At least games on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), known as the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan, have been listed as some of the all-time best by multiple publications.
List
+YearGameGenreDeveloperPublisher 1984Duck HuntLight gun shooterNintendo. Intelligent SystemsNintendoExcitebikeRacingNintendo1985Lode RunnerPuzzle-platformHudson SoftBroderbundIce ClimberPlatformNintendoKung FuBeat 'em upNintendoSuper Mario Bros.PlatformNintendo1986Adventure IslandPlatformHudson SoftCastlevaniaPlatformKonamiDragon QuestRole-playingChunsoftEnixDouble DribbleSportsKonamiGhosts 'n GoblinsPlatformCapcomGradiusScrolling shooterKonamiIkari WarriorsRun and gunSNK Kid IcarusPlatformNintendo, ToseNintendoThe Legend of ZeldaAction-adventureNintendoMetroidAction-adventureNintendo, Intelligent SystemsNintendoPro WrestlingSportsNintendoStingerScrolling shooterKonamiZanacScrolling shooterCompileFCI1987Bubble BobblePlatformTaitoCastlevania II: Simon's QuestAction role-playingKonamiFaxanaduAction role-playingHudson SoftNintendoFinal FantasyRole-playingSquareNintendoThe Goonies IIAction-adventureKonamiRing KingBoxingWoodplaceData EastLife ForceScrolling shooterKonamiMega ManPlatformCapcomMetal GearStealthKonamiPunch-Out!!SportsNintendoRad RacerRacingSquareNintendoRush'n AttackPlatformKonamiRygarPlatformTecmoSection ZScrolling shooterCapcomSpy HunterVehicular combatSunsoftWizards & WarriorsPlatformRareAcclaim EntertainmentZelda II: The Adventure of LinkAction role-playingNintendo19881943: The Battle of MidwayScrolling shooterCapcomBionic CommandoPlatformCapcomBlades of SteelSportsKonamiBlaster MasterMetroidvaniaSunsoftContraRun and gunKonamiDouble DragonBeat 'em upTechnōs JapanTradewestDragon Quest III: The Seeds of SalvationRole-playingChunsoftEnixFinal Fantasy IIRole-playingSquareGolgo 13: Top Secret EpisodeActionVic TokaiThe Guardian LegendShoot 'em upCompileBroderbundIce HockeySportsNintendoJackalRun and gunKonamiLegendary WingsVertically scrolling shooterCapcomMega Man 2PlatformCapcomNinja GaidenHack and slashTecmoR.C. Pro-AmRacingRareNintendoR.B.I. BaseballSportsNamcoTengenRampageActionData EastSuper Mario Bros. 2PlatformNintendoSuper Mario Bros. 3PlatformNintendo1989A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on BloboloniaPuzzle-platformImagineeringAbsolute EntertainmentAdventures of LoloPuzzleHAL LaboratoryBaseball StarsSportsSNKBatman: The Video GamePlatformSunsoftCastlevania III: Dracula's CursePlatformKonamiCobra TriangleRacingRareNintendoDouble Dragon II: The RevengeBeat 'em upTechnōs JapanDuckTalesPlatformCapcomFester's QuestShoot 'em upSunsoftMarble MadnessPlatformRareMilton BradleyMotherRole-playingApe. IncNintendoIronsword: Wizards & Warriors IIPlatformZippo GamesAcclaim EntertainmentRiver City RansomBeat 'em upTechnōs JapanShadowgatePoint-and-click adventureKemcoStriderAction-adventureCapcomTecmo BowlSportsTecmoTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesPlatformKonamiTetrisPuzzleTengenTetrisPuzzleNintendoWillowAction role-playingCapcom1990Adventures of Lolo 3PuzzleHAL LaboratoryChip 'n Dale Rescue RangersPlatformCapcomCrystalisAction role-playingSNKDr. MarioPuzzleNintendoDragon Warrior IVRole-playingChunsoftEnixFinal Fantasy IIIRole-playingSquareGun-NacScrolling shooterCompileASCII CorporationJourney to SiliusRun and gunSunsoftLittle Nemo: The Dream MasterPlatformCapcomManiac MansionGraphic adventureLucasArts, Realtime AssociatesJaleco EntertainmentMega Man 3PlatformCapcomNinja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of ChaosHack and slashTecmoPower BladePlatformTaitoSnake Rattle 'n' RollPlatformRareNintendoStarTropicsAction-adventureNintendoSuper CRun and gunKonamiTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade GameBeat 'em upKonami1991Adventure Island IIPlatformNow ProductionHudson SoftBattletoadsBeat 'em upRareTradewestBomberman IIMazeHudson SoftCyber Stadium Series—Base WarsSportsKonamiMega Man 4PlatformCapcomMetal StormPlatformTamtexIremMicro MachinesRacingCodemastersCamericaPirates!Action-adventure strategyRareUltra GamesTecmo Super BowlSportsTecmoTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan ProjectBeat 'em upKonamiVice: Project DoomActionAicomSammy Corporation1992Gargoyle's Quest IIPlatformCapcomGimmick!PlatformSunsoftLittle SamsonPlatformTakeruTaitoMega Man 5PlatformCapcom1993Battletoads & Double DragonBeat 'em upRareTradewestKirby's AdventurePlatformHAL LaboratoryNintendoMega Man 6PlatformCapcomMighty Final FightBeat 'em upCapcom1994Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics IIAction-adventureNintendo
Publications For instances of at least four citations, reference numbers in the notes section show which of the following publications list the game.
Complex – 2018 Den of Geek – 2022 Destructoid – 2025 Digital Spy – 2016 Digital Trends – 2024 Esquire – 2019 For The Win – 2022 GameSpot – 2022 HobbyConsolas – 2014 IGN – 3017, 2018 NGamer – 2012 Nintendo Life – 2025 Online Tech Tips – 2020 Paste – 2025 PCMag – 2019 Polygon – 2018 Racketboy – 2007, 2020 Retro Gamer – 2026 Rolling Stone – 2025 Shortlist – 2025 Time Extension – 2024 Vice – 2016
Notes
Reference bundles
References