The global video game market is worth approximately $93 billion, with 2020 projections estimating that revenues will shoot up to over $160 billion. It’s safe to say that human beings love gaming. Multiple gaming platforms ranging from consoles to personal computers (PCs) and hand-held devices such as smartphones have meant a more significant proliferation of gaming across the world. Even with the sharp rise in different gaming genres, one industry veteran by the name of Nintendo still maintains its place in the gaming hall of fame.

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) remains one of the best-selling game consoles to have hit the market. The best NES games found their way into gamer’s hearts, and it seems like some die-hard fans still haven’t gotten over them. The fact that Nintendo had always prioritized fun gameplay means that players are guaranteed to have a good time with any of the numerous titles. It looks like the Nintendo appeal isn’t going away any time soon.

Editors choice

1. Tetris

9.70 / 10
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During the late 1980s, the cold war was not the only tension around the world. Pressure in the gaming universe was high over who gets the appropriation rights of the Tetris game. The battle for appropriation rights came as no surprise, given that this puzzle game gained popularity exponentially in America despite being a Soviet Russian game.

With the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, the cold war was slowly subsidizing. In that same year, Nintendo released Tetris, the Nintendo Entertainment System(NES) version of the game. The NES version blew up and was a favorite among the majority of gamers in America.

The concept behind the game revolves around using differently-shaped Tetriminoes to complete a line. Once you complete a line, the pieces vanish, and new ones pop from the top of the playing field.

Regardless of the version of Tetris you play, the premise behind the game is the same. However, with time, the graphics have evolved to meet the current gaming fad. Though still simple compared to other games, the simplicity in the design behind Tetris transcends modern graphics.

The game comes with two types of play, type-A and type-B. Type-A revolves around using Tetriminoes to complete lines while type-B includes clearing a field of play filled with Tetriminoes. Apart from that, Nintendo has online competitions worldwide for Tetris players with the highest score so far being 999999 at 3.12 seconds.

There’s not much to say of the effortless style of play. However, it’s important to note as you play, the game gets quick and a bit challenging, summing up why it has stood the test of time.

Key Features
  • In-game music
  • Splash screen
  • Tetriminoes
  • Two types of play
Pros
  • Easy to play
  • A good family game
  • Simple, colorful, and intuitive
  • Funny graphics
Cons
  • The Tetris NES version is only a single-player mode game
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The Super NES Classic game console brings back the best of 90s games, with a bang. This game console is the miniaturized version of the 90s home console in both look and feel. The look and feel pay the perfect homage to the game controller’s 90s predecessor.

The Super NES Classic’s small size means it doesn’t take up much space and is considerably lighter than the 90s console.

The game controller comes with a minimal number of cables. There are only two cables required to power the game controller, these are an HDMI cable and a USB charging cable. This minimalism makes setting up the game controller a breeze.

There are two game controllers included in the console. These controllers make it easy to play 2-player games and share the fun with a friend.

The games included in the system are reminiscent of the 90’s era. The console comes with 16 retro games. These games span from Super Mario Kart to Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting.

The console melds the old with the new by adding a few new features. First, there is a rewind feature, which allows you to rewind a minute or more of the game based on its last suspension point. Each game allows you to save up to 4 suspension points.

There is also a new feature that allows you to give a game demo based on your suspension points instead of a built-in demo.

Lastly, you have the option to choose frames based on the color of the game. There are some frames which change color based on the game.

Key Features
  • Retro look and feel
  • Powered by two cables
  • Two game controllers
  • Multi-player available
Pros
  • Does not take up much space
  • Easy to set up
  • Multi-player available
  • Rewind feature
Cons
  • Only comes with 16 games
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Super NES Classic
Best value

3. Roadblasters

8.50 / 10
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Roadblasters fuses roadside racing and military warfare into an incredible, fun-packed game. You cannot afford to miss out on this exciting game, especially if you are a fan of roadside racing and military warfare.

As a player, Roadblasters will present you with 50 different races with progressing difficulty levels. These races involve circumventing opponents, opponent’s projectiles and road obstacles, actions that require both concentration and agility.

You will earn points by driving for specific distances without getting knocked out by obstacles or projectiles.

To complete a race, you will have to cross the finish line without running out of fuel. While this objective may seem easy at first, you will discover in the course of the game that the field is rigged against you.

Your opponents are programmed to fire projectiles at you when you least expect them. Getting knocked by a projectile will reduce your fuel level, destroy your car, and reset your score.

There are also obstacles scattered all over the game. Missing to swerve past an obstacle will have the same effect as getting hit by a projectile.

Fortunately, you can fire at opponents. There is also a helicopter that drops power-ups. It is your responsibility to catch the power-ups and use them to your advantage.

As you focus on surmounting the obstacles thrown at you by the game, you need to keep an eye out on your fuel level. An empty fuel tank, just like obstacles, will prevent you from finishing the race.

To prevent hitting empty on your fuel tank, you need to try to collect every red or green fuel globe you encounter.

Fortunately, just in case you forget about your fuel level, your vehicle has a fuel reserve that kicks in when the tank hits empty. The only problem with the reserve is that it is not refueled by the globes.

Key Features
  • Multiple races
  • Antagonistic opponents
  • Racing and combat
Pros
  • Exciting to play
  • Engages your mind
  • Challenging but fun
Cons
  • Lacks multiplayer
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Roadblasters

Considered one of the greatest video games of all time, you cannot afford to miss out on the fun in Super Mario Bros. 3. This one of a kind game defies the decaying effect of time by getting more enjoyable with time.

Super Mario Bros. 3 is an action-packed game. The goal of the game is simple, to save the Mushroom Kingdom from Bower’s Koopa Kids.

Learning how to play the game is easy because it involves running and jumping over obstacles while picking up coins to unlock new levels. While the game is simple to learn, the challenges you face become tougher and tougher with each new level.

The game world has multiple game worlds. Each game world has a distinct theme, unique obstacles, and multiple levels.

The different game worlds expect you to navigate them differently. Apart from running, some require flying, climbing twigs, and/or swimming. Fortunately, there are power-ups in the form of mushrooms, littered all over the game. The power-ups give you additional abilities.

The challenges in the game can be difficult to sur on the first try. Luckily, the game offers multiple lives and allows you to collect additional ones in the course of playing. By having multiple lives, you can retry suring an obstacle without restarting a level.

The best part of the game is you don’t have to enjoy it alone. You can play it with a friend as it s multi-player mode.

Key Features
  • Action packed
  • Fun obstacles
  • Multiple levels and worlds
  • Multi player
Pros
  • Fun and exciting
  • Easy to learn how to play
  • Fresh content in each level
  • Fresh challenges
Cons
  • Can be addictive
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Super Mario Bros. 3

Metroid is one of the top-most exciting games to play today. The game begins inside a fortress planet of Zebes.

The planet has a lot of secret ageways where you will find the Metroid multiplying. Under normal circumstances and when not interfered with, the Metroid are harmless. However, when in the wrong hands, they can destroy the galaxy.

To avoid this, you, as a player, have to prevent the Mother Brain from utilizing the Metroid for evil purposes. Unfortunately, that will not be easy, but it is where all the fun comes in.

The game will take place in a vast and open-ended world with areas connected by the door and elevator. Here, you will have to control Samus Aran as she continues to travel to hunt the space pirates.

You will start with a weak power beam as the only weapon and with only the ability to jump. To enhance your armor and weaponry and enter areas that were not accessible before, you will have to collect more power-ups.

Several power-ups are included in Metroid. An example is the morph ball. The other one is Bomb, which can only be utilized when in ball form and can open the hidden floor or wall paths. A screw attack is also available, and it involves a somersaulting attack move to destroy the enemies on the way.

If you survive all this, it is now time to go against the Mother Brains with your newly acquired powers.

Key Features
  • Classic adventure game
  • 2-D scrolling action
  • High-tech gadgets
Pros
  • Cool style of art
  • Interesting power-ups
  • Interesting and fun bosses
  • Great shooting mechanic
Cons
  • Easy to get lost
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If you love boxing and retro video games, you will love Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. This retro game offers a delightful fusion of boxing and videogames. The game is a heartwarming throwback to 2D video games of the last century.

Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out is set in a boxing ring. You will face 13 different opponents in the game. The final opponent is fashioned after none other than Mike Tyson.

You are cast as a character called Little Mac, who is trying to win the championship. Your character, Little Mac, is considered a novice fighter with minimum boxing skills. However, as your character unlocks progressive levels in the game, boxing proficiency increases.

Each progressive level unlocks a new, more formidable opponent. The increase in the difficulty of the levels keeps the game exciting.

There are a number of boxing moves available to you. The purpose of the moves is to protect you and to attack your opponent. The moves include dodging, blocking, and handing out punches.

However, you can unlock a powerful uppercut by performing a counter-attack before or after certain moves are launched by your opponent. The challenge of earning the uppercut adds more thrill to the game.

The boxing guidelines observed during the boxing matches are similar to the ones in real life. For instance, if a player is hit three times without getting out, they are considered knocked out. Another rule is that if a player is knocked down but doesn’t get up in 10 seconds, they are considered knocked out.

Key Features
  • Multiple opponents
  • Mike Tyson as an opponent
  • 13 levels
  • Multiple boxing moves
Pros
  • Increasing difficulty levels
  • Boxing guidelines observed
  • Can protect and attack opponent
  • Uppercut move available
Cons
  • No multi-player
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Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

Developed by Konami, the TMNT contains different parts that wholesomely work well. With your four turtles, you embark on a mission to rescue April O’Neill captured by Shredder’s goons.

The concept behind the gameplay is more like the one of Super Mario Brothers. The difference between these two games is the difficulty in TMNT. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles contains difficult levels but not impossible to beat.

One of these levels is the famous dam level. Well, they’re turtles, so this is not a surprise, however, though, swimming through the dam is hard and frustrating. Apart from that, you’ll least likely use Raphael, Leonardo, and Mike as most of the challenges work with Donatella’s boo staff.

These flaws make it even more entertaining as it’s hard to beat. To help you wade through the random enemies who are nowhere connected to the cartoon, the game lets you pick any turtle depending on the task.

To power up the health status of your turtles, a piece of pizza got you covered. A whole pie gives you full status while a half gives half health power-up. These health power-ups are rare because you often find yourself fighting bosses and drones.

Winning the game with no outside assistance is hard, so most gamers play it for the storyline, which has an odd ending. Nevertheless, the TMNT is an adrenaline-rushing game mixed with anticipation of beating the flawed tasks.

Key Features
  • Single-player
  • In-game music
  • Collectible
  • Based on the comic TMNT
Pros
  • Provides the ability to pick any turtle during the game
  • The graphics are excellent for a 1980s game
  • Humorous prompt responses on the screen while playing
  • The levels are challenging making playing it worth a try
Cons
  • The storyline is not entirely based on the movie or cartoon
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

If you are looking for an action-packed, adventure-filled, and role-playing game, you will love The Legend of Zelda. This game is based on a fantasy world called Hyrule that is inspired by Medieval Europe. Hyrule is a magical world that has elf-like inhabitants. Just like in other worlds, Hyrule has both good and evil characters.

The game follows the journey of a noble character called Link. Link is tasked with saving Princess Zelda from the evil villain, Ganon. To save the Princess, Link has to conquer many obstacles. Many of the obstacles Link faces are life-threatening and seem insurmountable. Fortunately, he receives a lot of help along the way.

As a player in The Legend of Zelda, you will take on the protagonist role of Link. However, you are allowed to change Link’s name.

You will face many challenges in the form of puzzles and/or battles in the conquest to save Zelda. To succeed, you will have to conquer the obstacles encountered in each stage.

Sometimes prevailing over an obstacle with ordinary abilities and/or tools will be difficult. For this reason, you can collect additional abilities and tools in the course of the game.

While saving Princess Zelda is the overarching quest of the game, you can find many side quests to indulge in. These side quests make the game more interesting and also allow you to earn additional abilities. These extra abilities can be used to accomplish your main quest.

The game also comprises of many kingdoms with unique landscapes. As you play, you can expect to unlock different kingdoms and get an opportunity to explore them.

Key Features
  • Action and role playing
  • Multiple landscapes
  • Side quests
  • Overarching story
Pros
  • Interesting theme
  • Various game settings
  • Can take a break from main quest
  • Exciting challenges
Cons
  • Lacks multiplayer mode
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The Legend of Zelda

Improve your mood and social skills with one of the best NES games, Donkey Kong Classics. In the first game, Donkey Kong is the main enemy for having kidnapped Mario’s girlfriend, Pauline. As a player, you will have to control Mario’s moves by jumping over the obstacles and between the gaps or approach the foe.

To win the game, you will require a lot of patience and skills to accurately time Mario’s ascent. You will score points for presenting the game of saving Pauline. Also, you get points for leaping over the obstacles and destroying the objects using a hammer power-up.

You will also be awarded for collecting items such as a hat, getting rid of rivets from platforms, and completing every stage.

In the second game, the tables will turn. The enemy will no longer be the Donkey Kong but Mario. The game also features donkey Kong Jnr who is a hero. Here, Donkey Kong Jnr will try saving his father, who has been kidnapped by Mario. Keep in mind that donkey Kong is in a cage, which has been guarded by Mario.

To start the game, you will have to ensure that donkey Kong Jnr touches the key, which will then move up on the screen. Aside from that, he will also have to climb up the top screen as he avoids the electrical wires. Donkey Kong Classics is indeed one of the most exciting games to break your boredom.

Key Features
  • s both PC and mobile browser
  • 3D donkey Kong game
  • A series of video games
  • Action-adventure video game
Pros
  • Fun to play
  • Great graphics
  • Expansive environment
  • Easy to play
Cons
  • Relatively short
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Donkey Kong Classics

Tecmo Bowl is an NES version that allows two players instead of four as per the arcade version. Arcade is an original version, which can be differentiated by two large monitor cabinets and the ability to break the tackles. The 2D color palette graphics are also more extensive in the arcade than in the NES version.

With the NES version, you can choose between two modes, including one player and two players with a coach. If you select one player mode, then you will have to pick a football team to play against a computer. Once you win, then the machine will choose another team to play, and you will remain with your original choice.

In the two-player mode, you and another human being will play one game. However, you and your partner will select the play in a coach mode, which is not possible in the arched version.

The game was created and released in 1987 by Tecmo. It was successful in both the arcade and 1989 port for the Nintendo system of entertainment. The NES version was the first to feature in the real NFL players.

In the two versions, the playbook consists of only four offensive plays. If you are on defense, you will select a game according to the expectations of the offense’s choice. If you choose correctly, a collapse of the offensive line and covered receivers happen.

Despite the game featuring the names, statistics, and rosters of real NFL players, it limits the extent to which the video game players mimic real-life players. Tecmo Bowl game is easy to play and will always leave you craving for more.

Key Features
  • One or two players
  • Coach mode
  • Team stats and data
  • Cinema screens
Pros
  • Online mode
  • Can edit all players and teams
  • Excellent stylus control
  • Perfect game selection
  • Simple gameplay
Cons
  • Controller cables are short
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Tecmo Bowl

NES officially died in 1995, nine years after its launch. Even after 25 years, however, some loyalists to the Nintendo cause have kept the legacy alive. Some NES developers continue to make and remake originals. Classics that frequented arcades in the ’80s can still be found on modern gaming platforms.

Modern-Day Nintendo

For a lot of developers, NES is a console that they grew up on, and coming up with NES games is a source of fun and curiosity. In 2019, the NES gaming industry shifted more towards a ubiquitous digital model with the likes of EA, Microsoft, and Ubisoft unveiling plans on their subscription services. Some companies and developers, however, want to take a simpler approach.

The design philosophy of the games is to maintain the renowned fun factor. Developers want people to enjoy the game through newer technology while still adding uniqueness to the gameplay. The sound design in the game is a significant aspect that developers highlight. Releases such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have been designed with greater emphasis on nature with an expansive open world with different climates.

Game Tweaks And Emulators

Even with a few tweaks to the originals, gamers still enjoy authentic experiences. Aspects such as speed or storyline give the games the kind of appeal that made them so lovable in the first place, and developers are keen to keep those things. Even though NES hasn’t changed a lot in the last 30 years, memory and board technologies have improved tremendously. These advancements have enabled developers to extract a bit more performance from games.

The emulator software in NES games is a unique feature that helps you get the most out of retro gaming since it comes with external controller , autosave, and some cheat codes to make the gameplay even more enjoyable. There are plenty of reliable NES emulators that are compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. The best part is that these emulators aren’t quite demanding on hardware requirements.

Modern technologies make it possible to emulate games on mobile platforms as well. If you want to try your favorite retro games, some reliable emulators make it possible to run games on iOS and Android devices. , a reputable and reliable emulator is the key to enjoying your gameplay.

With a vast library of over 700 titles, the biggest challenge facing NES enthusiasts is where to start. There’s no need to worry, though. Here is a detailed review of the best NES games you should try out.