10 Great NES Games that are Fun Right Away

There’s always a lot of history to unfold when you talk about the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was a hot ticket item and the present every kid wanted for Christmas when it first launched. Though its pixelated 8-bit graphics may seem primitive when compared to some of the triple-A titles we’re used to seeing. But, the style and influence of the NES have remained to this day.

Every year we see so many games coming out that go for a retro vibe or take their visual cues from the many great titles of yesteryear. But, even as new titles come out, there remains a number of classic NES games that are still fun from the minute you hit the start button.

Whether you’re very, very old like me or are interested in trying a sample of what this classic era has to offer, there are a number of cartridges you can blow the dust off of and give a try.

10 Super Mario Bros.

Mama Mia!

The first entry in what could be argued is the greatest video game series of all time, Super Mario Bros. was a true revolution that put Nintendo on the map. Running around, eating mushrooms, stomping Goombas, and throwing fireballs has remained a beloved pastime for gamers everywhere. And the platforming has remained fun and challenging through it all.

The original Super Mario Bros. is a game that should be played by everyone at least once in their life if they can. It’s just too good not to recommend. Who would’ve thought that a game about a plumber crushing turtles could be so addictive?

9 Contra

The First Video Game Bromance

I’m not sure if I ever would’ve made it through Contra without the Konami code’s help, but that didn’t stop me from trying a number of times before I learned about it. The game drops you and possibly one other player into the middle of a jungle, and you start shooting your way through to their base. The various gun power-ups give you abilities like rapid fire or spread shots.

Contra wasn’t a walk in the park at all though, as the game could be incredibly difficult at times. Nonetheless, it’s a non-stop thrill ride of a run-and-gun game that totally encapsulates '80s action hero culture.

8 Bionic Commando

At Arms Length

Probably the most interesting thing Bionic Commando did was replace your ability to jump with an extending mechanical arm that you used to swing around. It turned what would’ve been a simple action shooter into more of an action puzzle game. Figuring out the timing to get your swings just right took a little patience, but once you had that a-ha moment, the difficulty smoothed out.

Bionic Commando was one of the first games I can remember playing from beginning to end on my NES. If you want an experience that’s action-packed while also being clever, I give it one great big bionic thumbs up.

7 Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!

I Didn't Hear No Bell

Back before he was biting people’s ears off, getting face tattoos, and doing other things we don’t need to get into here, we thought it was okay to give Mike Tyson his own boxing game. But even without the infamous boxer’s name on it, Punch-Out!! stood on its own. Putting on the gloves as Little Mac and taking on perplexing pugilists one after the other in the boxing ring was a thrilling experience.

You needed to look for the visual cues and get the timing right in order to dodge, block, and counter your opponents. The soundtrack also matched the game’s tone perfectly and added a bit of gravitas to every round.

6 Metroid

In Space, No One Can Hear You Morphball

Most side-scrolling adventure games back in the NES days would have you move in one direction to get to your goal. Metroid just lets you loose in its world and lets you figure it out for yourself. How you explored the planet Zebes was all up to you. There were no levels, just one massive map to figure out, learning more about where things were and how to get past certain parts as you went.

Metroid was an instant hit when it launched back in the day and would plant the seeds that would grow Super Metroid and help establish the Metroidvania genre of games. If you’ve never faced down Mother Brain before, you owe it to yourself to try this one.

5 Mega Man

Tangled Up in Blue

Before the blue bomber was a household name, he was just another robot out there trying to stop Dr. Wily and his evil robots. Beyond being known for its incredible platforming, Mega Man was unique in that it let you pick which order to play out its levels. Depending on which evil robots you went after first, you may gain a weapon that makes the next one down the line easier to beat. It added a nice little twist of strategy and let you choose your own adventure as it were.

Mega Man isn't the easiest game out there, but it is highly addictive. There’s a reason there are seven of these games on the NES alone.

4 Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers

Pint-Sized Peril

Capcom was knocking it out of the park with its licensed Disney games back in the day. Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers put you in control of the rodent detective duo and sent you out to solve crimes. While it wasn’t a complex game, it was pretty ridiculous fun, especially in 2-player mode.

The game let you pick up and throw things like boxes and apples along with whoever you were playing with. So you could just pick up the other player and throw them off a cliff or at an enemy if they were irking you, or you just wanted to be a jerk.

3 Tetris

The People's Puzzle Game

Do I really need to explain this one? Tetris is fun. It will always be fun. Everyone loves Tetris. At least I hope they do. Perhaps the most addicting puzzle game to ever be created, Tetris has remained a staple of the gaming scene since its launch in the 1980s. In fact, there’s still a Classic Tetris Championship held every year at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo.

While the concept of moving blocks around an enclosed game area to make lines sounds ridiculously simplistic, I think that’s what makes it so enjoyable and addictive. It’s just one of the best things ever, right up there with hugs and puppies.

2 The Legend of Zelda

It's Dangerous to Go Alone

Link’s quest to find the Triforce and save Princess Zelda has been told and retold a number of times, but it all started here. The Legend of Zelda, much like Metroid, lets you loose in its open world and has you figure things out for yourself. It took a lot of exploring and backtracking to get everything right, but what a time you had doing it all. The dungeons and the bosses you would face off against were a revolutionary experience for the time. It was a game that told its story and built its lore through its environment more than anything.

And what an epic soundtrack! The opening theme is just such a huge pump up for me every time I hear it. It’s like I have a Pavlovian response to prepare for adventure the second it hits my ears.

1 Super Mario Bros. 3

A New Era

I know, I know. We had a Super Mario Bros game at the top of the list. But hear me out here. If you look at where the NES started with the first game and ended with Super Mario Bros. 3, it’s a world of difference. SMB3 took everything that was great about the first game and added amazing new abilities like the now iconic flying raccoon ears and tail. And it had so many secrets beyond just warp zones to explore.

The levels and worlds were all unique and had their own sets of challenges to them. And then there were the airship levels and your boss fights against the Koopa Kids. In many ways, this amazing game is the swan song for the NES as the Super Nintendo would soon come along to close Nintendo’s 8-bit chapter.