The conversation around "best Nintendo game" tends to be dominated by entries of three elite franchises; Zelda, Mario, and Metroid.

What do you think is the best Nintendo game that's not from the three franchises, and what in your opinion makes your choice worthy of the top spot?

Probably Donkey Kong. The 5 DKC games and DK64 are great games.

Xenoblade
Earthbound
Sin N Punishment Star Successor
Astral Chain
Fire Emblem

Doki Doki Panic

I don't even like Metroid and Zelda.

Aside from Mario, I would choose Donkey Kong. The first three titles for SNES are incredible, some of my favorite games ever made. If Yoshi's Island doesn't count as a Mario game, I would choose it too.

Do titles developed by second or third parties with Nintendo franchises count? In that case, DK due to the DKC games.

Good question! I'll say second party counts, but not third party.

Which DK game would you pick as the best?

What about games that are mostly developed by third parties with some first-party aid like Smash Bros. Ultimate? :) That's a pretty big one.

I'd say DKC2.

Oh, 2nd party counts !

Therefore, Xenoblade Chronicles 3. But the experience of the whole trilogy is something that's not gonna be replicated by any Nintendo devs in a long time.

I will allow Smash Bros given the extent of Nintendo's involvement and that Sora is 72% owned by them.