Comparing the Launch Games for Every Nintendo Console

When the NES landed in North America in the fall of 1985, nobody could have guessed how quickly it would turn things around for gaming. Just two years earlier, the U.S. market had crashed, and many assumed the industry was finished. Instead, Nintendo’s 8-bit console brought players back in droves, laying the foundation for decades of growth and turning video games into one of the most powerful entertainment industries in the world. Since then, Nintendo has built a reputation for shaking things up with each new system — and for making sure every console launch comes with a lineup of games designed to show off exactly why the hardware matters.

That history makes the official reveal of the Switch 2 feel like déjà vu in the best way. Nintendo has always known how to kick off a generation, and the upcoming launch looks set to continue that trend. For this breakdown, we’re zeroing in on the games that were ready to play on Day 1 of each home console’s North American release. That means no handhelds, no experimental one-offs like the Virtual Boy, and no “launch window” titles that trickled out months later — just the true launch-day experiences that greeted players the moment they powered on their new Nintendo console.

Updated September 8th, 2025:

Since originally publishing this list, there have been additional titles revealed as launch games for the Nintendo Switch 2. Accordingly, we've gone back and added these games and their accompanying credits for reference.

NES (October 18, 1985)

The NES' North American launch in the fall of 1985 was limited to specific test markets before the console became available nationwide in 1986. Still, the initial run of software available for the NES is practically a "who's who" of some of the best early games in the system's library, with plenty of variety in terms of gaming genres and experiences. Notably, the NES would arrive alongside the Zapper light gun peripheral and the short-lived R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy), which meant the North American launch games for Nintendo's new system included a few titles specific to those new console add-ons.

• Total Games — 17
• First-Party Games — 17
• Third-Party Games — 0
• System Pack-In — None (Later, Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt)
• Killer App — Super Mario Bros.

• Developer — Irem
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1, Intelligent Systems
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Puzzle
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1, Intelligent Systems
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Sports, Shooting
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 4
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 2, HAL Laboratory
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Puzzle
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1, Intelligent Systems
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Shooter
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Platformer
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 4
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Beat 'em Up
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1, HAL Laboratory
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Pinball
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Intelligent Systems
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Puzzle
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 4
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Platformer
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1, Intelligent Systems
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1, Intelligent Systems
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Shooter
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo R&D 1
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Platformer, Puzzle
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Racing
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 83% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Konami
• Publisher — Konami
• Genre — Scrolling Shooter/Shoot 'em Up
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 78% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Flight Sim
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 82% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD, Intelligent Systems
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — City Builder, Simulation
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 94% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Platformer
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 94% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD, Nintendo R&D 3, Paradigm Simulation
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Flight Sim
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Platformer
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 96% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Acclaim Studios Austin
• Publisher — Acclaim Entertainment
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 66% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Ubisoft Montreal
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Action-adventure
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 70% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Sega AM3, Acclaim Studios Cheltenham
• Publisher — Sega, Acclaim Entertainment
• Genre — Racing
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 70% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Z-Axis
• Publisher — Acclaim Entertainment
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 78% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Action-adventure
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 78% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — EA Tiburon
• Publisher — EA Sports
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 90% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Black Box Games
• Publisher — Midway
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 79% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Platformer, Puzzle
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 89% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Factor 5, LucasArts
• Publisher — LucasArts
• Genre — Flight Sim, Shooter
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 90% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Amusement Vision
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — Platformer
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 89% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Ubisoft Montreal
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Action-adventure
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 64% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Neversoft
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 91% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Nintendo Software Technology
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Racing
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — THW Studios Australia
• Publisher — THQ
• Genre — Action-adventure, ARPG
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 56% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Treyarch, Exakt Entertainment
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — First-person shooter
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 69% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Rainbow Studios
• Publisher — THQ
• Genre — Racing
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 65% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Spike
• Publisher — Atari
• Genre — Fighting
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 76% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Monster Games
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Racing, Driving
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 75% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — High Voltage Software
• Publisher — Midway
• Genre — Fighting
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 61% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — MTO
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Racing, Driving
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 41% (Generally Unfavorable)

• Developer — A2M
• Publisher — Midway
• Genre — Action-adventure
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 48% (Generally Unfavorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Action-adventure
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 95% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — EA Canada
• Publisher — EA Sports
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Raven Software, Vicarious Visions
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — ARPG, Beat 'em Up
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 74% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Ubisoft Barcelona
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Racing, Driving
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 54% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — EA Black Box
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Genre — Racing, Driving
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 67% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Pipeworks Software
• Publisher — Midway
• Genre — Action
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 46% (Generally Unfavorable)

• Developer — Ubisoft Montpellier
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Party
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 76% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Ubisoft Paris
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — First-person shooter
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 63% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer —
• Publisher —
• Genre —
• First/Third Party —
• Review Aggregate Score —

• Developer — Blitz Games
• Publisher — THQ
• Genre — Action-adventure, Platformer
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 59% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Toys for Bob
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — Sports, Racing
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 69% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Atlus
• Publisher — Atlus USA
• Genre — Simulation, Visual Novel
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Sports, Simulation
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 76% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Ubisoft Montreal
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Action-adventure, Stealth
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Rocksteady Studios, WB Games Montreal
• Publisher — Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Genre — Action-adventure, Open-World
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Treyarch
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — First-person shooter
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 81% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Vigil Games
• Publisher — THQ
• Genre — Action-adventure, Character Action
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Heavy Iron Studios
• Publisher — Disney Interactive Studios
• Genre — Action-adventure, Platformer
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 55% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Ubisoft Barcelona, Longtail Studios
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Sports, Simulation
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 31% (Generally Unfavorable)

• Developer — EA Canada
• Publisher — EA Sports
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 69% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Phosphor Games
• Publisher — Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Genre — Party
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 24% (Generally Unfavorable)

• Developer — Ubisoft Paris
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Music, Rhythm
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 68% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — EA Tiburon
• Publisher — EA Sports
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 75% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — BioWare, Straight Right
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Genre — ARPG
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Visual Concepts
• Publisher — 2K
• Genre — Sports
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Platformer
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 84% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Team Ninja
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Action, Character Action
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 69% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Nintendo EAD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Party
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 78% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Ubisoft Paris
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Party
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 52% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — 5th Cell
• Publisher — Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Genre — Platformer, Puzzle
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 73% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Nintendo SPD, FreeStyle Games
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Music, Rhythm
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 60% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Toys for Bob, Vicarious Visions
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — ARPG, Toys-to-Life
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Sumo Digital
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — Racing, Driving
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 78% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Namco Bandai Games
• Publisher — Namco Bandai Games
• Genre — Shooter
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 45% (Generally Unfavorable)

• Developer — Now Production
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — Brawler
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 56% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Omega Force
• Publisher — Tecmo Koei
• Genre — Hack and Slash, Musou
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 64% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Behaviour Interactive
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — Party
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 40% (Generally Unfavorable)

• Developer — Blue Byte
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Exercise, Movement
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 76% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Ubisoft Montpellier
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Survival Horror
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 77% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo EPD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Party
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 58% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Shin'en
• Publisher — Shin'en
• Genre — Racing
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 81% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Tokyo RPG Factory
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Genre — JRPG
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 75% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Pune
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Genre — Music, Rhythm
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 72% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Nintendo EPD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Action-adventure, Open-World
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 97% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Yacht Club Games
• Publisher — Yacht Club Games
• Genre — Action Platformer
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 91% (Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Toys for Bob
• Publisher — Activision
• Genre — ARPG, Toys-to-Life
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 72% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — SFB Games
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Puzzle
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Konami, HexaDrive
• Publisher — Konami
• Genre — Action, Puzzle
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 62% (Mixed or Average)

• Developer — Namco, Hamster
• Publisher — Hamster
• Genre — Racing, Driving
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Silicon Studio, Cattle Call
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Genre — JRPG
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Firaxis Games
• Publisher — 2K
• Genre — 4X Strategy
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 79% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — CD Projekt RED
• Publisher — CD Projekt RED
• Genre — ARPG
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 86% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Toby Fox
• Publisher — Toby Fox, 8-4
• Genre — RPG
• First/Third Party — Third Party

• Developer — Level-5
• Publisher — Level-5
• Genre — RPG, Simulation
• First/Third Party — Third Party

• Developer — Shin'en
• Publisher — Shin'en
• Genre — Racing
• First/Third Party — Third Party

• Developer — Epic Games
• Publisher — Epic Games
• Genre — Third-person shooter, Battle Royale
• First/Third Party — Third Party

• Developer — Capcom
• Publisher — Capcom
• Genre — Hack and Slash, Tower Defense
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 84% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — IO Interactive
• Publisher — IO Interactive
• Genre — Stealth
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Avalanche Software
• Publisher — Warner Bros. Games
• Genre — ARPG
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 84% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Nintendo
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Racing, Driving, Open-World
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Nintendo
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Simulation, Mini-Game Collection
• First/Third Party — First Party

• Developer — Koei Tecmo
• Publisher — Koei Tecmo
• Genre — Grand Strategy, Real-Time Tactics
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 75% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Sega
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — Puzzle
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Original, Generally Favorable)

• Developer — Marvelous
• Publisher — XSeed Games
• Genre — JRPG, Farming Sim
• First/Third Party — Third Party

• Developer — Sonic Team
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — Platformer
• First/Third Party — Third Party

• Developer — Hazelight Studios
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Genre — Platformer, Action-adventure
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 92% (Original, Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Capcom
• Publisher — Capcom
• Genre — Fighting
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 92% (Original, Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Konami
• Publisher — Konami
• Genre — JRPG
• First/Third Party — Third Party

• Developer — Konami
• Publisher — Konami
• Genre — Survival
• First/Third Party — Third Party

• Developer — Nintendo EPD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Action-adventure, Open-World
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 97% (Original, Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Nintendo EPD
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Genre — Action-adventure, Open-World
• First/Third Party — First Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 96% (Original, Universal Acclaim)

• Developer — Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — ARPG, Beat 'em Up
• First/Third Party — Third Party
• Review Aggregate Score — 86% (Original, Generally Favorable)