The Best NES Classic Edition Games, Ranked

Ranking history.
NES Classic, nes

The NES Classic Edition console is finally out and it brings 30 amazing retro games along with it. Of course, not all games are created equal, so we ranked the titles that come packed onto the adorable little NES.

With a range of titles across nearly all genres from arcade shooters to large JRPGs, it was no small feat to put history in a tight order, but weighing factors such as how each game aged, what insights they give into the history of their franchises, and just how fun they happen to be even after all these years.

After over 30 years, it’s amazing to see how much of an impact Nintendo has had on the industry and on how we view games as a whole. All of these games, even the ones that are at the bottom of the list, offer something truly special in their delivery, and show how far this hobby of ours has really come.

Tecmo Bowl 30
StarTropics 29
Ice Climber 28
Mario Bros. 27
Excitebike 26
Dr. Mario 25
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest 24
Kid Icarus 23
Donkey Kong Jr. 22
Pac-Man 21
Ghosts ‘N Goblins 20
Balloon Fight 19
Galaga 18
Ninja Gaiden 17
Donkey Kong 16
Gradius 15
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 14
Bubble Bobble 13
Double Dragon II: The Revenge 12
Super C 11
Super Mario Bros. 2 10
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream 9
Super Mario Bros. 8
Metroid 7
Castlevania 6
Final Fantasy 5
Kirby’s Adventure 4
Mega Man 2 3
Super Mario Bros. 3 2
The Legend of Zelda 1

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Author
Ishmael Romero
Just a wandering character from Brooklyn, NY. A fan of horrible Spider-Man games, anime, and corny jokes.