Advance Wars! One of the best turn-based strategy franchises, with some shockingly memorable characters. But that gameplay loop is pitch perfect. Unfortunately, it's never led to success for the series. I was optimistic for the 1+2 remake on Switch, but seeing that Nintendo never reported on the game after launch, I imagine it never reached 1 million sales.

Damn shame. While not as good as the originals, I was hoping it would've brought new interest in the franchise. I'm expecting the series to get put on ice again.

Pandora's Tower a 3D Metroidvania co-developed with Ganbarian and the twist is it's more 3D Castlevania, could be a solid IP imo if they invested into it.

A few games with a sub-Green rating on Metacritic:

• Classic NES series (GBA) - Most of these had mediocre reviews at best, but they were generally solid ways to play classic games for a reasonable price in 2004, with the smaller screen size being compensated for with minor tweaks here and there.
• Code Name STEAM - A really fun tactical strategy game with third-person shooter mechanics and a great sense of style.
• Kirby Air Ride - It was mostly wel-remembered for the City Trial mode, but it was one heck of a mode.
• Kirby Star Allies - Not my favorite Kirby game, but it deserves a lot of credit for being so expansive, especially with the free DLC. Effectively dozens of playable characters in a platformer, 40+ levels, around 30 bossesx and mini-bosses not counting harder variants, a 200+ song soundtrack, etc. The game's main flaw, its somewhat simple level designs, is largely a casualty of making stages convenient for 4 person multiplayer, and multiplayer is the best way to play the game.
• Pokemon Battle Revolution - Not a great game, but the animations from this launch era Wii game are often better than the modern Pokemon games.
• Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series - The GBA and DS era entries have fandoms that are still kicking to this day, which is shocking considering how lukewarm the reception for these games was.
• Yoshi's New Island - It is one of the most forgettable Nintendo games I've ever played, but that also means I have no bad memories from playing it.

Pandora's Tower is a good call; very cool little game, a little rough around the edges but it had real heart.

I'd also give a shout to Mario Kart Wii and Donkey Kong Country Returns. I know a lot of more "core" players don't like how chaotic MKWii is, but once you get a bunch of friends together, it becomes one of the greatest party games of all time. Bonus if there's drinks involved.

DKCR tends to be viewed as just okay by the fanbase, but for my money it's a fantastic 2D platformer with some of the best level designs in the genre.

I also second Excite Truck, that one was a lot of fun.

FE: Path of Radiance.

Best Fire Emblem game. I mean, Three Houses and awakening are good, but Path of Radiance is just above.

Correct if I’m wrong, but I thought MKWii was generally considered (among) the favorite MK games among the core crowd? Due to how technique-heavy it is. The online community for it remains very active, and is often seen as the SSBMelee of MarioKart.

Maybe among the most dedicated enthusiasts who get into all that super-advanced tech stuff, but for most of the Nintendo core fanbase, I always got the impression that the game was considered one of the weaker entries due to its emphasis on items and chaos over skill.

Cool thread! I realized the discourse about some games has changed and it became en vogue to hate on them, often with this tone of "everyone dislikes X game". Some that come to mind:

• Starfox Adventures - if you think Star Fox fans expected a Star Fox 64 sequel with this game back in 2002, you are simply wrong. Nobody thought Starfox Adventures would be a sequel. The game got great reviews, the graphics and music were praised, most people loved Krystal and it was considered a worthy swan-song for Rare. But ignorant YouTubers who were simply too young to be around back then make it seem like the game was universally hated and it's just so cool to hate on its gameplay and to virtue signal by saying "Krystal was only a damsel in distress, that's so bad!" (I'm not into American politics at all, but this is just simple pandering via virtue signaling)

• Mario 64 DS - I almost put Sunshine here but I think a lot of people actually praise that game. Mario 64 DS constantly gets shat on for not having analogue control. And every review forgets to mention that the game with a thumb strap which you could use to play it and which mimicked the analogue stick rather well. Also, it has 30 additional stars, additional characters, new stages, mini games, bunnies to hunt, the graphics look a lot more modern... it's a great title and way better than the original in my opinion. 

• Star Fox 64 - way underrated. In the same league as Ocarina of Time and Mario 64 for me. The remake does it justice but people keep focusing on the "only 1 hour to play through" thing.

I reviewed the game back when it came out for this site and it was generally plagued by the "Nintendo only makes games for the casuals!" insanity that was rampant back then. People criticized the game for basically being Mario Kart but spun it as "it's luck based! It's for casuals! Only Sony and Microsoft make actual gamer games!" That really shifted the discourse around the game to this day I think. Back then many Nintendo fans jumped on the "it's for casuals!" bandwagon. I honestly can't see how it's more casual or luck based than Double Dash to be honest, but maybe that's just me.