7 Best Nintendo Retro Games You Don’t Want to Miss

Regardless of the era, you’re living in, reviving your old memories with the best Nintendo retro games can be the best use of your spare time. But which Nintendo game should you try first? Is it an action-adventure title like the Mario Bros series or a life-simulation option like Animal Crossing? 

Whatever genre interests you, this guide puts together the 7 best Nintendo retro games with multiple genres to suit your taste. Keep going for detailed information on each game. 

Ready? Let’s roll in. 

Buyer’s Guide for Nintendo Retro Games

As a buyer, it’s your priority to find a product that suits your requirements without breaking your bank. This buyer’s guide helps you find such an option. All you have to do is consider the following factors when evaluating multiple retro games, this will give you an idea of which suits you better. 

Requirements

You see, not all Nintendo retro games will work on the Nintendo console you have. The games are designed for specific consoles. For example, a Nintendo game may work well with Nintendo Switch while it may give errors on the Nintendo Wii. So, before you purchase a retro game, make sure it’s compatible with the console you have. 

Gameplay

It’s important to know about the gameplay experience of a game before you buy it. If it’s a racing game, know whether it offers good graphics, acceptable racing effects, and a clear track. In short, find out whether the gameplay suits your taste or not.

Pricing

Pricing is yet another highly crucial factor. Although a better game generally costs more, you’ll also find overpriced games on the market whose copies could be available at cheap rates. So, before you finalize an option, compare its price with other copies available in different places – so you make the best deal. 

Condition

If you want to make sure your game doesn’t give errors after a few times of play, it’s important to know its condition. Are there scratches on the disk? Does the condition look clean overall? These are the important questions to ask yourself before sealing the deal for a Nintendo game.

With the buyer’s guide out of the way, let’s roll into the details of each retro game. 

Must read: How to make your own retro games?

7 Best Nintendo Retro Games Reviewed

Below are unbiased reviews on each Nintendo game we listed in this guide. Let’s start with the first option:

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – King of Nintendo Games

The animal crossing series has always been crazily popular among Nintendo users. It comes specialized for Nintendo DS, Wii, Nintendo 3DS and was developed by Nintendo itself. With over 30 million copies sold around the world, you certainly cannot go wrong with it. 

What excites us the most about this oldie is the colorful and high-definition graphics that enable a great viewing experience. On top of that, you get to enjoy the amazing life-simulation gameplay that keeps you engaged – rather than frustrated. 

In short, if you want to make the best use of your spare time by enjoying the most exciting retro games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons should be on the top of your list.

Platforms:

• Nintendo DS
• Nintendo 3DS
• Wii
• Nintendo 64/iQue Player
• Gamecube

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Best Adventure

If action-adventure is your kind, the best option for you is certainly this part from The Legend of Zelda series – an incredibly popular Nintendo series with 127.91 million sales as of December 2020. The best part about this game is the clear viewing experience combined with a soul-touching storyline that catches your heart. 

This boundary-breaking adventure game takes you to the exciting missions of exploration and discovery. If you think this kind of gameplays interests you, surely go for this option – it might be a great addition to your Nintendo games list. 

Platforms:

• Nintendo Entertainment System & Super Nintendo Entertainment System
• Game Boy, Game Boy Color & Game Boy Advance
• Nintendo 64
• GameCube
• Wii & Wii U
• Nintendo DS & Nintendo 3DS

3. Super Mario 64 – Addictive Versatile Gameplay

Here we’ve got a great alternative to the very last action-adventure option. This part from the Super Mario series packs a fantastic gameplay experience with enhanced graphics to keep you engaged. 

Whether you want to play in a multiplayer mode or a single-player one, the game offers amazing adventure gameplay where you tackle the obstacles on your way and keep going unless you reach the destination. Surprisingly, Nintendo has improved the gameplay by adding some interesting features like the ability to fly and even dive. 

Platforms:

• Nintendo 64
• Wii & Wii U
• iQue Player

4. Donkey Kong Country – Exciting Jungle Adventures

With nearly a dozen parts in place, the Donkey Kong series is another grateful option for must-try Nintendo games. The game offers simultaneous gameplay powered with colorful and attractive graphics that keep you engaged. 

The best part, however, is the addictive characters that feel really exciting to play with. Each comes with its own characteristics that you get to discover and get the advantage of. If you think the jungle adventures interest you, this game will fit you perfectly. 

Platforms:

• Super Nintendo Entertainment System
• Game Boy Color
• Game Boy Advance

5. Streets of Rage – Best Classic Beat’ em Up 

Streets of Rage is an incredible fighting game for credible players. The amazing fighting gameplay and the immersive electronic sound make it one of the best Beat’ em up Nintendo games on the market. If you’re into fighting games of this type, you might love this option.

The gameplay revolves around fighting against the other player. To add excitement, the developers have put an immersive sound with plenty of characters and powers available. 

Relevant Platforms:

• Nintendo 3DS
• Wii

6. Super Mario Advance 4 – Best Budget Pick

Although you don’t get the best graphics for retro games, you do get an amazing value for money. The Super Mario Advance 4 comes at a relatively cheaper rate without much compromise on the gameplay quality. In fact, the strategic yet adventurous gameplay makes it among the best action-adventure games you can try.

Since the gameplay revolves around adventure, you’re able to make use of various basic techniques like running, swimming, and jumping. The variety of obstacles on the way and bonus boxes are what make the gameplay further exciting. 

Platforms:

• Game Boy Advance
• Wii U

7. Monster in My Pocket – Best Traditional

Konami developed and released the Hollow Knight video game in January 1992. It’s a fantastic co-op and single-player game and compatible with Nintendo Entertainment System. The gameplay overall is quite similar to the Super Mario series – but the monsters to fight and the dark overall theme are what make it interesting and stand out. 

Also, the supremely high-definition graphics offer a crystal clear view for the best gameplay experience. However, we hope the options & techniques were not so limited – so, we will expect more powers and player functions in the next release. 

Platforms:

• Nintendo Entertainment System

As we’re done with the reviews, it’s time for some FAQs:

FAQs About Best Nintendo Retro Games

Below are the answers to frequent queries on Nintendo games. 

Final Words

Are you a Nintendo lover? Then Nintendo games are likely deeply connected to your childhood. If you want to ignore modern gaming for some time and give a try to the oldies, this guide is the best place to start – today, we’ve brought forth the 7 best Nintendo games you don’t want to miss. 

For instance, the top options include Animal Crossing: New Horizons, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Super Mario 64. Each game offers an immersive gameplay experience and comes with a separate fanbase. You might love these picks if Nintendo games interest you. 

Nevertheless, we hope this guide helped you acquire the information you were looking for. With that said, we wish you luck bringing some amazing Nintendo games to the home!