Top 10 Classic Nintendo Games You Need To Play

Nintendo is the undisputed king of retro gaming. From the NES to the N64 Nintendo dominated the ’80s and ’90s gaming market. Part of what made Nintendo so successful was its impressive lineup of games. Franchises like Super Mario, Pokemon and The Legend Of Zelda are still household names. But which games are worthy of re-visiting? We’ve picked out the 10 best classic Nintendo games that you absolutely need to play.

#10 – F-Zero

F-Zero is a futuristic racing game released in 1990 for the SNES. The game is known for its high-speed races and brutal-but-fair difficulty. F-Zero’s main character Captain Falcon is a bounty hunter who wins races for the huge prizes. He became a famous character in the Nintendo fighting game crossover Super Smash Bros. F-Zero is one of the best racing games ever made and guaranteed to be a fun time.

#9 – Punch-Out

Punch-Out is a boxing game released in 1987 for the NES. You take control of the hardy boxer Little Mac and fight your way to the title belt. The game was originally titled Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. The last boss fight was against Mike Tyson himself but the license for Tyson’s image expired quickly. Re-releases of the game swapped him out with an original character named Mr. Dream. Punch-Out is another brutally tough Nintendo game but it’s way too addictive to stop playing. 

#8 – Kirby Super Star

Who could forget about Nintendo’s adorable Kirby? Kirby Super Star is an action-platformer released in 1996 for the SNES. You play as Kirby and swallow enemies to absorb their powers. There are several little story modes to play through; one involves stopping the evil King Dedede from eating all the food in Dream Land. This game is renowned for being the best Kirby game yet. 

#7 – Earthbound

Earthbound is an RPG released in 1994 for the SNES. Famous for its quirky humor and memorable characters, Earthbound wasn’t actually popular when it first came out. Throughout the years it became a cult classic and is now more famous than ever. Don’t miss out on this hidden gem.

#6 – Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country is a platformer released in 1994 for the SNES. This was the first time Donkey Kong starred as a playable character in his own game. It also introduced his sidekick Diddy Kong. Donkey Kong Country is one of the most fun platformers ever made and the two sequels it received are also great.

#5 – Super Metroid

Super Metroid is an action game released in 1994 for the SNES and a sequel to the NES game Metroid. You play as an interstellar bounty hunter named Samus in a mission to preserve the last creature of an alien species. The game’s known for its dungeon-style map and fun power-ups. If you’re looking for an action-based dungeon crawler, this game is for you.

#4 – Star Fox 64

Star Fox 64 is a space shooter released in 1997 for the N64. You take control of spaceship pilot Fox McCloud and fly with a squadron of animal comrades to defeat the evil Andross. The spaceship combat gives you ton of options including shooting off lasers and doing barrel rolls. It’s a certified gaming classic that everyone needs to play at least once.

#3 – Pokemon Red & Blue

Pokemon Red and Blue versions were RPGs released in 1996 for the GameBoy. These were the first ever Pokemon games and they took the world by storm. Red and Blue were virtually the same game except for variations of pokemon. Players could use a link cable to trade and battle with each other. Return to the classic game that started a franchise.

#2 – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is an action-adventure game released in 1998 for the N64. This was the first Legend of Zelda game in 3D and it made an impact. Many gaming journalist websites consider it to be the best game ever made! You play as a young boy named Link who travels to the future in order to stop the evil wizard Ganondorf. This is a true staple of video games that can’t be missed.

#1 – Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a platformer release in 1988 for the NES. The first Super Mario Bros. is a classic but Super Mario Bros. 3 takes everything from the first game and makes it better. New powerups, new enemies and new levels add a lot more fun to the Mario formula. You play as the iconic Mario himself in another attempt to rescue Princess Toadstool from the clutches of King Koopa. This is one classic Nintendo game that you definitely need to play.