5 Best 3D Platformers on the Nintendo 64

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The Nintendo 64 was a major turning point for Nintendo. After focusing on 2D games for years, they embraced 3D graphics and introduced the analog stick, giving players more precise control. This led to a wave of 3D platformer games, building on the success of 2D platformers. While many of these games were imitations or forgettable, a select few were truly innovative and redefined the genre.

Here are the five 3D platformers that stand out as the N64’s best.

5) Rocket: Robot on Wheels

Today, Sucker Punch Productions is best known for games like Ghost of Tsushima and the Infamous series. If you played games on the PlayStation 2, you might remember Sly Cooper. However, very few people remember the studio’s very first game: Rocket: Robot on Wheels.

It’s disappointing because Rocket was an early console game to use realistic physics. While it wasn’t as revolutionary as Half-Life 2, it was cool to see details like Rocket realistically reacting to impacts, like after a large jump, on the N64.

But there’s more to it than that. You’ll also use psychic abilities to overcome challenges in the platforming sections, which cleverly teaches kids about concepts like friction and momentum. Plus, it’s a really well-made platformer that will challenge your skills and problem-solving abilities all the way through the game.

4) Conker’s Bad Fur Day

Rare really tried to break away from its family-friendly reputation with Conker’s Bad Fur Day. Although the humor hasn’t aged perfectly, the game’s parody style was very popular when it came out in 2001. Both critics and players really enjoyed Bad Fur Day.

However, the game’s appeal wasn’t solely due to its humor. Rare consistently delivered strong game design, and Conker: Bad Fur Day is a prime example. It boasted impressive graphics, well-designed levels that moved at a good pace, and some of the most precise controls on the Nintendo 64. While it shared the common N64 issue of occasional camera problems, most players didn’t mind them at the time.

Conker also let up to four players compete against each other, building on the popular multiplayer experience Rare created in Goldeneye 007. While not as highly regarded as Goldeneye, it was a welcome feature, and was significantly improved in the Live & Reloaded version of the game.

3) Banjo-Kazooie

Many people would probably expect Banjo-Kazooie to be number one, and it was a tough call! It’s perfectly understandable if you’d switch the rankings of the next two games, because Banjo is truly one of the best collect-a-thon games ever made.

Rare used all the experience they gained creating Donkey Kong Country to build this game in 3D. You can expect exciting worlds to discover, plenty of cool moves and powers to use, and a lot of charm and character.

While some people might prefer Banjo-Tooie, I think the first Banjo-Kazooie is better because it’s more focused. Banjo-Tooie has some interesting concepts, but I appreciate the original’s straightforward approach. Either game is a great choice, though!

2) Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon

Mystical Ninja blends 3D platforming with action-adventure gameplay similar to Zelda. While some might not consider it a true platformer, I believe it features enough of the genre to be included, and I couldn’t leave the character Ebisumaru out!

Goemon’s first 3D adventure delivers what you’d expect: excellent jumping and exploration, quirky Japanese comedy, and epic robot battles. While the controls aren’t quite as smooth as in some other games, it’s easy to overlook that when everything else is so good.

While some players enjoy Goemon’s Great Adventure, it’s not quite the same as the other games here. It’s a 2.5D platformer – keeping the familiar look of Mystical Ninja but switching back to classic side-scrolling gameplay.

1) Super Mario 64

I really wanted to choose something different, but Super Mario 64 is undeniably the best 3D platformer on the N64. Picking anything else just wouldn’t make sense. It’s an obvious choice, but it’s the correct one.

Super Mario 64 isn’t just an almost perfect 3D platformer – it essentially created the genre. What’s amazing is that Nintendo nailed it on their very first attempt. While future Mario games built upon and refined what it started, none of them were released on the Nintendo 64.

Super Mario 64 was a huge success that drove console sales – many people bought a Nintendo 64 just to play it, and it remains an impressive game even now. This is a remarkable accomplishment for Shigeru Miyamoto and his development team. They created a masterpiece with their first attempt, a game so groundbreaking they didn’t feel the need to revisit that level of 3D platforming innovation until the GameCube.

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2026-01-22 23:11