The 10 Best N64 Games

The N64 launch title that single-handedly invented the 3D platformer. Collecting 120 stars across Bowser's painting-world castle was a paradigm shift — free camera control, analog precision over speed and direction, and three-dimensional level architecture. Jumping into the paintings of Princess Peach's castle still feels magical. Every modern 3D platformer owes its DNA to this 1996 masterpiece.

If the SNES Mario Kart invented kart racing, Mario Kart 64 turned it into a social institution. Four-player split-screen, the debut of the blue shell, Rainbow Road's haunting theme — this game defined the post-school ritual for an entire generation. Banshee Boardwalk's ghostly tunnel, Bowser's Castle lava jumps, Toad's Turnpike traffic — every track has a distinct personality. The first major kart racer designed for the living room couch.

Many critics and players still call this the greatest game ever made. Young Link's seven-year coming-of-age odyssey in Hyrule, the introduction of Z-targeting (the ancestor of every modern action lock-on system), dungeon design that hasn't been surpassed, and Koji Kondo's unforgettable themes — reference-grade. Playing the ocarina to manipulate time and weather, drawing the Master Sword, horse-riding at Lon Lon Ranch... 1998's gaming manifesto.

Almost single-handedly legitimized the console FPS. Rare's James Bond adaptation — its mix of stealth and action across single-player missions was already legendary, but what made GoldenEye unforgettable for a generation was four-player split-screen multiplayer. "Slappers Only," the unwritten ban on Oddjob, pistol-only deathmatches — a whole generation's definition of multiplayer was forged here.

Rare's stamp on the Mario 64 formula. The bear-and-bird duo of Banjo and Kazooie, a cast of comedic side characters, environmental puzzles, and Grant Kirkhope's dynamic soundtrack — a defining product of the 3D-platformer golden age. Mumbo Jumbo's transformations, Banjo's backpack throws, Kazooie's beak peck — simple but satisfying. The peak of N64's character-driven adventures.

What started as a Nintendo crossover became one of the biggest competitive fighting series ever. Mario, Link, Samus, Pikachu, Donkey Kong — the icons of Nintendo's universe finally clashed on a shared stage. Percentage-based damage, ring-out mechanic, knockback physics — this first N64 entry laid the genre's foundations. A perfect 4-player party game designed for couch chaos.

Rare's most ambitious 3D platformer — five playable Kongs, a massive collectibles checklist, each character with unique weapons and musical themes. The "DK Rap" intro became a generational comedy moment. While the design leaned heavily on collecting everything in sight, the cast's distinct personalities still make this a cult favorite. Animal buddies, banana coins, and the wackiest Kong family adventure.

Intelligent Systems' aesthetic masterpiece on the N64 — 2D paper-cutout characters navigating 3D environments. The spiritual successor to Super Mario RPG, but with an entirely fresh visual language. Goombario, Bombette, Parakarry — each companion comes with unique abilities and personality. The timed-attack system made turn-based combat interactive again. Rescuing the eight crystal Star Spirits from Bowser is a sweet nostalgia trip.

The peak of the N64 Mario Party trilogy. Hudson Soft's social-destruction experiment — friendships start and end here. Star-stealing corner squares, 1v3 minigame negotiations ("hey, switch teams with me?"), the final-turn "Bowser Revolution" that randomly redistributes all stars. The Duel mode (Ghibli-flavored 1v1 maps) debuted here. The definitive couch chaos generator.

Rare's N64 swan song — originally announced as a cute family-friendly title, the game shipped as a profanity-laced, parody-stuffed Hollywood explosion of adult humor. The Great Mighty Poo boss battle, the Saving Private Ryan-style Tediz assault, Matrix references — no other game of the era dared this level of mature satire. The N64's final magnum opus, and proof that a Nintendo console could go fully adult.