Ranking The 25 Greatest N64 Games [All Owned & Tested]

A selection of Seb's N64 games on his table

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Christmas Day, 1998 was a very special time for me. It was the day that changed my gaming life forever and started my obsession with collecting the best N64 games.

I still remember pulling back the wrapping paper and seeing those three characters imprinted on the corner of the box – N64.

Sure, I had already joined the gaming club with my original grey GameBoy and an extensive collection of GameBoy games, but now it was time to step up into the big leagues.

Since that day, I have played and collected more Nintendo games than I can count.

From gunning down spaceships with Fox McLoud to trying to figure out what the heck that Ice Key was all about in Banjo Kazooie, I’ve had so many fun moments with this classic console.

If you’re new to retro gaming or just want to relive some of the greats, then here’s a list of the best games for the console.

Get ready for a nostalgic kick to the game-brain!

Timeless Classic
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

One of the N64's seminal titles and the most iconic Zelda game in the series, Ocarina of Time has captured the hearts and minds of millions of gamers since 1998. It's one of the greatest stories in gaming and a timeless classic.

Iconic Platformer
Donkey Kong 64

DK's first 3D adventure was an absolute tour-de-force and my favourite Rare game, beating Banjo-Kazooie and GoldenEye 007. It's my favourite platforming adventure game for the console and a superb game for players of all ages.

Nostalgic Brilliance
Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 is still Mario's greatest adventure and one of the first games that many of us had for the N64. From the very first screen where players manipulate Mario's face to your showdowns with Bowser, this is a perfect game from start to finish.

1. The Legend Of Zelda – Ocarina Of Time (1998)

The Legend Of Zelda - Ocarina Of Time game box

It goes without saying really, doesn’t it?

Ocarina Of Time is a work of art. The storyline is breathtaking, the gameplay is fantastic, and it has some of the best bosses that the world has ever seen.

I still think about characters like Twinrova and Bongo Bongo to this day when playing modern Zelda games, and somehow, the older villains always turn out to be the best. No other levels on any games I’ve played will ever have the same creepy feeling as the Forest Temple or the Shadow Temple under the Kakariko well.

For me, Ocarina Of Time also has the definitive version of Hyrule, with the exception of the fantastic open world in BOTW of course. When I hear Kakariko Village, I think about the guard wearing the Keaton Mask and overly-happy builders.

I still can’t walk past a graveyard without thinking about racing Dampe The Gravekeeper and winning that all-important hook shot.

Yeah; I think it’s fair to say this game had a pretty big impact on my life!

If Darth Vader is the king of the film villains, then Ganondorf has to be one of the evilest game antagonists of our age.

He’s a magical wizard who just doesn’t seem to want to die and that can also turn into a weird pig monster when his physical form is defeated.

Lesser men and women would run, but Link and Zelda are made of stronger stuff.

Can you remember the first time that you placed your gemstones into the Temple Of Time and transformed into Adult Link, wielding the Master Sword and trying to avoid the Zombies in the destroyed village square in Hyrule Town?

I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it!

2. Donkey Kong 64 (1999)

Donkey Kong 64 game box

Donkey Kong has always been one of my favourite Nintendo characters. I used to watch the cartoon with Kranky, Diddy, and the gang on TV, and I spent countless hours trying to complete Donkey Kong Country on the SNES and attempting to ace those nail-biting barrel rides.

So when the N64 game came out, you can imagine my excitement.

Playing as Donkey Kong and shooting coconuts from his Coconut Gun was one thing, but being able to play as Diddy, Lanky, Chunky, and Tiny as well just blew my mind!

This game often gets overlooked, so it’s a pleasure for me to be able to stick it into the second spot on our list.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of working your way through Kong Island and thwarting King K.Rool at every turn.

It’s no surprise that this is also a RARE classic and will forever be hailed as the game that included the all-important N64 expansion PAK.

Is there nothing that Donkey and the gang can’t do?

3. Super Mario 64 (1996)

Super Mario 64 game cart

How many of you have revisited Super Mario 64 after reading our review of Super Mario 3D All-Stars?

Bowser has to be up there as one of the worst villains in the gaming world, constantly stealing Peach and causing trouble for our favourite Italian plumber.

Mario 64 rightfully takes a prevalent spot in our list of all time because of its ability to still be interesting over 20 years later. From the very first meeting with King Bob-Omb to swinging Bowser around by the tail in those insane puzzle dungeons, this game has everything that a classic Nintendo adventure story needs.

Battle Boo’s in a haunted house, find the Metal Mario caps and sink to the bottom of hard-to-reach rivers, seek out shortcuts on Bob-omb mountain, and soar through the sky with a handy winged cap.

This game is a true treasure trove of hidden surprises and neat little puzzles just waiting to be solved.

Some people might say that Super Mario Sunshine is the best Mario game of our time, but for me, the ‘Gwa-ha-ha’ floating through the empty castle and the shimmering paintings just waiting to be explored will always make Super Mario 64 the most exciting Mario game of my life.

Successfully ground Pounding a Thwomp is probably one of my earliest gaming achievements; I still tell people about it today!

4. Mario Kart 64 (1996)

Mario Kart 64 game box

Ask anyone around the world if they’ve ever played a computer game, and 99% of them will say that they’ve dabbled in a bit of Mario Kart.

It’s a simple game where the only rules are getting to the end without crashing, making it accessible to people of all ages and abilities, but it’s also a right of passage into the Nintendo gaming universe.

Have you really achieved gaming greatness if you haven’t got gold trophies on all four of the cups? Can you call yourself a racing expert if you can’t even navigate Rainbow Road without getting blown off the course or falling foul to the chain chomp halfway around?

The answer to both of these questions is obviously no.

It doesn’t matter if you opt for red shells or bananas, mushrooms, or stars, this game has some of the best weapons of any racing game on the planet.

I also like the simplicity of Mario Kart 64; the Switch version is incredible and has lots of amazing vehicles, but the no-nonsense approach to only having a handful of characters and one car is still the best in my book.

Hurry up and get to the end of the list so you can go blow out your cartridge and try to beat your time trial ghost from ten years ago.

5. Goldeneye 007(1997)

Seb's Goldeneye 007 game box

Lasers, Bunker, Bond, and Trevelyan.

If anyone asks you what the perfect multiplayer recipe is, just tell them that and walk away.

Goldeneye was always going to have a place on this list because of its iconic status in the gaming world.

Whether you prefer hand-to-slap combat or running blindly into battle holding an RC-P90, this game is, and always will be, one of the most exciting multiplayer games in existence.

Everyone who has ever owned an N64 will know the pain of searching frantically for the Golden Gun, only to see the all too familiar red blood trickling down their screen along with the agonising ‘der der na naaaaa’ to mark their defeat.

If you’ve seen the movie, then Goldeneye the game pretty much follows what happens in the film.

The same characters are there, but there are more weapons to choose from and a lot more attention to detail when it comes to finding key cards on dead soldiers.

From the very first selection screen where you open your individual spy case files to the amazing cutscenes that show Bond getting up to his usual tricks, this game is a quintessential classic for anyone who is serious about retro gaming.

Daniel Craig might be the Bond that everyone talks about these days, but Pierce Brosnan will always be the guy on the front of the Goldeneye game box.

And that’s the only accolade that really counts!

6. Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Seb's Super Smash Bros. game box

Would it be a list of the Best N64 Games without the title that started one of the most famous franchises of all time?

Super Smash Bros was like nothing that I had played before. A 3D fighting game with all of my favourite Nintendo characters in it – it was too good to be true!

Squaring up against Samus as Fox McCloud or that moment when Captain Falcon appeared as an unlockable fighter; those are the kinds of moments that defined my life as a gamer.

The levels were memorable, as were the special moves. And while Super Smash Bros Ultimate has made a name for itself as having one of the largest roster of fighters in any game, I liked the fact that there were only a select number of characters to choose from in the original title.

Super Smash Bros was button-mashing fighting at its best. Throwing enemies over the edge and batting them off with an item was always my go-to system, but I also enjoyed smashing the B button to pull off some trademark character moves whenever possible.

If you’ve played any of the Smash Bros games over the years but never got hold of the original, then you owe it to yourself to experience the very first title that Nintendo released.

Just don’t get too excited when Jigglypuff appears as a character…

7. Banjo-Kazooie (1998)

Seb's Banjo Kazooie N64 game box

Is there another gaming duo as tough and reckless as Banjo and Kazooie?

Maybe Yooka-Layle, one game that many people have tested out on their Nintendo Switch Emulator of choice, but they learned everything they know from Banjo and his bird-brained friend,

This RARE classic pretty much defines my childhood, and whenever I see a molehill while out on my travels, I prepare myself to learn a new move from old Bottles himself.

Gruntilda will forever be the name that I use to describe unsavoury characters, and Banjo’s timeless ‘Gu-ha!’ laugh will always be my go-to noise whenever I finish a jigsaw puzzle.

Rare have made some of the best games on the planet, and the amazing world that they created in Banjo-Kazooie was so far ahead of its time.

From the colourful Jinjos to the mysterious Mumbo Jumbo, there are so many elements that keep you coming back for more, all adding to the richness and the individual textures in each level.

If you can get your hands on the rare sequel, Banjo-Tooie, then I would recommend buying both together and playing all the way through.

They are two of the best N64 games that should definitely not be missed.

8. Legend Of Zelda – Majora’s Mask (2000)

Seb's copy of Majora's Mask for the N64

The constant mask changing in Majora’s Mask had its pros and cons, and sometimes the continuous need to change time made things a little repetitive compared to the flowing storyline in Ocarina Of Time.

Still, despite all of those things, I still love it.

Why? Because Link is the greatest gaming hero in any form, and playing as both a Goron and a guitar-wielding Zora will never, ever get old.

Despite the odd rules of the game, Majora’s Mask has so many amazing elements that cement it as a solid title in the franchise, and cameos from characters in Ocarina Of Time such as the ghost of Darunia and the Kakariko builders make it even more enjoyable.

For those of you who haven’t played the game before, an evil Skull Kid wearing a mysterious mask steals Link’s horse and causes a whole heap of trouble, including bringing the moon down on Hyrule.

After being given the mission of returning the stolen mask to the Happy Mask Salesman of Ocarina fame, you must travel to the four corners of the land and defeat four bosses, releasing the giants who will eventually hold up the moon and finally set up a showdown between you and that pesky Skull Kid.

It’s not as action-packed as Ocarina, but it’s still a damn good adventure. 

9. Silicon Valley (1998)

Seb's Spacestation Silicon Valley game box N64

Silicon Valley is without a doubt one of the weirdest titles I ever played on the N64, but it was also one of the most memorable too.

After a spaceship crashes into unknown territory, a Robot named Evo is reduced to a tiny crawling computer chip that can only latch onto animals that have fused with space technology.

This finds you controlling sheep that can bounce and float around, a motorised rat, bears, dogs, foxes, and more.

Each animal has different characteristics that you will need to harness in order to collect Evo’s power cells and complete the tasks set out by Dan Danger, Evo’s human pilot friend who is trapped inside the broken spaceship.

If this all sounds completely mental, then you’re already on your way to understanding the concept of this game.

I still remember the panic involved with making my dog run away from a pack of motorised foxes; that is one thing that no human should ever have to experience.

You need to try this game for the sheer insanity of it and to make sure that Dan Danger gets back home in time for tea.

10. Yoshi’s Story (1997)

Seb's Yoshi's Story N64 game box

It doesn’t matter what age you are or what your gaming ability is, Yoshi is and always will be one of the best Nintendo Characters of all time.

This game might have been simple for more advanced players, but the storyline, the amazing backdrops, and the cleverly designed worlds will forever be imprinted into my mind.

From collecting all of the fruit in a level to unlocking different coloured Yoshi’s and defeating the meddlesome Baby Bowser, this game is a classic that went on to inspire Yoshi’s Wooly World and Yoshi’s crafted world, two more games that would later see me putting all of my work on the back burner for a rainy day.

The premise behind Yoshi’s Story and making your way up the different branches of the Super Happy Tree seemed so clever and completely different from everything that had come before it at the time.

This game also featured one of my favourite Nintendo Characters and my all-time favourite Mario Kart Racer; Shy Guy.

He’s usually kicking about trying to make things tough for the Yoshi’s, but deep down he’s just a bit of a misunderstood dude.

You can’t love Nintendo without having a soft spot for Yoshi!

11. 1080 Snowboarding (1998)

N64 1080 Snowboarding cart in Seb's hand

It’s impossible for me to hear the word snowboarding without saying ‘Kensukaaayyy Kimachie’ or ‘Dioonnn Blasterrrr’ out loud.

Only a select few people who spent their childhood trying to perfect the method of performing a 1080 or pulling off the perfect Indy Flip know what I’m talking about, so it’s fun to watch the confused expressions on 98% of the faces that I come into contact with.

This game was a slice of multiplayer heaven, from the very moment that you choose your characters in the cosy clubhouse with its roaring fire and seemingly disinterested competitors to the secret shortcuts and epic forest jumps on the multitude of courses.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that 1080 snowboarding was just for multiplayer action though; games have to have a solid single-player platform to make our list!

Perfecting tricks in the half-pipe training mode and beating time trials down the toughest hills made me the extreme sports lover that I am today.

The fact that I enjoy watching sports more than competing is irrelevant, it’s 1080 that gave me that love, which is why I’m putting it into this list.

12. Shadows Of The Empire (1996)

Star Wars Shadows Of The Empire N64 game box held by Seb

Playing as a rebel fighter is all well and good when you’re up in the sky, but sometimes you really need to experience what it’s like to get up close and personal with a vicious troop of Stormtroopers.

Skulking through snowy mountain canyons and blasting Stormtroopers into the abyss will always be one of my favourite past times, and that one level in on the garbage train was so stressful that it will always haunt my dreams.

Shadows of the Empire sees you controlling Dash Rendar, a rebel fighter who has been set with the task of aiding Luke Skywalker in a time between ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and the ‘Return Of The Jedi’ movies.

Race on speeders through Mos Eisley, battle on the snowy plains of Hoth, search for Boba Fett, and much more in this Lucas Arts classic.

This game was full of classic characters and dangerous missions, made even more stressful by the fact that you had to wait for your blaster to recharge while battling enemies and some of the jumps always seemed a little bit too far, meaning you had to try them again and again for around fifteen tense minutes.

Still, this Star Wars game would continue to be my favourite until Star Wars Bounty Hunter was released on the GameCube, which meant that Dash Rendar and I spent many joyous years kicking ass throughout the Galactic Empire together.

Ah, the memories.

13. Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (1997)

Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon  Nintendo 64 game box

I will never hear or see the word ‘Plasma’ without thinking about the mysterious fortune teller in this game, and what a game it was!

Climbing Mount Fuji as Goemon and upgrading your ninja pipe, playing as the bumbling Ebisumaru and the kick-ass mechanical ninja doll Sasuke as you make your way through Edo and beyond, and taking down some of the biggest robot bosses I’ve ever seen in a computer game are all in store for anyone who purchases this game.

Mystical Ninja makes use of Japanese landmarks and Japan’s historical culture. The forest and mountain landscapes are jam-packed full of enemies that meet their demise at the hands of Goemon and his flying Ryu, and the little platters of coloured dumplings that give you health are probably the reason that I love Japanese food so much today.

This was one of the first games that I can remember playing where the thrill of upgrading your weapons and collecting new characters would keep me thinking about playing even after I had turned the console off.

Sasuke’s chain pipe or Ebisumaru’s upgraded paddles would make mincemeat out of some of the lesser monsters and make you feel unstoppable, even though Ebisumaru’s fart ultimately ends up being one of the most powerful weapons in the game.

14. Diddy Kong Racing (1997)

Seb's Diddy Kong Racing game box

Diddy Kong Racing might not have been as popular as another shell-fuelled banana-strewn racer that will undoubtedly be appearing later on, but it sure made a nice change and provided some cool new ways of travelling that plumbers and princesses hadn’t got around to handling at the time.

As well as Diddy Kong, this racing game features a host of other famous RARE characters such as Banjo and Conker.

There were racers to unlock, and the courses felt fresh and exciting due to the hidden collectibles that you had to pick up along the way.

That’s right; Diddy Kong Racing wasn’t just about racing…

… well, it was, but it had other elements too!

You started off the single-player mode with that mystical Elephant genie telling you to head to a race area. There were levels to complete, and certain stages that had to be done in specific vehicles.

You could race in a plane, a car, or a hovercraft.

Seeing Banjo in a plane diving under arches and trying to avoid magma will never get boring.

A racing game with an adventure platform feel; Diddy sure knows how to create addictive titles!

15. Banjo-Tooie (2000)

Banjo Tooie box for the N64

Banjo-Tooie might not have been as popular as Banjo-Kazooie due to this RARE game’s rare availability, but it sure was a cracking title and a worthy entry in our list.

Grunty is dead, and Banjo thinks his work is finally done…

… until Grunty’s sisters arrive to take her body away and attempt to resurrect her, that is!

Banjo and Kazooie start the game with all of the moves that they learned in the first title, including the ability to fly and use Kazooie’s wings as an invulnerable shield.

Mumbo Jumbo is back to give our dynamic duo new forms and special skills, and we also see the arrival of Humba-Wumba who delivers even more exciting transformations as you progress through the game’s levels.

Expect the same ‘Jiggy’ collecting action and RARE platform thrills in this classic title, but make sure that you take a minute to mourn the death of Bottles the Mole once in a while.

16. Glover (1998)

Seb's N64 Glover game box

Another game that can quickly swallow up the daylight hours is Glover, a story about a magical Glove that needs to restore his home of the Crystal Kingdom back to its former glory.

Move, slap, bounce, and roll around on your circus ball as you navigate through different worlds in a bid to save both the Crystal Kingdom and your solidified Wizard friend, and to beat the evil Cross Stitch, Glover’s left-handed brother.

This game is hands-down (pun intended) one of the hardest games I have ever played.

Age ratings mean nothing when it comes to Glover; it might say that it’s designed for 7-years+, but you have to have the patience of a saint to navigate around some of these courses.

Even though it was a difficult cookie to crack, it’s still one of the first titles that I think about whenever someone mentions the N64.

The arrival of cheat codes made Glover even more fun, with super bouncy balls and ‘big-glove’ modes making the tasks that once seemed impossible super easy.

Cheating isn’t always a good idea, kids, but sometimes it’s necessary to keep your sanity intact.

And if you have an Evercade, you can look forward to playing Glover on it as part of the handheld’s new 64-bit collection dropping soon!

17. Gex 64 – Enter The Gecko (1998)

Gex 64 - Enter The Gecko Box held by Seb

After saving the world once and hoping for a quiet life, Gex is thrown back into the limelight (literally) to stop the evil Rez once more.

His adventures through Media World see you jumping into large TV Screens and playing through levels that are inspired by popular TV series or films.

Suit up like James Bond or get caught up in a Rabbit Hunt with Elmer Fudd; the scenarios are crazy, but the gameplay is second to none.

Enter The Gecko was the first time that we saw Gex in glorious 3D, and it remains one of my favourite games to this day.

With a whole host of gadgets at your disposal and more items to collect than you can shake a tail at, this game has hours of fun and a shelf life that will go way past the proposed playtime.

There’s no learning crazy controls or getting to grips with the storyline; just tail-whip your way through life and try to guess as many of the different TV shows along the way.

This is definitely one game that’s hard to put down!

18. Star Wars – Rogue Squadron (1998)

Seb's N64 game box for Rogue Sqaudron

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is better than flying around in an X-Wing destroying Tie Fighters.

Ok, maybe using the cheat codes to fly around in the Millennium Falcon, but it’s a close call for sure.

Taking down probe droids and helping the rebels fight back the Imperial Forces was a strong part of my childhood, which is probably why I never had time for a paper round.

I can still remember hearing the sounds of the Tie Fighters for the very first time, piloting a Y-Bomber and dropping bombs on the enemy’s generators, and hearing the commentary between Luke and Wedge as they soared over rocky landscapes and hurtled through the depths of space.

From Mos-Eisely to Beggars Canyon, Rogue Squadron takes you to some of the best places in the Star Wars universe, piloting different ships and cruisers from the iconic film series.

Luke Skywalker has formed the Rogue Squadron to cope with the Imperial backlash after the destruction of the Death Star, hoping to help defend the rebels in their fight for freedom against the Empire.

This is one of the toughest Star Wars games that I have ever played, and I can only thank Nintendo for making strong controllers that don’t break whenever you throw them onto the floor in a fit of rage after dying for the eighteenth time in a row.

Rogue Squadron will always be one of the best N64 games of all time just for the Millennium Falcon cheat alone, but the gameplay firmly cements it as a winner in the hearts of Star Wars fans everywhere

19. LylatWars/Starfox 64 (1997)

LylatWars Big Box N64

Andross’ face still makes me feel the tension of space battle and the need to save Corneria from his evil tyranny even after all these years.

Plus, anyone who is heartless enough to kill the mighty James McLoud at the very start of the game is asking for trouble!

There will never be a greater space fighter team than the Star Fox crew; Fox McLoud, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi.

These guys rocked and still do today; it doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting torpedos at enemy ships while cruising through the sky or racing over rough terrain in the uber-cool Landmaster, this game has so many amazing moments that will make you feel about 10 years old all over again.

It’s also one of the hardest games that I can remember playing too, but maybe I just wasn’t very good at it.

Three things stand out about this game in my mind; the insanely massive box, loop the loops while avoiding my friends in the multiplayer mode, and the fact that this marked the very first time that I played with a Rumble Pak.

Lylatwars just wouldn’t be the same without that sweet rumble vibrating your hands every time you scraped against a mountain or took a hit from an opposing enemy.

The interaction between the on-screen characters also made me feel like I was right there with them, fighting space crime as one of the gang.

20. Jet Force Gemini (1999)

Jet Force Gemini N64 Game Box in Seb's hand

Any game with a dog that flies around with a jet pack and a gun on its back deserves a place in our list.

I can still remember opening Jet Force Gemini on Christmas morning and playing for the majority of the day, amazed by the ant drone soldiers swarming around and the superb arsenal of weapons that you could use to fight your way through the different worlds.

The gameplay in this game was and still is fantastic, with a multiplayer mode that, while not in the same league as Goldeneye, is still pretty spectacular.

Juno, Vela, and Lupus must travel through different levels and save the enslaved tribals from the evil Mizar and his ant army, harnessing futuristic firepower and using their individual abilities to help you complete each stage.

From collecting health and ammo to hoarding ant heads, Jet Force Gemini is a space-age third-person shooter like no other.

RARE made some incredible games during the N64’s reign (a lot of which are in this list), but Jet Force Gemini will always stand out as being one of the most badass.

21. Turok 2 – Seeds Of Evil (1998)

Turok 2 - Seeds Of Evil black game cart in Seb's collection

Turok was an absolute hero, slaying dinosaurs and aliens of any size with everything from a bow and arrow to the almighty Cerebral Bore (that was always my favourite!).

The storyline sees Turok in a battle to stop an Alien force from taking over his lightship, and essentially kicking the ass of anything with two or four legs along the way.

You have the option of playing a solo campaign and taking on the forces of evil on your own or teaming up with friends in a multiplayer battle of epic proportions, playing as a host of characters including the ever-popular velociraptor.

This game has some series play value to it, and while the main solo campaign only has six levels (they’re massive though and never get boring), the multiplayer mode will keep your Turok 2 Cartridge from ever getting dusty.

Sofa gaming with your friends is one of the best things about retro gaming, and the rich landscapes on the multiple maps will keep you coming back time after time.

Try and find that Cerebral Bore; you won’t regret it.

22. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer (1999)

Seb's Star Wars Episode 1: Racer game cartridge for the N64

Climbing into a Pod racer and blasting through caverns at break-neck speeds; could life get any better?

The best bit about the Star Wars Episode 1 movie (apart from the credits at the end) was undoubtedly the Pod Racing competition.

Anakin Skywalker might have shown his skills against Sebulba in the film, but now you and up to three other players can recreate your own races with your favourite characters.

If you’re a fan of F-Zero X, then Episode 1: Racer will be right up your street. This is a fast game, and one wrong move could be all it takes to smash you into a million pieces.

If you remember the film, then you’ll know that a pod racer’s engines take damage as they collide with other racers or objects.

You can heal them periodically as you race, but taking on too much damage will undoubtedly end in your craft’s destruction.

And you need all the skills that the Force provides to be able to control your pod when you hit that boost button!

High-speed fun in some of the coolest crafts ever; it’s a must-have for Star Wars fans and a damn good weekend multiplayer title to play with your mates.

23. Mario Tennis (2000)

Mario Tennis game box from Seb's N64 collection

If you like the idea of tennis but prefer to play it sitting down and with Donkey Kong wielding the bat instead of Roger Federer, then this game will definitely be for you.

It’s another amazing multiplayer game that you can easily lose five hours playing and is one of the most addictive games of all time.

The thought of trying to get the fastest serve against your opponent still gets me pumped up!

Not only does Mario Tennis have a stellar one-player campaign mode that you can use to unlock different courses and characters, but it also marked the first time that we met Luigi’s arch-nemesis; the gangly-legged, hook-nosed Waluigi.

His big strides across the court made him a perfect choice for anyone who wanted to wipe the smile of that annoying little Koopa Paratroopa, and this game was the platform that would launch Waluigi into tonnes of future Nintendo titles.

Even if you don’t like tennis, you have to thank Mario Tennis for giving Wario a partner in crime!

24. Perfect Dark (2000)

Perfect Dark game cart in Seb's hand

Move out of the way Lara Croft, Joanna Dark is officially the most bad-ass heroine in gaming history.

What a game Perfect Dark was! If I had to describe it to non-N64-nerds, I’d say that there are obvious elements of Goldeneye in it…

… Goldeneye mixed with a touch of Metroid Prime-style gameplay.

That’s a cocktail for success if ever I heard one!

Joanna is a special agent attempting to stop an extraterrestrial conspiracy. It has a kick-ass multiplayer mode and even a couch-co-op mode where players can team up together.

In many ways, this epic RARE title is the unofficial successor to Goldeneye. It’s a classic first-person shooter that is action-packed from start to finish.

And twinned with the Expansion Pak, the graphics looked stunning!

It was a game that drew you in from the moment that you flicked your Nintendo 64 on, and it’s often classed as one of the best shooting games ever made.

It even won a BAFTA!

25. Bomberman 64 (1999)

Seb's Bomberman 64 box

If you’ve read my article on the greatest Sega Mega Drive games, then you’ll know how much I love Bomberman. 

I couldn’t wait to give Bomberman 64 a try after the multiplayer madness I experienced in Mega Bomberman, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. 

In this adventure, Bomberman has to fight Space Pirates with a Rocket Knight named Sirius (not Harry’s Godfather, unfortunately) in a bid to protect Planet Bomber from having its essence sucked away. 

Bomberman 64 is a pivotal game in the series for two very important reasons. 

Firstly, it was the first 3D adventure in the franchise and one that saw our white-helmeted-hero being able to move in 8-different directions. 

Secondly, it had an action/adventure platform feel to it rather than consisting of specific arena stages to clear. Puzzles had to be solved, and there were lots of bad guys to battle against. 

One thing remained, of course – bomb-throwing, explosive action from start to finish. 

And it still had an epic multiplayer mode; it wouldn’t be a Bomberman game without one!


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