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It’s been an astounding year for video games, especially when it comes to the amount of fantastic titles that Nintendo and other companies released for the Wii U and 3DS. It can be pretty hard to figure out which games you should play first, so we created a list of the 10 must play Nintendo games that dropped this year.

Let’s jump right in.

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

It’s hard not to get excited for Mario Kart, especially when it comes to racing against friends. This time around it’s even better. Not only is the world beautiful, but Nintendo also included new features like hovercraft vehicles, insane tracks where you drive upside down and the most characters ever seen in the franchise. Top that off with the usual rivalries and the fact that our favourite track of all time, Rainbow Road, looks incredible, and we have no issue getting lost in this game for hours.

Super Smash Bros (3DS and Wii U)

If you’ve never played a Smash Bros. game, then you are genuinely missing out on everything good about fighters. There’s an insane amount of characters and beautiful stages to master, and we haven’t mentioned the items. Unlike other fighting games, Super Smash Bros incorporates objects like Banana Peels, Poison Mushrooms, Pow Blocks and even Galaga Bugs to help as you fight your way to the top. We even recommend picking it up on both 3DS and Wii U, as both games feature different stages. Factor in GameCube controller support (via adapter) for Wii U and online play, and this is a must buy, no question.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Wii U)

Players may remember Captain Toad from his role in the Super Mario Galaxy games, where he played the cowardly leader of the Toad Brigade, or from the short Adventures of Captain Toad side levels in Super Mario 3D World. This time, however, he’s ready to step up and save his friend Toadette. Much like The Adventures of Captain Toad, this game sees him making his way through various levels trying to collect as many coins as he can. There are no time limits, only objectives and Power Stars that players must reach, but without the ability to jump, Captain Toad is sure to be a new take on platformers for Mario fans everywhere. Not to mention it’s only the second game in the Mario franchise to have a Toadstool character as the protagonist, the other being 1994’s Wario’s Woods. Oh, and don’t forget the planned amiibo support.

Shovel Knight (3DS/Wii U)

Heralded by some as the platformer the world has been waiting for, Shovel Knight channels the magic that made NES games like Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse and Mega Man amazing. After falling to the dark power of a cursed amulet, Shovel Knight’s best friend and fellow adventurer is believed to be dead, thus pushing Shovel Knight to give up his life as an adventurer. However, in his secluded absence the evil Enchantress rises up and unseals the magical tower where Shovel Knight and Shield Knight fell to the dark magic. Thus, Shovel Knight sets out on an adventure to discover the true fate of his friend, and must fight through beautifully crafted 8-bit levels, as well as take on bosses reminiscent of the side scrolling golden days. It’s everything you could wish for in a NES game, even if it is late to the party.

Fantasy Life (3DS)

When the peaceful existence of Reveria gets shattered by falling meteors containing dark power, King Erik of the land of Castele beckons for assistance. It’s up to you, the player, to step up and choose your life. Will you be a Mercenary, Paladin, Cook, Blacksmith, Angler, Woodcutter, Magician, Alchemist, Carpenter, Tailor, Miner or Hunter? The choice is yours, but whatever you choose, you’ll need to work hard to master your craft and use your abilities to save the world.

It’s like Animal Crossing meets Rune Factory meets Harvest Moon. How can you go wrong with such a stellar combination? Tack on the beautiful world you get to explore, the satisfying combat system and the ability to wander through the world of Reveria with friends, and we’re sure you can understand why this game made our list.

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (3DS)

For years, millions of people everywhere have spent countless hours roaming the lands and collecting Pokemon across six generations of games. Now it’s time to take a look back at the GBA classics Ruby and Sapphire in Pokemon with Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. These completely remastered editions feature updated graphics, the new camera angle added in Pokemon X/Y and a plethora of features, from customising a secret base to additional Mega Evolutions. On top of that, each title features certain types of Pokemon that can only be found within that game. This makes good use of the 3DS connectivity system by allowing friends to connect their 3DSs and trade for Pokemon. In addition, the updated graphics and changes make picking up these new versions worth the money. After all, you can’t be a Pokemon master if you don’t catch ‘em all!

Hyrule Warriors (Wii U)

Hyrule Warriors is best defined as Dynasty Warriors meets the Legend of Zelda, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. If you’ve ever played a Dynasty Warriors game then you might think “eh, I can’t be missing much,” but you’d be wrong. Hyrule Warriors isn’t just another standard Dynasty Warriors remake. It’s Dynasty Warriors with a ton of the most iconic Legend of Zelda locations and characters.

Play as Link, Zelda, Impa, Darunia, Midna and even a new character, Lana. Fight off wave after wave of Legend of Zelda enemies in locations like Lake Hylia, Gerudo Desert and even Skyloft, with each location beautifully crafted and placed into the Dynasty Warriors world. Of course, if you’re a diehard Dynasty Warriors fan and a diehard Legend of Zelda fanatic, then you probably already own this game.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

Everyone’s favourite primate hero is back, and this time he’s ready to dive headfirst into some beautifully crafted swimming levels. Of course, most of the game is the usual Donkey Kong stuff. You start at one end of the level and work your way to the next using minecarts and rocket barrels, all while taking down countless enemies and searching the world for collectibles. This, however, is the beauty of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. It’s the same game that Donkey Kong Country has always been, but the challenge of later levels, the amount of exploration possible in the world and even the gorgeous backdrops for the various levels make it worth picking up.

Bravely Default (3DS)

Square Enix isn’t new to the realm of RPGs, but that doesn’t stop Bravely Default from mixing things up a bit. Where you’d spend most of your time waging war from turn to turn in a Final Fantasy game (Square’s bigger RPG series), Bravely Default allows you to either save or sacrifice your upcoming turns in order to hold off for larger attacks, or try to take your enemies down faster. This new mechanic of manipulating turns mixes up the rhythm of the combat as you progress further into the story. On top of this change to battle, your four party members can also obtain and shift between 24 different jobs ranging from the usual things like black mages and monks to more unusual forms like vampires and pirates. This shifting will prove essential in boss fights, and allows players to dig deeper into the strategy of turn-based combat more than ever.

If the combat isn’t your thing, then the excellent portrayal of a land in political conflict, struggling under corrupt religion, and the idea of four completely random people saving the world will resonate with you the loudest. From the expertly crafted world to the optional skits that add to the story and humour, this game is sure to scratch that JRPG itch.

Child of Light (Wii U)

Child of Light is your standard coming-of-age story wrapped into a stunningly illustrated platformer, and it’s not likely to disappoint those who pick it up. Aurora, a girl from 1895 Austria dies, but is brought back to life in the mythical land Lemuria by a protection spell her mother cast upon her. Sadly the sun, moon and stars have been stolen from the skies of Lemuria, and it’s up to Aurora and her friends to face their darkest fears if they want to save the world. The game features a robust combat system and is marked with many traditional RPG features, like levelling and increasing stats. Not only is the story as classic as they come, but the art style and presentation are reminiscent of Final Fantasy, Limbo and Vagrant Story.