Dormant franchises are abundant, and especially when it comes toNintendo.Nintendo is one of the oldest gaming companies around. We at least can crossPokémon Snapoff our list now thatNew Pokémon Snapis coming soon.
RELATED:10 Nintendo Switch Games To Play if You Like Wii Sports
However,New Pokémon Snap’s announcement really outlined how much potential the Nintendo Switch has when it comes to reviving a whole host of fantastic and long-forgotten franchises. The Nintendo Switch only released in 2017, so Nintendo has time to get to work. Nintendo fanboys (and fangirls) are growing weary of ignored franchises, finding themselves eagerly anticipating their old favorites getting a fresh coat of paint. Here are ten dormant franchises that deserve the reboot treatment.
10Metroid
This section refers to the originalMetroidseries and notMetroid Prime. That’s not to say thatMetroid Primeisn’t a phenomenal franchise, butMetroiddoes offer something unique as a 2D platformer. Its intricate level design and boss battles are awe-inspiring.
Metroidreceived numerous 2D sequels, but the franchise has been dormant since Metroid’s enhanced remake,Metroid: Samus Returns (remake ofMetroid II: Return of Samus). It’s time to either release the remake ofSuper Metroidor release another sequel.
9Banjo-Kazooie
Xbox Games Studios is an industry leader concerning mergers and acquisitions. They have purchased numerous gaming companies, while companies like Nintendo have acquired companies to a lesser extent. Many of the Nintendo Switch’s best games are first-party exclusives.
RELATED:10 Games Like Banjo-Kazooie You Need To Play
Banjo-Kazooieis an intellectual property of theRare development company,which is owned by Xbox. Despite appearing inDiddy Kong Racingfirst, Banjo may never return to Nintendo. Whether it’s Nintendo or Xbox, this dormant franchise needs to return, though seeing it return to Nintendo in proper fashion would be a landmark moment.
8Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64earned critical acclaim when it released in 1999.This game was bundled with jungle-themed Nintendo 64 consoles. Utilizing an Expansion Pak, which boosted the video game console’s RAM, the game offered breathtaking graphics.
BecauseDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freezeand otherDonkey Kong2D platformers are so successful, Nintendo may not want to release a 3D game. Nintendo rarely releases similarly themed games concurrently. Nevertheless, there is plenty of pent-up demand for a properDonkey Kong 64sequel.
7F-Zero
Set in the surreal future,F-Zerowas one of Nintendo’s most prominent franchises. Did you know that Captain Falcon was once the intended mascot of theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System?This series spawned several hits and is renowned for hyperspeed races. What happened to theF-Zerofranchise? Ever sinceF-Zero Climaxin 2004, this has been a dormant Nintendo franchise.
6Diddy Kong Racing
This racing series is renowned for its unforgiving races. Although not quite as punishing as rival Crash Team Racing,Diddy Kong Racinghad racesmore competitive than kart racing series likeMario Kart.The items did not change based on your race position, and it required genuine skill to win races.
RELATED:Nintendo 64: 5 Reasons Why Diddy Kong Racing Is The Best Kart Racer On The Console (& 5 Why It’s Mario Kart 64)
Diddy Kong Racingisnext up for a reboot.It is credited for introducing prominent Nintendo characters like Banjo and Conker. This racing series is relevant in the Nintendo racing world for having a competitive multiplayer and an intriguing single-player campaign.
5Mario Kart
AlthoughMario Kartcould be considered an active series, it’s been more than six years since the lastMario Kartgame released, excludingMario Kart 8 Deluxe. This is a game series that likely won’t release another game until 2021.Mario Kart: Double Dashwas inventive,bringing two players racing on a single cart.Mario Kart 9should attempt to reinvent itself, but still contain everything we love about the series.
4Super Mario Strikers
One of the newer dormant franchises which is long overdue for a reboot isSuper Mario Strikers. For the first time ever, Mario and friends (and enemies) band together to play competitive soccer games. ThisNintendo GameCube game received a sequel for the Nintendo Wii,but it’s been dormant since then.Mario Tennis Acesreleased for the Nintendo Switch, but we haven’t seen soccer make its long-awaited return. This is a game series that works well online. It’s relevant and deserves to return.
3Super Mario RPG
Paper Mariois steadily becoming less of a role-playing series since its inception on the Nintendo 64. The first game was a full-on role-playing game with turn-based battles and a leveling system.Paper Mario: Color Splashwas more of an action-adventure than a role-playing game, andPaper Mario: The Origami Kingis classified as a cross-genre video game.
Although Nintendo’s direction withPaper Marioisn’t entirely misguided, it leaves an empty place in our hearts for aMariorole-playing game.Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Starsreleased more than twenty years ago, but a sequel could still happen.
2Earthbound
This retro game released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994.Earthboundwas created by HAL Laboratory, the developer behind games like the originalSuper Smash Bros.andKirby Star Allies.
RELATED:10 Forgotten JRPGs That Deserve A Reboot
Despite having lackluster sales figures, the game maintained a cult following. People today rate it as one of the greatest games of all time. There is a depth of artistry in this game that’s rarely seen in the industry at large, even today.
1Star Fox
TheStar Foxseries was the pinnacle of aerial combat when it was an active franchise. For reasons that are unclear, the series has remained a dormant franchise. Even the spin-off gameStar Fox Adventureswas a hit. The latest from theStar Foxseries is Starlink: Battle for Atlas; a game that won’t satisfy fans of the main series. AlthoughStarlink: Battle for Atlasis not completely terrible, it isn’t the triple-A game fans deserve.
NEXT:10 Dormant RPG Video Game Franchises We Wish Would Come Back
