2026 promises to be a landmark year in the gaming world, as several of the industry’s most beloved franchises are set to celebrate significant anniversaries.
Nintendo, along with other leading developers and publishers, will commemorate decades of innovation, influence, and enduring fandom across global platforms like the Nintendo Switch and eShop. Celebrating Four Decades: Iconic Nintendo and Industry Franchises Among the standout anniversaries, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Dragon Quest, Kid Icarus, and Castlevania will each reach their 40th year since their original releases in 1986.
These franchises have shaped not only their respective genres but also the broader landscape of interactive entertainment.
The Legend of Zelda, which first debuted on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), redefined action-adventure gameplay, inspiring countless titles and maintaining critical acclaim with every installment, including the most recent releases on Nintendo Switch. Similarly, Metroid, Nintendo's pioneering science fiction series, transformed exploration-based platforming.
The franchise’s protagonist, Samus Aran, became a symbolic figure for strong female leads in gaming.
Metroid’s influence has led to the establishment of the "Metroidvania" genre—a term honoring the equally renowned Castlevania series from Konami, also celebrating its 40th anniversary. Historic Role-Playing Journeys: Dragon Quest and Persona The role-playing genre will see two of its most acclaimed franchises reach milestones in 2026.
Dragon Quest, developed by Square Enix, is credited with popularizing the Japanese RPG format and has sold over 83 million units worldwide.
Meanwhile, Persona, Atlus’s acclaimed spin-off from the Shin Megami Tensei universe, will mark 30 years since its debut.
Persona’s evolution into a genre-defining RPG highlights the growing influence of character-driven narratives in Japanese gaming. Modern Classics: Sonic, Pokémon, Animal Crossing, and More Beyond these classics, 2026 also marks 35 years of SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog, the franchise that defined high-speed platforming and became SEGA’s flagship series.
Pokémon, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, will celebrate three decades of capturing the hearts of fans.
Since its 1996 debut on the Game Boy, the Pokémon series has exceeded 480 million units sold globally and remains a cultural phenomenon with new releases consistently topping charts on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and the eShop. Additionally, Kid Icarus turns 40, while Animal Crossing, Luigi’s Mansion, and Pikmin each celebrate their 25th anniversaries.
Animal Crossing, in particular, has become a household staple, with its latest entry, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, achieving over 40 million units in sales and reinventing the social simulation genre for a new generation of Nintendo Switch players. Industry Reflection and Legacy Nintendo and its contemporaries have consistently acknowledged such anniversaries through commemorative events, special releases, and community engagement.
While specific plans for 2026 remain under wraps, industry leadership continues to express gratitude for the legacy and enthusiastic support of these franchises.
As one Nintendo spokesperson articulated, these anniversaries serve as a testament to "decades of creativity, community, and the enduring power of great games." With so many iconic gaming IPs reaching major anniversaries in 2026, the upcoming year promises a wave of celebratory events and tributes across the gaming industry — a fitting occasion for fans and developers alike to reflect on the journeys that shaped interactive entertainment and Nintendo’s storied legacy.
Nintendo, along with other leading developers and publishers, will commemorate decades of innovation, influence, and enduring fandom across global platforms like the Nintendo Switch and eShop. Celebrating Four Decades: Iconic Nintendo and Industry Franchises Among the standout anniversaries, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Dragon Quest, Kid Icarus, and Castlevania will each reach their 40th year since their original releases in 1986.
These franchises have shaped not only their respective genres but also the broader landscape of interactive entertainment.
The Legend of Zelda, which first debuted on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), redefined action-adventure gameplay, inspiring countless titles and maintaining critical acclaim with every installment, including the most recent releases on Nintendo Switch. Similarly, Metroid, Nintendo's pioneering science fiction series, transformed exploration-based platforming.
The franchise’s protagonist, Samus Aran, became a symbolic figure for strong female leads in gaming.
Metroid’s influence has led to the establishment of the "Metroidvania" genre—a term honoring the equally renowned Castlevania series from Konami, also celebrating its 40th anniversary. Historic Role-Playing Journeys: Dragon Quest and Persona The role-playing genre will see two of its most acclaimed franchises reach milestones in 2026.
Dragon Quest, developed by Square Enix, is credited with popularizing the Japanese RPG format and has sold over 83 million units worldwide.
Meanwhile, Persona, Atlus’s acclaimed spin-off from the Shin Megami Tensei universe, will mark 30 years since its debut.
Persona’s evolution into a genre-defining RPG highlights the growing influence of character-driven narratives in Japanese gaming. Modern Classics: Sonic, Pokémon, Animal Crossing, and More Beyond these classics, 2026 also marks 35 years of SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog, the franchise that defined high-speed platforming and became SEGA’s flagship series.
Pokémon, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, will celebrate three decades of capturing the hearts of fans.
Since its 1996 debut on the Game Boy, the Pokémon series has exceeded 480 million units sold globally and remains a cultural phenomenon with new releases consistently topping charts on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and the eShop. Additionally, Kid Icarus turns 40, while Animal Crossing, Luigi’s Mansion, and Pikmin each celebrate their 25th anniversaries.
Animal Crossing, in particular, has become a household staple, with its latest entry, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, achieving over 40 million units in sales and reinventing the social simulation genre for a new generation of Nintendo Switch players. Industry Reflection and Legacy Nintendo and its contemporaries have consistently acknowledged such anniversaries through commemorative events, special releases, and community engagement.
While specific plans for 2026 remain under wraps, industry leadership continues to express gratitude for the legacy and enthusiastic support of these franchises.
As one Nintendo spokesperson articulated, these anniversaries serve as a testament to "decades of creativity, community, and the enduring power of great games." With so many iconic gaming IPs reaching major anniversaries in 2026, the upcoming year promises a wave of celebratory events and tributes across the gaming industry — a fitting occasion for fans and developers alike to reflect on the journeys that shaped interactive entertainment and Nintendo’s storied legacy.
