An Unofficial Ranking Of The Top 25 Nintendo 64 Games
Nintendo's N64 and all its games are pure nostalgia for 90's babies. The console gave us some of the greatest platform adventure games of all time, and introduced some of Nintendo's longest standing game franchises which are still going strong today.
The recent popularity of the Nintendo Switch has brought on some resurrections of our old favorites and made us want to revisit the best of N64. Check out our picks below!
25.Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98
Maybe a controversial one, but considering hockey games are few and far between, this game deserves a spot on the list. It was just as violent as the real sport, except you didn't have to suffer the injuries yourself!
24.Beetle Adventure Racing
It doesn't get much more 90's/early 00's than a racing game featuring only Volkswagen Beetles. While a lot of N64 racing games were character-focused, this one was more Need for Speed-like, just focusing on the cars. Fun, colorful, and truly unique, this this is one racing game to remember.
23.International Superstar Soccer '98
This widely-loved soccer game exclusive to the N64 featured 6 different game modes, 52 national teams, and 6 secret unlockable All Star teams, and a whole lot of fun. While some would argue that FIFA games were better, the ISS-loving fanbase will fight to defend this once popular franchise.
22.Mario Golf
For everyone who didn't quite enjoy sports games but wanted to try their hand at them anyway, there were Mario sports, which offered all the fun without being too close to the real thing. Mario Golf was a great example of this, incorporating aspects of other Mario games to add to its appeal, and introducing some rare characters like Plum, who only showed up again as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee and a sticker in Super Smash Bros. brawl!
21.Harvest Moon 64
If you love Stardew Valley, just know, that game would not exist without Harvest Moon. The concept of this farm sim-RPG is just like the much-inspired Switch game: the player inherits a farm that he's tasked to restore, while spending time between farming tasks building up relationships with villagers, foraging, and attending festivals.
20.Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap was the first game with 3D Pokémon, tasking the player with snapping photos of them to later be judged on their quality. While compared to other Pokémon games, it wasn't quite as expansive, it was a fun and addictive game that was family friendly and holds a certain nostalgic place in many gamers' hearts.
19.Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
The Ready 2 Rumble Boxing franchise is one worth reprising, but it doesn't look like that will happen, so let's reminisce on one of the best installments: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2. This version of the outrageously fun boxing game starred some special secret characters: Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jackson, which alone makes it better than its predecessor.
18.WWF No Mercy
Regarded as one of the best wrestling video games ever, No Mercy was also considered the improved upon version of its beloved predecessor, Wrestlemania 2000. Whether you loved watching wrestling or not, you could have fun creating a wrestler and playing this game for hours, either by yourself in Championship mode or with a friend, taking each other on in the ring.
17.Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
The follow up to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was loaded with new gameplay options, a sick soundtrack and a crazy lineup of pro and guest skaters, including all the members of K-pop girl group Fin. K.L. – need I say more?
16.Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
While it may be funny to think of the graphics of this game was "respectable" today, that's exactly what they were regarded as back in the day: in fact, the graphics were one of the aspects players loved about this game. To be fair, they were improved upon with the optional Expansion Pak. Rogue Squadron launched a series of arcade-style flight action shooting Star Wars games, but no one forgets their first.
15.Conker's Bad Fur Day
This platform game differed from its predecessors because it was formulated with mature audiences in mind. The raunchy game follows Conker, a squirrel who after a night spent drinking at the bar wakes up in disarray, and must find his way back home to his girlfriend Berri. The game's writing was always funny and even broke the fourth wall at times, making it truly unlike any other platform game that was big at the time.
14.Mario Party 3
The last Mario Party game to come out on the N64 was a good last hurrah, introducing Daisy and Waluigi as playable characters and adding some of the franchise's best mini games yet.
13.Paper Mario
Another inventive game in the Mario franchise, Paper Mario was a Goomba story-focused game that sorta reverted back to 2D and as a result, kinda had better graphics? Solving puzzles to save the day is the name of the game, and the storytelling really made the game the classic that it is.
12.Diddy Kong Racing
Yeah, N64 had some incredible racing games and Diddy Kong Racing is definitely one of them. While it was kinda similar to Mario Kart 64, it differed in gameplay with an adventure mode and different characters – it even let you choose between a car, aeroplane and hovercraft. It was just plain fun, and I miss it!
11.Banjo-Kazooie
This unlikely duo of bear and bird made for one of the most creative games on the N64. While there was a lot of controls to learn and a lot to explore and conquer in the nine different worlds of Banjo-Kazooie, there was certainly never a dull moment. If you've been missing it, you can now play it on your Nintendo Switch with the expansion pack!
10.Star Fox 64
Look at these guys: they're just badass! Well, most of them. Star Fox 64 is a fan favorite rail shooter game, loved for its precise gameplay and the meme-worthy voice clips. While the end goal remained the same, the path to the end gave players some freedom. Another key quality of this game's appeal was the multiplayer mode, which offered new ways to play after beating story mode.
9.Super Smash Bros.
The opening sequence of Super Smash Bros. alone is so nostalgic: the white-gloved hand picking up and placing Yoshi down on a desk, next to a Samus action figure, then counting down for battle. The first in the Smash series was something totally fun and new for N64 gamers, allowing us to duke it out against each other as our favorite game characters from different franchises. It's hard to pick a fav, but I loved playing as Kirby, Link and Samus especially. How about you?
8.F-Zero X
This is a racing game that we really need re-launched. I think the closest we've come is the Mute City course that pays homage to this interstellar racing game in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This was a racing game unlike any other, with the coolest cast of characters in any land, in this galaxy or any other.
7.Perfect Dark
Fun fact: this first person shooter takes place in 2023, which is – *checks notes* – a year from now. Should we be worried about an interstellar alien war? I hope not. This sci-fi game following agent Joanna Dark is widely loved for its gameplay, creativity and expansive options.
6.Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
There are people who are Ocarina of Time loyalists, and people who love Majora's Mask best. I say: why not love both? Majora's Mask picks up where Ocarina of Time left off, in a parallel world to Hyrule where masks are not an optional side quest but instead, a crucial part of the game.
5.Mario Kart 64
Honestly, Mario Kart 64 is the best of all the Mario Karts. While the newer ones are fun, they don't really compare to the joy of conquering the original Wario Stadium and the cheats to get ahead, or the OG Rainbow Road.
4.GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007: an immersive first person shooter game with rich, detailed environments, memorable special effects, and a killer soundtrack. Also, one of the most beloved N64 games. This James Bond game is still worth revisiting.
3.Donkey Kong 64
An incredible adventure game, Donkey Kong 64 was unrivaled in its expansiveness, allowing players to play as five different characters while unlocking the different parts of the world in this massively fun game. Please bring this back to the Nintendo Switch!
2.Super Mario 64
Seeing Mario in 3D was a treat in itself, but this is truly one of the best platform games of all time. Completing dozens of levels, solving puzzles, discovering secrets and glitches...the fun was basically never-ending. And it holds up just as well in 2022!
1.The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time is largely regarded as the greatest video game of all time, and with good reason. The world of Hyrule is rich with secrets to uncover, fairies to find, and people to save. All of the Zelda games are great, but Ocarina is truly incredible.
