The Nintendo 64 brought 3D gaming to millions of living rooms. Its analog stick made 3D movement feel natural, its four controller ports made it the ultimate sleepover console and its library includes several games that defined entire genres.
Quick answer
The best N64 games are Super Mario 64 (1996), The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998), GoldenEye 007 (1997), Mario Kart 64 (1997), Super Smash Bros. (1999), Banjo-Kazooie (1998), Star Fox 64 (1997), Majora's Mask (2000), Perfect Dark (2000) and Pokémon Snap (1999).
The top 10
| Rank | Game | Year (NA) | Why it's great |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Mario 64 | 1996 | Defined 3D platforming |
| 2 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | 1998 | Defined 3D adventure |
| 3 | GoldenEye 007 | 1997 | The four-player shooter of a generation |
| 4 | Mario Kart 64 | 1997 | Four-player kart racing |
| 5 | Super Smash Bros. | 1999 | Nintendo stars brawl |
| 6 | Banjo-Kazooie | 1998 | Charming collect-a-thon |
| 7 | Star Fox 64 | 1997 | Cinematic space combat with rumble |
| 8 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | 2000 | Dark, inventive sequel |
| 9 | Perfect Dark | 2000 | GoldenEye's ambitious follow-up |
| 10 | Pokémon Snap | 1999 | Photograph Pokémon in the wild |
11–30
Mario Party
1999: friendship-testing minigames.
Diddy Kong Racing
1997: karts, hovercraft and planes.
Wave Race 64
1996: stunning water physics.
F-Zero X
1998: blistering futuristic racing.
1080° Snowboarding
1998: smooth snowboarding.
Pokémon Stadium
2000: 3D Pokémon battles.
Donkey Kong 64
1999: huge collect-a-thon.
Yoshi's Story
1998: storybook platforming.
Blast Corps
1997: demolition puzzles.
Pilotwings 64
1996: relaxing flight.
Mario Golf
1999: accessible golf.
Mario Tennis
2000: fast tennis.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
2000: copy-ability combos.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
1997: dinosaur shooter.
Excitebike 64
2000: motocross.
WWF No Mercy
2000: four-player wrestling classic.
Banjo-Tooie
2000: bigger sequel.
Paper Mario
2001: a late, much-loved N64 RPG.
Harvest Moon 64
1999: farming life.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
1998: flight combat.
Why the N64 controller mattered
The N64 controller looked strange, with three prongs, but its analog stick changed everything. It allowed precise 3D movement, and nearly every console since has used analog sticks. A slot on the back held memory cards and the Rumble Pak, an early force-feedback accessory.
The sleepover console
With four controller ports built in, the N64 was the ultimate party system. Four-player split-screen shooters, racing and fighting games made it the center of sleepovers, birthday parties and dorm rooms, and arguments over who used which character are part of 90s nostalgia.
Then (90s)
Four friends, one TV, cartridges blown into to make them work.
Now (2027)
Official re-releases and online libraries, plus original hardware for collectors.
Why the N64 library still matters
The Nintendo 64 had a smaller game library than some rivals, but its best games were extraordinarily influential. Its flagship platformer showed how a character could move freely in a 3D world, with a camera players could control. Its fantasy adventure introduced a lock-on targeting system that became standard for 3D action games. Its spy shooter proved first-person shooters could work on a console.
The N64 also became the ultimate party console. Four controller ports meant friends could play together without buying extra adapters, and the system's best multiplayer games, from kart racing to brawlers and party board games, became sleepover staples.
Using cartridges instead of discs had trade-offs. Games loaded almost instantly and were very durable, but cartridges held less data and cost more to produce. That is one reason the N64 had fewer games than CD-based rivals, but also why many of its games still work perfectly decades later.
Collectors and players still love the N64 today. Original cartridges remain popular, and many classics have been made available on Nintendo's newer systems.
Related reading: Pokémon fans should read our guide to the original Pokémon Snap on N64.
Conclusion
The best N64 games defined 3D gaming and four-player fun. Whether you replay them on original hardware or modern re-releases, Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye still hold up. For the rest of the decade, see 90s video game consoles and the best Game Boy games.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best N64 game?
Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are usually ranked as the best N64 games, with GoldenEye 007 close behind for multiplayer.
When did the N64 come out?
The Nintendo 64 launched in Japan in June 1996 and in North America in September 1996.
What were the best N64 multiplayer games?
GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros., Mario Party and Perfect Dark were the top four-player games.
What N64 games had Pokémon?
Pokémon Snap (1999) and Pokémon Stadium (2000 in North America) brought Pokémon to the N64.
What was the Expansion Pak?
An add-on memory module that improved graphics in some games and was required for a few, like Donkey Kong 64 and Majora's Mask.
How can I play N64 games today?
Original hardware, or official online libraries and re-releases on newer Nintendo systems where available.
Sources and further reading
Dates and facts were checked against these references. Release dates can vary by region; we use North American dates unless noted. Spotted an error? Tell us.