The Nintendo 64 may have been trounced by the first PlayStation in sales and quantity of available games, but there is a generation of gamers who feel a deep love for the N64.
As Nintendo’s first console dedicated to 3D worlds, there were definitely some learning curves during this time, but some brilliant games made their debut here regardless. Here are our picks for the top 10 Nintendo 64 games of all time.
10. Mario Party 2
One of the greatest selling points of the N64 was its four controller ports for multiplayer games. In fact, some would say it’s the “essence of the Nintendo 64.” Nowadays, four-player party games are pretty common, but that wasn’t the case before the N64 was released. One of the best ways to get that party action in is with Mario Party 2, which really helped this series take off.
The boards and mini games showed Nintendo was starting to put together the formula for this genre, and you didn’t have to worry as much about tearing your palms to pieces by playing it like the first game. Even to this day, Mario Party 2 is one of the most charming entries in the series, with a lot of fun and yelling to be had with your friends.
9. Super Smash Bros.
While today, we know Super Smash Bros. to be a great celebration of video games, it started as a much more humble endeavor of being a simple, different take on fighting games with Nintendo characters. The first roster is tiny compared to what you see today, and the graphics are quite primitive, but there is still a lot of charm here.
With this being the first fighter of its kind, there were definitely learning steps made before Melee came in later and truly took that first leap, but there is definitely something to be said about Smash’s beginnings on the N64.
8. Mario Kart 64
While not the top racing game on this list, Mario Kart 64 didn’t become a beloved multiplayer game by accident. As the second game in this series, it made huge steps to set up expectations for games in the future that would become instant favorites. Battle Mode was such a fantastic addition to the game that it became a staple on college campuses for decades.
Outside of the multiplayer, you of course have some very memorable racetracks, like many people’s favorite Rainbow Road design. This is also where the infamous blue spiny shell made its debut and made a name for itself as the number one derogatory message a person at the back of the pack could send to the leader.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Following the massive success of Ocarina of Time, Nintendo rushed out another Zelda game for the N64. Majora’s Mask is a very dark game, taking place in a world coming to terms with its impending doom after three days. Luckily, as the Hero of Time, you’re able to continuously rewind the clock to put off that unfortunate end.
Masks are useful tools this time around, letting you do a lot of new things, including taking the forms of a deku, goron, and zora. Between those new gameplay opportunities and the interesting world and people in it, Majora’s Mask is an adventure to remember.
6. Diddy Kong Racing
The first of multiple Rare games that appear on this list, Diddy Kong Racing showed up and was a deeply enjoyable game. At the time, Donkey Kong’s little buddy had made a bit of a name for himself, but him having a spin-off Racing game without any other Kongs was definitely surprising.
Choosing to race in a car, hovercraft, or plane made races feel different from the other games where everything was in a cart, and the adventure mode was big enough to really separate itself from Mario Kart, something very few games have been able to do. Plus, this is where Banjo and Conker made their debuts before their official games were released later.
5. Paper Mario
As much as people were hoping for a true sequel to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, what came instead is quite the RPG experience. With Paper Mario, your favorite Italian plumber took on a 2D design in a 3D world, and revamped the combat to feel better than what came from Square Enix.
Journeying through this story introduced us to colorful side characters, which sadly, the series doesn’t do much of anything with anymore, but what was here really laid the groundwork for what would become an all-time great in The Thousand-Year Door years later.
4. GoldenEye 007
Before Halo, GoldenEye 007 was the biggest case that showed that first-person shooters could work on home consoles. Playing it today is rough, but the fact that Rare found a way to make this work on the N64’s wonky controller is nothing short of amazing.
While the campaign was enjoyable, it was the multiplayer that made GoldenEye truly memorable for many kids. Picking the right rule set for you and the people you were fighting against led to some unforgettable instances of battles that would be repeated in conversation for days.
3. Banjo-Kazooie
There were plenty of special things coming out of Rare during the time of the Nintendo 64. With Banjo-Kazooie, we were introduced to the bear-and-bird duo that many people still hope will make a comeback in gaming today. With their first adventure, you had a 3D platformer that stood up there alongside Mario as one of the greatest of all time.
If you are looking for charm, there is no shortage of it here. From the mumbling “voice acting” to so many things with googly eyes, there are many interesting aspects of this universe that draw people in, especially if they love cartoony worlds.
2. Super Mario 64
What can we possibly say about Super Mario 64 that is new and expands on its greatness? This wasn’t the first 3D adventure, but it was the first to get the camera controls right, all while letting Mario feel amazing to jump, dive, and flip all over the place. The journey around Princess Peach’s castle is filled with all kinds of different levels and objectives that keep the player coming back for more.
As a launch game for the Nintendo 64, Super Mario 64 stands out among the best and most special adventures that Nintendo has ever put out. It may not be number one on this list, but that has more to do with a truly legendary game taking that spot.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is an all-time great video game, not just on the Nintendo 64. The journey from beginning to end as the first time Link went 3D is wholly memorable throughout. Traveling around Hyrule gave you a different look at how different regions stand apart from other areas and how those people operate.
Sure, like every game from the 90s, it hasn’t aged perfectly in regards to its combat and camera, but the combination of great music, interesting characters, and engaging puzzles and dungeons makes it an easy choice for the top spot on the N64. Until Breath of the Wild, this was how the mainline Zelda games largely operated on consoles, with many people hoping it returns in the near future.