The NES has revitalized the home video game market with an impressive library of diverse games and also made Nintendo one of the largest companies in the industry. Many of the biggest franchises, such as The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros., made their debut on the NES and helped establish Nintendo’s reputation for developing compelling titles.
Since the release of Nintendo Switch Online, subscribers have had access to a variety of NES games that helped define the console in the 1980s. While new games are added regularly, these are the essential games to check out if you’re nostalgic for some 8-bit action.
10 metro
The original Metroid game was praised for its eerie atmosphere and puzzles when it launched, and quickly became an essential title for anyone with an NES. It helped revolutionize non-linear adventure games and offered audiences a bold new experience starring bounty hunter Samus Aran.
We’ve come a long way since Metroid was released in the mid-80s, and while it was monumental in its time, the controls and combat haven’t gotten very old. Both Super Metroid and Metroid Dread are also available on the Switch and offer much smoother experiences. If Game Boy Advance games ever come to Switch, you should check out Metroid: Zero Mission, a great remake of the NES original.
9 Star Tropics
Star Tropics is one of the few entries on this list that hasn’t become one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises, but it still offers a fun adventure worth checking out. It is often compared to The Legend of Zelda, but Star Tropics includes weapons like a yo-yo to distinguish the two.
When Star Tropics was originally released, it came with a physical letter that you had to dip into the water to receive a code and progress. It was a cool concept that doesn’t work very well on virtual platforms. The Nintendo Switch version of Star Tropics offers no alternatives to the letter, so you’ll need to look up the answer online to complete the game.
8 Kirby’s Adventure
While many of Nintendo’s biggest characters made their debut on the NES, Kirby is one of the few that originally appeared on the Game Boy. After the success of Kirby’s Dream Land, the developers released Kirby’s Adventure, and it was the first game where the hero could copy the powers of his enemy.
Being able to absorb opponents’ forces has become the defining characteristic for Kirby throughout the franchise and during appearances in games such as Super Smash Bros. Kirby’s Adventure offers over twenty unique copy skills such as sword, needle and tornado that keep the game fresh through every playthrough of this charming game.
7 River City Ransom
The beat ’em up genre was impossible to avoid in the late 80s and it was hard to stand out in the oversaturated market back then. Games like Final Fight and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dominated the market, but a few hidden gems like River City Ransom wouldn’t get the love they deserved until much later.
Not only does River City Ransom have some of the best box art in the NES library, but its RPG elements and open world make it stand out from the plethora of other beat ’em ups on console. The humor and attitude still feels very 80s in the best possible way, but if that’s not your thing, you should check out the excellent River City Girls, also available on Switch.
6 Zelda II: Link’s Adventure
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is one of the hardest games in the series to complete, but it’s also one of the most satisfying. Princess Zelda has fallen asleep to a terrible curse, and it’s up to Link to travel across a deadly Hyrule to gain the power of the Triforce to awaken her.
It’s hard to deny how brutal The Adventure of Link can be at times – it’s probably just as hard as Dark Souls or other FromSoftware titles. The best part about playing on the Nintendo Switch is that you can use the rewind feature or save states to avoid annoying deaths that send you back to the beginning of a dungeon to make your journey much easier.
5 Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 2 is one of the strangest entries in the series, especially since it was never originally intended to be a Mario Bros. game. After Nintendo of America decided that the original Super Mario Bros. 2 was too difficult and lacked innovation, the studio decided to release a modified version of Doki Doki Panic with a Mario makeover to satisfy fans in western markets.
This decision ultimately paid off and Super Mario Bros. 2 is highly regarded to this day. All four playable characters have unique abilities and it was also the first time you could play as Princess Peach or Toad. While characters like Shy-Guys and Birdo originally came from Doki Doki Panic, they quickly became fan favorites and officially joined the Mushroom Kingdom’s color cast.
4 Punch Out
It’s surprising that Nintendo hasn’t released another Punch-Out for the Switch, especially with how easy it would be to hold one Joy-Con in each hand to mimic the sport. As cool as it would be to see Little Mac step into the ring again, the original Punch-Out is still great to play with its timeless gameplay and soundtrack.
Punch-Out is about recognizing enemy patterns and using sharp reflexes to take down some of the most memorable characters in the NES catalog. Using the Switch’s rewind feature and saving statuses can make your climb to the top much easier, but you’ll still need to prove yourself in the ring to be declared champion.
3 Super Mario Bros.
It’s hard to imagine where the game industry would be today without Super Mario Bros. After the video game crash in 1983, the industry was in limbo until a certain plumber in overalls started collecting mushrooms and stomping on Goombas.
Mario’s first adventure was praised for its controls, soundtrack and level design, and most of it holds up extremely well. Each world is full of little secrets that are still being revealed today, and clearing difficult platforming sections still feels phenomenal. Super Mario Bros. is still considered one of the greatest games of all time, and it’s easy to see why after playing World 1-1.
2 The Legend of Zelda
The original Legend of Zelda drew players into its fantastic world with its deadly dungeons, clever puzzles and immersive gameplay. While it may feel a bit stale by today’s standards, it was Link’s first journey and it contains a surprising amount of mechanics and ideas that have become foundational to the legendary franchise.
Key elements such as the Triforce, Ganon and familiar locations such as Death Mountain are all present in the first Zelda game. The dungeons are fun and engaging, and are made easier with some of Link’s classic weapons, such as bombs or the boomerang. It’s easy to get lost in its massive overworld, so it might be best to use a guide if you’re planning to jump in for the first time.
1 Super Mario Bros. 3
While the original Super Mario Bros. reinvigorated the industry with its simple premise and fun gameplay, Super Mario Bros. 3 a plethora of new and exciting ideas that make it the ultimate part of the trilogy. The soundtrack is just as influential as the first games, and the new Tanooki Suit allowed Mario to fly and explore levels in new and exciting ways.
Super Mario Bros. was an extremely linear game, but Super Mario Bros. 3 shook up the formula by introducing an overworld map that allowed you to choose which path to take to a castle. The sharper graphics and tight platforming make for a much more engaging and playful experience, and Super Mario Bros. 3 remains one of the most influential and satisfying games in the NES library, and playing it on the Switch is truly a joy.
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