The Best Retro Studios Video Games

Ever since being founded in the late 90s, Retro Studios has established itself as one of the most important developers in Nintendo’s global portfolio. The Texas-based studio has been responsible for some of the most beloved Nintendo games of this century, successfully modernising older franchises to be enjoyed by a whole new generation of gamers.

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And while their output isn’t exactly the most prolific, when you look at the games that Retro Studios has developed, there’s hardly a dud in sight. Whether it’s exploring Tallon IV as Samus or surfing over jelly as Funky Kong, whatever Retro Studios puts their name to typically ends up as a timeless classic.

6

Mario Kart 7

Focusing On The Classics

Mario Kart may not be the first series that comes to mind when you think of Retro Studios, but the Austin-based team was called in to help co-develop the seventh entry alongside Nintendo EAD. Specifically, Retro Studios was tasked with creating the classic race courses in Mario Kart 7, in order for the game to be released on the Nintendo 3DS in time for Christmas 2011.

There’s no doubt that Mario Kart 7 is a really strong entry in this much-loved kart-racing series – even if the follow-up largely overshadows many of its achievements. For what it’s worth, the classic courses in the game are quite memorable, especially Waluigi Pinball and Daisy Cruiser.

5

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

A Splintered Sequel

How do you follow up on one of the most beloved Nintendo games and remarkable studio launch titles of all time? Easy: you make it darker, harder and tack on a largely forgettable multiplayer mode.

When it’s at its best, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes stands toe-to-toe with the original in terms of atmosphere and world design, but it would be a lie to say that all of its new ideas landed as well as Retro Studios hoped. Still, this is an excellent 3D Metroid game that often gets overlooked in the context of the entire series.

4

Donkey Kong Country Returns

No Escape For This Ape

After completing the Metroid Prime trilogy, there was understandable excitement over what direction Retro Studios would head in next. To the surprise of many, the studio decided to resurrect another old Nintendo series – this time, Rare’s Donkey Kong Country for the Wii.

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The beauty of Donkey Kong Country Returns is how it effortlessly balances the old and the new. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Retro Studios iterates on the classic DKC formula in really imaginative ways, crafting a platformer brimming with ideas and challenges that surprised and delighted gamers of all ages back in 2010.

3

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Excellence In Motion

If there was one genre that the Wii always felt tailormade to capitalise on, it was the first-person shooter. Given how well the motion pointer controls lent themselves to accurate aiming and shooting, you would think that the genre would thrive far more on the system than it did.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption proved how effective motion controls could be in a first-person adventure, especially when wrapped up in the excellent design and worldbuilding that you would expect from this trilogy. The motion controls worked so well, that Retro Studios would retrofit them onto the first two games as part of the Metroid Prime Trilogy.

2

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Close To Genre Perfection

While some fans initially rolled their eyes at the announcement of another Retro Studios Donkey Kong Country game for the Wii U, their apathy would soon be proven misplaced once gamers got their hands on this excellent platformer. Simply put, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze isn’t just a potential high point for its series, but easily one of the greatest games in its entire genre.

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There is so much creativity poured into every aspect of this game – from the highly imaginative levels to the way each playable character interacts with their environment. Add in a terrific soundtrack courtesy of series veteran David Wise and a vibrant visual identity, and you have one of the studio’s very best works.

1

Metroid Prime

Retro Studios In Their Prime

It seems unfair to other developers that Retro Studios’ very first game would be something as earth-shattering as Metroid Prime. And yet, such is the way that these stories play out that there’s something almost mythical about this beloved Metroid game coming from a studio thousands of miles away from where the series was first conceived.

Metroid Prime proved that this series could work in a 3D environment without losing an ounce of its mystery or atmosphere in the process. It’s a remarkable achievement in world design and environmental storytelling that continues to influence games today. Up till now, Retro Studios simply hasn’t done anything better.

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