The Best N64 Games Of All Time

Published: Nov 16, 2021
Updated: Jan 23, 2022

Nintendo 64 Games

The Nintendo 64 was a highly successful video game console. It sold over 33 million units worldwide and revolutionized the industry in many ways. With a heavy focus on 3D gaming, N64 helped usher in a new era of home entertainment.

The Nintendo 64 was the last of the company's home consoles to use ROM cartridges as its primary storage medium. It featured four controller ports, which helped facilitate player matches and allowed for multi-player simultaneous gameplay. Thanks to the Wii U virtual console and Nintendo Switch virtual console, players can relive some of the best games in history, without the frustration of ROM cartridges.

In terms of technical superiority, the Nintendo 64 does not compare favorably against rivals from Sony and Sega. But this system is notable for several reasons, not least because it contains some of the best games ever made - Super Mario 64, The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time, and Super Smash Bros to name just a few. Below we have created a list of our favorite 5 N64 games.

The N64 had great games that introduced players to incredible new visual power. From Banjo Kazooie to Diddy Kong Racing, from a chill snowboarding game to an epic racing adventure, Nintendo brought gamers into the third dimension in a big way. These games, the best N64 games of all time, were key to making Nintendo's system a success.

The N64 also had some great RPGs like Paper Mario and The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. There were even great platformers like Super Mario 64 and Donkey Kong 64, as well as many other amazing titles. All of the games on this list are great, but which are the very best? It all depends on personal interest and players' mood. We gathered a consensus that is based on critic reviews, game sales, and personal experience to create a list of the 5 best N64 games of all time.

Being a 3D console, many new types of games were introduced. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Super Smash Bros, Pokemon Puzzle League, Pokemon Stadium, and many Star Wars games are all hit series that started on the N64. Not just that, many wrestling games, fighting games, and first-person shooters were big hits on the Nintendo 64. It was all just pure gaming nirvana.

Super Mario was a big selling point with Nintendo back then, maybe even more than he is now. We saw Super Mario enter many new genres on the N64. A wacky multiplayer tennis game like Mario Tennis, a golf game with awesome outdoor courses like Mario Golf where only the best shots count, and an epic party game like Mario Party where up to three friends can play board games and mini-games together. Experimenting paid off as these were some of the best-selling games in Nintendo's history at the time.

The 5 Best N64 Games

1

Super Mario 64

Description

About Super Mario 64

Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom! Play as the determined plumber, Mario, as he sets off on an adventure to save Princess Toadstool from the evil Bowser. Take on 6 worlds of atmospheric levels, each with distinct environments like jungles, lava levels, and snow levels. Collect coins to buy power-ups like the Tanooki Suit and Frog Suit that help you explore your surroundings.

As the second best-selling game on N64, Super Mario 64 offered an unparalleled sense of freedom to players. Unlike previous games, the world was rendered in 3 dimensions, allowing gamers to explore it at will. The game offered many different things to do and players were invited to explore the vast worlds on their own terms. This laid the foundation for other open-world platformers like Banjo Kazooie.

Super Mario 64 was a shining example of what 3D gaming could be and it is still fun to play today. There is something special about the pure fun that is packed into this game. It stands as a testament to Nintendo's creativity and skill in developing blockbuster hits. Few games have been able to match the gameplay of Super Mario 64; a great game that Nintendo fans have referred to as an amazing game since its launch and is our main game to talk about when discussing the best N64 games of all time.

Our Take

What we think about Super Mario 64

Released in 1996, this game changed the way we looked at Mario and how we controlled him. This game was groundbreaking and contributed to the success of the Nintendo 64. Mario 64 was the first 3D game for the Mario series and it allowed the player to roam around a huge virtual world, collect power-ups and save Princess Peach. Super Mario 64 was a revolutionary game when it was first released because it was one of the first games to be in 3D. This meant that players could explore a vast world and do whatever they wanted. The game was also very fun and enjoyable to play, which is why it has remained popular over the years.

Buy On Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases.