The Nintendo 64 library is not huge, but its best games left a mark that still shapes modern play.
Some titles introduced better movement, smarter camera ideas, and couch multiplayer that could turn one room into a full night of noise.
Others are slower, stranger, or harder to judge until you understand what the console was built to do. I will help you separate the games that still feel strong from the ones that mostly rely on memory.
You will also get a clearer path for picking your first game, whether you want adventure, multiplayer, or something overlooked.
Before choosing the best picks, let us first understand what makes an older N64 game still worth your time.
What Makes a Nintendo 64 Game Worth Playing Today?
The N64 holds up best for two kinds of players: people who want games built around mastery, and people who want worlds that reward exploration. Neither requires nostalgia to enjoy.
What the N64 did that nothing before it had done properly was put you inside a 3D space with an analog stick. Movement wasn’t on or off anymore.
It was graduated. How hard you pushed determined how fast you moved, how tight you turned.
That design runs deep in the library. Most of these games were built specifically around variable input. Precision matters in a way it didn’t on older hardware.
It’s also why N64 originals often feel different from remakes. The levels were designed for that control.
When the analog stick goes away, something real is lost, and that’s what reviewers mean when they call the original versions definitive.
Classic Nintendo 64 Games That Still Feel Special
The Nintendo 64 had a lineup of games that shaped how many people saw 3D gaming.
These titles were not just fun to play; they created memories through unique worlds, creative gameplay, and hours spent with friends.
1. Super Mario 64
Mario 64 invented the vocabulary of 3D platforming. Before it, nobody had solved the problem of moving a character through open space with a camera you controlled.
This game figured it out, and every 3D platformer since has borrowed from it.
The star-collecting structure means you revisit the same levels with different objectives. You’re not just moving through a game. You’re learning a world.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina solved a problem that had stopped 3D action games cold: how do you fight enemies when you can’t lock onto them?
The Z-targeting system was the answer. You hold a button, the camera snaps to your enemy, and suddenly combat in 3D space makes sense.
Every third-person action game you’ve played since has inherited that idea. Most just don’t tell you where it came from.
That legacy holds up especially well when you see how every Zelda entry ranks against it.
3. GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007 changed what console shooters could be.
Released in 1997, it introduced analog aiming, mission-based objectives, stealth elements, and split-screen multiplayer at a time when most console shooters were basic action games.
Its mix of tactical gameplay and competitive multiplayer made it a landmark title.
It showed that first-person shooters could work on consoles and influenced the design of countless games that followed.
4. Mario Kart 64: Best Multiplayer Pick
Mario Kart 64 helped define kart racing games with its fast tracks, item-based chaos, and memorable multiplayer.
Released in 1996, it refined the formula with four-player support, competitive battle arenas, and mechanics that kept every race unpredictable.
Its rubber-band AI kept players engaged until the finish line, while battle mode became a couch-cooperative classic. The game’s influence is still visible in modern kart racers today.
5. Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64 turned a short campaign into a highly replayable experience through its branching route system.
Released in 1997, the game changed based on player performance, making each run feel different despite its arcade-style structure.
Its tight controls, memorable characters, and alternate paths encouraged players to return and discover every route. The clever level design gave a brief adventure lasting value far beyond its first playthrough.
The Best N64 Games for Exploration and Platforming
If the five consensus picks sparked something, this is where to go next.
The N64’s collect-a-thon sub-genre takes everything Mario 64 established and pushes it further, with bigger worlds, more collectibles, and puzzles woven into the environment itself.
6. Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie takes Mario 64’s open-world structure and makes each level a self-contained puzzle box. Every world has a set of “jiggies” to collect, but you can’t brute-force your way through.
Most of them require observation, noticing something off in the environment, then figuring out what to do about it.
It rewards patience more than reflexes. If that suits you, it’s one of the best games on the platform.
7. Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64 is the biggest collect-a-thon the N64 produced. Five playable Kongs, each with their own abilities and items, spread across massive levels with hundreds of collectibles.
That scope is genuinely impressive. It’s also the thing that can work against it. The pacing is slow by design.
If you want a long game you can sink time into gradually, it delivers. If you want momentum and a sense of progress, it can feel like it’s fighting you.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Majora’s Mask is built on a 72-hour repeating loop. The world resets every cycle. Characters follow schedules. Side quests only resolve if you’re in the right place at the right time.
It’s darker than Ocarina of Time and mechanically more demanding. The time pressure is real, and some players find it stressful rather than satisfying. Worth knowing before you start.
Not every classic N64 game is available on Nintendo Switch. Some remain exclusive to original hardware or other re-releases.
The Best N64 Games for Local Multiplayer
The N64 had something most consoles didn’t: four built-in controller ports. No adapter, no workaround. Just plug in four controllers and play.
9. Mario Party 1, 2, and 3
Mario Party works for any group because it doesn’t require gaming literacy.
The board game structure keeps everyone involved between mini-games, and a session can end whenever the room decides. Skill helps, but luck evens things out enough that nobody gets left behind.
If you’re introducing someone to the N64 for the first time, this is usually the right starting point.
10. Super Smash Bros.
Smash Bros. rewards players who want to actually get good at something.
The original is simpler than later entries, with fewer characters and fewer mechanics, which makes it easier to learn and harder to hide behind complexity.
It works best when the group is willing to play multiple sessions. The first few rounds are chaotic. After that, genuine skill gaps start to show, and that’s when it gets interesting.
11. WWF No Mercy
No Mercy is consistently called the best wrestling game ever made, and the argument is hard to dispute.
The controls are fluid, the create-a-wrestler mode is deep for its era, and matches don’t require any knowledge of wrestling to enjoy.
It functions as a party game even for people who don’t follow the sport. The chaos translates well. The depth is there if you want it.
12. Paper Mario: Best Hidden Gem on Switch
Paper Mario is a turn-based RPG set in the Mario universe, but it plays nothing like a platformer. The combat is strategic and approachable.
The tone is light without being shallow. The paper-craft visual style still looks original today because almost nothing has copied it well.
If you’ve worked through the consensus picks and want something slower, with a story, proper characters, and a reason to keep going beyond collecting things, this is the one.
It’s also the best entry point on the N64 for players who prefer RPGs. The systems aren’t intimidating.
The writing is genuinely funny. And unlike most RPGs, it doesn’t ask for 60 hours to get good.
Conclusion
The best Nintendo 64 games still matter because they offer more than old names and familiar memories.
They show how strong ideas can outlast limited hardware, rough textures, and early 3D controls.
The strongest picks still feel clear because they were built around movement, timing, local fun, and worlds that reward attention.
Some are better for solo play, while others only show their real charm when friends are in the room. Start with the trusted classics, then try one less obvious title that matches how you like to play.
Which N64 game still feels the most fun today, and which one deserves more credit? Tell us, share with us in comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Top 10 Nintendo 64 Games?
The most consistent picks across major rankings are Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64, Star Fox 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Majora’s Mask, Super Smash Bros., Mario Party 2, and Paper Mario.
Lists vary depending on whether multiplayer is weighted heavily.
What N64 Games are Worth the Most Money Today?
Late-era titles with small print runs tend to command the highest prices. Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time are common and moderately priced.
Rarer titles like Conker’s Bad Fur Day sit significantly higher. Check eBay sold listings for current values before buying, as prices often shift.
Can You Still Buy Original Nintendo 64 Games?
Yes. Retailers like DKOldies, Lukie Games, and GameStop’s retro section stock tested original cartridges. Local game stores and eBay are also reliable.
Most classics fall somewhere between $20 and $80, depending on condition and print rarity.
Are Nintendo 64 Games Available on Nintendo Switch?
A selection is available through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, including Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart 64, and Star Fox 64.
The library is smaller than the full N64 catalog and requires an active subscription to access.
Are All the Best Nintendo 64 Games on Nintendo Switch?
No. Some major titles, such as Super Smash Bros., WWF No Mercy, and several licensed games, are still unavailable. The Switch catalog covers many essentials but not the full N64 experience.
