Best Trios In Nintendo Games

Summary

Nintendo game trios are iconic due to their dynamics, whether they're friends or foes.
The trio of Mario, Luigi, and Peach often unite to save the princess.
Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle remain beloved Pokemon starters across generations.

While Nintendo games are commonly known for their fun gameplay and vibrant visuals, another big reason why many of their franchises have amassed such dedicated fan bases over the years is because of their lovable characters. While it's always a joy to follow a character like Mario or Link on a solo adventure, it can often be just as, if not more, fun to travel in a group, especially a trio where everybody gets to feel involved without someone being left out or forgotten.

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Most of the time, the trios seen in Nintendo games tend to be close friends or companions, but this doesn't always need to be the case. In fact, several iconic groups of three are actually mortal enemies, yet always end up being drawn together for one reason or another. It's time to take a closer look at the very best trios of characters who have shown up in Nintendo games to understand exactly what brought these specific individuals together in the first place and why they work so well together.

Mario, Luigi, And Peach

Two Clumsy But Heroic Brothers And One Royal Princess... Who Is Often Kidnapped

Debut: Mario Bros.

While Luigi may have started off as little more than a reskin of his brother Mario in the original Mario Bros. Arcade game, it wasn't long before Nintendo started to differentiate him so that he could become his own character. While Luigi may be a lot more cowardly and clumsy than Mario, any time Princess Peach is kidnapped by Bowser (which is pretty often), he will always be right there by his brother's side to help rescue her, resulting in the three of them essentially becoming the faces of the franchise.

Although they have each had their individual adventures, Mario, Luigi, and Peach often appear together in most of the mainline games, making them more or less inseparable by this point. Considering Bowser loves throwing an entire army of Koopa soldiers and robots at anyone who dares to rescue Peach, it makes sense that the plucky protagonist of the franchise would bring a little backup every now and again, and who better to help him out than his own brother?

Donkey Kong, Diddy, And Dixie

The Lovable Gorilla Trio Always Have Each Other's Backs

Debut: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Though she was first introduced in the second Donkey Kong Country game, Dixie Kong has gone on to become one of the most recognizable characters in the series, along with her brother, Diddy, and, of course, the main man (or gorilla), himself, Donkey Kong. What really makes this trio so easy to love, other than their charming family dynamic, is the way that they each bounce off one another in their games.

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For example, Diddy is known for being very mobile and light on his feet, while Dixie will often be able to use her ponytail to grab onto objects in the environment. Donkey Kong, as the big bruiser of the group, possesses a lot more strength than the two younger gorillas, making him the go-to character for dealing damage in most games. These three have been showing up consistently throughout the Donkey Kong franchise, and Diddy and Dixie were even featured in a side mission in the recently released Donkey Kong Bananza, proving that Nintendo certainly hasn't forgotten about this lovable group of gorillas.

Charmander, Bulbasaur, And Squirtle

Three Pokemon That No Lifelong Fan Of The Series Can Ever Forget

Debut: Pokemon Red & Blue

One of the hardest decisions most gamers have ever had to make is which starter Pokemon they would go with at the beginning of their adventure in Pokemon Red and Blue. Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle may all be affiliated with different elements, but many fans still consider them a trio, considering it's genuinely hard to think of one without bunching them all together. Because they were the starters for the very first generation of Pokemon, these three would quickly become the mascots of the franchise, alongside Pikachu.

Even more than 20 years after the release of the original games, this trio of iconic starters still pop up pretty frequently in modern Pokemon media, from the anime to the comics to the games, where they are usually hidden away as Easter Eggs. They are a trio that no longtime Pokemon fan will ever be able to forget, and it's always a true joy seeing them make an appearance in a brand-new title.

Link, Zelda, And Ganondorf

Link And Zelda Are Constantly Being Drawn Back To The Villainous Ganondorf

Debut: The Legend of Zelda (1986)

Unlike most of the trios that have appeared on this list, Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf aren't exactly a group of friends. In fact, Ganondorf often plays the role of the main antagonist in most of Legend of Zelda games. However, the reason these three are considered a trio is that they always seem to be drawn back to one another by fate, no matter which timeline they appear in. Ganon, in an attempt to pull off his latest evil scheme, will always make it a mission to steal away Zelda in one form or another, prompting Link to then begin his epic journey to rescue her.

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The Legend of Zelda is a franchise that Nintendo has no problem experimenting with when it comes to stories and timelines. While this means that there are always intriguing characters popping up for every new game, it's more or less a guarantee that these three will play vital roles in the wider plot. To put it simply, if just one of these characters appears in a game, fans can expect that the other two will be arriving not long after.

Groudon, Kyogre, And Rayquaza

Memorable Legendary Pokemon That Stick Out For Their Designs And Overwhelming Power

Debut: Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald

While there have been many Legendary trios scattered throughout the Pokemon franchise, the reason Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza specifically stand out is twofold. First off is their design scheme. While each of them embodies either the land, sea, or air, they all look entirely different to represent each of these aspects fully. For example, while Groudon is a giant beastly Pokemon that stands as tall as a skyscraper, Kyogre is an aquatic Pokemon that is a lot more vibrant and colorful, but still extremely dangerous.

The second reason they are so compelling is how absurdly powerful they each are, especially considering they have all been given Mega Evolutions in the modern era of Pokemon. While Groudon is large enough to shake entire mountains, Rayquaza can obliterate anyone who stands in its way with its devastating dragon powers, and the same can be said for Kyogre, who can utilize all kinds of immensely powerful water attacks. It goes without saying, but any time these three come into contact with one another, it's a moment that gets all Pokemon fans giddy, considering the staggering amount of carnage that they could cause if they threw down in a battle.

Tom, Timmy, And Tommy Nook

Tom Has A Few Pals With Him To Help Players Build Their Island

Debut: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Tom Nook is a character who has a poor reputation among the Animal Crossing fanbase due to his relentless pursuit of the players' debts. While he may come across as a little irritating in previous games, after he is joined by two of his relatives, Tim and Tommy, they at least help give Tom more of a "family man" vibe, making him a little more approachable and friendly.

Players will be able to find these three hanging out together in their tent once they start up a new island. While they all have different purposes in terms of gameplay, they can also often be seen chatting away with one another to keep themselves occupied. Many players may not have loved Tom Nook when they first started playing Animal Crossing, but being part of this lovable trio admittedly goes a long way in showing him in a different and more likeable light.

Deep Cut

A Chaotic But Flashy Group That Steals People's Hearts With Their Performances

Debut: Splatoon 3

When exploring Splatsville in Splatoon 3, while players can meet and see a bunch of quirky and fun characters, by far the most fun and exciting group is Deep Cut. This chaotic and flashy trio of singers and dancers is made up of Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, all of whom come with their own colorful designs and personalities, which can often result in some pretty hilarious banter when they're not performing.

Big Man, the manta ray, is often considered the most reserved member of the group. Meanwhile, Frye enjoys nothing more than talking about how great she is, and even poking fun at her teammates anytime she spots an opportunity to toy around with them. It's honestly hard not to love these three, considering how exuberant they always are, making them a lot of fun to watch any time they decide to let loose and put on a show.