6 N64 Games That Are 10/10 Masterpieces, No Notes

It's been almost thirty years since the Nintendo 64 launched across the US and Europe and changed how we enjoy games forever. The leap into full 3D environments combined with iconic characters and groundbreaking gameplay has left a lasting legacy in gaming. Now thirty years on, looking back on a gaming library, here are five top-class games for Nintendo that deserve your attention. These are the five greatest games on the Nintendo 64, in no particular order. Let's get into it!

Paper Mario

After 1996's Super Mario RPG came and went on the SNES, fans probably assumed that was the end of Mario's brief foray into the world of turn-based RPGs. Fortunately not. Four years later, we got Paper Mario, a charming adventure game that combined the turn-based/platforming hybrid action of its predecessor with a charming gimmick: Mario and friends live in a storybook world where everything and everyone is made of paper.

You've probably played the Nintendo GameCube masterpiece Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, or its more recent Nintendo Switch remake. However, I can tell you this N64 entry is just as much fun, and well worth a look for anyone hungry for more Mario RPG action.

Super Mario 64

The game that started it all. Super Mario 64 was the console's launch title and hit the ground running. While the PS1 had Crash Bandicoot, an on-rails platformer with some 3D elements, Nintendo decided to flex with Super Mario 64. A fully 3D platformer with everyone's favorite plumber, which at the time had never been done successfully before.

Super Mario 64 still looks stunning today. The colorful 3D environments add a touch of magic and Princess Peaches castle is a glorious playground filled with secrets and a huge variety of levels to explore. Boss battles against Bowser are heart racing and get steadily harder the more you encounter him. Collecting every star in the game isn't needed to complete it, but it's something you'll want to do. And the reward for collecting every star is just as satisfying as every magical moment in Super Mario 64.

Star Fox 64/Lylat Wars

Even on Super Nintendo, Starfox was making waves with its 3D gameplay. With the power of 64 bits though, Starfox 64 became an action arcade shoot em up to rival them all. Featuring a brilliant score, voice work for every character and a story with multiple branches, difficulty and secrets to unlock, Starfox 64 sets the bar high and still looks impressive to this day.

Starfox 64 is a short campaign you can complete in one sitting, but it will take multiple playthroughs and some skills to unlock every level and get the true ending to the game. The gameplay is fast and chaotic and although Slippy Toad is the most annoying Nintendo character to have ever existed, the story is gripping and at times feels like a movie. Battle Andross and discover what happened to Fox's father along the way. A must-play classic!

Banjo-Kazooie

If Mario 64 introduced us all to 3D platforming, Rare took the concept and dialed it up to 11 with Banjo-Kazooie. Playing as dual characters, the sheer amount of movement options makes this a parkour wonderland. The fairy tale setting and cast of characters feel like they're pulled straight from a children's book. Sure, there's no voice work, with characters just grunting and squawking, but the game is still packed with more levels, secrets, collectibles and jokes than any other N64 cartridge.

Gruntilda's quest for beauty sets the weird and gagged-filled quest in motion and every character is written with a healthy sense of humor. Great colorful fun with some genuinely challenging platforming and puzzle solving. Still a satisfying gaming experience all these years later, that took advantage of every button combination on the N64 controller to give you an arsenal of moves to pull off. Mario 64 set the bar but Banjo-Kaooie leaped over it with its long bird legs!

Goldeneye 007

Goldeneye 007 is one of the greatest FPS games of all time... period. Sure, the control scheme feels alien nowadays as we're all used to twin analog sticks, but that aside, Goldeneye 007 is an absolute classic. A movie tie-in, the single-player campaign takes you through every scene of the movie without skimping on the gameplay. Having the original score, cool gadgets, guns and characters from the movie helps you feel like you really are James Bond.

The multiplayer in Goldeneye 007, though, is on another level. 4-player couch co-op with so many play options is an absolute joy. Chaos and fun are the order of the day, with each level having quirky hiding spots, shortcuts and secrets for you to master. A great party game that still impresses today. So invite your friends over and dust off your Nintendo 64 for Goldeneye 007. Pistols only on license to kill mode in the Library will separate the gamers from the noobs. Just don't pick Oddjob... that's an unspoken rule among friends!

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

We said this list was in no particular order, but we saved the best for last. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the greatest adventure games ever made. With The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launching very soon, anyone who's never experienced the original will get a second chance on modern consoles. The true hero's journey, you play as Link on his quest to save Zelda and restore balance to Hyrule.

Gorgeous visuals with large open world sections to explore and dungeons that look and feel distinctly different from each other. This game gets its hooks in from the very first frame and doesn't let go. The music is magical, and the story beats still hit hard to this day. An epic story set in a magical world with satisfying gameplay is a rare combination and it doesn't disappoint. While some gamers are eagerly awaiting Grand Theft Auto VI later this year, there is an army of Zelda fans out there waiting patiently to play a fresh version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo Switch 2. A timeless classic for all ages.

And that's our list! If you're old enough or even just a retro enthusiast, these are the Nintendo 64 games you should check out first. With it being the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, perhaps it's a great time to dust off your old Nintendo, blow into the cartridge and play any of the amazing games we've mentioned above. Older still, maybe check out our list of the 10 best Super Nintendo games. It won't disappoint!