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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30. Tecmo Bowl
Tecmo Bowl isn't a bad game at all, and we're sure that at it's time it was revolutionary. But, it doesn't hold up so well, especially after having decades of amazing football video games.
29. Star Tropics
Star Tropics was an interesting action RPG that tried to mix a lot of ideas into an ambitious title. While it is fun, it didn't age very well at all compared to other games on the console, and its issues do hold back the experience.
28. Ice Climber
Ice Climber gave us two adorable characters that made Super Smash Bros. Melee a blast, but outside of that it's a co-op platformer that had the misfortune of sharing a stage with the Super Mario Bros. series.
26. Excite Bike
Excite Bike is great fun, sort of like a retro Trials game. The only qualm we have with this one is that they didn't include the sequel which allowed for multiplayer.
25. Dr. Mario
Once Nintendo realized that Mario was their star, they started sending him to school to get different degrees and occupations. At one point he was a doctor that joined us in a colorful puzzle game that tested your mind. It's fun, but there are certainly better Mario games.
24. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Simon's Quest is solid sequel that suffered from having such a solid predecessor. It improved over the original in a few ways, but it faltered when going bigger instead of being more focused.
23. Kid Icarus
To be honest, the only reason this game isn't higher is because the 3DS remake fixed a lot of its issues such as saving, better music and sound effects, and better visuals. We recommend just playing that one instead if you can.
22. Donkey Kong Jr.
After finding out that Mario was actually the villain in the first game, it was cool playing as a hero this time around, especially since you were the son of the first game's ill-fated gorilla. Unfortunately, the game differed too much from its predecessor and suffered because of it.
21. Balloon Fight
Balloon Fight was simple, but pretty darn fun and engaging. If you don't have people to play with, though, you probably won't find much reason to stick around.
20. Pac-Man
Pac-Man is and will always be a classic. It's a great arcade game that tests your reflexes and ability to collect hundreds of little dots.
19. Ghosts 'N Goblins
Ghosts 'N Goblins is one of those games that may not have been the best, but you'll never forget. Running around killing zombies and the like while being extraordinarily fragile helped up the intensity.
18. Galaga
While it did get outshined by other arcade shooters on the platform, Galaga is a game that everyone should play at least once. Avoid alien blasts, picking off foes from below as you frantically move side to side, and racking up that high score can eat away hours of your time.
17. Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden's NES release fits in perfectly next to its 3D contemporaries thanks to its incredible challenge, high speed, and engaging combat. While you may not be able to beat it (it seriously is pretty tough), it's worth jumping in to fight some demons, ninjas, and other difficult foes.
16. Donkey Kong
The first Donkey Kong game actually had you controlling Mario, but it was nothing like any Mario or DK game you may know. This arcade platformer will have you honing your skills all for the glory of that high score.
15. Gradius
Konami may not be everyone's favorite company right now, but back in the NES days they made some seriously amazing arcade experiences. One of those was Gradius, an action-packed scrolling shooter with a focus on skill and upgrades.
14. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
The Legend of Zelda is one of the greatest video games of all time, so we don't envy the games that had to follow in its footsteps. The first, Zelda II, decided to switch things up for a side-scrolling aesthetic, and while it wasn't what fans expected, it's still an amazing RPG in its own right that you should definitely check out.
13. Bubble Bobble
This is not the easiest of games, and that's part of its charm. What looks like a cute, simple game actually offers up some interesting mechanics that are even more intriguing when you bring along a friend.
12. Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Double Dragon II is one of the best co-op experiences you can have on the NES Classic. It has challenging fighting, fun visuals, and is easy to get into for all players.
11. Super C
We would have definitely preferred the original Contra as part of the 30 game package, but Super C is enough to keep us happy. A solid soundtrack that perfectly fits the action, tight classic visuals, and a really tough game make for some unforgettable fun. Also, you can use the Konami Code, so there's that.
10. Super Mario Bros. 2
Many people have a love/hate relationship with this entry to the Super Mario Bros. series. While it was an easier release given to the west (the real SMB 2 would release as The Lost Worlds in the future), it introduced characters that fans immediately fell in love with.
9. Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
Punch-Out!! is one seriously fun boxing game. Yeah, it doesn't have all the realism and physics that modern gaming has gotten you used to, but it's far from a simply arcade fighter, and although this version lacks Mike Tyson, Mr. Dream is a more than worthy opponent.
8. Super Mario Bros.
When you look at nearly any platformer, it's impossible to not see the influences that NES classic had on the industry. Even better? It still holds up pretty darn well today and should be one of the first games you go to if you happen to have picked up an NES Classic Edition console.
7. Metroid
The first Metroid is far from being the best in the series, and for some it may be considered a bit too open. However, along with Castlevania, this game birthed a genre that has brought amazing experiences to gaming. Taking steps through its first outing is definitely something worth experiencing.
6. Castlevania
While everyone is busy exploring the latest expansion of Dark Souls III, those into a more classic delivery may want to look at Castlevania, a game that helped birth a genre while putting you against an eclectic mix of monsters and mythical beasts.
5. Kirby's Adventure
Kirby's Adventure was something different from what video game lovers were used to seeing. A small, marshmallow of a protagonists with an insanely powerful ability, whimsical level design, and just plain old fun helps Kirby stand as one of the best of the golden era of gaming.
4. Final Fantasy
Everything great starts somewhere, and for the beloved Final Fantasy series it was here, on the NES. Many series staples that have been refined throughout dozens of games were defined right here. There would have been no FF VII if it wasn't for this stellar NES classic.
3. Mega Man 2
Mega Man has had his share of ups and downs, but one of his highest points ever was definitely Mega Man 2 on the NES. A great mix of bosses and challenges along with challenging platforming make this one of the best games on the NES Classic.
2. Super Mario Bros. 3
Mario is one of those protagonists that you just can't help but love. The portly plumber has been bringing smiles to faces for over three decades, so it's difficult to pick a favorite, but Super Mario Bros. 3 took everything that made its predecessors great and magnified them. Great visuals and wonderful music combine with grade-A platforming that still stands up today.
1. The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda changed the way that console users experienced action RPGs and birthed a franchise that would become a Nintendo staple. It's ideas of open gameplay that allowed you to choose the order of your adventure, plus one of the best 8-Bit soundtracks we've ever heard make Link's first adventure just a legendary as its name.
About the author
Ishmael Romero
Just a wandering character from Brooklyn, NY. A fan of horrible Spider-Man games, anime, and corny jokes.
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