Nintendo is widely known for its groundbreaking video game console designs that encourage interaction and light-hearted game franchises. These features give Nintendo a reputation for being the most kid-friendly gaming company, which would generally be a reasonable assumption.
With game franchises focusing on cute and silly main characters like Mario, Kirby and Pikachu, most gamers have come to assume that most adult gaming experiences are reserved for Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox. However, this is not the whole picture. While there are certainly plenty of games with much darker, more mature themes on the last two sets of systems, Nintendo has something for everyone.
10/10 The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is the Zelda game fans have always wanted
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the most realistic of Zelda entries. Set in an expansive open world that allows for non-linear gameplay never seen before Zelda mechanics like crafting, cooking and making stat customization Breath of the Wild a must-play for Switch owners.
The newly introduced mechanics provide a much richer experience for older gamers looking for more of the already beloved Zelda franchisee. Zelda has always been one of the more adult-friendly franchises on the Nintendo list. Adult gamers won’t miss the deeper plot elements of loss, regret, and redemption so easily.
9/10 Super Smash Bros: Ultimate has enough nuance to keep older gamers interested
Taking all the most popular main characters in Nintendo history and pitting them against each other in battle royale mayhem can only lead to fun for all ages. But while Super Smash Bros: Ultimate is a great time for kids, it’s even better for adults.
although Super Smash is known for its button-mashing mechanics, it’s much more nuanced. When more advanced players get their hands on it, Super Smash Bros can become a calculated dance of well-placed jabs and special attacks, requiring knowledge of frame rates and hitboxing that most kids don’t have the patience for.
8/10 Metroid Prime is even better if you passed your Prime
The dark atmosphere and the almost Lovecraftian element of the aliens Samus has to fight with brands Metroid Prime perfect for mature gamers. Like most Nintendo games, Prime is playable by a younger audience, but there is an adult aspect for older players to enjoy.
Metroid Prime is also one of the last of the much-loved Nintendo-only franchises, which still hasn’t received a Nintendo Switch equivalent. While a new Prime entry has been announced for the Switch, it has faced a lot of pushbacks. Fans hope to receive a more definitive update by the end of 2022.
7/10 Many adults grew up alongside the Pokémon franchise
pokemon is the pinnacle of kid-friendly game franchises. The cute characters and animal collecting aspect of the game may appeal to the younger generation. In addition, the open world exploration in all Pokémon games gives them an extra flair for the more exploratory gamer, while remaining linear enough for a younger audience. However, there are many elements of pokemon which children are unlikely to appreciate because of their complexity.
The dark elements of the pokemon storyline, such as the creation of Mewtwo and the mysterious origin of the ghost pokemon are enough to intrigue adult gamers. Additionally, pokemons the capture, training and combat system are simple enough for anyone to pick up and complex enough for older players to dive into.
6/10 Cuphead’s dark humor is lost to children
cup tries to present itself as a silly, fun side-scroller for all ages, and it is, but some dark humor and adult-friendly themes lurk beneath the surface. The plot revolves around Cuphead and Mugman, who struck a deal with the Devil and ended up losing their souls in the process: not exactly the most childish of concepts.
cup is not exclusive to Nintendo platforms as it is also available for the Xbox and Playstation systems and even playable in Teslas. However, it certainly caters to the portable Switch with its fast-paced and purposefully challenging gameplay.
5/10 Themes of war, betrayal and loss are explored in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Adult gamers will likely find the fire emblem franchise, which has been around for more than 30 years. At the time, Fire Emblem gained a loyal following for its revolutionary tactical RPG elements and deep storytelling. Both facts go further than ever in Three housesbringing the series to a younger audience due to its wide critical acclaim.
Still, fire emblem is best enjoyed by adults: the tactical combat system is more intricate and the storyline more developed than any other game in the franchise. The entire continent of Fódlan is packed with an in-depth background knowledge that will immerse gamers, and Three Houses offers a story ripe with twists that will surprise even the most seasoned players.
4/10 Metroid Dread can scare even adults
Metroid Dread is exactly as its namesake claims – a metro game surrounded by a sense of fear that accompanies the alien monsters that make up the universe. Wire uses the horror side of metro by making it more than just a shoot-em-up side-scroller. Instead, the game revolves around staying alive in a place hostile to Samus’ existence.
The sheer stress that Metroid Dread put the player under when chased by overpowered creatures can be too much for younger gamers. In addition, the difficulty is well-suited for adults, as many bosses inevitably require multiple tries to defeat.
3/10 Animal Crossing: New Horizons is really fun for all ages
Animal Crossing is a franchise that has had incredible success over the years, and New Horizons really took that to a new level by fully embracing the next-gen Switch platform. Animal Crossing is a game intended for all ages, but it doesn’t take precedence over one or the other – it’s not specifically aimed at children or adults. Still, it adds aspects that both can enjoy equally.
For adults, Animal Crossing has really taken on a new meaning during the corona pandemic. When people started seeking social interaction through the internet when going out was impossible, New Horizons accepted the challenge, providing a middle ground for players to meet and interact through their in-game avatars.
2/10 Xenoblade Chronicles revives the old school JRPG experience for the next generation
The Xenoblade Chronicles series almost single-handedly revived the JRPG genre for the Switch console. While younger players can certainly enjoy this game, xenoblade has an interesting story that adults will appreciate.
A good bit of background knowledge goes into the Xenoblade Chronicles series, and they are indeed the spiritual ancestors of the xeno ears games, which share a carrot in their name. xeno ears was known for the psychological and religious symbolism underlying the story, concepts that are no doubt better appreciated by a mature audience.
1/10 Mario Party has a lot more action than spades or blackjack
Because kids aren’t necessarily old enough to party, Mario party is probably more for adults than anyone else. While kids can have a lot of fun with friends in Mario Party, adults can really let loose with this party game of the future.
While adult card games will probably never go out of style, Mario party adds a livelier element to the parlor game concept by bringing all the competitive elements of the latter, with exciting action and board game elements. As a result, adults will always find a reason to party: Mario party just gives them something more fun to do while they do it.
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