Important takeaways
- Nintendo IPs innovate through crossovers, allowing for different play styles and engaging experiences.
- Each collaboration brings unique mechanics and challenges, such as rhythm-based gameplay or tactical strategy elements.
- The success of combining popular series shows the versatility and creativity of Nintendo's first-party series.
Nintendo IPs have powerful influences across the industry. Countless fans have fallen in love with the world of Mario, Fire emblem, The Legend of Zeldaand many more. Their first-party franchise is the main priority within each console generation, whether through innovative games or merchandise.
Nintendo's care for its long-running series is thanks to its high standards. Sometimes, and for the sake of creativity and to keep things fresh, they allow other trusted developers to innovate within their series. While some games include some costumes and IP-inspired levels, some Nintendo IPs would be completely crossover with another series or series' gameplay style.
Super Smash Bros.
technically qualified as Bandai Namco Studios handled the latest entries. That said, the franchise will be left out in favor of highlighting other series.
11 Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics
Lifelong rivalry in the cold
Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics is the second entry in the most requested collaboration between two popular series. It was a continuation of the series that allowed Super Mario and Sonic characters to compete in several sporting events.
What is special about the series is how each event is separated between normal mode and dream mode. Dream events change the games to become more challenging with different obstacles. The series would alternate between the Summer and Winter Olympics to provide different events and become the best choice for a group of players.
10 Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
The One Mario Rhythm Game
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix was a unique moment for Mario to overcome his challenges by keeping the rhythm. Not only Mario, but everyone else like Wario, Waluigi and even Bowser would show their style against the Italian plumber. Because it is Dance Dance Revolutiona dance floor was required.
Each level featured different Mario OSTs remixed unique to this entry, including Donkey Kong, Mario Party, Super Mario Bros, Paper Mario and more. There are even special mini-games like Chain Chomp Chase and Whack-a-Goomba to add to their versatile fun.
9 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
The Pokemon team to the rescue
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a remake pack of the GBA versions of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team. The original games were a collaboration between Game Freaks Pokémon explore the depths of Spike Chunsofts Mystery Dungeon series. The game is based on Mystery Dungeonbut with Pokemon, Pokemon Moves and items.
Spike Chunsoft started Mystery Dungeon series with Torneko's great adventure 1993. The series became popular in Japan with Shiren the Wanderergives only a few Mystery Dungeon entrances to the west. Since Pokemon was a popular IP, there was a chance for Mystery Dungeon to gain the interest of the West through a crossover. This would be very successful as a series for many players who want to explore the dark dungeons to save the captured Pokemon from mortal harm.
8 Pokemon conquest
To be the best conqueror
Pokemon conquest brought Game Freak's Pokémon over to a very long running series Koei, Nobunaga Ambition. The series gained traction back in 1983, allowing players to experience feudal Japan as Nobunaga Oda. His main goal was to unify Japan, which meant reconstituting different parts of Japan. The battles have different victory conditions, whether to take down the commander or defend an attack long enough for reinforcements.
Pokemon conquest plays similarly to Koei's source, letting players command a Pokémon army to conquer the seventeen kingdoms of Ransei. It is recommended to bring the most appropriate units for each battle to showcase the ideal strengths while exposing the enemy's weaknesses and resistances. Pokémon become stronger through connected links, which can evolve them to raise their stats and battle abilities.
7 Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Alternate reality of three houses
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is the best implementation of Fire emblem in a Musou Warrior franchise structure. The play style fits perfectly Fire emblem setting, making the war combat more action-based. Strategy is still necessary when fielding the ideal army to deal with the enemies. Commanding the army during battle is important to accomplish important tasks simultaneously without wasting too much time.
Familiar mechanic from Fire emblem: Three houses is taken in its lite version, including classes, adjacencies, forging, items, Hero's Relics and more. Its expansive dialogue helps build the plot as players can make important decisions that can change the protagonist's fate.
6 Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition
Celebrating the Legend of Zelda
Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition introduced The Legend of Zelda into Koei's Musou Warriors setting. The series is completely separate from the canonical franchise, becoming Koei Tecmo's vision of troubled Hyrule. It referenced many characters in the series, including brand new characters like Cia and Lana. It plays like a Musou Warriors game as characters can use specials and magic to take down armies of enemies. Each character can equip their preferred weapons, even with multiple options like Link and Lana.
The original version had years of DLC support that included costumes and playable levels inspired by various The Legend of Zelda game, sort of The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask and The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker. The definitive edition included every DLC pack, making its release very extensive in content for players to invest in.
5 Hyrule's cadence
Heart pounding Quest Of Hyrule
Hyrule's cadence was an indie project that incorporated the land of Hyrule into a grand, heart-pounding adventure. It is a 2D The Legend of Zelda games with the Brace Yourself Games' style of play Crypt of the Necrodancer. The original indie game was a rogue-like rhythm journey that took place in the depths of the mysterious crypt. The events resulted in the main character being cursed to move in rhythm with her stolen heart, forcing her to retrieve it with punches.
Hyrule's cadencethe situation is similar to its plot as all of Hyrule is cursed, including Link and Zelda. This scenario encourages the two to team up with protagonist Cadence to lift the musical curse controlling the land of Hyrule. OST contains over 20 different The Legend of Zelda songs remixed for the game, including some ost sung by Crypt of the Necrodancer Shopkeeper.
4 Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity
Personal Past Of Breath Of The Wild
Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity was a necessary release to reveal a major event referenced Breath of the WildThe big accident. Musou of warriors the structure was compatible with experiencing the link that destroyed countless monsters to stop the great calamity or tried.
Koei Tecmo incorporated the event perfectly to reveal everyone's strengths during the battle before the great disaster. Each character is designed with unique fighting styles and relic usage to take on hordes of enemies. Not only is its combat more expansive and diverse than Hyrule Warriors, but each character has a spotlight for engaging dialogue. Even Link expressed more personality when he spent time with Zelda and her master. This also provides a rare moment to play as a canonical Zelda.
3 FE Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore
Duet Of Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore took the beloved with him Fire emblem and Shin Megami Tensei to a musical crossover. Nintendo and Atlus worked together to create a unique RPG adventure set in Japan.
Players will explore between two worlds to take down the hostile apparitions with magic and attacks. The game is very similar Shin Megami Tensei through its exploration and combat. Weaknesses and resistances are important to use for combat advantages, including Zio, Bufu, Agi and more.
The game also focuses on socialization and bonding. Managing Affinity is very important to properly sync a party with attacks, like Fire emblem. Party members can deal heavy damage along with duo and session attacks, much to the delight of the cheering crowd during battle.
2 Pokken Tournament DX
Pokemon X Tekken
Pokken Tournament DX was an interesting cross between Game Freak's Pokémon and Bandai Namco's old battle system, Tekken. The combination of the two factors created a unique fighting game that is both welcoming to newcomers and investing to veterans.
Each Pokemon is designed with one of a few classes: Power, Standard, Speed, and Tech. The playstyles range from balanced all-around characters like Pikachu, aggressive risky rushers like Blaziken or the tricky Gengar. It was also one of the few Nintendo games to receive developer support competitively, allowing the tournament scene to flourish for its moment.
1 Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Super Mario Rabbids Xcom
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was the launch title for the Nintendo Switch with a surprising crossover. Mario and his team join forces with Ubisoft's Rabbids to fight the disturbance of the peace with the Mushroom Kingdom. This ride will feature humorous interactions, cosplay, and the usual madness of the Rabbis.
What makes this game unique from other Mario titles is the tactical strategy. It is the first game for Mario to strategize his movement and shoot his enemies alike XCOM. Each character can equip a primary and secondary weapon that offers different effects such as burn, freeze, poison and more. Each character excels with certain abilities, such as Mario's higher jump or Rabbid Luigi's vampire attack. It's the best option for everyone to try a humorously engaging SPRG that got its own expansive DLC and galactic sequel.
