Christmas Day, 1998 was a very special time for me. It was the day that changed my gaming life forever and started my obsession for collecting the best N64 games. Show
I still remember pulling back the wrapping paper and seeing those three characters imprinted on the corner of the box – N64. Sure, I had already joined the gaming club with my original grey GameBoy and some of the best GameBoy games, but now it was time to step up into the big leagues. Since that day, I have played and collected more Nintendo games than I can count. From gunning down spaceships with Fox McLoud to trying to figure out what the heck that Ice Key was all about in Banjo Kazooie, I’ve had so many fun moments with this classic console. If you’re new to retro gaming or just want to relive some of the greats, then here’s a list of the 65 Best N64 Games of all time. Get ready for a nostalgic kick to the game-brain!
65. Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage (2000) Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage kickstarts this list of the best N64 games of all time! If you’re a fantasy fan and are looking for an immersive journey to get lost in, then you’ve peaked pretty early. This is like playing a virtual fantasy book, and as a fantasy writer, it scores top points with me! Any plot line featuring goblins, poison, and a kingdom in danger ticks all of my RPG needs instantly. It’s 3D, it’s filled with items, and there are so may quests to complete that you’ll be playing it for a long time to come. These turn-based battles won’t be anything new to RPG fans, with players moving characters in real time as they move in and out of circular attack fields kicking ass and taking names. One thing I love about this game is that the battles aren’t random either. You can pick and choose who you attack and dodge harder enemies until a later date. Add know-it-all NPC into the mix, and there’s everything you need for a relaxing Sunday afternoon right here, what more could you ask for? 64. Extreme-G (1997)Extreme-G drops in at 64, which is a bit of a special number consider the console we’re talking about. After the huge success of Wipeout, more and more futuristic racers came to the fold. The fast-paced bike races and intense soundtrack of Extreme-G made it an instant hit with 90s gamers. I mean, it basically felt like a rave, what with the Chemical Brothers and neon visuals! Motorbike racing feels way more dangerous and edgy than normal cars anyway. Add space-age looking bikes into the mix on tracks that could be rollercoasters, and you’ve got a real game on your hands. Power ups, massive speeds, and four players competing against each other (ignoring the frame-rate drop), make this one of the gnarliest multiplayer racers on the N64 too. Definitely a Nintendo title designed to compete with the PlayStation racing catalogue and the perfect substitute for those who don’t have a PS1 to hand. 63. Blast Corps (1997)Normally a nuclear weapon on a rampage wouldn’t be something to get excited about, but Blast Corps sees players clearing a path for it to run through in an action-packed puzzler. The aim of the game – destroy everything in the missiles path so it doesn’t blow up and destroy the earth. Sounds simple, right? In the beginning, you only get certain vehicles to use while destroying things, but as the game ramps up, you’ll need to use bigger destructive vehicles while mowing down everything from monuments to whole building complexes. While you’re racing against the clock to cause as much havoc as possible, you also need to find scientists that can work together to try and figure out how to save the world. No pressure… Find Radiation Dispersal Units hidden throughout each level and collect lots of secrets to get medals. If you’re the type of gamer that only settles for 101%, then you’ll be playing this game for a heck of a long time. There’s plenty of value for your money, that’s for sure! 62. Shadowgate 64: Trials Of The Four Towers (1999)Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers is one heck of an RPG. It’s also really underrated despite it being like the lovechild of Thief and Dungeons and Dragons. Yeah, that sounds like recipe we all wanna get a piece of right? Jam-packed full of exciting mysteries and NPCs to converse with while uncovering strange secrets, this puzzle-lovers best friend has everything you could ever want from a dungeon crawling magic fest. The main setting for this game – Castle Shadowgate. It’s not ‘The Castle of the Crystal’ level of cool, but it does feel a lot like something from a Terry Pratchett novel. Enter scum lining the streets, villains, and an evil mage on the rampage. A ramp-mage, if you will. Help Del Cottonwood as he tries to escape Shadowgate, only to find himself landing in an even tougher problem to crack. Saving the world from a Warlock, to be exact… Castle Shadowgate provides the main backdrop for Trials of the Four Towers. If you’ve ever read any Discworld novels, then it’s a little like Ankh Morpork. Thieves, villains, and general scum line the streets, and there’s an evil wizard on the rampage. 61. Killer Instinct Gold (1996)Killer Instinct Gold could well be one of my favourite fighting titles of all time. An update to Killer Instinct 2, it’s a killer title for the N64 and sees the classic characters I loved on the Gameboy in full colour. Fulgore for the win! Play with all of the fighters from the previous games and delve into new modes such as Team Elimination and Speed Levels. So the special moves aren’t exactly Mortal Kombat worthy, but there’s just something about Killer Instinct that makes it a classic title. Yeah, that something is the Gameboy game that I smashed so many times as a kid, who am I kidding. For me, this is a nostalgia trip that will always beat the likes of Street Fighter and the Marvel Capcom crossover titles. 60. Beetle Adventure Racing! (1999)Racing in VW Beetles; what a way to continue this best N64 games list! Yep, Beetle Adventure Racing pits drivers skills against a variety of track types and surfaces while using one of the most iconic-looking cars of our age. I wouldn’t mind a VW T2 Bus version too! The tracks look pretty well detailed too, though you’ll spend too much time imagining yourself in the driving seats of these epic VWs to be paying too much attention to the mountains and fields. In a Mario Kart-esque twist, there are weapons that players can use to get ahead of the game. We’re talking everything from mines to magic; stuff just got serious very fast! Multiplayer mode is where this game really shines, with a 4-player battle mode allowing you and your mates to really knock seven bells of hell out of each other! 59. Mario Golf (1999)What does a hero do once he’s rescued his princess from an evil Koopa in his first N64 game? Simple, he makes his own Tennis game, virtual board game franchise, and plays around with Go Karts and golf. From plumbing to golf, Mario can do anything he sets his mind to, and Mario Golf 64 sees Mazza and Co hitting the course for some 3D sporting action. If any of you read the drivel that I come out with in my articles, then you’ll know that I’m not a massive fan of golf in real life. Still, this is one of the most relaxing games to play after a long day of putting up with Brandon’s sh… I mean, of working with Brandon here at Retro Dodo HQ. With 6 courses and 10 players to choose from, there’s plenty of golfing action for you to partake in to hone your virtual skills. Contend with wind direction and spin as you pull off the best shots and try to complete those courses in the fewest hits. There’ll be no Bogeys on our watch! 58. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2001)Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2 will forever be one of those games that I have a soft spot for. The music is still epic today, the moves are timeless, and I’ve got so many fond memories of playing this game with my mates on a number of different consoles. Plus, with a remake of the first two games now on Switch, there’s no better time to go back and check out the original title on the N64. I know the original title is the one that should have all of the praise as without it we wouldn’t have the epic series it spawned. But for me, Number 2 honed the formula and acted as the main template for the other titles. It just works! Did any of you also need to wait till your favourite tune came on before being able to pull off certain missions, or is that just me? I’ve never pulled off a heel flip or grinder anywhere in my entire life. But on THPS2, I was an absolute pro. And let’s not forget that playing as a Roswell Alien was a thing in this game too. Until you’ve seen a green dude going hell-for-leather on a half-pipe, you’ve never lived! 57. Snowboard Kids (1997)The first time I can remember playing Snowboard Kids was in the hospital after getting an operation. They had an N64 in the kids day room and I couldn’t believe my luck. I never wanted to leave that room, but sadly I had to get better and go back to my normal life. I bought a copy of this game as soon as I saved up enough pocket money and pretty much played it to death. 1080 Snowboarding will always be the best Snowboarding game of all time, but there’s just something about the Mario-esque graphics on this game and the Goeman-style characters that had me hooked from the start. Play as one of five characters as you career down epic hills before being lifted back to the top via ski lift for another lap. How many snowboard games do you know of that take you through a desert or a theme park? How many do that and add weapons, stunts, and unlockable content? None, apart from Snowboard Kids! 56. Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber (1999)Next up in our best N64 games list is Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber, one of the greatest RPGs on my favourite Nintendo console. What a name for a game; I’ve always wished I could tell people that I was a person of lordly caliber rather than a writer… maybe Brandon can sort out my official title? So what’s the deal here then? Well, players take a lad called Magnus Gallant on a gallant adventure to save his kingdom (see what I did there?). This is a traditional RPG through and through. It’s tactical, magical goodness with lots of weapons to choose from and where defending is sometimes more crucial than attacking. It’s all about striking at the right time and making every hit count. There are many different ways to play and optional side quests for players to sink their teeth into. If you’re a 101% completion gamer like me, then Ogre Battle 64 will keep you pleasantly busy for a long time. 55. Rayman 2: The Great Escape (1999)Some of you may well have experienced Rayman 2: The Great Escape on the mighty Nintendo DS as Rayman DS. The games are the same, but the story happened here first on the N64. This is actually the original version of the game and often cited as the best version on any platform, beating the PlayStation and Dreamcast hands down. It’s also the first game that see’s Rayman wandering around in a fully 3D world. With Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 literally upping the game with their graphics, Rayman 2 really had to step up to the plate… … which is tough when your feet float and you have no legs! So what’s Rayman up this time? Well, Rayman and Globox must stop Admiral Razorbeard. He and his metal minions have enslaved pretty much everyone from Raman’s world, including the creatures that keep the planet alive. Using his trademark shooting fists and insanely high jumps, Rayman must gather Lums and awaken the spirit of the planet. Collect masks, find power-ups, and rid the world of that pesky pirate once and for all. Rayman might not have any limbs, but that doesn’t stop him from throwing explosive powder kegs or straddling missiles as they forge paths through hordes of his enemies. Seriously, if you love Mario games but have never played this title, then what are you playing at! 54. Blast Corps (1997)Blast Corps takes the 54th spot in this list of the best N64 games of all time. This is one for the demolition derby fans out there, a real carnage making game where destruction might just save the world. What’s the worst thing that you can imagine crashing into? A truck of anchovies? A slurry lorry? Or how about a runaway nuclear missile carrier that will explode if it touches anything? … Yeah… that’ll do it! To say that the aim of the game is blowing stuff up, there’s actually a puzzle element to it too. Players must pilot different machines such as mechanical-warriors and bulldozers in a bid to break and tear apart everything in the missile carriers path. It’s not just as easy as that though. Holes must be covered over and other obstacles might need to be craned out of the way. And all the time, the carrier is continually moving. It’s a real tense game and one that it’s way too easy to get heavily invested in. Players have to find scientists to try and solve the problem of the carrier at the same time as breaking stuff too. You really are the last hope the world has of sorting this problem out, so get to it! 53. Harvest Moon 64 (1999)Up next is Harvest Moon 64, everyone’s favourite farming sim… … I bet you didn’t know you had a favourite farming sim until now, did you? The premise of Harvest Moon 64 is the same as all of the other games; get a tired-old farm back to it’s former glory and working like a well oiled machine. And you’ll be using plenty of machines to keep your new lifestyle ticking over! I could best describe Harvest Moon as being like a version of Animal Crossing that’s solely dedicated to farming. You can marry (exhibit A above), have a family, and do everyday stuff like going to the races. But farming is your bread and butter. The village in Harvest Moon is like the social hub of the game. The villagers will help you with trades, and there’s always friendly advice to be gained from passers by. Tend to livestock, show off your prized animals, and try your best to keep them all alive. If you’re a farmer, then playing your actual life probably feels like your worst nightmare. Still, for those of you, like me, that have never worked on a farm, this is a fun game that gives you a loose idea of what it’s like to live the good ‘ol life. 52. Excitebike 64 (2000)Excitebike 64 does what none of us thought was ever possible; it improved on the Excitebike formula that we all lost our minds over back on the NES! Those 2D racers and gnarly jumps looked as though they’d be impossible to beat, but everything changed when the N64 brought 3D graphics to the table. But what is Excitebike, and why am I so excited about it? Well, it’s motocross at its finest, with multiple riders battling it out to come first in a series of races… … or just trying to get to the end in one piece! Excitebike 64 is full of hi-octane speed runs and epic tracks. Compete in a season and battle against riders with varying degrees of skill, then unlock secrets and extra features by coming top of the pack. Of course, you can always just play exhibition mode by yourself or with friends for some nail-biting action. Gamers can even build their own tracks from scratch and make some of the best jumps on any motocross game! And, you’ve never lived until you’ve played the special motocross soccer mode… I wonder where Rocket League got the idea for their game from? 51. Iggy’s Reckin Balls (1998)Next up on our list of the best N64 games is a title that I can still remember buying from a second hand games store when I was fourteen. Iggy’s Reckin balls looked pretty weird, and it turned out that it was a bit of a mental game. Still, Iggy and the gang provided a racing title with Super Monkey Ball vibes that made for addictive gameplay. Iguana Entertainment developed Iggy’s Reckin Balls, hence the main characters name and look. There are eight character balls available from the beginning of the game, with another nine available to unlock. Players race around a series of courses inside different towers. Each tower has ten levels, and there are ten towers in total. Race to the top, teleport to the bottom, and repeat. After three laps, one ball will be crowned victorius. Like Mario Kart, Iggy and co may use weapons to stop opponents and grappling hooks to get ahead of their competitors. Up to 4 players can battle it out too, making for multiplayer mayhem! 50. The New Tetris (1999)Just when you thought Tetris couldn’t get any better, along comes The New Tetris for the N64. This was one of the best N64 games that I used to team up and play with my Mum as a kid. Sometimes, I would come down to have a go on my N64 in a morning and find her already playing on it while having a cup of tea! Tetris is a universal success that anyone can play, and The New Tetris combined the classic game we all know and love with a new game dynamic that made it even more addictive. The New Tetris worked the same as the old Tetris in many ways. Blocks came down, and you had to fit them all together. It differed in the fact that the blocks had bolder colours, and linking shapes together in squares made gold or silver segments. These gave the player more points depending on whether all of the same shape had been used to make a square, or whether the player had mish-mashed other shapes together in order to build them. It sounds complicated, but it was a simple addition that worked well! Completed lines added up to a tally that players collected throughout single player and multiplayer games. These lines eventually made up one of the seven wonders of the world, almost like Lego bricks, giving players something to work towards. 49. Shadow Man (1999)Next up on our list of the best N64 games is Shadow Man, a spooky, voodoo adventure with more demons than a Dark Souls game on steroids. Shadow Man is based on the popular comic of the same name and has recently received new fans thanks to an upcoming remastered version hitting the internet. Unlike Digimon Survive, fans know that this title will definitely be coming out in 2021 for all major consoles. The Game starts with Jack the Ripper agreeing to kill himself in return for a job prospect in deadside; creating an asylum for brutal killers. Ripper works for a man named Legion, who plans to wreak havoc on the world above. They forgot about one thing, however; the Shadow Men Shadow Men protect the land of the living, Liveside, from evil demons that try to break through from the spiritual plain where dead people go, Deadside. Michael LeNoir receives the mask of shadows and becomes an immortal Voodoo Warrior, the latest Shadow Man and Lord of Deadside. He must use his powers to put an end to Legion once and for all and bring balance back to Deadside, shooting and cursing everything in sight! 48. Buck Bumble (1998)What happens when you give a Bumble Bee a laser blaster? Buck Bumble happens, that’s what! The year is 2010, and a chemical spill has mutated insects in London, England. Mutant creatures form together into an army called ‘The Herd’ with plans to first take over a small garden, and then, the world! Buck Bumble is a bee with cyborg technology fused into him. He can wield up to eleven weapons and flies around different garden levels kicking ass and fighting insect crime. This title is set out in a similar way to Star Fox 64, with Buck being controlled from behind in flying-shoot-em-up style gameplay. Buck must complete certain missions including stopping supply lines Rogue Squadron-style and pushing back The Herd’s forces with other members of The Resistance! With an added multiplayer mode that is fun and easy to pick up, Buck Bumble is a cracking title that you should definitely add to your collection. 47. Mega Man 64 (2000)The next entry in our list of the best N64 games needs no introduction. At least, that’s what a lot of you will be thinking, though this isn’t the Mega Man that you know from previous games! Does the name ‘Volnutt’ ring any bells? Well, Mega Man 64 stars Mega Man Volnutt as the main protaganist, a digger who is in charge of investigating the remains of a flooded Earth. Mega Man 64, known as Mega Man Legends on the PS1, is the second 3D adventure featuring our blue-suited wonder in one of his guises, and it’s very different from the original series that you might have played on the SNES. Turns out Mega Man does need an introduction, after all! Most of our hero’s previous titles have been side-scrolling games. Legends, on the other hand, is more of a cross between Mario 64 and Holy Magic Century. The game is set in the year 80XX, which hasn’t appeared in my iPhone calendar, so I’m going to guess that it’s made up. Humans have been replaced by fast-breeding cyborg imitations, and a large portion of the planet now lies underwater. Mega Man must try his luck against a whole host of antagonists during the course of the game. Fight the meddlesome Reaverbots, battle the fourty-one Servbots, and make mincemeat of the Bonne pirate family. The characters are a motley bunch (not to be mistaken with Mötley Crüe), but they sure make memorable villains and give gamers a run for their money! 46. Pilot Wings 64 (1996)It’s tough when a launch title has to go up against something as iconic as Super Mario 64, but Pilot Wings 64 managed to hold its head high and go on to sell over 1-million copies regardless. Much like the original Pilot Wings for the SNES, this aviation game proves as a bit of a show-off title, demonstrating the sheer power of the N64. It still looks incredible today, and the lush open-world adventures are fun to soar through even now. Gamers control one of six different pilots using a variety of flying apparatus. Choose from a jetpack, a glider, or an autogyro. Rumour has it that there’s even a Bird Man, though I can’t possibly confirm or deny this… The aim of the game is to obtain a pilots license by completing in a series of courses and tasks. And when that gets too boring, there’s always the human cannonball test to have a bash at! 45. Resident Evil 2 (1999)In my opinion, Resident Evil 2 remains one of the best titles in the series. Ok, so it’s pretty high up in this list, I’ll admit. The truth is that I had tonnes of games for this system, and there were others that I played on more. Having said that, the second outing into Racoon City will always stick with me as one of the most jumpy adventures that I played on the N64. You might find it hard to believe, but this survival horror title was scary back in the day. The graphics look pretty tame now, but it was creepy beyond belief when it first came out! Resident Evil 2 is set just two months after the events of the first R.E game.Players must escape the fictional Racoon City and avoid being devoured by hungry, flesh-eating zombies. There are a couple of instances where players experience events from two different character perspectives, adding more storyline elements and more immersive gameplay. Also, in addition to pumping Zombies full of lead, gamers must use their brains to solve puzzles, using their wits to stay alive and progress through the dead-creepy levels. 44. Castlevania: Legacy Of Darkness (1999)Konami sure knows how to make a good horror/RPG game, and Castlevania; Legacy of Darkness was an unprecedented success. That’s largely due to the success of another Castlevania game that you may well find further down this list, and for very good reason. Legacy Of Darkness acts as a prequel to the first 3D Castlevania game, yet at the same time, is also a re-imagination of the original title. Redesigned levels make up a large portion of the game’s structure, with previously unreleased or written-off characters making an appearance. The year is 1844, and Dracula has burned a village to the ground. Instead of featuring Reihnardt as the main character, gamers control a wolf-man named Cornell. Cornell sniffs out his sister’s scent in the burned village and tracks it to Dracula’s castle, where he must battle various undead minions in a bid to avenge his sister. Legacy of Darkness includes an updated version of the original Castlevania adventure, but it can only be unlocked after completing the game twice! If you don’t want to waste time with beast-men, then I suggest you keep scrolling! 43. F-1 World Grand Prix (1998)This is the game will forever be linked with the phrase ‘TONY, PUT YOUR HEADPHONES ON!’ Tony is my dad, and the person shouting this to him is my mum. F1 cars, as I’m sure you know, make a racket when they’re accelerating, and my dad used to play this game when he got home from work late at night. It’s a pretty realistic driving game, giving players the ability to view races from the cockpit of the car as well as a traditional rear-view, and we would spend hours bossing the multiplayer mode on weekends. From official racing names to sponsorships on the side of the tracks, F-1 World Grand Prix had it all and more. It was the most immersive F-1 experience you could get bar hurtling around a track in real life, and I didn’t have a driving license or the balls for that! Unlocking the legendary Silver and Gold racers opened up a whole new style of speed, and the fictional Hawaiian circuit was a classic course! The game followes the 1997 season from start to finish, so this is a great title for nostalgic racing fans wishing to relive the action! 42. Hydro Thunder (2000)Next up on our list of the best N64 games is Hyrdo Thunder, a high-octane speed boat racing game that could compete with F-Zero X! The speeds in this game were phenomenal, with racers piloting a variety of futuristic boats through stunning courses. Race rings around the Arctic Circle, power through green valleys, or delve into the mysteries of a post-apocalyptic and very-much flooded New York City! A selection of easy to handle boats and boats as erratic as a bull on speed are available for gamers to select. Experience high-flying stunts thanks to speed ramps, and try to get to the end of the course without crashing into a mountain or another opponent… or both at the same time. 41. Wave Race 64 (1996)Wave Race 64 takes the Number 41 spot on our list of the best N64 games of all time! Many readers may have tried their luck on this game on the Game Boy before it became a home console classic. It’s a great little racer and perfect for fans of water-sports who don’t enjoy blasting around in supersonic speed boats! Bouys and other obstacles make racing even more challenging, as does the changing weather conditions that affect visibility and other factors. Red and Blue bouys must be passed in the correct order in order to charge up your ski’s speed. Wave Race 64 isn’t a revolutionary game, but it is great fun and has a good multiplayer if gamers need a change from throwing blue shells or bananas. 40. Mission Impossible (1998)Now this game was impossible, living up to it’s title 100%. I always wanted to be a spy as a kid, and Mission Impossible made that dream come true. I was a little bit young to fully appreciate this game when I first got it, but I enjoyed it all the more when I came back to it later in life. From assassinating people and stealing their identity to the world-famous vault-laser scene, Mission Impossible was a great and compelling movie remake… even if it was only loosely based on it! Mission Impossible will forever be compared to Goldeneye, and although it isn’t in the same league, there are still lots of elements that make this game worthy of being in this list. For starters, there are many more ‘spy’ elements to this title, with gameplay focusing on infiltrating areas and and going undercover rather than focusing on shooting enemies. Ethan Hunt has an array of gadgets at his disposal too to aid him across 20 different levels. If you liked Goldeneye, then this is certainly worth a look. 39. Duke Nukem (1997)Duke Nukem 64 twinned with a Rumble Pak provided the ultimate shooting game experience. Unfortunately for Duke Nukem fans, the N64 version had all of the swearing, sex, drugs, and basically every adult reference taken out of it. It even has new dialogue to remove any adult references. What’s the point in killing gun-wielding pigs if you can’t swear while doing it! In all seriousness, it doesn’t need all that stuff anyway. Duke Nukem 64 is a classic in its own right with a multiplayer that could match the bedlam my mates and I created on Goldeneye. With four player split-screen action and a barrage of weapons at our disposal, anything could have happened, though usually it ended with me being victorius! Duke Nukem 64 is considered by many critics to be one of the pioneering games in the first-person-shooter genre. Titles like Halo and Destiny wouldn’t be here today without it, making it a must-have item in our collections. It would be rude not to pay it respect! 38. F-Zero X (1998)Now we’re talking! F-Zero X was one of my all-time favourite racing games long before Captain Falcom kicked his way into the Smash Bros. franchise! Plasma powered space racers hurtling around insane courses where death and destruction are occupational hazards. What’s not to love! F-Zero X largely follows the same gameplay style as the original F-Zero game, the difference being that there are many more courses to choose from on the new title. Plus, gamers can enjoy the action in 3D for the very first time. Eagle-eyed readers might spot James McCloud up there on the leader board as one of the racers. With 30 character to choose from, you’ll never get bored of switching things up, and the added Death mode certainly makes things interesting! Fans of Burnout know how exciting Death mode is! Players must destroy all 29 other vehicles before the end of the race. It’s the ultimate destruction derby… in space! 37. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2000)Up next on our list of the best N64 games is Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, another 3D first that made it’s debut on the N64! In another world, we may have been playing this game on the 64DD. Sadly, the 64DD failed miserably, but Kirby transitioned to the N64 with no hiccups whatsoever. It’s a bright and vibrant game, as many Kirby fans would expect, and fans of Kirby’s Epic Yarn should definitely go back to give this title some love. Unusually, gamers play this title using the D-pad rather than the N64 analog stick. It actually makes for a pleasurable gaming experience with zero claw-hand pain! Although displayed in 3D, The Crystal Shards maintains the side-scrolling theme of the previous Dream World titles. Suck up enemies, float around, and play as King Dedede to break certain objects. Fans of Klonoa and other 2.5D platformers will be all over this Kirby adventure! 36. WWF Attitude (1999)Saturday mornings in my household used to consist of watching Wrestling on Sky and then playing WWF Attitude until our thumbs dropped off. Recreating the best wrestling moves and fighting with wrestlers such as Kane and Mankind; it didn’t get much better than that! Attitude followed on from WWF War Zone, bringing full wrestler entrance videos and a career mode where players competed to become the World Heavyweight Champion. If fighting to win titles and eventually showing off your skills at WWF RAW wasn’t enough, then you could make your own tournaments and wrestling matches. Players picked everything from the venue to the colour of the ropes around the ring! Yep, Attitude had it all and much more. It was also the final WWF game that Acclaim made, marking the end of an era for Wrestling fans. This wrestling game will always hold a special place in my heart, and it’s one of the best N64 games for it’s sheer addictive playability. Oh and because gamers can Stone Cold Stunner characters into oblivion! 35. International Superstar Soccer 98 (2000)Where else can you see ‘Klinsnam’ face off against ‘Gascone’ or Roberto ‘Boggio’ chasing down ‘Ronoldo’? The only place is on International Superstar Soccer 98, the game that doesn’t have the licenses to use players real names. Not only was this title a great little title with intuitive controls, but it made my mates and I crease whenever the stupid names popped up at the bottom! If the amount of red cards that I received in this game actually counted towards a real career, then I would have probably been banned for life! Tackling never felt easier than in Superstar Soccer 98, and users had full control over everything from making substitutes to what the weather would be like during the match. I loved the penalty shootout mode the best, squaring up against my mates to recreate some of the best shootouts in football history. Needless to say, I lost most of the time, but it was still fun! 34. The World Is Not Enough (2000)Next up on our list of the best N64 games is The World Is Not Enough, the follow up N64 title to the legendary Goldeneye, which I’m sure you will see later down this list. The World Is Not Enough had a pretty good multiplayer mode with new characters joining the fray. It had the same appeal as Goldeneye and some fresh new levels, but it just wasn’t Goldeneye. Admittedly, Brosnan’s new outing had some big shoes to fill, and it did have its merits. The 14 missions are well thought out and follow the film fairly closely, but you just can’t beat Goldeneye for multiplayer madness. Let’s talk about the positives though. The World Is Not Enough featured enhanced graphics thanks to the Expansion Pak and remains a stunning game for the time in terms of graphics. Many of the characters from the films are actually voiced by the original cast too, giving gamers that quintessential Bond experience. Bond’s guns are the main stars of the show though, with many impressive weapons on display for gamers to wield while skulking through levels. The World Is Not Enough remains the first 1st-person-shooter James Bond title where players have control over silencing options and other weapon operation modes. 33. Castlevania (1999)Does anyone else remember reading about Castlevania in Nintendo Magazine back in the day? I read so much about this game before it came out that it felt like I was meeting a legend when I finally plugged it into my N64. Castlevania 64 marked the first 3D adventure in the series and gave gamers a chance to pick from two different characters. Gamers played using either Carrie Fernandez, an orphan girl with mystical powers, or Reinhardt Schneider, the heir to the Belmont clan. Die-hard Castlevania fans know that Reinhardt Schneider wields a whip like his Belmont betherin, the weapon that many protagonists throughout the Castlevania series have used against Dracula and his minions. Seeing Castlevania in glorious 3D for the first time felt incredible, and the lock and target battles made long-range attacks so much sweeter. 32. Paper Mario (2000)Paper Mario might be the king of the best N64 RPG games, but it’s settling into 32nd place in our best N64 games list today So many people discount Mario’s RPG adventures, and I just don’t know why. Turn-based antics and explorative action with a Mushroom Kingdom twist; what’s not to love? And because of the stylistic choices that run throughout this series, the N64 adventure still looks pretty damn good today. How many have you played it on the Switch using the Nintendo 64 Expansion pack? Team up with characters to take on Goombas and Koopas, using items and other weapons to knock back pesky foes that you come across in the colourful levels. Recruiting teammates and collecting badges brings a nice change to collecting Stars and Shines in Mario’s other console adventures, and I for one prefer the Paper series anyway! Plus, without this title we’d never have The Thousand Year Door which is one of my favourite games of all time! 31. Doom 64 (1997)Next up on our list of the best N64 games is an absolute classic. Doom 64 remains one of the most played N64 games ever, with a cult following that would follow ‘Doom Guy’ into war! If Doom 64 remains a mystery to you, then imagine having to battle through hordes of hellish demons while collecting keys to escape to freedom. Then imagine that happening 32 times, each with more terrifying monsters than the last. In my opinion, Doom 64 is the best in the series. Most of the features from Doom II remain, but the whole thing feels more polished and boasts immersive features which draw players in. The weapons have had a redesign, and new guns such as the ‘Unmaker’ make an appearance for the first time. Expect the same hell-raising antics and barrages of undead cretins to mow down as you plow through each of the creepy levels. Doom 64 is certainly a great game to blow off some steam with! 30. Diddy Kong Racing (1997)Diddy Kong Racing might not have been as popular as another shell-fuelled banana-strewn racer that will undoubtedly be appearing later on, but it sure made a nice change and provided some cool new ways of travelling that plumbers and princesses hadn’t got around to handling at the time. As well as Diddy Kong, this racing game features a host of other famous RARE characters such as Banjo and Conker. There were racers to unlock, and the courses felt fresh and exciting due to the hidden collectibles that you had to pick up along the way. That’s right; Diddy Kong Racing wasn’t just about racing… … well, it was, but it had other elements too! You started off the single-player mode with that mystical Elephant genie telling you to head to a race area. There were levels to complete, and certain stages that had to be done in specific vehicles. You could race in a plane, a car, or a hovercraft. Seeing Banjo in a plane diving under arches and trying to avoid magma will never get boring. A racing game with an adventure platform feel; Diddy sure knows how to create addictive titles! 29. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer (1999)Climbing into a Pod racer and blasting through caverns at break-neck speeds; could life get any better? The best bit about the Star Wars Episode 1 movie (apart from the credits at the end) was undoubtedly the Pod Racing competition. Anakin Skywalker might have shown his skills against Sebulba in the film, but now you and up to three other players can recreate your own races with your favourite characters. If you’re a fan of F-Zero X, then Episode 1: Racer will be right up your street. This is a fast game, and one wrong move could be all it takes to smash you into a million pieces. If you remember the film, then you’ll know that a pod racer’s engines take damage as they collide with other racers or objects. You can heal them periodically as you race, but taking on too much damage will undoubtedly end in your craft’s destruction. And you need all the skills that the Force provides to be able to control your pod when you hit that boost button! High speed fun in some of the coolest crafts ever; it’s a must have for Star Wars fans and a damn good weekend multiplayer title to play with your mates. 28. Conker’s Bad Fur Day (2001)I never played Conkers Bad Fur Day until later on in life, and I can’t remember a game ever making me laugh as much as this one. If you’ve never played it before, then imagine Banjo Kazooie for adults, and that should give you a good idea of the content and gameplay. Conker looks like a cute, innocent squirrel, but he’s actually a loud-mouthed, crude, horny little dude who lives life large. Conker’s Bad Fur Day is another RARE classic; you can recognise their work instantly as you move your way down this list. Plus their games are always memorable and highly engaging. As well as a giant poo and levels that require Conker to get drunk, there are lots of different film references in the game. There’s even a scene that sees Conker and Berri dressed as Neo and Trinity from the Matrix. You’ll enjoy every minute of this title and have plenty of laughs as you’re playing through it. It’s one that I frequently go back to and certainly one of the Best N64 Games I’ve ever played! 27. Mario Party 2 (1999)Next up on our list of the Best N64 Games ever made is the most family-friendly multiplayer series ever created. Mario Party is true ‘fun-for-all-the-family’ gaming and a title I’ve enjoyed playing with my Mum and Dad ever since I was a kid. For those of you that haven’t played a title from the series before (where have you been all your lives!) it revolves around players taking it in turns as they move around a board by rolling a dice. But it’s as far from being a boring old board game as you could possibly get! Players have to complete mini-game challenges at the end of each turn. a turn ends once everyone has rolled their dice. Winning a mini-game gets you coins, and coins can be traded for items and stars! And how many board games can you play as Yoshi or Wario? Up to four players can join in the multiplayer-madness, or you can go it alone in one player mode. Will you be the party champion or come in last place all the time? 26. Perfect Dark (2000)Move out of the way Lara Croft, Joanna Dark is officially the most bad-ass heroine in gaming history. What a game Perfect Dark was! If I had to describe it to non-N64-nerds, I’d say that there are obvious elements of Goldeneye in it… … Goldeneye mixed with a touch of Metroid Prime-style gameplay. That’s a cocktail for success if ever I heard one! Joanna is a special agent attempting to stop an extraterrestrial conspiracy. It has a kick-ass multiplayer mode and even a couch-co-op mode where players can team up together. In many ways, this epic RARE title is the unofficial successor to Goldeneye. It’s a classic first-person-shooter that is action packed from start to finish. And twinned with the Expansion Pak, the graphics looked stunning! It was a game that drew you in from the moment that you flicked your N64 on, and it’s often classed as one of the best shooting games ever made. It’s even won a BAFTA! 25. Holy Magic Century/Quest 64 (1998)Next up on our list of the Best N64 Games is a title that is very close to my heart (but then again, I think all of the games in this list are!) Holy Magic Century, or Quest 64 depending on your region, is a magical RPG with one of the biggest worlds to explore in any N64 game. You play as an apprentice mage, but can you guess what his name is? Gandalf Jr? The Great Mephisto? Baldur the Wise? Nope; it’s Brian! Name aside, Brian is a fearless fighter, and he shows great courage as he sets off to find his father and to collect elemental gems that will help him on his journey. Some of you might have played Chrono Trigger, one of our best rare SNES games. If you have, then Holy Magic Century has the same in-game battle mechanics Instead of being transported to a battle field like in Paper Mario, you lock into an enemy skirmish right where you are, keeping the action fast paced and removing the need for loading screens. Brian can strike enemies with his staff or use magical spells to wipe them out. The wolves are tough at the start of the game, and you’ll be relieved when you finally get to an inn to save your progress. Give it a go; you won’t be dissapointed! 24. Pokemon Snap (1999)Who’s excited for the new Pokemon Snap game coming out for the Switch? While you wait for the new adventure to drop, you should go back and play the original title all over again; it would be rude not to, right? Stick Pokemon on anything and it will undoubtedly sell, but Pokemon Snap was anything but a quick ploy to grab a gamer’s hard earned cash! It made a refreshing change to the ‘battle and catch’ format and became an instant hit with fans around the globe. As the player, you travel around a host of different levels on a vehicle that runs along a train track. Your mission is to find and snap Pokemon as you travel through the peaceful levels on Pokemon Island. You can throw fruit to keep the little critters occupied, but you’ll need to get a good shot if you want Professor Oak to award you a good score once you get back to base. Only 60 shots can be taken per level, and you get scored on the size of the Pokemon, their pose, and the general composition of the photo. As you progress, items such as a Poke Flute and Pester Balls can be used to create the ultimate photo. How many times will you replay a certain level to get that ultimate snap? 23. Bomberman 64 (1999)If you’ve reed my article on the best Sega Mega Drive games, then you’ll know how much I love Bomberman. I couldn’t wait to give Bomberman 64 a try after the multiplayer madness I experienced in Mega Bomberman, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. In this adventure, Bomberman has to fight Space Pirates with a Rocket Knight named Sirius (not Harry’s Godfather, unfortunately) in a bid to protect Planet Bomber from having its essence sucked away. Bomberman 64 is a pivotal game in the series for two very important reasons. Firstly, it was the first 3D adventure in the franchise and one that saw our white-helmeted-hero being able to move in 8-different directions. Secondly, it had an action/adventure platform feel to it rather than consisting of specific arena stages to clear. Puzzles had to be solved, and there were lots of bad-guys to battle against. One thing remained, of course – bomb-throwing, explosive action from start to finish. And it still had an epic multiplayer mode; it wouldn’t be a Bomberman game without one! 22. Turok 2 – Seeds Of Evil (1998)Next up on our list of the Best N64 Games list is a title that I spent many mindless hours on during my youth. Turok was an absolute hero, slaying dinosaurs and aliens of any size with everything from a bow and arrow to the almighty Cerebral Bore (that was always my favourite!). The storyline sees Turok in a battle to stop an Alien force from taking over his lightship, and essentially kicking the ass of anything with two or four legs along the way. You have the option of playing a solo campaign and taking on the forces of evil on your own or teaming up with friends in a multiplayer battle of epic proportions, playing as a host of characters including the ever-popular velociraptor. This game has some series play value to it, and while the main solo campaign only has six levels (they’re massive though and never get boring), the multiplayer mode will keep your Turok 2 Cartridge from ever getting dusty. Sofa gaming with your friends is one of the best things about retro gaming, and the rich landscapes on the multiple maps will keep you coming back time after time. Try and find that Cerebral Bore; you won’t regret it. 21. Jet Force Gemini (1999)Any game with a dog that flys around with a jet pack and a gun on its back deserves a place in our list of the Best N64 Games of all time. I can still remember opening Jet Force Gemini on Christmas morning and playing for the majority of the day, amazed by the ant drone soldiers swarming around and the superb arsenal of weapons that you could use to fight your way through the different worlds. The gameplay in this game was and still is fantastic, with a multiplayer mode that, while not in the same league as Goldeneye, is still pretty spectacular. Juno, Vela, and Lupus must travel through different levels and save the enslaved tribals from the evil Mizar and his ant army, harnessing futuristic firepower and using their individual abilities to help you complete each stage. From collecting health and ammo to hoarding ant heads, Jet Force Gemini is a space-age third-person shooter like no other. RARE made some incredible games during the N64’s reign (a lot of which are in this list), but Jet Force Gemini will always stand out as being one of the most badass. 20. Mario Tennis (2000)It’s mega hard to chose just 60 of the Best N64 Games, but putting Mario Tennis into the list is an easy decision. If you like the idea of tennis but prefer to play it sitting down and with Donkey Kong wielding the bat instead of Roger Federer, then this game will definitely be for you. It’s another amazing multiplayer game that you can easily lose five hours playing and is one of the most addictive games of all time. The thought of trying to get the fastest serve against your opponent still gets me pumped up! Not only does Mario Tennis have a stellar one player campaign mode that you can use to unlock different courses and characters, but it also marked the first time that we met Luigi’s arch-nemesis; the gangly-legged, hook-nosed Waluigi. His big strides across the court made him a perfect choice for anyone who wanted to wipe the smile of that annoying little Koopa Paratroopa, and this game was the platform that would launch Waluigi into tonnes of future Nintendo titles. Even if you don’t like tennis, you have to thank Mario Tennis for giving Wario a partner in crime! 19. LylatWars/Starfox 64 (1997)Andross’ face still makes me feel the tension of space battle and the need to save Corneria from his evil tyranny even after all these years, but I suppose that’s what you’d expect from one of the Best N64 Games of all time. Plus, anyone who is heartless enough to kill the mighty James McLoud at the very start of the game is asking for trouble! There will never be a greater space fighter team than the Star Fox crew; Fox McLoud, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi. These guys rocked and still do today; it doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting torpedos at enemy ships while cruising through the sky or racing over rough terrain in the uber-cool Landmaster, this game has so many amazing moments that will make you feel about 10-years-old all over again. It’s also one of the hardest games that I can remember playing too, but maybe I just wasn’t very good at it. Three things stand out about this game in my mind; the insanely massive box, loop the loops while avoiding my friends in the multiplayer mode, and the fact that this marked the very first time that I played with a Rumble Pak. Lylatwars just wouldn’t be the same without that sweet rumble vibrating your hands every time you scraped against a mountain or took a hit from an opposing enemy. The interaction between the on-screen characters also made me feel like I was right there with them, fighting space-crime as one of the gang. I URGE you to give this game a try if you haven’t already – it wouldn’t have made our Best N64 Games list if it wasn’t an absolute classic. 18. Star Wars – Rogue Squadron (1998)Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is better than flying around in an X-Wing destroying Tie Fighters. Ok, maybe using the cheat codes to fly around in the Millennium Falcon, but it’s a close call for sure. Taking down probe droids and helping the rebels to fight back the Imperial Forces was a strong part of my childhood, which is probably why I never had time for a paper round. I can still remember hearing the sounds of the Tie Fighters for the very first time, piloting a Y-Bomber and dropping bombs on the enemies generators, and hearing the commentary between Luke and Wedge as they soared over rocky landscapes and hurtled through the depths of space. From Mos-Eisely to Beggars Canyon, Rogue Squadron takes you to some of the best places in the Star Wars universe, piloting different ships and cruisers from the iconic film series. Luke Skywalker has formed the Rogue Squadron to cope with the Imperial backlash after the destruction of the Death Star, hoping to help defend the rebels in their fight for freedom against the Empire. T This is one of the toughest Star Wars games that I have ever played, and I can only thank Nintendo for making strong controllers that don’t break whenever you throw them onto the floor in a fit of rage after dying for the eighteenth time in a row. Rogue Squadron will always be one of the Best N64 Games of all time just for the Millennium Falcon cheat alone, but the gameplay firmly cements it as a winner in the hearts of Star Wars fans everywhere 17. Pokemon Stadium (1999)What’s better than playing Pokemon Red or Blue on your classic GameBoy? How about seeing your favourite pocket monsters on the big screen and being able to battle with them in an arena. If that doesn’t interest you, then how about getting a free GameBoy cartridge holder that you can use to transfer your own Pokemon to your team and walking through Lavender Town in colour on your TV? Yes, this game had so many amazing qualities to it that it’s hard to list them all in a short paragraph. If like me you love all things Pokemon, then this classic N64 game has to be in your collection. From the solo/multiplayer Stadium mode to the Gym Leader Castle, this game has everything that a Pika fan could ever hope for and more. Transferring MewTwo and Mew from your GB Cartridge and seeing them on the big screen for the first time was incredible. I’m not going to lie, it made me feel invincible. Battling against the mighty Blastoise or the ferocious Pinsir up close and in glorious colour blew my young mind, and I still get the same chills whenever I slot the cartridge in and have a play. Pokemon Stadium also had one of the best party modes of any Pokemon game, with multiplayer classics like Ekans Hoop Hurl and Sandshrew’s ‘Dig Dig Dig’. Even my Mum got involved with this crazy button-mashing action, and she was pretty good at it too! 16. Gex 64 – Enter The Gecko (1998)Number 16 on our list of the Best N64 Games sees the arrival of one of the coolest Geckos in town. After saving the world once and hoping for a quiet life, Gex is thrown back into the limelight (literally) to stop the evil Rez once more. His adventures through Media World see you jumping into large TV Screens and playing through levels that are inspired by popular TV series or films. Suit up like James Bond or get caught up in a Rabbit Hunt with Elmer Fudd; the scenarios are crazy, but the gameplay is second to none. Enter The Gecko was the first time that we saw Gex in glorious 3D, and it remains one of my favourite games to this day. With a whole host of gadgets at your disposal and more items to collect than you can shake a tail at, this game has hours of fun and a shelf life that will go way past the proposed play time. There’s no learning crazy controls or getting to grips with the storyline; just tail whip your way through life and try to guess as many of the different TV shows along the way. This is definitely one game that’s hard to put down! 15. Glover (1998)Another game that can quickly swallow up the daylight hours is Glover, a story about a magical Glove that needs to restore his home of the Crystal Kingdom back to it’s former glory. Move, slap, bounce and roll around on your circus ball as you navigate through different worlds in a bid to save both the Crystal Kingdom and your solidified Wizard friend, and to beat the evil Cross Stitch, Glover’s left-handed brother. This game is hands-down (pun intended) one of the hardest games I have ever played. Age ratings mean nothing when it comes to Glover; it might say that it’s designed for 7-years+, but you have to have the patience of a saint to navigate around some of these courses. Even though it was a difficult cookie to crack, it’s still one of the first games that I think about whenever someone mentions the N64. And like many of our Best N64 Games, the arrival of cheat codes made Glover even more fun, with super bouncy balls and ‘big-glove’ modes making the tasks that once seemed impossible super easy. Cheating isn’t always a good idea, kids, but sometimes it’s necessary to keep your sanity intact. 14. Banjo-Tooie (2000)Banjo-Tooie might not have been as popular as Banjo-Kazooie due to this RARE game’s rare availability, but it sure was a cracking title and a worthy entry in our list of the Best N64 Games. Grunty is dead, and Banjo thinks his work is finally done… … until Grunty’s sisters arrive to take her body away and attempt to resurrect her, that is! Banjo and Kazooie start the game with all of the moves that they learnt in the first title, including the ability to fly and use Kazooie’s wings as an invulnerable shield. Mumbo Jumbo is back to give our dynamic-duo new forms and special skills, and we also see the arrival of Humba-Wumba who delivers even more exciting transformations as you progress through the games levels. Expect the same ‘Jiggy’ collecting action and RARE platform thrills in this classic title, but make sure that you take a minute to mourn the death of Bottles the Mole once in a while. 13. Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (1997)I will never hear or see the word ‘Plasma’ without thinking about the mysterious fortune teller in this game, and what a game it was! Climbing Mount Fuji as Goemon and upgrading your ninja pipe, playing as the bumbling Ebisumaru and the kick-ass mechanical ninja doll Sasuke as you make your way through Edo and beyond, and taking down some of the biggest robot bosses I’ve ever seen in a computer game are all in store for anyone who purchases this game. Mystical Ninja uses Japanese landmarks and Japan’s historical culture and fuses it with one of the Best N64 Games of our lives. The forest and mountain landscapes are jam-packed full of enemies that meet their demise at the hands of Goemon and his flying Ryu, and the little platters of coloured dumplings that give you health are probably the reason that I love Japanese food so much today. This was one of the first games that I can remember playing where the thrill of upgrading your weapons and collecting new characters would keep me thinking about playing even after I had turned the console off. Sasuke’s chain pipe or Ebisumaru’s upgraded paddles would make mincemeat out of some of the lesser monsters and make you feel unstoppable, even though Ebisumaru’s fart ultimately ends up being one of the most powerful weapons in the game. 12. Shadows Of The Empire (1996)Playing as a rebel fighter is all well and good when you’re up in the sky, but sometimes you really need to experience what it’s like to get up close and personal with a vicious troop of Stormtroopers. Skulking through snowy mountain canyons and blasting Stormtroopers into the abyss will always be one of my favourite past times, and that one level in on the garbage train was so stressful that it will always haunt my dreams. Shadows of the Empire sees you controlling Dash Render, a rebel fighter who has been set with the task of aiding Luke Skywalker in a time between ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and the ‘Return Of The Jedi’ movies. Race on speeders through Mos Eisley, battle on the snowy plains of Hoth, search for Boba Fett and much more in this Lucas Arts classic. This game was full of classic characters and dangerous missions, made even more stressful by the fact that you had to wait for your blaster to recharge while battlings enemies and some of the jumps always seemed a little bit too far, meaning you had to try them again and again for around fifteen tense minutes. Still, this Star Wars game would continue to be my favourite until Star Wars Bounty Hunter was released on the GameCube, which meant that Dash Rendar and I spent many joyous years kicking ass throughout the Galactic Empire together. Ah, the memories. 11. 1080 Snowboarding (1998)It’s impossible for me to hear the word snowboarding without saying ‘Kensukaaayyy Kimachie’ or ‘Dioonnn Blasterrrr’ out loud. Only a select few people who spent their childhood trying to perfect the method of performing a 1080 or pulling off the perfect Indy Flip know what I’m talking about, so it’s fun to watch the confused expressions on 98% of the faces that I come into contact with. This game was a slice of multiplayer heaven, from the very moment that you choose your characters in the cosy club-house with its roaring fire and seemingly disinterested competitors to the secret shortcuts and epic forest jumps on the multitude of courses. Don’t be fooled into thinking that 1080 snowboarding was just for multiplayer action though; games have to have a solid single player platform to make our Best N64 Games list! Perfecting tricks in the half-pipe training mode and beating time trials down the toughest hills made me the extreme sports lover that I am today. The fact that I enjoy watching sports more than competing is irrelevant, it’s 1080 that gave me that love, which is why I’m putting it into this list. 10. Yoshi’s Story (1997)It doesn’t matter what age you are or what your gaming ability is, Yoshi is and always will be one of the best Nintendo Characters of all time. This game might have been simple for more advanced players, but the storyline, the amazing backdrops, and the cleverly designed worlds will forever be imprinted into my mind. From collecting all of the fruit in a level to unlocking different coloured Yoshi’s and defeating the meddlesome Baby Bowser, this game is a classic that went on to inspire Yoshi’s Wooly World and Yoshi’s crafted world, two more games that would later see me putting all of my work on the back burner for a rainy day. The premise behind Yoshi’s Story and making your way up the different branches of the Super Happy Tree seemed so clever and completely different to everything that had come before it at the time. This game also featured one of my favourite Nintendo Characters and my all-time favourite Mario Kart Racer; Shy Guy. He’s usually kicking about trying to make things tough for the Yoshi’s, but deep down he’s just a bit of a misunderstood dude. You can’t love Nintendo without having a soft spot for Yoshi, which is why he’s secured the number 10 spot on our Best N64 Games list. Watch out for that tongue guys! 9. Silicon Valley (1998)Silicon Valley is without a doubt one of the weirdest games I ever played on the N64, but it was also one of the most memorable too. After a spaceship crashes into unknown territory, a Robot named Evo is reduced to a tiny crawling computer chip that can only latch onto animals that have fused with space technology. This finds you controlling sheep that can bounce and float around, a motorised rat, bears, dogs, foxes and more. Each animal has different characteristics that you will need to harness in order to collect Evo’s power cells and complete the tasks set out by Dan Danger, Evo’s human pilot friend who is trapped inside the broken spaceship. If this all sounds completely mental, then you’re already on your way to understanding the concept of this game. I still remember the panic involved with making my dog run away from a pack of motorised foxes; that is one thing that no human should ever have to experience. You need to try this game for the sheer insanity of it, and to make sure that Dan Danger gets back home in time for tea. 8. Legend Of Zelda – Majora’s Mask (2000)It might be a little bit controversial to put a Zelda title at number 8 in our list, but while Majora’s Mask is a great title, it just doesn’t rank as highly as the remaining 7 Best N64 Games in our list. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an incredible game, and any foray into Hyrule is one that is worth having a look at. But for me, Majora’s Mask just seemed a little too complicated and ‘drawn-out’. The constant mask changing had its pros and cons, and sometimes the continuous need to change time made things a little repetitive compared to the flowing storyline in Ocarina Of Time. Despite all of those things, I still love it. Why? Because Link is the greatest gaming hero in any form, and playing as both a Goron and a guitar-wielding Zora will never, ever get old. Despite the odd rules of the game, Majora’s Mask has so many amazing elements that cement it as a solid title in the franchise, and cameos from characters in Ocarina Of Time such as the ghost of Darunia and the Kakariko builders make it even more enjoyable. For those of you that haven’t played the game before, an evil Skull Kid wearing a mysterious mask steals Link’s horse and causes a whole heap of trouble, including bringing the moon down on Hyrule. After being given the mission of returning the stolen mask to the Happy Mask Salesman of Ocarina fame, you must travel to the four corners of the land and defeat four bosses, releasing the giants who will eventually hold up the moon and finally set up a showdown between you and that pesky Skull Kid. It’s not as action-packed as Ocarina, but it’s still a damn good adventure. 7. Banjo Kazooie (1998)Is there another gaming duo as tough and reckless as Banjo and Kazooie? Maybe Yooka-Layle, one game that many people have tested out on their chosen best Nintendo Switch Emulator, but they learnt everything they know from Banjo and his bird-brained friend, This RARE classic pretty much defines my childhood, and whenever I see a molehill while out on my travels, I prepare myself to learn a new move from old Bottles himself. Gruntilda will forever be the name that I use to describe unsavoury characters, and Banjo’s timeless ‘Gu-ha!’ laugh will always be my go-to noise whenever I finish a jigsaw puzzle. RARE have made some of the Best N64 Games on the planet, and the amazing world that they created in Banjo-Kazooie was so far ahead of it’s time. From the colourful Jinjos to the mysterious Mumbo Jumbo, there are so many elements that keep you coming back for more, all adding to the richness and the individual textures in each level. If you can get your hands on the rare sequel, Banjo-Tooie, then I would recommend buying both together and playing all the way through. They are two games that should definitely not be missed. 6. Super Smash Bros. (1999)Would it be a list of the Best N64 Games without the title that started one of the most famous franchises of all time? Super Smash Bros was like nothing that I had played before. A 3D fighting game with all of my favourite Nintendo characters in it – it was too good to be true! Squaring up against Samus as Fox McCloud or that moment that Captain Falcon appeared as an unlockable fighter; those are the kinds of moments that defined my life as a gamer. The levels were memorable, as were the special moves. And while Super Smash Bros Ultimate has made a name for itself as having one of the largest roster of fighters in any game, I liked the fact that there were only a select number of characters to choose from in the original title. Super Smash Bros was button-mashing fighting at it’s best. Throwing enemies over the edge and batting them off with an item was always my go-to system, but I also enjoyed smashing the B button to pull off some trademark character moves whenever possible. If you’ve played any of the Smash Bros games over the years but never got hold of the original, then you owe it to yourself to experience the very first title that Nintendo released. Just don’t get too excited when Jigglypuff appears as a character… 5. Goldeneye (1997)Lasers, Bunker, Bond, and Trevellyan. If anyone asks you what the perfect multiplayer recipe is, just tell them that and walk away. Goldeneye was always going to have a place in our Best N64 Games list because of its iconic status in the gaming world. Whether you preferred hand-to-slap-combat or running blindly into battle holding an RC-P90, this game is, and always will be, one of the most exciting multiplayer games in existence. Everyone who has ever owned an N64 will know the pain of searching frantically for the Golden Gun, only to see the all too familiar red blood trickling down their screen along with the agonising ‘der derna naaaaa’ to mark their defeat. If you’ve seen the movie, then Goldeneye the game pretty much follows what happens in the film. The same characters are there, but there’s more weapons to choose from and a lot more attention to detail when it comes to finding key cards on dead soldiers. From the very first selection screen where you open your individual spy case files to the amazing cutscenes that show Bond getting up to his usual tricks, this game is a quintessential classic for anyone who is serious about retro gaming. Daniel Craig might be the Bond that everyone talks about these days, but Pierce Brosnan will always be the guy on the front of the Goldeneye game box. And that’s the only accolade that really counts! 4. Mario Kart 64 (1996)It goes without saying that Mario Kart should make an appearance in our final 5 Best N64 Games. Ask anyone around the world if they’ve ever played a computer game, and 99% of them will say that they’ve dabbled in a bit of Mario Kart. It’s a simple game where the only rules are getting to the end without crashing, making it accessible to people of all ages and ability, but it’s also a right of passage into the Nintendo gaming universe. Have you really achieved gaming greatness if you haven’t got gold trophies on all four of the cups? Can you call yourself a racing expert if you can’t even navigate Rainbow Road without getting blown off the course or falling foul to the chain chomp half way round? The answer to both of these questions is obviously no. It doesn’t matter if you opt for red shells or bananas, mushrooms or stars, this game has some of the best weapons of any racing games on the planet. I also like the simplicity of Mario Kart 64; the switch version is incredible and has lots of amazing vehicles, but the no-nonsense approach to only having a handful of characters and one car is still the best in my book. Hurry up and get to the end of the list so you can go blow out your cartridge and try to beat your time trial ghost from ten-years ago. 3. Super Mario 64 (1996)How many of you have revisited Super Mario 64 after reading our Super Mario 3D All Stars review? Bowser has to be up there as one of the worst villains in the gaming world, constantly stealing Peach and causing trouble for our favourite Italian plumber. Mario 64 rightfully takes a top spot in our Best N64 Games of all time because of its ability to still be interesting over 20 years later. From the very first meeting with King Bob-Omb to swinging Bowser around by the tail in those insane puzzle dungeons, this game has everything that a classic Nintendo adventure story needs. Battle Boo’s in a haunted house, find the Metal Mario caps and sink to the bottom of hard to reach rivers, seek out short cuts on Bob-omb mountain, and soar through the sky with a handy winged cap. This game is a true treasure trove of hidden surprises and neat little puzzles just waiting to be solved. Some people might say that Super Mario Sunshine is the best Mario game of our time, but for me the ‘Gwa-ha-ha’ floating through the empty castle and the shimmering paintings just waiting to be explored will always make Super Mario 64 the most exciting Mario game of my life. Successfully ground Pounding a Thwomp is probably one of my earliest gaming achievements; I still tell people about it today! 2. Donkey Kong 64 (1999)Donkey Kong has always been one of my favourite Nintendo characters. I used to watch the cartoon with Kranky, Diddy and the gang on TV, and I spent countless hours trying to complete Donkey Kong Country on the SNES and attempting to ace those nail-biting barrel rides. So when the N64 game came out, you can imagine my excitement. Playing as Donkey Kong and shooting coconuts from his Coconut Gun was one thing, but being able to play as Diddy, Lanky, Chunky and Tiny as well just blew my mind! This game often gets overlooked when it comes to the Best N64 Games of our time, so it’s a pleasure for me to be able to stick it into the second spot on our list. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of working your way through Kong Island and thwarting King K.Rool at every turn. It’s no surprise that this is also a RARE classic and will forever be hailed as the game that included the all-important N64 expansion pak. Is there nothing that Donkey and the gang can’t do! 1. The Legend Of Zelda – Ocarina Of Time (1998)It goes without saying really, doesn’t it? Ocarina Of Time is a work of art. The storyline is breathtaking, the gameplay is fantastic, and it has some of the best bosses that the world has ever seen. I still think about characters like Twinrova and Bongo Bongo to this day when playing modern Zelda games, and somehow, the older villains always turn out to be the best. No other levels on any games I’ve played will ever have the same creepy feeling as the Forest Temple or the Shadow Temple under the Kakariko well. For me, Ocarina Of Time also has the definitive version of Hyrule, with the exception of the fantastic open world in BOTW of course. When I hear Kakariko Village, I think about the guard wearing the Keaton Mask and overly-happy builders. I still can’t walk past a graveyard without thinking about racing Dampe The Gravekeeper and winning that all-important hook shot. Yeah; I think it’s fair to say this game had a pretty big impact on my life! If Darth Vader is the king of the film villains, then Ganondorf has to be one of the evilest game antagonists of our age. He’s a magical wizard that just doesn’t seem to want to die and that can also turn into a weird pig monster when his physical form is defeated. Lesser men and women would run, but Link and Zelda are made of stronger stuff. Can you remember the first time that you placed your gemstones into the Temple Of Time and transformed into Adult Link, wielding the Master Sword and trying to avoid the Zombies in the destroyed village square in Hyrule Town? I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it! Yes, Ocarina Of Time rightfully takes the top spot on our Best N64 Games list, and long may the Legend Of Zelda continue to enchant fans new and old around the world. Think we’ve missed a title out? Have we overlooked your favourite game? Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and let us know your thoughts! Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 31 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van. |
