Game Scoop! 823 Summary
Episode Title: Are These Really the Best & Worst Nintendo Franchises?
Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Daemon Hatfield, Sam Claiborne, Justin Davis
Network: IGN / Geek Media
Episode Overview
This episode centers on the IGN crew dissecting a new Metacritic list that claims to objectively rank every major Nintendo franchise, from worst to best, based on Metascore averages. The trio debates the credibility of using review averages to determine franchise worth, reminisces about obscure and beloved series, and weighs the methodologies of such rankings. In the latter half, the crew discusses news on the just-announced Call of Duty movie, Capcom’s theory about Monster Hunter Wilds’ performance, and fields listener questions on national gaming pride. As always, the episode wraps up with the fiercely competitive “20 Questions” video game guessing game.
Main Segment: Metacritic's Nintendo Franchise Rankings
Starts ~03:00, main discussion to ~50:00
The Premise
- Metacritic has published a list ranking every Nintendo franchise (44 in total) from "worst" to "best" based on the average Metascore across their games.
- "AI could have made this list." – Daemon Hatfield [03:26]
- The hosts agree the ranking methodology is questionable but a fun discussion starter.
Notable Lowlights (Worst-Rated Nintendo Franchises)
- #44: Pokémon Rumble (Avg Metascore: 55.5)
- None of the hosts have strong memories or affinity for this “beat ‘em up” Pokémon sub-series.
- "They made four of these games." – Damon [04:34]
- #43: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Avg: 62.9)
- A surprise, as hosts recall enjoying some entries. None ever broke a 70 on Metacritic.
- "Okay, that's it. I'm calling the cops." – Justin [06:46]
- #42: Chibi-Robo (Avg: 65.3)
- First two games respected, last two tank the average. “That's why.” – Damon [08:20]
- #41: Donkey Kong Spinoffs
- Inclusion of both classic (e.g., Donkey Kong 94) and oddball titles (Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Diddy Kong Racing) makes this “spinoff” category confusing.
- "That's its own series." – Justin [09:08]
- #39 (tie): Pokémon Stadium & Dr. Mario (Avg: 69.4)
- Recognized as slightly above average but not standouts. Confusion over what constitutes a franchise or sub-series runs through the discussion.
Notable Discussions and Franchise Shout-Outs
- Mario Party (#38, Avg: 70)
- Once seen as mediocre, now “we're in heady Mario Party times”—major U-shaped trajectory.
- Wii Sports (#32, Avg: 74)
- "This is really shining a light on what a dark time the Wii U was for Nintendo." – Damon [19:16]
- Kirby Spinoffs (#35) vs Kirby Mainline (#21)
- Hosts object to the distinction, feeling “gerrymandering” could make Kirby’s quality appear different.
- "You could definitely gerrymander a really good Kirby list." – Justin [29:17]
- Animal Crossing (#23)
- Recognized for both high highs (New Horizons) and less-beloved entries. Anticipation for the next game.
- “New Horizons was so good.” – Sam [27:59]
The Top 10 Nintendo Franchises (By Metacritic Average)
Segment starts ~41:12
- The Legend of Zelda (Avg: 89.6)
- Supreme praise, "so high" – Justin [49:14]. Only minor clunkers (Triforce Heroes, Zelda 2) lower the average.
- Super Smash Bros. (Avg: 89)
- Super Mario (Avg: 88.5)
- “When you have such a huge sample size, it’s amazing that just the stupid bonehead average is still so high.” – Sam [47:52]
- Xenoblade Chronicles (Avg: 87)
- Hosts are awed by the scores, but admit the length of these games keeps them away.
- Mario Kart (Avg: 86.7)
- Mainline never scored lower than 82; spinoff/tie-ins (Live Home Circuit) drag the average.
- Pushmo (Avg: 84)
- Hosts are surprised by its high placement.
- Nintendo Wars (Advance Wars, etc.) (Avg: 84)
- F-Zero (Avg: 83.7)
- “It’s too cool for Nintendo.” – Justin [42:57]
- Metroid (Avg: 83.3)
- NES, Federation Force, and pinball games lower the average, but Super Metroid remains a classic.
- Mario & Luigi (Avg: 83.1)
- Praised for genuinely funny writing.
Overall Observations
- Hosts debate the fairness of Metacritic-based rankings, with Daemon noting, "AI could have made this list."
- Some franchises are split awkwardly (main vs spinoff), skewing results (especially for Kirby and Donkey Kong).
- Even the “worst” franchises are rarely outright bad—a testament to Nintendo's quality floor.
- Notable missing or oddly categorized series prompt calls to fix or improve the methodology.
- "If it's just a meta average of all the games in the series, like there's definitely good Mystery Dungeon games, but maybe there's also some that are mediocre..." – Justin [06:34]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "I'm calling the cops." – Justin Davis, protesting Mystery Dungeon's low ranking [06:46]
- "Everything starts off seemingly on the rails. But pretty soon, everything goes sideways with this list." – Damon Hatfield [08:41]
- "You could definitely gerrymander a really good Kirby list." – Justin Davis [29:17]
- "AI could have made this list." – Damon Hatfield [03:26]
- "Fruit Ninja is a worldwide phenomenon." – Justin Davis, recognizing Australia's most iconic gaming export [64:09]
- "F-Zero is too cool for Nintendo." – Justin Davis [42:57]
- "When you have such a huge sample size, it’s amazing that just the stupid bonehead average is still so high." – Sam Claiborne on Mario's high average [47:52]
Second Segment: Industry News
Starts ~52:22
Call of Duty Movie Announced
- Paramount strikes a deal for a Call of Duty movie, with Top Gun Maverick as the creative template.
- Hosts question how COD will differentiate from standard war movies, and discuss how the games’ stories are often more morally ambiguous than expected.
- "Call of Duty has always been slightly more shades of gray." – Justin Davis [55:04]
Capcom on Monster Hunter Wilds Sales
- Capcom's president attributes Wilds’ “underperformance” to PlayStation 5's high cost, ignoring that the game is available elsewhere, and is still a massive success.
- "It's the fastest-selling Capcom game ever." – Damon [56:14]
- "10.6 million sold...that's not bad." – Sam [56:32]
- Hosts suspect quality issues and player dissatisfaction are the real cause.
Listener Mail: National Gaming Pride
Starts ~61:49
- A Canadian listener posits that Assassin’s Creed and Mass Effect are Canada's most famous games, but also mentions indie darlings (Tunic, Balatro).
- The team debates Australia's most famous game, ultimately landing on Fruit Ninja and Crossy Road for sheer worldwide reach.
- "Fruit Ninja is a worldwide phenomenon." – Justin Davis [64:09]
- Nostalgia for arcade visits (“not a single traditional arcade video game in there...everything is a ticket redemption machine”) [65:08]
Game Scoop! 20 Questions
Starts ~65:43
Answer: Resident Evil 7
- Clues established:
- Japanese-developed, mainline horror, released in last 10 years, has associated movies/TV, playable in first-person, regarded as good to great, not a remake.
- Sam and Justin methodically whittle down the possibilities, with trademark banter about past game adaptations.
- Quote: "Is it a mainline Resident Evil game?" – Sam [65:57]
- Quote: "Resident Evil 7." – Daemon [68:43]
Key Timestamps
- 03:00 — Metacritic franchise ranking breakdown begins.
- 13:54 — Brain Age, Labo, mid-tier franchises.
- 21:08 — Excite series discussion.
- 28:21 — Peaking at well-rated yet obscure franchises.
- 41:12 — Top 10 franchises ranking starts.
- 47:03 — Mario Kart, Super Mario, Smash Bros discussion.
- 49:14 — Zelda crowned top Nintendo franchise.
- 52:22 — Call of Duty movie news.
- 56:00 — Capcom/Monster Hunter Wilds discussion.
- 61:49 — Listener mail: national games (Canada, Australia).
- 65:43 — Video game 20 Questions.
Tone & Style
- Casual, quick-witted, playful (long-running inside jokes, “calling the cops” humor, mock outrage)
- Deep well of gaming knowledge, constant references to lesser-known games.
- Affectionate critique—hosts have fun with the premise while also poking holes in questionable methodologies.
- Emphasis on nostalgia and joy of gaming alongside skepticism of analytics.
Conclusion
Episode 823 is a rapid-fire, nostalgia-fueled examination of Nintendo’s vast legacy, mediated by Metacritic's sometimes-unwieldy data lens. The crew’s spirited debates, deep knowledge, and good-natured ribbing make this an engaging listen for both hardcore and casual Nintendo fans. It’s not just a ranking episode—it’s a celebration (and gentle roasting) of everything that makes Nintendo special, quirky, and, at times, delightfully baffling.