Summary

• The N64 introduced Nintendo games to the modern era, giving 3D makeovers to iconic characters like Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong.
• The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass makes N64 games more accessible, allowing players to enjoy beloved titles like GoldenEye 007 and Banjo Kazooie on the go.
• The best N64 games are ranked based on how well their controls and gameplay have aged, with bonus points for creativity and uniqueness. Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros, and Pokemon Snap are among the standout titles.

Throughout the '90s, the N64 brought friends together and simultaneously pitted them against each other. This iconic system introduced Nintendo games to the modern era, giving 3D makeovers to some of the company's most legendary characters, including Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong.

Plenty of outstanding titles are available for the system, but only a few have stood the ཧtest of time to be considered the best N64 games. Sure, the PlayStation 1 has some fantastic games and a better graphics processor, but there’s something magical about the N64, which is why its games have remained as popular as ever.

Updated November 16, 2023, By PJ Molloy: Thanks to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass, the N64 library is more accessible than ever. With the Nintendo 64 app, you can bring your favorite childhood games on the go or experience these beloved titles for the first time. Legendary N64 games like GoldenEye 007 and Banjo Kazooie triumphantly return to Nintendo consoles after decades of absence. You can even play multiplayer games online with your friends, like Mario Kart 64 and Mario Party 2. With so many new ways to play these classics, it begs the question: which N64 games hold up the best? And what are the best N64 games?

These games are ranked based on how well the con🏅trols and gameplay have aged. Bonus points for creativ💧ity and uniqueness.

15 M🅰ario Kart 64

Ruining Friendships Since 1996

Mario Kart 64 is a legendary racing game for a good reason. It introduces some of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the greatest ♒tracks in the Mario Kart serie💧s, including Choco Mountain, Yoshi Valley, and Kalamari Desert. Not to 🐲mention, the battle mode is a blast to play with friends, making this game phenomenal for multiplayer.

Who can forget being in first place, about to cross the finish line, only to get hit by the dreaded blue shell? There's plenty of chaotic fun to be had, plus the shortcuts hidden across the stages provide a satisfying element of skill. The controls haven't aged gracefully, but the creative tracks and fun gameplay make Mario Kart 64 worth playing.

14 ▨ Super Smash Bro♕s

The Start Of An Iconic Fighting Series

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Smash Bros was unlike any fighting game that came before it. The most iconic Nintendo characters of the '90s duke it out in legendary locations like Hyrule Castle and atop the Great Fox. This title paved the way for future platform fighters and is still a joy to play.

What makes Smash 64 stand out from modern entries are the minigames, each containing character-specific levels that make use of the fighters' unique attributes. The diverse roster, imaginative stages, and delightfully cartoonish combat ensure Super Smash Bros is an outstanding N64 game.

13 Pokemonܫ Snap

The Coziest N64 Game

The first Pokemon game for the N64 is a bit of an enigma since it doesn't feature Pokemon battles or any RPG elements. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokemon Snap has you traveling on rails through scenic areas to observe and photograph Pokemon in their natural habitats. The result is the most relaxing game on t🍷he N64.

There's something calming about exploring the island, watching the Pokemon's adorable and comedic interactions, and trying to capture the best moments on camera. As the game progresses, you unlock new tools to take better photos and more areas to explore. It's the best N64 game to help you unwind after a long day.

12 🐭 GoldenEye 007

A Must-Play Multiplayer N64 Game

It's hard to overstate the importance 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:GoldenEye 007 had for the N64 and first-person shooters. This James Bond adventure is iconic for its smooth gameplay that requires stealth and strategy to complete missions. The levels design knocks it oꦉut of the park, producing stellar maps based on locations from the movie.

The best part about GoldenEye is its multiplayer mode, where four people battle it out in a fierce deathmatch. There are several settings to choose from, each providing a fun twist to crank up the heat. It should be noted that the controls feel clunky by today's standards. Despite that, GoldenEye is a solid FPS and one of the best multiplayer N64 games.

11 🥃 Mario Party 3 🍒

The Best N64 Mario Party Game

Mario Party 3 is the pinnacle of the N64 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Mario Party trilogy and the perfect choice for your next game night. Unlike Mario Party 2, the third entry has an entirely new selection of minigames and the option 🌟to play as Daisy and Waluigi. As the cherry on top, the game offers a divꦰerse catalog of boards, each with a fun twist to make them unique.

The biggest addition is the new Duel mode, where you and a friend build teams of Mario enemies to battle each oth🦹er — similar to Pokemon in a way. Mario Party 3 offers endless surprises and fun, showcasing the phenomenal multiplayer action that makes the N64 special.

10 🃏 Resident♛ Evil 2

The Most Impressive N64 Game

The fact that 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Resident Evil 2, a game that took up two discs on the PlayStation 1, runs on a singl🅠e N64 cartridge with new content is mind-blowing. This legendary horror game follows Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they try to survive the zombie apocalypse by solving puzzles, managing scarce resources, and avoiding the pursuit of the terrifying seven-foot-tall zombie Mr. X.

The cutscenes are very compressed, but the controls and gameplay are fully intact, and the scares are as frightening as ever. The N64 version adds more costumes, the ability to changꦡe the blood color, and a new mode that randomizes items. Resident Evil 2 is the most impressive N64 game and one of the greatest ports ever.

9 F-Zero X

A Fast-Paced, Action-Packed Racer

Imagine you're zooming down a futuristic racing track upside down at 450 miles per hour while 29 people try to run you off the road. Welcome to F-Zero X, an adrenaline-pumping sci-fi racer that encourages you to drive as fast and aggressively as possible.

F-ℱZero X is non-stop chaotic fun, requiring you to zoom into first place while maintaining your health bar. You can attack your opponents to reduce the competition or sacrificꩲe some of your health for a burst of speed. Every race is a risk-versus-reward battle for survival, making F-Zero X the best N64 game for fast-paced action.

8 🤡 Paper Mario 𒉰

An Endlessly Charming RPG

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Paper Mario is one of the most charming and unique role-playing games of the '90s, thanks to its endearing storybook art style and engaging turn-based combat system. The battles constantly keep you enthralled with action commands, allowing you to deal extra damage if you hit a certain button at the correct time.

This delightful RPG has some of the best humor and world-building in the Mario series, breathing new life into the Mushroom Kingdom with fascinating lore and memorable characters. Paper Mario's combat, exploration, and story hold up remarkably well, making it perfect for both new fans and RPG veterans.

7 🐼 Star Fox 64

"Do A Barrel Roll!"

If you're looking for an arcade-style on-rails shooter, there's no better choice than Star Fox 64. You play as Fox McCloud, a hot-shot bounty hunter who travels across the galaxy to end a gruesome war. With several branching paths that lead to different levels and endings, this game's replay value is the best on the N64.

Star Fox 64 perfectly balances fast-paced on-rails levels and exploration-based all-range dogfights where you're free to go wherever you like. The delightfully cheesy voice acting and action-packed space battles nail the feeling of stepping into a '90s sci-fi thriller. This game is the best in the Star Fox series and unrivaled in its level design.

6 ꦗ Perfect Dark 🐲

The Best N64 First-Person Shooter

While GoldenEye is the more famous game, its spiritual successor, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Perfect Dark, improves the format while maintaining everything that made the James Bond title iconic. In this sci-fi shooter, you play as special agent Joanna Dark as she unravels a shocking conspiracy involving aliens and🍎 a major corporat🔜ion.

Perfect Dark's gameplay is similar to GoldenEye, with some exciting new additions, including a co-op mode, better AI, and significantly more content. The frame rate struggles in certain areas, but it's never bad enough to hinder the game. If you like GoldenEye, give Perfect Dark a shot.