Best NES Games On Nintendo Switch Online

Posted by By December 30, 2024 25 Views 23 Min Read
Best NES Games On Nintendo Switch Online



Summary

  • The NES introduced popular series like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros to the world, cementing Nintendo’s reputation for unforgettable gaming experiences.
  • Now, Nintendo Switch Online provides access to over 60 retro NES games, offering a nostalgic 8-bit gaming experience.
  • These are the essential titles worth checking out for some 8-bit action and fun.

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.

Bill from Contra facing the camera but looking into the distance, Simon from Castlevania looking towards Dracula's castle in the distance with whip in hand while Dracula sneers in the background, and a Battletoad from Battletoads grinning with arms lifted

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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

Donkey Kong holds a sign while two Donkey Kong Jrs gather numbers on vines.

Developer

Nintendo R&D2

Release Date (North America)

October 18, 1985

Genre

Edutainment, Platformer

Number of Players

1-2

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

Two characters prepare to fight each other in front of a snack bar.

Developer

Nintendo R&D1

Release Date (North America)

August 1986

Genre

Fighting

Number of Players

1-2

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

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

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

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

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

Simea walks through a sandy area beside a forest.

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

Donkey Kong throws barrels at Mario as he runs up platforms.

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.

Key art for Ghosts 'n Goblins, Donkey Kong, and Final Fight.

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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

Jetman drops an item off at the base.

Developer

Zippo Games, Rare

Release Date (North America)

October 14, 1990

Genre

Action

Number of Players