Looking back on Nintendo Minute: A journey through Nintendo’s history and beyond

For over eight years, Nintendo Minute brought joy to Nintendo fans across the globe, which makes it sad to see the YouTube series come to an abrupt end. However, despite the formal end of the show, it will always remain as an archive of Nintendo and Legend of Zelda history. With the show following the big N from the early days of the Wii U to the continuing success of the Switch, it is possible to see the show grow and change just as much as the company around it through these windows in time.

Nintendo Minute has been a staple of Nintendo’s YouTube channel for close to a decade, and now it is time to reflect on the show and all the wonderful memories that have been made during its over 400 episode run and beyond.

The Wii U and 3DS Era

Eight years ago, the very first episode of Nintendo Minute, where Kit and Krysta talk about their favorite 3DS eShop games, was uploaded to the Nintendo of America YouTube page. An unceremonious start to their grand adventures. Though, the mural of Ocarina of Time‘s Hyrule Field from the perspective of leaving Kokiri Forest for the first time made it clear things were just getting started. This mural stayed in the background for well over 100 episodes of Nintendo Minute, even as things changed around it.

During this stretch with the Ocarina of Time background, the show covered numerous topics ranging from Super Smash Bros for 3DS and Wii U, Monster Hunter Tri Ultimate, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Pikmin 3, Super Mario 3D World, and more. Looking back, 2013 was a good time to be a Nintendo fan. A highlight throughout the earliest videos was definitely when the two played Wii Fit U with their pets. Both Kyrsta’s German Sheppard and Kit’s English Bulldog are so cute and the whole video really helps build a strong connection with the hosts. Another big highlight was when the show got to interview Koji Kondo, showing that Nintendo was beginning to trust them with bigger topics than the original 3DS eShop video. Furthermore, videos like one that compared Super Metroid and Metroid Prime proved the show was more than an ad for new Nintendo products: It was a way to connect with fans.

The first Legend of Zelda game that Kit and Krysta really got to dive deep into was Majora’s Mask 3D. They ironically still had Hyrule Field stationed right behind while they discussed their reactions to the game’s announcement trailer. This was followed by a Tri Force Heroes video in 2015 when they got to play alongside a fellow Nintendo employee in the chaotic multiplayer game. The Tri Force Heroes video was also the first Zelda Nintendo Minute to feature the show’s iconic slogan “Nintendo Minute is never a minute,” which was introduced a couple of months earlier. Finally, the last major Zelda video of the pre-Switch era was on Twilight Princess HD. Overall, there was very little covered on The Legend of Zelda early in the show’s run, but this would change when the release of Breath of the Wild approached.

E3 2016 and Beyond

During E3 2016, where Breath of the Wild was fully unveiled, Nintendo Minute had a total of four videos stuffed with gameplay and interviews. This includes an interview with Eiji Aonuma that covered the many conventions that the game broke. It was definitely odd hearing things from the perspective of 2016. Stuff like how there are no hearts in the grass may seem trivial now, but it was groundbreaking back then. In another one of the E3 videos, Kit and Krysta explore Nintendo’s E3 booth from that year, showing off the miniature Hyrule that Nintendo created. E3 2016 was an amazingly fun time to be a Zelda fan, and these Nintendo Minute episodes put one back into that time. There was such a unique and great energy leading up to the release of Breath of the Wild, which definitely came through here.

By E3 of 2016, the show had clearly found its footing and did such an amazing job delivering on its content. It was essentially the same show as years prior, but everyone involved became so much more comfortable in their roles, and Nintendo clearly was doing an excellent job of supporting it. Sure, small details would change from time to time, such as the background or opening animations or even the addition of a catchy credit song toward the end. But what Nintendo Minute was at its heart never changed: A way for Nintendo to connect with fans through charming hosts, quirky humor, and enjoyable content.

The charm and humor that Kit, Krysta, and the whole crew brought along truly shined throughout the Nintendo Switch era more than ever. The fun and silly videos slowly increased, as Kit and Krysta challenged each other with trick shots and fashion shows in Breath of the Wild, or played games like “Would You Rather” with each other. Oh, and the earth-shattering episode on WarioWare that breaks the years-old tradition of Nintendo Minute not being a minute cannot be forgotten either. More and more the show felt like a group of friends hanging out and enjoying a Nintendo-filled life. This remained true even up to their final episodes where they had to play Mario Party Superstars while chowing down on Thanksgiving food.

A Different and Unforgettable type of “Hot Minute”

Throughout its run, Nintendo Minute did an amazing job of highlighting what it was like to be a Nintendo fan from 2013 until 2021. It is so easy to look back and remember a lot of these times negatively with the poor sales of the Wii U and often slow output of games. But there was a lot to be excited about as well. It is easy to watch any of these videos and feel like a kid excitedly scouring YouTube for any and all information on the next Mario or Zelda game. However, those involved with Nintendo Minute made it so much more than that.

They were friends from Nintendo that would play games together, hang out, bicker like siblings, give each other stupid challenges or dares, and just enjoy life. They were what really defined the show during its run, and likely what it will be remembered for as well. Nintendo Minute has been a highlight of the Nintendo fan experience for years, and the show will be sorely missed. Now, please enjoy Nintendo Minutes final episode, and reflect on everything the show has meant to each of us over the years. Oh, and also, never forget that Nintendo Minute was never a minute.