Nintendo possesses a vast, storied vault of intellectual property, and they frequently dip into it to delight their audience. Whenever a new console generation dawns, dedicated fans eagerly anticipate fresh installments of legendary franchises like The Legend of Zelda or Super Mario. While these perennial favorites are always welcome, the industry’s focus on established pillars often causes other brilliant titles to vanish into obscurity, trapped in a cycle of neglect.
Many of these gems have lingered in the shadows for far too long. However, with Nintendo’s development efforts currently firing on all cylinders for the highly anticipated Switch 2, now is the perfect moment to revitalize these neglected classics for a new generation of gamers. Here are five Nintendo-published titles from previous eras that are prime candidates for a modern comeback.
1
StarTropics (1990)
Image: NintendoMention the name Mike Jones to the right player, and you’ll instantly conjure visions of tropical archipelagos, mysterious grass huts, and labyrinthine dungeons crawling with mummies and serpents. StarTropics and its time-hopping successor, Zoda’s Revenge, defined an era of adventure for many. Conceived as a Nintendo-style action-adventure tailored specifically for Western tastes, these games offered a distinct charm that has been tragically overlooked. A modern 3D reimagining could breathe new life into these exotic locales, utilizing creative weaponry and an infectious sense of wonder that would feel right at home on current hardware. It remains baffling that a protagonist as iconic as Mike hasn’t even secured a roster spot in Super Smash Bros.; it is high time he received the recognition he deserves.
2
Tetrisphere (1997)
Ever since the Game Boy solidified Nintendo’s handheld dominance, the company has excelled at innovative puzzle design. A standout in this category is H2O Entertainment’s Tetrisphere for the Nintendo 64. Initially developed as a standalone concept, the game challenged players to dismantle layers of a rotating, floating sphere to liberate a trapped robot. The gameplay was frantic and addictive, bolstered by a hypnotic soundtrack that made it nearly impossible to set the controller down. While the puzzle market has since exploded across mobile platforms, Tetrisphere remains a unique, high-concept breakout hit. A contemporary revival, boasting enhanced visuals and refined mechanics, would undoubtedly captivate a new generation of logic-puzzle fans.
3
Faxanadu (1987)
In a time when the Legend of Zelda series was defined by a top-down perspective, Faxanadu arrived as a side-scrolling revelation. Developed by Hudson Soft as an entry in Falcom’s long-standing Dragon Slayer franchise, it offered a sprawling action-RPG experience filled with deep exploration, interactive townsfolk, and an epic narrative centered on the legendary World Tree. Serving as a pioneer of the “Metroidvania” subgenre, its sheer scale and challenge—which required a cumbersome password system to track progress—left an indelible mark on players. Despite being published by Nintendo in key markets and seeing a release on the Wii’s Virtual Console, this masterpiece has been unfairly relegated to the annals of history. Its core loop of discovery and progression is ripe for a modern, polished remake.
4
Pilotwings (1990)
Along with other neglected gems like Wave Race, the Pilotwings series has been absent from the spotlight for far too long. Initially conceptualized by Shigeru Miyamoto’s team for the Super Famicom’s launch, the series focused on the pure, visceral joy of aerial navigation and precision flight. While Pilotwings Resort briefly brought the franchise into the 3D space on the 3DS, the series has remained largely dormant since. Given the raw processing power of the upcoming Switch 2, the potential to render a vast, breathtaking island paradise from a bird’s-eye view is immense. There is no better franchise to showcase the next era of Nintendo’s visual capabilities than a return to the open skies of Pilotwings.
5
Clu Clu Land (1984)
The early arcade era was dominated by intuitive, high-stakes puzzle games like Pac-Man and Joust. Clu Clu Land, which hit the Famicom in 1984, was a perfect home-console translation of that addictive energy. Players guided a character through single-screen levels, uncovering hidden ingots while dodging dangerous Unira enemies via sonic blasts. The core mechanic—swinging around pegs to change momentum—created a simple yet profoundly challenging gameplay loop that transcended the limitations of the era. A reimagining featuring more expansive, interactive worlds—not unlike how Pac-Man World revitalized its respective mascot—could be a phenomenal hit today. Currently, however, these whimsical characters are trapped in the purgatory of brief cameos, waiting for an opportunity to lead their own title once again.
Source: Polygon
