10. Tetris (NES)

The Game Boy version of this video gaming titan might be the most iconic — and certainly more convenient to play when you're out and about — but the ability to relax with Russia's premier block-faller on your TV wasn't to be sniffed at, either. Some prefer the Tengen version, which disappeared from stores soon after release due to a licensing snafu, but this non-controversial port is also a winner.

It's Tetris, just on the NES. 'Nuff said, really. There's no shortage of ways to play Tetris, but this very first Nintendo-developed home console version was never re-released.

9. Super Mario Bros. (NES)

So much of the foundation of the series — and the medium of video games at large — was put down in Super Mario Bros. that it's tough to evaluate all these years later without considering its historical importance. This game, perhaps more than any other, has passed into the popular cultural consciousness and would go on to influence countless developers since 1985. Artifacts like this delineate epochs; when it comes to video games, there was 'Before SMB' and 'After SMB'.

Going back after all Mario's other 2D adventures shows that it has aged, naturally, and it doesn't control quite as tightly as the Super Mario Bros. theme in the Mario Maker games. But it's still the original and, some would say, the best. Not us, but some.

You've played this many, many times before, no doubt, and you'll play it many, many times again. Good game.

8. Kirby's Adventure (NES)

Kirby's Adventure is a vibrant masterclass of NES platforming whether you've got the 3D slider set to max in the 3D Classics version on 3DS or you're enjoying it old-school-style with just the two dimensions on NES or as part of the Nintendo Switch Online NES library offering. It's a high point in the pink puffball's illustrious career and its 8-bit visuals still look great all these years later. Even if you don't consider yourself a Kirby fan, this adventure will win you over. You might say... it sucks you in.

7. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES)

After the deviation that was Simon's Quest, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse returns to the level-by-level approach seen in the 1986 original, but evolves the concept in every conceivable way. There are now four characters to control – Simon Belmont's ancestor Trever, female magic-user Sypha Belnades, pirate Grant Danasty and Alucard, the half-vampire, half-human son of Dracula himself. Trevor can switch to one of these companions during a level and benefit from their unique powers. This adds to the gameplay considerably, as does the fact that your path through the game branches in places, offering plenty of replay value. Add in some of the best visuals and music ever seen in a NES game, and it's easy to see why so many Castlevania fans consider Dracula's Curse to be the pinnacle of the series, at least in terms of the more 'traditional' entries before Symphony of the Night shook things up in 1997.

6. Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (NES)

A boxing game that's not really a boxing game, Punch-Out!! is all about reading your opponent's tells and timing your dodges and responses. So maybe it's the perfect boxing game, then? Regardless, it's a great game that's brimming with colourful characters — outrageous comical stereotypes that wouldn't fly these days — and challenging Mr. Dream (or Mike Tyson) to a duel should be on every NES fan’s bucket list. Fight!

5. Mega Man 3 (NES)

Mega Man 3 was one of the shining jewels in the NES library — a catalogue that's certainly not wanting for sparklers. If we're really searching for imperfections, a touch of slowdown, a glitchy weapon and some careless level design arguably takes the shine off this when compared directly to its predecessor. Then again, MM3 added the slide move and Rush, the titular character's robo-Good Boi.

For our money, arguing between Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 is much like debating between Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World — they're two sides of the same coin and both utterly essential.

4. Contra (NES)

Known as Probotector in Europe — where it arrived two years after its release in North America and Japan with Bill and Lance replaced by robots RD008 and RC011 — Contra is run-and-gun royalty from Konami. Arriving just one year after the arcade original's debut, it brought all the shirt-ripping '80s action of the coin-op to Nintendo's console and gave gamers a cracking two-player game to blast through at home. Classic stuff and no mistake, whether you're rocking metal or muscle.

3. The Legend of Zelda (NES)

What is there left to say about The Legend of Zelda? The game that started it all holds up well, although be prepared to explore and really work for the answers to puzzles here. A modern game would never ask you to try setting random bushes alight to reveal a hidden passageway without signalling it with a huge neon 'SECRET HERE!' sign. The Legend of Zelda trusted the player and had faith in its own strengths enough to let you miss things. It was a very unique prospect back in 1987, offering an unparalleled sense of adventure, clever combat mechanics, and a world ripe for exploration. Decades later, developers of titles big and small are still borrowing from it.

A landmark game that still feels fresh. Definitely worth revisiting.

2. Mega Man 2 (NES)

Mega Man 2 is the textbook example of a sequel done right; perfectly, in fact. It retains the best features of the first game, tightens up the physics, retools the enemy AI, and adds a slew of new features and challenges. Its front-to-back brilliant soundtrack doesn't hurt, either. What else is there to say? It's an absolute all-time classic — one of the finest 8-bit games ever made — and if you only play one Mega Man game (er, why would you do that?)... you should probably toss a coin to decide between this or its sequel.

1. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

As toweringly important as the original Super Mario Bros. was, Super Mario Bros. 3 was a colossal leap forward in practically every way. It refined the basics, switched up the visuals, and added more mechanical variety and one-and-done elements than any video game to that point — so many that even today there are certain suits, stages, and secrets that many fans never found.

So many ‘old’ games are best approached with historical context in mind, or come with caveats when playing them years after release, but SMB3 needs none. It's just as boundingly inventive and fresh as the day it was released, and easily one of the very finest video games ever made. Play it, now.

Super Mario Bros 3 NES
Image: Nintendo Life

So there we are: the top 50 NES (and Famicom) games of all time, as ranked by you lovely people.

Remember, you can still rate any games you like even after publication, and there's every chance they could show up in the rankings above — this is an ever-changing list that reflects the User Ratings assigned each game in the Nintendo Life game database. A minimum of 25 User Ratings are needed for a game to become eligible — once that minimum is achieved, it's game on.

Is a game missing from our database that you think has a genuine shot at the top 50? Drop us a line in the comments and we'll see about adding it.