5 Classic Nintendo 64 Games That Still Hold Up Today

Launched in 1996, the Nintendo 64 marked a huge technological leap forward for Nintendo and the greater video game industry. The console made 3D gameplay possible in a way that Nintendo had never employed before, while the console doubled down on local multiplayer and other peripheral features. Many of Nintendo’s classic franchises were revamped through the technical advances on the N64 hardware,while other series got their start on the console. Some of these beloved titles don’t hold up decades later, but many of N64’s fan-favorites retain their appeal.

We’re looking at the games that have maintained their sheer fun factor, with their older technical presentations holding a timeless quality. From the console’s earliest titles to the games that pushed the N64 to its limits, there are plenty of games that are still wholly enjoyable. As an added bonus, all the games that we’re mentioning here are available to play in some capacity on modern platforms.

Here are five classic Nintendo 64 games that still hold up today and are worth revisiting.

Super Mario 64

The flashiest launch title released alongside the Nintendo 64 was “Super Mario 64,” one of the best “Super Mario” games of all time. The game provides another twist on Mario trying to rescue Peach from the fiendish Bowser, but it ditches the typical side-scrolling perspective for a full 3D platforming experience. Every world contains numerous objectives in order to obtain Power Stars to progress, and Mario himself is given a variety of new moves to help him on his quest. This is punctuated by showdowns against Bowser in the act breaks, putting players’ skills to the test.

It’s hard to understate how big of a deal “Super Mario 64” was when it debuted in 1996, with fans seeing and controlling the iconic character like never before. Many 3D platformers followed in the game’s wake, but few could match the quality of the Nintendo title. And in giving the character and environmental designs a more cartoonish depiction rather than an attempt at realism, the game’s presentation has aged marvelously too. Still one of the best 3D Mario games 30 years later, “Super Mario 64” is an enduring showcase for what the Nintendo 64 was capable of.

Mario Kart 64

Of all the spin-off games from the “Super Mario” series, one of the most popular is “Mario Kart,” which began on the Super Nintendo. “Mario Kart 64” debuted within the Nintendo 64’s first year, revamping the spin-off series considerably from a visual standpoint. The game features the usual classic roster of characters but plunges them onto more immersive tracks, from the cosmic Rainbow Road to the chaotic Toad’s Turnpike. Nintendo also updates the series’ usual battle mode, with up to four players able to go head-to-head in special stages designed to heighten the frenetic action.

“Mario Kart 64” is one of the best retro racing games of all time, regardless of what platform it was initially released on. This distinction comes from imaginatively designed tracks, a memorable original score, and an effective implementation of the console’s multiplayer capabilities. What “Mario Kart 64” brings to the table that its follow-ups have trouble recapturing is a visibly fun personality permeating through the characters, the tracks, and the overall experience. Still one of the best “Mario Kart” games ever made, “Mario Kart 64” is arguably the greatest racing title on the Nintendo 64.

GoldenEye 007

While movie tie-in games understandably get a bad rap, James Bond has a relatively decent track record when it comes to games based on the property. This really started with 1997’s “GoldenEye 007,” which offers a retelling of the 1995 movie, with Bond confronting a friend-turned-foe in the aftermath of the Cold War. But as fun as the single-player campaign is, the real highlight is the game’s four-person multiplayer mode. With a variety of ways to play, different weapon loadouts, and memorable stages, the game’s multiplayer is one of the ultimate party experiences on the Nintendo 64.

There are some people who think “GoldenEye 007” has aged poorly, but I completely disagree with that assessment. Revisiting the game when it was finally released on Xbox Game Pass and Nintendo Switch Online, I still found it thoroughly joyous to play. Yes, the presentation is a bit dated, specifically with its character models, but the actual gameplay and variety in weapons is solid. James Bond is eternal, and “GoldenEye 007” is still one of the best games based on the character nearly 30 years later.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

“The Legend of Zelda” has been a constant on virtually every major Nintendo platform and the Nintendo 64 was no different. 1998’s “Ocarina of Time” officially brought the beloved franchise into a fully 3D experience, giving fans their most immersive iteration of its fantasy realm at that time. The game’s story is a retelling of the iconic hero Link confronting the evil Ganondorf for the fate of Princess Zelda and their kingdom of Hyrule. This involves an epic adventure that includes time travel and venturing into temples based on the elements to battle fearsome bosses.

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” is one of those games that proved 1998 was the best year in gaming. The game feels even more ambitious than “Super Mario 64” had, providing a more richly imagined world and truly rousing battles. This was elevated by not only its technical presentation but an innovative combat system that made fighting in 3D feel more naturally intuitive. Nintendo is prepping an “Ocarina of Time” remake for the Switch 2 this year, so it’ll be interesting to see how faithful it sticks to the 1998 masterpiece.

Perfect Dark

There’s always been a debate surrounding whether “GoldenEye 007” or its spiritual successor “Perfect Dark” is the best first-person shooter on the Nintendo 64. We’re going to sidestep that discourse entirely and just include both games here because they both truly retain their appeal. Also developed by Rare, the game takes place in a near-future where covert operative Joanna Dark uncovers an extraterrestrial plot to subjugate humanity. The game’s multiplayer modes are even more impressive, including the ability to add bots with differing personalities and completely customize matches.

Appropriately enough given its title, “Perfect Dark” is one of the few near-perfect games according to Metacritic. The game really pushes the N64 hardware as far as it can go, benefitting significantly from the Expansion Pak peripheral to boost the console’s virtual memory. The game was remastered for modern platforms in 2010, wisely avoiding making major changes to the experience. An early 2000s game that aged better than expected, “Perfect Dark” is one of the last great games released for the N64.