From Polygon · Jason Venter · · 1m 50s
10 NES Games Still Worth Playing Today
NES classics that remain essential to play from start to finish.
In brief
NES classics that remain essential to play from start to finish. Ten NES games from 1985-1990 still offer complete, engaging experiences today. Originally reported by Polygon.
NES Release History
Nintendo released the NES in North America on Oct. 18, 1985, alongside games like Super Mario Bros. and Excitebike.
Ninja Gaiden (1988)
Ninja warriors clashed in a contemporary city, with players immediately wanting to spend more time with agile hero Ryu Hayabusa.
Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse (1989)
Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse provided a variety of characters and routes through gothic environments for players to enjoy.
The Legend of Zelda (1987)
The Legend of Zelda released first on the Famicom Disk System in Japan in 1986, then came to the NES in North America in 1987.
Dragon Warrior 4 (1990)
Dragon Warrior 4 divided its first half into bite-sized RPG adventures before throwing all heroes into one group in the final chapter.
Kirby's Adventure (1993)
Kirby's Adventure featured colorful exploration in Dream Land with enemy abilities for the pink puff to absorb and utilize.
Contra (1988)
Contra is a short game that players can complete with the Konami code adding enough lives to reach the closing credits.
Mega Man 2 (1988)
Mega Man 2 is leaner than later titles and features the most essential and replayable gameplay in the series.
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (1987)
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! pits Little Mac against a roster of global caricatures with unique personalities and attack patterns.
DuckTales (1989)
DuckTales allows players to conquer five main levels in any order with exotic locations like the Amazon and the Moon.
Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
Super Mario Bros. 3 features dozens of unique stages across eight worlds with floating airships and secret mushroom houses.
The headline
Ten NES games from 1985-1990 still offer complete, engaging experiences today.
