Summary
The first Nintendo Direct aired on June 15, 2025, during the height of the 3DS and the peakdays of the Wii. The Wii U was still a few years away and Nintendo started using the Direct format as a way to get news and updates to their fans instantaneously, and in a pretty innovative way. The concept would go on to influence their competitors, as Sony and Microsoft would cultivate their own Direct-style video presentations over the years, but one of the best parts of the format was the magic of the reveal.
Over the years, Nintendo has revealed some pretty remarkable and iconic games through the Direct. Whether it was a brand-newZeldagame, a remaster of an old title from their library, or something unique, Nintendo used the Direct format in a way that made the announcement and lead-up to the event so exciting. And in the aftermath of E3’s death in 2023, the need for this sort of immediate video presentation and the kind of special moments it can create is needed more than ever.
The reveal ofDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freezein Nintendo’s E3 2013 Direct was right in the middle of a jam-packed event, one that featured some other stunning reveals from theXenobladeandMario Kartfranchises. As a result, it became easy to forget when the platforming classic was re-released for Nintendo Switch in 2018.
The late Satoru Iwata presentedTropical Freezewith little build-up, as the outstanding trailer showed thatthis long-running seriesstill had some life to it after the last entry, which was 2008’sDonkey Kong Country Returnsfor the Wii. It remains one of Nintendo’s best Direct reveals, as it was the perfect way to reveal the latest in this iconic series.
The originalLuigi’s Mansionhighlighted the GameCube’s launch line-up, as it helped ease the pain of the first Nintendo console to launch without a mainlineMariotitle. Almost two decades later,Luigi’s Mansionwould fulfill similar needs when the third entry was announced in the September 2018 Direct, with a newMariogame nowhere in sight.
Luigi’s Mansion 3opened the September Direct in style, showcasing thenewest ghost-hunting adventurespectacularly. It was a clear sign that Nintendo wasn’t afraid of bringing back more niche IPs from their catalog, and it remains one of the most charming Direct reveals ever.
Mario Kart 8was first discussed in a Nintendo Direct in January 2013, but little more information was given beyond it being in development, alongside confirmation of a brand-newSmash Bros.game. Five months later, at the now legendary E3 2013 Direct,Mario Kart 8was revealed in all its glory and showcased justhow amazing this latest iterationof the series was going to be.
Showing off an impressive selection of tracks, a sense of blistering speed, and new antigravity systems,Mario Kart 8’s reveal was nothing short of perfection. It was just one part of a Direct that was already a part of Nintendo history, as this spectacular reveal was just one element of an already jam-packed presentation. It showcased a time that feels remarkably similar to where Nintendo is now, where their confidence is at an all-time high and the company is firing on all cylinders.
After the success of Operation Rainfall and seeingXenoblade Chroniclesbecome a hit in the West, MonolithSoft began conversations with Nintendo about a new RPG using systems from the Wii RPG, and it eventually morphed into a huge open-world adventure for the Wii U. Through multiple delays and a long concept phase, it was finally realized asXenoblade Chronicles Xand announced at the now mythic E3 2013 Direct.
The video presentsXenoblade Chronicles Xwith some well-deserved confidence, as it was proof that the RPG series had made it and that the original Wii RPG was worth the effort. It was a fantastic trailer that showed the game in action andthe scope of the world, one that left the fantasy trappings behind in exchange for a beautiful sci-fi world. It was the perfect way to debut the game and was one of the last games on the show, further cementing its importance.
AfterMetroid Prime 3: Corruptionwas released in 2007, the story of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran took a strange turn and saw titles likeOther MandFederation Forcebegin to weaken the foundation of the series. But with the first Switch-focus Direct in June 2017, Nintendo reignited the hype machine for the series by revealing thatMetroid Prime 4was in development for the Switch.
With some familiar musicfrom the originalMetroid Primeand a simple number 4, the trailer showed absolutely zero gameplay but still managed to be one of the best parts of the show. And despite being announced in the first year of the Switch, the game didn’t get a full coming-out party until the June 2024 Direct, where it was announced asMetroid Prime 4: Beyond. It is set for a 2025 release, with rumors of it being a cross-gen title with the next Switch, but this reveal is still one of the most incredible moments ever seen in a Nintendo Direct.
One thing thatSuper Smash Bros.has consistently done well is disguise itself, where it’s not quite clear that you’re looking at the franchise until Nintendo is ready to tell you. And in a March 2018 presentation, Nintendo pulled off one of the greatest misdirects of all time. As they were just coming off announcing multipleSplatoon-related projects, a harmless trailer showing the Inklings began and featured some incredible CG work. The fact that it wasSmashwas hidden brilliantly.
The slow zoom-in on Inkling Girl’s eyes, which then morphs into theSmashlogo, was truly breathtaking. It was a moment that will live in Nintendo Direct’s memory, as it kept the surprise of a newSmashbeing announced hidden in a convincing way. The game would later be fully revealed at E3 2018 asSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, becoming one of theSwitch’s most successful fighting games.
In the wake of Square abandoning cartridges in favor of CD-ROMs and themassively successfulFinal Fantasy 7skipping the N64, no mainline title in the long-running RPG series was released on Nintendo hardware untilThe Zodiac Agein 2019. This made the reveal of Cloud Strife as a fighter inSuper Smash Bros. for Wii Uin the November 2015 Direct all the more thrilling, as the massively popular lead ofFinal Fantasy 7made his way to Nintendo platforms for the first time.
This seismic announcement was one of the best feel-good moments of any Direct, as it felt like every barrier could be taken down. If Cloud could appear on a Nintendo platform, there’s no telling what else could happen. Cloud would go on to appear inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateas well, solidifying this reveal as a turning point forFinal Fantasy’s continuing multi-platform dominance.
Despite the uphill battle of Operation Rainfall, the year-long fan campaign that broughtXenoblade Chroniclesto the West in 2012, it proved to be worth the effort as the epic adventure by MonolithSoft ended up becoming a hit in the US. But after the slower sales numbers ofXenoblade Chronicles X, the franchise went quiet as Monolith supported Nintendo on games likeBreath of the WildandSplatoon 2.
But with renewed interest in the series after the success of the 2017 sequel, Monolith and Nintendo broughtthe original Wii gameback on the Switch asXenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Editionand revealed it as the finale of the September 2019 Direct. The emotional feeling of seeing the cult classic game given the red carpet treatment, and just how much had been improved over the original, was a flawless ending to one of the best Switch Directs ever.
In the years following the massive success ofBreath of the Wild, Nintendo had started working on the sequel immediately and what started as a small-scale project akin to something likeMajora’s Maskbegan to grow. And at E3 2019, in one of the company’s most outstanding Direct presentations, Nintendo revealed the title simply as “the sequel toBreath of the Wild.”
It would take Nintendo a full four years to finally reveal the full title, showcasingTears of the Kingdomin September 2023, but this atmospheric, highly polished trailer is still one of the best video game reveals in the history of the industry and easily one of the most exciting Nintendo Direct moments ever. The mix of ominous music, highly impressive visuals, and a sense of mystery went a long way in establishingTears of the Kingdomas one of the most anticipated games of all time.
