The 22 Best Nintendo 64 Games of All Time

By YPB Team

The N64 era produced some of the most iconic games ever made. From Super Mario 64's leap into 3D to GoldenEye 007's couch-destroying multiplayer — which Nintendo 64 title stands above them all?

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Widely regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made, this action-adventure epic introduced Z-targeting and 3D Hyrule to an entire generation.

1000pts

Conker's Bad Fur Day

Rare's irreverent adult platformer starring a hungover squirrel, a masterwork of parody that deliberately subverted every cute-animal-game trope of its era.

818pts

Star Fox 64

An on-rails space shooter packed with branching paths, memorable boss battles, and the iconic "Do a barrel roll!" moment that became internet legend.

681pts

Pokémon Snap

A unique on-rails photography game that sent players through Pokémon habitats to snap the best pictures, a cult favourite that finally received a sequel in 2021.

681pts

GoldenEye 007

The first-person shooter that proved console multiplayer could rival the PC, based on the James Bond film and legendary for its split-screen four-player deathmatches.

623pts

Super Smash Bros.

The original crossover fighting game that brought Nintendo's most beloved characters together in chaotic four-player brawls for the first time.

623pts

Pokémon Stadium

The first Pokémon game to render the original 151 in full 3D, with stadium battles and the beloved mini-game cups that drew in the whole family.

623pts

WWF No Mercy

The peak of AKI Corporation's wrestling engine on N64, praised for its deep grappling mechanics and career mode that wrestling fans still consider the best ever made.

623pts

Banjo-Kazooie

Rare's beloved collect-a-thon platformer starring a bear and bird duo exploring elaborate worlds, celebrated for its humour, music and tight design.

545pts

Perfect Dark

Rare's follow-up to GoldenEye that pushed the N64 hardware to its limits with a sci-fi spy story, co-op missions, and an even deeper multiplayer suite.

545pts

Donkey Kong 64

Rare's sprawling collect-a-thon featuring five playable Kongs across massive worlds, best remembered for its catchy DK Rap opening and enormous scope.

545pts

Super Mario 64

The groundbreaking 3D platformer that launched the N64 and redefined what video games could be, starring Mario on a quest to rescue Princess Peach.

436pts

F-Zero X

A blazing-fast futuristic racer that ran at a smooth 60fps on N64 hardware, delivering white-knuckle anti-gravity speed that the series is famous for.

436pts

1080° Snowboarding

Nintendo's stylish snowboarding game with tight trick mechanics, a great soundtrack, and a sense of speed that felt genuinely next-generation in 1998.

436pts

Mario Kart 64

The four-player racing classic that introduced Rainbow Road and Battle Mode to millions, cementing Mario Kart as a party-game institution.

272pts

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

A darker, time-looping sequel to Ocarina of Time that challenged players to save Termina from a falling moon within a three-day cycle.

272pts

Paper Mario

A charming RPG that turned the Mushroom Kingdom into a storybook world, blending accessible turn-based combat with sharp wit and memorable partners.

272pts

Diddy Kong Racing

A kart racer that outpaced Mario Kart 64 with an adventure mode, multiple vehicle types, and a legendary Taj the genie boss race.

272pts

Wave Race 64

A jet-ski racing game with strikingly realistic water physics that remain impressive decades later, often cited as one of the most technically impressive N64 titles.

272pts

Banjo-Tooie

The ambitious sequel to Banjo-Kazooie featuring an interconnected world, split gameplay mechanics, and some of the most inventive puzzles on the console.

0pts

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

A side-scrolling platformer with a combinable copy-ability system that let players fuse powers like fire + ice for surprising and creative results.

0pts

Mario Party 2

The N64 board-game sequel that refined the formula of the original and introduced themed boards and item usage, cementing Mario Party as a franchise staple.