The 8 worst Nintendo games ever - from Welcome Tour to Donkey Kong Jet Race
Following the launch of Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, GameCentral looks back on the worst Nintendo games ever made.
Whereas Mario Kart World is a joyous experience worth getting a Nintendo Switch 2 for, the only other first party title available for the system is Nintendo Switch 2 World Tour: a shockingly banal experience unbecoming of a company like Nintendo.
Reviews were late in arriving, because consoles weren't sent out more than a day before launch, so it's taken a while for the game to get a consensus of review on Metacritic. But now that it has, it's sitting at just 52. That makes it one of the worst reviewed games that Nintendo itself has ever made – but not the very worst.
Badly reviewed games are impressively rare in Nintendo's discography, with most never getting any worse than average. But if you've ever wanted to see what a genuinely bad game from Nintendo looks like, here is their hall of shame…
Metacritic score: 52
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Just to get the ball rolling, let's start with the impetus for this list. While there's far worse yet to come, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is baffling in how sterile and un-Nintendo-like it is in its presentation.
Be sure to read our full review for a proper breakdown, but per Metacritic, it's only scored higher than two games this year: hack and slash action game Captain Blood and Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator.
Metacritic score: 54
Not only one of the worst games Nintendo has ever made but almost certainly their least asked for sequel as well. Arriving six years after the already unpopular launch game 1-2-Switch (Metacritic score: 58) it's baffling as to who thought this would be a good idea.
If a 2022 report is to be believed, it bombed so hard with playtesters that some Nintendo execs were hesitant about releasing Everybody 1-2-Switch out of fear it would damage the company's reputation. It didn't, but you can't help but wonder why Nintendo bothered.
Metacritic score: 46
Titled Donkey Kong Barrel Blast elsewhere in the world, this racing spin-off was originally designed as a GameCube game you controlled with the DK Bongos accessory. However, it was delayed and retrofitted for the Wii to make use of the Wii remote and nunchuk.
The end result was a physically and mentally tiring experience, given how much motion-controlled shaking was required, although we don't think it would've been much better on GameCube thanks to how shallow and dull the actual racing is.
Metacritic score: 49
The original Chibi-Robo! on GameCube was a flawed but mildly interesting distraction, with some neat ideas, but every subsequent sequel seemed to strip away its best qualities and make things worse with every new entry.
Chibi-Robo! Let's Go, Photo! (aka Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder) was designed to show off the 3DS's camera and AR features, but it didn't use them very well. The end result is a simply awful collection of minigames and while normally people would be upset that the game was lost to the ether, when the 3DS eShop shut down, it's hard to care in this instance.
Although these games weren't developed by Nintendo itself, they were published by them, as format exclusives, and in many cases they're even worse than the in-house failures.
Devil's Third – A Wii U exclusive from the creator of Ninja Gaiden and Dead Or Alive, Devil's Third is a laughably awful action game that is almost so bad it's good.
Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends – This was only published by Nintendo in Europe – for some reason – with its drab collection of minigames unlikely to please even the most undemanding child.
My Pokémon Ranch – This barely counts as a game, since it serves mostly as a place to store pokémon from other games, but it did include a number of vapid minigames and some extremely ugly 3D models.
Metacritic score: 53
We were stuck on whether this or the Wii U's Game & Wario is the worst WarioWare game, but at least Game & Wario has a couple of fun minigames. We're not sure the same can be said for WarioWare: Snapped.
A digital download made exclusively for the Nintendo DSi and its digital cameras, it had a criminally small pool of microgames that often didn't work and weren't even that micro – thus eliminating the manic, fast-paced excitement of the rest of the WarioWare series.
Metacritic score: 46
Although the Pokémon games aren't made in-house at Nintendo, we still think they should count, since Pokémon is one of the company's premiere franchises and, as evidenced by Pokémon Dash, something they consider useful to push a new console launch.
This racing spin-off was one of the very first DS games and it forced you to use the stylus for making Pikachu (who was the only playable character for some reason) race through painfully uninteresting courses.
Metacritic score: 53
Pokémon Battle Revolution felt very much like the Wii successor to the Pokémon Stadium games, letting you bring your party of pokémon from the 2D games into 3D.
While it did boast online play, it lacked the meaty single-player content seen in the Stadium games, making it nothing more than a battle simulator. Considering the same developer, Genius Sonority, had previously made the fan favourite Pokémon Colosseum spin-offs, this was quite the downgrade.
Metacritic score: 46
It's still so strange that after Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS, the next traditional Animal Crossing game wouldn't be until Animal Crossing: New Horizons roughly eight years later.
The only entry the Wii U ever saw was Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival, an atrocious board game spin-off that demands you have the appropriate amiibo figures to play and yet has no real gameplay to speak of. You just watch things happen. How the same studio went on to make Super Mario Party Jamboree beggars' belief. More Trending
For as bad as these games are, it speaks volumes to Nintendo's quality control that this is the worst that we could find. In fact, if you look at Nintendo's output on Metacritic, very few games it's published have scored lower than an average score of 50.
Past that, you start getting to games that may be considered bad by Nintendo's standards but are otherwise inoffensive, such as Wario: Master Of Disguise (Metacritic score: 60) and Kirby Air Ride (Metacritic score: 61).
And yet clearly Nintendo isn't bothered by these atypical duds. They didn't take the hint with 1-2-Switch, they kept making Chibi-Robo! games for years, and, bizarrely, Kirby Air Ride is getting a sequel later this year – despite being one of their lowest rated games ever and the Switch 2 already having a Nintendo racing game, in Mario Kart World.
It just goes to show how unpredictable Nintendo can be, not just in the sort of games it releases and their quality, but also which ones it thinks are worth revisiting.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 officially breaks record for fastest-selling console ever
MORE: How to unlock everything in Mario Kart World: all characters, costumes and more
MORE: MindsEye still has no reviews but plenty of bugs in 'disastrous' launch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
9 hours ago
- Metro
The 90s and 2000s were the best time for video game creativity
A reader is frustrated that game publishers are only interested in following trends, rather than embracing the more experimental approach of earlier generations. I don't think many gamers understand that video games change in accordance with our culture, just like many industries do. Games were afforded the autonomy to express themselves however they pleased 20+ years ago and although we're still seeing games that are expressive, many now seem tame and risk averse. Trend chasing and attempting to fit cohesively into our culture makes developers and publishers money if they do it correctly, but when they don't pull it off, the developers of those games tend to close down. Meanwhile, the publisher who likely gave those developers the blueprints to make their failed games get away with it – again, likely because they chase the money and can leverage developers to make as much money as they deem satisfactory. The games industry, to me, is marching in lockstep with all the other giant industries, such as Hollywood film-making, the music industry, and the television industry; they're catching what trends are popular and they follow it in the hopes they can get rich, and then they'll repeat the formula because what we want is secondary in the grand scheme of things. Unfortunately, many of us decide not to think about this because we've got great games to play, or other media to interact with. I'm a 90s and early 00s child, and I think many agree that back then we had it really good, regardless of nostalgia. Games such as Conker's Bad Fur Day turned up to show us what sheer lunacy looks like and in my opinion that's partly what I want games to be: irreverent and hilarious fun. 2008's Saints Row 2 captured this as well, by allowing players to spray excrement onto suburban houses while driving around in a septic tank. If not humour, then I'd love my games to make me really care about what's going on. Games like The Getaway in 2002 has you play as Mark Hammond, and right at the start your wife is murdered and your son is kidnapped – and you spend the game walking through metaphoric fires to save your son. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. 2013's Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch is another game I love for its story because protagonist Oliver is so endearing, and the story is about his quest to save his mum. These kinds of stories don't seem to happen anymore and thus it's really hard to care about what's going on in them, I feel. Somewhere along the line video game expression became restricted. I blame the start of the eighth generation (the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) for this change of direction. If you go back and play an assortment of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 games you should feel how accessible and focused on enjoyment they were. When the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One came about the landscape altered and now it was about huge open worlds, pristine graphics, and continued exploitation of gamers with loot boxes, microtransactions, and pay-to-win schemes. The truly great games these days tend to do things really differently and we celebrate them for it. Last year's Astro Bot is one of the greatest PlayStation games ever made because although it is a nostalgia-fuelled platformer, it reminds us what makes video games such a beautiful hobby. I don't want games like Astro Bot to become flickers and rarities in the grand scheme of modern gaming, I'd rather they were the norm rather than the exception. More Trending Video game expression is very important, and I think we should break the barriers of our culture in order to find a new horizon for video games. There are so many great experiences, as there always have been, but I believe games should be free of the shackles that often bind them. We should see the best of what this industry has to offer without compromise, because otherwise it seems like it's circling the drain – and when that happens is becomes boring. By reader James Davie The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Unrivalled success has ruined PS5 and the PlayStation brand - Reader's Feature MORE: Playing Gex again is a reminder of a simpler time for gaming - Reader's Feature MORE: Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing - Reader's Feature
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Playing Gex again is a reminder of a simpler time for gaming - Reader's Feature
A reader welcomes the return of PS1 platformer Gex and reminiscences over both a childhood favourite and an era when video games weren't so demanding. This week, a game trilogy has been re-released which is very dear to me but seemingly very few people have even heard of: Gex – where a gecko is tasked with saving television from the evil robot Rez. This is good news, even if you don't know or care about Gex. Games are notoriously difficult to preserve. Playing old games today, without the hardware they originally ran on, can be a mission that quickly enters a legal grey area. Therefore, I am immensely grateful for companies like Limited Run Games giving some of these old games a new lease of life. Although it feels like only a minimum effort went into this one – note how I call it a re-release and not a remaster or remake. The Switch version, in its current state, looks especially awful. At least they added some quality of life features, like being able to manually save whenever you want to, which can take the frustration out of some of the more challenging levels. Gex was originally created by Crystal Dynamics, who took over the Tomb Raider franchise after Angel Of Darkness. Speaking of which, did you know that until the 2013 reboot, Lara's model was measured in Gexels? This is because the Tomb Raider games were made on a modified engine based on the one developed for Gex 3D: Enter The Gecko, which was heavily inspired by Super Mario 64 and in my opinion definitely doesn't have to stand in that game's shadow. This is the game I played religiously as a child. I loved the tail-whipping gecko from the first moment I laid eyes on him, on my neighbour's PlayStation, and eventually got the game for PC. Once I also got the graphics card necessary to actually play it, I spent every minute of my allotted hour of computer time in the media dimension, where Gex hops into the different levels, which are pastiches of television genres and movies. These range from haunted house horror to Looney Toons, kung fu movies, Star Wars, and many more. They are full of fun nods to their inspirations and Gex usually dresses for the occasion, be that fighting hunters as a bunny during 'Wabbit' season or wearing a hide and a bone although his nose in the Jurassic levels. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The animations and sound design made it so much fun to double jump around on Gex's spring-shaped tail, accompanied by a characteristic 'boioinnng!' And if you happened to land on some unfortunate enemy's head, they got flattened. Similarly, when jumping into a wall, Gex might hit his head and fall flat on his back with a splat, after which stars circle over his head, together with an 'oooww' sound. I'm definitely guilty of giving the poor gecko a few headaches. The game also rewarded my urge to explore and while I failed a timed Indiana Jones style level a lot, because I spent my time marvelling at the snakeheads and skulls adorning the temple walls, imagine my elation when I discovered, in a horror level, that some bookshelves would turn when walking against them, revealing a lever that opened a new part of the level! Of course. I also hunted down all the collectibles to earn all the TV remotes. With enough remotes you would unlock new levels and bosses and one of these has been living rent free in my head for over 20 years now: Gexzilla battling it out with Mecharez – complete with tanks and helicopters trying to defend the city that is getting destroyed in the process – epic! The only thing that doesn't quite hit home for me is Gex's actual personality, especially when it comes to the voice lines, which trigger all the time. While the sound effects and animations are quite endearing, the comedian Dana Gould's quips are old-fashioned and feel weird to hear out of a gecko's mouth. (It seems you were playing the US version. In the UK, Gex was originally voiced by Leslie Philips and then later Danny John-Jules. Their voices weren't in the initial re-release but are being added via a patch – GC) And then there is the fact that a Gecko has implied relations with a human woman… ick. I guess it is a product of its time, much like the older James Bond films which inspired his personality, but I do have to give its makers credit for trying something different than 'Mamma mia.' More Trending I love revisiting Gex because it reminds me of simpler days. Life is busier now and I rarely find the time or motivation anymore, to fully explore and complete today's often vast and complex games. Older games making a comeback shows us that there is a case for more simplicity. Being able to finish a game without it taking dozens of hours and eating up all your spare time is such a relief. By reader Peter Schmid The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing - Reader's Feature MORE: I'm going to say it: Mario Kart World is not as good as it should be – Reader's Feature MORE: As a former Xbox 360 owner I don't understand Xbox today - Reader's Feature
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing - Reader's Feature
A reader breaks down the Switch 2 launch line-up and lists the mistakes he feels Nintendo has made, from the marketing to the prices. Video gaming has often been criticised in the media, with some attributing it to the escalation of violence and gun-related crimes. Whilst it is an easy target, I want to talk about how gaming's mental health effects are positive in many more ways than they are negative. In 2014, I was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. Basically, I have severe mood swings – from deep depression, where just getting out of bed is impossible, to extreme highs where I think I can be Super Mario and take on anything! One hobby that makes a positive difference to me is video games. Gaming has been a huge part of my life and I have just picked up the Switch 2. I also play Xbox, Apple Arcade and retro games that take me back in time to my formative and happy gaming journey. My love of Nintendo, in particular, is one that has really helped me to remain stable. Just booting up my original Nintendo Switch, and now its successor, I get a feeling of happiness and contentment as I see the Nintendo logo once more. Familiarity is important to human beings. It is about a connection. It helps us to feel safe when we recognise something that we have grown to trust. Keeping my mind active is important to my wellbeing. Games such as Brain Training, for example, have kept my mind focused with memory games being a positive force in keeping cognitive skills strong. Mario Kart World delights and excites me and makes my brain release serotonin that is important for a healthy mind. The colours, the music, the ease of play are all conducive to positive mental health. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The introduction of GameChat has allowed me to catch up with old friends and laugh out loud together, as we battle it out in knockout games for hours on end. Laughter is such a positive release for us all, and it always makes me feel so much better. Then there are fitness games such as Ring Fit Adventure, where you can game and keep fit at the same time! Exercise is vital for physical and mental wellbeing and added to a hobby such as video gaming you can only benefit from the best of all worlds. First person shooters such as Doom Eternal help me because I can let off steam. I don't play Doom and suddenly think I must go out shooting things. It is a safe way to release tension and frustrations. I do not see the connection between that escapism and wanting to make it a reality. If I did, then if I ever reach the day where I start wanting to be a plumber and jump on squirrels in the park, I know it's the day my gaming has gone too far, and I stop playing Super Mario Bros.! Video games help educate, instruct, develop, and entertain. All of these things are vital for our mental and physical wellbeing and that applies to all ages. I am 47 years old and feel the same emotions as I did when I was just eight years old. From the moment I started gaming I can only say that it has been good for my mental health and I remain, and always will remain, grateful for that. I absolutely recommend gaming as an important tool for mental health wellbeing and recovery. More Trending Whilst it may still receive unwanted and often unwarranted attention, gaming isn't the force for bad that some would have us believe and I can only hope, that by sharing my experiences, that others will also come out and support gaming as a real force for good, now and in the future. By reader BaldB3lper The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: I'm going to say it: Mario Kart World is not as good as it should be – Reader's Feature MORE: As a former Xbox 360 owner I don't understand Xbox today - Reader's Feature MORE: The 5 worst mistakes of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch (and why it doesn't matter) - Reader's Feature
