2016 was a very big year for Nintendo, because it was the last hurrah for the Wii U and 3DS. Software continued to be released after 2016, mostly on the 3DS, but things did slow down because of the Switch’s launch in 2017. So, did Nintendo celebrate with a big slew of unforgettable games ten years ago?
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While there weren’t any game-changers on the level of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there are still plenty of solid exclusive games worth remembering in 2016, and they're all turning 10 years old next year. Maybe Nintendo could help celebrate these releases with a port or remaster on the Switch 2, but let’s see how 2026 turns out first.
Pokemon GO
Beware Of Cliffs
Pokémon GO
- Released
- July 6, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
It may not have been released on a Nintendo console, but Pokemon GO is, without a doubt, a huge Nintendo-related game from 2016, proving that the brand had a big reach on mobile devices. On Android or iOS, players could download the app for free and then start catching Pokemon in the real world through augmented reality.
In terms of cultural zeitgeist, there was no game, on any console or device, bigger than Pokemon GO in 2016, and it has only continued to grow. Also, in related Pokemon news, Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon were released for the 3DS that same year, and will also turn 10 in 2026.
The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
Wolf Link Reborn
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- March 3, 2016
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released for the GameCube and Wii in 2006, with this HD version appearing on the Wii U in 2016. Beyond some quality of life changes like better graphics and cleaner controls, most of the core game remained untouched.
This bizarre tale involves Link turning into a wolf and meeting an imp-like girl, Midna, who rides him into battle. Switch fans are still baffled that this is one Wii U game that was never ported to Nintendo's modern systems, but maybe 2026 will be the year, as this is the original game's 20th anniversary.
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Domo Arigato, Kirby Roboto
Kirby: Planet Robobot
- Released
- April 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- HAL Laboratory
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Platformer
Kirby: Planet Robobot was released for the 3DS, and its big gimmick was right there in the title. Kirby could still suck up enemies and fly around, but most of the gameplay took place behind the cockpit of a mech.
It’s one of the more action-heavy gimmicks of the Kirby franchise, which was great at the time on the 3DS, a system that needed more action titles. The mech design was cool, the levels were inventive and colorful as always, and overall, it was just a positive platformer that deserves more love.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Too Many Marios
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
- Released
- January 22, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- AlphaDream
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam was released in 2015, first in Japan for the 3DS, before moving on to North America in 2016. It’s a notable entry for Mario’s overall RPG franchise because it combined Paper Mario with Mario & Luigi.
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At its core, it was a Mario & Luigi game, but the titular paper version of Mario joined the brothers in the active turn-based battles as a third party member. While it's not the best entry in the series, it had its moments, and fans remember it most for being a weird crossover.
Fire Emblem Fates
Torn Between Families
Fire Emblem Fates
- Released
- February 19, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
Fire Emblem Fates was released on the 3DS in Japan in 2015 in two versions, with both games coming to North America a year later. This was a first for the Fire Emblem series. In Conquest, players stay with their adoptive family and fight against their flesh and blood, while in Birthright, they stay with their natural-born family.
Both tactical campaigns are incredibly different, between the missions and the characters. Later in 2016, a third DLC episode was released to tie both games together, called Revelation.
Dragon Ball Fusions
Do The Fusion Dance
Dragon Ball Fusions
- Released
- November 22, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Dragon Ball Fusions is one of the more forgotten Dragon Ball games, but it’s also one of the more impressive titles. Instead of being based on one of the anime arcs, Dragon Ball Fusions featured a unique story and gameplay mechanic.
Players can create their character and then participate in tactical battles in a 3D arena without a grid. Characters attack enemies on their own, perform combo attacks with nearby allies, or fuse with others, which creates some wild attack variety from the entire cast.
Project X Zone 2
A Tactical Fighter
Project X Zone 2
- Released
- February 16, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Soft
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
Project X Zone 2 was released in 2015 on the 3DS in Japan before making its way to North America in 2016. It’s the last game in this short-lived series, but it features an incredibly wild crossover cast of characters from Sega, Capcom, and Bandai Namco games. Chrom and Lucina from Fire Emblem Awakening also make an appearance for Nintendo.
Cameos aside, the game is a grid-based tactical RPG where units can square off in combat, while players need to build combos to juggle their opponents in the air before their turn ends, which is similar to a fighting game but with a more tactical feel.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE
Japan’s Next Top Idol
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE
- Released
- December 26, 2015
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is another strange crossover game celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, and this one features a Persona-like world based in Japan, infused with entities resembling Fire Emblem characters. It was released as a Wii U exclusive in Japan in 2015, made it to North America in 2016, and there was a Switch port in 2020.
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In combat, characters can summon their Fire Emblem Personas, like Chrom or Tharja, to attack enemy weaknesses. The overall vibe is pop-heavy between the battle arenas, music, and characters trying to audition to become idols. Shin Megami Tensei fans may also remember that Shin Megami Tensei 4: Apocalypse was released on the 3DS in 2016.
Dragon Quest 7: Fragments Of The Forgotten Past
Time After Time
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past
- Released
- August 26, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
Dragon Quest 7 was originally released for the PS1 in 2000 in Japan and a year later in North America. The 3DS remake, Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten P ast, took much longer to come west, releasing in Japan 2013 and North America in 2016, but thankfully, the latest remake, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined, will ship worldwide on February 5, 2026.
Ports aside, the 3DS remake was a huge improvement for the game as it made finding the tablets for time traveling less tedious. Also, enemies were now persistently visible, which negated random encounters, making the turn-based battles flow better and exploration feel fairer and less tedious.
Monster Hunter Generations
The Best In The Series
Monster Hunter Generations
- Released
- July 15, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Monster Hunter X was the Japanese name for this 3DS entry in 2015, but the 2016 Western port renamed it to Monster Hunter Generations, and the names were switched up again for the Japanese and Western releases on the Switch in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
As the name implies, this was sort of a best-of collection of monsters from the Monster Hunter series as a whole. It still followed the traditional zone-based gameplay, making it one of the more challenging entries for newcomers in the series, but one of the more beloved ones for long-time fans.
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