NES & Super Mario Bros
Image: Nintendo Life / Zion Grassl

The Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES (ness? nezz? enn-eee-ess?), is the archetypal home video game console.

Earlier machines such as the mighty Atari 2600 pioneered the basic concept of an under-the-TV console with interchangeable software and accessories, but the utilitarian design and hardware innovations of Nintendo's 8-bit behemoth set the stage for modern console gaming.

We've assembled a list of the top 50 NES games ever made. Below you'll find some of the greatest, most influential video games of all time, and the first entries in some of Nintendo's most enduring series.

The 50 Top NES Games

50. Crystalis (NES)

This was one of the best Zelda-eqsue games on the NES back in the day. It’s a more linear experience than you might expect, but it features a cracking soundtrack and mixes the faux-medieval fantasy of Hyrule with a dose of sci-fi. If you’re after some authentically 8-bit action RPG adventuring, this is an excellent option.

49. Metroid (NES)

While it set the template of the series and pioneered the delicate mix of exploration and gradual empowerment, we have to be honest here: the original Metroid can be tough to return to, even if you played it back in the day.

The audio and atmosphere it conjures remain incredible, but control refinements and quality-of-life features we're used to these days are largely absent from the Famicom Disk System/NES original and going back without the right mindset and context can be jarring. Its biggest issue is that the fantastic Game Boy Advance remake Metroid: Zero Mission exists — truly the best way to experience Samus' first adventure.

The original has its charms, though. You just need to dig deeper to find them these days.

48. Adventure Island III (NES)

Never released in Europe, it's business as usual with this Adventure Island sequel. Hudson turned in another very solid, colourful, and varied platformer with some minor tweaks and advancements to the previous entry — hey, Master Higgins can now duck! A welcome addition, but hardly a transformative one.

Still, Adventure Island III is a great 8-bit time. A great-bit time!... Oof, we're banking that one.

47. Adventure Island II (NES)

Adventure Island II is quite similar to its predecessor in many ways, but with its slightly better control and handful of gameplay additions, it's just that little bit more entertaining. It's also a lot more accessible due to the reserve item system and the shorter stages, compared to the rather brutal original game.

46. Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness (NES)

Although Gargoyle's Quest II does have the advantage of being on a stronger system than its predecessor, it plays things relatively safe, making some minor improvements and keeping most of the gameplay exactly the same. This, of course, is not necessarily a bad thing — the first game was great, making the similarity in this entry something to be praised and enjoyed.

45. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)

A radical departure from the original and arguably the most difficult game in the series, Zelda II has enjoyed something of a reappraisal in recent, post-Dark Souls years.

In a series that, in the past, risked becoming by-the-numbers by slavishly sticking to a formula, this first sequel was anything but a repetition. A deeper combat system with RPG levelling elements and side-on platforming villages and dungeons made this a very different take on the Zelda template.

You could argue that too much of its sense of adventure and 'wonder' is lost to frustration, but no more so than in other challenging 8-bit games. If you find the challenge too much to bear, the rewind function in the Nintendo Switch Online version comes in useful. If you've bounced off The Adventure of Link in the past, we'd urge you to give it another go.

44. Faxanadu (NES)

No, not that '70s film with Sean Connery in a red mankini (that's Zardoz). Faxanadu is a spin-off of Nihon Falcom's Dragon Slayer series and the title melds the words 'Famicom' and 'Xanadu' (that's Dragon Slayer II) into the sort of fun portmanteau we love to say out loud.

Fortunately, the game itself is a thoroughly enjoyable 2D action RPG and something of an underappreciated gem in the NES library, so we often have cause to speak its name. Developed by Hudson Soft under licence from Falcom, other medieval-feeling side-scrollers might grab all the attention, but Faxanadu is quietly one of the console's best games.

43. Bionic Commando (NES)

Capcom's Bionic Commando gave players a grappling hook to help negotiate its side-on platforming levels by athletically swinging across gaps and scrambling around with a bionic arm that gave a fresh take on the 2D platforming genre. It might not be top-tier title, but its style and game design ambition made it an admirable addition in any NES library.

42. Solar Jetman (NES)

Solar Jetman feels like a natural evolution of Lunar Lander, utilising similar mechanics that require you to carefully position your craft to pick up objects while blasting away any ensuing enemies. There's a great use of colour with the environments, and there's more than enough variety on offer to keep you engaged throughout its runtime. It's a tough game, but one worth the effort.

41. Double Dragon II: The Revenge (NES)

This beat 'em up sequel came complete with the all-important two-player component missing from the first game on NES, and while Bimmy and Jimmy's brawling is unlikely to stick with you for long, the ability to get a friend involved in the fight makes Double Dragon II: The Revenge the pick of the pair.

40. Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II (NES)

Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II is a sequel that could have been absolutely great, and did almost everything right by improving on a clunky control scheme to improve the action sections.

Sadly, its overworld and characters are disappointingly unimaginative compared to the first game, leaving an adventure that's mechanically improved but creatively lacking. It's still worth checking out, but any entry in the StarTropics franchise has some rather big and charmingly silly shoes to fill and this sequel didn't quite manage it.

If you missed out on the Wii (U) VC re-releases, you'll need a NES cartridge to play it in an official capacity.

39. Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (NES)

It's another NES Ninja Gaiden game and just like the two before it, Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom is tough but a lot of fun to play. The story is complete guff but impressive visuals and decent music complement the excellent gameplay.

Deciding to tweak the template rather than fix what isn't broken Tecmo provided a game quite similar to its predecessors but with the ability to swing up onto platforms and mix things up a little. Ninja Gaiden III (and indeed the whole NES trilogy) is a challenging gaming experience worthy of your time.

38. R.C. Pro-Am (NES)

Arguably the game that put Rare on the map for Nintendo gamers, R.C. Pro-Am sets itself apart from other NES racing games with its isometric viewpoint. But it's also a fantastic racing game in its own right, immersing you in the full 'radio-controlled' experience, with excellent visuals, catching sound effects, and a continuous loop of tracks that you'll want to master.

It may lack multiplayer on NES, but Rare's racer is still worth checking out.

37. Duck Hunt (NES)

A cheeky light gun shooter brimming with personality, many players experienced this as it came bundled with their NES and Zapper (on a dual cart with Super Mario Bros., no less — not a bad deal at all). Duck Hunt offers simple, wholesome light gun fun for the whole family; that is, as long as the wanton murder of countless digital waterfowl while a sniggering bloodhound watches doesn't put you off.

An official Wii U Virtual Console release in 2014 reworked the game to function on modern non-CRT televisions with a Wii Remote and an on-screen cursor. As of the end of March 2023, that version is no longer available to buy.

36. Life Force (NES)

If you're itching for some cooperative old-school space shooter action, Life Force will scratch your itch like a kind old friend you've known for years. It's a fairly standard side-scrolling shooter with enough twists on the formula – alternating vertical/horizontal levels, a unique stacking item system and some trippy level designs – to make it stand out in the crowd, a natural step up for veterans of the original Gradius.

Life Force doesn't have the immediate name recognition of some of its peers, but it's well worth the time for any fan of the genre.

35. Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (NES)

A classic co-op romp that looked and sounded incredible, Capcom made a habit of surpassing expectations on the NES — not too difficult considering the general standard of licenced tie-ins (have you tried playing Bart vs. the Space Mutants recently?) — but Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers really is worthy of standing alongside the console's finest platformers.

The chipmunks' ability to pick up and throw items gave the game a unique flavour (and made it a great game for small siblings), and we personally rate it right up there with DuckTales.

34. Tecmo Super Bowl (NES)

Tecmo Super Bowl is a game so good that it simply won't die. Modders put out updated rosters for this 1991 cult classic kicker on a regular basis, meaning it's possible to play with modern NFL players and other tweaks, on top of the various improvements the base game made over the original Tecmo Bowl.

If you're a fan of the American brand of football, some people insist that the digital game never got better than this.

33. StarTropics (NES)

A game which stands apart in Nintendo's back catalogue, StarTropics melds elements of Zelda, the Mother series, and classic RPGs to make something different.

It isn't entirely successful and is let down by its controls, but it's well worth making a trip to C-Island via Nintendo Switch Online, if only to see a rare game from Nintendo which didn’t get a dozen follow-ups (although it did get a single sequel).

32. EarthBound Beginnings (NES)

Much of the significance of EarthBound Beginnings — or Mother — lies in its spirit and its influence on subsequent games. It has to be said that EarthBound (its 16-bit sequel) is by far the overall better title, and those who have yet to play either should definitely start with that.

In fact, this 1989 series debut wasn't released in the West until a surprise localised version hit the Wii U eShop in 2015. Fortunately, it's easily accessible these days if you've got a Nintendo Switch Online sub.

If you really enjoy EarthBound, however, then Beginnings is worth investigating. Sticking through its older style of play, with high difficulty and occasional fluctuations in balance, reveals a fine story and an almost transcendental sense of nostalgia, like a loving letter written to a child who hadn't been born.

31. Mega Man 6 (NES)

Probably the worst thing you can say about Mega Man 6 is that it plays it safe. It follows the same basic idea of eight Robot Master stages followed by castle stages and doesn't really bring any big new gameplay features to the 8-bit Mega Man formula. The level design (save for Plant Man's stage), music and everything else are all pretty good, but if you've played all the previous entries, you can't help feeling that the sixth game is a bit by-the-numbers.

Capcom didn't really go out with a bang with this final NES Mega Man game, then, but it did create one final enjoyable entry on the console which birthed the series. And a 'just good' Mega Man is still better than most other video games, so mustn't grumble.

30. Blaster Master (NES)

Blaster Master is yet another example to prove that Sunsoft was at the very top of its game on NES. With tight controls and eight varied levels, Blaster Master still manages to satisfy in the 21st century (so much so that Inti Creates have brought the series back with two excellent sequels in recent years).

29. River City Ransom (NES)

River City Ransom mixes basic brawling with comedy to great effect, and its cute visuals still exude tons of character all these years later. Throw in a second player — plus a delicious frosty beverage or two — and you've got a great Saturday night ahead of you.

28. Mega Man 5 (NES)

When people ask about the best Mega Man game on the NES, Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 tend to get the lion's share of love. However, Mega Man 5 deserves attention, too. It doesn't quite reach the stellar highs of the blue bomber's earlier outings, but with a host of novel additions to its levels — gravity switching, and even a vehicular section — it's another fine entry in Capcom's series.

Yes, it might be 'just' more Mega Man, but who doesn't fancy a bit of that?

27. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)

Super Mario Bros. 2 (or Super Mario USA when this famously reskinned form of Yume Kojo Doki Doki Panic made its way back to Japan), was the follow-up to Super Mario Bros., with platforming mechanics quite different from the original. It introduced the ability to lift and throw objects and a screen that scrolled left and right and up and down.

The verticality and ability to play as different characters (including Peach and Toad) was a profound change from the first game, but despite being the odd one out in its homeland, Super Mario Bros. 2 ended up having an enormous influence on the iconography of the series.

SMB2 is definitely worth revisiting — Nintendo Switch Online is the easiest place to find it these days — if only to remind yourself just how different it is from what came before and after.

26. Dr. Mario (NES)

Mario's first outing as a healthcare professional, this block-falling puzzler might not have the following or cache of the mighty Tetris, but its colour-matching gameplay caught on with puzzle fans.

Despite not being able to compete on the level of Alexey Pajitnov's puzzling titan, there's a reason Dr. Mario has stuck around in some form for over 30 years: it's simple, addictive, and bloody good fun.

25. Little Nemo: The Dream Master (NES)

A great, licensed Capcom platformer on a system with an abundance of great, licensed Capcom platformers, Little Nemo puts you in control of the titular boy as he heads to Slumberland on a journey through his dreams. Along the way, Nemo runs into a variety of animals who he befriends and recruits to help him rescue the ruler of said destination from the clutches of the Nightmare King. It's all sleep-themed, see?

It's based on the film adaptation of the Little Nemo comic strip from the early 1900s, but despite the cute premise and the dreamy animals, Little Nemo is notoriously punishing, especially when compared to the developers' Disney games. Kids who rented this back in the day weren't going to breeze through it in 30 minutes, that's for sure.

Despite the difficulty, affection for this one has only grown over the years. As with virtually all of Capcom's 8-bit output, this is worth investigating.

24. Bubble Bobble (NES)

With Bubble Bobble’s simultaneous two-player gameplay, a hundred stages of increasing difficulty, and manic platform gameplay, Taito's arcade classic is one of the NES' top-tier titles. The Bust-a-Move gameplay is fun to pick up and play for a quick session, and the password system lets you make steady progress with Bub and Bob.

Bubble Bobble has been released on many platforms over the years, and the NES version is still a fine one.

23. Mr. Gimmick (NES)

A typical story in the olden NTSC/PAL days was that a game would be released in Europe a good year or two after coming to the US, or sometimes not at all. Sunsoft's Gimmick, however, never launched in the US thanks to the arrival of the 16-bit era which meant distributors were less interested in niche games for the older systems. However, this did see limited European distribution in Scandinavian countries with the name Mr. Gimmick.

Tomomi Sakai's inventive yet punishing platformer has gained a cult following over the years, enough to warrant a sequel that launched more than three decades after the original (although the original creator had no involvement with 2024's Gimmick! 2).

22. Ninja Gaiden (NES)

Known as Shadow Warriors in Europe (because the word 'ninja' was considered far too violent and controversial in 1991, two years after the US release), this is the game that inspired modern classics like The Messenger.

Ryu Hayabusa, the titular ninja, feels as acrobatic and responsive as he ever did, and if you're interested in finding out about the inspiration behind dozens of today's indie platformers, you owe it to yourself to give Ninja Gaiden a try.

21. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game (NES)

As the name suggests, this was a NES port of the arcade TMNT game given sequel status on console thanks to Konami's existing 8-bit Turtles title. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game was a fine 8-bit port with extra levels and new bosses thrown in for good measure, not to mention plenty of Pizza Hut product placement for that authentic early '90s feel.

16-bits of processing power would enable the SNES to more closely replicate the look, feel and sound of the arcade experience, but this NES port was pretty remarkable in its day and sticks in the memory as one of Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo's finest console brawlers.

20. Mega Man 4 (NES)

Following on from the classic one-two punch (or should that be two-three punch) of its direct predecessors, this fourth entry is still a very good game, even if it can't quite live up to the two previous entries.

It vacillates between perfect refinement of the formula and a lack of care and inventiveness, and its soundtrack is another area where it doesn't compare favourably to its forebears. That doesn't make it bad at all, but you wouldn't put 'Not as good as 2 or 3' on the poster, would you?

Mega Man 4, then — 'A very good Mega Man game,' Yep, print it.

19. The Guardian Legend (NES)

Do you like top-down adventure games? How about shoot em' ups? Good, because you'll get both sides of the coin with The Guardian Legend. While it doesn't master either genre, it's a solid mash-up that takes the right elements from The Legend of Zelda and Metroid to provide a fun time over the course of two hours or so. That cover art is a tad disconcerting, mind.

18. Super C (NES)

If at times Super C (or Probotector II: Return of the Evil Forces in PAL places) feels a bit 'standard' from a modern perspective, it's only because it was instrumental in shaping all future side-scrolling run 'n' gunners; it created a mould from which classics like Gunstar Heroes and Metal Slug would be cast.

It may lack the charm and personality of those later variations on the theme, but it's still well worth playing both as a genre classic and a rewarding two-player game in its own right — any retro action fan will still have a great time with this run-and-gun rite of passage.

17. Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES)

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos is a fine-looking NES game with some fancy cutscenes and decent music. Wall-jumping and the difficulty curve have been improved from the original game and there's a fun challenge to be found in this sequel (which continued with the Shadow Warriors branding in Europe).

Being sent flying straight into a pit and respawning enemies is annoying at the best of times, but the game is mostly fair and its plus points combine to overcome its faults and make Ryu's second NES adventure a mighty satisfying one.

16. Batman: The Video Game (NES)

A classic 2D platformer from a time when that was the go-to genre for any licensed game (much like 3D open-world action games these days). The reassuring subtitle 'The Video Game' promises an experience recounting the beats of Tim Burton's 1989 film, a 'movie event' that arguably birthed the modern, cross-media comic book blockbuster.

Well, Sunsoft might not have turned in the most faithful of tie-ins, but it's a tight little game with excellent music which sees an acrobatic, purple-clad Caped Crusader wall-jumping and punching his way through an 8-bit Gotham City in search of his arch nemesis.

So, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

15. Castlevania (NES)

The original and the best? Perhaps not, but Castlevania put down an enduring template that mixed Universal monster movie shlock with brilliant tunes and tight, satisfying whip-based combat.

Very much like Super Mario Bros., the original Castlevania is a game that laid the foundations of an entire series. Sure, subsequent titles have refined and evolved the core concept, but Castlevania – just like Mario's first 'Super' adventure – remains playable and enjoyable, even today.

It's certainly not perfect; the difficulty is maddening at times and the controls feel incredibly stiff by modern standards. But the tight controls, foreboding atmosphere, and amazing soundtrack all pull together to create a true classic which has aged surprisingly well.

14. DuckTales (NES)

If you need to scratch your NES nostalgia itch or you also loved DuckTales as a kid, this game is for you. The platforming, with its pogo-cane action, is unique and extremely fun, the presentation is excellent, and the characters you know and love are intact.

Non-linear exploration and an alternate ending had us coming back for more back in the last months of the '80s and Uncle Scrooge is just as cranky and loveable now as he was decades ago. One of the best licensed games ever made.

13. Dragon Warrior III (NES)

Dragon Warrior III (or Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation) put the cap on a trilogy (at the time) of influential RPGs which would shape the genre. Set prior to the original game, often called the Erdrick Trilogy, it added a plethora of refinements to the turn-based gameplay and open-world adventuring, including a day/night cycle.

It got a Super Famicom remake which never came to the West, although an excellent Game Boy Color version did arrive in 2001, and you can also play it on Switch, both via the mobile port and the extremely good HD-2D Remake (which is our preference).

12. Tetris (NES)

The Game Boy version of this video gaming titan might be the most iconic — and certainly more convenient to play when you're out and about — but the ability to relax with Tetris on your TV wasn't to be sniffed at, either. Some prefer the Tengen version, which disappeared from stores soon after release due to a licensing snafu, but this non-controversial port is also a winner.

It's Tetris, just on the NES. 'Nuff said, really. There's no shortage of ways to play, but this very first Nintendo-developed home console version was never re-released - until its NSO appearance in December 2024.

11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project (NES)

Konami finishes up its NES trilogy in fine form with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project. Some might consider the following 16-bit instalment on SNES to be 'better', but we've still got a special place in our hearts for TMNT3TMP, as nobody calls it. NES-owning Turtles fans certainly weren't lacking for choice in the early '90s.

10. Dragon Warrior IV (NES)

The final NES/Famicom entry in Chunsoft's seminal RPG series, 1992's Dragon Warrior IV (or Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen as it's more commonly known these days) would be the last title in the series to arrive in the West for some time.

It featured five chapters, each of which concentrates on one of the aforementioned 'chosen' characters. It was also the first of the mainline DQ series to get its own spin-off titles: Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon featured this game's merchant, Taloon, and was the very first game in Chunsoft's Mystery Dungeon series, no less.

The Nintendo DS is arguably the best way to enjoy the game these days if you can find it for a reasonable price. But the fantastic character chapter-based structure means this RPG feels extremely fresh, wherever you play it.

9. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES)

After the deviation that was Simon's Quest, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse returns to the level-by-level approach seen in the 1986 original, but evolves the concept in every conceivable way.

There are now four characters to control – Simon Belmont's ancestor Trever, magic-user Sypha Belnades, pirate Grant Danasty, and Alucard, the half-vampire, half-human son of Dracula himself. Trevor can switch to one of these companions during a level and benefit from their unique powers. This adds to the gameplay considerably, as does the fact that your path through the game branches in places, offering plenty of replay value.

Add in some of the best visuals and music ever seen in a NES game, and it's easy to see why so many Castlevania fans consider Dracula's Curse the pinnacle of the series, at least in terms of the more 'traditional' entries before Symphony of the Night shook things up in 1997.

8. Super Mario Bros. (NES)

So much of the foundation of the series — and the medium at large — was put down in Super Mario Bros. that it's tough to evaluate all these years later without considering its historical importance.

This game, perhaps more than any other, has passed into the popular cultural consciousness and influenced countless developers since 1985. Artefacts like this delineate epochs; when it comes to video games, there was 'Before SMB' and 'After SMB'.

Going back today, it has aged, naturally, and it doesn't control quite as tightly as the Super Mario Bros. theme in the Mario Maker games. But it's still the original and, some would say, the best. Not us, but some.

You've played this many, many times before, no doubt, and you'll play it many, many times again. Good game.

7. Kirby's Adventure (NES)

Kirby's Adventure is a vibrant masterclass of NES platforming whether you've got the 3D slider set to max in the 3D Classics version on 3DS or you're enjoying it old-school-style with just two dimensions on NES. It's a high point in the pink puffball's illustrious career and its 8-bit visuals still look great all these years later.

Even if you don't consider yourself a Kirby fan, this adventure will win you over - and it's easy enough to find as part of the Nintendo Switch Online NES library. You might say... it sucks you in.

6. Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (NES)

A boxing game that's not really a boxing game, Punch-Out!! is all about reading your opponent's tells and timing your dodges and responses. So maybe it's the perfect boxing game, then?

Regardless, it's a great game that's brimming with colourful characters (read: outrageous comical stereotypes that wouldn't fly these days) and challenging Mr. Dream — or Mike Tyson, as he was originally — to a duel should be on every NES fan’s bucket list. Fight!

5. Contra (NES)

Known as Probotector in Europe — where it launched two years after its release in North America and Japan with Bill and Lance replaced by robot duo RD008 and RC011 — Contra is run-and-gun royalty from Konami.

Arriving just one year after the arcade original's debut, it brought all the shirt-ripping '80s action of the coin-op to Nintendo's console and gave gamers a cracking two-player game to blast through at home. Classic stuff and no mistake, whether you're rocking metal or muscle.

4. Mega Man 3 (NES)

Mega Man 3 was one of the shining jewels in the NES library — a catalogue that's certainly not wanting for sparklers.

If we're really searching for imperfections, a touch of slowdown, a glitchy weapon, and some careless level design arguably takes the shine off this when compared directly to its predecessor. Then again, MM3 added the slide move and Rush, the titular character's robo-Good Boi.

For our money, arguing whether Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 is best is much like debating between Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World — they're two sides of the same coin and both utterly essential.

3. The Legend of Zelda (NES)

What is there left to say about The Legend of Zelda?

The game that started it all holds up well, although be prepared to explore and really work for the answers to puzzles here. A modern game would never ask you to try setting random bushes alight to reveal a hidden passageway without signalling it with a huge neon 'SECRET HERE!' sign. The Legend of Zelda trusted the player and had faith in its own strengths enough to let you miss things.

It was a very unique prospect back in 1987, offering an unparalleled sense of adventure, clever combat mechanics, and a world ripe for exploration. Decades later, developers of titles big and small are still borrowing from it.

A landmark game that still feels fresh. Definitely worth revisiting, although if you've never played the series, we wouldn't recommend playing this one first.

2. Mega Man 2 (NES)

Mega Man 2 is a textbook example of a sequel done right; perfectly, in fact. It retains the best features of the first game, tightens up the physics, retools the enemy AI, and adds a slew of new features and challenges. Its front-to-back brilliant soundtrack doesn't hurt, either.

It's an absolute all-time classic — one of the finest 8-bit games ever made — and if you only play one Mega Man game (er, why would you do that?)... you should probably toss a coin to decide between this or its sequel.

1. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

As toweringly important as the original Super Mario Bros. was, Super Mario Bros. 3 was a colossal leap forward in practically every way.

It refined the basics, switched up the visuals, and added more mechanical variety and one-and-done elements than any video game to that point — so many that even today there are certain suits, stages, and secrets that many fans never found.

So many ‘old’ games are best approached with historical context in mind, or come with caveats when playing them years after release. SMB3 needs none. It's just as boundingly inventive and fresh as the day it was released, and easily one of the very finest video games ever made. Play it, now.

So there we are: the top NES games of all time. How many have you played?

Nintendo Entertainment System FAQ

To put a bow on this retro round-up, we'll answer some of the most common questions about the NES and its games.

When was the NES released?

The NES released in North America in 1985, although the hardware had a staggered launch across the US and other Western regions.

The system was adapted for the US market from the earlier Famicom hardware which launched in Japan two years prior. Europe wouldn't get a sniff of the NES until 1986, and it made its first appearance in the UK the following year.

Here's the NES release date for the three main regions:

  • Japan: July 15th 1983 (as the Family Computer or 'Famicom')
  • US: October 18th 1985
  • Europe: September 1st 1986

How many NES games are there?

According to Wikipedia’s list of NES games, a total of 1376 Nintendo Entertainment System games were released during the console’s life.

That number doesn't include the many 'unofficial', unlicensed games across all regions, and the number of releases between Europe, the US and Japan varies considerably.

But when it comes to games officially sanctioned by Nintendo, you'll find all NES games listed by region on that page.

Where can I buy NES games in 2024?

If you’re looking to buy original NES cartridges, online marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace are probably your best bet.

Dedicated retro games stores will likely have an NES collection, although prices can get pretty high these days, especially if you're after complete-in-box examples.

Retro gaming conventions are another good place to look. So many NES games were sold back in the '80s and '90s that you shouldn't have trouble picking up the biggest titles from dedicated second-hand merchants.

However, their popularity has led to prices skyrocketing in recent years - even for games that sold millions of copies. Make sure to do some research and don't overpay for things as common as Super Mario Bros.!

What NES games are on Switch?

At the time of publication, the following NES games are available on the Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.

How do I play NES games on Nintendo Switch?

If you want to play NES games on Switch, you’ll need to subscribe to the Nintendo Switch Online service.

See the question above for a list of all the NES games currently available.

Why does everyone love the NES? What's so great about it?

Following the video game 'crash' of 1983, the NES defied naysayers and singlehandedly brought the industry back stronger than ever thanks to canny marketing and — more significantly — an excellent software library.

Nintendo's strict licensing also prevented the market from being flooded with poor-quality software. In the early days, solid ports of hits like Donkey Kong gave players a taste of the arcade in their homes with better fidelity than ever before, and game design innovations (and the introduction of on-cartridge chips) further enhanced and expanded the potential for developers making games on the humble NES. Compare 1983's Donkey Kong port to 1988's Super Mario Bros. 3 and it's hard to believe they're running on the same system.

So what's so great about the NES? It essentially brought back an industry that most people thought had died and (re)birthed console gaming as we know it.

How can I add a game to this article?

Can't see your favourite on the list? Use the handy search bar below to find NES games and input your own ratings.

Note. In order for games to become eligible, they need a minimum of 25 User Ratings in total — once that minimum is achieved, it's game on. Don't forget that you can browse all NES games in our massive database.

Super Mario Bros 3 NES
Image: Nintendo Life / Zion Grassl

Is a game missing from our database that you think has a genuine shot at the top 50? Drop us a line in the comments and we'll see about adding it.