SixtyFour
1988
A game very obviously designed to be a quick and easy seller, since it was another game (Doki Doki panic) with Mario & co. Plastered onto it. The gameplay seen here is unlike any other Mario game and was never seen again after the games release. Instead of stomping enemies, you could pick them up and throw them, as well as use various items and weapons such as turnips to defeat them. The level design is actually pretty good and the bosses are also decent but a lot of the merit for this game falls apart when you consider that it was never actually a Mario game to begin with.
1985
The beginning of the most popular and iconic franchise of all time. This game alone was making the NES sell all the way back in 1985 and it still has its merits today. This was one of the first stabs at making video games more than just experience. This game brought forward likable and iconic characters; characters that could be marketed and used again in other games. The game itself is mostly ok, with a great mix of challenge and intuitive level design (for the time). Compared to later stage NES titles this game appears to be primitive but there is no denying that this is arguably the most influential video game of all time.
1994
"Kirby Golf" should not be this fun. This game is genuinely one of the most enjoyable experiences with friends I have ever had. Tons of ridiculous power ups and gimmicks to traverse throughout the numerous holes/levels that truly make this game feel like it belongs in the Kirby franchise. The singleplayer is a bit lackluster and isn't particularly great. The multiplayer though, as said before, is absolutely fantastic. Seriously - if you haven't already - boot this game up on Nintendo Switch Online and play with a friend.
A very solid upgrade from Triple Deluxe and one of the best titles in the series. It has similar level design to triple deluxe and many of the assets used are exactly the same (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). Plenty of new and fun copy abilities to mess around with, and plenty of incredibly fun boss fights to use them on. The robot mechanic/gimmick is actually very well put together and supplements the already good level design.
2014
A very solid portable Kirby adventure. The overall feel is quite similar to that of Kirby's return to dream land. The game is actually a bit on the harder side for a Kirby game, which is a rarity but a welcome one. The hypernova mechanic is horribly uninteresting and fails to function as a staple "gimmick" for the game. Still very fun and a lot of fun collectibles to unlock for completionists.
1992
The majority of this game's merit comes from the fact that it's an early GameBoy game and the first time people got to experience Kirby. The game lacks copy abilities but establishes what exactly Hal wanted Kirby to be - an accessible platformer that has lots of charm and character to it. Otherwise, the game is incredibly short and pales in comparison to Kirby's Adventure which was released just a year later.
1993
A major upgrade over the original Game Boy game, Kirby's adventure takes all the ideas from its predecessor, adds the staple copy mechanic, and turns Kirby into one of Nintendo's heavy hitters. Some of the best level design in the franchise. While Kirby's dream land is the first "title" in the franchise, Kirby's Adventure is what I consider to be the first "game" in the franchise.
2010
Very fun and very easy game. Fond memories of playing it cooperatively and replaying many of the levels. Charming art style and direction along with some very inspired and unique gameplay features involving craft-like materials. The house builder is pretty fun to mess around with, but otherwise the game is very easy and is a bit short.
A solid return to form for Kirby after multiple years of not receiving a new game. An absolute blast with friends that kicked off the new design philosophy for every new Kirby game going forward. Great music, levels are designed fairly well and work well for both singleplayer and multiplayer, and the copy abilities are fun as ever to use. The game is still pretty easy and doesn't really do anything "new" for the franchise other than being 3D modeled and having 4 player local multiplayer (alongside some new Super Abilities).
Metroidvania combined with Kirby seemed like a very bizarre concept to me, but this game delivers well on it. Kirby and the amazing mirror takes you through multiple areas of varying difficulty; the entire map is a big maze just as seen in any other Metroidvania title. However, just as many other Kirby games do, this game suffers immensely from being too easy and having mediocre level design. Still a very bold venture by Nintendo and a very fun game at that.
2018
The game is very easy, just as all other Kirby games are, but feels like a tribute to the entire franchise as a whole. Bringing back multiple iconic enemies, characters and bosses from previous games and making them playable, the game is not short on content. However, with mildly repetitive gameplay, "ok" level design, and a brutal 30 fps cap make this game a fun local co-op experience but one that you'll probably put down forever upon completion.
It's a fun game. Kirby and the forgotten land is Kirby's first adventure in full 3D and all elements of the Kirby franchise translated over nicely. However, the game doesn't necessarily do anything particularly noteworthy or innovative besides the 3D transition. The "mouthful mode" mechanic is interesting to see in a Kirby game but feels redundant as the majority of the abilities given by the mouthful mode could've easily been copy abilities. Still very fun, and that's ultimately what matters sometimes.
To this day I will always say that this is the best Kirby game. Super Star Ultra takes everything Super Star on the SNES did and does it better with improved sprites, music and the addition of 3D cutscenes. New modes were added such as Meta Knightmare and The True Arena, and each playable mode has very high replay value. I found myself constantly going back to this game for short sessions when I was younger, and I still sometimes do so now. Very fun game.
2014
One of my personal favorites. One of few modern indie games I can happily say fully recreates the feel of an NES era title. Great level design, multiple fun upgrades to experiment with, and a very catchy soundtrack. Overall really solid game that doesn't necessarily do anything new but everything it does is great.
2002
Never have I seen a better transition to 3D than in Metroid Prime. Somehow - Retro Studios was able to perfectly translate all of the best qualities of Super Metroid into a 3D FPS setting. The feeling of isolation, exploration, and "metroidvania" qualities are all present, coupled with a new perspective and strikingly good graphics for the time. Great boss fights, fun beam upgrades, immersive environments and environmental storytelling are just a few qualities that make this game what I believe to be one of Nintendo's finest works.