Top 31 Best Nintendo 64 Games
The Nintendo 64 (N64) is a home video game console released by Nintendo in 1996, with 32.93 million units sold worldwide.
The total number of game titles released on the Nintendo 64 is nearly 400, but the number of titles varies by region.
In this story, I have selected 31 of these games to recommend.
· My Best N64 Games
∘ 1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
∘ 2. Super Smash Bros.
∘ 3. Super Mario 64
∘ 4. Mario Kart 64
∘ 5. GoldenEye 007
∘ 6. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
∘ 7. Paper Mario
∘ 8. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
∘ 9. Star Fox 64
∘ 10. Banjo-Kazooie
∘ 11. Diddy Kong Racing
∘ 12. Perfect Dark
∘ 13. Harvest Moon 64
∘ 14. Donkey Kong 64
∘ 15. Mario Party 3
∘ 16. Mario Tennis
∘ 17. Pokémon Stadium 2
∘ 18. Custom Robo V2
∘ 19. Animal Crossing
∘ 20. Yoshi’s Story
∘ 21. 1080° Snowboarding
∘ 22. Wonder Project J2
∘ 23. Pokémon Snap
∘ 24. Bomberman 64
∘ 25. Mario Golf
∘ 26. Hey You, Pikachu!
∘ 27. Wave Race 64
∘ 28. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
∘ 29. Blast Corps
∘ 30. Excitebike 64
∘ 31. Banjo-Tooie
My Best N64 Games
I’d like to introduce 31 recommended game titles from the Nintendo 64 softwares that I own.
- The release dates are based on Japan.
- The purchase price is the successful bid price at the Japanese net auction.
- All prices are for ROM cassette only; with box, prices are three to ten times higher.
- The exchange rate is 1 dollar = 147.96 yen.
Below is a list of the top 31 Nintendo 64 games:
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
One of the mystery-solving action-adventure “The Legend of Zelda” series, and the first 3D title in the series.
This game features three dungeons in childhood and eight dungeons in adulthood.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: November 21, 1998
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Purchase Price: ¥600/$4.06
The game can be played on “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online,” which was released on October 26, 2021.
2. Super Smash Bros.
A battle royale game in which up to four players battle it out, controlling successive generations of Nintendo characters.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: January 21, 1999
- Genre: Fighting
- Purchase Price: ¥800/$5.41
There are 12 characters in total, 4 of which are hidden characters.
There are nine stages, one of which is a hidden stage.
3. Super Mario 64
This is the first 3D action game in the “Super Mario” series and was also the launch title released with the Nintendo 64 console.
There are 15 worlds (paintings and walls) to enter, plus an extra stage and a Bowser course.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: June 23, 1996
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥550/$3.72
The game can also be played in “Super Mario 3D Collection,” which was released for Nintendo Switch on September 18, 2020.
4. Mario Kart 64
The second title in the Mario Kart series and successor to “Super Mario Kart” on the SFC/SNES.
There are eight characters in this title. In order of weight, the characters are: Bowser > Donkey Kong > Wario > Mario > Luigi > Yoshi > Peach > Kinopio.
There are a total of 16 courses and 4 battle courses.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: December 14, 1996
- Genre: Kart Racing
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.38
Currently, Mario Kart 64 can be played on “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online”.
5. GoldenEye 007
This game is an adaptation of the movie “GoldenEye.
The competitive mode is very popular. Up to four players can play by splitting the screen.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: August 23, 1997
- Genre: First-person shooter
- Purchase Price: ¥1500/$10.14
Currently, the game can be played with “Xbox Game Pass” and “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
It is the sequel to the previous work “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” and the second 3D Zelda.
The peripheral device “Memory Expansion Pack” must be attached to the Nintendo 64 console to play.
The objective of the adventure is to prevent the moon from falling by three days (72 hours) after the main character Link visits Clock Town.
There are a total of 24 different “masks” that can be worn for various effects.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: April 27, 2000
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Purchase Price: ¥800/$5.41
The game was released on February 25, 2022 as one of the software titles in “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online”.
7. Paper Mario
This title was created as a sequel to “Super Mario RPG,” which was released in 1996 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: August 11, 2000
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥550/$3.72
The game’s design has the feel of a picture book, and the characters are as flimsy as paper.
There are eight stages in total, including the prologue.
8. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
The sixth title in the Kirby series and the first 3D title in the series.
The number of stages consists of levels 1–6 and the final area “Final Star”. Each level, except for the “Final Star”, has three or four stages and a boss stage.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: March 24, 2000
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.38
A new element called “Copy Ability Mix” was added to the game, which allows players to mix two types of copy abilities.
A total of 56 different abilities can be used, including 7 basic abilities and 49 mix combinations.
9. Star Fox 64
The second game in the Star Fox series, it was sold with a vibration pack.
It sold approximately 640,000 units in Japan, 2.76 million units in the U.S., and more than 4 million units worldwide, and was registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the “best-selling shooting game.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: April 27, 1997
- Genre: Rail Shooter
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.38
The player controls “Arwing,” Fox’s fighter plane, to clear all seven stages from the planet Cornelia to the planet Venom, aiming to overthrow Andorf.
There are 15 stages in total, and a total of 25 route branches.
10. Banjo-Kazooie
This is a new title developed for the N64 by Nintendo and Rare, who worked together on the “Super Donkey Kong” series.
Although there are fewer stages than in “Super Mario 64,” each stage is vast.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: June 29, 1998
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥350/$2.37
The game is currently available through the subscription services “XBOX Game Pass” and “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online”.
11. Diddy Kong Racing
A 3D racing game starring Diddy Kong from the “Super Donkey Kong” series.
There are three types of vehicles: Race Car, Hovercraft, and Plane.
- Publisher: Rare
- Release: November 21 1997 JP/EU
- Genre: Kart Racing
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.70
There are a total of 10 racers, two of which are hidden characters.
Each of the four zones has four courses, and when the player conquers the four courses, he or she enters the boss stage.
12. Perfect Dark
This FPS game for the Nintendo 64 was developed by the British company Rare.
The game can only be played by connecting the “Memory Expansion Pack,” a peripheral device, to the Nintendo 64 console.
- Publisher: Rare
- Release: May 22, 2000 NA
- Genre: First-person shooter
- Purchase Price: ¥1200/$8.11
The player controls Joanna Dark (codename: Perfect Dark) and carries out her missions.
The game is currently available on the subscription service “XBOX Game Pass” and “NINTENDO 64 Nintendo Switch Online”.
13. Harvest Moon 64
This is the third title in the popular “Harvest Moon” series of ranching simulation games.
The objective of the game is to cultivate and develop a deserted ranch.
- Publisher: Pack-In Soft
- Release: February 5, 1999
- Genre: Farm Simulation
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.38
There are 30 days each for spring, summer, fall, and winter, making 120 days a year.
The game begins in the spring and ends in the summer of the third year.
14. Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64 is a video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: November 22, 1999 NA
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.70
Five characters, including Donkey Kong, can be controlled, and players collect bananas and coins by exploring stages and completing puzzles.
In addition, up to four players can play in multiplayer mini-games.
15. Mario Party 3
This is the third installment in the Mario Party series and the last Mario Party released on the Nintendo 64.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: December 7, 2000
- Genre: Party
- Purchase Price: ¥450/$3.04
The 70 mini-games included are all new, making it the largest volume ever.
There are eight characters that can be controlled, and Daisy and Waluigi can only be used in “Party Mode.
16. Mario Tennis
This is the first title in the Mario Tennis series (excluding the Virtual Boy).
The A button is used for top spin and the B button for slice spin. 11 different shots, including smashes and volleys, can be made by combining two buttons, including long presses and simultaneous presses.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: July 21, 2000
- Genre: Sports
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.70
A total of 16 characters can be used, and each character has a different status.
There are four types of tennis courts that can be used, plus seven hidden courts.
17. Pokémon Stadium 2
This is the third and final title in the Pokémon Stadium series.
You can use all the Pokémon that appeared in “Gold, Silver, Crystal” and “Red, Green, Blue, Pikachu” for the Game Boy.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: December 14, 2000
- Genre: Turn-based strategy
- Purchase Price: ¥350/$2.37
Currently, the game can be played on “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online”. However, Pokémon raised on Game Boy cannot be used.
18. Custom Robo V2
This is the second title in the series in which players can control customized robots and enjoy battles in a 3D space.
A new 2-on-2 mode that allows up to four players to participate is available, allowing two players to form a tag team (four players cannot play simultaneously).
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: November 10, 2000
- Genre: Robot Action
- Purchase Price: ¥600/$4.06
Currently, it can be played on “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online”.
19. Animal Crossing
This is the first title in the Animal Crossing series.
Only 8 months after the release of this title, “Animal Crossing +” was released for the GameCube.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: April 14, 2001
- Genre: Social Simulation
- Purchase Price: ¥1200/$8.11
In this game, just as in real life, there are four seasons and the flow of time, such as morning, noon, and night.
In this series, it is basically forbidden to exit without saving.
20. Yoshi’s Story
A sequel to “Yoshi’s Island” on the SNES, this action game features Yoshi as the main character.
There is no goal in the course, and the player completes the course by eating 30 pieces of fruit located in various parts of the course.
The Super NES version had 54 courses, while this version has only 24 courses, about half the number of courses of the previous version.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: December 21, 1997
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.70
Currently, it can be played on “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online”.
21. 1080° Snowboarding
In this game, players ski down snow-covered mountains on snowboards, race against rivals, and compete in scores by performing tricks.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: February 28, 1998
- Genre: Snowboarding
- Purchase Price: ¥550/$3.72
The world of the “1080°” series is linked to that of the “Wave Race” series, and characters from both series are present.
22. Wonder Project J2
This sequel is set 15 years after the previous “Wonder Project J”.
Character design is by Akihiko Yamashita, an animator who has worked on Ghibli and other films.
- Publisher: Enix
- Release: November 22, 1996
- Genre: Life simulation
- Purchase Price: ¥450/$3.04
The player controls a bird-shaped robot that teaches a young girl, “Josette,” various things to help her grow up.
The story consists of two chapters: Chapter 1 is the communication part and Chapter 2 is the story part.
23. Pokémon Snap
A camera action game that allows users to take pictures of Pokémon in 3D.
The player controls a young photographer named Todd Snap (Tooru), who tries his hand at photographing wild Pokémon on “Pokémon Island.
Riding on a vehicle called “Zero One,” Todd can take pictures of Pokémon living in nature while moving automatically.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: March 21, 1999
- Genre: Camera Action
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.38
There are a total of seven courses, each with different Pokémon.
A total of 63 Pokémon appear in this work, which does not cover all of the 151 Pokémon that existed at the time.
24. Bomberman 64
The first title in the Bomberman series on the Nintendo 64. The first 3D action game in the series.
There are two modes: Story Mode and Battle Mode.
- Publisher: Hudson Soft
- Release: September 26, 1997
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Purchase Price: ¥550/$3.72
There are 6 worlds in Story Mode, and two difficulty levels: “Easy” and “Difficult.
In Battle Mode, one to four players can play against each other, and there are two rules: single battle and team battle.
25. Mario Golf
There are 13 characters available for the Japanese version and 14 for the American version.
There are a total of six different courses. At first, you can only choose “Kinopio Land,” but additional courses will be added as you accumulate a certain number of “course points,” which you receive after playing.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: June 11, 1999
- Genre: Sports
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.38
It can currently be played on “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online”.
26. Hey You, Pikachu!
This is the world’s first game software with a voice recognition system.
A simulation game in which players communicate with and train Pikachu using the included microphone.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: December 12, 1998
- Genre: Digital Pet
- Purchase Price: ¥350/$2.37
However, the price was extremely high due to the fact that a microphone was included. (List price at the time of release: 10,290 yen)
27. Wave Race 64
This is the second title in the “Wave Race” series.
There are four game modes: “Championship,” “Time Attack,” “Score Attack,” and “2P Battle.
There are four characters to choose from and a total of nine different courses.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: September 27, 1996
- Genre: Racing
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.70
Currently, the game can be played on “Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online”.
28. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
The storyline takes place between the films “Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back” and “Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi”.
There are 10 stages in total, including a TPS stage where you control a character and a shooting stage where you pilot a fighter plane.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: December 3, 1996 NA
- Genre: Third-person shooter
- Purchase Price: ¥300/$2.03
This game is currently available for download on Steam.
29. Blast Corps
Blast Corps was developed by Rare and the game balance was tuned by Nintendo.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: March 21, 1997
- Genre: Action
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.70
The objective of the game is to clear a path for the trailer and not only to destroy buildings.
A total of eight machines can be used, including five vehicles and three robots. In addition, there are 4 bonus vehicles for time attack.
30. Excitebike 64
A sequel to “Excite Bike” released on the NES/Famicom, this game allows players to ride a motorcycle on a 3D course.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: May 2, 2000 NA
- Genre: Racing
- Purchase Price: ¥550/$3.72
There are a total of 20 indoor and outdoor courses, and an original course can be created with the course editor.
31. Banjo-Tooie
The story takes place two years after the previous “Banjo-Kazooie.
Mumbo Jumbo, who was a support character in the previous game, can now be controlled.
There are eight stages in total, with riddles to solve and mini-games to enjoy.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: November 20, 2000
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥600/$4.06
Currently, the game can be played through the subscription service “Xbox Game Pass”.
