Summary
- Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2 & Nintendogs were standout Nintendo titles from 2005, offering unique gameplay experiences.
- Mario Party 7 & Resident Evil 4 also contributed to the diverse library of quality games released for Nintendo consoles that year.
- Animal Crossing: Wild World & Mario Kart DS showcased the continued success of established Nintendo franchises in 2005.
2005 was the year right before Nintendo released one of the most successful consoles ever in the Nintendo Wii. Therefore, it was really the last full year of the Nintendo GameCube’s life span.
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Yet, not all of the Nintendo titles released that year were for that system. After all, the handheld Nintendo DS had just come out a year before, so it was also a year for building up that system’s game catalog. Across these two consoles, Nintendo released a number of exceptional titles that will turn 20 years old in 2025. These are some of the most notable examples.
8
Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2
The world has been treated to plenty of Dragon Ball games. One of the most underrated is Supersonic Warriors 2 for the Nintendo DS. This 2D fighting game is among the best handheld Dragon Ball games ever.
The combat is fairly simple, but it’s also very fast-paced and exciting, fitting the source material really well. Plus, the story mode has some creative what-if scenarios, which are a real treat for fans of the series. It’s a shame that there were never any more entries in the Supersonic Warriors series.
7
Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart is one of Nintendo’s most consistent series. It seems taking all the most famous Mario characters and having them race around in karts is hard to get wrong. In 2005, the developers proved that the concept could work on the Nintendo DS when they released Mario Kart DS.
The handheld console’s dual screens mean that you get the typical racing camera angle from behind the car and an additional birds-eye view on the other screen. This adds another element to the kart racing experience and makes it slightly different from other entries in the series.
6
Nintendogs
- Released
-
August 22, 2005
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo EAD
- ESRB
-
e
Few Nintendo games from 2005 were as famous or successful as Nintendogs. It’s a pet-simulation game where you look after your own virtual dog. You pet them, groom them, play with them, and even teach them tricks. It’s as simple as it sounds, but the game managed to become very popular.
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If real pets aren’t for you, maybe some of these virtual pets will be up your alley.
That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as dogs are adorable, and this was a unique game at the time. Yes, there were other titles where you looked after virtual pets before 2005, like Tamagotchi. Yet, none of them were as engaging or visually appealing as Nintendogs.
5
Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
- Released
-
April 20, 2005
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
t
Anyone who has played the more recent Super Smash Bros games may recall a blue-haired character called Ike featuring in those titles. He is one of the most famous and beloved characters from the Fire Emblem series, and he debuted in 2005’s Path of Radiance.
That alone makes this a significant game, but it was also the first Fire Emblem title to include 3D graphics, cutscenes, and voice acting. It also happens to be a really good game featuring engaging tactical combat and a very compelling story. This is why it’s often considered one of the best-ever Fire Emblem games.
4
Mario Party 7
Mario Party 7
- Platform(s)
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Nintendo GameCube
- Released
-
November 7, 2005
- Developer(s)
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Hudson Soft
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- ESRB
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E For Everyone Due To Comic Mischief
In 2005, the world was given a new Mario Party in the form of Mario Party 7. It isn’t the perfect game by any means, but it is a solid entry in the Mario Party series. Like the others, it provides a board game-like experience where you move around the board, picking up coins and attempting to accumulate stars.
The game boasts some interesting and varied game boards like the impressive Neon Heights and Pagoda Peak. Plus, the minigames are fun, and the title includes that classic Mario Party chaos. So, it’s a good overall game.
3
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Animal Crossing: Wild World
- Released
-
November 23, 2005
- ESRB
-
e
In 2005, Animal Crossing was still a new series. In fact, it wasn’t really a series until Wild World was released, as it was only the second AC title. The first one was a huge critical and commercial success. So, Wild World had a lot to live up to, and it succeeded. It proved that Animal Crossing wasn’t just a one-off, and it had the potential to be a full series.
Like the other games in the series, it is a social simulation game where you live among anthropomorphic animals. You’re able to socialize with them and take part in many other activities. It’s a great time, as long as you get some good villagers as neighbors.
2
Mario And Luigi: Partners In Time
Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time
Adventure
Puzzle
JRPG
Action RPG
- Released
-
November 28, 2005
- Developer(s)
-
AlphaDream
- Publisher(s)
-
AlphaDream
- ESRB
-
e
Partners in Time is the second game in the Mario and Luigi series. This one features a heavy dose of time travel, so it doesn’t just feature regular Mario and Luigi in the main roles. The past baby versions of themselves also join. Together, they explore the past and the present to find Princess Peach.
It’s a turn-based RPG that features plenty of puzzle-solving. Both fighting and solving puzzles in this game are very entertaining. It’s made all the better by the impressive visuals and presentation that may not hold up perfectly by modern Mario standards, but they were amazing in 2005 for a DS game.
1
Resident Evil 4
Since the original Resident Evil 4 has been ported to pretty much every console, it’s easy to forget that it originally launched on the Nintendo GameCube. It wasn’t ported to other systems until several months later, so at one point, it was considered a Nintendo game. Along with being a Nintendo game, it was also referred to as one of the best titles of its generation.
With RE4, Capcom controversially decided to move away from traditional horror and incorporate a bit more action. This started a trend of more action-based Resident Evil games for a while. Despite this, though, RE4 still received much-deserved praise for its perfect pacing, interesting locations, and exciting set pieces.
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