{"id":354684,"date":"2024-05-07T11:19:08","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T16:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jbsgame.com\/?p=354684"},"modified":"2024-05-07T11:19:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T16:19:15","slug":"best-nes-games-of-all-time-ranked-retro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jbsgame.com\/best-nes-games-of-all-time-ranked-retro\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 18 best NES games of all time, ranked"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NES library has north of 700 games on it. That\u2019s a lot, but in terms of successful consoles, it\u2019s kind of in the mid-range. It still makes it difficult to choose any number of the best games. That\u2019s probably why no one has been brave enough to make a Top X NES games list. I\u2019m not saying I\u2019m the bravest person in the world, but I am saying I have no shame.<\/p>

One thing to note is that while I\u2019ve played a staggeringly wide range of the NES library<\/strong>, I haven\u2019t played everything. For example, I haven\u2019t played Bases Loaded 3<\/i>, and I\u2019m open to the possibility that it\u2019s the apogee of the NES library. This also isn\u2019t about which games were most popular or influential. That\u2019s another topic. These ones are the best for a myriad of other reasons.<\/p>

I\u2019m also not including Famicom exclusives, though I\u2019d love to. If I was, just know that Metal Max<\/i><\/a> would be stomping all over these games. That and Kunio-Kun<\/i>. But, alas, here are the top 18 NTSC NES games.<\/p><\/iframe>

\"OG
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

18. Super Mario Bros. (1985)<\/h2>

I mentioned that this is not a list of the most influential games on the console because, if it was, Super Mario Bros.<\/em> would top it each time. The NES is essentially a console built on the back of Super Mario Bros.<\/em>, and it’s impossible to overstate its impact on console games.<\/p>

Also, it’s still an extremely fun game. While its vintage ensures that the gameplay remains rather basic with little variety in enemies and obstacles, it makes up for it with sheer creativity in its level design. From World 1 to World 8, it stretches its mechanics in new and interesting ways. Improvements in the technology within NES cartridges would enable its predecessors to push new boundaries, the original holds its own through sheer craftsmanship.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

17. Maniac Mansion (1990)<\/h2>

NES ports of home computer games were often rather lackluster due to differences in capabilities. However, it feels like no compromise has been made with the NES port of Lucasarts’ seminal point-and-click adventure, Maniac Mansion<\/em>.<\/p>

What makes Maniac Mansion<\/em> such a unique and exciting game among point-and-click titles is the more freeform nature of solving its puzzles. You select three characters and your path to the finish line changes depending on the combination you put together. The time it takes to get from start to finish in this game is extremely short, but it’s unlikely you’ll reach it on your first attempt. Maniac Mansion<\/em> is a game that you’ll play over and over, and surprisingly for a point-and-click adventure, it remains fun each time.<\/p>

\"Mega
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

16. Mega Man 6 (1993)<\/h2>

You’re probably expecting to see at least one or two Mega Man<\/em> games on this list. If multiple mega men are listed, you are probably expecting two specific<\/em> titles to be here. I’m not going to spoil it, but Mega Man 6<\/em> is my choice for the second-best in the series. To be fair, all six titles are pretty much just one game repeated, but each brings its own wrinkles that either add to or detract from the series.<\/p>

What Mega Man 6<\/em> adds it the ability to couple the blue bomber with his dog in a number of transformations that remain unique to the series. What it detracts is essentially any challenge. It has some great levels with branching pathways enabled by the Rush transformations. However, it also has no teeth. It’s up to you whether or not diminished challenge bothers you, but for me, it’s not all that much.<\/p>

\"Duck
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

15. Duck Tales (1989)<\/h2>

While we have some big-named licensed games these days, most games based on movies or cartoons during the 8-bit years<\/strong> weren\u2019t very good. Some of them were extraordinarily terrible. Capcom, on the other hand, had a good track record for making some terrific games based on Disney licenses. One of their early endeavors was Duck Tales<\/i>.<\/p>

There were a lot of directions you could go with a game based on Duck Tales<\/i>, since it wasn\u2019t purely an action show. Capcom chose to do hop-and-bop with a twist. You play as Scrooge McDuck who can somehow use his cane as a pogo stick, allowing him to eliminate enemies. The platforming was fine, but the real treasure was, er, searching for treasure. Not only were you rewarded with gems for messing with the environments, but there were also secret treasures located in each stage. <\/p>

\"Super
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

14. Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988)<\/h2>

Originally released in 1987 on the Famicom Disk System as Yume K\u014dj\u014d: Dokidoki Panic<\/i>, Nintendo tweaked and rebranded it as a Mario<\/i> game for North America because the real Super Mario Bros. 2<\/i> is kind of butt<\/strong>. It\u2019s difficult, but in a really unfair and cruel way.<\/p>

The Super Mario Bros. 2<\/i> that we got is a whimsical game about throwing dudes into other dudes. It doesn\u2019t have much in common with the original game, but if you didn\u2019t know about the Japanese release, you probably wouldn\u2019t guess. It\u2019s a challenging platformer with a jaunty soundtrack. It is, in my opinion, better than even the first game and miles better than the Super Mario Bros. 2 <\/i>Japan received.<\/p>

\"Kirby's
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

13. Kirby\u2019s Adventure (1993)<\/h2>

I often say that I enjoy the idea<\/i> of the Kirby<\/i>, but don\u2019t necessarily love the games. Kirby\u2019s Adventure<\/i> is an exception to that. It was a late release in 1993, and it kind of shows. Beyond having a lot of technical trickery, Kirby was given the ability to consume his enemies and adopt their powers. It\u2019s not a terribly difficult game but it manages to be entertaining the whole way through.<\/p>

\"Metroid
Image via MobyGames<\/figcaption><\/figure>

12. Metroid (1986)<\/h2>

I totally get that some people don\u2019t dig the original Metroid<\/i>. The floaty controls, annoying enemies, and unforgiving life system can really be abrasive when you first approach the game and don\u2019t get me started on the massive passwords<\/strong> you use to save your progress.<\/p>

However, if you get acclimated to the enormous friction Metroid <\/i>puts up front, there\u2019s a lot to like underneath. It\u2019s a challenging game with a great progression. It was also very influential, with the impact of its gated exploration formula being immediately felt on the console. It can be hard to get into today, but it\u2019s still worthwhile.<\/p>

\"Castlevania
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

11. Castlevania 3: Dracula\u2019s Curse (1989)<\/h2>

Not far off from the original is Castlevania 3: Dracula\u2019s Curse<\/i>. Some would probably rank this one above the original, but I feel it has some areas where it\u2019s not nearly as tightly designed<\/strong>. Difficulty is one such area, as changes were made in the North American version that aren\u2019t in the Japanese version, Akumajou Densetsu<\/i>. In particular, the damage the player takes is more of a linear increase and is less fair.<\/p>

Nonetheless, Castlevania 3<\/i> contains a lot of the original\u2019s terrific sense of style and control. It adds branching routes to the end, multiple characters to recruit and partner with, and a better variety of obstacles and challenges. All in all, it\u2019s a great follow-up.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

10. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)<\/h2>

This is going to be the top pick for a lot of people<\/strong>, and it\u2019s here because I do love Super Mario Bros. 3<\/i>; it just doesn\u2019t get my thighs grinding. There\u2019s a lot to love about it, though. For one thing, it plays like something that belongs to another console generation, effortlessly pulling off 4-way scrolling and fast movement. The level of variety on hand is insane, the level design is practically in a class of its own, and there\u2019s a tonne of extras and secrets tucked away. Decades later, it still stands as one of the plumber\u2019s best house calls. The fact that there\u2019s such a night and day difference between Super Mario Bros. 3<\/i> and the first Super Mario Bros. <\/i>while them both belonging to the same console is impressive.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

9. Dragon Warrior (1986)<\/h2>

You can feel free to substitute your personal favorite<\/strong> Dragon Warrior <\/i>(or Dragon Quest<\/i>) game, but the original still feels the best to me. I prefer its simplicity and open design. Final Fantasy<\/i> and the three subsequent games in the Dragon Warrior <\/i>series take the formula in interesting directions, but if this list tells you anything, it\u2019s that I value focus and polish over scale.<\/p>

I love the twists Dragon Warrior<\/i> throws at you, and I\u2019m happy it can be completed in, like, ten hours. Its cheerful design makes it a bit more inviting than CRPGs at the time, and its simplicity makes it a great fit for consoles. Really, I love the complete NES run of Dragon Warrior <\/i>games, but if I had to pick just one, it\u2019s the original.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

8. Contra (1988)<\/h2>

In arcades, Contra <\/i>was a merciless quarter-muncher<\/strong>. It was difficult to see even a fraction of it without giving up most of your allowance. In its home 8-bit form, it\u2019s still extremely brutal, but at least it took all your money upfront. Contra<\/i> on the NES is the seminal run-and-gun shooter, and it made a home for the series on console. It\u2019s smooth, easily readable, varied, and nicely polished. Plus, its soundtrack is pretty kicking on top of it.<\/p>

Contra <\/i>would be followed up by Super C<\/i>, which is fine but not quite as excellent as the first. This would lead to console-exclusive titles in the series, like Contra 3: The Alien Wars<\/i> and Contra: Hard Corps<\/i>. None of those are as good as Metal Slug<\/i>, but we had to start somewhere.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

7. Batman (1989)<\/h2>

Batman: The Video Game <\/i>has very little to do with Batman<\/i> the 1989 movie. It has more to do with Ninja Gaiden<\/i> and Castlevania<\/i>, but you play as purple Batman and spend most of your time in sewers fighting robots<\/strong>.<\/p>

The thing about Batman <\/i>is that it\u2019s like Ninja Gaiden<\/i> if it was better designed. There\u2019s wall jumping and gadget throwing, but it never resorts to simply spamming enemies at you and completely changing the rules just to screw you over. It\u2019s one of the most difficult games I\u2019ve completed, but I feel like I earned it. Learning to time those jumps in the clock tower, mastering everything on the utility belt, and somehow toppling Joker made for a satisfying conquest.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

6. Mega Man 2 (1988)<\/h2>

The first Mega Man <\/i>title sold in North America about as well as a box of live wasps. Thankfully, Capcom reluctantly green-lit a sequel, and even more thankfully, they tried it again over here. With an easier difficulty and uglier box art. Look, Mega Man 2<\/i> is already one of the breezier of the original 8-bit titles, but if you\u2019re playing on \u201cNormal\u201d difficulty, it\u2019s stripped of all challenge. The inappropriately named \u201cdifficult\u201d is the way the Gods of Thumbs<\/strong> intended, and I\u2019m not just saying that as a flex. It\u2019s actually equivalent to the Famicom version\u2019s setup.<\/p>

When you\u2019re on the proper difficulty<\/a>, Mega Man 2<\/i> has it all. Great soundtrack, solid level design, and memorable boss battles. A lot of people prefer Mega Man 3<\/i> to this title, but I think that\u2019s bupkiss. Mega Man 3<\/i> is too long, and I find it has the visual flavor of wallpaper paste. Awesome opening song, though.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

5. Punch-Out!! (1987)<\/h2>

I respect Punch-Out!! <\/i>because I feel it\u2019s a solid idea perfectly executed. Technically, it\u2019s a port of a game that was released in arcades years earlier, but the mere fact that it was refocused to not just being a quarter-munching monster makes it a lot more enjoyable on console. As long as you\u2019re on a setup without horrendous input lag<\/strong>, the visual cues and timing all make for a perfect challenge. Well, until you get into the top tier of boxers. I still can\u2019t actually topple Mike Tyson, because when my attention span faces off against consistently getting my ass kicked, my attention span never makes it three rounds.<\/p>

\"Legend
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

4. The Legend of Zelda (1986)<\/h2>

I often associate the original Legend of Zelda<\/i> as the game that got me into gaming. I was extremely young at the time, but watching my father play through it gripped my mind. However, there are a lot of formative games from my youth that I rarely return to, and Legend of Zelda<\/i> isn\u2019t one of them. For whatever reason, I\u2019ve developed a habit of returning to it almost annually for another playthrough.<\/p>

Zelda <\/i>had a massive impact<\/strong> on the direction of game development, but, as I\u2019ve stated, this list isn\u2019t about influence. Stripped of that, The Legend of Zelda<\/i> is an open game that respects your abilities as an inquisitive human. Maybe a bit too much, but somehow I was able to figure out which bushes to burn, and that\u2019s my mind isn\u2019t letting that go.<\/p>

\"River
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

3. River City Ransom (1989)<\/h2>

With the severe graphical memory limitations of the NES, beat-\u2019em-ups were a tricky genre to pull off. However, we did get a few gems, including some of the most ubiquitous ports of the Double Dragon<\/i> and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles <\/i>games. Those are fine, but I think Technos\u2019 weird experiment in the Kunio-Kun<\/i> series stands as the best.<\/p>

Upgrading your character through food and items, River City Ransom<\/i> has as much to do with shopping as it does with fighting. When fists go up, it becomes a ridiculous brawl, taking full advantage of its expressive art style. It\u2019s one of the few games I can name that allows you to use the second player as a weapon.<\/p>

I would include more Nekketsu\/Kunio-Kun <\/i>games on this list if they weren\u2019t Famicom exclusive<\/a>. Check out the Double Dragon & Kunio-Kun: Retro Brawler Bundle<\/i> if you\u2019d like a taste of what we missed in the west.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

2. Gun*Nac (1990)<\/h2>

The NES had some great shoot-\u2019em-ups in its library, though many of them were ports of arcade titles, and many more didn\u2019t even make the journey to our front-loaders<\/strong>. Gun*Nac<\/i> is a major exception<\/a>, and it\u2019s easily the best on the console.<\/p>

Featuring amazingly fast scrolling and near-flicker-free graphics, it\u2019s a technical masterpiece. To add to that is an unending variety of enemies and a slew of weapons and bombs to clear the screen. Gun*Nac <\/i>is unbelievably robust, especially considering its 8-bit trappings. If you haven\u2019t tried it or even heard of it, you\u2019re missing out.<\/p>

\"NES
Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

1. Castlevania (1986)<\/h2>

There\u2019s no question in my mind that Castlevania<\/i> is the best game on the NES. From both an aesthetic and design standpoint, it\u2019s flawless. Featuring tightly refined controls, perfect enemy placement and behavior, a stiff but fair challenge, and a surprising amount of variety, I still consider it to be the best in the series and on the system. Considering the Castlevania<\/i> series already has enough banger titles to fill its own highly subjective<\/i> top 18 list, I think that says it all.<\/p>

Don\u2019t think this is an off-the-cuff decision, either. When my NES library explorations finally reached Castlevania<\/i>, I knew I had reached the peak. Now that I\u2019ve dug even further, I\u2019m even more certain of it. Castlevania <\/i>is what 8-bit perfection<\/strong> looks like.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The maximum utmost<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":233563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"article_type":"","gamurs_wordpress_blocks_hide_tags":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[21999,104],"tags":[468,1025,1312,22000,1404,172],"internal-label":[22870,24255],"invoiceable_action":[],"article_type":[23115],"coauthors":[{"id":17,"display_name":"Zoey Handley","user_login":"Adzuken","user_nicename":"adzuken"}],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTop 18 best NES games of all time, ranked – Destructoid<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The NES was a pivotal system in the development of the console market. 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