The 20 Best NES Games of All Time

[@mojoplays]

What’s your favorite NES game? Share your memories in the comments. Click here for more Nintendo videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLCXa2CCtHXq0FzqCOu1fszmDd93wuXYw0

[@keynanmartinez]

Super Mario Bros and Super Mario Bros 3.

[@mattiasolsson1523]

I know Metroid hasn’t age well today, but was a big thing compare to other NES, not my most favorite but i can appreciate it.

[@homeropeniano1050]

How about making top 10 bootleg video games next list?

[@kenterminateddq5311]

MojoPlays (WatchMojo), where's Batman and Jackal?

[@colewatson4830]

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light.

[@Marksman3434]

I was born too late to have gotten the NES as a child, but man, it’s so clear how the games on that console basically laid the blueprint for what the games after should be and spawned entire new genres. Probably was the most important console generation ever.

[@Number-cl7yh]

I grew up in a country and town where we got newest tech a bit later back then. Blessing in disguise.

[@kingbaby8761]

Im just glad they toned down the difficulty of most games for the next generation. I don't think I would have ever gotten into gaming if my first game had been something like "Ghosts and Goblins" or "Megaman" lol. They frustrate me as an adult, I can only imagine playing them as a kid.

[@manueltapia1859]

​@@kingbaby8761that's one thing didn't like back then in NES games how hard can be 😅

[@stickypickle8857]

​@@manueltapia1859Sadly that was a trait leftover from the Arcade era. Game developers back then were worried that someone could rent the game once and beat it, therefore having no reason to buy the game to complete it.

[@kenidocleveland4359]

Man you really missed a hell of a time....i got my first NES in 87....well it was my big brothers, but i played it more than him

[@mattiasolsson1523]

Super Mario bros 3 isn’t just my favorite NES game but one of my most favorite Mario and Video game of all time.

[@stratuvarious8547]

I don't agree, but I can respect the choice, it's definitely in my top 3 Mario games of all time. Only beaten by Super Mario World and Super Mario 64.

[@chrisrj9871]

One of the best games of the 90s.

[@aaronflowers8881]

Same here

[@keynanmartinez]

Super Mario Bros was the reason I love video games in the first place.

[@robinolsson6152]

Glad that you guys give Kirby’s adventure respect. Its one of the best kirby games alongside with the forgotten land.

[@jclkaytwo]

I think most newer kirby games have surpassed kirby's adventure imo

[@js1879]

I used to let the intro to Ninja Gaiden replay so many times as a kid. Was 1 of the coolest things ever to me. Made me want to be a ninja and pretended to be 1 all the time.

[@DBoy2029]

Seriously, Mega Man 2 was truly the game that put Mega Man on the map!

[@mattiasolsson1523]

Mega man 2 is the GOAT

[@jclkaytwo]

mega man 2 may have put mega man on the map, but mega man 3 was the game that actually made mega man good

[@chrishamlin6905]

I wanted that one for Christmas, and no one had it in stock.

[@poliwhirlking]

@@jclkaytwo Nah the first Mega Man made Mega Man good

[@jclkaytwo]

@@poliwhirlking the first mega man hasn't aged very well imo. same goes with mega man 2.

[@williamsummerson1204]

Super Mario Bros 3 and Mega Man 2 will always be my favorites. Thx for taking alot of us down memory lane. 💪

[@krisfrederick5001]

I will never forget when my brother got Super Mario Bros. 3 for his birthday. We didn't even open the rest of the presents or eat any cake. We just ran straight to the Nintendo. 30 years later I still play and love this game!

[@aaronflowers8881]

I wish I could ❤ this comment. SMB3 is my favorite video game ever. I got it Christmas 1990 when I was 8 and it blew me away.

[@cabbitkisser2620]

i was 13 when the nes came out in 1986. i got one for Christmas 2 years later. after i hooked it up & started playing it i had blast with the nes until the snes came out

[@montybruce6079]

Just the childhood memories of playing those games are great and the list itself is fairly spot on

[@ms3ben]

The original Wizards and Warriors was one of my favorite NES games as well. Never tried part 3.

[@Interest_In_Everything]

There’s no way that excitebike is the best racing game on the NES when R.C. Pro Am exists.

[@adamedvardsson1360]

Loved the Disney games from Capcom, Mario & Batman Return of the Joker

[@TheMassEffectKrantt]

Elevator Action never gets love. Super Mario 2 is my favorite. The Simpsons: Bart vs the Space Mutants is up there too.

[@flamingocupproductions5329]

fully agree, but also donkey kong and galaga

[@xSayPleasex]

Tecmo Super Bowl doesn't get enough love. It was a somewhat later release but it really did kick ass.

[@c.ladimore1237]

super dodgeball & ice hockey were the best b/c of how hilarious the 2 player competitive modes were, esp. dodgeball

[@AblazeSandman]

Super Dodgeball! Thank you. I could see the game and the characters in my head, but couldn't place it being dodgeball for some reason. Been a long time. Awesome game!

[@c.ladimore1237]

@@AblazeSandman the special moves & how you could actually knock the other player across the screen into your own were just hilarious!

[@c.ladimore1237]

@@AblazeSandman kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4m0hqRoqrFqnqM

[@seabicuit7247]

I’m assuming this was planned as 1 entry per series but it’s strange not to see SMB 1-2, Dragon Warrior 1, Ninja Gaiden 3, Castlevania 1, Chip and Dales, Micky Mousecapdes, and Adventures of Link on a list of best NES titles. System had a lot of bangers.

[@jclkaytwo]

mickey mousecapade? that's random

[@arkhaminmate2263]

I’m glad Castlevania 3 is getting some love, I feel it gets ignored or criticized for being too hard

[@Dragonking1984]

I'm surprised 3 is catching flack since 2 is often seen as the black sheep of the original trilogy. Which I've never understood why. I like 2 just as much as i do 1 & 3 then again I feel the same way about Legend of Zelda 2 (always the 2's)

[@Digman77]

Castlevannia II Simons Quest✊

[@Digman77]

I spelled it wrong🤭sorry

[@elephantphysics9722]

#1 Zelda #2 Metroid #3 Mike Tyson's Punch Out Those still hold up today, even they are a little rough as they have aged.

[@inkyboy88]

I’m glad they put adventure island 2 on the list.

[@mikaellundburg4753]

These game clips brought back memories for me I forgot I even had 🤘

[@nicolas.grisanti]

No Maniac Mansion or Batman 89?? I LOVED those games.

[@Dragonking1984]

Hot take here but i liked Ghoul School over Maniac Mansion. But i agree on Batman i even enjoyed Batman returns.

[@ignacio633]

Great countdown. Thank for reopening childhood memories. Now time to dust off that NES and replay some of those old gems. 💎

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

No love for The Black Bass? I still play that one to death to this day. And we all know that Punchout was a highly successful arcade series before it came to the NES. The graphics limitations of the NES prevented a direct port of the arcade, so the game was reworked.

[@nols8244]

Honestly a Top-20 is not enough for some certain non-handheld consoles like NES, SNES, PSX, PS2 or Switch which got a such deep game library. They needs a Top-40 or even Top-50 to make a justice for their greatness then. NES is no doubt the most important gaming console ever. What if Famicom/NES actually never existed... So how had the gaming landscape looked like today then?

[@jclkaytwo]

is it that hard to just call it PS1...?

[@chrishamlin6905]

Great list! My favorites were the Zelda and Castlevania series, the Konami military games. Loved the nes system after my brother got it for Christmas in 1988. Good times!!!

[@KazumaPrime]

Really? No TMNT 2 or 3???

[@blutomindpretzel1735]

TMNT 3 was the first game I ever beat! LOVE it

[@The.Original.Potatocakes]

Manhattan project

[@timalice-2833]

Ducktales is so iconic they even included the Moon Theme from the game in the rebooted show on Disney from 2017. Just to put it out there, the Justin Bailey code from Metroid also worked in Kid Icarus

[@joshthemediocre7824]

Hey man i have memories of playing Duck Hunt with my dad in 1987! I got my first NES early in 87 and for a full summer the entire neighborhood was at my house playing Mario Bros, by 88, 89 everyone our age had a Nintendo, we played a lot but still spent plenty of time outside.

[@Mikemario11]

Battletoads left the chat💀

[@Dragonking1984]

Nobody wanted to have their PTSD triggered by the Turbo Tunnels. Also the friendly fire makes co op in that game a nightmare.

[@AblazeSandman]

Don't know that I ever beat this game, but still loved it. Swinging down the crater hole, beating bad guys with a pipe. Great stuff.

[@bamananke]

Co op was hilarious!

[@joshuas4695]

Love the list but Ninja Turtles was Fun AF and a top 20. Im surprised you even knew River City Ransom existed 😆

[@KyberKyle]

The fact that Little Nemo is not on here is a gross oversight!

[@inkyboy88]

No kidding

[@carmawarlock8455]

Did he reference Pussy City Pimps in a Watchmojo video? Haha Matthew is single handedly keeping this channel relevant. Keep up the good work king!

[@bubblebadger2097]

Id have to add battletoads, rygar, master blaster and uninvited to the list.

[@SinSorrowEU]

Battletoads? (Best game of NeS by far imo) Streetfighter 2010 (alongside Bionic Commando and Contra, best actiongame controls) ..but overall, Id give this list 6/10 a good one.

[@khronicman2009]

Dope video! Contra has the bangers. Faxanadu is a great game to check out. I liked the OG Castlevania and yes Super Mario 3 rocks

[@chriscothran1747]

I got my NES around my fifth birthday: 1988. It was the coolest thing ever! I plan to replace the system, and enjoy the nostalgia forevermore, as long as we are able to plug into a wall outlet! NES FOREVER

[@Digman77]

R.C.Pro Am,Super Mario Bros.1,2,3,Excitebike the list goes on and on!!!

[@apollocreed7668]

No, way wrong. Zelda is #1 bub.

[@Naruto0s44]

Super Mario bros 1 and 3

[@mjdf122]

I’ve been blessed to see all from 1980-Now what a life of gaming throughout the decades

[@aubreynorton4470]

I was fortunate to have an Atari Jaguar, NES, SNES & SEGA Genesis. Had some awesome games for these Consoles.

[@dreamguardian8320]

I'll admit, Ocarina of Time and the other Zelda game were good, but the game that started it all was my true favorite, because it was the only game were Link has his laser shooting sword. The rest was close up sword dueling combat. The 3D and life like appearance were good, but the way they did the first game with Link walking around the screen while it looks like you're above him, reminds me of the old times of playing Pokemon. It's classic history that should never be forgotten. I remember playing the very first Kirby game on Game Boy, and back then Kirby was white. Having Kirby turn pink was new and having the ability to copy enemy attacks was cool. I remember playing this game a lot of times when I would visit my aunt's place for Thanksgiving. I'm glad I got another chance to play it with Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland on Game Boy Advance. I use to play Duck Hunt lots of times as a kid, at least back when Nintendo had the NES Zapper. Too bad it's not around anymore.

[@velinfransiscahuang7033]

I called super nintendo as super famicom!! 🎮🕹

[@Dragonking1984]

My favorites. Blaster Master, Double Dragon, The Simpsons games, Batman & Batman returns, Ghoul School, Pinball Quest, The adventures of LoLo, Astyanax, Demon Sword. Tecmo super bowl, Ring King, Kung Fu, ShadowGate, Festers Quest, TMNT 3 the manhattan project, Bubble Bobble, Golgo 13 top secret episode, the Disney capcom games, Tom & Jerry, Spiderman return of the sinister 6, Beetlejuice, Monster Party, Donkey Kong classics, Willow, Star Tropics, M.C kids, Yo! Noid, Captin Skyhawk, the Carmin Sandiago games, RollerBall, Wild Gunman & Trog

[@alexandrewolvex]

Blaster Master, Faxanadu, Solomon's key, The Adventure of Lolo, Battletoad, Zelda II

[@AblazeSandman]

I was looking to see if anyone else played "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" much... no? Super Dodgeball, TMNT2, Tecmo Superbowl, Battletoads, RC Pro-Am. So many more I need to look up. BOMBER-MAN!!

[@JulioMartinez-be8lx]

I am sold… new subscriber…I’m 42 and I had like 80 % of these games and still do. I would add: Skate or Die, Paperboy, Double Dragon , T&C Surf, Friday 13th

[@ookami1538]

Bucky O' Hare & Bart vs. The World were among my favs.

[@darkdragonmedeus705]

The one I'd put on a list like this that not many others would is the OG Fire Emblem for me. I also have Dragon Quest IV as opposed to III in my top 3. But Legend of Zelda at number 2 and Super Mario Bros 3 at number 1 are my typical no contest choices. I also would have had Battletoads on my list.

[@johntracy72]

I liked Dragon Warrior IV also.

[@MusicOverMyHead]

Ninja Gaiden was so hard though. Jackal was one of my favorites. Maniac Mansion. Simon’s Quest.

[@richfutrell753]

I don't think I've ever seen a Top X NES Games list with any Wizards & Warriors games...that was refreshing because they are great games.

[@deBebbler]

My dog dreaming is running, I see him twitch a paw My woman playing Dr. Mario, on the TV all night long - Izzy Stradlin' - Shuffle It All

[@chriscripplercruz1833]

We all know that Zelda is number one I'm just here to see what numbers 10 thru 2 are lol

[@cryospiral]

I miss these days! When high score actually mattered! And we all knew the best NES games always had a screenshot of the game instead of box art.

[@jclkaytwo]

mario 3 had a box art instead of a screenshot, and high score didn't matter in that game...

[@cryospiral]

@@jclkaytwo not the original Mario Brothers and not the Super Mario Brothers released by itself. And besides exceptions prove rules.

[@jclkaytwo]

​@@cryospiral if the game that's widely regarded as the best NES game of all time adheres to none of the "rules" you just said, they clearly aren't rules after all.

[@cryospiral]

@@jclkaytwo all rules have exceptions

[@cryospiral]

@@jclkaytwo dude, I don't know where you are but I'm pretty sure it's pretty late. Do you have anything else better to do with your time right now then to get online and harass somebody for their opinion?

[@aaronflowers8881]

Super Mario Bros 3 is my favorite video game and greatest video game of all time. I love seeing it at number one on any list.

[@Bill-mk2ud]

I played a lot of NES and SNES gamed in the early 90s. The only game I can play now without getting bored after 5min is Super Mario 3

[@devinreed21]

Contra is one of my favorite games of all time. It’s easily the game I’ve beaten the most. It’s the best game on the NES. Followed by River City Ransom and the Dragon Warrior games.

[@thegamingchef3304]

Bad Dudes, World cup soccer, RC Pro Am, Battle toads vs Double Dragon better be on here or it's invalid.

[@Melvinvanharn]

Bad Dudes is a bad game, dude.

[@CheapJabroni]

I’m not a wizard and warriors fan. I never got it really.

[@Rspit030]

The number one game on the nes was trying to get your games to play

[@luked6067]

Kudos to the narrator for being intelligent enough to realize the ‘Bros.’ in ‘Super Mario Bros.’ is pronounced as ‘BROTHERS,’ and not as if Mario and Luigi were rushing your fraternity!

[@leroyjennings5842]

Why does everyone forget tecmo super bowl when doing the greatest nes games of all time. I play that game today!

[@christopherlapp4553]

More fun than most Madden games

[@Leopez02]

Sadly I haven't never played NES games because I never had NES, but about of games i'm interested about of Wisards and Warriors 3, Adventure Island 2, Kid Icarus that I tought Kid Icarus first game is on Nintendo 3DS, but after Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition now I know the first Kid Icarus game is on NES, Excite Bike, Ninja Gaiden, Ducktales, Kirby's Adventure, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda 1&2, Super Mario Bros 2&3 and all TMNT games! If i'm that interested about NES games should I buy Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition and can I play it without speedrunning just feel the 90's games what I've never felt as a kid from 2002? I really enjoied with this video thank you MojoPlays! 💙

[@jclkaytwo]

you can't play the full NES games on nintendo world championship. it's only speedrunning challenges. if you have a nintendo switch online subscription you can play the NES games in full.

[@Leopez02]

@@jclkaytwo okay I know it's only speedrunning so for me it's no buy if I can't play NES games normally on it and sadly my NSO subscribe ended, but gladly I will buy it when DK 64, Diddy Kong Racing 64 or Gamecube coming for NSO. :)

[@Sly88Frye]

I'd say this is generally a pretty great list. Glad to see Kirby's Adventure on there and it makes perfect sense that Super Mario Bros 3 is number one on the list. I do believe the original The legend of Zelda to be a fantastic game, but I guess because I've been used to the later games especially since I grew up with a link to the past with the fact that link swipes his sword across his body so that you can hit enemies that diagonal angle, I find the original Zelda on NES to be really hard. I think it's just kind of has to do with the fact that his sword is kind of plops right in front of them and that's the only way you can hit enemies with his sword attack and it just is a lot for me to get used to compared to how he swings as sword in the later games. I do want to give the original Zelda another chance and try to play through it all and maybe I'll get used to how it controls, but for me personally I guess because I grew up with some of the layers out of games I find it hard to play the original. As for Metroid, I think the original Metroid is extremely overrated. The high praise it gets I think is ridiculous. Yes it kind of started a genre sure, but that doesn't mean it was a good game. I played Super Metroid and I think that's the greatest game on the SNES, but going back to the original Metroid is impossible after that. There's no map system so you can't even tell where you're going and on top of that too many rooms look exactly the same which makes the game even more confusing and just not fun.

[@CesarGarcia-xp6jk]

No Bionic Commando? No Jackal? No R.C. Pro AM? No Double Dragon 2? Mojo Plays? More like Mojo doesn’t play.

[@flyingrobotduck]

So many great NES games we don't have access to. I'd also recommend Life Force, Bionic Commando, the other Wizards and Warriors games (I never got to play 3), and the other Dragon Warrior games (especially 4).

[@mr.magnum1867]

6:58 this is nearly word for word plagiarized from destructoids top 18 nes games article; "Upgrading your character through food and items, River City Ransom has as much to do with shopping as it does with fighting. When fists go up, it becomes a ridiculous brawl, taking full advantage of its expressive art style. It’s one of the few games I can name that allows you to use the second player as a weapon."

[@jasondowling9296]

I used to have a lot of fun playing this co-op game called Smash TV more of a point-based gameshow of death game and a solo shooter called heavy barrel 🎉

[@joesunday199]

Disappointing that Kungfu didn't make the list.

[@devinreed21]

My favorites are the Dragon Warrior games, River City Ransom, and Contra. I must have beaten Contra 100 times!

[@josef7ark]

It took me 20 years to find a good priced copy of Dragon Warrior 3. I had 1 and 2 early on. Trying to find a copy of Dragon Warrior 4.

[@PuertoRockPuro79]

How did you never make it to Mike Tyson? I beat the game when I was 8 but now I play it and I can’t even get past the 2nd opponent🤣

[@patrickledonne5547]

Final fantasy seems so difficult because the leveling isn't well balanced with advancing. You hit at least 2-3 points where the difficulty increase after an achievement is large and you simply have to spend awhile fighting random monsters for XP to level up. The first time this happens is pretty early. After getting the ship in the second town you'll need to level up from level 2-3 to level 7-8 to comfortably complete the next mini quest. You also need to fight and build gold at this time if you have 2 black magic users Also, if you don't save and sell all items you aren't using or are done using, you'll find yourself having to fight monsters for gold

[@JasenMinus]

Screw the list, my man has a TRUE sense of humor (ninja gaiden)

[@christopherlapp4553]

5 screw the list!

[@misakikoko4500]

My favorites were: Legend of Zelda, Crystalis, Base Wars, GI Joe The Atlantis Factor and Friday The 13th.

[@jasonwilliams4159]

Baseball stars

[@ahampel22]

I would add Metal Gear to this list.

[@Romess1]

10:10 That's a funny way to say Wily Stage 2.

[@Ironstarfish]

Nothing like leaving the NES on for days because you couldn’t save.

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

Great games and list 👏👏👏 🎮🤜🤛

[@gtaquizmaster]

BAADER MEINHOFF PHENOMENON ! Was just thinking about what the best nes series were

[@Deathstroke4200]

Oh man I forgot about Excitbike

[@chuckvalentine]

Surprisingly found your list pretty good! You missed Jackal and Tecmo Super Bowl. Excite bike and Duck Hunt should not be on this list. Also would have put in Mario one and two, and Zelda 2 Somewhere.

[@craigbrown4544]

I agree with so many of these Smb3 Cv3 Contra Mm2 RcR Excite bike NG LoZ Kind of sad not to see tecmo bowl or super tecmo bowl But other that those solid list

[@ThatGuyJon95]

I just wanna say...... i think the first castlevania is the best out if the nes trilogy... 3 is balls to the wall difficult. 1 has the right amount of difficulty

[@xSayPleasex]

4 playable characters, branching paths, 3x the levels, a password system, new features like auto-scrolling stages etc. And your only argument against it is it is too hard lol?

[@JonathanBresnihan77]

The Legend of Zelda is by far my favorite but Super Mario 3 is definitely a classic

[@jescis0]

I noticed there's no love for "Castlevania II Simon's Quest"/"Dracula II Noroi No Fūin"… latter is the version I have on the Famicom Disk System and it's pretty good!!

[@gemstony85]

I got worried until Megaman 2, Metroid, and SMB3 showed up in this list. I can deal with Crystalis not being here. 😉

[@robanderson3624]

I agree with every game on this list, except Dr Mario. I think it was a terrible Tetris clone. And yes, FF6 is the best, hands down.

[@nathanwood7660]

So many wonderful memories.

[@dreamguardian8320]

Indeed.

[@davidhiller8]

Solid list

[@jimmorrigan6298]

MegaMan 2 & 3

[@FedJimSmith]

almost everyone agrees including me - Mario 3 is the best NES game

[@BummerSlug]

I was going to complain about including duck hunt until you mentioned the pain of doing so because of that shdhauusbxb dog Still have that dog!

[@roqueldelacruz6874]

No Double Dragon? DB is the grandaddy of all fighting games.

[@EPS5000]

You left out a lot of really good games, including my favorite.

[@christopherlapp4553]

Peek-a-boo Poker, obviously

[@EPS5000]

@@christopherlapp4553 Yoshi

[@countgrammar04]

That megaman sounded like the double dragon theme.

[@Animeguy300]

I love old video games