The Dark Age Of Nintendo (2012-2017)

Franchises Slowly Stagnate

Arriving in 2012 with no top tier releases to back it up, the Wii U was already starting to struggle. The improvements it made on the Wii hardware hardly made up for a lack of games. On top of that, Nintendo's efforts to innovate didn't translate into successful releases. Releases like New Super Mario Bros U made incredibly basic uses of the technology to the point the tablet's functionality felt tacked on.

It also didn't help that Nintendo made some incredibly baffling decisions with their biggest franchises between 2012 and 2017. Some dormant franchises were locked away for many years while others found themselves reaching lukewarm receptions at best. The game pad also stood out as being more of a gimmick than anything else. Star Fox Zero for example, in its bid to bring back the long-dormant franchise, drew heavy criticism with its style of controls which required the player to constantly look between two screens.

With the likes of Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash and Metroid Federation Force all proving major disappointments with fans, there was little to compel even the most loyal Nintendo fans to stay onboard. Throughout its life, the Wii U never had a AAA release from Mario, Zelda or Metroid to boost its sales overall, a biting absence felt by everyone who bought the console. Nintendo's revenue fell considerably throughout the early 2010s as a result.