10 Best NES Games of All Time of 2026

Super Mario Bros. 3 is our answer to the best NES game ever made. Nintendo's own description sets it up: Bowser and his kids turn the kings of the Mushroom World into animals and steal their wands, and Mario and Luigi head out across eight huge worlds to fix it. The power-ups are the reason players still argue for it, with Raccoon Mario flying, Frog Mario swimming, Fire Mario throwing fireballs and Tanooki Mario turning into a statue that enemies cannot hurt. Two players can share the game cooperatively or compete. For collectors, it is also the best value among the big names here: a used cartridge lists at $39.99 at DKOldies before sales. Players without an NES can play it through the Nintendo Switch Online NES library. The weak spots are minor: the later worlds are tough for children, and sale prices move around. For a first NES game, buy this one.

The Legend of Zelda ranks second because no other NES game gives players so much world to explore. Nintendo's page describes the setup simply: the heroic Link sets out through Hyrule and has to recover the eight fragments of the Triforce to save Princess Zelda, using a sword, a shield and his wits. Along the way there are puzzle dungeons and a large number of secrets, and Nintendo notes that ideas introduced here still appear in Zelda games decades later. Collectors usually want the gold cartridge, which DKOldies lists at $69.99 before sales, so it costs nearly twice as much as Super Mario Bros. 3. The game is also in the Nintendo Switch Online NES library for players who just want to play. The catch for newcomers is direction: the game tells you very little, and many players keep a map open. If you like finding your own way, it is the best adventure on the console.

Metroid takes third place for its mix of action and exploration, which Nintendo calls the series' trademark. As bounty hunter Samus Aran, you go into the depths of planet Zebes to stop the Space Pirates, who have taken the Metroids, and their leader Mother Brain. The game opens up as you find items: Nintendo's page names the Morph Ball for reaching tight gaps and power-ups such as the Ice Beam, Varia Suit and Screw Attack. That loop of finding an upgrade and returning to a blocked path is why so many later games are compared to it. A used cartridge lists at $45.99 at DKOldies, which makes it one of the better values among Nintendo's own titles here. It is also on Nintendo Switch Online. Be ready for an older design, though: the maze is large and the game explains little, so new players should plan to sketch their own map.

Kirby's Adventure is the friendliest game on the list. Nintendo calls it the only Kirby game ever made for the NES and credits it with introducing Kirby's ability to copy the powers of his enemies. Swallow a foe and Kirby can fire lasers, burst into flames or swing a giant mallet, and some powers combine with unexpected results. Add in minigames and secrets and there is a lot to see. That variety and the gentle difficulty earn it high marks for ease of setup, especially for children. Value pulls it down: the cartridge lists at $59.99 at DKOldies before sales, more than Metroid or Super Mario Bros. 3. Players who only want to play can find it in the Nintendo Switch Online NES library. Veteran players may finish it quickly, but for a family NES shelf it is the easiest recommendation here.

Mega Man 2 is the highest ranked game not published by Nintendo. Capcom does not sell it on its own anymore, but it is one of the original six Mega Man games in Mega Man Legacy Collection, which Capcom describes as faithful reproductions with the 8-bit style and an HD finish. The collection adds a Challenge Mode that remixes segments from all six games and a Museum Mode with history, high-res art and concept pieces. At $14.99 on Steam for six games, it is the cheapest legal way to play Mega Man 2 on this list. Collectors pay more: the used cartridge lists at $64.99 at DKOldies before sales, more than Metroid or Super Mario Bros. 3. The game rewards practice, with precise jumps and boss fights, which is why it scores a little lower on ease of setup than the Nintendo picks. If you want one action game that tests your reflexes, this is it.

Punch-Out is the best value on the list. Nintendo describes it as a fight card for a small boxer, Little Mac, against opponents like the fragile-jawed Glass Joe, Soda Popinski and the Hollywood heavyweight Super Macho Man, with trainer Doc Louis in his corner and Mario as the referee. You win by reading each rival and finding the weak spot with jabs, body blows, hooks and uppercuts. That makes every fight a short puzzle, which is why the game works well in five minute sessions. The Punch-Out cartridge lists at $37.99 at DKOldies, the lowest price here. Collectors should know there are two versions: the Mike Tyson's Punch-Out cartridge lists at $69.99, and Nintendo Switch Online carries the Featuring Mr. Dream edition. Both play the same way apart from the final opponent. It scores lower on capabilities than the adventures above because it is one player and one mode, but few NES games are this easy to pick up.

Castlevania earns its place as the start of Konami's vampire series. Konami sells it today in Castlevania Anniversary Collection, which it describes as tracing the origins of the franchise and the fight against Dracula. The collection holds Castlevania, Castlevania II Simon's Quest and Castlevania III Dracula's Curse, plus Super Castlevania IV, the two Game Boy entries, Bloodlines and Kid Dracula, along with an eBook of developer and artist details. At $19.99 on Steam, that is a good deal for players who want the NES original legally. The used cartridge lists at $54.99 at DKOldies before sales. The game asks for practice against Dracula's forces, which is why it scores lower on ease of setup than the Nintendo picks. For players who enjoy a stiff challenge in a gothic setting, it still holds up.

DuckTales is the light-hearted pick. Capcom sells it today in The Disney Afternoon Collection, where you hunt for treasure around the globe as Scrooge McDuck. The collection includes six games, including DuckTales 2, Darkwing Duck and TaleSpin, and adds Boss Rush and Time Attack modes with online leaderboards, a Rewind feature that helps newcomers recover from mistakes, and filtering options that recreate a retro look. At $19.99 on Steam, it is an inexpensive legal way to play. The original cartridge lists at $49.99 at DKOldies, labeled Disney's Duck Tales. The game is shorter and more forgiving than Mega Man 2 or Castlevania, which helps its ease score, and the Disney cast makes it easy to share with children. It ranks below those two because there is less to it, but for a weekend afternoon it is one of the most likeable cartridges on the system.

Contra is the best two-player game on the list. Konami sells it today in Contra Anniversary Collection, which it describes as a run and gun series where you grab power-ups and blast through waves of enemies and bosses that test your reflexes, alone or with a friend. The collection includes both the North American and Japanese NES versions of Contra, Super C, Contra III and Contra Hard Corps, plus a digital Bonus Book with concept documents and an interview with the series producer. It costs $19.99 on Steam. Collectors pay much more: the used cartridge lists at $69.99 at DKOldies before sales, tied with the gold Zelda as the most expensive here, which is the main reason it ranks last on value. Konami's page also says the games will put your reaction skills to the test and hints that you will want the famous code for extra lives. For two players who want pure action, nothing on the NES beats it.

Final Fantasy is the only full role-playing game on the list and the start of Square Enix's best-known series. In Square Enix's words, the light in four Crystals has been lost, and the Warriors of Light set out to restore their power and save the world. You switch between classes to build your party and travel by airship and other vessels. The used cartridge lists at $48.99 at DKOldies before sales. Square Enix sells a Pixel Remaster on Steam at $11.99 with redrawn 2D graphics, a rearranged soundtrack overseen by Nobuo Uematsu, auto-battle, and options to switch off random encounters or change the experience multiplier. That makes the remaster far easier to finish than the cartridge, but it is not the NES original, so purists should buy the cart. Turn-based combat and the original cartridge's lack of those options hold its ease score down. For RPG fans, it is where the series began.