N64 Games offer a nostalgic trip back to the golden age of gaming, especially for Polar product users seeking a break or a fun way to unwind. At polarservicecenter.net, we understand the importance of balancing a healthy lifestyle with moments of enjoyment, and discovering classic games can be a great way to do just that. Explore top retro games, discover hidden gems and enhance your retro gaming experience.
1. Top N64 Games: The Legacy of Nintendo 64
The Nintendo 64, despite its rocky start with expensive cartridges and strained third-party relations, stands as a testament to Nintendo’s enduring quality, boasting iconic franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon that continue to define the gaming landscape.
2. Why is the Nintendo 64 a beloved Console?
The Nintendo 64 is a beloved console because it delivered generation-defining software despite having fewer games than its competitors. The N64 stood out because of the quality of its releases from Nintendo, which at the time, was known to be the best game developer in the world. The company had iconic franchises, such as, Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon.
3. What are the Best Nintendo 64 Games of All Time?
Here is a list of the top 100 N64 games:
100. Fighter’s Destiny
Fighter’s Destiny attempted to differentiate itself with a unique scoring system, focusing on throws and ring outs rather than depleting life bars. The fighting game genre was underrepresented on the N64, making this game stand out.
Alt text: Fighter’s Destiny N64 game cover showcasing diverse character roster and combat arena.
99. Cruis’n USA
Cruis’n USA is an arcade racing game with over-the-top action, making it a standout launch title for the N64. Those looking for realistic racing experiences should look elsewhere. The scenery in the tracks is also pretty nice.
Alt text: Cruis’n USA N64 game cover displaying a muscle car speeding through a scenic American highway.
98. Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth
Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth is a classic shmup experience, delivering the familiar Star Soldier gameplay in a fully 3D environment. The graphics are fully 3D and polygonal gameplay still uses a 2D perspective. The power-up system is the same old thing we’ve come to expect from the franchise.
Alt text: Star Soldier Vanishing Earth N64 game cover presenting a futuristic spacecraft battling alien forces.
97. Bomberman 64: The Second Attack
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack reverts to classic Bomberman gameplay, featuring the traditional + shape explosions and a story mode similar to older titles. The multiplayer mode includes co-op and battles for up to four players.
Alt text: Bomberman 64 Second Attack N64 game cover showing Bomberman in a futuristic combat scene.
96. World Driver Championship
World Driver Championship has impressive graphics for the N64, showcasing detailed models, environments, and advanced lighting effects. It is also very difficult to master. Despite its flaws, the game’s visuals make it worthwhile.
Alt text: World Driver Championship N64 game cover featuring a sleek sports car racing on a scenic track.
95. Extreme-G 2
Extreme-G 2 offers more content than the original, but the gameplay and track designs suffer in quality. Despite this, the futuristic racer is still enjoyable. You move so fast it can be hard to react in time, and the game requires too much accuracy.
Alt text: Extreme-G 2 N64 game cover depicting a futuristic motorcycle speeding through a high-tech track.
94. S.C.A.R.S.
S.C.A.R.S. is a futuristic racer where the vehicles are based on animals, with a focus on combat. One thing that wasn’t liked was how slow the vehicles move. The graphics are also a bit plain. Despite its shortcomings, S.C.A.R.S. is still fun, especially in multiplayer.
Alt text: SCARS N64 game cover showcasing animal-themed race cars battling on a futuristic circuit.
93. San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing
San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing provides a great sense of speed and well-designed shortcuts while racing through the streets of San Francisco. Rush let’s you do just that. Heck, there’s even the ever present fog the city is famous for here.
Alt text: San Francisco Rush Extreme Racing N64 game cover displaying cars racing through the iconic cityscape.
92. Robotron 64
Robotron 64 translates the classic arcade concept into a 3D title, where the goal is to blast everything in sight and survive. The 3D perspective changes the gameplay balance a bit but by and large this is the original concept fully realized.
Alt text: Robotron 64 N64 game cover featuring intense shooting action in a futuristic arena.
91. Mario Golf
Mario Golf simplifies the sport, making it accessible and fun with classic Nintendo charm. You do still have variables such as slope and wind, but aiming and swinging the club for a shot is intuitive and easy to understand.
Alt text: Mario Golf N64 game cover presenting Mario and friends enjoying a round of golf on a colorful course.
90. Fighting Force 64
Fighting Force 64 is a beat ’em up that stays true to the basic formula of the genre, offering great gameplay for fans. The biggest complaints were that it sticks too close to the basic beat ’em up formula. That’s just fine because I love the genre so much.
Alt text: Fighting Force 64 N64 game cover showing characters engaged in street fighting action.
89. Tetrisphere
Tetrisphere offers a unique 3D twist on the classic puzzle game, where players eliminate blocks within a spherical playfield. You eliminate the blocks at rest by lining up three together. The thing is you can only make three mistakes.
Alt text: Tetrisphere N64 game cover depicting colorful blocks arranged on a spherical surface.
88. Bomberman Hero
Bomberman Hero departs from the series’ norms, featuring platforming elements and a single-player focus, but remains an enjoyable experience. For one thing Bomberman can now jump. Yes, this game has platforming elements.
Alt text: Bomberman Hero N64 game cover showing Bomberman in a heroic pose, ready for adventure.
87. Mortal Kombat 4
Mortal Kombat 4 brings the violence of the series into 3D, with new features like weapon use and the sidestep function. There are even some new features such as being able to use weapons as well as the handy sidestep function.
Alt text: Mortal Kombat 4 N64 game cover featuring iconic characters in a fierce fighting stance.
86. Space Station Silicon Valley
Space Station Silicon Valley is a neat platformer where you play as a sentient microchip inhabiting various animals with unique abilities. You can inhabit the bodies of various animals by first disabling them, and then jumping in. Each of these furry friends has their own sets of attacks and abilities.
Alt text: Space Station Silicon Valley N64 game cover showcasing animals with robotic enhancements in a futuristic setting.
85. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is a fully 3D title focused on skating, where players perform tricks on well-designed courses. You just ride around really well designed courses performing tricks and getting points. It sounds simple, and it is, but it’s the encapsulation of what makes Tony Hawk so enjoyable.
Alt text: Tony Hawks Pro Skater N64 game cover showing Tony Hawk performing a trick in a skate park.
84. Hybrid Heaven
Hybrid Heaven is an ambitious RPG with a unique combat system combining elements of traditional RPGs, Tomb Raider, and wrestling. Hybrid Heaven was really ambitious for the hardware on which it was released. It has a lot of voice acting, and is a role playing game at its core.
Alt text: Hybrid Heaven N64 game cover featuring a mysterious figure in a futuristic, otherworldly environment.
83. WinBack: Covert Operations
WinBack: Covert Operations plays like a modern third-person shooter, with stealth elements and a well-done cover system. WinBack: Covert Operations plays more like a modern third person shooter. It makes light use of stealth elements as well as a really well done cover system.
Alt text: WinBack Covert Operations N64 game cover depicting a soldier taking cover during a firefight.
82. Mario Party
Mario Party is a party game that mixes a traditional board game with real-time mini-games, creating a fantastic multiplayer experience. It’s clear that Nintendo was playing on the console’s strengths. After all, with the four controller ports the Nintendo 64 was clearly the best choice for multiplayer titles.
Alt text: Mario Party N64 game cover showing Mario and friends in a festive party game setting.
81. Jet Force Gemini
Jet Force Gemini combines third-person shooting with action-adventure elements, featuring intense gunplay and a cutesy art style. This one is two parts third person shooter and one part action adventure. It’s also from Rareware who isn’t exactly known for making this type of game.
Alt text: Jet Force Gemini N64 game cover featuring the team ready for an intergalactic battle.
80. Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense
Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense offers vehicular combat with a neat 1970s vibe, standing out in a genre lacking on the N64. These follow the basic formula but with a really neat 1970s vibe. That’s really what makes Vigilante 8 2nd offense stand out.
Alt text: Vigilante 8 2nd Offense N64 game cover depicting vintage cars in a destructive vehicular combat scenario.
79. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards introduces the ability to combine different powers, but suffers from a slow pace. Notably for the first (and only as far as I know) time Kirby can combine different powers into one. It’s neat, but doesn’t quite make up for the poor movement speed.
Alt text: Kirby 64 The Crystal Shards N64 game cover featuring Kirby in a vibrant, crystalline world.
78. Chameleon Twist
Chameleon Twist is an action puzzle game where you manipulate your character’s tongue to solve puzzles. The twist is that your character’s tongue can be shot out and manipulated in a variety of different directional inputs. It’s more interesting than it sounds.
Alt text: Chameleon Twist N64 game cover showing a chameleon using its tongue in a colorful, whimsical environment.
77. Bomberman 64
Bomberman 64 changes the series mechanics with circular bomb explosions and more open stage designs. Hudson altered the mechanics of the series in some pretty big ways. For one thing bomb explosions are now shaped circular (instead of the traditional + pattern).
Alt text: Bomberman 64 N64 game cover featuring Bomberman in a 3D, action-packed setting.
76. Cruis’n World
Cruis’n World expands on Cruis’n USA with more stages, cars, and a new stunt system. Well that’s what we got with Cruis’n World. It has more stages that are more interesting, more cars, and more, well, everything.
Alt text: Cruis’n World N64 game cover showing a race car speeding through an exotic location.
75. Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap blends photography with the world of Pokémon, challenging players to take the best pictures of Pokémon in their natural habitats. Pokemon Snap has you riding aboard a special craft in the world of Pokemon while you take photos of all that you see.
Alt text: Pokemon Snap N64 game cover featuring a photographer capturing images of Pokemon in a lush environment.
74. Yoshi’s Story
Yoshi’s Story is a side-scrolling platformer with an emphasis on eating fruit, made with a cutesy style aimed at kids. There’s now a weird emphasis on eating fruit. Also, it’s almost too easy. They went a really cutesy route with Yoshi here which most fans didn’t like.
Alt text: Yoshi’s Story N64 game cover showcasing Yoshi in a colorful, storybook-like world.
73. Cruis’n Exotica
Cruis’n Exotica takes the series over the top with completely new and exotic tracks. It has all new tracks which are completely over the top. You have more realistic locales such as Hong Kong, India, Alaska, etc. Then there’s Atlantis.
Alt text: Cruis’n Exotica N64 game cover depicting a race car speeding through a wild, exotic landscape.
72. Extreme-G
Extreme-G delivers a fast-paced futuristic racing experience with loop-de-loops and weapons. Everything I said about it earlier still stands. The sense of speed here is really well done. You zoom around each track making turns and dodging environmental elements.
Alt text: Extreme-G N64 game cover showing a futuristic motorcycle racing through a neon-lit track.
71. Iggy’s Reckin’ Balls
Iggy’s Reckin’ Balls is a unique racing game where you race as balls in vertically inclined stages, using a grappling hook to propel yourself upward. Basically you race from the start of a stage to the end. You can run, jump, and grab on to things. Stages are very vertically inclined.
Alt text: Iggy’s Reckin’ Balls N64 game cover featuring colorful balls racing on a complex, vertical track.
70. Pokémon Stadium
Pokémon Stadium allows players to battle in 3D using their Game Boy Pokémon, with fun mini-games included. Besides some mini games (that are a blast) it’s just battle after battle, but in glorious 3D.
Alt text: Pokemon Stadium N64 game cover showcasing Pokemon battling in a stadium arena.
69. Lego Racers
Lego Racers combines Lego customization with racing, offering fun course designs and decent items. For a fifth generation console game there’s a ton of customization here. That’s to be expected with a game based around the Lego franchise though.
Alt text: Lego Racers N64 game cover featuring Lego characters racing in custom-built vehicles.
68. Doom 64
Doom 64 is an entirely new game in the Doom series, with better level design and gameplay than previous installments. Rather than port the original, or even its sequel, the developers instead opted to make an entirely new game.
Alt text: Doom 64 N64 game cover depicting a menacing demon in a dark, atmospheric setting.
67. Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Puzzle League is Panel De Pon with a Pokémon theme, featuring graphics from the TV show and game series. It’s the same basic gameplay but with graphics from the TV show and game series.
Alt text: Pokemon Puzzle League N64 game cover featuring vibrant Pokemon characters in a puzzle-solving setting.
66. Rakuga Kids
Rakuga Kids is a fighting game with a unique art style, featuring crude drawings of characters cut out from paper. From what I’ve read the word ‘rakuga’ is kind of like ‘doodle’ in Japanese. It’s fitting because you’re playing as crude drawings of characters cut out from paper.
Alt text: Rakuga Kids N64 game cover displaying cartoon-like characters in a chaotic fighting scene.
65. Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers
Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers is a platformer similar to Crash Bandicoot, with well-designed levels. As Donald Duck you work your way through both 3D and 2D areas. Unfortunately the three dimensional areas are restricted.
Alt text: Donald Duck Goin’ Quackers N64 game cover featuring Donald Duck in a dynamic action pose.
64. Destruction Derby 64
Destruction Derby 64 features both racing and arena-style battles, with an improved four-player mode. This one does get extra props because it features a four player mode. Because of this the Nintendo 64 game is probably my favorite in the franchise.
Alt text: Destruction Derby 64 N64 game cover depicting cars crashing in a demolition derby arena.
63. Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo
Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo is a 3D shooter with land and air battles set against the backdrop of Episode I. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron was an incredible game. Factor 5 decided to try again, but using the newly released Episode I as a foundation.
Alt text: Star Wars Episode I Battle for Naboo N64 game cover featuring a spacecraft in a battle scene over Naboo.
62. Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness evolves classic Pac-Man gameplay with complicated stages and light puzzles. Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness plays a bit more like classic Pac-Man, but it’s still a clear evolution. You traverse complicated stages defeating foes and solving light puzzles.
Alt text: Ms Pac-Man Maze Madness N64 game cover showcasing Ms. Pac-Man in a 3D maze adventure.
61. Body Harvest
Body Harvest is a third-person shooter with open-world elements, where you fight aliens and steal vehicles. This third person shooter may have been less morbid but it definitely has the feel of GTA.
Alt text: Body Harvest N64 game cover featuring a soldier battling alien creatures in a vast landscape.
60. Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing is an over-the-top arcade-style boxing game with fun gameplay and graphics. Sure, it lacks the fidelity of the aforementioned release but it’s still mighty impressive for this console. Ready 2 Rumble Boxing is also a lot of fun on the Nintendo 64.
Alt text: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing N64 game cover showing boxers in an exaggerated, comedic fighting pose.
59. Mario Party 3
Mario Party 3 features recycled ideas but still delivers fun mini-games in a board game premise. This aptly named title has you and up to three other friends competing in mini-games under a board game premise.
Alt text: Mario Party 3 N64 game cover featuring Mario and friends in a dynamic party game setting.
58. Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko offers better graphics and controls than other versions, with entertaining one-liners. This series of platformers may have played second fiddle to the likes of Mario and Crash Bandicoot, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t really good.
Alt text: Gex 3 Deep Cover Gecko N64 game cover featuring Gex in a cool, action-packed pose.
57. Earthworm Jim 3D
Earthworm Jim 3D retains the series’ 90s attitude, with the protagonist attacking with a laser gun. The difference between this and most other platformers of the era is that the protagonist attacks with a laser gun.
Alt text: Earthworm Jim 3D N64 game cover showing Earthworm Jim in a bizarre, action-filled scene.
56. Dr. Mario 64
Dr. Mario 64 improves on the classic puzzle game with improved graphics and a four-player mode. This is still the classic falling block, eliminate all the viruses puzzle game like the original premise. As I mentioned earlier the graphics are prettier and at a higher resolution.
Alt text: Dr Mario 64 N64 game cover featuring Dr. Mario surrounded by colorful viruses.
55. Quake
Quake is a well-regarded FPS that runs well on the N64, with better controls than the PC version. The graphics have been toned down but the controls are much better even on the archaic N64 pad. That’s thanks to the multitude of different options included in this package.
Alt text: Quake N64 game cover depicting intense first-person shooting action in a dark, industrial environment.
54. Tonic Trouble
Tonic Trouble is a good platformer with fun level designs and a unique pea shooter weapon. Tonic Trouble was basically sent to release to die. It’s unforutnate because it’s actually a really good platformer.
Alt text: Tonic Trouble N64 game cover featuring the protagonist in a quirky, action-adventure pose.
53. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 improves on the original with better graphics, more options, and a track editor. The refinements (such as being able to chain tricks) make sense and add a surprising amount to the experience.
Alt text: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 N64 game cover showing a skater performing a trick in an urban skate park.
52. Snowboard Kids 2
Snowboard Kids 2 offers more content than the original, but the gameplay doesn’t feel as smooth. Snowboard Kids 2 should be better than the original. I mean, it has more courses, more characters, and additional options.
Alt text: Snowboard Kids 2 N64 game cover featuring snowboarders racing down a snowy mountain.
51. Gauntlet Legends
Gauntlet Legends is a revamped version of the classic action RPG series with refined gameplay and great four-player co-op action. The four playable characters have more refined classes than ever before and they feel significantly different from one another.
Alt text: Gauntlet Legends N64 game cover showing the heroes battling monsters in a dungeon.
50. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron consists entirely of dogfights and aerial combat. You won’t find a single jedi style sword battle, nor will you see force powers here of any kind. It’s good old fashioned aerial combat and it’s a lot of fun.
Alt text: Star Wars Rogue Squadron N64 game cover featuring spacecraft engaged in intense aerial combat.
49. Pokémon Stadium 2
Pokémon Stadium 2 features all 251 Pokémon in 3D and new mini-games. Part 2 is more of the same. The graphics and features haven’t been upgraded in any significant way, but now we have all 251 Pokemon in glorious 3D.
Alt text: Pokemon Stadium 2 N64 game cover showcasing Pokemon battling in a dynamic stadium environment.
48. Gex 64: Enter the Gecko
Gex 64: Enter the Gecko is a charming platformer with cheesy one-liners and a fun port of the PS1 version. This is of a port of the PS1 version and aside from a few missing stages and limited audio it’s a pretty good way to play it.
Alt text: Gex 64 Enter the Gecko N64 game cover featuring Gex in a cool, action-packed pose.
47. Mario Party 2
Mario Party 2 is a great title that popularized the party concept on home consoles. This is, in my opinion, the best Mario Party title of all time. It’s a bit of a shame that Nintendo recycled some of the previous mini-games and repackaged them here, but there’s plenty new to hold your interest.
Alt text: Mario Party 2 N64 game cover featuring Mario and friends in a medieval-themed party setting.
46. Hydro Thunder
Hydro Thunder offers water-based racing with powerboats. This one isn’t quite arcade perfect like the Dreamcast iteration. Despite this the Nintendo 64 release has a few of its own bells and whistles.
Alt text: Hydro Thunder N64 game cover showing powerboats racing through a thrilling water course.
45. Banjo-Tooie
Banjo-Tooie features large, open stages and a focus on collecting, but the items are hard to find. Rare copied Nintendo a lot but for my money they were almost never able to quite measure up. Banjo Tooie is the perfect example.
Alt text: Banjo Tooie N64 game cover featuring Banjo and Kazooie in a large, open world.
44. Excitebike 64
Excitebike 64 retains the gameplay of the original and adds new layers of strategy in a 3D space. You race around courses and aim your bike just right when landing jumps or else you’ll wreck it.
Alt text: Excitebike 64 N64 game cover featuring a biker performing a stunt on a dirt track.
43. Custom Robo
Custom Robo is an action RPG where you battle mechas in real-time arenas, collecting robot parts and advancing the story. You travel the world outside of battle interacting with characters and collecting robot parts and advancing the story.
Alt text: Custom Robo N64 game cover showcasing robots battling in a futuristic arena.
42. Blast Corps
Blast Corps is a demolition game where you destroy everything in your path to clear the way for a nuke. You play as a simple driver of various vehicles. Your goal? To destroy everything you can.
Alt text: Blast Corps N64 game cover depicting vehicles demolishing buildings in a chaotic scene.
41. Glover
Glover is a platforming adventure game where you guide a ball across stages using an anthropomorphic glove. Your goal here is to guide a ball across just shy of twenty different stages complete with boss fights after every three.
Alt text: Glover N64 game cover featuring a glove balancing a ball in a whimsical world.
40. Ridge Racer 64
Ridge Racer 64 offers classic arcade action with over-the-top drifting and simple mechanics. While the series lived and died by the arcades this edition is an exclusive release, and actually developed by Nintendo themselves.
Alt text: Ridge Racer 64 N64 game cover showcasing a sports car drifting on a race track.
39. Mario Tennis
Mario Tennis is an arcade-style version of the sport with simple mechanics and classic Nintendo characters. The basic mechanics are fun and quite solid in design, but where it shines is with what Nintendo added in.
Alt text: Mario Tennis N64 game cover featuring Mario and friends playing tennis on a colorful court.
38. Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Mortal Kombat Trilogy features all the previous Mortal Kombat characters. MK Trilogy was one of the very first fighting games I absolutely had to have in the 32/64-bit generation. I mean, all of the previous Mortal Kombat characters in one title?
Alt text: Mortal Kombat Trilogy N64 game cover featuring iconic characters in a fighting stance.
37. Killer Instinct Gold
Killer Instinct Gold changes the graphics with polygonal backgrounds and controls well. Killer Instinct Gold actually changes the graphics using polygonal backgrounds and the end result is pretty nice.
Alt text: Killer Instinct Gold N64 game cover showcasing characters battling in a fierce combat scene.
36. StarCraft 64
StarCraft 64 retains the gameplay of the PC version and adds split-screen local multiplayer. So how does it fare on the Nintendo 64? Surprisingly well. You would think the lack of mouse support would cripple it, but thanks to some clever controller hotkeys that’s not the case.
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