Way back in the early ’90s, when there was no trace of a PlayStation or Xbox console, another gaming machine took the world by storm: the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Even though it was just an 8-bit console, meaning that it was light-years weaker than what the consoles of nowadays are capable of, that “ancient” gaming machine was the bee’s knees for its time.
There are almost 1,400 games available for the NES console. Many of them will live forever in the hearts of gamers, as many of those who are now hardcore fans of Call of Duty, GTA, Sniper Elite, or many other major titles today started their journey as gamers with the legendary NES console.
Let’s check out some of the most exciting games that exist or existed for NES, in random order:
Battletoads/Double Dragon (1993)
The guys from the British developer Rare had the great idea of joining the worlds of both Battletoads and Double Dragon into one single NES game, and they did a fantastic job for those times. This game was highly immersive for granting the player some creative and unique ways of fighting, such as making an enemy land through the ceiling or interacting with various elements. If someone throws a grenade at you, it’s even possible to grab it and throw it back at the enemy. Not moving fast enough in this process will result in the grenade exploding in your hand. Pretty ingenious for a 1993 video game that came out for an 8-bit console, right?
Battletoads/Double Dragon is a beat ’em-up game where you have to solely take on hordes of enemies. If, instead, you opt for the 2-player mode, you and your buddy will get to join forces and have a less difficult time dealing with those threats. This game also has bosses, something that you rarely see in video games today.
Super Contra (1987)
Super Contra is a game that continues the legacy of the older Contra titles, and it raises the stakes a lot. Apart from being incredibly fun to play, this game was also difficult as hell. You had only three lives at your disposal, and getting hit once will cause you to lose a life. Hordes of enemies will come at you, and the bosses are also pretty terrifying and won’t hesitate to prove that they mean business. Getting hit three times results in having to start the game from the very beginning, even if you’re at the last level.
Don’t let that difficulty discourage you, however. In Super Contra, your character has a powerful gun that he can upgrade in numerous ways throughout his journey. All you have to do to get your hands on those upgrades is to shoot enemies, as bonuses will appear often.
Little Nemo: The Dream Master (1990)
Dream Master is a game about a boy who gets into the world of his dreams, literally speaking. Imagination always runs wild when we sleep, and that aspect is speculated pretty well in this game. Tame an annoying frog, and you can steal its body to jump higher. Give a bee candies, who otherwise tries to attack you, and you will get the chance to steal her body in order to be able to fly. The possibilities are practically endless, as many of the animals you encounter can give you a special power if you defeat them. In Dream Master, your mission is also to find special keys and deal with a powerful boss at some point.
Batman: The Video Game (1989)
Batman: The Video Game is another great NES game, and the first aspect that stands out here is the unforgettable soundtrack. Each level had its own soundtrack, in fact, and each of them will remain forever in the hearts of NES fans. In Batman: The Video Game, you get to control Batman as you fight many opponents, either with your fists or with various weapons, such as a pistol and batarangs. The bosses are also there waiting for you and well-prepared to take you down after each level. The Joker will also appear in this game as the final boss, and he won’t go easy on you one bit.
Super Spy Hunter (1992)
In Super Spy Hunter, you get to control a vehicle that has a powerful weapon mounted on it. As you destroy cars, helicopters, and planes, you get the chance to upgrade both the weapon and the vehicle itself. At a later level, your car will turn into a boat and even into a jet plane. Regardless of your vehicle’s appearance, it will always be ready to fight. The bosses are also there waiting for you after each level, consisting of highly advanced robotic machines ready to pulverize you. Some of them are so powerful that it takes only one hit with a laser weapon to completely destroy your car. Otherwise, your vehicle needs to be hit multiple times to lose a life.
This was an amazing game, packed with exciting gameplay elements throughout each of its levels.
Tiny Toon Adventures (1991)
In Tiny Toons Adventures, you initially get to control Buster Bunny, but you can later upgrade to Plucky Duck, Furball, or Dizzy Devil, depending on which one you choose at the beginning of each level. Each of the characters has his own special power. For instance, Furball has the ability to climb on objects and walls, thus avoiding falling and dying in many dangerous situations. This game is also very fun to play, as there are lots of enemies who have unique ways of trying to take you down, and there’s also a powerful and annoying boss at the end of each level.
The developers from Konami significantly stepped into the world of Tiny Toons with this game, and they did a pretty good job.
Super Mario Bros. (1985)
No such ranking could possibly exist without mentioning this game. The Super Mario Bros. has been insanely influential for the gaming industry over the years, and it still is today. In this game that was released in 1985 for NES, the player has to move around Mario as he tries to find the Princess and defeat Bowser. Throughout his journey, Mario travels through pipes, eats mushrooms to become stronger, jumps over obstacles, and so on. Those elements still exist in Mario video games today, almost four decades since the birth of the legendary Super Mario series.
Tank 1990 (1985)
Tank 1990 is a remake of Battle City, an older game. In Tank 1990, the player gets to drive tanks around and destroy enemies. He can upgrade his tank with different bonuses while he’s all alone against hordes of enemy tanks if he doesn’t opt for the two-player mode. Tank 1990 has the merit of allowing the player to destroy the environment with his tank and even use it to his own advantage to some degree. Another major goal in this game is to defend your base. Once the enemy destroys your base, you lose the game, as it doesn’t even matter if your tank remains intact on the battlefield. Otherwise, you could lose a game in Tank 1990 by simply getting your tank destroyed several times by the enemies. It’s also possible to get your hands on extra lives as you progress through this game.
However, we need to admit that our list is subjective and that we don’t have the absolute truth. You are free to mention your own list of the best NES games ever made in the comment section!
Tim M. Hill helped bring Digital-Overload from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a writer to Digital-Overload, Tim mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.
