Every NES Bundle Game, Ranked

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Early video game consoles, like the original Nintendo Entertainment System, often came with a game included. This allowed players to start playing immediately. Over the years, Nintendo released different bundles with various games and accessories, creating a total of 10 unique packaged versions. We’ve put these 10 bundles in order, considering how well they sold, what critics thought at the time, and how popular they are today.

10) Stack-Up

When the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched, a major marketing feature was R.O.B., the Robotic Operating Buddy. This robot was designed to blur the line between the NES being a game console and a physical toy. Although only two games were ever made for it, some deluxe NES sets included a game called Stack-Up. R.O.B. wasnā€™t very reliable, but it was intended to use colored trays and claws to manipulate blocks. The game involved a professor stacking blocks, and players had to memorize the sequence to then program R.O.B. to repeat it. Ultimately, R.O.B. was a disappointing accessory and the game itself wasn’t very enjoyable, which is why it’s often considered one of the worst.

9) Gyromite

Of the two games designed for the R.O.B. accessory, Gyromite is more famous, often bundled with Duck Hunt in the deluxe NES sets sold in North America. The game used spinning tops and special platforms that R.O.B. manipulated with its gyros. Essentially a tutorial for using R.O.B., Gyromite challenges players to guide Professor Hector to collect dynamite before time runs out. Colored pillars obstruct his path, and players position R.O.B.ā€™s gyros to move these pillars and clear the way. While it wasnā€™t always reliable, it was impressive to see a physical object interacting with a video game in such a novel way.

8) World Class Track Meet

In 1990, Nintendo launched the NES Power Set, which included a special accessory called the Power Pad. If you’re unfamiliar with it, imagine a simpler, less polished version of the Dance Dance Revolution mat. The Power Pad featured colored buttons that players stepped on to control a character, essentially allowing them to run in place. The game World Class Track Meet (originally released as Stadium Events in 1987) was designed to be played with the Power Pad, letting two players compete in different track and field events. While the game was perfectly playable with a standard controller, the Power Pad offered a more active, step-counting experience.

7) Nintendo World Cup

The NES Sports Set was built for group play, and included a unique system that let up to four controllers connect. It came with a cartridge featuring Nintendo World Cup, a simple, arcade-style soccer game. The game used charming characters from Technōs Japan and was easy to pick up and play. Players could choose from 13 national teams and compete in the World Cup, and despite fading from memory over time, it was a fun and engaging experience.

6) Super Spike Vā€™Ball

Following World Class Track Meet, Technōs Japan released Super Spike Vā€™Ball for the NES. This fast-paced volleyball game lets you choose from four two-player teams, each with unique strengths, allowing for different play styles. You could compete against the computer in a tournament or play with up to three friends using all four NES controllers. The game even featured four hidden female teams that could be unlocked with a cheat code, making it a consistently enjoyable sports experience.

5) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Despite being known as a challenging game on the NES, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles still has a dedicated fanbase. It’s worth noting that North American players had to buy the game separately, while it came bundled with the console in Europe. Based on the popular cartoon and the original comic books, it was one of the earliest video game adaptations of the TMNT universe, alongside the arcade game. It offered a compelling story, allowed players to choose from four different characters, and included six missions. Though not the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game ever created, it was one of the first many fans experienced, and it proved to be a huge commercial success.

4) Dr. Mario

If you wanted to buy Dr. Mario as part of a special package with a console, you had to purchase the NES-101 exclusively at Target stores starting in 1993. It wasn’t widely available because it came out near the end of the NES’s popularity, as most players had already moved on to the Super Nintendo. Despite this, Dr. Mario is a really enjoyable puzzle game that sold surprisingly well and was even released on the Game Boy before becoming a full series. The game involves matching colored pills to eliminate viruses, and you advance to the next level once all viruses are gone. Looking back, the idea is a bit unusual, but it’s still a lot of fun to play, and it took a few years before it was included in a bundle.

3) Duck Hunt

Many people first experienced Duck Hunt when they bought the NES Deluxe, Action, or Power Sets, making it one of the earliest popular games on the system. It famously came with the NES Zapper, a light gun that actually worked ā€“ a real novelty for Nintendo at the time! The Zapper was a lot of fun, letting you shoot at ducks as they flew across the screen. You had three shots per round, and a hilarious dog would playfully mock you if you missed. Duck Hunt wasnā€™t just a solo game either; a second player could control the ducks, making it a great experience for two. Itā€™s a game many people remember with a lot of fondness.

2) Super Mario Bros.

The Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, launched with Super Mario Bros., a game that instantly made the console popular and established Nintendo as a leading game publisher. It was widely bundled with the NES itself and accessory sets, making it very common for people to own a copy. The game features Mario running and jumping through various levels, defeating enemies and trying to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. While not the very first Mario game, Super Mario Bros. launched a hugely successful franchise and is likely the first game that comes to mind for many when they think of the NES. It remains a hugely influential title in the history of home video games.

1) Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 significantly improved upon its predecessors, introducing features like a world map to explore, new characters, and more challenging gameplay with extra power-ups. Released in 1992 as part of the NES Challenge Set near the end of the console’s lifespan, the game quickly became a beloved classic. It was a huge commercial success, selling over 17 million copies and receiving unique promotion through a movie tie-in before traditional commercials. Itā€™s the third best-selling game for the NES, following only Duck Hunt and the original Super Mario Bros., and continues to be enjoyable for players today.

What’s your favorite classic NES game that came with the console? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-20 16:13