Sunday, January 21, 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Super Smash Bros. on the N64 and the series in general. To celebrate Smash’s quarter century, we’re republishing this reader-ranked list of every game in the series.
This list is governed by the user rating of each game on the site, meaning it is subject to change in real time. So if you haven’t rated the games below, feel free to do so now and potentially influence the order, even after publication…
When Super Smash Bros. Ultimate arrived on Switch in 2018 and brought with it every single fighter from the history of the series, taking us back through the older games. Since the original Super Smash Bros. now well into its third decade, it’s amazing to see how the series has evolved over two decades. How do they rank against each other? Is this the ‘Ultimate’ iteration on the Switch really the last word in Smash?
There’s a strong case for that, but how do the other entries measure up to the Switch game? Well, simply scroll down to see where the Ultimate compares to its predecessors according to Nintendo Life readers…
Squeezing Smash’s frantic brawling onto a handheld seemed like an impossible feat, but Sakurai’s team of wizards managed to put virtually everything from the Wii U version onto the 3DS while also adding stereoscopic 3D, plus exclusive modes (Smash Run and StreetSmash) and stages. This one introduced the ability to customize your fighters by changing their attacks and providing unique power-ups to create a playstyle that suits you best. It also introduced amiibo support, allowing you to train CPU characters and import them into a match by simply tapping the figure on the console.
Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS even let you use the 3DS as a controller for the Wii U version – of course, the constant tension and rapid button presses mean it’s definitely not the most comfortable way to play, but 3DS owners in 2014 were treated to a fair, full-bodied Super Smash Bros . on a handheld computerand more than a month before it arrived on Wii U. It’s still an impressive game and worthy of a place in your collection.
The third entry in the scrap ’em up series, Super Smash Bros. Brawl first introduced Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake, and included the acclaimed Subspace Emissary mode.
Taking up the baton from the celebrated GameCube entry, Brawl pushed the series in a comprehensive direction in terms of content and set the precedent for the ‘more is more’ approach to stages, fighters, music and more that Masahiro Sakurai worked on eight days a week for years after.
Keeping in mind how carefully Nintendo began to manage its characters and their image after the failure of (the first) Super Mario Bros. movie in the early ’90s, it’s remarkable that the original Super Smash Bros. and its inter-franchise cancellation left the drawing board at the HAL Laboratory. Thankfully, Masahiro Sakurai’s brawler is allowed to exist.
At the time, the idea of a ‘platform’ fighting game without health bars was quite revolutionary. Instead, as you defeat your opponent, they become more vulnerable to knockbacks from your attacks, with the goal of knocking them out of the arena entirely. Allowing up to four players with a simple control scheme (especially compared to other fighting games) and adding weapons and power-ups to spice things up, this first Smash was a solid foundation for what would become one of the world’s biggest fighting franchises.
The number of fighters and complexity of the N64 original may pale in comparison to the later rosters, which have been plucked from the annals of video game history, but we still look back fondly on the first time we had the chance to open a can of hoop-ass on Pikachu.
In many ways, Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U felt like a direct response to criticism of the series’ tendency towards entertainment. The crossover fighter series had its innocuous beginnings as a silly arcade game, allowing players to finally see who would win in a battle between two of the world’s most famous Italian plumbers and some of their friends. This theme would continue, only with more figures in the toy box to choose from and more arenas to battle on.
All that fantastic fanservice was still present here, and more polished than ever, but the series finally embraced its hyper-competitive side, still managing to deliver one of the most enjoyable eight-player party games in years. With the inclusion of exclusive modes (Smash Tour, Special Orders and Event Mode), multi-controller support and the inclusion of Special Smash, this was a smarter, more focused blast of mayhem, confident in its ability to appeal to any audience willing to give it a go. chance.
There’s a reason why to this day Super Smash Bros. Melee has a dedicated hardcore following in the fighting community. Fans will say it’s tighter, faster and requires more skill than other entrances. They’ll point out that it’s much more fun to watch than its successors, down to this faster pace. They will highlight his better balance. All convincing arguments.
More broadly, though, it’s a brilliant local multiplayer brawler that smoothed the rough edges of the N64 original, added a metric ton of content, and — yes — feels the most balanced of all the entries in the series before the roster grew. Smash would continue to grow from here on out, but there’s an elegance and purity to the GameCube iteration that makes it worth revisiting if you’re knee-deep in Ultimate and want to try a different flavor of superstar brawling.
How does this ‘ultimate’ version of Smash stack up against the others? Concerns about past games were actively discussed. Every fighter from the series is present (even Pichu) and they’re joined by a colossal list of DLC characters from the gameplay annals (let’s not forget that this one is the game responsible for bringing Banjo and Kazooie home to the Nintendo console). The customization is incredible, and it’s all topped off with super solid single player modes.
We’re not sure how you could make a more robust or enjoyable Smash game. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate indeed it is ultimate part of the series, and it makes you wonder where Masahiro Sakurai might take this franchise next.
Where is your favorite Super Smash Bros. on the list? Do you agree that Ultimate is really, erm, ultimate Smash? Are Melee’s days as a tournament favorite numbered? Let us know in the comments section below.
Note. Many moons ago before it was converted, the NL staff originally ranked all the Smashes on this list in the following descending order: Super Smash Bros. (N64), Brawl (Wii), For Nintendo 3DS (er, 3DS), For Wii U ( you get the picture), Melee (GC) and Ultimate (Switch).
