The Nintendo 64 (also known as N64) was one of the most popular consoles of its era, with the PS1 being its main rival.
With so many magnificent game franchises and series, this console was extremely popular back then.
For those of you who have played this console in the past, I bet you want to know the best N64 games of all time.
And some of you may already know some of the games mentioned in this list.
#25. Mario Tennis
- Release Data: Camelot Software Planning/Nintendo, 2000
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Tennis
With Mario Tennis, the portly plumber proved once again that he can make any sport more entertaining.
The 64-bit entry, conversely, is a pure, unspoiled Mario Tennis experience and one of Mario’s best outings with a racket.
All in all, a fun, frantic game and an absolute blast to play with friends.
#24. Madden NFL 99
- Release Data: EA Tiburon/EA Sports, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
The control is great, the AI is great, and of course, the graphics are well done.
The game gives you everything you could ever want on the features side, plus the ability to change them.
And with the addition of franchise mode, which allows you to play season after season, football gamers can play Madden 99 for a long time.
#23. F-Zero X
- Release Data: Nintendo, 1998
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Futuristic
In the grand scheme of things, F-Zero X will probably appeal to older gamers more, who want pure racing over arcade frills and still have a soft spot for the original F-Zero.
If you can look beyond presentation, you will easily fall in love with the smooth gameplay, insane speed and great four-player mode.
#22. All-Star Baseball 2000
- Release Data: Iguana Entertainment/Acclaim, 1999
- Genre: Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim
There is a total of four different game modes to play in—exhibition, season, play-off, and home run derby.
Overall, All-Star Baseball 2000 is a refined version of the previous year’s game.
However, the new features and refinements totally add up; they make picking up All-Star Baseball 2000 a must for every N64-owning baseball fan.
#21. Diddy Kong Racing
- Release Data: Rare Ltd./Nintendo, 1997
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
What initially appears to be yet another cutesy Mario Kart clone aimed at kids not only manages to successfully differentiate itself from its main source of inspiration, but also provides a surprisingly engrossing and stubborn challenge.
There are a few forgettable characters and the environments are perhaps somewhat generic, but Diddy Kong Racing still comes highly recommended.
#20. Paper Mario
- Release Data: Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, 2001
- Genre: Role-Playing » Japanese-Style
With stunning graphics, excellent sound, and extremely solid gameplay, Paper Mario is a quality game on all fronts.
The sprite-based graphics combined with classic Mario gameplay make this a must-own for any Mario lover, and the simplified RPG system makes this a compelling game for both RPG fans and non-fans alike.
#19. Rayman 2: The Great Escape
- Release Data: Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft, 1999
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 3D
With a wonderfully humorous story, excellent game mechanics, and perfection in almost all other categories, there is no way Ubisoft could have done a better job with Rayman 2 on the N64.
A truly excellent game on all fronts, Rayman 2 proves that sometimes you have to take a little time to do something right.
#18. Blast Corps
- Release Data: Rare Ltd./Nintendo, 1997
- Genre: Action » General
The mixture of puzzle-based and time-limited gameplay provides a unique challenge that even the most veteran gamers will find incredibly testing at times.
The end result is absolutely smashing; if you’re an N64 enthusiast, there’s certainly no excuse for not having this brilliant game in your collection.
#17. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
- Release Data: Iguana Entertainment/Acclaim, 1998
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
It’s a visually stunning experience, where the high-quality graphics and an astonishing amount of detail constantly surprise you.
The unusual setting and multiplayer mode may not be to everyone’s tastes, and it’s rather choppy in terms of performance, but nevertheless Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is quite possibly the best third-party effort ever released for Nintendo 64.
#16. Star Fox 64
- Release Data: Nintendo, 1997
- Genre: Action » Shooter » Rail
There’s a lot of enjoyable battling as you weave about the screen, taking out enemies and avoid colliding with obstacles in Star Fox 64.
But the main reason to return to this cinematic on-rails shooter is that it’s still a total delight.
#15. Excitebike 64
- Release Data: Left Field Productions/Nintendo, 2000
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
All told, Excitebike 64 is an excellent rebirth of the Excitebike franchise.
The gameplay is arcade-like, the visuals aren’t perfect, but they are stunning nonetheless.
Most importantly, the game is both fun and addicting, giving oldsters and youngsters alike a chance to revel in the glory that is Excitebike.
#14. Beetle Adventure Racing
- Release Data: Paradigm Entertainment/Square EA, 1999
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Beetle Adventure Racing is a great deal of fun.
It’s an excellent game, whatever genre or sub-genre you try to classify it in, and its flaws don’t drag it down nearly as much as they might sound.
This game is not to be missed and highly recommended.
#13. International Superstar Soccer 64
- Release Data: KCEO/Konami, 1997
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Sim
Like every soccer game in that era, International Superstar Soccer 64 follows the model that FIFA set—fast 3D graphics, a choice of camera angles, and real stadium sounds.
So, in short, International Superstar Soccer 64 offers just about everything FIFA 64 did. It just does it slightly better.
#12. Conker’s Bad Fur Day
- Release Data: Rare Ltd./THQ, 2001
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 3D
The bottom line is, this title is a spectacularly creative, wonderfully satisfying 3D action-platformer that shines with Nintendo’s very best.
Basically, a game that is likely to be cherished by Nintendo 64 owners and copied by developers for years to come.
#11. 1080: TenEighty Snowboarding
- Release Data: Nintendo, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
1080 Snowboarding is the best snowboarding game around.
And if it weren’t for the slowdown caused by the trees, the graphics would be perfect.
Innovative level design and gameplay that requires skill and rewards you for seeing your death-defying tricks through to completion add up to one of the best values in both sports and racing gaming.
#10. NFL Blitz
- Release Data: Midway, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Arcade
NFL Blitz is the best football game ever made.
Unless you’re one of those freaks that requires hyperrealism in every facet of your football games, there’s no need to buy any other football game.
Even those of us that despise traditional sports games aren’t immune to Blitz‘s incredible performance.
#9. Wave Race 64
- Release Data: Nintendo, 1996
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
It’s a game with simple controls that work well, combining with effective sound effects and great water physics to immerse you in the action as you speed around the various courses.
Throw in the ability to race a friend in the two-player mode and Wave Race 64 is a game that comes highly recommended.
#8. Banjo-Tooie
- Release Data: Rare Ltd./Nintendo, 2000
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 3D
Like the original game, Banjo-Tooie is one of those games that invades your subconscious and beckons you to return and play.
The challenging breadth of the adventure, the richly detailed graphics, varied gameplay, and multiplayer mode all fuse into one amazingly fun experience.
Banjo-Tooie is simply one of the greatest 3D platformers ever.
#7. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
- Release Data: Nintendo, 2000
- Genre: Action Adventure » Open-World
Many would argue that this title is superior to Ocarina of Time in almost every way, and that it rightly deserves to be regarded as the pinnacle of the series instead.
As such, if you haven’t played this game, you’re missing out on a truly amazing experience.
#6. Banjo-Kazooie
- Release Data: Rare Ltd./Nintendo, 1998
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 3D
If you were a fan of Mario 64, then it’s pretty apparent that you’re going to like Banjo-Kazooie as well.
Banjo-Kazooie may be a Mario clone, but that isn’t exactly a bad thing. In fact, it’s a pretty good thing.
In a world filled with mediocre N64 games, it’s nice to see a truly great game on the system.
#5. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
- Release Data: Edge of Reality/Activision, 2000
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is a game for skaters and non-skaters alike.
It would have been nice to see some more variety in the game’s tricks, but as it stands, THPS is an outstanding game and an excellent port of the PlayStation original, and it’s a worthy addition to anyone’s collection.
#4. Perfect Dark
- Release Data: Rare Ltd./Nintendo, 2000
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
Perfect Dark was once amazing and as it turns out is still amazing, even though the genre has changed quite a bit since it was originally released in 2000.
However, Perfect Dark proves to still have what it takes to be a really fun shooter for solo gamers and especially great with friends.
#3. GoldenEye 007
- Release Data: Rare Ltd./Nintendo, 1997
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
The game is brilliant in both the single-player mode, opening up new weapons each time a difficulty level is cleared, and in multiplayer mode, making it the best multiplayer game on the system.
In fact, we can say with a clear conscience that GoldenEye 007 is the best single-player first-person game on the N64.
#2. Super Mario 64
- Release Data: Nintendo, 1996
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 3D
Mario emerged into the 3D realm fully-formed and exceptionally well-realized.
And with realms so vast and detailed, and yet so graphically clean and simple, one instinctively wants to go exploring.
Super Mario 64 was a momentous achievement, and one that still feels fresh decades on. It is highly recommended.
#1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Release Data: Nintendo, 1998
- Genre: Action Adventure » Open-World
The game takes everything that was great about the Zelda series and somehow manages to bring it all into a 3D world.
In short, Ocarina of Time is honestly as close to video game perfection as you can get and an absolute must-play for any video game fan.
Browse N64 Games By Genre
See also: Best SNES Games & Best GBC Games
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which N64 game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!