6. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
The original Luigi's Mansion on GameCube may be a ghost of the past, but Dark Moon is very much a game that deserves a healthy future. It's funny, clever and pretty spooky too, which is a bonus. The Dark Moon of the title has been causing supernatural disturbances that Luigi is summoned to banish… or, umm, vacuum away. The many playful spectres look remarkable, Luigi's exploits arguably resembling the best of Dreamworks and Disney Pixar. In single-player story mode the puzzles are challenging though seldom frustrating - it's fun! Co-op multiplayer boasts three modes for up to four players.
7. Metroid: Samus Returns
Played dead straight, and all the better for it, this is a Metroid game to remind everyone why 'Metroidvania' ever became a thing, and how so much of that whole genre is owed to Nintendo's space-faring adventures. While elements are snatched from other trailblazing action games that emerged since Super Metroid on Super NES (combat techniques akin to Batman Arkham Asylum for one thing), Samus Returns reclaims the classic exploration and incremental power upgrades that never grows old. The Metroids' home planet, SR388, is huge and complex, with lock and key puzzles to solve and awesome boss encounters.
8. Mario Kart 7
Rather than present a pared-down experience on 3DS, Nintendo shows once again how every mainline instalment matters. Mario Kart 7 is a terrific standalone showcase for the handheld console, offering gyroscope controls for those that want to try something new that actually works so well, and weapons that dramatically switch things up on the track. Drivers can now glide or scoot underwater, adding value to retro circuits from way back such as N64 Koopa Troopa Beach and GameCube Daisy Cruiser. To drive like a true pro, strategy comes into play with magic coins for speed-boosts and upgrades.
9. Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy
With titles like Dr Kawashima's Brain Training, Nintendogs and Art Academy, Nintendo 3DS showed how change of pace could attract huge new audiences. The Professor Layton series falls into this category of attractive, compelling, friendly and gently challenging experiences. As an adult, you're not worried about proving your worth in a toxic multiplayer arena. As for kids, you can very happily leave them to enjoy the intriguing puzzle-themed story, in which there are 500 teasers, and know they are being very thoughtfully entertained. Mathematics, logic, route-finding and 'read and deduce' are among the fun types of riddles encountered.
10. Bravely Default
Whimsically nonsensical title aside, this adorable Japanese RPG is a very focused example of the formula refined by Final Fantasy. We direct four charismatic heroes through a 70+ hour journey, in which beautiful towns are explored and many spooky, atmospheric dungeons are plundered. The bizarre name refers to a unique aspect of the battle system, giving the option to spend turn points more thoughtfully, trading time defending to empower attacks (Default = hold back, Brave = let 'em have it). Replay value is huge, with 24 jobs to master. The drama is expectedly swashbuckling with tender moments too.
