Nintendo Entertainment System
Top 20 classic NES games — find similar titles!
Last updated: April 15, 2026
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The 25 Best NES Games of All Time
The Nintendo Entertainment System had to teach an entire audience what a video game even was, and the best NES games did it with almost no text. Everything had to be legible in a single screen of sprites.
This ranked list of the 25 best original NES games covers the platformers, the action games and the early RPGs, plus the great NES games that never made the usual top-ten lists. Nintendo Switch Online carries most of them today.
Top 10 NES games
Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- Wii U
- GBA
Power-up suits, a world map and secret warp whistles — the NES game that felt limitless. It is still the tightest 2D Mario on original hardware.
The Legend of Zelda (1986)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- GBA
- Wii U
An open world with no map markers and a save battery in the cartridge. It expects you to take notes, and that is the appeal.
Mega Man 2 (1988)
- NES
- Switch
- PS4
- Xbox
- PC
Pick your stage order, steal the boss weapon, use it on the next boss. The cleanest loop of the 8-bit era, with the best soundtrack on the console.
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- Collections
Branching paths and swappable partner characters gave one cartridge several playthroughs. Grant's wall-climbing changes the whole game.
Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- Wii U
- GBA
The game that rebuilt the console market, and still a perfectly balanced 30-minute run. World 1-1 remains the most-copied tutorial ever designed.
Contra (1988)
- NES
- Switch
- PS4
- Xbox
- PC
Two-player run-and-gun that you finish in half an hour if you are good and never if you are not. The spread gun is a permanent part of gaming vocabulary.
Metroid (1986)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- GBA
Isolation, backtracking and an unmarked map. Harsh by modern standards, but the DNA of every Metroidvania since.
Punch-Out!! (1987)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- Wii U
A pattern-recognition puzzle disguised as a boxing game. Each bout is two minutes, which makes it perfect for short sessions.
Final Fantasy (1987)
- NES
- PS1
- Switch
- PC
- Mobile
Party building, class changes and an overworld to get lost in — the start of everything. The Pixel Remaster fixes the grind without changing the shape.
Ninja Gaiden (1988)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- Collections
Cinematic cutscenes on 8-bit hardware plus wall-clinging platforming that punishes hesitation. Famous for its difficulty spike in stage 6.
More great NES games
DuckTales (1989)
- NES
- Remastered on PC/PS/Xbox/Switch
Pogo-cane platforming with the most hummable soundtrack on the system. Levels are open enough to route in different orders.
Kirby's Adventure (1993)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- GBA
The debut of copy abilities and one of the best-looking NES games, released right at the end of the console's life. A gentle entry point for kids.
Tecmo Super Bowl (1991)
- NES
Season play, real rosters and a playbook you can actually learn. Still played competitively in tournaments today.
River City Ransom (1989)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- Collections
Beat 'em up with RPG stats, shops and full two-player co-op. It is funnier and deeper than its peers.
Bionic Commando (1988)
- NES
- Collections
You cannot jump — you swing, and the grapple is a whole movement language. Learning it is the game.
Battletoads (1991)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
- Rare Replay
Wildly varied stages and the most notorious difficulty on the console. Worth playing for the animation alone.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game (1990)
- NES
- Cowabunga Collection
The faithful arcade port with two-player co-op that made rentals worth it. Short, loud, and best with a friend.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge (1989)
- NES
- Collections
Two-player brawling with directional attack buttons that take a stage to get used to. The NES version has levels the arcade one does not.
Dragon Warrior IV (1990)
- NES
- DS
- Mobile
Chapter-based storytelling years ahead of its peers, with each party member introduced in their own act. A big, generous late-era NES RPG.
Crystalis (1990)
- NES
- GBC
Post-apocalyptic action RPG with elemental swords and real-time combat. Frequently described as the NES answer to Zelda with a story.
NES hidden gems
StarTropics (1990)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
A Zelda-shaped adventure with grid-based combat and a puzzle that required a physical letter in the box. Charming and rarely mentioned.
Shatterhand (1991)
- NES
Punch-only action platforming with robot companions built from collected power-ups. Excellent music and a stage-select structure.
Little Samson (1992)
- NES
Four playable characters with completely different movement, in one of the best-animated NES games. Rare as a cartridge, but preserved in collections.
Gargoyle's Quest II (1992)
- NES
- Switch (NSO)
Action platforming with hover mechanics and RPG-style overworld travel. The direct ancestor of Demon's Crest on SNES.
Duck Hunt (1984)
- NES
The pack-in Zapper game everyone's household had, and still a fun two-minute party memory. It needs a CRT to work with the original light gun.
Gear that fits this list
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2 Pack USB Controller for SNES Retro Gaming, miadore SNES USB Classic Gamepad Joypad Gamestick for Windows PC MAC Linux Retropie Raspberry Pi 3
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Retro-Bit Prism HDMI Adapter for Gamecube
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ABLEWE RCA to HDMI,AV to HDMI Converter, 1080P Mini RCA Composite CVBS Video Audio Converter Adapter Supporting PAL/NTSC for TV/PC/ PS3/ STB/Xbox VHS/VCR/Blue-Ray DVD Players
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ZAMPAM 2 Pack Wireless SNES Controllers, 2.4GHz USB Gamepads for PC
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ClearClick AV to HDMI Converter 3.0 (Third Generation) - 1080P RCA or S-Video to HDMI Upscaler - with Remote Control for Image Adjustment - VHS, VCR, Camcorder, DVD, TV, Gaming Systems, PAL, NTSC
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Prices as of Oct 15, 2026, 4:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Frequently asked questions
Super Mario Bros
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The Legend of Zelda
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Metroid
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Mega Man 2
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Contra
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Castlevania
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Tecmo Super Bowl
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DuckTales
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Ninja Gaiden
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Battletoads
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Mike Tyson's Punch-Out
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Kirby's Adventure
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Final Fantasy
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Excitebike
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Double Dragon
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
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Bionic Commando
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Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers
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Duck Hunt
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Balloon Fight
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Bubble Bobble
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Top 10 Must-Play NES Games
Every Nintendo Entertainment System library has its essentials — the games that defined the system and that every fan should play at least once. These 10 titles are our hand-picked starting lineup for the NES, ranked by cultural impact and replay value. Click any game to see modern alternatives across every platform.
NES Hidden Gems
Beyond the iconic blockbusters, the Nintendo Entertainment System library is full of underrated experiences that flew under the mainstream radar. These 10 hidden gems are the NES games we'd hand a friend who's already played the obvious classics and wants something fresh. Each links to a similar-games page for modern alternatives.
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Where to buy NES hardware and gear
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Nintendo Super Entertainment System SNES Classic Edition with Two 6-ft. Extension Cable [video game]
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Check price on AmazonHyperkin "Cadet" Premium Controller for NES with 10 ft. Cable (Gray)
$15.98
Check price on AmazonRetroScaler2x AV/SV/YPBPR to HDMI™ Converter, NTSC/PAL Support (Blue) | Support Line Doubler,Filter,Smooth,Pass-Through Modes,No Lag,Compatible with PS1/2 N64 Dreamcast Saturn MD NGC SNES and More
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Nintendo NES Classic Mini EU Console [video game]
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Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Prices as of Oct 15, 2026, 4:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Shopping for someone? See our gift guide for gamers.