Super Mario Bros. 3
A side-scrolling platformer about Mario crossing a world map and using power-up suits to reach Bowser.
1990
NES
Cartridge
The NES 100
IGN's classic ranking of the hundred best U.S. NES games. The campaigns aren't rewritten here — each cart links out to StrategyWiki, GameFAQs, and the live web.
The Legend of Zelda
An adventure about Link exploring Hyrule, finding the Triforce pieces, and confronting Ganon.
1987
NES
Super Mario Bros.
A side-scrolling platformer about Mario jumping through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach.
1985
NES
Mega Man 2
A run-and-gun platformer about Mega Man taking weapons from eight robot masters.
1989
NES
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
A platformer about Trevor Belmont and his allies climbing toward Dracula's castle.
1990
NES
Metroid
An exploration platformer about Samus Aran hunting Space Pirates and Metroids on planet Zebes.
1986
NES
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
A boxing game about Little Mac working up the ranks of the World Video Boxing Association.
1987
NES
Dragon Warrior
A turn-based RPG about a descendant of Erdrick crossing Alefgard to defeat the Dragonlord.
1989
NES
Bionic Commando
A platformer about a commando who swings on a bionic arm instead of jumping.
1988
NES
DuckTales
A platformer about Scrooge McDuck bouncing on his cane through the world in search of treasure.
1989
NES
Final Fantasy
A turn-based RPG about four warriors restoring the crystals and saving the world.
1990
NES
Contra
A run-and-gun about two commandos fighting an alien army on foot and from behind.
1988
NES
R.C. Pro-Am
A racing game about radio-controlled trucks collecting weapons on small isometric tracks.
1988
NES
Excitebike
A motorcycle racing game about dirt tracks, turbo boosts, and clearing jumps.
1985
NES
River City Ransom
A beat-'em-up RPG about two students brawling across town to rescue a kidnapped girlfriend.
1989
NES
Mega Man 3
A robot-master platformer that adds Mega Man's robotic dog, Rush, and a new slide.
1990
NES
Ninja Gaiden
A cinematic action-platformer about ninja Ryu Hayabusa avenging his father.
1989
NES
Super Mario Bros. 2
A side-scrolling platformer about Mario and friends picking up enemies in the dream world of Subcon.
1988
NES
Castlevania
A platformer about Simon Belmont fighting through Dracula's castle with a whip.
1987
NES
Kid Icarus
A vertical platformer about the angel Pit climbing out of the underworld to save Angel Land.
1987
NES
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
A side-scrolling adventure about Link searching the land for the Triforce of Courage.
1988
NES
Blaster Master
An action-adventure about a mix of overhead tank driving and side-view platforming inside a mutating underground.
1988
NES
Bubble Bobble
A co-op arcade game about two dragons trapping enemies inside bubbles.
1988
NES
Blades of Steel
An arcade hockey game that breaks into fistfights when the play gets rough.
1988
NES
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
An adventure about Simon Belmont wandering towns and mansions to lift Dracula's curse.
1988
NES
Metal Gear
A stealth game about Solid Snake sneaking through a fortress instead of shooting everyone.
1988
NES
Kirby's Adventure
A platformer about Kirby inhaling enemies and copying their powers to stop King Dedede.
1993
NES
Baseball Stars
A baseball game about recruiting a team, spending your winnings, and playing a season.
1989
NES
Adventure Island II
A platformer about Master Higgins riding dinosaur companions across a chain of islands.
1991
NES
Mega Man
A platformer about Mega Man stopping Dr.
1987
NES
Micro Machines
A top-down racer about tiny toy vehicles speeding around tabletops, gardens, and pool tables.
1991
NES
Snake Rattle 'n' Roll
An isometric platformer about two snakes eating enough to grow and reach the next ledge.
1990
NES
Batman: The Video Game
A platformer about Batman fighting through Gotham to stop the Joker.
1989
NES
Gradius
A side-scrolling shooter about the Vic Viper collecting power-ups in a fixed order.
1986
NES
StarTropics
An adventure about a boy named Mike searching tropical islands for his missing uncle.
1990
NES
Faxanadu
A side-scrolling RPG about an elf climbing from the roots of the World Tree to restore it.
1989
NES
Jackal
A top-down shooter about a jeep rescuing prisoners behind enemy lines.
1988
NES
Life Force
A shooter that alternates between outer space and a voyage through a giant living creature.
1988
NES
Dragon Warrior IV
A chapter-based RPG about several heroes whose separate stories join into one quest.
1992
NES
Battletoads
A brawler-platformer about three toads on a rescue mission, remembered for its brutal speed stages.
1991
NES
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game
A beat-'em-up about the four Ninja Turtles fighting through stages based on their arcade game.
1990
NES
Crystalis
An action RPG about a boy with an elemental sword waking in a world after a nuclear war.
1990
NES
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
An action-platformer about Ryu Hayabusa pursuing a sword that can summon a demon.
1990
NES
Klax
A puzzle game about catching falling tiles and lining up three of the same color.
1990
NES
Fester's Quest
A top-down adventure about Uncle Fester searching a monster-filled city for his family.
1989
NES
Metal Storm
A shooter about a mech that reverses gravity so it can walk on the ceiling.
1991
NES
Vice: Project Doom
An action game that switches among side-scrolling fights, driving, and first-person shooting.
1991
NES
Tetris
A puzzle game about rotating falling blocks to complete and clear horizontal lines.
1989
NES
Kid Niki: Radical Ninja
A platformer about a radical ninja spinning a sword through crowds of enemies.
1987
NES
Shadowgate
A point-and-click adventure about exploring a castle by examining and using what you find.
1989
NES
Dr. Mario
A puzzle about tossing capsules to wipe out viruses of matching colors.
1990
NES
Adventures of Lolo 3
A puzzle game about guiding Lolo past monsters by moving blocks and eggs.
1991
NES
Tecmo Super Bowl
A football game featuring real NFL teams and players from the 1991 season.
1991
NES
Ghosts 'n Goblins
A harsh platformer about the knight Arthur fighting demons to rescue a princess.
1986
NES
Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones
A beat-'em-up about the Lee brothers traveling the world in search of sacred stones.
1991
NES
Wizards & Warriors
A platformer about a knight collecting keys and spells inside monster-filled castles.
1987
NES
Rad Racer
A behind-the-car racing game about shifting gears and beating the clock on scenic roads.
1987
NES
Mega Man 6
A robot-master platformer about a worldwide robot tournament secretly run by Dr.
1994
NES
Rygar
A platformer about a warrior who fights with a shield on a chain.
1987
NES
Super C
A run-and-gun about the Contra soldiers fighting aliens through bases, jungles, and vehicles.
1990
NES
Maniac Mansion
A point-and-click adventure about kids sneaking through a mad scientist's house to save a friend.
1990
NES
Kung Fu
A side-scrolling fighter about a martial artist punching and kicking through five floors of enemies.
1985
NES
Gargoyle's Quest II
An action-platformer about the gargoyle Firebrand exploring a demon world.
1992
NES
IronSword: Wizards & Warriors II
A platformer about a knight gathering elemental magic to defeat an evil wizard.
1989
NES
Stinger
A shooter that switches between a top-down view and side-scrolling stages.
1987
NES
Cobra Triangle
An isometric boat game about racing, shooting, and jumping waterfalls.
1989
NES
Qix
A puzzle about drawing boxes to claim the screen without touching the roaming Qix.
1991
NES
Little Nemo: The Dream Master
A platformer about Nemo riding animals through dream worlds on the way to a princess.
1990
NES
Tecmo World Wrestling
A one-on-one wrestling game with a roster of larger-than-life fighters.
1990
NES
Legendary Wings
A shooter that starts in the sky and drops into side-scrolling enemy nests.
1988
NES
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
A co-op platformer about two chipmunks picking up boxes and throwing them at enemies.
1990
NES
Ikari Warriors
A top-down shooter about two soldiers advancing through a war zone.
1987
NES
Spy Hunter
A driving shooter about an armed spy car that can also transform into a boat.
1987
NES
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
A puzzle-platformer about feeding a blob jellybeans so it changes shape and helps you along.
1989
NES
The Goonies II
An adventure-platformer about Mikey exploring caves and hideouts to rescue his friends.
1987
NES
Battletoads & Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team
A crossover brawler about the Battletoads and the Double Dragon brothers fighting together.
1993
NES
Duck Hunt
A light-gun game about shooting ducks and clay pigeons while a hunting dog watches.
1985
NES
Ring King
A boxing game, seen from above the ring about outpunching a lineup of fighters.
1987
NES
Ice Climber
A vertical platformer about two climbers jumping up icy mountains to recover stolen vegetables.
1985
NES
Demon Sword
An action-platformer about a warrior cutting through demons to restore a sacred sword.
1990
NES
Journey to Silius
A run-and-gun about a boy fighting robots to avenge his father.
1990
NES
Power Blade
A platformer about an agent throwing a boomerang through a fortified complex.
1991
NES
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
A beat-'em-up about the Lee brothers avenging a murder with new special moves.
1990
NES
Mega Man 5
A robot-master platformer about Mega Man chasing a villain who looks like Proto Man.
1992
NES
Lode Runner
A puzzle-platformer about digging pits to trap guards and collect every piece of gold.
1987
NES
Mickey Mousecapade
A platformer about Mickey shooting at enemies while Minnie follows close behind.
1988
NES
The Guardian Legend
A game that alternates between a scrolling shooter and an overhead maze.
1989
NES
Zombie Nation
A shooter about a flying severed head trying to free a country of people turned into zombies.
1991
NES
Willow
An action-adventure, based on the film about the apprentice Willow saving a child from an evil queen.
1989
NES
Section Z
A side-scrolling shooter through a space base that you can run through in either direction.
1987
NES
Mario Bros.
An arcade platformer about Mario and Luigi bumping pests from below and kicking them away.
1986
NES
Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble
A skateboarding adventure about roaming a town and competing to find a missing friend.
1990
NES
Little Samson
A platformer about switching among four heroes, each with a different way of moving.
1992
NES
Kickle Cubicle
A puzzle game about freezing enemies into blocks and kicking them to build a path.
1990
NES
Mega Man 4
A robot-master platformer that gives Mega Man a chargeable arm cannon.
1992
NES
Dragon Warrior III
An RPG about recruiting a party of adventurers and traveling a world map to stop Baramos.
1992
NES
Astyanax
A platformer about a student pulled into a fantasy realm to rescue a princess with a magic axe.
1990
NES
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
An action game about the Ninja Turtles moving across an overworld and into side-scrolling missions.
1989
NES
Rush'n Attack
A run-and-gun about a lone commando with a knife infiltrating an enemy base.
1987
NES
Ice Hockey
A hockey game about short four-on-four matches with players of different sizes and styles.
1988
NES