How can I tell if an N64 game is authentic?

Open the cartridge and look at the circuit board. N64 cartridges open with a 3.8 mm security bit. Counterfeit N64 cartridges are sold online, so check the board before you pay collector money for a rare game.

Do N64 games work on modern TVs?

The N64 outputs composite video and S-Video, and most games run at 320 x 240. A TV with a composite input can take the console directly. A TV with only HDMI inputs needs an adapter or upscaler.

Why are some N64 games so rare?

Limited distribution and late releases. ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut was a Blockbuster rental exclusive in 1998. Conker's Bad Fur Day reached North America in March 2001, near the end of the console's life, and sold well below expectations.

Do N64 cartridges have batteries that die?

Some do. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Smash Bros. keep their saves with a CR2032 battery inside the cartridge. Other cartridges use EEPROM or flash memory, and some games save to a Controller Pak instead.

What is the Expansion Pak and do I need it?

The Expansion Pak adds 4 MB of RAM, which doubles the N64's memory from 4 MB to 8 MB. Donkey Kong 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask require it, and Perfect Dark needs it for the single-player campaign. Some other games use it for higher resolutions.

The Best N64 Games of All Time

November 20, 2025 Richard Weiss

Last updated: October 6, 2026

Key Takeaways

The Nintendo 64 was released in Japan on June 23, 1996 and reached North America in September 1996. It has four controller ports built in.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) has a 99 Metascore and sits at number 1 on Metacritic's Best Games of All Time list as of October 6, 2026.
Star Fox 64 (1997) was the first N64 game to support the Rumble Pak, which was bundled with early retail copies.
ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut (1998) was a Blockbuster rental exclusive, which is why it is one of the rarest N64 games.
Ocarina of Time and Super Smash Bros. keep their saves with a CR2032 battery inside the cartridge, so ask about the save battery before you buy.

The best N64 games at a glance
The essentials
Best N64 multiplayer games
Rare and collectible N64 games
N64 buying guide
Shop video games
Sources

Our picks for the best N64 games are Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye 007, Star Fox 64, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 64, plus WCW/nWo Revenge, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Paper Mario and ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut for collectors. This list is our picks, not an objective ranking. Where we cite a review score, it is the Metascore shown on Metacritic on October 6, 2026.

The Best N64 Games at a Glance

The year is the first release in any region. Mario Kart 64 and Paper Mario came out in Japan first and reached North America in 1997 and 2001.

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Game	Year	Developer	Why it is on the list
Super Mario 64	1996	Nintendo EAD	The first 3D Super Mario game. Metascore 94.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time	1998	Nintendo EAD	The first 3D Zelda game. Metascore 99.
GoldenEye 007	1997	Rare	Four-player split-screen shooter. Metascore 96.
Star Fox 64	1997	Nintendo EAD	The first N64 game with Rumble Pak support. Metascore 88.
Super Smash Bros.	1999	HAL Laboratory	The first game in the series. Metascore 79.
Mario Kart 64	1996	Nintendo EAD	Four-player races and battle mode. Metascore 83.
WCW/nWo Revenge	1998	Asmik Ace Entertainment and AKI Corporation	AKI's grappling system and a large roster.
Conker's Bad Fur Day	2001	Rare	A late release made for mature audiences. Metascore 92.
Paper Mario	2000	Intelligent Systems	The first Paper Mario role-playing game. Metascore 93.
ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut	1998	Interplay Productions	A Blockbuster rental exclusive.

The Essentials

These four games are where we would start an N64 collection.

1. Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 is the first Super Mario game with 3D graphics. It was one of only two games on sale at the console's United States launch, next to Pilotwings 64. There are 120 Power Stars to collect. Metascore: 94.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time is the first Zelda game in 3D. It introduced a lock-on system called Z-targeting and context-sensitive buttons, which later became common in 3D adventure games. Its 99 Metascore is the highest on Metacritic's Best Games of All Time list as of October 6, 2026.

Collector tip: customers in North America who pre-ordered the game received a Collector's Edition with a gold-colored cartridge.

3. GoldenEye 007

Rare developed this first-person shooter from the 1995 James Bond film, and Nintendo published it in 1997. The multiplayer mode puts up to four players in split-screen deathmatches. Metascore: 96.

4. Star Fox 64

Star Fox 64 is a rail shooter with branching paths, which is where its replay value comes from. It was the first N64 game to support the Rumble Pak, which came bundled with retail copies at first. Metascore: 88.

Best N64 Multiplayer Games

The N64 has four controller ports. These are the cartridges we would have ready when friends come over.

Super Smash Bros.

The first game in the series, developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo in 1999. It has twelve playable characters from Nintendo franchises including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox and Pokémon. Metascore: 79.

Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 64 came out in Japan in December 1996 and in North America in February 1997. Two to four players can race in VS mode or fight in battle mode, which has four arenas. The racers are 2D images on the track, not 3D models. Metascore: 83.

WCW/nWo Revenge

THQ released this wrestling game in 1998. It was developed by Asmik Ace Entertainment and AKI Corporation as the sequel to WCW vs. nWo: World Tour, and it uses AKI's grappling system with a large roster. It was the last WCW game AKI developed for the N64.

Rare and Collectible N64 Games

We do not quote prices for these because they change. Here is why each one is hard to find.

Conker's Bad Fur Day

Rare's platformer was designed for mature audiences, with graphic violence, profanity and a boss called the Great Mighty Poo. It reached North America in March 2001, near the end of the N64's life, and sold well below expectations. It has had a cult following since. Metascore: 92.

Paper Mario

Intelligent Systems developed the first Paper Mario, a role-playing game with turn-based battles. It was released in Japan in August 2000 and in North America on February 5, 2001, another late N64 release. Metascore: 93.

ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut

Interplay released the fighting game ClayFighter 63 1/3 in 1997. The updated version, Sculptor's Cut, followed in 1998 as a Blockbuster rental exclusive. That limited distribution is why it is one of the rarest N64 games.

N64 Buying Guide

Check that the cartridge is authentic

Counterfeit N64 cartridges are sold online. N64 cartridges open with a 3.8 mm security bit, so you can check the circuit board before you pay collector money. We inspect and test every open copy we sell.

Ask about the control stick

Heavy use can make the N64 controller's stick loose, which makes games harder to control. Ask the seller how the stick feels before you buy a used controller.

Know how the game saves

Some N64 cartridges save with battery-backed memory. Ocarina of Time and Super Smash Bros. both use a CR2032 battery. Other cartridges use EEPROM or flash memory, and some games save to a Controller Pak, the memory card that plugs into the controller.

Look at the label and shell

Check the front label for tears and fading and the shell for marker or cracks. Condition is a big part of what a collector pays.

Shop Video Games

Our video games collection changes as stock comes in. On October 6, 2026 it listed one N64 cartridge, Mayhem, next to games for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox. For newer consoles, see our picks for the best Nintendo Switch games and the best PS5 games.