The Best N64 Games of All Time (Nintendo 64)

The 20 best Nintendo 64 games

14 votes

Super Mario 64

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 4.3/5

Story3.5

Gameplay4.9

Graphics4.5

Music4.4

Character4.4

Super Mario 64 is an N64 classic that brought Mario to the 3D world. While Mario is still largely most known for its 2D sidescrolling platformers, Super Mario 64 showed how well it could bring platforming to the 3D space as well. The game is known for its interesting hat mechanics that change how you maneuver the 3D space. We can't forget the amazing, memorable, and nostalgic soundtrack that it comes with. Whenever Mario 64 comes to mind, the Bob-omb Battlefield stage theme will never fail to be an ear worm.

Survey voice

If someone asks "what game did you like back in the day?", this is the one that comes to mind for now. The music and graphics are carved into my brain too deeply, to the point I no longer really understand what's even fun about it. As a kid you basically have few chances to get new games, so I must have had no choice but to squeeze every drop out of this game right in front of me. Therefore it might just be an infinitely high nostalgia bias.
Show original (日本語)
「昔なんのゲームが好きだった？」と聞かれたらとりあえず思い浮かぶ一本です。音楽もグラフィックも自分の脳に刻まれすぎていてもはや何が面白いかもよくわかってないです。子供という立場は基本的に新しいゲームを入手する機会が少なく、目の前にあったこのゲームをしゃぶり尽くす他なかったはず。したがってただの限りなく高い思い出補正なだけかもしれません。

Kevin
Even though it's called the world's first fully 3D adventure game, it's still fun today; it has rough parts, but I feel those as charm points. Personally, I really love searching a wide stage for a Star with only a "hint" and no idea where it is, which fits perfectly with the design that lets you go anywhere on the stage. I also love the slightly homely Mario and Bowser.
Show original (日本語)
世界初の完全3次元アドベンチャーゲームとも言われるのに、今でも楽しい、ラフなところもあるがチャームポイントに感じる。個人的にスターの場所がわからないまま「ヒント」だけある状態で広いステージを探し出すのはとても好きで、ステージのどこ行ってもいいデザインにはピッタリ。少し不細工なマリオとクッパも大好き。

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9 votes

Super Smash Bros.

ActionPlatform FighterMultiplayer

Survey scores · avg 3.5/5

Story1.6

Gameplay4.9

Graphics3.6

Music3.9

Character4.1

Super Smash Bros. was still a bit rough around the edges on the Nintendo 64, but it was the game that both introduced and defined the platform fighter genre. Up to 4 players can battle in furious free-for-alls, where the more damage they take, the farther their characters get knocked back on each hit, until they're eventually knocked flying off the map. With 12 characters available, it doesn't have the massive roster of future installments, but the Nintendo staples like Mario, Link, Fox, and Samus are all here. Characters also feel a bit heavier akin to Melee, and stages are small, so the combat offers a different experience than later games in the series, limitations and all.

Survey voice

I played this like crazy in my college dorm days. Maybe influenced by Mario 64, I was maddeningly fond of the Metal Mario fight in Story Mode (lol), and I have memories of trying hard to see how high I could build up the percentage.
Show original (日本語)
大学の寮生時代にめちゃくちゃやってました。マリオ64からの影響か、ストーリーモード(笑)のメタルマリオ戦が狂おしいほどに好きで、どれだけパーセンテージを貯められるか頑張っていた思い出があります。

だーます
Playing with friends would escalate into fights, and we often broke out into a real free-for-all. No grabbing with Donkey Kong and falling off together, okay.
Show original (日本語)
友達とやってると喧嘩に発展してよくリアル大乱闘してた。ドンキーでかついで一緒に落ちるやつなしな。

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7 votes

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action-Adventure

Survey scores · avg 4.6/5

Story5.0

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.1

Music4.6

Character4.4

Go to any list of the greatest video games of all time, and you will find The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in the top five, if not at the very top of the list. Released in 1998, the game was truly revolutionary for its time, and introduced so many of the typical elements of 3D gaming that we still see today. Ocarina of Time features a story which, while perhaps simple on the surface, is a tale that symbolizes the feeling of being forced to grow up and leave the comfort of your childhood to set out on a grand adventure, and perfectly encompasses the hero's journey. We see Link, a young boy living alone in the Kokiri Forest embark on a journey that takes him through mountains, deserts, underwater, and through time itself, in order to become the Hero of Time and defeat a great evil that has set out to overtake Hyrule. The central "Gimmick" is based around travelling between time as the younger child Link and adult Link, which both have their own dungeons to tackle and items exclusive to them. The game was extremely innovative in the way that it introduced "Z-Targeting" (L-Targeting for later entries), which allowed for seamless combat in a 3D landscape by letting you lock on to enemies and attack them with your arsenal of weapons, a mechanic which many games still implement today. OoT also implemented a "context-sensitive button", which allowed the A button to have multiple functions (Roll, Talk, Open, etc), depending on where your character was situated, which was very influential on subsequent games. Featuring some of the best dungeon design the series has ever known, the game is still extremely popular among fans of the series, speedrunners, and fans of gaming as a whole.

Survey voice

だーます
A work with more memories than I can tell. I remember the Water Temple being really hard and playing it while raging. The Song of Storms is one of the finest tracks. Thank you for the remake!!!!
Show original (日本語)
語り尽くせないほどの思い出がある作品。水の神殿は本当に難しくてキレながらやっていた記憶。嵐の歌は屈指の名曲。リメイクありがとうございます！！！！

Hisa
The strongest action RPG game. I played it in elementary school and it was hard, and the presentation was a little scary, but it was the first proper RPG action game I cleared.
Show original (日本語)
最強のアクションRPGゲーム。小学生のときプレイしたが難しいし、演出ちょっと怖かったけど、初めてちゃんとしたRPGアクションゲームをクリアした作品。

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7 votes

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Action-Adventure

Survey scores · avg 4.2/5

Story4.7

Gameplay4.3

Graphics3.7

Music4.2

Character3.8

After the grand success of Ocarina of Time, the Zelda team decided to create a game which utilized the assets from that game to create something totally new and unique. What we got was The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, which saw Link set out on a personal journey to find a lost friend, eventually encountering the mischevious Skull Kid and finding a strange new land known as Termina. The powerful item known as Majora's Mask held by the Skull Kid would destroy Termina in 72 hours, and it was up to Link to save Termina and retrieve the mask. Like Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask features a central gimmick based around time manipulation, but this game instead revolves around trying to complete tasks such as the dungeons or side quests, then using the Ocarina of Time to reset back to Day 1 before the 72 hours run up. Larger objectives like dungeon completion and obtaining items / heart pieces hold over between cycles, though story and quest progress reset each time, which creates a strong need to plan out your tasks before each 72 hour run, as missing a timed event would mean going back to Day 1. The game also introduces a unique group of items called masks. These masks give Link unique abilities when equipped, such as running quickly, triggering NPC side quests, transforming into other races, as well as... staying up all night and dancing? The core gameplay from Ocarina of Time, such as Z-Targeting and the context-sensitive button systems, are present in this game as well. While the game's main story is much smaller in scope than that of its predecessor, it makes up for that by introducing a multitude of side quests based around interactions with NPCs. The game's story also tackles somewhat darker themes than OoT, such as grief, and has gained a bit of a reputation for being the "creepy Zelda". Certainly one of the most unique titles in the series, Majora's Mask is considered by many fans to be even better than the game that came before it.

Survey voice

いしだ
I dropped the moon within the first three days. I gave up thinking it was hard and scary, but I loved the story of the Couple's Mask. There are also many parts I filled in with the manga version, but it was the first work whose story I got absorbed in.
Show original (日本語)
最初の3日間で月を落としました。難しいし怖いと思って挫折したもののめおとの面のストーリーが大好きでした。漫画版で補完した部分も多いけど、初めてストーリーに夢中になった作品でした。

A title that makes me realize anew how important that sense of a slight trauma element, somehow scary for no clear reason, actually is. I have memories of properly playing it, but the first thing I recall is the image of it being scary.
Show original (日本語)
ちょっとしたトラウマ要素というか、なんかわからんけど怖いみたいな感覚って大事なんだなと改めて思うタイトル。ちゃんとプレイした記憶があるけど、まず思い出すのは怖いというイメージ。

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5 votes

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.2

Music4.8

Character3.8

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is well-known for its mechanic of combining two powers to create a brand new power, leading to a huge variety of possible combinations, including some quirky but surprisingly powerful options like a Refrigerator (Ice + Spark) which spawns healing items. Kirby 64 follows previous games as a 2D sidescrolling platformer, unlike other games of the generation which made the jump to full 3D exploration, but the levels feature rotating and curving areas that still give the feeling of adventuring in a 3D world. With the addition of the Crystal Shards themselves as a collectible found throughout the levels, the game encourages players to try a variety of different powers and think creatively to figure out how to collect them all.

Survey voice

ポン酢 / 30代 / 女性
- The mixed Copy Abilities are very fun. There are surreal ones too, like ice + electricity making a refrigerator that attacks with food, and it makes you want to check and experiment with every combination. Bomb + Cutter was strong - The gimmicks and puzzles that make use of each stage's characteristics and the companions' abilities are fun - The BGM suits the world and is cute. In Kirby fashion, you feel a stylishness too
Show original (日本語)
・ミックスコピー能力が非常に面白い。氷+電気で冷蔵庫になって食べ物で攻撃するなどシュールなものもあり、すべての組み合わせをチェックして模索したくなる。ボム+カッターが強かった・各ステージの特色や仲間の能力を活かしたギミック・謎解きが面白い・BGMが世界観に合っていて可愛い。カービィらしくスタイリッシュさも感じられる

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
The mixing of copy techniques was novel and had a sense of exhilaration. The crystal-collecting puzzles are proper, and I think it's one of the longer-lasting works in the Kirby series. The cutscene at the end of the first playthrough is a trauma.
Show original (日本語)
コピー技のミックスが斬新で爽快感があった。クリスタル集めの謎解きが本格的でカービィシリーズの中でも長く遊べる方だと思う。一周目ラストの映像シーンはトラウマ

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5 votes

Mario Kart 64

Racing Multiplayer

Survey scores · avg 3.9/5

Story1.6

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.6

Music4.4

Character4.6

Mario Kart 64 is the 2nd installement in the Mario Kart franchise and was released on the Nintendo 64. The game featured 16 race tracks all with their own obstacles and gimmicks. It also featured quite a few game modes, like Time Trails to even Versus Modes.

Survey voice

だーます
I don't know how much I played it at friends' houses. Honestly I still play it occasionally now. When it comes to the Wario Circuit and Rainbow Road shortcuts, leave it to me. I won't forgive the guy who hits you with the Lightning right before the jump ramp.
Show original (日本語)
友達の家でどれだけやったかわからない。なんなら今でもたまにやる。ワリオサーキットとレインボーロードのショートカットなら任せてください。ジャンプ台の直前でサンダー打ってくるやつ許さない。

P-san
Gathering with friends and relatives and playing all day. Practicing the Wario Stadium shortcut endlessly, taking on Mario Circuit time trials, way too much of my precious childhood time was stolen.
Show original (日本語)
友達や親戚で集まって一日中遊んでた。ワリオスタジアムのショートカットをひたすら練習したり、マリオサーキットのタイムトライアルに挑戦したり、子供の頃の貴重な時間を奪われすぎた。

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5 votes

Pokémon Stadium 2

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 3.4/5

Story1.2

Gameplay4.0

Graphics4.4

Music3.8

Character4.2

Pokemon Stadium 2 is the sequel of the original Pokemon Stadium on the Nintendo 64, being the Generation 2 counterpart and upgrade from the first game. Like the original, it is also a battle-oriented Pokemon game, catering towards the tournament-oriented crowd of the series. This makes it one of the main games used for official old-generation formats from way back in the 2000s, due to its more stringent, combat-focused gameplay. Being one of the first 3D Pokemon games that came out around this time, it has a very crafty aesthetic with its Pokemon designs, garnering praise with how well-made the new dimension feels of the Pokemon are and how soulful they look. All of these qualities would catapult Stadium 2 into one of the niche, but also well-known classics for its console, eventually allowing it to be re-released for the Nintendo Switch platform.

Survey voice

しろあん / 20代 / 男性
The abundance of fun elements in battle, the lessons where you can learn Pokémon battle techniques, and the volume and fun of the party games that carry over from 2. A masterpiece that accommodates any way of playing.
Show original (日本語)
バトルでの遊び要素の多さ、ポケモンバトルのテクニックを学べる講座、2から引き続きあるパーティゲームのボリュームと面白さ。どんな遊び方にも対応した名作です。

ひも
Whenever friends came to my house, we'd play these minigames the whole time. When I heard it got ported, I played it for the first time in a while, and the fun of the minigames was abnormal.
Show original (日本語)
友人が家に来たらずっとこのミニゲームで遊んでいました。移植されたと聞いて久しぶりにプレイしましたが、ミニゲームの楽しさが異常でした。

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4 votes

Pokémon Snap

Simulation Cozy

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story3.5

Gameplay4.5

Graphics4.2

Music4.0

Character4.0

Pokemon Snap is a rail shooter where, instead of shooting enemies, you take photos of Pokemon in numerous maps. As you progress the game, you will unlock additional tools that you can use to take different photos, increasing the game's replayability.

Survey voice

Toshiki
I'd only ever played action and RPGs, but I played this like crazy at a friend's house. A photo-shooting game you can do with the feel of a theme-park attraction.
Show original (日本語)
アクションやRPGしかやってこなかったけど、友達の家でめちゃくちゃやった。テーマパークのアトラクション感覚でできる写真シューティング。

Toshiki
I'd only ever played action and RPGs, but I played this like crazy at a friend's house. You can experience the feel of riding a theme-park attraction.
Show original (日本語)
アクションやRPGしかやってこなかったけど、友達の家でめちゃくちゃやった。テーマパークのアトラクションに乗った感覚を味わえる。

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4 votes

Shiren the Wanderer 2

RPG Roguelike

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story3.5

Gameplay5.0

Graphics3.8

Music4.0

Character4.5

Shiren the Wanderer 2 is a turn-based role-playing game. As the first 3D title in the Mystery Dungeon series, the game retains its dungeon-crawling aspects, where players explore randomly generated dungeons to find resources. The story follows a boy who must defend his village from attacking demons by building a castle.

Survey voice

しろあん / 20代 / 男性
I think it's the finest work in the Shiren the Wanderer series. The balance per dungeon is good and there's a rich variety of special dungeons. Above all, the "Monster Kingdom" system, which is like a combination of a monster encyclopedia and a monster ranch, is genuinely fun. It's a god-tier element usable for both collecting and clearing.
Show original (日本語)
風来のシレンシリーズ最高傑作だと思います。ダンジョン毎のバランスがよく特殊ダンジョンの種類も豊富。何よりモンスター王国というモンスター図鑑とモンスター牧場を合わせたようなシステムが本当に面白い。収集にも攻略にも使える神要素です。

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
The peak of the Shiren series. The unique weapon system, monster collecting, and the abundant special dungeons, overall the level was high. I want them to release a remake soon or make it playable on Switch.
Show original (日本語)
シレンシリーズの最高峰。ユニークな武器システムやモンスター集めや豊富な特殊ダンジョンなど全体的にレベルが高かった。早くリメイクを出すか、Switchでプレイできるようにしてほしい。

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4 votes

Banjo-Kazooie

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 4.0/5

Story3.8

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.0

Music3.5

Character4.2

Banjo-Kazooie is the quintessential Rare platformer; a stable of the "collect-a-thon", players will explore free and open levels to collect Jiggies and other collectibles. Unlike its successors, Banjo-Tooie and Donkey Kong 64, Banjo-Kazooie keeps its levels fairly compact, and the scope of its unlockable abilities and backtracking relatively limited. Rare brings a unique brand of British humor into the game's dialogue, which combined with the memorable characters and vibrant worlds, provide Banjo-Kazooie with a charming identity all its own.

Survey voice

Kevin
You could call it the evolution of Super Mario 64. The sluggish jump motion compared to Mario is a weakness, but Banjo and Kazooie, equipped with many movement techniques, make up for it plenty. The stage themes show imagination beyond expectations. My number-one favorite stage is the tree with four doors, each connected to a "season"; the design where you climb the same tree through the four seasons and the stories of the animals living in the tree all reach their conclusions in winter is wonderful. It's rich in humor too, a game overflowing with love.
Show original (日本語)
スーパーマリオ64の進化とも言える。マリオに比較してジャンプの動作が鈍いのは弱点だが、たくさんの移動技を搭載してるバンジョーとカズーイは十分補ってる。ステージのテーマに期待を超える想像力が出る。私の1番推しのステージは、４つのドアがある木でそれぞれ「季節」に繋がって、同じ木を四季に登って、その木に住む動物たちのストーリーは全部冬に結末が見えるデザインは素晴らしい。ユーモアも豊富で、愛に溢れたゲーム。

Hisa
It's almost the same gameplay as Donkey Kong 64, but the gameplay is more detailed, and reading the strategy guide many times to collect all the Jigsaw pieces is a good memory.
Show original (日本語)
ドンキーコング64とほぼほぼ同じゲーム性だが、よりゲーム性が細かく、すべてのジグソーパズルを集めるのに攻略本を何回も読んだのが良き思い出

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4 votes

Donkey Kong 64

Action-Adventure Platformer

Survey scores · avg 4.0/5

Story3.5

Gameplay4.5

Graphics4.0

Music4.0

Character4.0

Donkey Kong 64 is a massive adventure emblematic of the "collect-a-thon" genre, featuring sprawling levels allowing mostly free exploration. Players can take whatever route they like in searching for a variety of items like Golden Bananas and colored bananas, a certain number of which are required to progress to future levels. Five Kongs are unlocked with progression, each of which has their own set of abilities and collectibles, so players must swap between Kongs at a Tag Barrel to reach areas and grab collectibles which require a specific Kong. Once you unlock a new Kong or a new ability, that's your cue to return to the places you visited before and find new secrets which you couldn't reach before, in a game loop which encourages heavy backtracking and full exploration of every level.

Survey voice

The difficulty of the main game stands out. And it's somehow dark and scary overall, but a game I got really hooked on at the time. The main game is fun too, but I played the versus mode a lot. If you flee underwater, orange grenade.
Show original (日本語)
本編の難しさが際立つ。そしてなんか全体的に暗いし怖い、けど当時とてもハマったゲーム。本編も面白いが対戦をかなりやった。水中に逃げたらオレンジ爆弾。

Toshiki
The difficulty of the main game stands out. And it's somehow dark and scary overall, but a game I got really hooked on at the time. The main game is fun too, but I played the versus mode a lot. If you flee underwater, orange grenade.
Show original (日本語)
本編の難しさが際立つ。そしてなんか全体的に暗いし怖い、けど当時とてもハマったゲーム。本編も面白いが対戦をかなりやった。水中に逃げたらオレンジ爆弾。

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4 votes

GoldenEye 007

Shooter FPS Multiplayer First-Person

Survey scores · avg 3.5/5

Story3.0

Gameplay4.2

Graphics3.5

Music3.2

Character3.8

GoldenEye 007 is one of the most important FPS games of all time, becoming the golden standard for the genre. From its interesting campaign that incorporates stealth, to the split-screen multiplayer that many players remember it for, GoldenEye 007 has something for everyone.

Survey voice

Jessey / 20s / Male
There was a time when I was quarantined in my room for mumps, and GoldenEye 007 was the game that kept me company. It was something I got with a second-hand N64 that we found in a garage sale for P200 (around 400 Yen)

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
An action game where the versus mode is the ultimate fun. Remotely blowing up friends with a planted remote mine was the ultimate fun. The story was too hard so I didn't play it much.
Show original (日本語)
対戦モードが最高に面白いアクションゲーム。仕掛けたリモート爆弾で遠隔で友達を爆破させるのが最高に楽しかった。ストーリーは難易度高すぎてあんまやってない

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3 votes

Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 4.2/5

Story4.7

Gameplay4.3

Graphics3.7

Music4.3

Character4.0

Despite being a relatively well-known series within Japan, the Mystical Ninja series (or "Ganbare Goemon" as it's known in Japan) has always been somewhat niche outside of its home country, only seeing a handful of international releases. Of these releases, Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon for the N64 is perhaps the most well known of the bunch. The title involves the somewhat wacky adventure of Goemon and his pals as the travel across a feudal and fantasy Japan in order to stop a theater gang known as the Peach Mountain Shoguns from turning Japan into a large stage for their performing arts. Despite debuing a year before The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the game was rather innovative for the then just emerging genre of 3D action adventure games, and contained gameplay such as dungeon crawling, 3D boss fights, and character upgrades through new weapons and abilities, elements which would become hallmarks of the series.

Survey voice

クリスチャン
Revolutionary game for its time, as it came out before Ocarina of Time, and managed to do many things we'd see in later 3d games

Play this and you'll understand Japan's geography. The chuunibyou feel of the Goemon Impact is nice too.
Show original (日本語)
これをやれば日本の地理がわかる。ゴエモンインパクトの厨二感も良い。

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3 votes

Custom Robo V2

RPG

Survey scores · avg 3.9/5

Story3.0

Gameplay4.7

Graphics4.3

Music3.7

Character4.3

Custom Robo V2 is quite similar to its predecessor in that your goal is to follow the story and collect parts for your Robo, which you can then use to fight opponents in Robo Battles. Players are encouraged to try different builds and challenge other players in PvP arena battles. Custom Robo V2 also included a tag-team feature, letting players fight in a 2v2 setting.

Survey voice

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
A god-tier versus game where you combine your favorite weapons and fight. There's a rich variety of weapons and infinite combinations, so I could play without getting bored.
Show original (日本語)
好きな武器を組み合わせて戦う対戦系の神ゲー。武器の種類が豊富で組み合わせも無限なので飽きることなく遊べた。

P-san
A game where you attach your favorite equipment to a robot and fight. It had a rather rare kind of fun, like being able to use parts that are high-powered but illegal.
Show original (日本語)
ロボットに好きな装備をつけて戦うゲーム。威力は高いが違法なパーツが使えたり、なかなか珍しい面白さを兼ね添えていた。

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2 votes

Banjo-Tooie

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 3.2/5

Story3.0

Gameplay4.5

Graphics2.5

Music3.0

Character3.0

Banjo-Tooie takes the formula pioneered by Banjo-Kazooie to a new level; the worlds here are bigger, with more areas and characters in each, and stories that unfold as players go deeper in their exploration. The game introduces an interconnected world design; the Grunty Industries world famously locks players out of its namesake building, and requires them to unlock a train connection from another world to get inside. There's a surprisingly darker style than the bright and sunny predecessor, and the stakes are higher for Banjo and Kazooie, with the entire island at risk of being turned into zombies by Gruntilda.

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1 votes

Custom Robo

RPG

Survey scores · avg 5.0/5

Story5.0

Gameplay5.0

Graphics5.0

Music5.0

Character5.0

Custom Robo is the original customizable robot battler, letting you mix guns, bombs, legs and pods to build a fighter and clash in quick, tactical arena duels. It's a sleeper of a battle system. It's for players who love loadout experimentation, for fans of fast arena combat, and for anyone curious about the start of an underrated battler series.

Survey voice

てっち / 30代 / 男性
Aside from Pokémon and sports games, I think this is the one I played the most.
Show original (日本語)
ポケモン、スポーツゲーム以外なら一番やったきがする

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1 votes

Goemon's Great Adventure

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 5.0/5

Story5.0

Gameplay5.0

Graphics5.0

Music5.0

Character5.0

After Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon, the other "Ganbare Goemon" game for N64, saw relative success outside of Japan, Goemon's Great Adventure was the next (and final) game of the series to make it abroad. While the characters and humor would be familiar to anyone who played the previous entry, the story itself was not a direct sequel, this time centering around a villain named Bisumaru trying to resurrect a demon prince, and Goemon and his pals attempting to stop them. The gameplay was also totally different than the previous entry, featuring a 2.5D Side-Scrolling playstyle, with levels selected from an overworld map, similar to older Mario games. Additionally, levels can lead to different routes on the map, and clearing levels earns you entry passes, which are needed to progress further in the game. This game also has co-op play, allowing you to choose between four characters by swapping within tea shops. Each character is unique in which weapons they use, as well as their secondary ability. With entry passes earned through both level completion as well as various side quests found in towns, the game offers plenty terms of content for 100% completion.

Survey voice

クリスチャン
One of the 4 Goemon games released in US, playing this co-op with a sibling is one of my most treasured memories

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1 votes

Paper Mario

RPG Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 5.0/5

Story5.0

Gameplay5.0

Graphics5.0

Music5.0

Character3.0

One of the few turn-based RPGs on the Nintendo 64, Paper Mario started a new series of Mario RPGs following Super Mario RPG on the Super NES. Eschewing the complex calculations and stats common to the genre, Paper Mario took the bold step of simplifying damage to single-digit values and keeping design principles close to the Mario series' heart. The Badges feature allowed players to customize their battle style without adding too much complexity to the gameplay. Featuring a memorable cast of characters and a unique papercraft world aesthetic, Paper Mario took a new approach in defining the Mario RPG.

Survey voice

The original Paper Mario. A masterpiece whose gimmick-packed world tickled a child's heart. For elementary-school me it was quite difficult, and I remember having my parents buy me a strategy guide. I also have memories of raising my blood pressure every time to maximize Resaresa's back-and-forth slaps.
Show original (日本語)
元祖ペーパーマリオ。ギミック満載の世界が子供心をくすぐる名作でした。小学生だった自分には中々難易度が高く、攻略本を買ってもらった覚えがあります。レサレサの往復ビンタを最大化するために毎回血圧あげまくっていた思い出も。

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1 votes

Puyo Puyo Sun

Puzzle

Survey scores · avg 5.0/5

Story5.0

Gameplay5.0

Graphics5.0

Music5.0

Character5.0

Puyo Puyo Sun takes the classic chain-building puzzle gameplay of the series and spices it up with Sun Puyos, rewarding skilled play with even bigger garbage attacks. Fast-paced matches, colorful visuals, and a silly summer-themed story make every battle feel lively from start to finish. Whether you're chasing huge chains or just looking for a fun competitive puzzle game, Puyo Puyo Sun is one of the franchise's most memorable entries.

Survey voice

ゆーせー / 30代 / 男性
A work you could call the trigger that made Puyo Puyo what it is now. At the time it was shocking that every character got their own chain voice and dedicated background.
Show original (日本語)
ぷよぷよが今の形になったきっかけと言える作品かも。当時は全キャラにそれぞれ連鎖ボイスや専用背景が付いたのが衝撃でした。

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1 votes

Star Fox 64

Shoot 'em UpRail Shooter

Survey scores · avg 4.5/5

Star Fox 64 was a reboot of the Star Fox game made for the SNES and was released on the Nintendo 64. It is an on-rail spaceship shooter where you have to navigate across many enemies and obstacles to reach the end of the level. What made this game great was the amount of replayability it had as it featured multiple routes and secrets for players to find during each of their runs to save the Lylat System.

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Hidden gems on Nintendo 64

Lesser-known Nintendo 64 games our players loved.

Diddy Kong Racing

Hidden Gem

Diddy Kong Racing

3.4/5

Diddy Kong Racing is a racing game for the N64, created by Rare in its heyday. It differentiates itself from Mario Kart 64, another contemporary racing game on the same console by its focus on the main story, as well as the option to use three different vehicles (the car, hovercraft, and plane). In the game's adventure mode, you must complete stages to collect balloons, which will unlock Boss stages, as well as other worlds with more stages. The game features 20 memorable racetracks, and incorporates an item system, similar to that of Mario Kart. Although the item selection is smaller than the iconic items from Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing allows you to upgrade items by collecting multiple of the same balloon type for even more powerful effects. The game also allows you to choose from ten characters: the titular Diddy Kong, as well as Banjo the Bear and Conker the Squirrel (both of which would later go on to have their own games on the N64), as well as seven other original characters.

Doraemon 2: Nobita to Hikari no ShindenHidden Gem

Doraemon 2: Nobita to Hikari no Shinden

3.8/5

Doraemon 2: Nobita to Hikari no Shinden is a surprisingly substantial character-game adventure, sending Nobita across a vast map of exploration and action that rises well above just a tie-in. It's an overlooked gem. It's for players who grew up with Doraemon, for fans willing to look past licensed games' reputation, and for anyone who enjoys a meaty exploration-adventure with real charm.

FAQ

How were these best Nintendo 64 games chosen?

From a survey of 241 players who recommended Nintendo 64 games. Available five-axis ratings and curated comments are shown. Titles are ranked by mention count, then average score.

What is the top Nintendo 64 game?

Super Mario 64 ranks #1 with 14 votes.

How to find the best Nintendo 64 games

The best Nintendo 64 games according to 241 surveyed players — ranked by votes with average score as the tie-breaker, with the survey scores and curated player comments available in the source data.

Already cleared the Top 20? Check the hidden gems above — lesser-known Nintendo 64 titles our players rated highly.

Still thinking about a game we missed?

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