The "Big 5" of Nintendo, Ranked

Published Aug 31, 2026, 1:14 PM EDT David is a Senior Editor at Collider focused primarily on Lists. His professional journey began in the mid-2010s as a Marketing specialist before embarking on his writing career in the 2020s. At Collider, David started as a Senior Writer in late 2022 and has been a Senior Editor since mid-2023. He is in charge of ideating compelling and engaging List articles by working closely with writers, both Senior and Junior, as well as other editors. Occasionally, David also reviews movies and TV shows and writes episode recaps. Currently, David is also writing his second novel, a psychological horror satire that will, hopefully, be picked up for publication sometime next year. Nintendo is one of the most prominent video game companies in the world, arguably the single most prolific and popular of the so-called Big 3 of gaming. The company dates back to the late 19th century, producing handmade playing cards before moving into the toy sector in the '60s and, eventually, the video game space in the '70s. Following the 1981 release of Donkey Kong, Nintendo became the dominant force in the video game space, and while it has had its ups and downs over the years, it has remained one of the industry's driving forces. Many of the company's franchises are not only massively popular but also quite culturally influential, particularly the one most commonly associated with it, Super Mario Bros. However, other major titles have contributed to their enduring success, remaining exclusives to Nintendo; these are the so-called Big 5, the franchises that have made and continue to make Nintendo, so to speak. They are the company's flagships, developed exclusively for Nintendo's consoles by Nintendo's internal teams, but which of the Big 5 is the best? Which is more emblematic of Nintendo, popular with critics and audiences while also being culturally influential even beyond the video game space? Note that "Big 5" is more of a fan term based mainly on the company's marketing and what they showcase rather than an official designation; note also that all these franchises are Nintendo's exclusive property, meaning stuff like Pokémon and Kirby won't be present. 5 Pikmin Image via Nintendo Many of you reading might be surprised that Pikmin is here, but you know what? The franchise has earned it. Mainly focusing on strategy and puzzles, the Pikmin series is set on the planet PNF-404 and sees the player controlling several characters, most notably Captain Olimar, as they direct the Pikmin, plant-like aliens used to avoid hazards and fight enemies. The first title arrived in 2001, with a sequel three years later, both for the GameCube. Two more sequels followed, as well as two spin-offs, each one expanding the world with new characters, enemies, and dynamics. Now, Pikmin is not the juggernaut that other gaming franchises are; that much is true. However, it has steadily built a strong and passionate fanbase that has helped it become a standard in modern gaming culture. Olimar is a playable character in Super Smash Bros., commanding a small group of Pikmin; he's a terrific choice, actually, and is currently ranked in the A+ tier. In recent years, the Pikmin themselves have become more prominent in Nintendo's marketing, largely because they are incredibly cute and practically scream "plushy." As of 2026, Pikmin is for sure the most obscure of Nintendo's Big 5, but it shouldn't surprise you if that changes in the next couple of years. 4 Splatoon Image via Nintendo Next in our list is another of Nintendo's most recent additions, albeit one that has achieved considerable popularity: Splatoon. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, the saga features two forms of humanoids evolved from octopi and squids—the Octolings and the Inklings—who engage in a competitive battle using different weapons that can shoot ink. Both species can transform into octopi and squids at will, hiding in the ink they previously fired to avoid enemies. Splatoon has made a considerable impression in modern gaming. The original premise makes it one of the most distinct third-person shooters, and the competitive aspect has even inspired annual esports tournaments, many of them hosted by Nintendo itself. They have even held digital concerts in Japan under the Squid Sisters banner! Inkling became a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, two of the biggest signs that Nintendo is now all-in on the series. It's still far behind the three franchises we have yet to cover on this list, but Splatoon already has a large cultural footprint that only keeps growing. Don't be surprised if the next Nintendo movie you see announced is one about the Inklings. 3 Animal Crossing If cottagecore were a video game, it would probably be Animal Crossing. The social sim video game series has been around for a while, debuting its first title way back in 2001. However, it exploded with its fifth entry, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The series sees the player controlling a Villager on an island populated by various anthropomorphic animals. As a sim, the player can engage in several activities, including developing their island into a full-blown village. Animal Crossing was always successful, enough to spawn at least one game for each major Nintendo console since its 2001 debut. However, New Horizons truly took the series to the next level, becoming a proper cultural phenomenon and a sort of lifeline during lockdown, replacing the social interactions that the pandemic prevented. Its impact was such that Joe Biden literally used it to promote his 2020 presidential campaign; the game's influence during that specific moment in time was near-absolute, going well beyond the usual gaming community. Many of the franchise's characters, most notably Isabelle and Tom Nook, have become popular on their own right, with the former appearing as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8. Animal Crossing has earned its status among Nintendo's Big 5 and is now properly enshrined in the company's annals. 2 The Legend of Zelda Image via Nintendo Aside from a certain overalls-wearing, mustache-sporting Italian, Nintendo's second most popular character has to be the sword-wielding Hylian Link, the protagonist of the Legend of Zelda franchise. Link is the company's ultimate hero, the usual bearer of the Triforce of Courage and the protagonist of every major Zelda game. He usually traverses the land of Hyrule, solving puzzles and defeating enemies while on a quest, most commonly having to do with rescuing or aiding Princess Zelda, beared of the Triforce of Wisdom. Link's archenemy is Ganondorf, the King of the Gerudo tribe and bearer of the Triforce of Power. Since the release of the first title in 1986, The Legend of Zelda has become one of Nintendo's flagships and its most acclaimed IP. Indeed, two titles in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, are often in the conversation for the greatest games ever made, with Ocarina usually claiming the spot as the best game in the medium's history. Link is one of the most enduring and universally beloved characters in gaming history, far surpassing the franchise and becoming an icon of both Japanese and pop cultures. Zelda is also Nintendo's most prestigious property; the titles have cachet, offering a sort of legitimization to the company that few other IPs can match, let alone surpass. While you might have your doubts about the three previous entries on this list and their place among Nintendo's Big 5, Zelda is synonymous with the company and has been for forty years now. 1 Mario Image via Nintendo You can't tell me you didn't see this coming. No franchise is more closely associated with a gaming company than Mario and Nintendo. The Italian plumber and bona fide jack-of-all-trades hero has been dominating the video game space since the late '80s, with many of his games becoming groundbreaking triumphs and literal blueprints for the industry. Mario is a literal superstar, the best video game character of all time, and no one else even comes close, if we're being honest. Where do you even begin with Mario? He's been everything from a plumber to a doctor, an explorer, an archeologist, a kart racer, and a genuine talent in multiple sports, from football to baseball to tennis. His parties are the best ever, full of cool minigames and exciting challenges. He's been a baby, a space traveler, and, at times, he's even made of paper! Mario is the most versatile character in gaming, and his games are the very foundations upon which Nintendo is built. There's no Nintendo without Mario; simple as that. Sure, his games might not get the same prestige as some other titles, but they are no less significant to both the company and the industry as a whole. The Mario franchise isn't just the crowning jewel of Nintendo—it's the very essence of gaming.