I Ranked Best and Worst TENGEN games on NES

Tengen games were known for being in that weird case and mostly consist of Atari and Sega games on Nintendo. SEGA on Nintendo?! Here's a look at all 20 Tengen games on NES and I'll rank them along the way.
Rank Tengen NES Games yourself! tiermaker.com/create/tengen-n...
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[@JohnRiggs]

Ranking every NES game by ULTRA - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGSpmqaJg61lgtE Ranking every NES game by Sunsoft - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKDYkmZpo7-Gbqs

[@massreview4151]

Rank the 6 mega man games

[@massreview4151]

Actually I think you might have done that ... I can't remember

[@JoHnAnDjAnEdOe81]

Where is your Beer Company located?

[@JoHnAnDjAnEdOe81]

Also do a video of all S ranked games.

[@paxhumana2015]

@JohnRiggs, and yet, despite that lawsuit, did you know that the FDS (Famicom) also had its own form of Tetris as well, but this time, Bullet Proof Software (now known as Blue Planet Software) did the publishing, as well as development, for that game? Now that is confusing, is it not? Well, from what I can gather, despite the Tengen version of Tetris being rare, the Famicom version of Tetris is even harder to find than that game. Moreover, Nintendo, from what I heard, actually had the Tengen version of Tetris on the Virtual Console, as well as the NES, SNES, and Game Boy versions of Tetris, and yet the Famicom version of Tetris was a no show. Continuing on the topic of Tetris, you know that Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt not only were separate games, but that they were also bundled in a two game cartridge, as well as separate three game cartridges for both the NTSB-U and all PAL region games, am I right? Well, you know that the three game cartridge that was released for the NTSB-U market had Super Mario Brothers, Duck Hunt, and World Class Track Meet, but in PAL regions, the three game cartridge that they received contained Super Mario Brothers, the NTSB-U version of Tetris, and Nintendo World Cup (which was itself a reskinned Kunio-Kun sports title). Weirdly enough, this was the only way for PAL regions to get Nintendo World Cup or the NTSB-U version of Tetris. Finally, for even more confusion, the Game Boy, NES, SNES, and FDS all had different versions of Tetris 2. The Famicom version of Tetris 2 was completely different in its game play mechanics than any other version of Tetris, plus it also had an additional game mode/game that was called Bombliss, which would also appear on the PC and NSFC (Super Famicom) series that is called Super Tetris. Interestingly enough, though the SNES double game cart of Tetris and Dr. Mario never appeared, as far as I know, outside of NTSB-U markets, the SNES version of Tetris 2 was released on the NSFC as Tetris Flash.

[@georgecostanza1000]

John "It gets the job done" Riggs

[@TheLastLineLive]

He gets the job done. 👍

[@ZYNeel]

I'm trashed right now from taking a drink every time he says "it gets the job done". is this his new catch phrase maybe we will get some merch.

[@NotABot55]

Far better than "It just works," no?

[@MrSlicktherick]

John” rigg em up right” riggs

[@BlUsKrEEm]

"It's basically the same, it just doesn't feel the same" might just be the best summary of Tengen games

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Except the Genesis ones were arcade perfect! Especially Paperboy

[@DarkLordNick999]

Several games that Tengen developed did make it on the NES published by Mindscape. These are Paperboy, Roadblasters, and Gauntlet II. There’s also a Mindscape published version of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, but it’s the same game as the Tengen cart.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Marble Madness was also, with some assistance from Rare, but published by Milton Bradley 🔵

[@MagesGuild]

One other arcade note: The Tengen Tetris was a port of the Atari arcade, and it was nearly 1:1, but not entirely. It still ranks very high for me, and you can never go wrong with it. All of the play modes are exemplary.

[@tommiefunk2099]

Do you watch the Gaming Historian? He has a deep dive into Tengen and how they got around the NES lockout chip.

[@mrp4242]

Gaming Historian’s videos are great, including this one that has well over a million views. It’s like he’s an unlicensed PBS documentary filmmaker....

[@Niggas4Trump2024]

I always had issues getting Tengen cartridges to work on my NES when I used to rent them back in the day. Tetris and Super Sprint were my favorites of the bunch.

[@michaelsegal3558]

I have the Tengen version of Tetris

[@ilj1259]

Gauntlet is an "S" Tier for me... very close to the arcade experience and one of the better multi player games.

[@becomeanolive1637]

I like the fact that the Treasures give you health after 50, and no unlimited continues which b the other ports, I like it more than the Arcade and you get inplay music too.

[@JustMe99999]

Totally agree.

[@cooladee]

My favorite Tengen games on the NES are Tetris and Gauntlet.

[@JoKoKilla]

Hey! You didn't talk about how the Tengen version of Ms PacMan had 2 player simultaneous option. That alone makes it an "S." What other version of Ms. PacMan allows you to play simultaneously with a friend? Anyway, awesome video!!! Thank you!

[@robotickilldozer]

Yes, Ms. Pac-man is a total S. Lumping it in with regular Pac-Man does it a terrible injustice, as the conversion is completely different. I played the two player mode of Ms. Pac-Man a lot as a kid, and I still enjoy playing this on insane difficulty once in a while.

[@Gas679]

JoKoKilla Riggs actually showed the wrong Ms Pac-Man game.

[@JoKoKilla]

@@Gas679 I noticed that too. Might have been out of convenience? I wonder if he knows about the features in the Tengen version. John you out there? Care to comment? lol He's probably busy.

[@JohnRiggs]

2-player requires having a friend so I wouldn't know :) Naw, good call. I should have at least pointed it out.

[@JoKoKilla]

@@JohnRiggs OMG we have the man himself! WHATEVER You seem like a good guy, I bet you have a bunch of people to play with (or you got the kiddies at the very least). Thanks again for the vid. Love the "tier" vids.

[@dereklouden7415]

I'm sure someone's already told you, but it looks like you showed the Namco version of Ms. Pacman instead of the (in my opinion) superior Tengen version.

[@Bubbabyte99]

Was just gonna say this.

[@TheLastLineLive]

Tengen's games were pretty good, plus that different cartridge looked cool.

[@emptyspotlight]

It is so hard to find a copy of Tengen Tetris. That was the best version of Tetris

[@ZYNeel]

and they got the job done

[@TrainmasterCurt]

@@emptyspotlight Check E-Bay, it shows up here and there

[@emptyspotlight]

@@TrainmasterCurt yep already have my notifications saved to remind me when there's copies for sale

[@darklordojeda]

Back in the 80's my dad's friend worked for Tengen. She would always bring us new games. Miss those days.

[@danielmccormick700]

This Tetris is definitely an S. I remember it being a perfect match of the Atari arcade version, and I could never bring myself over to Nintendo's version because it wasn't an arcade port.

[@onlylettersand0to9]

Early Tengen games were licensed. I had two Tengen carts as a kid-- Gauntlet (grey-cart licensed version) and Rolling Thunder (black cart, I don't think there was a licensed version of that one).

[@BM-wh5qk]

Yep I remember the good ol' days playing Gauntlet at my next door neighbors house.

[@JasonMontell2501]

Who else pronounced Tengen as TEN-JIN as a kid?

[@chain_sawyer7469]

I did lol

[@shenloken2]

Prolly cause when we saw Gen we thought Genesis Hence the pronunciation

[@chain_sawyer7469]

@@shenloken2 yeah that's true.

[@ezehogan]

Still do

[@xj0462]

i still say it like that

[@LoneWolf1985BK]

PAC-mania was great! Adding the jump feature and scrolling levels added a lot to a classic.

[@TimBitten]

Toobin’ was one of my favorite games back in the day! Super unique and felt doable.

[@bestudesu4833]

John I really enjoy your videos, I appreciate the fact you take time out of your day raising a family to give us some great videos for fans of retro gaming. God speed.

[@wlbatch]

Apparently I had a lot of Tengen games as a kid and didn’t realize it.

[@benkizer9509]

Indiana Jones for the NES was released both by Tengen and Mindscape, which is why you might remember it coming out from another publisher.

[@xflarearcadia1766]

Fantasy Zone, Defender meets NES color palette.

[@therottenapplepk8881]

RBi was a religion between my brother and his friends had note books filled with their w/L records

[@Gas679]

Hey Riggs, the Ms Pac-Man game u showed was the NAMCO version and not the TENGEN version..in which they are day and night..

[@mrmanjumac3454]

Yeah? The game seems simple. What would make 1 version superior compared to the other?

[@romanbeard4834]

@@mrmanjumac3454 the graphics. Tengen's version looks way closer to the arcade version

[@Gas679]

Mr ManjuMac yea the TENGEN version has various options..beyond superior game, I would even say it’s an “S”..

[@Gas679]

Mr ManjuMac TENGEN version has various options.. level designs, speed, coop play etc..

[@darylmodjeski698]

The Tengen version had extra type of mazes like the Genesis version. The graphics are far superior to the Namco version they released on the Nes.

[@jaredhammonds8255]

Oh man I really love rolling thunder on arcade! The nes port was perfectly fine for me

[@hw5091]

rolling thunder is my favorite tengen game. Great box art, had the cut scenes, less clothes everytime haha, and just a very good game. A tier for me.

[@rangoononline]

RBI Baseball is S tier fun with another player. Good call on Tetris.

[@JenerationXY]

I was gonna call shenanigans if Tetris wasn’t S tier.

[@olesideburns]

I agree best baseball nes game , S

[@isaiahconstante2206]

Riggs does it again! Best retro gaming channel on youtube by far. Keep up the good work!

[@TrainmasterCurt]

He is, and I like that he doesn’t have a filthy mouth like Mike Mattei or James Rolfe

[@thejabberwalker]

Bro. R.B.I. baseball, the original, is the best baseball simulator ever created!

[@stephenjohnson9632]

Loved RBI Baseball, but Baseball Stars by SNK was a 1000x better.

[@thejabberwalker]

@@stephenjohnson9632 gonna haveta give it a try!

[@chain_sawyer7469]

I grew up on Gauntlet and Temple of Doom.I have a love hate relationship with Temple though.

[@ShamrockParticle]

It's the same type of relationship for the Atari 2600 game "Raiders of the Lost Ark" :)

[@alcarbo8613]

I have to say Tegan kept great quality control, they could have used their cartridges to produce tons of shovel ware from every developer rejected by Nintendo, but they didn’t which is respectable

[@TheRmm1976]

Hi JohnRiggs, youtube recommended your channel and I've got to tell you these lists are amazing. Thank you sir and please keep this type of series going!

[@drg5352]

While I never spent much time with Gauntlet 1, My brother, dad, and I swapped out (no 4 player adapter) on Gauntlet 2 and reached level 360 or so. After awhile, the levels loop over and start back with the first level, but keep the level count. Blue Warrior shot our food!

[@Radd1976]

Tengen Gauntlet on NES is very cool. The reason why the enemies move so choppy is because they're not sprites. They're tiles. That also explains how Tengen was able to get so many characters on screen. Once I knew this, I had to have it. I had such a higher appreciation. So neat how Tengen overcame shortcomings here.

[@monkeyballs512]

Thanks for doing this list. The Tengen games get short changed a lot because of their unofficial status, but there is a lot of good stuff there

[@invaderboy7187]

I love these ranking vids keep them coming mate thank you :-)

[@Vehl]

I remember renting Skull and Crossbones from my local block buster so many times, that my parents decided to just buy it for me. I have a lot of wonderful nostalgia for the game. For that reason I do not think I will go and revisit it, since it will probably ruin it for me lol.

[@tigmo55]

Thank you for posting another super fun video, JohnRiggs! I am seriously stoked whenever you post a new one and I know that others feel the same way so please keep them coming! This was a nice surprise too because I honestly forgot just how many games that Tengen released for the NES. In any case, Tengen Tetris must be an incredibly rare game because to this day, I have never seen it in person...ONCE! It sounds like it is way better than the Nintendo version too which is a real shame. Anyway, I actually loved playing Pac-Mania and Toobin' growing up (Toobin' was a game I didn't expect to be very fun and it surprised me.) and you've got me wanting to try the arcade version (of Toobin') one of these days. And lastly, you cracked me up when you started talking about Skull & Crossbones. I've never played it and I was wondering where you were going when you said it was obscure and unknown. Then...you said it's a terrible game. Good stuff! Thanks again for posting videos like these. They are fun to watch!

[@Starscreamlive]

I love Tengen games. I used to rent Tengen Tetris a lot back in the day. Now I wish I held on to it when my local rental place sold off all their NES games.

[@MeanMrMustard1]

You can get the cart loose relatively cheaply. But it goes for a lot complete with box and manual.

[@MisterE80]

6:14-6:44 Whenever I rented Road Runner as a kid I would purposely lose just so I could finally see Wile E. Coyote catch the Road Runner.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Nice to see some Tengen love! My top 7: 1. Tetris 2. Vindicators 3. Ms Pac-Man 4. Toobin 5. Pacmania 6. Alien Syndrome 7. After Burner

[@jeff97ish]

Love these lists videos you have been doing!

[@chadmolitor6691]

I love these ranking videos. Keep it up!

[@tdog5993]

When I was younger I played Indiana Jones & couldn’t figure it out. Now I know that it’s a pretty good game.

[@CrunkPartyBitches]

RBI Baseball at a B hurts me right here, man.

[@TheOneTrueFingal]

Great vid as always, just wish you'd mentioned all the additions to Ms.Pac Man. The two player mode is always a blast! Ms.Pac Man, to me, would be an A+ about a smidge under S.

[@travisolson9413]

Seems like a lot of these games "got the job done". Well, all right then. Good job games.

[@CarboniteDreamsYT]

These ranking videos are great 👍, keep em coming!

[@Ryan-xn3mt]

I’ve fond memories of RBI!

[@BrianKapellusch]

When it came out, RBI was light years ahead of the competition (Nintendo baseball and MLB by lgn I think?)

[@jst25]

Although it was quickly surpassed by Baseball Stars by SNK, by far the best NES baseball game.

[@BrianKapellusch]

@@jst25 overall, yeah. Altho I do like having the MLB licensed players.

[@MeanMrMustard1]

@@jst25 I would say it was surpassed by Based Loaded then all baseball games were surpassed by Baseball Stars.

[@monteranceross8846]

By the way love your channel it is so awesome I especially love the open cart surgery videos

[@MikeDest]

Ranking Every Wisdom Tree NES Game

[@randomgamer-st1ie]

All F's

[@leefischer5814]

@@randomgamer-st1ie oh come on Bible Buffet is a C, nothing else ranks above it, but that is at least playable🤔

[@stevefulkerson4995]

I was able to beat Tengen Guantlet playing solo as the Elf, at the bottom dungeon is a 3 headed dragon. It was almost impossible to get through this one co-op.

[@PrinceAkkanatan]

Really been digging your videos, keep it up!

[@JolliAllGenGamer]

When I hear Tengen I always think of RBI baseball.

[@JohnRiggs]

I may as well.

[@illrobbzilla]

With a side arm pitcher like Bret Saberhagen, you stand on the edge of the rubber and throw to the opposite side of the batter, catching just the front corner of the plate, and it's a strike that you can't hit. I throw no hitters baby and drive my friends bonkers!

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Do, do do do do, do do do do do do, do do do do do do do doooo

[@bossplayagaming5254]

Good job bro your channel bring back good child memories

[@c55411]

Love watching the ranking videos. Should do accessories ranking video if you haven’t already did.

[@jacobprice8048]

Been collecting Tengen recently. Tetris is hard as hell to find. Love the Ms. Pacman cart. The 2 player co-op is super fun. I have the Rick and Morty hack of Alien Syndrome. Game is hard

[@__tengu__]

Rolling Thunder I love the music in that game.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Awesome!! Thanks John, Tengen was good, Marble Madness for NES was made by them but published by the odd Milton Bradley Co. Also thanks for putting Tengen Tetяis as an S Tier cartridge! It was quite rare to find it before E-Bay, I found mine at a Flea Market for $75

[@frod79]

Jaleco rankings when? Great vid series!

[@MagesGuild]

By 1985, the NES was very far behind what arcade machines could do; and even in 1983, it could not directly 1:1 port arcade games from 1981-83. You could come close.... Case in point, Donkey Kong. The NES was specifically designed to run DK, and while the NES/FC Donkey Kong from 1983 was the best home version available, even that was not arcade-prefect.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Donkey Kong Original Edition fixed rhat

[@michaeladams9807]

Love the Ranking videos keep them coming. 👍👍

[@MrTom24345]

If u haven't seen Norms video on Tetris you need to! Everyone who has any curiosity about Tetris should watch. WILDLY informative.

[@kranibal]

Absolute great ranking. I concur with most of your choices.

[@marccram6584]

I was a game tester on Vindicators. It was designed by Westwood Studios; the same group that made Command & Conquer.

[@darylmodjeski698]

The Ms Pac-man you showed was the namco version for the Nes, The Tengen version was full screen and very close to the arcade except is scrolled,

[@WWRNC]

I’ll agree with your list. Tetris is definitely S tier for Tengen. Some of them shouldn’t have been ported honestly, but it’s cool to have them, I suppose.

[@thelutherbob]

Thanks for this fun feature John!

[@gimcrack555]

Rolling Thunder was my favorite game to play. I also like the intermissions between each level. Great colors, great game control, great music and fun game play. This game has always been in my top 10 list.

[@ostiariusalpha]

Codename: Viper is what Rolling Thunder *should* have been.

[@janwerthwein820]

Agree, spent many many hours on Rolling Thunder

[@prophismusic]

There is a "No Power Drain" rom hack for Gauntlet.

[@AS-fu1kd]

Loving this series man!

[@Rountree1985]

I really like this. I’m gonna start watching more of your stuff.

[@illrobbzilla]

Before I watch RBI Baseball is S tier... I know you don't like sports

[@matttherrien9608]

Yeah, liked the Okland A's. Mark McGuire & Hose Canseco.

[@CrunkPartyBitches]

@@matttherrien9608 "Hose"?

[@matttherrien9608]

@@CrunkPartyBitches Damn it you got me. He was still a hell of a slugger in the 80s though.

[@egraham5718]

Love these ranking videos! Thanks Riggs. Say hi to Murtaugh.

[@Wheels8504]

If you want to play a more fun "Rolling Thunder", you need to play Code Name: Viper

[@Wheels8504]

@Raul Mont I think you're right

[@redglass77]

Looking forward to seeing if you get around to the Tecmo games.

[@tobiasmartin9788]

Always great content

[@m1foley]

My friends still hold RBI 2 tournaments to this day. Gameplay, sound effects, multiplayer, balance, mapping to real teams during a golden age of MLB... this is a near perfect sports game, for which "C" is a robbery.

[@dave4shmups]

Nice! I love Tengen games and I miss the company. They did some great games on the NES and the 16-bit consoles.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Genesis too, Paperboy for Genesis is S Tier

[@kajukenpo7]

I love these never miss an episode!

[@sketchyyoutubeguy1030]

Love the rankings! Is a Data East ranking coming?

[@0Akeldama0]

im addicted to these dang vids

[@MrTwistin420]

Loving the Mike Jones canvass behind you 👍

[@themrnails]

Awesome, thanks! Working Designs ranked.

[@enigmastarr5712]

I always thought it was pronounced Tenjen . I learned something new . Great video !

[@afloyd4976]

Tengen games were licensed, just not through Nintendo. Tengen did what they did because Nintendo wasn't producing enough copies of their games to meet demand - on purpose, in order to keep prices up. Nintendo was even not allowing retailers to have reduced price sales on the NES. That's where the Official Nintendo Seal came from.

[@jodymcdougle8810]

also, how did you obtain that wrap around game picture on your wall? i recently got my NES/Famicom: a visual compendium book and love EVERY page of it!!

[@leefischer5814]

Awesome video, keep them coming Riggs. Between this series, OCS, and bootleg carts all are ranked an S to me😁👍. Can't wait to see the Tecmo rankings.

[@locutus442]

The clips of Ms. Pac-man you showed was the Namco version, not the Tengen version. The Tengen version has better graphics (pretty close to arcade perfect), more mazes, two player co-op, and even a mode where you can turn speed up on or off.

[@MrMeatHook]

Man, I adored Tengen’s Rolling Thunder as a kid and teen. But, I haven’t played it in at least 30 years. I’d be afraid to revisit it now

[@SuperChadwicktron]

Love these videos from you

[@j-stilt9746]

Love these videos

[@jeremysteelman2900]

Skull and crossbones was a didn't know any better for me, loved playing it along with Beetlejuice and American gladiators.

[@TumoFiji]

Great video as always! I agree for the most part. Would have added Pac-man to S and would have put Vindicaters up to B.

[@Svankmajer]

Good video. Crossing my fingers for my favorite game company THQ next!

[@WhozWolfgang]

We had a similar thing here in Australia it was called HES - Home Entertainment Suppliers and they would port unlicensed games to the NES. The games came in a strange VHS like case with a manual. I only know this because I found a game in an old big box of VHS tapes at my parents house. The game I found was the HES version of Vindicators. I initially based the price of it off the Tengen one in the states as it's the only listing on eBay I could find, after some research I found out it is an extremely rare game in Australia and one just hasn't been listen in many years because it is so rare. Upon posting on a few forums and pages to get more information on it I was offered some rediculous amounts for this old, odd game.

[@jodymcdougle8810]

John, how are you able to create the color coded ranking sheet? looks great! as always, keep up the great work!

[@JohnRiggs]

tiermaker :)

[@jodymcdougle8810]

@@JohnRiggs thanks, John! might be a bit easier than Excel, but i need the practice lol :)

[@soganatari7411]

deng! how did i mis this one ? keep m coming bro !

[@popculturehero]

I really liked Vindicators and Alien Syndrome. Alien syndrome especially I enjoy revisitng. The aesthetic of it on NES is like Aliens as designed for a childrens game show. This video prompted me to dig through my nes shelf and I was surprised I owned fantasy zone, and after burner as well.