Out of the many major video games companies in the industry today, few have been known for being as family-friendly as Nintendo. For the better part of forty years, Nintendo has established a reputation of releasing lighthearted adventures that are accessible to just about anyone, and it has proven to be a driving force for the company. With mascots like Mario and Kirby serving as some of the many faces of Nintendo, it's hard to think that the company could ever reach down to a dark place for any of its games. Below the surface however, Nintendo has demonstrated that it's capable of some truly dark themes more than once.
Between all of the cheery Mario Party's and righteous romps through Hyrule, Nintendo has released a number of games that greatly shift the tone of what it usually produces. Whether it's a nuanced or more direct approach, Nintendo has not been afraid to inject darker themes into some of its most beloved franchises. Not much of this has been seen in recent years, but with the upcoming release of Metroid Dread and Breath of the Wild 2, Nintendo might just be embracing its dark side again. If this is any indication for the company moving forward, it's worth taking a look at some of Nintendo's darkest video game releases.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
When discussing some of Nintendo's darkest releases, there are few that compare to the shift in tone that was taken with The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Following the incredible success of Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask put players through an adventure that was offbeat and chilling. From the looming dread of the terrifying moon set to impact the world of Termina, to the mysterious Skull Kid, Majora's Mask certainly isn't the usual Legend of Zelda game. That didn't stop it from becoming a success alongside Ocarina of Time however, as the game remains one of the most influential Zelda games to this day.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
The Metroid series has never exactly dealt with the lightest of subject matter, but there are some installments that certainly take on a darker tone than others. Metroid Prime on its own was a departure from the usual Metroid formula, but Metroid Prime 3: Corruption managed to take the franchise to a much darker place than ever before. One of the main conflicts of the game involves Samus Aran fighting off Phazon corruption, while also trying to save a number of planets from the same fate. Although she ultimately emerges successful, many of Samus' fellow bounty hunters perish, and the game's ending is far from hopeful.
Luigi's Mansion
Most of Mario's various companions aren't known for particularly having a dark side, least of all his sheepish brother Luigi. That doesn't stop the other half of the Mario Bros. from getting into trouble however, and the Luigi's Mansion franchise is the best indication of this. Although it may be like most other Super Mario titles aesthetically, the ghost hunting of Luigi's Mansion is significantly more spooky than most other Nintendo games. There are some genuine frights that can be found through each installment, and there's certainly much more tension to be found than in most of Nintendo's stress-free ventures.
Eternal Darkness
Nintendo has never exactly been one to publish mature games for its consoles, much to the chagrin of gamers that have wanted content that is more adult in tone. There is one instance however, where Nintendo published a game that truly changed the perception of what could be showcased on a Nintendo console. Eternal Darkness was a psychological horror title exclusive to the Nintendo GameCube that did things with the genre that have scarcely been done since.
While the plot wasn't exactly game changing, the most notable part of Eternal Darkness came from its "sanity effects". In game, these effects would manifest as the main character getting chased by floating statue heads and other abnormalities, but the real frights came when the game made it seem like something was wrong with the player's TV or console. From making it seem like the TV volume was changing on its own, to "freezing" the game, Eternal Darkness did not hold back on making players feel as uncomfortable as possible.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. isn't exactly sought after for its adventure mode, but the one featured in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate certainly takes on a dark tone for the party game. Known as World of Light, the mode's opening cinematic sees the dozens of characters featured in the game get vaporized by an entity known as Galeem. Kirby ends up being the lone survivor, and is then tasked with saving each member of Ultimate's roster from Galeem's imprisonment. It's some pretty heavy subject matter for a game that lets players see if Pac-Man or Sonic the Hedgehog would win in a fight.
Mother 3
While Majora's Mask is arguably the most widely known Nintendo game to take a much darker tone, Mother 3 might take the cake for the most unsettling Nintendo game ever. Released exclusively in Japan, Mother 3's reputation is built on how disturbing it can be at times. For perspective, the game starts with the protagonist Lucas' mother dying and his brother going missing, and the upsetting moments only continue from there. To really seal the deal, Mother 3 ends with Lucas' brother committing suicide, and the main setting getting destroyed by a dragon. Few Nintendo games since have followed such a dark plot.
It may be a stretch to think that Nintendo will ever really shift to giving all of its franchises a dark tone, but these games show that the company is at least capable of branching out towards some extreme themes from time to time. Metroid Dread and Breath of the Wild 2 show that Nintendo hasn't completely abandoned experimenting with tones different from what gamers expect, so there's always a chance that there could be similar games like it in the future.