Greatest Nintendo 64 Games of All Time

This mega-popular shooter needs little introduction, but for those who are uninitiated, Goldeneye 007 has everything a N64 owner could want. The awesome story mode is adapted from the events of the Goldeneye movie, but with several unique and original areas. Playing as the heroic spy James Bond, you'll navigate expertly designed maps, completing objectives and slaying your foes.

Besides the highly replayable story mode, Goldeneye 007 offers endless hours of entertainment with local multiplayer matches. In its heyday, Goldeneye was the go-to game when challenging your friends on the Nintendo 64. Always remember; no Oddjob!

Often considered one of the best games of all-time, Ocarina of Time is a wildly imaginative adventure that will stay in your mind for decades to come. Playing as a young boy from the woods, you'll go on an epic quest through time.

With incredibly memorable boss fights, wickedly smart puzzles and dungeon designs, and gorgeous music, it's no wonder so many people love this N64 gem. Few Nintendo games are as revered as Ocarina of Time, and for good reason. Who else remembers battling the giant spider Gohma or finally figuring out the puzzles in the Water Temple?

When you weren't blasting your pals in Goldeneye 007, Mario Kart was one of the best games to fire up for multiplayer sessions. This exciting racing title brought the competition out in everyone, as each player races to the finish on imaginative courses.

Mario Kart has four awesome modes; Grand Prix, Time Trial, Versus, and Battle. In addition to racing for the gold cup in Grand Prix, you can compete with your friends in both Versus and Battle. You'll collect power-ups like boost mushrooms and blue shells, guaranteed to destroy your opponent and secure your victory.

Ever since Nintendo entered the gaming industry in the 80's, Mario has been an iconic character in video gaming. This iconic Nintendo 64 game marked Mario's entry into the new and exciting world of 3D, which cracked open the can of possibilities. After Peach is kidnapped by Bowser (for the umpteenth time), Mario must journey through countless fantasy worlds, collecting Power Stars in order to rescue her.

Like every other Mario game, Super Mario 64 immediately won over N64 gamers with its responsive controls, imaginative levels, and lighthearted tone. From the very beginning, Super Mario 64 is a charming game with loads of character, immersing players into the Mushroom Kingdom. As you hop into paintings and explore for Stars, it's easy to sit back and become enveloped in the world of Super Mario 64.

The pitch is simple: Super Smash Bros is a game where Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Yoshi, and some other Nintendo mascots all punch each other in the face. In total, there are 12 different Nintendo characters to play as, ranging from Pokemon creatures to Star Fox characters. Either in multiplayer matches or the solo Adventure mode, you can pit these characters against each other in 4-man free for all battles.

Although there are other fighting games on the Nintendo 64, Super Smash Bros feels entirely unique. Apart from the inclusion of Nintendo characters, the gameplay is an interesting fusion of platforming, fighting, and a party game. Often imitated but never replicated, Super Smah Bros gives you an entertaining competitive experience that only the N64 can provide.

Starting out on the Super Nintendo, the Star Fox franchise has always been a softer success for Nintendo. Many would argue that the franchise reached its peak when Star Fox 64 came out on the Nintendo 64. Featuring levels with branching paths, immersive 3D graphics, and highly replayable levels, Star Fox 64 was one of the best games to own.

Like the previous games on Super Nintendo, Star Fox 64 is all about zooming through space, blasting down ships and avoiding obstacles. Playing as lead pilot Fox McCloud, you and your team of starship-flying animal pals execute dangerous missions, hunting down threatening foes. The on-rails nature of the gamplay makes it both leisurely and exciting, always encouraging you to try again and see just how many enemies you can kill as you zoom through each mission.

This first-person shooter has everything that makes a Nintendo 64 game great; awesome weapons, a cool main character, and tons of exciting gameplay. Controlling the powerful warrior Turok, players must fight through this prehistoric world to prevent the universe from being conquered.

Whereas other shooters of the era were all about futuristic weaponry and cool spy antics, Turok set itself apart with bloody combat and dinosaur enemies. As you make your way through the maze-like levels, you'll have to defend against all manner of sharp-teethed foe. Don't worry though, as Turok has an expansive selection of weapons that will make any dinosaur crumble with ease.

Like the board game Monopoly, Mario Party always results in two things; having fun with your friends, and causing intense competition. Mario Party tasks your group of friends with competing in a variety of exciting mini-games while battling over coins and Stars on a virtual board. Part strategy, part luck, and all parts entertaining, this is one party that you'll want to revisit time and time again.

There are 50 different mini-games to compete in, and eight total game boards to play on. For those who want to party solo, you can take on the Mini-Game Island. Here, you'll have to complete all the mini-games with a limited number of tries. Whether you're kicking back with your friends or trying to stir up competitive trouble, Mario Party is one of the N64's finest multiplayer offerings.

Developed by Rare, the same developers as Goldeneye 007, this futurist first-person shooter quickly gained a cult-classic status in the 90's. Playing as the skilled secret agent Joanna Dark, players take on a series of action-packed missions that range from classic espionage to wacky sci-fi antics.

If you loved Goldeneye 007 but never got a chance to play Perfect Dark, you're missing out. Like Goldeneye, the game is infinitely replayable, with an excellent story mode and addictive multiplayer action. There's multiple difficulty modes with varying objectives to complete, as well as multiplayer challenges to complete.

Banjo-Kazooie was created by Rare, the same developers as Goldeneye 007 and Conker's Bad Fur Day. Similar in style to games like Super Mario 64, players control the beloved bear and bird duo, Banjo and Kazooie. Working in tandem, the two unlikely heroes must defeat the evil witch Gruntilda and rescue Banjo's sister.

This adventure game is memorable for a huge variety of reasons, including its wildly imaginative levels, unlockable moves, interesting puzzles, and unique style. Unlike Super Mario 64, Banjo and Kazooie must travel through some threatening lands, like “Bubblegloop Swamp” and “Rusty Bucket Bay”. The dangers and enemies you'll face are often much more sinister, which is balanced with some wacky comedy and quirky gameplay mechanics.

During the Nintendo 64 era, many companies tried to develop 3D platforming games with lovable mascots. Then, there was Conker's Bad Fur Day. Previously known as a cute and family-friendly squirrel, this N64 shows a completely different kind of Conker. Binge-drinking, hard partying, and foul swearing are just a few of Conker's favorite things, and some of that is pretty mild compared to the rest of this hilarious adventure game.

From the very beginning of the game, which starts with Conker hungover and puking his guts out, you know you're in for a wild ride. Conker's Bad Fur Day showed gamers that the Nintendo 64 wasn't just for little kids. From battling in bloody war battles to recreating The Matrix, this game had just as much variety as it did profanity.

The other king of racing games on the N64, Diddy Kong Racing was all about variety. In addition to racing with standard karts, some races required the use of planes and hovercrafts. Instead of being structured with circuits and cup races like Mario Kart 64, this racing game played out over a fun adventure through interesting worlds.

This is another N64 classic developed by Rare, and it's oozing with the studio's distinct charm. It's also a great game for some multiplayer races, with plenty of power-ups to blast at your friends. The mixture of vehicles types is just one of the reasons this game makes the cut.

While the Nintendo 64 had a surplus of sports titles, only a few of them were as fun as NFL Blitz. Instead of giving players a realistic representation of football, this game is all about tackling with ridiculous power and racking up the touchdowns. Either playing against the computer or your friends, NFL Blitz offers hours of enjoyment.

Games are fast-paced, with two teams of seven facing off. Even football-newbies will be able to easily understand the controls, as they were designed with arcade-level simplicity. It's tons of fun to pile up on the quarterback, sacking him with the strength of your entire team. The game includes a slew of licensed NFL teams, so you'll be able to lock helmets with your favorite teams in the league.

This sci-fi third-person shooter is one of the most criminally underrated games on the Nintendo 64. The game follows a team of cosmic adventurers who take on an insectoid alien invasion. With explosive action, multiple playable characters, and both solo and multiplayer modes, this is a third-person shooter that has it all.

Jet Force Gemini sticks out in my brain due to its awesome blend of shooting gameplay and exploration. Players explore a series of planets and ships, blasting giant ant-aliens to pieces. Using machine guns, grenades, and more, you'll cut through these creepy crawlies with splurts of colored blood. Besides the fantastic story mode, you can take on your friends in four-player free-for-all deathmatches.