Platform: Nintendo 64

Released: 1999

Developer: Camelot

Genre: Sports

Golf isn't a very exciting sport, but it's still big. You wouldn't believe how many golf games were released for consoles up to this point. A TON! But none were quite like Mario Golf on N64, the first in a long line of Mario golf games which are still going today. While Mario had appeared in previous golf games, this was the first one to include ALL the Mario characters of the day. To make things even better, this game coincided closely to the release of the same game on the Game Boy Color. So you could play Mario Golf at home or on the go. 

The game is praised because it's easy to learn but also has deep mechanics. Many things can affect a shot, such as wind strength and direction, rain, characters' individual attributes, spin on the ball, and relief of the land. So first-timers and pros alike can enjoy the game. There's also a variety of modes, including speed golf, ring shot, mini golf, and skins match. Perhaps most importantly, this game started the entire series, which has had an entry on almost every Nintendo console and handheld since. Most recently, Mario Golf: World Tour was released for 3DS. Pretty amazing for a golf series!