Every Nintendo 64 Game You Played in 1996 - Year One with N64

The Nintendo 64 was released 1996. Here's a quick look at both launch titles and all games released for that year.
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[@JohnRiggs]

What you played with Sega Genesis was released in 1989. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5qXpKljoayXZ9E

[@jacobbaranowski]

Street Fighter 2, Sonic,

[@thenamelessavenger]

That's the best review of Cruisin' USA i've ever heard. "You're not looking for physics." Yup.

[@knifetex]

The year I got out of the military. I bought a launch N64 and played the heck out of it. Waverace was Mind blowing for the time.

[@blazzing]

It's still mind blowing, shame no other developer had the skill to reproduce even half of the gameplay.

[@3232mikeymike]

Wave race was so good, mind blowing graphics! Thank you for your service!

[@liberalsarethebiggestcryba6654]

The theme was godlike, it was a clear Van Halen knockoff

[@The.Original.Potatocakes]

Thanks for your service dude!

[@retrogamer82]

Amazing water effects, even better with the Japanese version as it had rumble pak support

[@MdeGreat]

Good Times...I was 17 and loved Shadow of the Empire and Bounty Hunter very much

[@TheMikeyb86]

Loved all of those but the one I loved most was Shadows of the Empire. I still get freaked out by the garbage robot.

[@lady1kaka]

Would also love to see some "random" years besides the launch year ♥️

[@JohnRiggs]

they're coming. I've done more for others.

[@scottythegreat1]

I know 1995 is a huge year for video games........

[@Drinkabeerandplayagameofficial]

The Hoth level definitely blew everyone away in 96. I’m in that camp of N64 fanboy and it’s a solid lineup here even if it’s only 8 games

[@MikeDest]

This had me remembering there were still some good SNES releases in 96.

[@stephens9772]

My buddy got one first and I teased him that he had so much fun playing fuzz lol. His parents didn’t realize it didn’t come with a game, then he had to save his allowance to buy Mario 64 lol

[@KeithPhillips]

Oh the N64, how I loved thee. I got mine in late '96 right after military Basic Training, right as soon as I got ro my technical school for the next step before being stationed. I bought almost every single release game (except PilotWings and Gretzky) along with 4 controllers and also Mario Kart 64. I literally RULED the entire dorm room TV common area in my wing with that system and game library. You wouldn't believe how packed that room would get; everyone had to play this stuff...and did. We had the craziest 4-player Mario Kart parties! Wow, that was a good time. That thing probably ran 24 hours a day. lol

[@MontviewBlvdBabiez]

In 96-97 I was in the 6th grade and there was only 1 kid in our neighborhood with a N64 and every kid that lived nearby could not wait to get out of school to go to his house and play Mario Kart 64 so much fun! I myself did not get an N64 until 98 but my favorite game was Ocarina of time.

[@Progressive.G]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! 👍

[@kashingo8816]

Mortal Kombat trilogy was amazing. I had it for the first PlayStation though. Can’t go wrong with the 1 button fatalities. Mario 64 I put in many hours.

[@mariocovone498]

I love Mortal Kombat Trilogy. It's an all time favourite of mine. Shadows of the Empire was my reason for buying an N64.

[@jonas7417]

i've never understood why people call the n64 a faillure? it didn't sell as many units as the playstation, sure, but nintendo did earn a lot of money... and here in denmark it was very populair, i remember most kids having one myself included

[@jd-py5nm]

its like cars toyota honda ford sell tons but porsche makes tons of money on a small amount of cars nintendo has always profited well it seems regardless of sales

[@AskDrannik]

You can't call the N64 a failure when it's competing against the Sega Saturn in the same console generation.

[@jd-py5nm]

@@AskDrannik ouch as a saturn fan that hurts but you are correct!

[@jayhopt]

I like this "mid-retro" era more and more as I get older. I may have grown up on the 8 and 16 bit era, but I'm revisiting the 32/64 bit era of consoles lately with my son. All good games to check out again!

[@skkunqpro2696]

Ikr I hate when they call the wii and ps3 retro, is like but the games are the same just in 4k and a lil more fps

[@bencheshire]

@@skkunqpro2696 A lil more fps? The PS3 had the worst fps in console history, well worse than the Genesis, Saturn, Atari 2600.

[@robt.v.8688]

Man, the nostalgia is strong with this one. N64 was such a game changer. I remember seeing those janky graphics of Pilot Wings 64 and thinking how real it looked.

[@retrogaming1991]

Yesss. I'm so agree with you. Such an amazing console.

[@8ByteBrian]

Shadows of the Empire is still one of my favorite games today. It's a shame this part of the Star Wars EU never got it's own movie or was considered canon.

[@Rountree1985]

It is considered canon though, even George Lucas considers it to be canon.

[@TheTrueBro]

@@Rountree1985 not anymore. IIRC Marvel and Disney wrote some stories that took place between ESB and ROTJ, and those invalidate Shadows of the Empire (sadly)

[@michaelmartino16]

I remember all 8 games as I had all of them. What a great time

[@Major73Problem]

Loved Shadows of the Empire. A video game based on a book. And pretty close to the book. Loving the by the year format too.

[@dosenplok140]

N64 was released in march 97 in germany an I played the hell out of it. After the release of the great zelda OOT I think the n64 ran a little bit out of steam and I only played Majoras Mask, Perfect Dark, SmashBros and Banjo afterwards. The playststion with it´s strong RPG lineup grapped me by the throat but I still love my n64 collection of 66 games.

[@danielglatz1643]

Man I remember playing cruising USA and cruising the world at sleepovers when I was like 7 years old. We’d stay up til 3 am chugging Mountain Dew trying to beat it. Good times man. Good times.

[@WavesNGames]

In '96 we rented the N64 from Blockbuster with Mario 64, Wave Race 64, and Crusin' USA. It was a mind blowing weekend!

[@retrogaming1991]

Renting game was such a special moment and I had so much good memories

[@Rountree1985]

Mortal Kombat trilogy is probably my most nostalgic video game of all time. I remember it being one of the first games I was truly hyped for. I still go back to it from time to time.

[@michaelt.lancaster9776]

The only one on this list I've played was MK Trilogy, but not on an N64. I had it on the original Playstation, which I got instead of an N64.

[@Squiggles95]

Love the video John. Reflecting on nostalgic memories today on my birthday. I was 1 when the N64 came out, but I remember it fondly. Favorite 96 game easily is Super Mario 64, overall, Banjo Kazooie is my favorite N64 title. Classic.

[@retrogaming1991]

Yesssss Banjo-Kazooie

[@thebeatlesandoasis05]

Awesome video. Also thanks for the Cameo you did for my Birthday. Appreciate it

[@travisswiger9213]

I picked my N64 up a day before release at my local EB Games. Got Mario 64 with it. Played the heck out of that for a month and then picked up Pilot wings - love the Mini USA Map. I would fly around and explore for hours. You could re-fuel by landing near the few gas stations scattered about the map. Loved Shadows and KI Gold as well! The good ole days!

[@bigbone1369]

I remember getting a N64 for Christmas in '96, and getting Cruis'N USA and WCW vs NWO World Tour with it. Best Christmas ever.

[@starwarskong]

I remember in 1996, my parents and I went to four different places to find a Nintendo 64 with no luck. It sold out in my area of Vista/Oceanside/Carlsbad.

[@divefraggle]

Wave Race 64 was way ahead of its time. One of my all time favorites.

[@na_k]

Thanks for this video, John. I hadn't thought about some of these games in years! Brings back some great memories.

[@TheHobbsTV]

Was a good year!

[@zachmcclintock7431]

Another Saturday with a John Riggs video, always a good way to start the weekend 👍👍

[@hectormontalvo5565]

A friend of mine had both the N64 and the PS1 and we played more the PS1 than Nintendo. Cool video John!👍

[@05xrunner]

I remember me and my buddy had it pre ordered. The day it came out and his dad taking us over to toys r us to get our system was such an exciting time I still remember it very well today. I got Mario 64 with the system when I picked it up. I never got pilot wings as it wasn't really my type of game. I do remember how hard it was getting games on the system. They didn't come out often and when they did it was like hunting rare gems trying to find them in stock in stores. It was still fun though. In 96 I believe I had Mario 64, MK, Crusin USA, and Shadows of the empire. The N64 may have not aged well but it is still one of my favorites because of that time period in my life was a good one.

[@tonyp9313]

The days before the internet or when it was really crappy.

[@bobbyislegend]

Shadows of the Empire still stands as one of my favorite N64 games and favorite Star Wars games. Loved the vid. Thank you for all the work put into this and for the trip down memory lane!

[@glenhayman8722]

never had a N64 but as always I appreciate your opinion and knowledge on the subject. I love the fact that you get me in the attitude of those days. nostalgia at it's best

[@pixelsncreatures]

When I beat Turok I let a friend borrow it. He didn't own a memory card so he ended up being able to play the game from start to finish without stopping. Thst was my most amazing n64 memory, lol

[@Palalubong]

John I love your channel. Keep these brilliant videos coming. Much love from Manchester, England

[@thetrophysystem3697]

You've nailed this short review format

[@cherokeefit4248]

I think Mario Kart 64 is one of the best 4 player games ever.

[@Rountree1985]

That game along with Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Diddy Kong Racing and Smash Bros

[@davestevens3252]

Congrats on the subs. Been watching loyally and looking forward to the next one. N64 had a place in the progression of Nintendo but I'm certainly glad it is in the past.

[@H4TTOR1_H4NZO]

I liked the level with gyrocopter where you have to destroy that huge Mecha 👍

[@LukeyWolf.]

I really wish I could of been a 90's baby, I dream of going into a store and seeing brand new sealed N64 games or SNES, or literally any retro era video games all lined up sealed and new, what a dream.

[@Rountree1985]

Imagine not being alive during the 90s

[@LukeyWolf.]

@@Rountree1985 I was 2 years away, I'm upset.

[@Rountree1985]

@@LukeyWolf. lol well I was 12 in 1996 but I had a PS1 instead, didn’t get an n64 until like 2000. Luckily I had friends who had them though.

[@Mr.Hatchet224]

Awesome video I love your games of the year series

[@TheSwitchBit]

Killer instinct gold was my childhood. The n64 controller with its built in 6 button setup was great for Fighters imo

[@Rountree1985]

I was more a mortal Kombat kid back then but my friend had KI gold and we played the hell out of that too. We also played another fighting game called Mace: The Dark Age which was a 3D fighting game made by Midway. It didn’t get great reviews but we liked it and it had cool finishing moves.

[@TheSwitchBit]

@@Rountree1985 yessss I loved Mace... all the n64 fighting games honestly. Mk trilogy was awesome imo

[@Rountree1985]

@@TheSwitchBit did you ever play War Gods? I was intrigued by that game but when I played it, I was very let down. Some of the fatalities were cool but that’s about it.

[@Rountree1985]

@@TheSwitchBit also yeah I always thought the n64 controller was fine for fighting games due to the 6 face buttons. Idk why people always say it’s bad for fighters, maybe they’re using the analog stick instead of the d-pad?

[@retrogaming1991]

Wow really interesting concept of video. All my favourite games are not in this year, but it was great to watch the video.

[@mtshark7]

I never knew those were the only games that came out for its first year. Awesome video John!

[@frankez1975]

We used to play Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey like crazy in the barracks, blown away at the graphics and smoothness.

[@ServJesus7]

N64 is my most nostalgic console, it reminds me of my high school days. I LOVED Banjo Kazooie, DK64 and Road Rash 64 so much!

[@stribo79]

I was 16, I bought wave race 64 when I got my console. The water was just mind blowing for the time.

[@farmerinthere4466]

Most nostalgic system for me for sure. Top games I’d play ( other than the main top games)were Kirby 64 crystal shards, Mario tennis, paper Mario, 1080, Yoshi story

[@gianoahmiller9721]

Great video 🙏 keep up the good work MR. Riggs

[@calvee1100]

Shadows of the Empire is def my fav original 64 game. I spent hours playing it for sure!

[@diegocrusius]

had and played most of the games of this list at their releases. Mario 64 is one of the best gaming experiences I ever had. I remember how excited I was and how I couldnt wait to put my hands on this game. Pilot Wings is still enjoyable and I am looking for a copy to play today. Cruisin' USA was a game people of all ages wanted to play - it is truly geared towards fun. Shadows of the Empire is not a game for everyone and it kinda felt it needed some effort to be enjoyable but I glad Im did

[@Boosted0ne]

Anyone else call this thing the Ultra 64? It took me a couple years to stop saying that because that's what they originally named the N64 and used in reviews about the system before it actually launched.

[@neilarnold5506]

I remember getting a N64 for my birthday, and the first game I got for it was Cruisin' USA. That has to be my favorite launch title, but that is not to take anything away from any of the others. Honestly forgot how many games were released during the 64's first year of existence. Also MK is an absolute beast of a gaming franchise, and is for sure one of my (if not my) favorite fighting game. I may not comment too often, but love the channel, great video.

[@TheVargr]

In the UK (prob around 97 98 tbh) the N64 came with either Goldeneye and a golden controller or Mario 64

[@davidbales6355]

Loved Wave Race 64. Probably in my Top 20 fav games of all time. Two player with a friend was an absolute blast.

[@FallouFitness_NattyEdition]

Loving these vids, definitely feeding my nostalgia appetite.

[@asiea2179]

If you love it so much then why don't you marry it 💍💕

[@narcopsy]

Wave Race 64 was one of my favorite games and I got it for Christmas in 96, the water was mind blowing and bouncing off the waves with great control, such a good game

[@b469b]

i remember my parents renting the n64 that winter(i didn't get one until 97) and that storm took out power for days so i got to enjoy 1 day with it. The rental store gave us a discount another time though.

[@jacktsang05]

Glad i still have all ones mentioned in your list.

[@engineeredaf1920]

i totally forgot about some of these games!! thanks for refreshing some cherished childhood memories :-)

[@mikem7005]

I remember playing the N64 for the first time at Montgomery Wards. I must of played Mario 64 for an hour. I begged my parents for the system and a copy of Mario 64 for Christmas.

[@susanfit47]

This had me knowing there were several good Game Boy and some Super NES releases in '96. I love Super Mario 64, Pilotwings 64, Wave Race 64, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Killer Instinct Gold, and Cruis'n USA. In 96-97, I was in 4th grade twice, and fell in love with the Nintendo 64 at a military base ast Fort Sam Houston, Texas (when I was 9-10 years ago, and living at the time). I didn't even get a N64 until late 1999. And I still have. I don't have several accessories yet like the Arcade Shark and the WideBoy64.

[@razorr527]

The Nintendo 64 was a awesome system. I don't know why the hell some people are comparing about the N64. Maybe they never had one.

[@dreadGodshand]

My brother used to be so into shadows of the empire. He beat it on the hardest difficulty. The difficulty where you only got one hit but so does the bad guys. Super fun game. 😄

[@tonyp9313]

Wow these were the launch titles for N 64?... These games are like top 10 of all time. I love every game you showed. Usually I won't even like every game in a launch line up. I didn't buy the system in 1996...I have played all these games though like years later. The only one I played in 1996 was Super Mario 64 at a mall. All awesome games..Going to have to go with Mario 64 though... Times before the internet were very rough. Now for a launch line up, just download the game, look it up on youtube, order it in the mail...Just the fact now you can look up whole walkthroughs on youtube makes that much of a huge difference when buying games. Back then we had to rely on video game magazines which is not good at all because I had to rely on the magazine whether a game is good or not with reading & only pics they showed..Or your friends telling you.. You would have to hop on a bus & metro just to go to the mall...The mall would only have Mario 64....So you couldn't check out the other 8 games unless you bought the system & rented games at Block buster or other video rental places...This is why the today & now is so much better than Yester year....

[@retrogaming1991]

I remember the magazine so much and yes, need to rent a game or ask advice with somebody that also have a n64. This is so different from today

[@jeremysteelman2900]

Year one N64 was a great year.

[@Uutama]

Really like this style of video

[@mattblom3990]

Wayne Gretzky's 3D hockey is still played by myself and my friends regularly. The game is possessed. You can be up 8 goals to 4 in the third period with two minutes remaining and you know, you KNOW the game is somehow going to restrict you and your opponents are going to come back and win 11-10. It just happens.

[@corypetersen5081]

i played everyone of those games when it came out

[@dwaynemenzies8824]

I love these kind of yearly videos and I hope you do the Sega Dreamcast.

[@TRJ2241987]

I got my N64 for Christmas '96 with Mario, Cruis'n & Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey.....it was just a mindblowing experience and in that early N64 era there was just this feeling that ANYTHING was suddenly possible and left your mind racing about the types of games we would see in the upcoming years. That was a very special period in time

[@michaelpost3562]

I love any video that has air fortresses music in it 😄

[@JohnRiggs]

good catch :)

[@jhkuno88]

Lmao great WaveRace footage you have there.....the skillz xD

[@danerd8978]

N64 a failure? Not by long shot. I'm going to clear this up right now. The ones that mostly complain about it weren't there from the begining. I played Playstation by having my uncle rent one from Blockbuster and it wasn't as good to me. Yeah Twisted Metal was awesome, it didn't have Mario. I grew up on Mario. I got my N64 Christmas of 1996 or 97 and recieved one game, Super Mario 64. By that time I played Super Mario 64, Shadows of The Empire, Crusin' USA, Mario Kart 64, Killer Instinct Gold and possibly Goldeneye. I think it came out in 1997.

[@Rountree1985]

He didn’t say it was a failure. He actually said it wasn’t. It just wasn’t nearly as successful as previous consoles and the PS1 outsold it by a long shot. The Nintendo 64 had fewer games also, but the great games on it were truly great. It’s the one console that I regret getting rid of the most and now they’re expensive so I can’t justify buying one.

[@spockhozzer7207]

Mario 64 isn't Mario either. It's a clumsy 3D platformer and it sucks

[@daffyrwt]

I remember when the N64 came out I still was wanting a SNES. We had a Genesis that my bro got in '92 or '93 and all my friends had a SNES with Super Mario World, which I absolutely loved playing. I started saving my allowance for an SNES and my dad and older brother were trying to sell me on getting the new N64 cuz "it has better graphics" and etc blah blah blah and I wasn't having any of it. I was dead set on getting the SNES so I could play Super Mario World at my leisure, which I eventually did and enjoyed every minute of it. Funny thing was at the time my family was about a year or less out from moving to IN, when we moved that first year was so rough on me I didn't hang out with anybody for that entire school year. The friends I did start hanging out with one of them got an N64 that upcoming Christmas. It was either the 26th or 27th I was out with my dad shopping and making returns and we stopped into a Funcoland (remember those!?!?!?!), knowing my friend got the N64 and seeing how interested I was with it in the store... and knowing how hard the move was on me... my dad bought me (and my older brother) an N64 for a belated Christmas gift. We got Goldeneye and Mario Kart 64, I still remember hooking it all up to the tv before my brother coming home from work then showing him the surprise dad got us. Still one of my favorite Christmas memories. Also what made it even better was that winter we had a big blizzard come through and we only had like a 1/2 day of school that entire first week "back" from Christmas break, and I remember playing Goldeneye everyday that Christmas break. In the end I still feel vindicated for getting my SNES, cuz I still have it and history has shown that the SNES was an awesome system, more so than the N64 is remembered for being, so I'm glad I stuck to my guns at the time however late it was in it's lifecycle. But I'm even more glad I got to experience both systems.

[@laatmaarzien]

Great story, thanks

[@F13fan]

Got my 64 for Christmas that year. Spent my Christmas vacation(which got extended due to snow thankfully) playing Mario 64 and Shadows of the Empire and MK. Loved those games! Then got KI Gold and liked playing that a lot too

[@Rountree1985]

Also, did you mean to say “Nester” from Nintendo power instead of Ness? Ness is the main character from Earthbound.

[@bennyboyshs]

Excellent job highlighting likes/dislikes. It came out when I was 7 and since then I have yet to have an open and stimulating conversation about how one felt about starting up carts for the first time. There was a lot to love and hate coming from previous eras.

[@stephens9772]

I played the Hoth part so many times in that game.

[@cronoesify]

Dude. Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey was our neighborhoods JAM! 4 player on that was a constant during the 64 era. So much damned fun out of that back when there was nothing else to play.

[@landeny65]

Shadows of the Empire was my favorite. The music and SFX at the time were superb

[@wd6358]

MK Trilogy was great. Love the one button fatalities. Never played it on 64 tho

[@jd-py5nm]

Mario 64 kept us busy with pilotwings as well. Lil bro loved killer instinct I mean fighting werewolf! Cruisin was a blast also. Biggest problem is I have such fond memories of these but revisiting them has been very meh. Honestly this was a good lineup of games I had and loved everything except gretzky since we weren't hocky fans.

[@abcamacho6187]

Play these retro games after a few beers lol still does it for me now and then 😂

[@ThisThatAndTheOtherWithBradley]

I was 11 when the 64 came out and I loved it. I have such nostalgia for WaveRace 64. I played it like crazy.

[@natecw4164]

The water, music and control in WaveRace 64 *blew my mind* in 1996.

[@Buttons28]

John, I absolutely love the Pilotwings series. I am very disappointed that the last pilotwings was on their portable console. We haven't had a true console game of this since 64 I think.

[@kornstory]

I sold my ps1 and a ton of games to get a 64 and mario. I regretted it later on but that's how amazing Mario 64 was.

[@VintageJunk1e]

100k~!!!!!!!!!! SUBS!!! congrats bud love the channel keep it up !@

[@mateoincognito8004]

I’m a big hockey fan. I definitely had Wayne Gretzky 3D hockey. I remember playing it at a funco land and my father (being a big hockey fan also) bought it for me. We used to play blades of steel together all the time. And we played this one too

[@radioactivehobo2849]

Cool video! Even though I was amazed by Mario's graphics, I was never a Mario fan and usually wait a year before I buy a new console. I got my N64 sometime in 1997 and my first games were Top Gear Rally, nWo vs WCW, and Goldeneye. I look forward to what you'll think about those in a year. 😀

[@froggy7570]

It was Starfox 64 and Goldeneye for me. Love your content, John. Keep that hair going, looking good 👍

[@foundoasis7342]

Asking for a supreme combo in the killer instinct voice must have been the 90s equivalent to asking for the Travis burger at McDonald’s lol

[@dcb6729]

Mario 64 kept me entertained till future games released. Mario 64 is my number 1 favorite Mario game.

[@DanielPerez-hy6qi]

great video.. keep them coming.. 👍

[@stinkypinkeee5085]

The N64 may well be my favorite system...I still have my original, and surprisingly I still love the wonky controller...