The 20 HARDEST N64 Games

The 20 Hardest N64 Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and WHICH ONE IS THE Z BUTTON? These are the hardest N64 Games. Obviously if you don’t know where the Z button is, every game is going to be hard. These 20 games are hard, even for seasoned pros... Let’s go!

“Diddy Kong Racing” (1997)

Developer and publisher Rare, aiming to create its own Mario Kart, released Diddy Kong Racing, and if Donkey Kong was Nintendo’s main mascot, there’s every real possibility this could have been the company's primary Karting series. While it gained immense popularity due to people's love for cartoonish racing games, its single-player mode stood out for its unbelievably challenging gameplay. Even by today’s standards it’s a tough playthrough.

“Glover” (1998)

In Glover, you play as a glove tasked with moving a ball from the start to the end of each level. Easy right? Well, no not really. The game encounters issues with difficulty due to the controls. The controls for maneuvering the ball are particularly challenging, especially on higher difficulty levels, making the game divisive. Some players enjoy the challenge, while others find Glover to be a frustrating experience. All players have yelled at the game.

“Buck Bumble” (1998)

This game wasn’t called Buck Bumble in our house... It was called ****ing **** **** piece of ****** garbage ****. Buck Bumble is a sci-fi game set in the distant future of 2010, if you can get your mind there. The game falls short in both graphics and gameplay, as well as graphics... And graphics. Many players finish it feeling they never fully mastered how to play. Coupled with the clunky graphics and pervasive game fog (reminiscent of a Silent Hill game), Buck Bumble frustrated players on multiple levels.

“Castlevania 64” (1999)

Castlevania 64, released two years after the beloved Symphony of the Night, and because of this simple fact, it had MASSIVE shoes to fill... Which it largely did, being praised for its effective move from 2D to 3D. However, praise aside, the controls were among the weakest in the franchise. The camera was unreliable, and movement felt too floaty. The classic whip only worked on nearby enemies and lost all its alternate uses, making it nearly impossible to beat the game as Reinhardt on any difficulty higher than easy mode. But, at least it had an easy mode.

“Sin and Punishment” (2000)

Sin and Punishment, a game named after the player experience. The game features an arcade style with fast-paced action that presents a significant challenge to players, the challenge being NOT selling your N64. The complex controls make anything above the default difficulty setting arduous to complete. On Turbo Hard, the game becomes nearly unplayable, where even blinking can lead to sudden doom from environmental hazards and charging foes. Hard difficulties should present a challenge, but even the hardest difficulties need to have the whiff of achievability.

“Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine” (2000)

This somewhat underrated early 3D Indiana Jones game is also one of the N64’s most surprisingly difficult experiences. The game's puzzles and labyrinthine level design alone are enough to earn it a spot on this list, being comparable to Tomb Raider III, but what really pushes it over the top is the action (and I say action loosely). Somewhat imprecise controls and absurdly powerful late-game enemies combine to make the experience infuriating, not fun. Indiana Jones makes us Indiana Groans... Shut up.

“StarCraft 64” (2000)

The N64 port of StarCraft won't make you forget the PC version, but it's surprisingly decent, especially considering the limitations of the N64 controller when compared to keyboard and mouse. The N64 controller has like 2 buttons, and your keyboard and mouse has like 600, I’m not exaggerating (I am). It might not shock you to know that the N64’s controls emphasize the difficulty of StarCraft. This old-school RTS demands rapid reaction times and micromanagement skills that many other games don't require, and this controller is just not ready to take on that game style.

“Mischief Makers” (1997)

While it didn’t receive much attention when it first released, Mischief Makers has since become a cult classic among fans who appreciate its unique style and the fast-paced gameplay, OH and CRUSHING DIFFICULTY. Although not developer “Treasure’s” hardest game, Mischief Makers combines challenging 2D action with occasionally confusing platforming and puzzle segments, keeping players on their toes in a way few other games do. It certainly… Makes mischief? Nailed it.

“Blast Corps” (1997)

I... HATE... BLAST CORPS!! But, this is not a personal list, I’m just lucky so many other people hate it as well. The core gameplay of Blast Corps is challenging due to its unique blend of action and difficult puzzle elements, but the late-game medal challenges are among the toughest objectives in video game history. The story goes that the game’s QA teams competed to make these challenges only ‘technically’ beatable. Blast Corps designer Martin Wakeley described them as “insane” and admitted he has only managed to complete a few himself. I can’t help him complete any more than that, but I’ll help him complete a REM cycle... When I knock him out.

“Turok: Dinosaur Hunter” (1997)

Had Goldeneye never been released, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter may well have been remembered as the pinnacle of FPS N64 gaming. But for sheer difficulty, we’re talking about the sequel “Seeds of Evil" which was ALSO a fantastic entry for the console, pushing the Nintendo 64's capabilities with its massive levels. Completing each level requires solving all objectives, which can be time-consuming, especially considering the previously mentioned size of the levels. The game’s dropping frame rates and notoriously difficult boss battles only raise the stakes. Yet, these elements contribute to the game's uniqueness, as well as its difficulty.

“Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire” (1996)

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is often best remembered for its Hoth level, which accurately recreates the opening battle of The Empire Strikes Back, WHICH IT SHOULD BE! It’s great!. However, it should perhaps also be remembered as one of the toughest Star Wars games ever made. The early days of 3D platforming were especially difficult. It was a style that hadn’t yet been polished, and Shadows of The Empire encapsulated everything that made 3D platforming difficult with one thumb stick. One thumb stick that is SURPRISINGLY indestructible.

“Doom 64” (1997)

The unforgettable Doom 64 isn’t just one of the hardest games on the console, it’s also one of the best, becoming a hit and earning its still-phenomenal reputation. Beyond its almost perfect atmosphere and gameplay, are challenging puzzles and formidable enemies that turn the game up to 11. While the number of foes may be fewer than expected, Doom 64 compensates with impressive monster designs and powerful attacks. VERY powerful attacks.

“Body Harvest” (1998)

This ain’t your kid-friendly N64 game. This ain’t your mama's N64 game. Body Harvest is known for three things: alien carnage, deadly weapons... AND it’s also notoriously difficult. An early Rockstar Games title, it is one of the more forgotten and underrated N64 entries, but it's not for the faint of heart. Some of its difficulty comes from the frustrating camera and less-than-stellar controls, while the rest stems from a mix of sparse save points and countless ways to die.

“F-Zero X” (1998)

These games are tough, and may be the most likely to cause a broken console on this list, because although F-Zero X is hard, it’s probably the most ‘because-of-the-controls’ entry on our list. While many consider F-Zero GX to be the most difficult entry, F-Zero X is arguably worse, with the less-than-perfect controls being far FAR worse than GX. I truly hate that this game is receiving a resurgence of love thanks to the Nintendo Switch, because I truly wish it would die slowly in hell.

“Conker’s Bad Fur Day” (2001)

Conker’s Bad Fur Day is so fondly remembered by gamers for a multitude of reasons. The game is crushingly funny, and the gameplay is wildly fun. It's filled with interesting and original parody material that informs the gameplay, and gives a constantly changing gaming experience. What people often forget (until they go back to the game), is that it is ACTUALLY really difficult. A lot of the hardest gameplay comes down to its 3D platforming limitations on the console, and the terrible camera. Climbing the barn tower, the vampire mansion, D-Day, it’s all terribly frustrating, AND also very funny.

“Donkey Kong 64” (1999)

Donkey Kong 64 may be a fan favorite on the Nintendo 64, but it set remarkably high standards for anyone aiming to simply beat it, let alone achieve 101% completion. It also requires a memory expansion, and I think it was just to store the screams of the players. The massive amount of collectibles is a dream for die-hard completionists but a nightmare for most others. What makes it even more frustrating is the mind-melting amount of backtracking required to gather all the necessary items for that 101%. Also, who the hell makes it 101%? The audacity!

“Perfect Dark” (2000)

Perfect Dark (much like a lot of these entries coincidently) is one of the best N64 entries ever created... AND one of the hardest. There's little margin for error, plenty of opportunities to get completely lost in any given level, and some challenges that seem nearly impossible at first glance. It offered something which was rare at the time, and that was difficulty levels, but even the easiest level was still DAMN hard, and the hardest presented a challenge that didn’t even seem achievable.

“Jet Force Gemini” (1999)

It’s worth noting that many would consider Jet Force Gemini THE hardest N64 game of all time, but for this list, it’s third. I’m so sorry (I’m not). The difficulty in this entry comes from its grueling requirements needed to progress from one level to the next. While finding hidden items can be fun and challenging, Jet Force Gemini takes it to the extreme by making it a requirement. When players are forced to retrace their steps repeatedly, and some items are absurdly well-hidden, the fun can quickly turn into pure, unfiltered rage.

“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)

While the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time is often cited for its difficulty, the entirety of Majora’s Mask being essentially timed takes the challenge to a whole new level... Why can’t I just enjoy your game in my own time?? You bastards. This twist on the usual Zelda formula caused considerable debate within the fandom, but it certainly didn’t derail the game, because Majora’s Mask remains a classic for fans. You know what would be great for gaming moving forward? Getting rid of water levels, and timed levels, because they SUCK!

“Superman 64” (1999)

Some games on this list are intentionally challenging, while others are difficult because of poor design. To finish us off, we look to Superman 64, a game that falls into the latter category, often ranked among the worst games ever made. Critics point to its clunky controls, dull gameplay, eye-straining graphics, and a host of bugs, glitches, and technical issues as reasons for its notorious reputation. This all being said, it’s turned into somewhat of a cult-classic, much like Tommy Wiseau’s The Room, with many playing it JUST to experience its awful gameplay. What a turn around.