A little while ago the Nintendo Life team voted for its favourite NES games, which included plenty of classics and closely-fought tied positions. Our ultimate winner was Super Mario Bros. 3, and at the end of the feature we promised that you, the community, would have the chance to vote for your own top 10 NES games.
We initially said we'd get back to you within a few days, by which we really meant weeks, but the time has now come. You can choose your 10 favourite NES games and email that list to [email protected] right now. There are very few rules, but bear these points in mind:
- Only vote for 10 games and clearly mark them from number 1 (your favourite) down to number 10. If your list isn't marked clearly, your votes can't be counted.
- There are no limits on multiple games per franchise, though obviously only one vote per individual game.
- You can only vote for games released on and licensed for the NES; this means no mods or homebrew projects.
- Only votes received by email will be counted.
- Votes close at 11:59 UK time on Thursday 18th April, which is 18:59 Eastern, 15:59 Pacific.
And that's it! The results will be published this weekend, so remember to email your clearly marked list to [email protected] to have your say in the Nintendo Life community's NES favourites list.
Comments (102)
@BlackSpy I've never heard of that last game!
From what few NES games I've played:
1) Blaster Master
2) The Legend of Zelda
3) SMB 3
4) Metroid
5) SMB The Lost Levels
6) SMB 2 (US version)
7) Kirby's Adventure
8) SMB
9) Clu Clu Land
10) Donkey Kong
Excitebike
For me, its:
1. Super Mario Bros.
2. Contra
3. Metroid
4. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
5. Blaster Master
I just sent my top 10 in! ^_^
Remember guys, I'm only going to count email votes (to avoid duplicates). By all means share them here for a bit of chat, but remember to email them to [email protected] if you want your picks to count in the final ten
@ThomasBW84 I just sent my list. It has a lot of obvious choices. If you guys haven't already done it, do you think we could do a favorite SNES games list some time in the future?
Hey, does Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels count?
'First Comment' was by far and away the best game on the NES. It really was the beginning of the NES gaming era, and quite a statement of intent by Nintendo.
Mail sent!
1. The Legend of Zelda
2. Super Mario Bros 3
3. Solstice
4. Mega Man 2
5. Earthbound
6. Super Mario Bros.
7. Snake Rattle & Roll
8. The Adventures of Bayou Billy
9. Paperboy
10. Punch-Out
@UnseatingKDawg I don't see why it wouldn't.
1. Megaman 3
2. Super Mario Bros. 3
3. Megaman 5
4. Kirby's Adventure
5. River City Ransom
6. Power Blade
7. TMNT 2
8. The Legend of Zelda
9. Rescue Rangers
10. Ninja Gaiden
@Five-seveN: OK. Just wondering, since I wasn't sure if Famicom games would count. I know they're the same system, but I just wasn't sure if it counted.
@Idroy Earthbound was SNES, though Mother 1 was on NES but only in Japan.
...and no votes for Bubble Bobble
@UnseatingKDawg That counts just fine. It's an NES game released in Japan and eventually the West, and is available in various legal ways
1- CaveMan Games
2- TigerHeli
3- Mario Bros.
4- Super Mario Bros. 3
5- Super Mario Bros.
6- Super Mario Bros. 2
7- DuckTales
8- MegaMan
those are the ones I LOVED as a kid.
those are also the only ones I can remember actually playing all the time when I was a kid.
These next two are now personal favorites:
9- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
10- The Legend of Zelda
@ThomasBW84: Thanks for the info!
This is my list so far. I just need to narrow it down (since there's more than 10) and actually rank whichever 10 I pick:
Dig-Dug
Donkey Kong
Kid Icarus
Kirby's Adventure
Metroid
Pac-Man
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
The Legend of Zelda
Xevious
Really hard to decide, there are so many great nes games. My list changes a bit from time to time but this is how it looks right now
1. Ducktales 2
2. Castlevania 3
3. Ninja Gaiden
4. Little Samson
5. Shatterhand
6. Castlevania
7. Maniac Mansion
8. The legend of Zelda
9. Super Mario Bros 3
10. The Flintstones: The Rescue of Dino & Hoppy
Why only licensed games? some of my favorites are not licensed, Micro Machines, Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy, Crystal Mines, etc...
Anyone remember Faxanadu ?
I think it'll be in my top list !
1. Super Mario Bros 3
2. Super Mario Bros 2
3. eliminator Boat Duel (I bet not many pick this little gem of a game!!!!!)
4. Punchout
5. Ducktales
6. TMNT
7. Megaman 3
8. Megaman 5
9. River city ransom
10.Contra
eliminator Boat Duel
Forgot how much I loved that game
So I guess that means no Tengen games than since they weren't licensed.
I haven't played enough NES games unfortunately but...
1) Mega Man 3
2) Castlevania
3) Dragon Warrior 3
4) Super Mario Bros. 3
5) Dragon Warrior 4
6) Mega Man 2
7) Mega Man
8) The Legend of Zelda
9) Super Mario Bros. 2
10) Balloon Fight
...is about a good rough list of what I can remember.
the problem with this is can teven remember what half the games i had were called.
1-super mario bros
2- duck hunt (almost forgot this one)
3-super mario bros 3
4- balloon fight, got this on the ambassodor program, great game,
5- cant remember the name it was a horizontal version of twin bee
6- whicever mega man i owned
7- zelda II
8- kid icarus, just got this having some fun
9- there was this overhead rts type game, where you controled a tank along with some other units (i believe) i thought it was a command and conquer game, but that doesnt exist so Anyone got any ideas, (im pretty sure it was mostly green and black colours wise)
10-cant think of a tenth one, Galaga i guess even though i ownly had it for psp
so anyone else want duck hunt 3ds? i think it would make a decent eshop game
Days = weeks. Good cover Tom
@SirQuincealot Duck Hunt Wii U over 3DS, but a return either way would be nice
Didn't have many NES games of my own.
10# Double Dragon
Silent Service 2*
Zelda
Megaman
Mario 2
Megaman 3
Megaman 2*
Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers
Mario/Duck Hunt*
1# Mario 3
Forgot to mention Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project!
I've never played Dragon Warrior btw (think it will be good)
10. Wizards and Warriors III (Least favourite)
9. Mega Man 2
8. The Legend of Zelda
7. Castlevania III
6. Battletoads
5. Super Mario Bros.
4. Contra/Probotector
3. Punch Out!!
2. The Legend of Zelda II: Link's Adventure
1. Super Mario Bros. 3 (Favourite)
If the staff are still reading please make a note of the obscure titles, maybe surprising ones or ones long-forgotten. It'll be kool to see the randomness of some of them
@gurtifus I DO and it's def in my top 3
Here's the list I emailed in, figured mario would get enough votes and If it was a top 12 Ducktales and Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers would get in...Was weirdly obsessed with playing a boy and his blob when I was younger by the way...
1. Kidicarus
2. A boy and his blob
3. Little Nemo the dream master
4. Castlevania 3
5. Bubble Bobble
6. Zelda 2
7. Turles
8. Kickle Cubicle
9. Megaman 2
10. Snake Rattle & Roll
1. Super Mario Bros 3
2. Super Mario Bros 2
3. eliminator Boat Duel
4. Little Samson
1.castlevania 3
2.mega man 3
3.mega man 2
4.castlevania 2
5.metroid
6 smb 3
7.::. mega man 6
8.mega man 4
9. batman
10. castlevania
5. mega man 5
damn this phone is hard to use in here..
1. The Legend of Zelda
2. Super Mario Bros 3
3. Super Mario Bros 2
4. Super Mario Bros
5. Kid Icarus
6. Punch Out!!!
7. Kirby's Adventure
8. Zelda 2 : The Adventure of Link
9. Donkey Kong (Yes, the port of the arcade)
10. Golf
(Phew that was tough...I know I forgot some good stuff..I was in a hurry)
No one's gonna mention Metal Gear because it's a port. I put it in my top 10 because I actually played the Nes back in the day, and I never knew about the original one.
For me personally, it goes...
1: Kirby's Adventure
2: Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link
3: Mega Man 3
4: Punch Out
5: Super Mario Bros 3
6: Mega Man 2
7: Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse
8: Balloon Fight
9: Metroid
10: Super Mario Bros 2: The Lost Levels (Kid Icarus instead if Japan only games don't count)
While on the subject of NES games, has anyone else from Europe noticed that the 3 NES Ambassador Titles that were going to support download play have been updated now? Yoshi's a bit meh, but I killed a lot of time with Ice Climber and Balloon Fight recently with my mates.
@CountEkkiM Castlevania 2? The one that was annoyingly boring? wow
1. Dragon Warrior 4
2. Dragon Warrior 2
3. Dragon Warrior
4.Dragon Warrior 3
5.Final Fantasy
6. Super Mario Bros. 3
7. The Legend of Zelda
8.Contra
9. The Punisher
10. Ninja Gaiden
No Uforia love?
I loved it!
1. Super mario bros.
2. Kirby's adventure
3 . Ice hockey
4.Teenage mutant ninja turtles
5. Zelda II
6. Super mario 3
7.punchout
8 anticipation
9 marble madness
10 paperboy
@CowLaunch Nice! xD
@Everyoneelse I wasn't around (video games) in the NES era, so I can't really vote
I've voted but ultimatley Super Mario Bros 3 is a masterpiece and will probably win again. Its deserves the top spot too, best of luck to all games though any 8-bit love is mostwelcome
1. DuckTales
2. Super Mario Bros
3. The Legend of Zelda 2: Adventures of Link
4. Punch-out!!
5. Gargoyle's Quest 2
6. The Legend of Zelda
7. Super Mario Bros 3
8. Megaman 2
9. Pinbot
10. Duck Hunt
1. Legend of Zelda
2. Dragon Warrior 2
3. Bandit Kings of Ancient China
4. Destiny Warriors
5. Super Mario Bros
6. Contra
7. Life Force
8. Super Mario Bros 3.
9. Commando
10. Gyromite
Honorable Mentions
Xardian and Guardian Legend
Wow, I'm seeing no love for some games on my list.
1. Tecmo Super Bowl
2. Battletoads
3. Super Mario 3
4. Mike Tyson's Punchout
5. RC Pro AM
6. Mega Man 2
7. Legend of Zelda
8. Maniac Mansion
9. Super Mario Bros. 2
10. TMNT 2: The Arcade Game
I ranked based on how much I loved them at the time. Historically, I would rank Super Mario Bros in the top 10 NES games, but as a kid, I viewed it as "it's a free game, it's not that good."
1-10. Clash at Demonhead
@BlackSpy did you miss Spy vs Spy from your list? i not played NES Version, but did have it on Sega Master System and ZX Spectrum, a really fun 2 player game.
1. Super mario bros 3
2. Super mario bros 2 [not lost levels]
3. Solar Jetman
4. Legend of Zelda
5. Pinbot
6. Donkey Kong
7. Super Mario Bros
8. Mega Man 2
9. Golf
10. Donkey Kong Jr
Here’s my pick for top 10 NES games:
10. Punch Out! Featuring Mike Tyson
9. Tecmo Bowl
8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2
7. Double Dragon 2
6. Gauntlet
5. Super Mario Bros 3
4. Castlevania 3
3. Bionic Commando
2. Super C
1. The Legend of Zelda
And just a fun bonus, my honorary mentions:
Excitebike
Blades of Steel
Double Dribble
Baseball Stars
Castlevania 1
Contra
T & C Surf Design
Skate or Die
1 Star Tropics
2 Metroid
3 Legend of Zelda
4 Guardian Legend
5 Super Mario 1
6 Dragon Warrior 3
7 Dragon Warrior 4
8 Final Fantasy 1
9 Romance of the Three Kingdoms 2
10 Uncharted Waters
The first five games in my list are the ones I spent probably the most time on. The last five games are the ones that I liked a lot.
01. Contra
02. Super C
03. Rampage
04. Star Soldier
05. Spy Vs. Spy
06. Bubble Bobble
07. Dr. Mario
08. Life Force
09. Shadowgate
10. 1943
@ThomasBW84 Does it have to have ten votes?
@PvtOttobot You can still vote; The NES may have been around before your time but that wouldn't stop you from being able to purchase one to play through some classics you probably haven't tried before. It's really something you should try at some point!
@DarkCoolEdge I wanted to ask the same thing.
This changes all the time but here we go....
1 Tecmo Super Bowl
2. Punchout!!! Featuring Mike Tyson
3. Dragon Warrior IV
4. Super Mario Bros 3
5. Super Mario Bros 2
6. 1943
7. Gunsmoke
8. Contra
9. Jackal
10. Bionic Commando
Honorable mention (just because this is hard): Castlevania, Castlevania III, Life Force, Gradius, Blades of Steel, Ice Hockey, Super Mario Bros, Track & Field, Baseball Simulator 1.000, Track & Field II, Metroid, Double Dragon, Double Dragon II, Battletoads, Ninja Gaiden, Ninja Gaiden II, Ninja Gaiden III, R.C. Pro-Am, Batman, Ducktales, Chip N Dales Rescue Rangers, Adventures of LOLO (all 3), Kid Icarus, The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, Maniac Mansion, Gauntlet, Tetris, Tecmo Bowl, and many more that I am sure I am missing.
EDIT: How could I forget Blaster Master and Spyhunter!!! Nintendolife give Blaster Master some bonus points!
Super Mario Bros 3
Mega Man 2
Gunsmoke
Punch-Out!!
Super Mario Bros
Earthbound
Super Mario Bros 2
Hmmm, I'm working on it...
Edit: I'm just not sure I've played enough NES games enough times, especially ones that I still think are genuinely great (like I still do with pretty much all my favorite SNES games), to make a proper top 10 list to be honest
^^glad to see some Gunsmoke love! and I see someone else above picked Tecmo Super Bowl as number one!!!
Ohh man, I have ton of NES favourite's, but I guess I would go with
1/ Super Mario Bros. 3
2/ Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers
3/ TMNT II: Arcade Game
4/ DuckTales
5/ Contra
6/ CastleVania
7/ Double Dragon II
8/ StarTropics
9/ Super Mario Bros.
10/ Final Fantasy
I think I could have easily made a Top 30 list lol I was a kid when the NES wa around, I love that system
http://retro-sanctuary.com/Top-100-NES-Games-Page-5.html
This list should help anyone who's struggling to think of games like me...
All I did was go to GFAQs and look at the US NES games list. I look at all the names and say, "Oh yeah! I remember that game! It was good!" and write it on my list.
@Donjwolf
Yeah, that works too
@Nintendojuenger - Yes, I got it from Australia, only took 6 months to actually find someone in Australia that was willing to sell it to someone in the USA... had to pay someone like 4 times the price just to get it... just wait until those guys want some of our USA exclusives!
@PopeReal Hey sickle, you did send in the e-mail form right...? Just making sure.
Oh crap, thanks! haha
1) Super C
2) Super C
3) Super C
4) Super C
etc........
@hydeks Yes! Cn'D is an awesome NES game!
I really hope it gets remade just like Ducktales is.
1- Castlevania 3
2- Castlevania
3- Super C
4- Contra
5- Super Mario Bros
6- Super Mario Bros 3
7- Adventure Island 2
8- Adventure Island 3
9- Duck Tales
10- Chip & Dale
ohh I just vote forgot batletoads!
1. The Legend of Zelda
2. Super Mario Bros.
3. Super Mario Bros. 3
4. Contra
5. Punch-Out!!
6. The Guardian Legend
7. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
8. Dragon Warrior III
9. Metroid
10. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
1. Super Mario Bros. 3
2. Super Mario Bros.
3. Mega Man 3
4. Mega Man 2
5..River City Ransom
6. Duck Tales
7. Little Nemo: The Dream Master
8. Kirby Adventure
9. Punch-out!!
10. Zelda II: Adventure Of Link
Super Mario Bros.
The Legend of Zelda
Castlevaina
you guys know that the voting isn't here right? you have to e-mail it...
^Shhhhh...the less votes get to them, the more likely our picks will win!
@SteveW pass
My honorable mentions:
11) Contra
12) Kid Icarus
13) Metroid
14) Kirby's Adventure
15) River City Ransom
16) Castlevania 3
17) Super Mario Bros. 3
EDIT: I can't believe I brainfarted and forgot to include Castlevania...instead I voted for Final Fantasy...too late, now...
Doesn't look like any of my choices will win, aside from Contra and maybe Super C.
@vikingscool good to see some more little nemo appreciation on here!
Not in any order:
SMB
SMB2
SMB3
punch out
legend of zelda
contra
kirby's adventure
super c
Donkey kong (original edition)
Gargoyles quest 2 (looks like it would be one of my favs)
Balloon fight
(could be more but I forget)
@ThatTrueEvil I think Contra should be first
1. Super Mario Bros
2. Super Mario Bros 3
3. Mike Tyson's Punch Out
4. Super Mario Bros 2
5. Super Tecmo Bowl
6. Blades of Steel
7. Double Drible
8. The Legend of Zelda
9. Baseball Stars
10. Double Dragon
you have to email them? well thats most likely going to shorten the list of applicable responses to this thread. just posting it here makes alot more sense (although probably makes for a really really long thread).
clash at demonhead
I emailed mine. I stayed away from the obvious picks and highlighted some underrated titles like Little Samson, Rockin' Kats, and TMNT3 that never get appreciated despite being classics.
My Top 10 NES List Is As Follows:
1. Final Fantasy
2. Dragon Warrior 3
3. Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Edition
4. Super Mario Brothers 3
5. Bible Adventures
6. Mega Man 6
7. Mission: Impossible
8. The Rocketeer
9. The Three Stooges
10. Willow
1. Bionic Commando
2. Duck Tales
3. Contra
4. Mega Man 3
5. Mike Tyson's Punch Out
6. Contra
7. Metal Storm
8. Baseball Stars
9. Super Mario Brothers
10. Super Mario Brothers 3
Honorable mentions:
Ninja Gaiden 2
Wizard & Warriors
Dr. Mario
1. Super Mario Bros 3
2. Super Mario Bros
3. Zelda II: The Adventures of Link
4. Ninja Gaiden
5. Super C
6. Wizards & Warriors
7. Double Dragon II
8. Ninja Gaiden II
9. Tetris
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The arcade game
Wow so many memories. Also so many notable mentions. I can't list them all
10 Punch out!!!!
9 Super mario bros. 3
8 Contra
7 Kid Icarus
6 Gargoyle's quest 2
5 Batman
4 Castlevania
3 Super C
2 Megaman 3
1 Mother
The mother trilogy will always be my favorite games ever!!!!!!
Lol I knew no one else would mention Eliminator Boat Duel!!
It's getting quite rare now!! I ask you guys to give it a whirl on emulator (just to see how good it was for a 1980's game ) it's a bit like Micro machines
smb3
10) Faxanadu
9) Trog
8) Super Mario Bros.2 (Doki Doki Panic)
7) Rad Racer
6) Super Mario Bros 3
5) Earthbound Zero (Mother 1)
4) Final Fantasy
3) Zelda II: the Adventures of Link
2) The Legend of Zelda
1) Final Fantasy III
@niner,
You listed Contra twice.
My "honest" list:
1. Tetris
2. Super Mario Bros. 3
3. Mega Man 2
4. Donkey Kong
5. Super Mario Bros.
6. Donkey Kong Jr.
7. Blades of Steel
8. Battletoads
9. Duck Hunt
10. Double Dragon
Honorable Mention:
Shadowgate
1. Shatterhand
2. Castlevania
3. Duck Hunt
4. Gauntlet
5. Super Mario Bros. 3
6. Gradius
7. Power Blade
8. Sword Master
9. Gyruss
10. Punch-Out!!
will they announce the results already? I'm so curious!
I know I'm kinda late but I couldn't resist. <3
1. Crystalis
2. Star Tropics
3. Super Mario Brothers 3
4. Snake's Revenge
5. The Legend of Zelda
6. Solar Jetman
7. Maniac Mansion
8. Metroid
9. Contra
10. Ninja Gaiden
@mario-gek I'm wondering if the results are ever even going to be released. It's been months.
I think they forgot, but I hope they will remember this soon. I wanna know the results. I want to know whether my votes won. Super Mario Bros? Double Dragon? Excitebike? Donkey Kong? Who won!? Come on Nintendolife, we wanna know!
1.Super Mario Bros.3
2.Super Mario Bros.
3.The Legend of Zelda
4.Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
5.Super Mario Bros.2
6.Zelda 2;The Adventures of Link
7.Metroid
8.Mega Man 2
9.Catlevania 3;Dracula's Curse
10.Tetris
11.Dr. Mario
12.Contra
13.Code Name;Viper
14.Final Fantasy
15.Dragon Warrior
16.Duck Hunt
17.Castlevania
18.Castlevania 2;Simon's Quest
19.Baseball Stars
20.The Black Bass
Honorable Mentions
It's official...they're never gonna release the results (maybe by saying this I'll spur them to do it).
...All hope has been lost. They'll never tell us. And I wanted to know so bad, even though my favourites list has changed in the meanwhile (only shows how long it has been)...
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