Super Smash Bros. Game Tier List

Every Super Smash Bros. title has been praised in its time, but some have managed to stand the test of time better than others.

Super Smash Bros. is a beloved video game series known for its vast roster of characters and engaging gameplay. Throughout the series' history, several standout modes have graced the different installments, each offering unique challenges and experiences. As anticipation builds for the next entry in the Smash Bros. franchise, let's delve into five game modes from previous titles that deserve a triumphant return.

5. All-Star Mode / Boss Battles: Wiping Out the Roster

Debuting in Melee, All-Star Mode tasked players with battling every fighter from the game in succession. These fighters were divvied up randomly in Melee, split by franchise in Brawl, and stratified by debut in 4. In between each session, the player's damage would carry over between levels, but they could make use of limited recovery items to heal themselves from all damage when things got desperate.

Boss Battles, on the other hand, was a Brawl-exclusive mode that functioned similarly to All-Star Mode, but exclusively pitted the player against bosses. Ultimate nods to All-Star Mode with All-Star Smash, which is functionally closer to Multi-Man Smash. While it does allow the player to take on the entire cast at once, it's just not the same. Admittedly, the larger roster this game has could be a culprit behind why it was changed. Consecutive Boss Battles are only available in World of Light, save for Sephiroth's classic mode, which features the One-Winged Angel taking on each boss in Ultimate. Once again, while the basic functionality of fighting each foe in succession is there, it is fundamentally different from the original mode.

4. Event Match: Situational Smash

Event Match was a long-running mode in the series that was discontinued in Ultimate. Debuting in Melee, it consisted of a series of levels in which the player was required to perform certain tasks. Sometimes they were as simple as defeating a powered-up foe, but other times they were a bit more complex, like defeating color-coordinated Yoshis in a specific order, with any deviation being considered a failure.

To some extent, the DNA of Event Matches exists in Ultimate. Spirit battles often impose conditions upon the characters. The customized narrative angle of Event Matches is recognized in the game's Classic Mode runs, which are more tailored to each specific fighter than they were in past games. However, if neither of these elements return for the follow-up, more Event Matches might not be the worst idea.

3. Coin Launcher: Gunning 'N' Gambling

Smash often utilized various trophy-earning methods across the first three games in the series. Melee had the Lottery, which allowed the player to collect trophies in exchange for coins. 4 had Trophy Rush, where the player destroys crates and avoids various hazards to acquire trophies. Super Smash Bros. Brawl had the most entertaining take on trophy collecting with Coin Launcher.

The Coin Launcher mode turns the player's coins into ammo, which they can shoot at trophies, as well as enemies, which increases the rarity of trophies obtained upon their destruction. This allows for a more fun experience which actively involves the player – unlike the Lottery mode – while also not feeling as tedious as Trophy Rush. Perhaps the more direct ways in which players can acquire Spirits throws the necessity of this mode into debate, but even if Nintendo does replace trophies in future games, it could be a fun way for players to collect Spirits they do not have.

2. Break the Targets!: The Title Says It All

Target Smash, or Break the Targets as it has also been called, is another mode discontinued in Ultimate. It was conceptualized by Sakurai as an indirect tutorial mode, where players could get a feel for how to use each character's attacks. Melee even created custom target smash stages for every character, though the larger rosters of more recent releases may have retired this practice.

This mode serves as a way to help players understand not only how to pull off effective attacks, but also how to navigate different types of terrain, which is essential for a platform fighter. Sakurai mentioned on his YouTube channel that he wanted to have a proper tutorial mode in Ultimate, but that time constraints led to it being scrapped. This fun and helpful mode could be a welcome presence in future Smash games, even in lieu of a proper tutorial mode.

1. Story Mode / The Subspace Emissary: ...But Mostly The Cinematic Cutscenes

Brawl's iconic Story Mode remains one of the series' most triumphant achievements. It features a majority of the cast banding together against a greater threat that seeks to conversely merge and destroy all the worlds into one; The Great Maze. From there, the player sees various fighters team up and take on bigger opponents. Foes are battled and bonds are forged, with everyone involved ultimately joining the same collective to take on Tabuu.

This mode was so iconic that limited attempts at recreating gameplay passages such as World of Light and Smash Run were created. While World of Light does manage to