Best first year for a Nintendo console (pre-Switch)

[Torpoleon]

I would definitely say the Wii. That first year launch lineup really helped the system's sales explode for the first few years. Even though most bought it for games like Wii Sports, Mario Galaxy, Twilight Princess, Prime 3, etc. definitely helped! Wii Fit also technically kind of fits into that first year slot as well.

N64 would be a close second. Mario 64 & Mario Kart 64 were huge. N64 was outdoing both Saturn & PS1 in its first year. They weren't able to keep up momentum because games like Banjo-Kazooie and OoT were pushed from 1997 to 1998.