the top ten. Here's my #10 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Sin and Punishment is a rail shooter game series co-developed by Treasure and Nintendo.
This is a series that is mainly more well-known in Japan rather than in the West as the series was mainly released in Japan and never released outside of Japan until Sin and Punishment was released on Virtual Console on Wii worldwide in 2007. The second game in the series, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor, has been released worldwide as it was released in Japan first in 2009 before coming to Europe and North America in 2010 on Wii. However, this was the last game in the series so it's been about thirteen years since the last Sin and Punishment game. As of right now, the rail shooter genre on Nintendo's side is currently dead as I would love to see a return for this franchise just to have the genre back within the company.
At this time, I don't see the series getting a revival anytime soon due to the poor sales that the last game has gotten. Luckily, Sin and Punishment is currently available on Nintendo Switch Online for the Nintendo 64 app so players today can play it. However, in terms of an actual new original game for the series, very unlikely. I would hope that the series comes back one day as it has the potential to be great if given the chance.
Here's my #9 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Star Fox is an arcade-style rail shooter and third-person action-adventure game created by Nintendo.
This is one of the more well-known Nintendo franchises that people generally talk about worldwide mainly in the West. The last game we have in this franchise was Star Fox 2 which is basically an SNES game that never got released until it came on Nintendo Switch Online on the SNES app in 2017. It's been six years since we last got a Star Fox game and at this time, it doesn't look like Nintendo has any interest in reviving this franchise unless they have some kind of gimmick for the next game which I found unnecessary.
As I mentioned earlier, unless they can come up with a gimmick for the next game in the series, I honestly don't see Star Fox making a return anytime soon. That's a shame as well because this series can be at the same level as the other Nintendo franchises, but unfortunately, it isn't. Granted, we'll probably see ports and possibly maybe even remasters or remakes of the Star Fox games, but actual new original Star Fox games, not happening until their mindset has changed.
Here's my #8 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Custom Robo is an action role-playing game series developed by Noise and published by Nintendo.
This is pretty much the only mecha-based series that Nintendo has where it's mainly more well-known in Japan than the West as the West only received two games from this series which are basically Custom Robo on GameCube and Custom Robo Arena on Nintendo DS. Custom Robo Arena was the actual last game for the franchise which was released in 2007 so it's been sixteen years since the last Custom Robo game which is insane. As of now, Nintendo doesn't have any mecha-based franchise and with a resurgence of mecha-based games as of late, I feel like Custom Robo could make a grand return and benefit from it.
At this time, Custom Robo can be played on modern consoles as Custom Robo on Nintendo 64 is currently on Nintendo Switch Online on the Nintendo 64 app in Japan. Other than that, I don't expect Nintendo to make a new original Custom Robo game anytime soon except porting the classic Custom Robo games on modern consoles. However, I feel like they should try to bring back the franchise due to the rise of mecha-based games as of late which I hope Nintendo capitalizes on.
Here's my #7 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Excite is a series of racing video games created by Nintendo.
Yep, whether it's Excitebike, Excite Truck, or ExciteBots, they're all part of the Excite series which is basically a racing series that is more realistic compared to the other racing series that Nintendo has currently. The last Excite game in the series was Excitebike: World Rally which was released on Wii in 2009. It has been fourteen years since the last Excite game which is insane as I feel like it can be another big racing series for Nintendo if given a chance.
Currently, Excite games are available on modern consoles with Excitebike and Excitebike 64 being on the NES and Nintendo 64 app on Nintendo Switch Online. Other than that, I don't really expect the Excite series to make a return in terms of original new games except for having cameos on their other franchises which is unfortunate as I feel like they could've done more with the series if given the chance. Otherwise, we'll only see this series return via ports and nothing else.
Here's my #6 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Rhythm Heaven is a series of rhythm games developed and published by Nintendo.
One of the popular, yet kind of niche series from Nintendo when it comes to rhythm games, is Rhythm Heaven. The last Rhythm Heaven game was Rhythm Heaven Megamix which was released on Nintendo 3DS in Japan in 2015 and 2016 worldwide. It has been seven years since the last Rhythm Heaven which is kind of sad to be honest as they don't really have any rhythm game series that is active currently.
As of right now, there's no current way to play any Rhythm Heaven games on modern platforms. However, despite that, I do see Rhythm Heaven coming to Switch or the next Nintendo console in the future, but I personally don't see a new original game from this series as I think we'll get re-releases and ports of past games instead. As much as I would want a new original game for Rhythm Heaven, I just don't see it being a priority for them at this point. Until then, I do think we'll see Rhythm Heaven again, but just re-releases and ports, and nothing more.
Now, we're in the top five. Here's my #5 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Wario Land is a series of platformers created by Nintendo.
Despite WarioWare still happening, Wario Land is pretty much dead at this point in terms of new original games. The last Wario Land game was Wario Land: Shake It! which was released on Wii in 2008 so it's been fifteen years since the last Wario Land which is crazy to me as Wario has definitely been growing in popularity over the years. Like I said, despite WarioWare still going, it's not Wario Land as WarioWare is a party game while Wario Land is a platformer as they're totally two different genres.
As of right now, the only way to play Wario Land games on modern consoles is Nintendo Switch Online as Wario Land 3 is currently on the GameBoy app. In terms of actually getting a new Wario Land game in the future, it may be possible, but I feel like Nintendo is just focusing on WarioWare in terms of Wario games and that's all. That's a shame because the Wario Land series is quite fun and a bit compared to the other platformers that Nintendo has like Super Mario and Kirby for example. Regardless, as much I want a new Wario Land game, I think we're just going to get new WarioWare games and that's that when it comes to Wario in general.
Here's my #4 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
EarthBound is a series of role-playing games developed and published by Nintendo.
Oh yes, the classic, but yet niche series from Nintendo that is well beloved among fans despite not having a new game in a while. Also known as the Mother series in Japan, the last original Earthbound game was Mother 3 which was released in Japan on GBA in 2006. It's been seventeen years since the last original Earthbound game and even though I don't expect a new original game from the series due to the creator, Shigesato Itoi, being done with the series as a whole, I do want remakes for these games that can bring eyes to new players that may not be a fan of the pixeled SNES/GBA art.
Now, do I see Nintendo as well as Shigesato Itoi doing it? I doubt it, but it's a dream as I do feel like more people should play the EarthBound series as it's one of the best JRPGs series out there. Luckily, both EarthBound Beginnings and EarthBound are available on Nintendo Switch Online with the NES and SNES app so players can play these games on modern consoles if they so choose. However, since I don't think they're going to make a new original game for the series, I feel doing a remake of those games in the style of the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remake on Switch would be fantastic. Granted, I don't think it's happening, but let a man dream dang it!
Here's my #3 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Punch-Out!! is a series of boxing video games created by Nintendo.
Well known during the NES and SNES era, the Punch-Out!! series is generally well-loved among fans due to being a sports game with fun action and with the series being different from the other Nintendo franchises that they had during the time. The last game within the Punch-Out!! series was Punch-Out!! on Wii which was released back in 2009. It has been fourteen years since the last Punch-Out!! game which is insane as I'm surprised that there hasn't been a new Punch-Out!! game since then. Besides the Mii Sports games and the Mario Sports games, there aren't a lot of sports franchises that Nintendo has at the moment.
At this time, you can play the Punch-Out!! games in modern consoles with Nintendo Switch Online on the NES and SNES app. I'm just surprised that there hasn't been a Punch-Out!! game on Switch yet as it's perfect for it where you have two Joy-Cons you can use for boxing which is a shame that Nintendo hasn't capitalized on it. I don't even see them making a new Punch-Out!! game at this point since they haven't done so already. However, I could see Nintendo making another Punch-Out!! game down the line, it's just a matter of when, but disappointed that they don't have one on Switch yet which is very surprising to me.
Here's my #2 Nintendo franchise that I want to get a revival:
Golden Sun is a series of fantasy role-playing video games developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo.
One of the classic RPG series from Nintendo during the GBA days and it's still beloved among the Nintendo and RPG community despite not having a new game in the series for a while. The last Golden Sun game was Golden Sun: Dark Dawn which was released on Nintendo DS in 2010. It has been thirteen years since the last Golden Sun game which is insane as I feel like Nintendo could have more RPGs in general besides Pokémon and Xenoblade Chronicles. Plus, more variety in terms of RPGs for Nintendo as a whole is also a great thing as well among their other genres.
At this time, Golden Sun is planning to come to Nintendo Switch Online on the GBA app, but it hasn't been released yet as of this writing. So there's a way to play Golden Sun on modern consoles, but in terms of actually getting a new game in the series, it's very unlikely due to the fact that Nintendo has no interest at this time which is unfortunate as it could be another big RPG series for them besides Pokémon and Xenoblade Chronicles as the more, the merrier. Unless Nintendo outsources the series to someone else, don't see a new original Golden Sun game anytime soon.
Now, here's my #1 Nintendo franchise that I want a revival for:
Kid Icarus is a series of fantasy video games by Nintendo.
One of the franchises that I feel could be really big for Nintendo if they would give it a chance. The game that pretty much made Kid Icarus more popular than before was the last in the series, Kid Icarus: Uprising, which was released on Nintendo 3DS in 2012. It has been eleven years since that game and I feel like Nintendo could have done so much with the franchise if they just give it a chance as it's definitely unique compared to their other franchises.
As of right now, only the first Kid Icarus game can be playable on modern consoles as it's part of Nintendo Switch Online with the NES app. Eventually, I do see the second game, Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, coming to Nintendo Switch Online in the future and maybe, hopefully, we'll get Kid Icarus: Uprising on Switch in the future as well. However, only time will tell. In terms of a new game, I doubt it at this time, but hoping so as I would even take a port/remaster of Kid Icarus: Uprising. Please Nintendo, do it!
Those are the series from Nintendo that I think needs a revival.
Which series from Nintendo do you think needs a revival?
Let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for reading.
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