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The best Nintendo R&D2 games

The 8 best games from Nintendo R&D2, ranked from 423 critic and player ratings.

The best Nintendo R&D2 game is Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, with a critic score of 92/100. Updated October 2026.

  • Ranked releases span 1983 to 2003.
  • Average critic score across the 8 ranked games: 83/100.
  • 423 critic and player ratings behind this ranking.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
  • 8 games are listed on this page, carrying 423 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 12 October 2026.

Top 8

01 Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 2001 · 80 ratings Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World is a remake of Super Mario World for the Game Boy Advance starring Mario's dinosaur friend Yoshi for the first time. Super Mario Advance is a four-part series for the GBA with Super Mario games of the NES and SNES era. The remakes came with adjusted graphics, sound and additional content. Each game of the series includes additionally the arcade-classic "Mario Bros" which can be played in multiplayer via link cable. 92 /100
02 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords 2002 · 33 ratings The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords features two games, a port of the SNES game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and a new multiplayer adventure called Four Swords. 100 /100
03 Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 2003 · 55 ratings Super Mario Advance 4 is a GBA remake of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES. Super Mario Advance is a four-part series for the GBA with Super Mario games of the NES and SNES era. The remakes came with adjusted graphics, sound and additional content. Each game of the series includes additionally the arcade-classic "Mario Bros" which can be played in multiplayer via link cable. 90 /100
04 Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 2002 · 50 ratings Super Mario Advance 3 is a GBA remake for the SNES with the dinosaur Yoshi and his friends as main characters carrying Baby Mario and Luigi on their back. Super Mario Advance is a four-part series for the GBA with Super Mario games of the NES and SNES era. The remakes came with adjusted graphics, sound and additional content. Each game of the series includes additionally the arcade-classic "Mario Bros" which can be played in multiplayer via link cable. 90 /100
05 Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Super Mario Bros. Deluxe 1999 · 45 ratings Bowser has once again taken over the Mushroom Kingdom, and it's up to Mario to put an end to his sinister reign. Battle Bowser's vile henchmen through 32 different levels - all taken directly from the 1985 classic! Then move on to collect special Red Coins and Yoshi Eggs in the Challenge Mode. Or face off against a friend and race through 8 competition courses in the all-new VS Mode! This time there's a lot more to do than just save a Princess, so get ready for a brick-smashin', pipe-warpin', turtle-stompin' good time! 82 /100
06 Super Mario Advance Super Mario Advance 2001 · 45 ratings An updated re-release of Super Mario Bros. 2 (the American reskin of "Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic," later re-released in Japan as "Super Mario USA") as a Game Boy Advance launch title. Based heavily on the Super Mario All-Stars version of the game, it also features an updated version of the original Mario Bros. arcade game, which can be played with up to three other players via link cable. 78 /100
07 Donkey Kong Donkey Kong 1983 · 78 ratings Donkey Kong has kidnapped Pauline, and it is up to Mario, the fearless carpenter, to come to her rescue. Throwing fate to the wind, Mario tries desperately to climb the labyrinth of structural beams from the top of which Donkey Kong taunts him. Help our hero ascend the metal structure by dodging an assortment of fireballs, steel beams, and exploding barrels the angry ape hurls at him. Prepare yourself for a never-ending adventure as Donkey Kong takes Pauline away to the next level every time Mario gets to the top. Based on the arcade game of the same name, this classic will keep hardcore and casual gamers entertained for hours. This Donkey Kong port differs from the arcade game, having only three stages instead of four. 66 /100
08 Donkey Kong Jr. Donkey Kong Jr. 1983 · 37 ratings Donkey Kong Jr. for the Nintendo Entertainment System is one of the most recognizable ports of the original arcade game, being re-released and ported many times. 65 /100
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Frequently asked questions

What is the best Nintendo R&D2 game?

Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 currently tops the ranking with a score of 92/100 across 80 ratings. Ranking updated October 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.