Let’s Talk N64 Memories
You either bought it and cherished it forever... or regretted the decision instantly. That was the N64 gamble. For every iconic title that delivered hours of joy, there was a dud that barely lasted you through the weekend. Although the console was discontinued almost 25 years ago, its vibrant library of games still leaves us with lasting memories (both good and bad). Let's take a look at some of the best and worst experiences the console had to offer.
Frédéric BISSON from Rouen, France on Wikimedia
1. Super Mario 64
Few games have ever felt so instantly right. Mario’s smooth leap into 3D reshaped expectations overnight. The castle hub and vibrant worlds gave players freedom like never before. Kids raced each other to collect stars, and adults marveled at the design. It was revolutionary, not just memorable.
2. The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
“Hey! Listen!” might haunt your memories, but so will everything else about this masterpiece—in a good way. Hyrule expanded in real-time, and players followed Link through time and tragedy. The storytelling matured, and the combat refined. This was the standard every adventure aspired to match.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D - Full Game (100%) by NintendoCentral
3. GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007 brought multiplayer shooters to consoles in a way no game had before. Players loved the mission variety and local deathmatches. Despite being a licensed title, it exceeded expectations and became a defining experience for the Nintendo 64.
GoldenEye 007 - Playthrough 00 Agent by Graslu00
4. Banjo-Kazooie
In Banjo-Kazooie, every corner held something new, from Mumbo’s spells to hidden jiggies waiting to be uncovered. The music lingered in your mind, while the unforgettable characters made it a world we were reluctant to leave. Rare truly created magic.
Banjo Kazooie Gameplay by Green Man Gaming
5. Star Fox 64
“You're becoming more like your father.” The lines were cheesy but unforgettable. Star Fox 64 added voice acting and intensity. You weren’t just shooting; you were protecting teammates and learning their quirks. Plus, that Rumble Pak shook your hands like no game ever had before.
Star Fox 64 (N64) Full Game Playthrough by World Minus 1 Entertainment
6. Mario Kart 64
Red shells turned best friends into rivals. Lakitu’s fishing pole spelled doom or salvation. This was controlled chaos. Drifting around corners or dodging bananas felt just right. And the battle mode? Pure playground fuel. Mario Kart 64 had staying power that still echoes at reunions.
[Longplay] N64 - Mario Kart 64 (4K, 60FPS) by xRavenXP
7. Paper Mario
Paper Mario took a bold direction: simple combat and surprisingly clever writing. Turn-based battles were friendly, not frustrating. Its storybook world gave us Goombas with personalities and puzzles worth thinking through. Somehow, it made the paper feel three-dimensional.
Paper Mario 64 HD - Full Game Walkthrough by ProsafiaGaming
8. Perfect Dark
GoldenEye’s spiritual sibling came loaded with ambition. Joanna Dark didn’t just copy Bond; she upgraded him. The tech was better, the weapons were cooler, and the multiplayer options exploded. Night vision and alien conspiracies filled its halls. Rare went all in, and it paid off in spades.
Perfect Dark Full Gameplay Walkthrough (Longplay) by XCageGame
9. Super Smash Bros
Pikachu vs. Mario on a floating platform? It sounded ridiculous until you tried it. Smash was chaotic fun packed into short rounds. Each fight became a story. And when friends grabbed controllers, rivalries formed fast. Nintendo had a hit they didn’t see coming.
10. Wave Race 64
Water never felt so real. Wave Race 64 brought physics. Riders bounced through waves, carving tight turns while the weather changed mid-race. The controls were tight, and the learning curve was satisfying. For a launch title, it felt like a vision of where games were heading.
Wave Race™ 64 - Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online by Nintendo of America
Great memories aren’t the whole story. Not every N64 game stuck the landing or even cleared the runway. Let’s take a look at the ones that had us reaching for the power button a little too quickly.
1. Superman 64
Flying through rings never felt more like punishment. Based on the iconic hero, Superman 64 somehow managed to strip away everything that made the character powerful. The controls were clunky, and the graphics looked fogged over. Besides, the missions were repetitive to the point of absurdity.
Superman 64 (Nintendo 64) Full Playthrough w/ Mike Matei by Cinemassacre
2. Carmageddon 64
Carmageddon 64 replaced blood with zombies but failed to capture the madness. Critics slammed its laggy, unplayable gameplay, with players crashing into walls more than opponents. It promised shock value but missed completely. It's best forgotten, a forgotten misfire.
3. Quest 64
An RPG on N64 should’ve been cause for celebration. But Quest 64 barely showed up. The story was thin, and the battle system was unpolished. You wandered through beautiful but empty environments with little direction. Ambition didn’t match execution, and players felt the disappointment with every sluggish step.
Quest 64 (🎮N64) - ✨HD Longplay | No Commentary by Longplay Library
4. Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker
The cartoon had the edge, but the game didn’t. Return of the Joker for N64 gave players repetitive combat and bland environments. Batman’s moves felt stiff. The enemies? Clones with new colors. Despite having source material with real depth, the game played like an afterthought from start to finish.
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker | First 10 Minutes | @dckids by DC Kids
5. War Gods
Released by Midway, War Gods looked like it wanted to ride Mortal Kombat’s coattails. Instead, it tripped over its own clunky animations and awkward combos. Characters moved like they were glued to the floor. Plus, the visuals were muddy, and the gameplay was slow.
War Gods - The Worst Fighting Game by Matt McMuscles
6. Rugrats: Scavenger Hunt
Nostalgia can’t save everything. Scavenger Hunt felt more like a digital board game than an adventure. Even younger fans of the show struggled to stay interested. It had charm in theory, but the execution bored more than it entertained.
Let's Play Rugrats Scavenger Hunt: Episode 2: Pirate Treasure Hunt by Blake The Nerd
7. ClayFighter 63⅓
ClayFighter 63⅓ tried to parody the fighting genre with goofy characters and slapstick humor. But it forgot the most important part: good gameplay. With sloppy hit detection and animations that felt incomplete, critics gave it a hard pass.
Longplay of ClayFighter 63⅓ by LongplayArchive
8. Charlie Blast's Territory
This one left players wondering why they bothered. Charlie Blast’s Territory had charm in its concept (blowing up land to solve spatial challenges), but the graphics were bland, the sound design forgettable, and the gameplay overly rigid. It fizzled out faster than its own TNT.
Charlie's Blast Territory - Nintendo 64 HD Gameplay by Shooting Webs
9. AeroFighters Assault
On paper, AeroFighters Assault should’ve been exciting. Aerial combat, missions, jet fighters; what’s not to love? Unfortunately, slow framerates and underwhelming level design grounded it completely. The action felt more like a struggle than a thrill.
Aero Fighters Assault (Nintendo 64 🇺🇸), Gameplay by NST Gaming
10. Knife Edge: Nose Gunner
Rails shooters live and die by precision. Knife Edge missed the mark. Set in a futuristic war zone, it forced players down a path of repetitive enemies and little reward. Even as a budget title, it felt incomplete. Enthusiasm faded fast, replaced by frustration and fatigue.
