Nintendo has a knack for spinning off its flagship franchises into unique projects that sometimes even outshine their original games. Take Hey! Pikmin, Detective Pikachu, and The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes for example; each offers a fresh take using Nintendo’s beloved characters. Plus, gems like Pokémon Trading Card Game, Metroid Prime Hunters, and Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer highlight the rich variety that Nintendo’s spin-offs add to its catalog.
It’s always exciting when a franchise hits success and gains critical acclaim, but sometimes this expectation can stifle creativity. Even a traditionally cautious company like Nintendo has ventured into spin-offs that arguably bring more fun than their source material.
From innovating classic characters with new genres to testing multiplayer boundaries with emerging wireless technologies, Nintendo doesn’t hesitate to use its top intellectual properties for creative experiments, with impressive outcomes.
Hey! Pikmin
The Pikmin series, despite its lukewarm market reception, consistently offers inventive ways for fans to enjoy its strategic gameplay. 2017’s Hey! Pikmin cleverly adopted the 3DS’s dual screens and distilled Pikmin’s core mechanics into a 2D format. While it deviates from the original’s expansive home console feel, it still stands as a delightfully different twist on strategy gaming.
Detective Pikachu
True, the Pokémon saga has evolved massively from its Game Boy roots, yet the franchise continues breaking new ground. Detective Pikachu, for instance, doesn’t just let players re-explore the Pokémon world; it also enriches the famously cute Pikachu with a detective’s personality. Although this 3DS adventure wasn’t a blockbuster hit, it inspired a Switch sequel and even a Hollywood film.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
While mostly celebrated for its solo adventures, The Legend of Zelda has occasionally ventured into multiplayer terrain. The 2015 3D co-op title Tri Force Heroes builds on Four Swords Adventures’ multiplayer legacy. With its collaborative puzzles and vibrant art style, this game offers a fun alternate way to engage with Link’s world.
Mario Versus Donkey Kong
Long before their platforming days, Mario and Donkey Kong kickstarted their careers as arcade rivals in the 80s. Fast forward to 2004, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong redefined their feud through clever puzzles. While not a commercial triumph, it spawned sequels and even a 2024 Switch remake, cementing its place in Nintendo’s lineup.
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon brand is a vast universe that extends far beyond its main games. The Pokémon Trading Card Game on the Game Boy merged trading card strategy with RPG elements, helping fans dive deeper into Pokémon culture. It served as both an engaging game and a clever promotional tool for the card series.
Metroid Prime Hunters
For showcasing the potential of Nintendo hardware, the Metroid Prime series is unrivaled. Metroid Prime Hunters, though limited by mid-2000s handheld capability, delivered a visually stunning and tightly crafted experience on the DS. Its multiplayer and voice chat functions were particularly groundbreaking for its time.
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer
The charm of Animal Crossing lies in its creative freedom. Happy Home Designer advanced this aspect, focusing entirely on crafting and decorating homes. Though not a massive commercial success, the spin-off’s concepts were warmly embraced as DLC for Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2021.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky
Straying from traditional Pokémon gameplay, Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky invited players into a world of dungeon-crawling quests and compelling storytelling. It built upon its predecessors with a deeply engaging narrative, earning its place as one of the finest Pokémon spin-offs.
These examples showcase how Nintendo leverages spin-offs to broaden its game environment, proving that some of their boldest and most creative ideas often come from branching out from the main path.
