While not the very first, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) arguably had the biggest impact on the world of video games. Released in North America in 1985, it revitalized a struggling industry and cemented Nintendo’s place as a leading game developer. Over 700 officially licensed games (plus many unofficial ones) were released for the NES, and many are still considered classics. We’ve compiled a list of the ten best, considering how well they sold, their influence on gaming, and how enjoyable they are to play. To keep things interesting, we’ve chosen only the best game from each series.
10) Excitebike
Released in North America in 1985 for the NES, Excitebike is a straightforward but engaging racing game. Created by Nintendo’s renowned Shigeru Miyamoto, players control a motocross racer navigating challenging jumps and obstacles. With over 4.6 million copies sold, Excitebike ranks as the ninth best-selling game on the NES, and its enduring appeal is clear. The game is incredibly replayable – players are constantly motivated to improve their scores and keep playing without getting tired of it. Even today, it offers the same fun experience it did three decades ago.
9) Dragon Quest III
Whether you know it as Dragon Quest III or Dragon Warrior III, this game is a truly excellent role-playing experience. Released in 1988, it’s widely considered one of the best RPGs available for its console. This third installment in the series significantly improves on earlier games, offering a large and open world that felt groundbreaking when it was first released. It also introduced features like the ability to easily change party members, a day/night cycle, and more focused quests. Dragon Quest III delivers everything you’d expect from a great RPG, making it a fun and engaging game to play.
8) Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
Originally an arcade game from 1984, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! became incredibly popular on the NES in 1987. A key feature was the inclusion of boxing champion Mike Tyson as the final, incredibly difficult boss. The game tells the story of Little Mac, an aspiring boxer who fights his way to the top to become the World Heavyweight Champion. It features cutscenes and increasingly tough opponents, requiring players to learn each boxer’s patterns and adapt their strategy. Punch-Out!! is widely considered one of the greatest sports games ever made for the NES.
7) Contra
Originally an arcade game from 1987, Contra came to the NES in 1988 and became famous as the game that popularized the Konami Code. Entering this code gave players 30 lives instead of the usual three, making the notoriously difficult game much more manageable. Contra is known for its challenging gameplay, varied levels, increasingly tough enemies, and a memorable final boss. It was a huge hit on consoles and remains a highly regarded action game from the 1980s.
6) Metroid
Released in 1987 for the NES, Metroid not only started a successful game series, but also pioneered a challenging style of gameplay now known as “Metroidvania.” Along with Castlevania, it defined this subgenre of action-adventure games, where players explore a world in a non-linear fashion and gain new abilities to unlock further progress. Metroid is a highly enjoyable platformer that cleverly worked around the technical limits of its time, and in doing so, set many of the standards for the genre. Even today, it’s a beloved game, especially popular with speedrunners, and is widely considered one of the best games on the NES.
5) Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Everyone who enjoys the classic Castlevania games on the NES has a personal favorite, but Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse is often considered the very best. Released in 1989, this game tells a story that happens before the first Castlevania (from 1986), taking place centuries earlier. Players control Trevor Belmont as he battles Dracula’s forces. Dracula’s Curse is a return to the fast-paced action and platforming of the original game, unlike Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, which experimented with RPG elements. It’s a hugely important game in the Castlevania series, and it has been re-released multiple times, even inspiring the Castlevania animated series on Netflix.
4) Ninja Gaiden
Released in 1988 for the NES, Ninja Gaiden launched a popular franchise, alongside an arcade beat-’em-up game released around the same time. The NES version is a fast-paced action platformer where players control Ryu Hayabusa, who travels to America to avenge his father. The game is known for its engaging story, which unfolds alongside the intense action. Ninja Gaiden was a standout title on the NES and a hugely influential game, setting the standard for many action games that followed.
3) Mega Man 2
Although the original Mega Man didn’t sell incredibly well, Capcom continued to believe in the game and released Mega Man 2 in 1988. This sequel was a major improvement and really launched the Mega Man franchise. It’s become the second best-selling game in the series, with over 1.5 million copies sold. Many fans consider Mega Man 2 the best game in the “Classic” Mega Man series, which consists of 11 titles. It’s a fun and innovative game that strikes a good balance between challenging and fair—it’s less brutally difficult than the first Mega Man but still provides a solid challenge. It’s widely considered one of the best platformers on the NES and a true Capcom classic.
2) The Legend of Zelda
When it comes to NES role-playing games, The Legend of Zelda is widely considered the very best. It revolutionized the genre, setting standards that influenced RPGs for years to come. Released in a distinctive gold cartridge, it was one of the first games to let players save their progress and featured a huge, explorable world. Players control Link as he journeys across Hyrule, battling challenging bosses in intricate dungeons to find powerful items and grow stronger, ultimately preparing for a final showdown with Ganon. It not only launched the beloved Legend of Zelda series, but remains a classic and one of the greatest video games ever made.
1) Super Mario Bros. 3
Okay, so everyone knows the original Super Mario Bros. games are classics, right? But Super Mario Bros. 3? That one really changed things. It came out in ’88 and it wasn’t just a platformer anymore – it had this huge world map with seven different kingdoms, almost like a little RPG! Plus, it introduced a ton of power-ups we still see in Mario games today, like flying and sliding. Honestly, it’s one of those NES games I can play over and over again, and it actually sold the best of any standalone NES game – over 18 million copies, which is crazy!
What’s your go-to NES game? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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