Best NES Games: Which One Do You Like The Most?

The NES or Nintendo Entertainment System is a home console that was originally known as the Famicom or Family Computer. It was a big hit in Japan, where it all started. It sold almost 2.5 million copies in the first year after it was on the market. Nintendo was the one that came up with the idea for the console. They attempted to increase brand visibility internationally from a collectible card firm.

However, they were also faced with the reality that the western markets were difficult to access due to the gaming industry’s recession at the time, which resulted in the closure of numerous firms. Toy retailers also opted not to contribute to the shambles by suspending the distribution of video games.

“Just like dreaming of some girl you meet in High School, well Summer School, and then a couple of years later your paths cross and you get to experience something you wanted to but didn’t get to”, that’s what a man says about playing retro games. Visit our online retro game store for the more interesting stuff!

They believed that the business was a passing trend that would disappear soon. This, however, did not deter Nintendo from attempting. The firm devised an effective strategy to reestablish consumer confidence.

They devised a few excellent concepts. First, they bargained with the shops over unsold consoles. The concept of selling unsold products back to the firm piqued the shops’ curiosity. Second, they developed R.O.B., a peripheral that could be used in conjunction with two of the games.

Later, the business changed its name to NES and launched its first console, which included Super Mario Bros., which became one of the most significant games in history since it saved the industry from total collapse.

What are the best NES games? Well, everyone has their favorites, but here are our top picks:

Best NES Games: Still Fun To Play Today

1. Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario is significant in video game development because it was released at a time when the industry was on the verge of collapsing. It has entered our cultural vocabulary.

Even people who were not born in the 1990s have heard of this game. It may not have the finest visuals, but they were adequate for the time period in which it was released. On September 13, 1985, Super Mario made his debut.

Following the success of consoles like Atari, the industry began to face challenges associated with the large number of consoles released at that time. People had way too many choices for playing games, which led to over-saturation.

Those consoles also had their own collection of games, which reduced the fun of playing with others. Imagine buying an expensive console only to find out that your friends buy others with games you have never played before.

Isn’t it going to be difficult to stay up?

It’s hardly a leap to argue that Super Mario Bros. reignited people’s interest in gaming after a period of poor games nearly destroyed the industry.

With its simple plot, this game is enjoyable to play. It also includes a variety of worlds to explore. And the guy may gain strength by eating mushrooms he finds while bouncing on foes.

2. The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda was a huge hit upon its initial release. It debuted on the Famicom and followed in the footsteps of Super Mario Bros. It was only a year later that it found its way to the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The game was set in the fictitious realm of Hyrule. Link, the primary protagonist, was tasked with rescuing Princess Zelda, who was being kept hostage by Ganon.

The game is enjoyable since it incorporates several intriguing features, such as exploration and adventure. The visuals are fairly basic, especially by today’s standards, yet they were regarded as amazing at the time. The player can move in any direction and explore an environment that appears to have no end.

The original’s popularity inspired the firm to produce a sequel, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The game’s side-scrolling platforming took some off guard.

The good news is that Nintendo listened to what fans wanted and returned to the original gameplay with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which remains one of the franchise’s finest games to this day.

3. Kirby’s Dream Land

Kirby, as a character, may compete with Mario. It is not overshadowed by other well-known NES characters. Instead, they’ve grown together to become who they are now.

The charming pink puffball is immediately identified by its round shape and adorable look. The ability to duplicate was one of the most important features of the game that was missing from the original.

The character in this game may inhale opponents and then spew them out as a way of assaulting others. He could also swallow them, although this would not provide him with any additional powers.

The original Kirby was a masterwork that established the basis for his subsequent appearances in various games. Kirby is depicted as a cheerful figure, despite the fact that his desires for the strength of deceased foes make him appear somewhat frightening.

The pink hue and spherical form have a significant influence on the overall image of this figure. People adore him for his overabundance of sweetness. Even the opponents in the game were approached in a friendly rather than threatening manner.

The visuals are similar to what was fashionable at the time. With the limitation of Game Boy’s monochromatic screen, the developer still managed to make him and the settings colorful.

4. Tetris

Tetris is one of the most well-known video games of all time. The basic style and rules make it no less difficult. The player must align the falling pieces from above. Every horizontal line formed as a result of the blocks falling into position will vanish in an instant.

The more rows you clear, the longer it takes for you to lose the game. But if you keep filling it all the way to the top, it’ll be game over in no time.

This game appears to be simple, but it is not. You must consider how to precisely line the blocks in order to fill the vacant areas. Tetris is much more than a game. It is a tool for improving cognitive abilities. Regularly playing this game may have an effect on cognitive learning.

Alexey Pajitnov is the man behind the development of this game. Before obtaining the idea to create the game, he had always had a fascination with puzzle games.

Pentominoes was a big inspiration for him, and they created the foundation for Tetris. He reduced pentominoes to geometric forms made up of four blocks known as tetrominoes. He then discovered how to organize them in a playfield.

The pieces filled up the area in a matter of seconds, so he found a way to make the game last longer, which was to clear a row when a full line was made.

5. Super Contra

Super Contra was first launched as an arcade game in 1988. The game contains side-scrolling platforming and two primary heroes, Lance Bean and Bill Rizer. They were tasked with defending the globe against alien invaders.

Shortly afterward, the game was ported to the NES. Both this and the original were re-released on several platforms.

Contra is a challenging game, but the multiplayer feature makes it easier. Furthermore, it has infinite continues, which greatly aids your ability to defeat the opponents.

It’s not the duration of the game that makes it difficult; it’s how simple it is for the characters to perish. You must evade enemy shots, which are frequently quite close together, leaving little room for escape. By playing it more and more, you’ll figure out how to get around them. 

6. Duck Hunt

A game does not have to be complex to be memorable. Duck Hunt exemplifies how basic can be enjoyable.

All you have to do is fire down the ducks that are soaring through the air. The longer you wait, the more probable it is that they will flee. You can go on to the next round if you’ve shot enough birds.

With each round, the challenge rises. Higher rounds have quicker moving birds, making it more difficult to lock the target. The amount of ducks you’ve killed is shown at the bottom of the screen.

If you do not reach the required number to continue the game, the game is ended.

There are three modes to choose from. Game A is the simplest since it only releases one duck at a time. Game B, on the other hand, launches two at the same time.

Game C is a bit different. Instead of ducks, you must shoot down flying clays in this mode. The modes with ducks are more difficult for obvious reasons: the movement is unpredictable.

Meanwhile, the clays on Mode C follow a trajectory. You can suspect where they will fly towards. Another thing that makes the game interesting is the special gun-styled control. You can point it at the screen and wait for the ducks to come out of the bush at any time.

FAQs – Most Popular NES Games

1. How to play NES games?

To play NES games, you should buy an official console. There is no need to restore the broken NES you bought years ago. Nintendo has done the job for you by releasing the new NES Classic Edition. It’s a downsized version of the old console.

Design-wise, it looks a lot like the original except it appears smaller this time. And you don’t have to worry about cartridges because the games come preloaded onto the system.

2. Are they full games?

The new console has full games, not just trials. So if you can’t wait to revel in nostalgia with the games you played growing up, just buy the new console from Nintendo. It has people’s favorite classics like the Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. 3, and much more.

3. What are the best-selling NES games?

To no surprise, Super Mario Bros. snatches the first position. It has a huge impact on popular culture. It has also become a mainstay classic thanks to exciting gameplay and advanced graphics for the period it was released. It has been sold more than 40 million units around the world.

Duck Hunt has also sold a bunch. The game might feel outdated in today’s video game scene, but when it was released, it was such a hit. Players were thrilled with the idea of using the zapper extension to shoot down the flying ducks. Needles to say, the game is iconic. Tetris also makes an appearance on this list.

It’s not hard to see how this extremely popular game would rank high among other games. It’s not only popular on the NES, but also on other platforms. It has sold over 170 copies to date. Other NES games that have sold millions include the Legend of Zelda, Super Mario 2, Super Mario 3, and Excitebike.

Top NES Games: Final Thoughts

There are a few titles on the list of the best NES games that you may have heard of before. It’s not just the games that are legendary; the system itself is as well. It’s no surprise that the firm sought to resuscitate it by producing a new version of the platform.

When the first NES was released, visuals were still in development. As a result, the games are reflective of what was formerly popular. 8-bit games aren’t all that awful.

They have something unique about them, despite the fact that the visuals are nothing like what you see in current games. Despite their shortcomings, NES games have proven to be ageless. People still talk about them, despite the fact that they are decades old.

Tetris, for example, has been adapted to a variety of systems. Despite the fact that it was produced in the mid-1980s, the game is not out of date.

The same is true with Super Mario. With the debut of Super Mario 3D Land, it also received new visuals. It’s a delight to see our favorite retro games translated onto current devices with better visuals, but the pixelated graphics of classic NES games have their own charm that’s difficult to replace.

By the way, we just reviewed six of our favorite NES games. There are really a lot more launched on the system during the course of its life. There are around 715 licensed games, 677 of which have made it to North America.