The Nintendo 64 is a retro console that released in the late '90s. Nintendo's bold and ambitious project incorporated three-dimensional gameplay in a way never seen before. The Nintendo 64 is also well-recognized for its 64-bit graphics. In its early development phase, the Nintendo 64 was codenamed "Project Reality."
It's still regarded as one of the best consoles of all time, and of course, it wouldn't be that if it weren't for its illustrious games. The following games are pure nostalgia and are some of the greatest games of all time. By the end of this, you'll know why the Nintendo 64 was groundbreaking. These are 10 nostalgic games for the Nintendo 64.
10 Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is filled with dinosaurs, mazes, cool weapons, and treasures. It has all the makings of an exceptional Nintendo 64 game. The amount of detail in the game was impressive at the time. Recently, both Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil released for the Xbox One.
The remastered versions look gorgeous in 1080p, and it's the best way to play them at the moment. Fans of dinosaur games should try to play Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, as it is a good representation of dinosaur games of the '90s.
9 Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros. is a crossover fighting game that released as an exclusive for the Nintendo 64. Featuring Nintendo's most prominent characters, Super Smash Bros. is still played by fans of the series today. A nostalgic trip back to Super Smash Bros. is unlike any other.
Memorable stages like Hyrule Castle, Kongo Jungle, and Saffron City remain an integral part of the series. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Nintendo Switch has remastered these maps, yet the original game provides a special feeling that is impossible to replicate.
8 GoldenEye 007
Even today, so few video games based on movies reach critical acclaim. Even the most grouchy reviewers consider GoldenEye 007 to be a masterpiece. It made leaps and bounds for the first-person shooter genre, creating a new standard.
The release of GoldenEye 007 inspired similar games such as Perfect Dark. Although Perfect Dark may have improved gameplay, playing as James Bond in a cinematic game makes GoldenEye 007 more nostalgic. For staying true to the movie, we can't get enough of GoldenEye 007.
7 Pokémon Snap
Snapping pictures of your favorite Pokémon is like an amusement park ride in Pokémon Snap. At the end of each ride, players give their best photos to Professor Oak for his ratings. Photos are judged on criteria such as size, how centered the Pokémon are, and how many Pokémon are in the frame.
It seems like an odd concept, but the result is a highly enjoyable game that surprises at every turn. Pokémon Snap is a single-player first-person simulation game that people go back to because of its nostalgic value.
6 WWF No Mercy
Wrestling games were brought to a new level during the Attitude era of wrestling. The '90s Attitude era is characterized by having more blood, more weapons, and wrestlers who have a problem with authority. WWF No Mercy was arguably the greatest wrestling game of the '90s. Using special moves is intuitive, and we can't forget its lineup of wrestling superstars.
We can't forget what WWF No Mercy did for wrestling games. It's a game that still holds up today.
5 Mario Party 2
The sequel to Mario Party came back with a themed board and improved mini-games. The Mario Party series may have been at its best when it was on the Nintendo 64.
Many of the more recent Mario Party games receive poor reviews because of repetitive mini-games and poor map design. Super Mario Party is considered a good Mario Party game by many people, but somehow, after all these years, the originals are still regarded as the best of the bunch.
4 Pokémon Stadium
The Stadium battles were fun to participate in; however, the mini-games were too addicting. Nostalgic Nintendo 64 players surely remember Pokémon Stadium mini-games like Clefairy Says, Thundering Dynamo, Magikarp’s Splash, Rock Harden, and Sushi-Go-Round.
In addition to being a mini-game paradise, Pokémon Stadium contained a Game Boy Tower where players could play Pokémon games like Pokémon Red and Blue at an accelerated pace. This was a huge advantage for players who wanted to beat their friends at the playground or water cooler the next day.
3 Star Wars Episode 1: Racer
Although many would say that Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is not the strongest entry in the Star Wars series, the pod-racing game based on the movie is a blast. The speed you could reach in Star Wars Episode 1: Racer was so high that you wished you had Force powers.
The game contains one of the earliest examples of vehicle destruction in a racing game. Maintaining your place in the race while avoiding crashing made Star Wars Episode 1: Racer a wild ride from start to finish.
2 Conker’s Bad Fur Day
As one of the last games to be developed for the Nintendo 64, Conker's Bad Fur Day released only a few months before the Nintendo GameCube. With Rare behind it, it's no wonder why people flock to Conker's Bad Fur Day today. The beloved squirrel from Diddy Kong Racing came back with an attitude and foul mouth. This booze hounding protagonist is cherished for his unruly antics.
One of the reasons why Conker's Bad Fur Day is so nostalgic is because of its split-screen multiplayer. This is back in the day when split-screen multiplayer was the norm. Playing modes like War, Deathmatch, and Heist was outrageous fun.
1 Mario Kart 64
Kart-racing remains a popular genre, which was created by games like Mario Kart 64. The first Mario Kart game was Super Mario Kart, and it released for the Super Nintendo.
This sequel was a significant improvement in the series, bringing three-dimensional graphics and four-player split-screen. A catch-up system keeps races competitive, and mind-boggling tracks keep the game entertaining. Who could forget classic maps like Rainbow Road, Luigi Raceway, Moo Moo Farm, and Bowser's Castle?