Best NES Games On Nintendo Switch Online

The NES revitalized the home video game market with an impressive library of games that helped make Nintendo one of the biggest companies in the industry. Many of its most popular series, like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros., made their debut on the NES and helped establish Nintendo’s reputation for creating unforgettable experiences.

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Since Nintendo Switch Online launched in 2018, subscribers have had access to various NES games that helped define the console during the ’80s. While new games are added periodically, these are the essential titles to check out if you’re feeling nostalgic for some 8-bit action.

Updated December 26, 2024, by Kyle Chamaillard: When Nintendo Switch Online became available toward the end of 2018, only a handful of NES games were on the service. Since then, a few games have been added every few months, providing you with over 70 retro titles to revisit whenever you like. We’ve decided to update this list to include even more of the best NES games on the Nintendo Switch.

Donkey Kong Jr. Math

The intersection between video games and education is often visited at a young age, once adults feel comfortable enough to allow their child to hold a controller and sit in front of a screen for a while. Titles like Donkey Kong Jr. Math are great for kids who want to learn basic addition and subtraction, but there is little to no fun to be had otherwise.

In this odd spin-off of the original arcade game, Donkey Kong holds a sign with a number on it, and it’s up to you to grab the correct numbers and arithmetic symbols to reach that goal. Not only are the math problems fairly basic, but the gameplay is so slow that you might fall asleep before you finish an equation.

Urban Champion

Nintendo dabbled with multiple genres throughout the 80s and even attempted to leave its mark on the fighting scene with Urban Champion. Originally an arcade game in Japan, Urban Champion was eventually ported to the NES in 1986 and was quickly regarded as one of the worst pieces of software on the console.

With little flash or flair, Urban Champion is a barebone fighting game that’s almost as exciting as blowing on an NES cartridge to make it work again. Your goal is to knock your opponent into a manhole by using light or heavy attacks to stagger them. It might be fun for a minute or two, but that’s usually the most Urban Champion has to offer.

Tecmo Bowl

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Tecmo Bowl

Systems

Released

1987-00-00

Developer

Tecmo, Sculptured Software

Publisher(s)

Tecmo

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

6 hours

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There is something incredibly charming about 8-bit era sports games. Despite not having all the bells and whistles of newer entries, they are still a great way to experience your favorite sporting event from the comfort of your couch.

Tecmo Bowl was one of the first major football video games and continues to be regarded as one of the most influential and successful NES titles ever developed. It’s simple and fun, and still worth booting up today for a fun or competitive match.

NES Open Tournament Golf

Systems

Platform(s)

Nintendo Entertainment System

Released

September 20, 1991

Developer(s)

Nintendo SPD
, HAL Laboratory

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer
, Local Co-Op

How Long To Beat

2½ Hours

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When Mario isn’t jumping on Goombas or eating mushrooms, you can usually find him partying with his friends or playing sports. NES Open Tournament Golf technically isn’t a Mario game, but it’s one of the earliest examples of the plumber and his friends competing against each other for glory.

It might not look as flashy as modern golf games, but the controls in NES Open still feel as tight as ever. It’s an easy game to pick up and play alone or with a friend, and if you accidentally overswing the ball past the hole, you can use Nintendo Switch Online’s rewind feature to create a custom mulligan.

Metroid

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Metroid

Systems

Platform(s)

Nintendo Entertainment System

Released

August 6, 1986

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

ESRB

E for Everyone: Mild Fantasy Violence

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When it launched, the original Metroid game was praised for its creepy atmosphere and puzzles, quickly becoming an essential title for anyone with an NES. It helped revolutionize non-linear adventure games and offered audiences a bold new experience starring the bounty hunter Samus Aran.

We’ve come a long way since Metroid debuted in the mid-80s, and while it was monumental at the time, its controls and combat haven’t aged very well. Both Super Metroid and Metroid Dread are also available on the Switch and offer much smoother experiences. This game was eventually remade for the Game Boy Advance as Metroid: Zero Mission, which is considered to be the definitive way to play through Samus’ first adventure.

Kid Icarus

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Kid Icarus

Systems

Released

December 19, 1986

Developer(s)

Nintendo R&D1

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

4 Hours

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Kid Icarus is a notoriously difficult NES game that’s very different from anything else on the console. The non-linear stage design and limited healing options might turn most people away, but if you’re willing to endure these types of things, you might be surprised to find a gem of an adventure hiding beneath the rough exterior.

Starring an angel named Pit, mostly known for his appearance in the Super Smash Bros. series, you must save Angel Land from Medusa by retrieving three sacred treasures. It immediately throws a curveball at you with a level that requires you to platform upward instead of left to right, and that’s just one of many things Kid Icarus does to subvert your expectations about the genre.

Crystalis

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Crystalis

Systems

Platform(s)

Nintendo Game Boy Color
, Nintendo Entertainment System

Released

April 13, 1990

Developer

SNK, Nintendo, Software Technology

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

9 Hours

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It might not have made the same impact as The Legend of Zelda or Final Fantasy, but Crystalis is an underrated NES game that should be remembered for its ambitious narrative and design. Set in 2097, it’s up to you to find the legendary sword known as Crystalis to defeat Draygon, the evil king.

As you search for the main weapon, you’ll discover four other elemental swords that are essential for defeating certain enemies and bosses. With a surprisingly deep narrative and interesting gameplay mechanics, Crystalis is an underrated gem that’s perfect for anyone looking for an old-school adventure.

Donkey Kong

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Donkey Kong

Systems

Franchise

Donkey Kong

Released

July 31, 1981

Developer(s)

Nintendo R&D1
, Ikegami Tsushinki

ESRB

e

Expand

Donkey Kong is one of the most important arcade games of all time and helped establish Nintendo as a contender in the video game market. Not only does it feature the first-ever appearances of Donkey Kong and Mario – then known as Jumpman – but it’s just as fun to boot up today as it was back in 1981.

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After being ported to ColecoVision and the Atari 2600, Donkey Kong eventually launched with the Famicom in 1983. This version of the game may only have three stages, but each will test your reflexes and puzzle skills as you climb deadly towers in an attempt to save Pauline from the antagonistic ape.

Solar Jetman

Solar Jetman was co-developed by Rare – the studio that would eventually create Banjo-Kazooie, Goldeneye, and many more essential titles – and is, surprisingly, the third game in the series that follows the titular Jetman on his odysseys. It might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy space exploration and micromanaging, Solar Jetman might be worth exploring.

It’s a very mechanic-heavy title with a lot of things to keep track of if you want to succeed. Whether you’re keeping an eye on fuel levels or attacking enemies, Solar Jetman requires an interesting amount of focus for an NES game that allows it to hold up to this day.

Mach Rider

Mach Rider was one of the first games developed by HAL Laboratory, the studio behind almost every game in the Kirby series. Seemingly inspired by films like Mad Max and Death Race 2000, you play as the titular Mach Rider in a post-apocalyptic future where fuel and fury go hand in hand.

Your main goal is to ride down the road on your motorcycle as quickly as possible while avoiding obstacles and shooting enemies with your pistol. Mach Rider on Nintendo Switch Online also includes the Design mode, which wasn’t included in the original NES version of the game and allows you to create your own tracks to challenge your friends with.

The Mysterious Murasame Castle

You may be familiar with some of the music and characters from The Mysterious Murasame Castle, but that’s likely because of how much it is featured in Nintendo games like Super Smash Bros. and Nintendoland. Despite launching in Japan in 1986, this game wouldn’t become available in other regions until it arrived on the 3DS virtual console in 2014.

If you imagine the original Legend of Zelda, but replace the fantasy setting with Edo-period Japan and the protagonist with a ninja, then you have something resembling Mysterious Murasame Castle. With a soundtrack composed by Koji Kondo and fantastic action sequences, it’s fantastic to see this hidden gem available on the Nintendo Switch.

Double Dragon

Double Dragon launched on the NES in 1988 and quickly became one of the most popular games on the console. Despite missing core features from the arcade version like simultaneous multiplayer, this beat ‘em up captivated audiences with its story and satisfying gameplay.

After setting a new golden standard for the genre, Double Dragons’ success led to multiple sequels, a crossover adventure with the Battletoads, and an animated TV series. Double Dragon might feel slower by today’s standards, but it’s an essential beat ‘em up that you can pick up and complete in an hour or two.

Blaster Master

Many NES games stick to a single genre, but other titles like Blaster Master went above and beyond to keep the adventure interesting. You play as Jason and a tank named Sophia, but both have entirely different game mechanics for you to master to complete the mission.

As Jason or Sophia, you will face platforming sections that test your reflexes and timing. Other times – as Jason without Sophia – you will encounter areas with a top-down perspective that require you to defeat enemies and navigate your way to the next area. It’s very impressive for a game from its time, and more games should attempt to fuse genres like the original Blaster Master.

Dr. Mario

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Dr. Mario

Systems

Franchise

Dr. Mario

Released

July 27, 1990

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

3 Hours

Expand

After Tetris became a sensation during the 80s, it was hard for other puzzle games to stand out from the giant block’s shadows. Leave it to Mario to find a way into the zeitgeist as Dr. Mario provided a unique challenge unlike anything else available on the NES.

The pills Dr. Mario throws from the top of the screen are similar to the falling blocks in Tetris, but the core concepts are different enough to allow each game to stand out in the puzzle genre. Instead of putting pieces together to form solid lines, you must spin the pills to match the colors of the viruses to make them disappear.

Golf

Golf was one of the first games you could pick up alongside the NES back in 1985 and its simplicity has helped it maintain popularity since. It might not look as fancy as modern titles, but it doesn’t need to be to get the same satisfaction from landing a hole-in-one.

One of the most interesting aspects of Golf is its legacy. Satoru Iwata – the late president of Nintendo – was the sole programmer on the project. The Switch actually had a hidden version of Golf on it to celebrate him that even included motion controls, but it was eventually removed during a firmware update.

Earthbound Beginnings

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Earthbound Beginnings

Systems

Released

July 27, 1989

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

ESRB

T For Teen: Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol

Compared to platformers and action games, there aren’t many 8-bit RPGs available on Nintendo Switch Online. One of the few exceptions is Earthbound Beginnings, also known as Mother, which recently became available in North America for the first time after it launched on the Wii U eShop in 2015.

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Set before the events of Earthbound, you play as Ninten as he sets out to save the world from an evil alien known as Gigyas. Its aesthetic and gameplay are very similar to its sequel, and it’s astonishing how many unique ideas found a home in this NES game. The biggest issue with Earthbound Beginnings is the repetitive random encounters throughout the entire adventure, but it’s a small price to pay for this exceptional RPG.

Cobra Triangle

Cobra Triangle is one of the many titles developed by Rare for the NES, but this high-speed aquatic adventure is easily one of the best games on the console. Gorgeous graphics and adrenaline-pumping action make this an essential title for anyone who wants to dip their toes into an epic blast from the past.

There are 25 levels in Cobra Triangle, and most of them have different objectives that require you to win races, defuse bombs, and more to succeed. If you’ve ever wanted to battle a giant squid on a speedboat, Cobra Triangle is one of the few games to make that dream a reality.

The Mystery Of Atlantis

One of the best parts about the Nintendo Switch Online service is that it brings you games, like The Mystery of Atlantis, that were previously only available in Japan. Though challenging, Mystery of Atlantis is a fascinating title that’s even easier to beat thanks to the handy Rewind feature.

Advertised in Japan as “The game that surpasses Super Mario”, Mystery of Atlantis technically achieves this goal by including more levels and by allowing the camera to pan left or right depending on which way you’re walking. Instant deaths and tough enemies make it a tougher experience, but it’s worth exploring if you’re looking for a challenge.

R.C. Pro-Am

While Rare and Nintendo’s partnership was strongest during the N64 era, the relationship between the two companies began on the NES when the developer created hit games like Battletoads for the home console. One of their best games was R.C. Pro-Am, a racing game unlike anything else available on the NES.

Rare moved away from common racing game elements like first-person perspectives to give R.C. Pro-Am a unique visual style over its competitors. Ultimately, the vehicular combat in R.C. Pro-Am allowed it to stand out above most racing games on the NES and helped lay the blueprint for future titles like Mario Kart and Twisted Metal.

Double Dragon 2: The Revenge

The NES was home to many beat ’em ups, but only a handful of them are still worth revisiting today – including Double Dragon II: The Revenge. Aside from its excellent cooperative multiplayer mode, The Revenge is full of memorable encounters, an engaging story, and a soundtrack that hits harder than Billy or Jimmy Lee.

After a surprisingly dark intro that gives the protagonists the motivation they need to start fighting everything they see, Double Dragon II consistently throws new challenges your way that are easier to clear using Nintendo Switch Online’s rewind feature. If you have an hour or two to kill with a friend, a quick playthrough of this classic title should help time fly by quicker than a hurricane kick.