It wasn’t the first console created, but the NES was most people’s first exposure to home video games and was responsible for pulling the entire industry out of a crash. This is where some of the most iconic video game franchises got their start, and many of the best games of all time come from this humble system. Although the best Switch games have highlighted some of Nintendo’s strengths, Nintendo’s dedication to the craft began here.
From games like Super Mario Bros. to Legend of Zelda, the NES has a game suited for any and all players’ tastes. Although there are many different games, we have listed a few of the top selections based on their genre. See if your childhood favorite makes it on the list, and take a look at the best NES emulators to play on your phone if you want to relive any of these classics in a convenient way.
Action
Vice: Project Doom
Platforms Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Nintendo Switch Genre Shooter, Racing Release December 01, 1991
Vice: Project Doom was a sleeper hit when it first debuted in ’91, but there was truly no reason at all for its slow start. The storyline was original and intriguing, focusing on a detective and his investigation of a secret alien corporation and a food substance moonlighting as a highly addictive drug on the black market. It was a multigenre game, showcasing platforming elements akin to
Ninja Gaiden and driving segments reminiscent of
Spy Hunter, with first-person shooting elements trickling through via a .44 Magnum and M-24 sticky grenades. Moreover, it’s embellished with all the standard facets players came to expect, such as a health gauge and a limited number of lives, while boasting 11 levels of futuristic weaponry and cinema-style cutscenes. It’s available through Nintendo Switch Online.
Contra
Platforms Family Computer Genre Shooter, Platform Developer Konami Publisher Konami Release February 09, 1988 There’s no denying the ’80s was a decade of super-muscular action flicks (think Sylvester
