Five N64 games remain especially worth revisiting: Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart 64, Star Fox 64, and GoldenEye 007. They are not a definitive ranking; together, they show the range of the system, from open-ended platforming and sprawling adventure to group racing, space combat, and objective-driven action.
Which N64 games are still worth playing?
The best pick depends on what you want from a game today. For movement and varied goals, start with Super Mario 64. For a longer adventure, choose Ocarina of Time. Mario Kart 64 is the natural group-play option, while Star Fox 64 offers a change of pace in a space shooter. GoldenEye 007 is most compelling if you want missions and multiplayer with a distinctly 1990s feel.
| Game | Best for | Play style | What may feel dated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 (1996) | Exploration and movement | Solo; revisit worlds for different goals | Camera and early 3D controls |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) | A substantial adventure | Solo exploration and dungeons | Some interface and combat conventions |
| Mario Kart 64 (1997) | Repeatable races with friends | Solo time trials or multiplayer races | Its handling reflects its era |
| Star Fox 64 (1997) | A space-shooter change of pace | Compact action sessions | Specific modern control expectations may differ |
| GoldenEye 007 (1997) | Missions and multiplayer | Solo objectives and group play | Uneven frame rate and older control conventions |
The years shown are copyright years listed by Nintendo, not a claim about the exact release date in every market. Nintendo’s N64 classics catalog includes all five.
1. Super Mario 64: movement that makes levels worth revisiting
Super Mario 64 is the strongest choice if you enjoy learning how a space works rather than following a single route from start to finish. Its worlds offer different goals: a stage might ask you to race a Koopa, find a lost penguin, or collect red coins. Returning to the same setting can feel like a new task, not simply replaying the same level.
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Nintendo launched the N64 in the United States on September 29, 1996, alongside Super Mario 64, a useful marker of how closely the game was tied to the arrival of 3D console play in that market (Nintendo company history). Its freedom of movement remains a draw, but the camera and controls show their early-3D roots. It is a classic to explore, not a game in which every interaction feels modern.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: a journey with room to explore
Choose Ocarina of Time when you want a larger solo adventure built around exploration, dungeons, varied settings, and a sustained sense of journey. Its appeal is not just a sequence of fights: the world and the movement between its places are central to the experience.
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That scale makes it a different commitment from the shorter-session picks on this list. Some interface and combat conventions belong to its era, so it is better approached for its adventure design than with the expectation that every system will match a contemporary action game.
3. Mario Kart 64: races that work best as a group ritual
Mario Kart 64 suits players who want quick competition they can return to repeatedly. Imaginative tracks give ordinary races character, while time trials provide a solo reason to learn a course and improve a run. Its multiplayer is a major part of the draw: the original game supports racing with three friends.
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There are two distinct ways to play with others today. On original hardware, the appeal is local multiplayer. Nintendo’s current Switch and Switch 2 route is through the N64 games library included with a paid Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership; Nintendo advertises online Mario Kart 64 races with friends. Compatible games support multiplayer through the service, including local and online play for up to four players. Access depends on the service’s current catalog and conditions, which can vary by region and platform (Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack).
4. Star Fox 64: a compact break from exploration
Star Fox 64 is the list’s space-shooter pick and a useful change of pace if you do not want another sprawling world or long adventure. Its shorter-session appeal makes it easy to slot between the more exploratory games here. Nintendo dates it to 1997 and includes it in the N64 classics library, but the available descriptions do not establish detailed claims about its routes, scoring, length, or controls. Pick it for the genre contrast rather than a promise about a particular replay system.
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5. GoldenEye 007: mission objectives and multiplayer, with period rough edges
GoldenEye 007 combines solo missions with objectives that vary across difficulty levels, giving players more to do than simply reach an exit. Its multiplayer is another reason it became a lasting group game. The level design and layered objectives remain central to its appeal.
Its age is also easy to notice. Uneven frame rate and control conventions from the period can make the experience feel rough by current standards. It is worth revisiting for its missions and multiplayer history, but not if smooth performance or contemporary first-person controls are essential to your enjoyment.
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How to play these games now
Nintendo currently offers a selection of N64 games for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 through the paid Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. The service’s catalog and terms can change, and availability may depend on region and platform; check Nintendo’s current N64 games catalog and membership information for your location. Nintendo notes that reproduced games may differ in performance and presentation from the originals.
Nintendo also lists a wireless Nintendo 64 controller for members as an optional accessory. Original cartridges are another route if you have compatible original hardware. Neither route changes the games’ period-specific design, and the controller is optional rather than a requirement for the Switch library.
Quick Recap
How to choose your first replay
- Choose Super Mario 64 if you want to explore levels and tackle different goals at your own pace.
- Choose Ocarina of Time if you want a longer solo journey with exploration and dungeons.
- Choose Mario Kart 64 if you want races for a group or time trials to play alone.
- Choose Star Fox 64 if a space shooter sounds more appealing than another adventure.
- Choose GoldenEye 007 if mission objectives and multiplayer matter more to you than modern smoothness.
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