This is really hard for me to pick. Mario is probably technically the best all in all. The main platforming games are all pretty solid, and there are a lot of spin off games that are all pretty high quality: from turn-based RPGs to party games to golf and tennis. There's a little something for everyone, and most all of them are pretty great. Even with that in mind, it's probably tied for number 2 in my favorite Nintendo franchises.

Number 1 probably goes to Donkey Kong. The three SNES titles are just some of my favorite games of all time. They honestly don't control quite as well as Mario, but I still have more fun with them. The Country Returns games are also really enjoyable. I'm not a big fan of Donkey Kong 64 and don't have much experience with the more spin-offy games, but the Country games still put the franchise at the top for me.

Tied for number 2 with Mario is Star Fox. This series has had more missteps than good in my eyes. The only games I've truly liked are the original and 64. I haven't played everything in the series, but I've tried some of the DS ones and Starfox Adventures, and they didn't do it for me. The original and 64 are just so fun, memorable, and nearly perfect to me that I can overlook most of the franchise and put it at the top.