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Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review: A Focused Speedrun Challenge, Not an NES Collection

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition offers more than 150 short challenges drawn from 13 NES classics, with solo time trials and local and online competition—but not the full games.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is worth considering if you want short, repeatable speedrun challenges or a local game-night competition. It is not a substitute for an NES library: Nintendo explicitly says the full games are not included. Its appeal rests on the variety of its bite-sized objectives, the urge to improve a time, and whether you will use its local and online competition.

What you get—and what you do not

The game turns moments and objectives from 13 classic NES titles into more than 150 speedrun challenges. The source games are Balloon Fight, Donkey Kong, Excitebike, Ice Climber, Kid Icarus, Kirby’s Adventure, Metroid, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, The Legend of Zelda, and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Nintendo’s product description is explicit: “Full NES games not included.”

That distinction defines the purchase. You are buying a challenge collection built from classic games, not 13 complete games to play through. The format can suit players who like compact goals and repeated attempts; it is a poor fit if your main reason to buy is access to the original adventures in full.

How the challenge loop works

Speedrun Mode

Solo time trials are the core of the package. You can repeat challenges, compare a run with your previous personal best, and earn letter rankings. This gives each task a clear target: learn the objective, execute it faster, and see whether the improvement changes your result. The published feature list establishes that loop, but not how satisfying or demanding it feels in practice.

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#1 Best Overall
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
  • NES games are not included in their entirety.
  • Any Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online.
  • Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately.

From quick tasks to Legend Challenges

The challenge set ranges from very short actions to longer sequences called Legend Challenges. Nintendo’s examples include a Super Mario Bros. run that uses Warp Zones and the first dungeon from The Legend of Zelda. These longer tasks offer a more substantial test than the shortest objectives, though they remain challenge sequences rather than full-game playthroughs.

The number of challenges alone does not guarantee lasting variety. The meaningful question for a buyer is whether switching among different games, objectives, and run lengths is enough to keep the retry loop interesting. Nintendo’s published descriptions explain the breadth of the format, but do not establish how long a particular player will stay engaged.

Modes for competing with other players

Party Mode: local play on one system

Party Mode supports up to eight players locally on one Nintendo Switch system, with individual challenges and themed packs. It is the clearest reason to choose this over a strictly solo time-trial game if you want short rounds for a group. Extra controllers may be needed, depending on how many people are playing and what controllers you have.

World Championship Mode: online rankings

Nintendo describes five challenges rotating each week, leaderboard competition, and replays of the world’s fastest runs. Online features require a Nintendo Account, internet access, and a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Rotation details and availability can change, so check the current service and regional product information before buying specifically for this mode.

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Rank #3
Sale
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
  • Explore each stage and then find even more secrets by making your way through the stage backwards on the flip side
  • Overcome varied enemies and obstacles, like Zombie Guys, Skelesaurus, Ukiki, and Monty Mole as you seek out hidden collectables; ESRB Content: Mild Cartoon Violence; Genre: Action, Platformer
  • Pass a Joy Con controller to a friend for 2 player cooperative exploration
  • Clad Yoshi in collectable, protective, handicraft costumes as he makes his way through each stage

Survival Mode: elimination against ghost data

Survival pits you against ghost data in elimination rounds. Nintendo UK’s 2024 product description says the mode has three rounds, while Nintendo of America’s product page describes Silver and Gold divisions and seven rivals. Those descriptions differ in which details they emphasize; they should not be combined into a single universal format without checking the version and current regional information.

Is Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition worth it?

It is a better match for players who enjoy optimizing short runs, comparing times, or handing a controller around for quick local contests. The longer Legend Challenges provide a higher ceiling than the shortest tasks, while World Championship and Survival modes add online competition for people who want it and meet the membership requirements.

Rank #4
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
  • Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
  • Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
  • Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
  • Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
  • Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only

It is harder to recommend to someone seeking a broad retro library or complete NES adventures. The game offers excerpts and challenges rather than full titles, and its value depends on how much you enjoy replaying compact objectives. Before purchasing, compare the current price for your region and format against the amount of time-trial and multiplayer play you expect to use; historical announcement prices are not reliable current shopping guidance.

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Release and editions

Nintendo UK lists the Nintendo Switch release date as July 18, 2024, and lists both download and Game Card formats. Nintendo of America’s May 2024 announcement described a physical Deluxe Set containing the game, five collectible pins, 13 art cards, and a gold-colored replica NES Game Pak with a stand; the replica is for display. Bundle contents and formats can vary by region.

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Best Value
Cabela's: The Hunt Championship Edition - Nintendo Switch
  • Multiple modes allow players to jump in or play for hours at higher difficulty levels. Cabela's: The Hunt offers modes for casual & dedicated players - Quick Hunt, Season Hunt & Cabela's Challenges. Gun is not included
  • Adding authenticity, once the hunter finds the target, many factors come into play before pulling the trigger: range, scent, stalking ability, and more.
  • Players' arsenal includes rifles, shotguns, side arms, & bows as well as a variety of calls, scents, blinds, decoys, scopes, an ATV, & state-of-the-art GPS mapping technology to aid in their hunt.
  • Hunters will have ten beautiful realistic expansive environments to explore, each filled with a variety of prey, dangerous animals, hidden landmarks, and fun quick-action missions.
  • Hunting Locations: Washington, Georgia, Wyoming, Maine, Missouri, New Mexico, Minnesota, Florida, Alberta, Alaska.

Nintendo of America announced U.S. suggested retail prices in May 2024 of $29.99 for the digital game and $59.99 for the Deluxe Set. These are historical U.S. announcement prices, not a statement of today’s price, availability, or stock. Check a current regional listing before deciding between editions.

Nintendo’s announcement also presented Nintendo Entertainment System Controllers for Switch as optional, not required. Its controller offer was described at the time as limited to eligible paid Nintendo Switch Online members and U.S./Canada shipping; that historical offer does not establish present availability or compatibility details.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
NES games are not included in their entirety.; Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately.
$29.99
SaleBestseller No. 3
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
Pass a Joy Con controller to a friend for 2 player cooperative exploration
$52.90
Bestseller No. 4
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures; Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
$29.83

Who should play it?

  • Consider it if short time trials, personal-best chasing, or local rounds with friends are the main draw.
  • Consider it with a caveat if online rankings are important: Nintendo Switch Online membership, a Nintendo Account, and internet access are required for online features.
  • Look elsewhere if you expect complete versions of the 13 NES games; they are not included.
  • Check before buying if the Deluxe Set contents, current regional price, or online challenge rotation is central to your decision, since these details depend on market and time.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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