Top 10 N64 Games

Kicking off our list is a visit to the galaxy far far away. Based on the novel and comics that bear similar names, this aerial combat game is set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back and focuses on Luke Skywalker leading a elite fighter squadron in an effort to defeat the Galactic Empire. It was notably one of the first games on the N64 to make use of the expansion pack, allowing for higher resolution gameplay.

Spoiler Alert: You’re going to see a lot of Mario on this list. Considering this is Nintendo, that shouldn’t be too surprising though. Paper Mario was released towards the end of the N64’s lifespan but is still highly regarded for its 2D animated charm mixed in with a very accessible RPG system, making this game ideal for RPG fans, … mostly because there weren’t any other good RPG’s on the system. (Quest 64) No no no, we said GOOD RPG’s

One of the best games on the system came from Nintendo’s golden boys at the time Rare. Kazooie was a 3D platformer which put you in the yellow shorts of a bear with a bird in his backpack that was on a quest to save his sister from a rhyming witch. Also worth mentioning the game’s sequel Banjo Tooie, which would have made it on the list and in a much higher slot: If they had gotten the Stop ‘N’ Swap feature to work.

The first Mario Party game was a health hazard for its stick rotation minigames, but Mario Party 2 remains to be the best in the series for one reason: The minigames remain the most fun. This 4 player party game requires strategy and scheming with others to ensure you come out on top. Which is probably why it also gained the unofficial title on the Internet as: “The game that ruins friendships”

Known as Lylat Wars in Europe, this reboot of the SNES classic space shooter was not only a vast improvement, but also remains as the best game in the franchise. It’s also notably one of the few games on this list that has aged quite well. It was one of the first Nintendo games to include voice acting, which also led it to be one of the most quoted for its cheesy lines.

The best racing game on the system, and most notorious for its incredibly competitive multiplayer. This game was revolutionary for being an incredibly easy racing game for anyone to start playing, while also being greatly rewarding for those who were pro at it. So much so that many companies over the years have attempted to copy its formula, though few ever capture the charm of the original. Diddy Kong Racing was good, but this is still better.

Nobody and we mean nobody can make launch titles as amazing as Nintendo. Super Mario 64 was not only one of the best launch titles ever made, it was a major revolution in gaming. Utilizing precise analog controls, an almost perfect camera system, and visuals that at the time had never been seen before. The N64 may have had a tiny library at launch, but with this game, few could argue, nobody was bored.

A crossover game that originally started out as a small project, Smash Bros ended up spawning one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises. It was a 4-player multiplayer game that spawned a whole new sub-genre of fighting games known as brawlers, Featuring most of Nintendo’s popular mascots beating the crap out of each other for some amazing multiplayer fun.

The most successful licensed game ever despite coming out 2 years after its film counterpart, Goldeneye instantly became a classic and Rare’s best game yet. The biggest reason for its success was its multiplayer mode, which amazingly was added as an afterthough. Yet it became a pioneer for console multiplayer, or more specifically, console First Person Shooters. This was the game that was at every Nintendo 64 party.

Before we get to Number 1, here are a few honorable mentions. The one per franchise rule won’t apply here

Taking the top spot is the game that is not only the best on the system, but is arguably also one of the best games of all time. And the biggest reason for that lies in the gameplay. With a flawless combat system, with an amazing lock-on mechanic that few games can replicate, a day-night system with changes in the NPC behavior, Ocarina was a baffling acheivement. The game is a true testament to how a videogame should be made, one that still stands up to games being released to this day.

Do you agree with our list? Which games had you wearing out your analog sticks? For more Revolutionary Top 10’s Published everyday, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com