15 years in the making of this ongoing list, i have had a change of thinking.
Instead of making a top 150 or top 350 NES games, i went with Frontier & Legacy.
125 games of the NES 1st life cycle "FRONTIER", then 125 games of the NES 2nd life cycle "LEGACY".
I do like the results very much, although a few of my favorite old time games did not make the list.
The lists are based on overall reviews from several different sources, Nintendo Power, EGM, GamePro,
many internet reviews. Most likely around 50-60 i have found over the years & probably dubbed on 5-10 without knowing,
or too lazy to account for. I try my best not to be bias to games i know are "worthy" or "not worthy". Many games are
not yet translated to be accounted for, half dozen games at least, that would have made the list, if it were my personal list.
The "FRONTIER" list are games that made the NES possibly the greatest console ever, call it the truth games.
The "LEGACY" list are games that solidified & backed up the NES reputation as a King, call it the proof games.
If nothing else, hopefully this list will give retro players direction to the games they overlooked, or have not yet discovered.
FRONTIER
===============================
001. SUPER MARIO BROS 3
002. MEGA MAN 2
003. LEGEND OF ZELDA
004. CONTRA
005. METROID
006. LEGEND OF ZELDA II
007. SUPER MARIO BROS
008. SUPER MARIO BROS 2
009. NINJA GAIDEN II
010. MIKE TYSON PUNCH-OUT
011. RIVER CITY RANSOM
012. FINAL FANTASY
013. BLASTER MASTER
014. DUCK TALES
015. BIONIC COMMANDO
016. CASTLEVANIA
017. TETRIS
018. BATMAN
019. LIFE FORCE
020. NINJA GAIDEN
021. SUPER CONTRA
022. MEGA MAN
023. GUARDIAN LEGEND
024. KID ICARUS
025. FAXANADU
026. MOTHER EARTHBOUND
027. DOUBLE DRAGON II
028. R.C. PRO-AM
029. BASEBALL STARS
030. JAKAL
031. CASTLEVANIA II
032. BLADES OF STEEL
033. CHIP N DALE RANGERS
034. WILLOW
035. METAL GEAR
036. DRAGON WARRIOR
037. BUBBLE BOBBLE
038. SHADOWGATE
039. SUPER DODGE BALL
040. GRADIUS
041. GUERRILLA WAR
O42. TEENAGE MUTANT TURTLES
043. CLASH AT DEMONHEAD
044. WIZARDS & WARRIORS
045. RYGAR
046. LEGACY OF THE WIZARD
047. EXCITEBIKE
048. RAD RACER
049. ICE HOCKEY
050. DOUBLE DRAGON
051. GOONIES II
052. WIZARDS & WARRIORS II IRONSWORD
053. ADVENTURES OF LOLO 2
054. XEXYZ
055. ADVENTURES OF LOLO
056. MARBLE MADNESS
057. TECMO BOWL
058. COBRA TRIANGLE
059. SOLSTICE
060. GALAGA
061. PRO WRESTLING
062. STRIDER
063. BASEBALL SIMULATOR 1000
064. BATTLE OF OLYMPUS
065. MAGIC OF SCHEHERAZADE
066. R.B.I. BASEBALL
067. A BOY & HIS BLOB
068. SUPER SPIKE VOLLEYBALL
069. METAL GEAR II SNAKE
070. SUPER MARIO LOST LEVELS
071. WAI WAI WORLD 2 (J)
072. SOLOMONS KEY
073. GETSU FUUMA DEN (J)
074. GRADIUS II (J)
075. BASE WARS
076. SPLATTERHOUSE (J)
077. ZANAC
078. ADVENTURE ISLAND
079. DRAGON SPIRIT LEGEND
080. DONKEY KONG ORIGINAL
081. GUN.SMOKE
082. MS. PAC-MAN (TENGEN)
083. BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA (J)
084. OVER HORIZON (J)
085. FLYING WARRIORS
086. YUME PENGUIN MONOGATARI (J)
087. BAD NEWS BASEBALL
088. TOMBS & TREASURES
089. WAI WAI WORLD (J)
090. FAMICOM WARS (J)
091. RESCUE EMBASSY MISSION
092. HOLY DIVER (J)
093. CAPTAIN SKYHAWK
094. MONSTER PARTY
095. DESERT COMMANDER
096. TWINBEE (J)
097. 1943
098. STINGER
099. GOONIES (J)
100. RIPPLE ISLAND (J)
101. CODE NAME VIPER
102. PINBOT
103. IRON TANK
104. TRACK & FIELD
105. TECMO WORLD WRESTLING
106. ROLLING THUNDER
107. SUPER OFF-ROAD
108. DOUBLE DRIBBLE
109. HEAVY BARREL
110. PAPERBOY
111. RAD RACER II
112. ARKISTAS RING
113. GAUNTLET
114. BURAI FIGHTER
115. P.O.W. PRISONERS OF WAR
116. SKY SHARK
117. KINGS OF THE BEACH
118. KID NIKI RADICAL NINJA
119. SOLAR JETMAN
120. KUNG FU
121. LEGENDARY WINGS
122. KARNOV
123. RUSH N ATTACK
124. TROJAN
125. ABADOX
================================
LEGACY
================================
001. CASTLEVANIA III
002. MEGA MAN 3
003. KIRBYS ADVENTURES
004. CRYSTALIS
005. BATTLETOADS
006. METAL STORM
007. LITTLE NEMO DREAM MASTER
008. LITTLE SAMSON
009. TECMO SUPER BOWL
010. MANIAC MANSION
011. STARTROPICS
012. MEGA MAN 5
013. GIMMICK (J)(E)
014. TEENAGE MUTANT TURTLES II
015. MEGA MAN 4
016. UFOURIA (J)(E)
017. DR MARIO
018. DRAGON WARRIOR IV
019. MEGA MAN 6
020. SHATTERHAND
021. DRAGON WARRIOR III
022. VICE PROJECT DOOM
023. JOURNEY TO SILIUS
024. BUCKY O'HARE
025. SHADOW OF THE NINJA
026. GARGOYLES QUEST II
027. DESTINY OF EMPEROR
028. POWER BLADE
029. TEENAGE MUTANT TURTLES III
030. GUN-NAC
031. KICKMASTER
032. BATTLETOADS & DOUBLE DRAGON
033. PIRATES
034. KABUKI QUANTUM FIGHTER
035. DARKWING DUCK
036. DUCK TALES 2
037. DEJA VU
038. GREMLINS 2
039. ULTIMA AVATAR
040. FIRE N ICE
041. STARTROPICS II ZODAS REVENGE
042. ADVENTURES OF LOLO 3
043. FINAL FANTASY III
044. S.C.A.T.
045. G.I. JOE
046. KICKLE CUBICLE
047. NINJA GAIDEN III
048. R.C. PRO-AM II
049. KIWI KRAZE
050. CRISIS FORCE (J)
051. SWEET HOME (J)
052. CHIP N DALE RANGERS 2
053. YOUNG INDIANA JONES
054. MIGHTY FINAL FIGHT
055. DRAGON WARRIOR II
056. FELIX THE CAT
057. BATTLE KID FORTRESS OF PERIL
058. ROCKIN KATS
059. NEW GHOSTBUSTERS II (E)
060. G.I. JOE ATLANTIS FACTOR
061. NINTENDO WORLD CUP SOCCER
062. LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
063. SUMMER CARNIVAL 92' RECCA (J)
064. LONE RANGER
065. FIRE EMBLEM ANKOKU HIKARI (J)
066. KID DRACULA (J)
067. SAMURAI PIZZA CATS (J)
068. ADVENTURE ISLAND IV (J)
069. MITSUME NO TOORU (J)
070. PANIC RESTAURANT
071. WACKY RACES
072. PARODIUS DA (J)
073. MICRO MACHINES
074. TECMO CUP SOCCER GAME
075. DESTINY OF AN EMPEROR II (J)
076. GOLD MEDAL CHALLENGE 92
077. SNOW BROS
078. POWER BLADE 2
079. UNCHARTERED WATERS
080. ZEN INTERGALACTIC NINJA
081. PRINCESS TOMATO SALAD KINGDOM
082. FLINTSTONES DINOSAUR PEAK
083. FORMULA ONE SENSATION (J)(E)
084. JACKIE CHANS ACTION KUNG FU
085. NIGHTSHADE
086. MOON CRYSTAL (J)
087. WHOMP EM
088. ADVENTURE ISLAND III
089. FIRE EMBLEM GAIDEN (J)
090. CRASH & BOYS STREET CHALLENGE
091. PUZZNIC
092. LITTLE NINJA BROTHERS
093. DOWNTOWN SPECIAL (J)
094. BUBBLE BOBBLE 2
095. SUPER SPY HUNTER
096. CHOUJIN SENTAI JETMAN (J)
097. ADVENTURE ISLAND II
098. BANANA PRINCE (G)
099. FLINTSTONES RESCUE DINO HOPPY
100. GALAXY 5000
101. DUSTY DIAMONDS SOFTBALL
102. BATTLE KID 2 MOUNTAIN TORMENT
103. TINY TOONS ADVENTURES
104. ISOLATED WARRIOR
105. WARIOS WOODS
106. SNAKE RATTLE N ROLL
107. JETSONS COGSWELLS CAPER
108. MONSTER IN MY POCKET
109. LEGENDS OF DIAMOND
110. SPIRITUAL WARFARE
111. DRAGON FIGHTER
112. WIZARDRY PROVING GROUNDS
113. CONQUEST OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE
114. MENDEL PALACE
115. TALESPIN
116. UNINVITED
117. NORTH & SOUTH
118. BLUE MARLIN
119. BATMAN RETURN OF JOKER
120. NES OPEN TOURNAMENT GOLF
121. KRION CONQUEST
122. FANTASTIC ADVENTURES OF DIZZY
123. TOTALLY RAD
124. WIZARDS & WARRIORS III KUROS
125. BONKS ADVENTURE
Instead of making a top 150 or top 350 NES games, i went with Frontier & Legacy.
125 games of the NES 1st life cycle "FRONTIER", then 125 games of the NES 2nd life cycle "LEGACY".
I do like the results very much, although a few of my favorite old time games did not make the list.
The lists are based on overall reviews from several different sources, Nintendo Power, EGM, GamePro,
many internet reviews. Most likely around 50-60 i have found over the years & probably dubbed on 5-10 without knowing,
or too lazy to account for. I try my best not to be bias to games i know are "worthy" or "not worthy". Many games are
not yet translated to be accounted for, half dozen games at least, that would have made the list, if it were my personal list.
The "FRONTIER" list are games that made the NES possibly the greatest console ever, call it the truth games.
The "LEGACY" list are games that solidified & backed up the NES reputation as a King, call it the proof games.
If nothing else, hopefully this list will give retro players direction to the games they overlooked, or have not yet discovered.
FRONTIER
===============================
001. SUPER MARIO BROS 3
002. MEGA MAN 2
003. LEGEND OF ZELDA
004. CONTRA
005. METROID
006. LEGEND OF ZELDA II
007. SUPER MARIO BROS
008. SUPER MARIO BROS 2
009. NINJA GAIDEN II
010. MIKE TYSON PUNCH-OUT
011. RIVER CITY RANSOM
012. FINAL FANTASY
013. BLASTER MASTER
014. DUCK TALES
015. BIONIC COMMANDO
016. CASTLEVANIA
017. TETRIS
018. BATMAN
019. LIFE FORCE
020. NINJA GAIDEN
021. SUPER CONTRA
022. MEGA MAN
023. GUARDIAN LEGEND
024. KID ICARUS
025. FAXANADU
026. MOTHER EARTHBOUND
027. DOUBLE DRAGON II
028. R.C. PRO-AM
029. BASEBALL STARS
030. JAKAL
031. CASTLEVANIA II
032. BLADES OF STEEL
033. CHIP N DALE RANGERS
034. WILLOW
035. METAL GEAR
036. DRAGON WARRIOR
037. BUBBLE BOBBLE
038. SHADOWGATE
039. SUPER DODGE BALL
040. GRADIUS
041. GUERRILLA WAR
O42. TEENAGE MUTANT TURTLES
043. CLASH AT DEMONHEAD
044. WIZARDS & WARRIORS
045. RYGAR
046. LEGACY OF THE WIZARD
047. EXCITEBIKE
048. RAD RACER
049. ICE HOCKEY
050. DOUBLE DRAGON
051. GOONIES II
052. WIZARDS & WARRIORS II IRONSWORD
053. ADVENTURES OF LOLO 2
054. XEXYZ
055. ADVENTURES OF LOLO
056. MARBLE MADNESS
057. TECMO BOWL
058. COBRA TRIANGLE
059. SOLSTICE
060. GALAGA
061. PRO WRESTLING
062. STRIDER
063. BASEBALL SIMULATOR 1000
064. BATTLE OF OLYMPUS
065. MAGIC OF SCHEHERAZADE
066. R.B.I. BASEBALL
067. A BOY & HIS BLOB
068. SUPER SPIKE VOLLEYBALL
069. METAL GEAR II SNAKE
070. SUPER MARIO LOST LEVELS
071. WAI WAI WORLD 2 (J)
072. SOLOMONS KEY
073. GETSU FUUMA DEN (J)
074. GRADIUS II (J)
075. BASE WARS
076. SPLATTERHOUSE (J)
077. ZANAC
078. ADVENTURE ISLAND
079. DRAGON SPIRIT LEGEND
080. DONKEY KONG ORIGINAL
081. GUN.SMOKE
082. MS. PAC-MAN (TENGEN)
083. BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA (J)
084. OVER HORIZON (J)
085. FLYING WARRIORS
086. YUME PENGUIN MONOGATARI (J)
087. BAD NEWS BASEBALL
088. TOMBS & TREASURES
089. WAI WAI WORLD (J)
090. FAMICOM WARS (J)
091. RESCUE EMBASSY MISSION
092. HOLY DIVER (J)
093. CAPTAIN SKYHAWK
094. MONSTER PARTY
095. DESERT COMMANDER
096. TWINBEE (J)
097. 1943
098. STINGER
099. GOONIES (J)
100. RIPPLE ISLAND (J)
101. CODE NAME VIPER
102. PINBOT
103. IRON TANK
104. TRACK & FIELD
105. TECMO WORLD WRESTLING
106. ROLLING THUNDER
107. SUPER OFF-ROAD
108. DOUBLE DRIBBLE
109. HEAVY BARREL
110. PAPERBOY
111. RAD RACER II
112. ARKISTAS RING
113. GAUNTLET
114. BURAI FIGHTER
115. P.O.W. PRISONERS OF WAR
116. SKY SHARK
117. KINGS OF THE BEACH
118. KID NIKI RADICAL NINJA
119. SOLAR JETMAN
120. KUNG FU
121. LEGENDARY WINGS
122. KARNOV
123. RUSH N ATTACK
124. TROJAN
125. ABADOX
================================
LEGACY
================================
001. CASTLEVANIA III
002. MEGA MAN 3
003. KIRBYS ADVENTURES
004. CRYSTALIS
005. BATTLETOADS
006. METAL STORM
007. LITTLE NEMO DREAM MASTER
008. LITTLE SAMSON
009. TECMO SUPER BOWL
010. MANIAC MANSION
011. STARTROPICS
012. MEGA MAN 5
013. GIMMICK (J)(E)
014. TEENAGE MUTANT TURTLES II
015. MEGA MAN 4
016. UFOURIA (J)(E)
017. DR MARIO
018. DRAGON WARRIOR IV
019. MEGA MAN 6
020. SHATTERHAND
021. DRAGON WARRIOR III
022. VICE PROJECT DOOM
023. JOURNEY TO SILIUS
024. BUCKY O'HARE
025. SHADOW OF THE NINJA
026. GARGOYLES QUEST II
027. DESTINY OF EMPEROR
028. POWER BLADE
029. TEENAGE MUTANT TURTLES III
030. GUN-NAC
031. KICKMASTER
032. BATTLETOADS & DOUBLE DRAGON
033. PIRATES
034. KABUKI QUANTUM FIGHTER
035. DARKWING DUCK
036. DUCK TALES 2
037. DEJA VU
038. GREMLINS 2
039. ULTIMA AVATAR
040. FIRE N ICE
041. STARTROPICS II ZODAS REVENGE
042. ADVENTURES OF LOLO 3
043. FINAL FANTASY III
044. S.C.A.T.
045. G.I. JOE
046. KICKLE CUBICLE
047. NINJA GAIDEN III
048. R.C. PRO-AM II
049. KIWI KRAZE
050. CRISIS FORCE (J)
051. SWEET HOME (J)
052. CHIP N DALE RANGERS 2
053. YOUNG INDIANA JONES
054. MIGHTY FINAL FIGHT
055. DRAGON WARRIOR II
056. FELIX THE CAT
057. BATTLE KID FORTRESS OF PERIL
058. ROCKIN KATS
059. NEW GHOSTBUSTERS II (E)
060. G.I. JOE ATLANTIS FACTOR
061. NINTENDO WORLD CUP SOCCER
062. LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
063. SUMMER CARNIVAL 92' RECCA (J)
064. LONE RANGER
065. FIRE EMBLEM ANKOKU HIKARI (J)
066. KID DRACULA (J)
067. SAMURAI PIZZA CATS (J)
068. ADVENTURE ISLAND IV (J)
069. MITSUME NO TOORU (J)
070. PANIC RESTAURANT
071. WACKY RACES
072. PARODIUS DA (J)
073. MICRO MACHINES
074. TECMO CUP SOCCER GAME
075. DESTINY OF AN EMPEROR II (J)
076. GOLD MEDAL CHALLENGE 92
077. SNOW BROS
078. POWER BLADE 2
079. UNCHARTERED WATERS
080. ZEN INTERGALACTIC NINJA
081. PRINCESS TOMATO SALAD KINGDOM
082. FLINTSTONES DINOSAUR PEAK
083. FORMULA ONE SENSATION (J)(E)
084. JACKIE CHANS ACTION KUNG FU
085. NIGHTSHADE
086. MOON CRYSTAL (J)
087. WHOMP EM
088. ADVENTURE ISLAND III
089. FIRE EMBLEM GAIDEN (J)
090. CRASH & BOYS STREET CHALLENGE
091. PUZZNIC
092. LITTLE NINJA BROTHERS
093. DOWNTOWN SPECIAL (J)
094. BUBBLE BOBBLE 2
095. SUPER SPY HUNTER
096. CHOUJIN SENTAI JETMAN (J)
097. ADVENTURE ISLAND II
098. BANANA PRINCE (G)
099. FLINTSTONES RESCUE DINO HOPPY
100. GALAXY 5000
101. DUSTY DIAMONDS SOFTBALL
102. BATTLE KID 2 MOUNTAIN TORMENT
103. TINY TOONS ADVENTURES
104. ISOLATED WARRIOR
105. WARIOS WOODS
106. SNAKE RATTLE N ROLL
107. JETSONS COGSWELLS CAPER
108. MONSTER IN MY POCKET
109. LEGENDS OF DIAMOND
110. SPIRITUAL WARFARE
111. DRAGON FIGHTER
112. WIZARDRY PROVING GROUNDS
113. CONQUEST OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE
114. MENDEL PALACE
115. TALESPIN
116. UNINVITED
117. NORTH & SOUTH
118. BLUE MARLIN
119. BATMAN RETURN OF JOKER
120. NES OPEN TOURNAMENT GOLF
121. KRION CONQUEST
122. FANTASTIC ADVENTURES OF DIZZY
123. TOTALLY RAD
124. WIZARDS & WARRIORS III KUROS
125. BONKS ADVENTURE
Last edited by RunningSnakes,
