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Np-vol6-nesteraward

The image used for the "Nester Award" for Best Game Overall in the annual Nintendo Power Awards from 1989 to 1991.

The Nintendo Power Awards, originally also known as the Nester Awards, was an annual article of recognition published in the pages of Nintendo Power magazine. Fans and readers vote for their favorite games from the previous year in different categories.

History[]

In the first Nintendo Power Awards, games that had been released more than a year prior, such as The Legend of Zelda and Mega Man, were included in the nominations. It was a time before the internet, so votes had to be cast by sending in the postcard that was included within the pages of the magazine.

In the second annual Awards, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link made yet another appearance. It was included in both the first and second Awards, which caused the game to win "Best Character" two years in a row.

The third annual Awards was the first to feature Game Boy games as well as a couple NES accessories. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan became the first Game Boy game in history to win a Nintendo Power Award.

The fourth annual Awards was the first to feature Super NES games.

The eighth annual Awards (in 1995) was the first and only one to include Virtual Boy games.

Purpose[]

In volume 6, when the first Nintendo Power Awards were presented, the writers of the magazine gave a brief explanation as to why they were presenting these awards. The quote is as follows:

"Welcome to the first annual Nintendo Power Awards or "Nesters" as we proudly call them. The purpose of the Nesters is to recognize special achievements in excellence in Nintendo Entertainment System games."

Awards[]

The following is a list of each years ceremony and the "Best Game" winners.

Awards Year Issue Published Best Game Overall winner(s)
1988 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 6 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
1989 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
1990 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 24 Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan (GB)
1991 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 36 Battletoads (NES)
Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB)
Super Mario World (SNES)
1992 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 48 Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (SNES)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (GB)
Mega Man 4 (NES)
1993 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 60 Mortal Kombat (SNES)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (GB)
R.C. Pro-Am II (NES)
1994 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 72 Donkey Kong Country
1995 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 84 Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Virtual Boy Wario Land (VB)
Donkey Kong Land (GB)
1996 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 96 Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB)
1997 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 108 GoldenEye 007 (N64)
Harvest Moon (SNES)
Donkey Kong Land 3 (GB)
1998 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 120 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
1999 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 132 Donkey Kong 64
2000 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 144 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
2001 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 156 Super Smash Bros. Melee
2002 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 168 Metroid Prime
2003 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 180 The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
2004 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 191 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
2005 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 203 Resident Evil 4
2006 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 215 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
2007 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 226 Super Mario Galaxy
2008 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 239 Super Smash Bros. Brawl
2009 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 252 New Super Mario Bros. Wii
2010 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 265 Super Mario Galaxy 2
2011 Nintendo Power Awards Volume 276 The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

"Best Game" Awards by Series[]

The following is a list of the video game series' with multiple "Best Game" awards.

  1. Mario series - 8 awards
  2. Zelda series - 6 awards
  3. Donkey Kong series - 4 awards
  4. Metroid series - 3 awards
  5. Super Smash Bros. series - 2 awards
  6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series - 2 awards
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