Genre: Game Compilation

Players: 1-2 Competitive / Co-Op (Local / Online)

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Review:

I’ll start by saying that this isn’t going to be a normal review. You won’t find an overall grade at the end telling you what I think of this collection of classic Nintendo Entertainment System games ranging from the console’s original Famicom release in 1983 all the way up to its final game release in 1994. This is for multiple reasons – firstly, the service is still receiving (increasingly sporadic) updates that add more content. Secondly, this is not a collection you can purchase and own – rather, this is an included perk of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, and as such every player who subscribes to that service will have access to this compilation as long as they continue to have that subscription.

However, while that definitely places a lot of limitations on this compilation of games, one would be remiss not to consider what an amazing value this is, even with those limitations. Along with all of the other benefits of the $20 yearly subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, including the similar Super Nintendo Entertainment System app, this package currently provides access to 80 games, as well as 17 more “SP” versions of some of those games that bring players to areas later in the game or provide added bonuses.

I should note that all of the games in this collection have added display options, the ability to rewind or create multiple save states (super-important for those “Nintendo hard” games), and the games with multiplayer can now be played both locally and online. In addition, this collection allows players to sort games by title, release date, play time or last date played, or even create a custom order, which is pretty convenient given just how many games are here.

So… 80 games plus 17 “SP” versions… that’s a lot of games to sort through. What’s still worth playing today, and what isn’t? Well, here’s a rundown of what I thought of each and every one of these titles:

Game	Genre	# of Players	Score
Adventures of Lolo	Puzzle	1	C+
tl;dr This is a decent character-based Puzzle game, albeit not one that does anything especially noteworthy or original. Definitely worth a look if you’re a fan of the genre.
Balloon Fight	Arcade / Platformer	1-2 Competitive / Co-Op (Local, Online)	C+
tl;dr This game was clearly Nintendo’s attempt to copy the Atari classic Joust, but it’s a decent copy with its own additions to the formula, such as the challenging Balloon Trip mode. It’s a bit repetitive by today’s standards, but certainly a fun distraction for a little while.
Baseball	Sports (Baseball)	1-2 Competitive (Local, Online)	D+
tl;dr Even by the standards of the day, this game seems slow-paced, with ugly animation, and frustrating and unresponsive controls.
Battletoads	Arcade Brawler	1-2 Co-Op (Local, Online)	B-
tl;dr Battletoads is in an odd position that it is both one of the best games on the Nintendo Entertainment System, and in some ways one of its worst. On the one hand, you have some of the best graphics on the NES with delightful character animation, a memorable soundtrack, and some absolutely delightful Arcade Brawler gameplay. On the other hand, you have some absolutely brutal and sadistic difficulty spikes that kick in halfway into the third level. If this game stuck with the great Brawler gameplay it would be an absolute smash. As-is, it’s really fun right up until it reminds you why so many people hate it with a burning passion.
Blaster Master	Metroidvania / Top-Down Action	1	B-
tl;dr Blaster Master is a fairly unique blend of two gameplay styles, a side-scrolling Platformer with Metroidvania-style world design, and a Top-Down Action game, and both are fairly decent. The save states in this version alleviate one of the major issues in its original release, the high challenge level. However, this game also lacks modernizations the Metroidvania genre has made in recent decades, such as an in-game map and better signposting.
Blaster Master (SP) Special	Metroidvania / Top-Down Action	1	N/A
tl;dr This (SP) version of Blaster Master starts players in the final area of the game fully powered-up. However, there seems little value to doing so – less-skilled players will get killed quickly, and more skilled players will likely prefer to simply play through the full game.
City Connection	Arcade / Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	F
tl;dr While this game had the potential to be an interesting combination of a Platformer and a Pac-Man-style Arcade game, it’s absolutely ruined by terrible, unresponsive controls and glitchy, flickering graphics.
Clu Clu Land	Arcade	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	C-
tl;dr This is a bit of an odd twist on a Pac-Man-style maze game where players are bouncing around a maze trying to uncover hidden treasure while avoiding enemies. However, what they’ll fight more than anything are the awkward controls that have you turning by spinning around poles on the level. It might be worth a look as a curiosity, but you’re not likely to want to spend much time with it.
Cobra Triangle	Isometric Racing / Action	1	C
tl;dr There’s some good variety in mission types here, some of which are extremely creative, but the isometric viewpoint makes it difficult to judge where things are, the hit detection is spotty, and some missions are extremely unclear about how you’re meant to do them. The result is a real mixed bag.
Crystalis	Top-Down Action-RPG	1	B
tl;dr Crystalis is a Top-Down Action-RPG that feels similar to classic Zelda games and especially Secret of Mana, being more linear and having RPG-style stats and leveling. It’s a solid entry in the genre, though the lack of a map, the restrictive view of the small screen, the forgettable music and the shoddy localization all work to make it feel somewhat dated and less of a classic than its contemporaries.
Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia	Action-Platformer	1-2 Alternating (Local, Online)	D
tl;dr This untranslated Japanese game is needlessly confusing, and the auto-scrolling Action-Platformer gameplay is poorly-constructed and just not very fun. Skip this one.
Devil World	Top-Down Arcade	1-2 Co-Op (Local, Online)	C+
tl;dr Originally released only in Japan and PAL regions due to what was seen in America as provocative religious imagery, Devil World is a challenging take on the Maze Game genre, like a more difficult and goal-oriented Pac-Man. The way you have to account for the screen scrolling is a nice touch, and it’s cool to see where the Blue Devil (seen in the Smash Bros. series as an assist trophy) comes from, but the need to constantly collect crosses in some of the game’s levels is really tedious. Still, I’d argue this game is worth a look… though you’ll likely want to make liberal use of the rewind feature.
Dig Dug II	Arcade	1-2 Alternating (Local, Online)	B
tl;dr Dig Dug II is an inspired re-imagining of its predecessor as a Top-Down game that plays similarly, but has players digging out islands to create barriers and collapse enemies into the sea. It may not have the classic appeal of the original, but it still holds up exceptionally well.
Donkey Kong	Arcade / Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	C
tl;dr While this game is undeniably a classic that is one of the most influential games of all time, it is also ridiculously short, with players being able to see the game’s three short levels in a span of a few minutes before they endlessly repeat. It bears mention that this version of the game lacks one of the levels of its arcade counterpart, and it is absolutely dwarfed by its far superior Game Boy remake. More of a great piece of history than a game you’ll want to spend time playing.
Donkey Kong Jr.	Arcade / Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	C
tl;dr Similar to the original Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr. is a classic that’s fun while it lasts, but it doesn’t last long, with only four short levels that can be completed in just a few minutes before repeating. At the very least this release includes all of the arcade version’s levels.
Donkey Kong 3	Arcade / Action-Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	C
tl;dr This odd sequel ditches Mario in favor of new protagonist Stanley the Bug Man (never to be seen or heard from since), and ditches most of the Platforming gameplay of the prior titles in favor of shooting gameplay that’s vaguely reminiscent of a Shmup. However, the controls are a bit stiff, and overall this game just isn’t very fun.
Donkey Kong Jr. Math	Educational	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	C-
tl;dr Loosely based on the original Arcade game Donkey Kong Jr., this game has players climbing vines and jumping across islands to get the numbers and functions to solve math problems. It’s not as bad as you might think. The single-player modes here are all dull, but the core multiplayer can be fun for a little while, once you get used to the controls. However, it’s not very deep, so don’t expect this game to last you long.
Double Dragon	Brawler	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online), 2 Competitive (Local / Online)	B-
tl;dr Double Dragon is one of the formative classics in the Brawler genre, but this version of the first game clearly had to make cutbacks to get it to work on the console, not just downgrading the graphics, but also removing the genre’s signature 2-player co-op mode and limiting the number of enemies onscreen. Despite these cutbacks, this is still a fun game with some amazing and iconic music, and this version even added a fun skill progression system and one-on-one fighting mode that weren’t in the Arcade original.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge	Brawler	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	B
tl;dr While not quite as iconic as the first game, the NES version of Double Dragon II benefits from having 2-player co-op play and a slightly expanded move set, including the series signature cyclone kick move.
Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day!	Racing / Action	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	C-
tl;dr Originally not released outside of Japan, this is an odd game that has you racing through an obstacle course. It’s unique, but the the way things shift when you go from one screen to the next is disorienting, and also acts as frustrating rubber-banding. Unlike the newly-localized version of the game released as a part of the Double Dragon and Kunio-Kun Retro Brawler Bundle, this version’s menus are untranslated, making it much harder to play intelligently. If you really want to play this game, play that version instead.
Dr. Mario	Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	B
tl;dr It wasn’t quite as successful as the legendary Tetris, but Dr. Mario was nevertheless a decent Puzzle game in its own right.
Dr. Mario (SP) Special	Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game drops the player into the last stage of the game on the highest speed level with only a few viruses left to clear, making it relatively easy to get the game’s secret ending. This is a fun little bonus, but probably something you’ll play once to see it and then never go back to.
Earthbound Beginnings	Turn-Based JRPG	1	C+
tl;dr Earthbound Beginnings, known in Japan as Mother, was localized in English but never released outside of Japan until it was released on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2015. This game definitely shows its age, with a poor localization, ugly visuals, and clunky game design, and mechanically it doesn’t do anything especially noteworthy by today’s standards. However, it still has the novelty of its contemporary setting, a unique sense of style, and an undeniable charm that still make it appealing if you’re willing to put up with its flaws.
Eliminator Boat Duel	Top-Down Boat Racing	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	D
tl;dr This Top-Down Racing game would be a great deal more fun if it didn’t mix in pseudo-3D sections that play completely differently (and no matter how much ahead I am coming into these, I always end up losing them for some reason).
Excitebike	Side-Scrolling Motorcycle Racing	1	B-
tl;dr This racing game was ahead of its time in some ways, even including a track creator mode, but the gameplay was a bit simple and the lack of a two-player mode is disappointing.
Fire ‘N Ice	Puzzle Platformer	1	B
tl;dr This Puzzle Platformer sequel to Solomon’s Key is far superior, and really stands the test of time with great puzzle design based on creating and removing blocks of ice to try to drop them on or push them into flames. The music can get a bit grating and it would have been nice if the edit mode were expanded on, but overall this is an excellent entry in the genre well worth playing.
Ghosts ‘N Goblins	Action-Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	C
tl;dr This classic Action-Platformer is notorious for being ridiculously hard, so be sure to make liberal use of save states and the rewind feature. Unfortunately, the high difficulty isn’t the only issue here, as the way the game renders scrolling backgrounds seems to have some sort of issue that makes them stutter slightly. The core gameplay here is still good, but it’s difficult to enjoy it.
Ghosts ‘N Goblins (SP) Special	Action-Platformer	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game plops you in the final stage of the game, which might save a bit of time for those wanting to get to the end, but they’ll still be in for a difficult journey that will no doubt require heavy use of the rewind feature. On top of that, this version still has the graphical problems of the regular version of the game.
Golf	Sports (Golf)	1-2 Competitive (Local Alternating / Online Alternating)	F
tl;dr Golf is Nintendo’s first take on the Sport, and by far the worst. By today’s standards this game is virtually unplayable
Gradius	Shmup	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	B
tl;dr Yet another “Nintendo Hard” game where you’ll want to make heavy use of the rewind function… or pause the game and input the Konami code. This is a solid port (considering what the NES hardware could handle) of an arcade classic and one of the formative titles in this genre, and it still plays extremely well today, with its custom ship upgrade feature still a fantastic addition to the genre.
Gradius (SP) Special	Shmup	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game jumps you into one of the later stages of the game, fully-equipped. I kinda’ feel like, between the Konami code and the rewind feature, most players should be able to make it this far on their own just fine, but those looking to skip ahead may find this to be a nice time-saver.
Gradius (SP) Special 2	Shmup	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game has you starting the game over from the beginning after completing it once, essentially acting as a hard mode. Where the first SP mode seemed a bit unnecessary, this is actually a nifty tool for more skilled players looking to play this tougher version of the game right from the start.
Ice Climber	Platformer / Arcade	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	C+
tl;dr While this game is probably best known these days for producing the pair of titular characters now featured in the Super Smash Bros. Series, this classic arcade game still manages to be fun, although that fun is stifled somewhat by the terrible horizontal movement while jumping that makes the game harder to control than it should be.
Ice Hockey	Sports (Hockey)	1-2 Competitive (Local, Online)	C
tl;dr The controls in this game aren’t immediately apparent, so you’ll want to look them up online, but once you do you’ll find this to be a decent hockey game, though fighting over the puck can be messy.
Journey to Silius	Action-Platformer	1	C-
tl;dr This Action-Platformer is absurdly hard, and I don’t know that it has much going for it, aside from a pretty good soundtrack.
Joy Mech Fight	Fighting Game	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	C
tl;dr Previously never released outside of Japan, this Fighting Game’s disjointed characters are a bit disorienting, and it’s a bit difficult to tell exactly where their hitboxes are, but apart from that, this is a decent but simple entry in the genre.
Kid Icarus	Action-Platformer	1	C+
tl;dr Yet another “Nintendo Hard” Action-Platformer, but this one is at least distinguished somewhat by its somewhat unique vertical-scrolling gameplay and memorable soundtrack, and it can be fun once you get a feel for how to play it.
Kid Icarus (SP) Special	Shmup	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game zooms you ahead to the final stage of the game fully powered-up. This stage, unlike much of the rest of the game, plays more like a Shmup, and not a particularly good one. You’re probably better off sticking with the standard game.
Kirby’s Adventure	Platformer	1	A+
tl;dr While not quite as deep as the Mario games, Kirby’s first outing on a console was a huge leap forward, both for the Kirby series and for Nintendo in general, as this game was the first to introduce Kirby’s copy ability, adding a huge amount of variety to the gameplay. What’s more, this is one of the best-looking games to ever grace the Nintendo Entertainment System, with one of the best soundtracks. In short, this is an absolute must-play game that’s still fantastic even today.
Kirby’s Adventure (SP) Special	Platformer	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game comes with a save file already at 100%, opening up the game’s more challenging difficulty mode, as well as the sound test mode. A nice addition, especially for those who felt Kirby’s Adventure was too easy for their tastes.
Kung Fu Heroes	Action	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	D-
tl;dr This would be a decent if repetitive Action game if it weren’t for the fact that the hit detection in this game is atrociously bad.
Mach Rider	Racing / Action	1	D
tl;dr This Racing Action game with faux 3D visuals is overly difficult, with players needing to track enemies in front of them and in the rear view mirror. While it was visually advanced for its time, the gameplay has not aged well at all.
Mappy-Land	Platformer / Arcade	1	C-
tl;dr A simple Platformer where players must avoid enemies, collect pickups, and get to an exit. The nonsensical physics of the game take time adjusting to (apparently enemies can’t touch you when you’re bouncing on trampolines), and even once you do, there’s nothing truly special or compelling here.
Mario Bros.	Platformer / Arcade	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	C+
tl;dr Mario’s first headlining role in a videogame (and Luigi’s first appearance) is far from his best. While the core gameplay here is compelling, this game is made unnecessarily frustrating by poor hit detection on platforms, stiff controls, and the bros. slipping around on platforms as if they’re coated with ice. It can still be fun, but this game was done much better when it was remade for the Super Mario Advance series on the Game Boy Advance.
Metroid	Metroidvania	1	C+
tl;dr The first game in the Metroid series is lacking a lot of the refinement and the quality of life features that more modern Metroidvanias have, such as a helpful map. It also has extremely repetitive areas and rooms hidden behind blocks gamers couldn’t be realistically expected to know need to be destroyed. Still, if you play this game with a decent game guide, it can still be enjoyable.
Metroid (SP) Special	Metroidvania	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game has players fully-equipped and ready to fight the late-game boss Ridley. A decent addition for anyone who wants to skip ahead to one of the more iconic moments of the game.
Metroid (SP) Special 2	Metroidvania	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game has players fully-equipped and ready to take on the game’s final area and its final boss, setting players up to beat the game with a low enough time to see its best ending.
Mighty Bomb Jack	Platformer	1	C-
tl;dr This is an odd Platformer that has you collecting treasure and bombs in a pyramid… and then punishes you by sending you to a torture chamber if you collect enough for the game to consider you “greedy”. Yeah, I don’t really get this game, and its floaty jumping mechanics aren’t especially fun.
Mighty Bomb Jack (SP) Special	Platformer	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game starts you off at the last level with all of the conditions met to see the game’s best ending, if you can manage to finish. I suppose those who enjoy this game might find this to be a good way to skip to that ending.
Mystery Tower	Puzzle-Platformer	1	C+
tl;dr Previously never released outside of Japan, this Puzzle-Platformer has a tricky mechanic that only lets you flip the direction of blocks you’re carrying when you’re holding it and change directions (Hint: swap things around by putting blocks on half-steps). It’s a bit clunky and slow-paced, but the puzzles here are clever enough to be worth a look for fans of the genre.
NES Open Tournament Golf	Sports (Golf)	1-2 Competitive (Local Alternating, Online)	C
tl;dr This game’s controls take some getting used to, but once you do this is a passable, if uninspired, golf game.
Nightshade	Graphic Adventure	1	C
tl;dr This Graphic Adventure has an odd mix of film noir, urban crime, superhero, and ancient Egyptian genres. Its writing is pretty good, but the combat is lacking and doesn’t fit well with the rest of the game.
Ninja Gaiden	Action-Platformer	1	B-
tl;dr While not quite as beloved as its sequel, Ninja Gaiden is nevertheless a solid Action-Platformer, and its absurdly high difficulty is largely mitigated by the rewind feature.
Ninja Gaiden (SP) Special	Action-Platformer	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game skips players ahead to the game’s final battle, which should certainly make it a lot easier to see the ending of this difficult game.
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos	Action-Platformer	1	B-
tl;dr On the one hand, this game is emblematic of “Nintendo Hard”, exacerbated by constantly-respawning enemies who just love to knock you into a pit and cost you a life, and there’s some spotty hit detection and a lot of nasty flicker going on here. Yet, despite these issues, this game is nevertheless a classic, with great music, fun game mechanics, and new abilities for the series like climbing up and down walls and splitting into multiple copies to attack enemies. If you don’t mind the jankiness and like your games tough, this is a must-play title.
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun	Action-Platformer / Arcade	1-2 Alternating (Local, Online)	D
tl;dr This game was originally only released in Japan and Europe, but has gradually made its way to the US in various re-releases. It should have stayed in Japan – this Arcade-style Action-Platformer’s poor framerates, poor hit detection, sluggish controls, and repetitive nature all mark it as a game not worth playing.
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun (SP)	Action-Platformer / Arcade	1-2 Alternating (Local, Online)	N/A
tl;dr This (SP) version of the game has players starting out at Scene 19, where you can apparently see some of the game’s more advanced monsters appearing.
Pinball	Pinball	1-2 Alternating (Local, Online)	D
tl;dr This has to be one of the most lifeless, boring Pinball games I’ve ever played.
Pro Wrestling	Pro Wrestling	1-2 Competitive (Local, Online)	F
tl;dr This game’s controls and hit detection are both terrible. I don’t see how anyone can get anything out of this game other than frustration.
Punch-Out!!	Sports (Boxing)	1	A+
tl;dr While this version of the game may be lacking Mike Tyson, it is still an outstanding game makes every fight into both a test of skill and observation, with some truly memorable characters and simple controls that are easy to understand.
R.C. Pro-Am	Isometric Racing	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	C+
tl;dr This Isometric Racing game has solid gameplay, decent visuals for its time, and a good amount of variety. The issue here is that the screen size is so restrictive that players don’t have enough time to react to the twists and turns of the track.
River City Ransom	Brawler	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	B
tl;dr This is the third game in the Kunio-Kun series, and probably the most well-known game in the series outside of Japan. It takes classic Brawler-style gameplay and adds RPG elements that bring a lot of depth to the game. This is one of the more influential games in the genre, and a must-play for fans of Brawler-style games, even if it’s a bit dated and the amusingly bad localization makes it a bit hard to understand at times.
Rygar	Metroidvania	1	B-
tl;dr Rygar is a decent Metroidvania hidden under a terrible localization that makes it needlessly confusing. And as with most Metroidvanias of this era, there’s no useful map. Still, with a proper game guide, this is a fun entry in the genre that does some things that were ahead of its time, such as its leveling system.
S.C.A.T: Special Cybernetic Attack Team	Shmup	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	B
tl;dr This Shmup has you playing as a soldier wearing a jetpack, with a unique gameplay gimmick that has secondary guns rotating above and below you, with players given the ability to stop their angle. It’s pretty fun, but it’s also punishingly difficult, so you’ll definitely want to use the rewind feature. There’s also a lot of sprite flickering, which can interfere with the gameplay.
Shadow of the Ninja	Action-Platformer	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	C+
tl;dr This is a solid Action-Platformer, albeit an absurdly difficult one. The inclusion of 2-Player co-op play puts this ahead of many similar games of its era, though the hit detection is a bit spotty in places.
Snake Rattle & Roll	Isometric Platformer	1-2 Co-Op (Local / Online)	C+
tl;dr Snake Rattle & Roll is a wildly creative and unique entry in the Platformer genre. The problem, as is often the case with isometric games, is the controls, which makes this game a bit awkward at the best of times and makes the game’s tricky jumps even more frustrating.
Soccer	Sports (Hockey)	1-2 Competitive (Local, Online)	C-
tl;dr Interestingly, this game feels very similar to Ice Hockey, but the way players control and steal the ball seems much better-implemented here. That said, this is still a pretty basic game, and a slow-paced one too.
Solar Jetman	2D Space Shooter	1	C+
tl;dr This game seems like it was intended as a then-modern update on the Atari classic Gravitar, and it largely succeeds at this, though it’s absurdly difficult. Expect to use the rewind feature a lot here.
Solomon’s Key	Puzzle-Platformer	1	C
tl;dr This is a decent Puzzle-Platformer where players must collect items and avoid enemies by building and destroying blocks. It’s a decent mechanic, but it’s spoiled somewhat by difficult enemies and a timer that rushes the player far too much.
Star Soldier	Shmup	1	C+
tl;dr This is a decent, if a bit simple, Shmup. There’s an interesting mechanic where players can hide behind some scenery at the expense of being able to fire, but beyond that there’s not much to say about this one.
Star Soldier (SP) Special	Shmup	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of Star Soldier brings the player about halfway through the game with a fully-powered ship, a decent way for more seasoned players to skip the earlier, easier stages if they prefer.
StarTropics	Action-RPG	1	A+
tl;dr StarTropics is a fairly unique game in that Nintendo designed it for release exclusively in Western territories. It’s a shame Nintendo never brought the game out in their homeland though – it is absolutely brilliant, a Zelda-style Action-RPG to rival even the Zelda series, albeit with its own unique contemporary island-themed locale. Perhaps if Japanese Nintendo fans got to enjoy this game, we’d have seen it get more than just one sequel.
Super Dodge Ball	Sports (Dodge Ball)	1-2 Competitive (Local, Online)	D
tl;dr This game had real potential to be a fun, competitive, even a bit strategic Sports game. Unfortunately, nasty flickering, slowdown, and input lag make it nearly unplayable.
Super Mario Bros.	Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating, Online)	A
tl;dr The game that saved the videogame industry has aged somewhat, but is still fun to play, even if it has been surpassed by its many sequels. By today’s standards, the controls aren’t quite as responsive as we’ve come to expect from our games, and the level designs are a tad repetitive, but the core gameplay here is still fantastic, even if we ignore how massively influential this game is. Plus, there’s some of the most memorable music in videogame history, and the start of a setting and characters that still to this day inspire imaginations everywhere.
Super Mario Bros. 2	Platformer	1	A+
tl;dr Even though this game didn’t start out as a Mario game (it was originally a licensed game called Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, adapted to be a Mario game for US audiences, and then re-released in Japan with the Mario content under the new title Super Mario USA), it has since become one of the formative games of the franchise, introducing concepts like the use of doors and item carrying, as well as long-running series characters like Bob-Ombs and Shy Guys. However, while this game was a huge influence on the series going forward, it remains uniquely its own entity, and nothing else plays quite like it to this day, with fantastic and memorable gameplay, an incredible soundtrack, and a colorful array of worlds and characters. This game is an absolute must-play.
Super Mario Bros. 3	Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	A++
tl;dr What more can be said about a game that has been lauded by countless people over the years as the greatest videogame of all time? Well, at least until Nintendo made the next “greatest game of all time”. This is a Platformer that all Platformers since have been measured against, combining absolutely pixel-perfect gameplay with a widely expanded array of power-ups and abilities, a plethora of imaginative worlds, and an outstanding soundtrack. This game is every bit as good today as when it first came out, and it should be played by everyone.
Super Mario Bros. 3 (SP) Special	Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game starts the player at the last world, with an item box packed with items. A decent way for players to skip to the end of the game, though it would have been nicer to simply get the packed item box, as players can easily obtain a few warp whistles in the first few worlds of the game if they want to skip to World 8.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels	Platformer	1-2 (Local Alternating / Online)	C+
tl;dr You know how Americans got a completely different game redone to be Super Mario Bros. 2? This is why. This was the game Japanese players got as their Super Mario Bros. 2 – a copy of the first game with punishingly hard levels and not much actual new content. At the very least we can credit this game as being the origin of Luigi jumping higher than Mario. However, beyond its place in history as a bit of an oddity in the Mario series, this game is probably best skipped.
Tecmo Bowl	Sports (Football)	1-2 Competitive (Local, Online)	B-
tl;dr While clearly dated, the core gameplay of this classic Football game is still good, and still plenty of fun to play, even if the visuals and digitized voices are a bit quaint by today’s standards.
Tennis	Sports (Tennis)	1-2 Co-Op (Local, Online)	C-
tl;dr This is mostly a decent, albeit plain and ugly-looking, game of tennis. “Mostly” because the controls feel loose, and it’s far too easy to misjudge where the ball is and miss a shot.
The Immortal	Isometric Action-RPG	1	C-
tl;dr While there’s clearly a lot of creativity that went into this game, it’s hard to enjoy it with such sluggish controls, as well as the isometric view making movement difficult.
The Legend of Zelda	Top-Down Action-RPG	1	B+
tl;dr This is an extremely influential game, and the core gameplay is still a lot of fun, but the localization and lack of adequate signposting can make finding your way difficult, especially when the game expects you to bomb random walls and burn random bushes. This game is still well worth playing, but only if you play with a game guide to assist you.
The Legend of Zelda (SP) Special	Top-Down Action-RPG	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game starts the player with some of the hidden magic items, heart containers, and upgrades hidden around the overworld already acquired, as well as a full inventory of rupees, keys, and some other helpful items. For those looking to save themselves some time hunting down items and grinding for money, this may be a preferable way to play the game over the standard version.
The Mysterious Murasame Castle	Top-Down Action-RPG	1	C
tl;dr Originally released only in Japan, this “sister game” to The Legend of Zelda features similar gameplay, but is more linear and more action-focused, with players being constantly bombarded by enemies. It’s not without its charms, but it’s far from a must-play experience.
The Mystery of Atlantis	Action-Platformer	1	D-
tl;dr This previously Japan-only Action-Platformer is absurdly dated, with terrible platforming and an attack so terrible you’ll prefer to just avoid most enemies rather than fight them.
Twinbee	Shmup	1-2 Co-Op (Local, Online)	C-
tl;dr This is a fairly uninspired and uninteresting Shmup, though at the very least it does have 2-Player Co-Op, and its power-up system is somewhat unique, if a bit odd.
Twinbee (SP) Special	Shmup	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game starts players fairly late into the game’s progression, increasing the difficulty. Those who prefer a bit more challenge might want to opt for this version over the standard game.
Urban Champion	Fighting Game	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	F
tl;dr This is an absolutely miserable Fighting game with terrible controls and a complete lack of depth. There’s a reason this game has been the butt of jokes every time Nintendo re-releases it instead of countless other, better games in its backlog.
Vice Project Doom	Action-Platformer / Shmup / Shooting Gallery	1	B-
tl;dr This game shifts between a few different game styles, some of which it does better than others. Mainly, it’s an Action-Platformer, and that it does pretty well, although it’s extremely tough. Definitely make use of that rewind feature – you’ll need it.
Volleyball	Sports (Volleyball)	1-2 Competitive (Local, Online)	D-
tl;dr This game controls terribly, looks ugly, and simply is not fun to play.
VS Excitebike	Side-Scrolling Motorcycle Racing	1-2 Competitive (Local, Online)	B+
tl;dr This version of Excitebike, originally released only in Japan, addresses one of the major problems with the original game – the lack of multiplayer mode. Plus, players can custom-build tracks to challenge friends on. The result is a game that has a lot more potential for fun, even if it’s a bit dated by modern standards.
Wario’s Woods	Match-3 Falling Block Puzzle / Platformer	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	A-
tl;dr The final game to ever see release on the Nintendo Entertainment System (at least until retro cartridges became a thing) was an inspired take on the Match-3 Falling Block Puzzle genre, having players control the movement of falling blocks not with a cursor, but by having Toad scurrying around shifting the blocks around. The result is a game that takes a bit of time getting used to, but once you do it’s surprisingly fun and compelling, and still extremely original even today.
Wrecking Crew	Puzzle-Platformer	1-2 (Alternating Local / Online)	C
tl;dr This is a decent Puzzle-Platformer that has you destroying sections of a building while dodging enemies, but being careful to do it in a proper order so you don’t leave yourself unable to complete the level. It’s a decent entry in the genre, but not particularly compelling.
Xevious	Shmup	1-2 Alternating (Local, Online)	D
tl;dr Xevious is an incredibly influential game in the Shmup genre, with a creative air-to-air and air-to-surface combat system. It is also extremely archaic, with slow movement, a terrible lack of power-ups, and gameplay that has overall been far outpaced by countless other entries in the genre. If you want to see a piece of history, this game may be worth checking out. Otherwise, it’s not worth your time.
Yoshi	Match-2 Falling Block Puzzle	1-2 Competitive (Local / Online)	C+
tl;dr This falling block puzzle works well enough, but doesn’t really do anything that really makes you want to keep playing like the best games in this genre do.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link	Action-Platformer / Action-RPG	1	B-
tl;dr This game is a bit of an odd entry in the series, being the only Zelda game that played mainly as a side-scrolling Platformer. This was undoubtedly not what people were wanting or expecting in a Zelda sequel, as in many ways this doesn’t play like a Zelda game at all. However, it’s still a very good game, as long as you can tolerate its very high difficulty level, and so long as you don’t mind referring to a game guide to figure out where you’re supposed to be going.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (SP) Special	Action-Platformer / Action-RPG	1	N/A
tl;dr This version of the game has you starting at the beginning of the game with every stat fully leveled up, and all magic spells learned, which should help save on frustration early on, as well as keep you from having to waste time grinding for experience points.

When it all comes down to it, the truly must-play games (A- grade or higher) in this massive list of titles are as follows: Super Mario Bros. 1-3, Punch-Out!!, Kirby’s Adventure, StarTropics, and Wario’s Woods.

Excellent games well worth playing (B- grade or higher) are Blaster Master, Crystalis, Dig Dug II, Double Dragon and Double Dragon II, Dr. Mario, Earthbound Beginnings, Fire ‘N Ice, Gradius, Ninja Gaiden, River City Ransom, S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team, Tecmo Bowl, Vice Project Doom, and Vs. Excitebike.

And The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, and Rygar are well worth playing if you do so with a game guide handy.

Those are the highlights here – there are other games in this collection you might enjoy, but these games are the best of the bunch.

Or, for those wanting a Top 10 list (because those are always fun), my suggestions would be as follows:

10. Gradius

9. Vs. Excitebike

8. The Legend of Zelda

7. Wario’s Woods

6. Super Mario Bros.

5. StarTropics

4. Punch-Out!!

3. Super Mario Bros. 2

2. Kirby’s Adventure

1. Super Mario Bros. 3

Of course, that’s just how it stands now – there’s always the possibility that Nintendo will update this list with additional titles later… and when they do, I’ll try to make it a point to update this list as well. In the meantime, if you have Nintendo Switch Online, you may as well get to playing some of these – these are some fantastic games, and the extra features added here make them even better.

tl;dr – Nintendo Switch Online members currently have access to 80 Nintendo Entertainment System games plus 17 “SP” versions, including some true classics, and all of these games have added display options, save states, a rewind feature, and online play for those games with multiplayer. There’s definitely quite a few games here well worth checking out if you use this service.

Grade: N/A

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