Key Highlights
- Nintendo collaborates with external studios to revitalize its legacy franchises, leading to successful titles like F-Zero GX and Luigi’s Mansion 3.
- Noteworthy collaborations have included Rare and acclaimed titles such as Star Fox: Assault and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.
- Metroid Prime exemplifies Nintendo’s confidence in Western developers and their contribution to its iconic franchises.
Nintendo, a titan in the video game industry, is celebrated for its in-house production of exclusive titles. However, the company has also strategically partnered with select external studios to enhance its iconic franchises. These collaborations have produced some of the finest and most beloved entries in Nintendo’s legacy.
From refreshing dormant series to highly successful sequels fueled by outside development, these Nintendo titles have consistently demonstrated remarkable commercial success.
8.Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
The Collaborative Success Story That Has Buoyed Nintendo Hardware
Since the launch of Pokémon’s first games in 1996, which contributed significantly to the lifespan of the Game Boy, Nintendo’s hardware has become intrinsically linked to the Pokémon franchise. Nearly three decades later, the series is crowned as the “highest-grossing media franchise of all time, ”although it is noteworthy that Nintendo-exclusive game titles now represent a minimal share of its overall revenue.
While Pokémon has thrived on Nintendo platforms, with titles such as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet achieving significant sales, Nintendo’s involvement in the franchise is primarily limited to manufacturing and sales. The bulk of creative planning and development lies with Game Freak and its subsidiary, Creatures Inc., responsible for CG models and motion.
7.Star Fox: Assault
Arguably The Most Revered Contemporary Star Fox Title
Fox McCloud is a pillar of Nintendo’s character roster, and the Star Fox series carries deep significance for its creator, Shigeru Miyamoto. Interestingly, many prominent installments have emerged from collaborations with third-party studios. Since Rare Ltd’s involvement with Star Fox Adventures in 2002, to Q-Games’ Star Fox Command and PlatinumGames’ Star Fox Zero, the franchise has witnessed an array of external contributions.
Among these collaborations, 2005’s Namco’s Star Fox: Assault stands out as a highly regarded title among players. The partnership led to a distinctive take on the hallmark series, drawing from Namco’s diverse team’s experiences across various gaming franchises, from Klonoa to Ace Combat.
6.Bayonetta 2
An Out-Of-Character Collaboration On A Mature Beat ‘Em Up Title
The Bayonetta franchise, known for its mature themes and intense action, initially shunned Nintendo platforms. However, a shift occurred with the development of Bayonetta 2, which became synonymous with Nintendo’s unique offerings.
As SEGA withdrew as the original publisher, Nintendo stepped in as a key partner, enabling the revitalization of the Bayonetta IP. This partnership has since led to continuous development across generations of Nintendo consoles, expansions into spin-off titles, and even Bayonetta’s participation in the Super Smash Bros.roster.
5.F-Zero GX
The Standard-Setting Celebrated Futuristic Nintendo Racing Title
SEGA’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, renowned for franchises like Super Monkey Ball and Yakuza, played a pivotal role in reviving the F-Zero racing series. This collaboration birthed F-Zero GX in 2003, a title often hailed as one of the best in the series, celebrated for its challenging gameplay and visual appeal.
Additionally, the team developed F-Zero AX, a corresponding arcade game. However, the exceptional standard set by F-Zero GX has left the series dormant, with Nintendo acknowledging the need for “careful consideration” before attempting a revival.
4.Luigi’s Mansion 3
The Third Entry Of Nintendo’s Spooky Mario-Adjacent Franchise
Next Level Games, a studio with nearly 20 years of experience in game development, has worked closely with Nintendo to produce software, including sports titles and FPS games. Known for their work on all Luigi’s Mansion games since the original, their 2019 successful entry, Luigi’s Mansion 3, demonstrated their ability to blend humor with engaging gameplay.
In recognition of their successful partnership, Nintendo acquired Next Level Games in 2021. The acquisition notice underlined their expertise in producing titles for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS platforms, notably the critically acclaimed Luigi’s Mansion series that warranted the acquisition.
3.Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
A Cross-Franchise Collaborative Series That Nintendo Has Happily Delegated
Masahiro Sakurai, known for his crucial role in the development of the Super Smash Bros.franchise, has remarkably never been an employee of Nintendo. The franchise, originally developed by HAL Laboratory, has now transitioned under the nurture of Sakurai’s SORA Ltd.and Bandai Namco.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, released in 2018, is frequently lauded as the series’ pinnacle, thanks to its engaging combat mechanics and extensive character roster. The franchise’s success illustrates how external partnerships can flourish under Nintendo’s branding and marketing strength.
2.The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Arguably The Best Handheld Entry From Nintendo’s ‘Big Three’ Franchise
Flagship, an offshoot of Capcom established by renowned producer Yoshiki Okamoto, carved a niche for itself in developing titles for various platforms, particularly Nintendo’s franchises. Known for its quality, the studio’s collaboration with Capcom resulted in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap in 2004, which remains a favorite among fans for its inventive storytelling and engaging gameplay mechanics.
Despite Capcom’s eventual consolidation of Flagship in 2007, The Minish Cap endures as one of the defining titles of the Legend of Zelda series, showcasing how external collaborations can yield exceptional results in handheld gaming.
1.Metroid Prime
The Inaugural Entry In A Series So Revered The Studio Has Been Recalled To Make More
Despite a traditional hesitation to work with Western developers, Nintendo has achieved remarkable success with collaborations when they arise. Retro Studios, previously known for its contributions to Donkey Kong Country, made waves with Metroid Prime, a groundbreaking first-person adventure game ushering in a new era for the Metroid franchise.
Upon its release, Metroid Prime was hailed as one of the greatest games of the GameCube era, emphasizing its importance to gaming culture. Retro Studios continued to work with Nintendo, delivering two sequel titles, and the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 was eventually reassigned to them to meet the high standards expected of the series, reinforcing the trust Nintendo places in external development teams.
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