The top Nintendo 64 games shaped how millions of players experienced video games in the late 1990s. Nintendo’s groundbreaking console introduced 3D gaming to living rooms worldwide and delivered titles that remain beloved today. From revolutionary adventures to multiplayer chaos, the N64 library set standards that developers still reference. This list covers five top Nintendo 64 games that left permanent marks on gaming culture. Each title pushed boundaries and created memories that players carry decades later.
Key Takeaways
- The top Nintendo 64 games—including Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, and GoldenEye 007—shaped modern gaming with groundbreaking 3D mechanics and multiplayer experiences.
- Ocarina of Time introduced the Z-targeting combat system, influencing action games like Dark Souls and Monster Hunter for decades.
- Super Mario 64 proved 3D platforming could work and sold over 11 million copies, becoming a blueprint for the genre.
- GoldenEye 007 established that first-person shooters could thrive on consoles, paving the way for Halo and Call of Duty.
- Mario Kart 64 and Super Smash Bros. defined multiplayer gaming, creating party-game formulas Nintendo still uses today.
- These top Nintendo 64 titles collectively sold tens of millions of copies and remain beloved nearly three decades later.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time stands as one of the top Nintendo 64 games ever released. Nintendo launched this title in November 1998, and it immediately changed expectations for action-adventure games. Players control Link across a vast 3D world filled with dungeons, puzzles, and memorable characters.
Ocarina of Time introduced the Z-targeting system. This mechanic let players lock onto enemies and objects during combat. The system solved a major problem in 3D game design and influenced countless titles that followed. Games like Dark Souls and Monster Hunter trace their combat roots back to this innovation.
The game spans two time periods. Link travels between his childhood and adult years using the titular ocarina. This narrative structure created emotional weight that few games had achieved before. Players watched Hyrule change across seven years and felt the consequences of their actions.
Critics and players agreed on Ocarina of Time’s quality. It earned perfect scores from major publications and won numerous awards. The game sold over 7.6 million copies on the N64 alone. Today, it regularly appears on lists of the greatest video games ever made. Its influence on 3D game design, storytelling, and combat mechanics makes it essential among top Nintendo 64 games.
Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 launched alongside the N64 console in 1996 and proved 3D platforming could work. This game served as many players’ first experience with 3D gaming. Mario could run, jump, swim, and fly through Princess Peach’s castle and its many worlds.
The game featured an open-ended structure that felt fresh. Players collected Power Stars in any order they chose. Each of the 15 main courses contained multiple stars with different objectives. This design encouraged exploration and rewarded curiosity.
Mario’s movement in Super Mario 64 remains impressive nearly three decades later. The developers gave players precise control over running speed, jump height, and direction. Mario could perform wall jumps, long jumps, backflips, and ground pounds. Speedrunners still discover new techniques using these mechanics today.
Super Mario 64 defined what a top Nintendo 64 game could be. It showed that beloved 2D franchises could make the jump to 3D without losing their identity. The camera system, while occasionally frustrating, represented a genuine attempt to solve 3D visibility problems. Nintendo sold over 11 million copies, making it one of the best-selling N64 titles. Its DNA appears in nearly every 3D platformer released since.
GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007 proved that first-person shooters belonged on consoles. Rare developed this James Bond adaptation and released it in August 1997. The game became a cultural phenomenon and a fixture at sleepovers across America and Europe.
The single-player campaign followed the film’s plot loosely. Players completed objectives across various difficulty levels. Higher difficulties added more objectives rather than simply making enemies tougher. This design gave players reasons to replay missions multiple times.
Multiplayer mode made GoldenEye 007 legendary among top Nintendo 64 games. Four players could battle on the same screen using split-screen. The mode offered various game types, weapon sets, and characters. Friends spent countless hours hunting each other through bunkers and temples.
GoldenEye 007 influenced console shooters for years afterward. It proved that the genre could thrive with a controller instead of a keyboard and mouse. The game sold over 8 million copies and won multiple awards. Its multiplayer template shaped games like Halo and Call of Duty. Rare created something special that transcended its movie-tie-in origins.
Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart 64 brought Nintendo’s racing series into three dimensions. The game launched in late 1996 in Japan and early 1997 in North America. It quickly became one of the top Nintendo 64 games for multiplayer entertainment.
The game featured 16 tracks across four cups. Players raced as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, or Bowser. Each character had different weight and speed characteristics. Tracks included memorable locations like Rainbow Road and Koopa Beach.
Item usage separated Mario Kart 64 from traditional racing games. Red shells homed in on opponents. Blue shells targeted the leader. Banana peels created hazards for following racers. Lightning bolts shrank everyone else on the track. These items created chaos and kept races unpredictable.
Battle Mode provided hours of additional entertainment. Players faced off in arenas trying to pop each other’s balloons. Block Fort and Double Deck became iconic battle locations. The mode gave groups another way to compete beyond standard races.
Mario Kart 64 sold over 9 million copies worldwide. It established the multiplayer formula that Mario Kart games still follow today. The game remains a top Nintendo 64 title for anyone seeking competitive fun with friends.
Super Smash Bros
Super Smash Bros. combined Nintendo’s biggest characters in one fighting game. The original released in 1999 and created an entirely new genre. Players picked from 12 characters including Mario, Link, Pikachu, and Samus.
The game rejected traditional fighting game mechanics. Instead of depleting health bars, players built up damage percentages. Higher percentages meant characters flew farther when hit. Matches ended by knocking opponents off the stage.
Simple controls made Super Smash Bros. accessible. Each character had the same button inputs for attacks. A player could pick up the controller and compete within minutes. This accessibility drew in casual players who avoided complex fighting games.
The roster featured characters from different Nintendo franchises. Seeing Mario fight Pikachu felt like a dream come true for Nintendo fans. The crossover concept seemed obvious in hindsight, but no one had executed it this well before.
Super Smash Bros. earned its place among top Nintendo 64 games through pure fun. It worked at parties, during family gatherings, and in college dorms. The franchise grew into one of Nintendo’s biggest properties. Competitive communities still host tournaments decades later. That first N64 entry started something special.
