The Nintendo Entertainment System holds a special place in history. It marks Nintendo's first global console release, and is home to the first console entries of some of the most important franchises in video gaming, like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. While many of Nintendo's best games ever made came during later console generations, multiple foundational games are on this console. In addition to Nintendo, several third-party series also saw earlier entries on the NES, creating a massively influential console and library. But what games are the best? Well, many of the ten best games on the NES are deeply influential, which shouldn't be too surprising. After all, great games inspire great games, and with the NES, there are plenty of great games.

10 Super Mario Bros

The original is still one of the best

Super Mario Bros. is a foundational video game, and it can be argued that Nintendo's success is built almost entirely on this game. It's a 2D platformer, but fantastic level design, colorful characters, and tons of levels make it a stand-out hit. One of the most impressive aspects of Super Mario Bros. is the controls, which feel incredibly precise, even by modern standards. If a platformer from 1985 can still feel precise 40 years later, that's the mark of a well-made game.

It's also impressive how much of the formula got nailed down on the first attempt, with characters, enemies, and other designed parts of the game, like the icon warp pipes, still present in modern Mario games. Nintendo has truly been a step ahead of everyone else since the beginning. Perhaps the only reason it's sitting at number 10 and not higher on the list is that Nintendo would later improve upon it in nearly every way.

9 Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

Not the best Castlevania, but the best one on NES

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is the third game in the series, but an important stepping stone in the franchise. After the second game added RPG elements, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse dropped them in favor of focusing exclusively on the platforming that made the original game a success. It also introduces branching paths and multiple endings, although not in the way that the series would in later games. It's not full Metroidvania just yet, with backtracking and new powers to open up previously closed areas, but instead offers small story choices throughout the game. These choices are made at certain checkpoints, so while it's not as smooth as later entries in the series, it does mark the beginning of those ideas. The plot follows Trevor Belmont, who can be joined by one of three companions on his journey, and it has an excellent soundtrack. It's also not the only Konami game on the list, as it was a powerhouse publisher at the time.

8 Contra

A run-and-gun classic

Contra is a Konami classic that originated in the arcades, like many games of the era, but later came to home consoles. This is one of the original run-and-gun games, where up to two players can run and shoot at enemies in 2D scrolling, a 3D "perspective", and even stationary levels where you shoot up incoming enemies. It has two 80s-style action heroes as its protagonists, giving them access to various weapons, which appear as temporary pick-ups. The game is set in the near future, with a variety of high-tech buildings, vehicles, and enemies to deal with. While Contra-style games have fallen out of style after the invention of 3D, the original was a massive hit both at home and in the arcades for a reason. Contra is also an early example of Konami including the Konami code in one of its games.

7 Punch-Out!!

With or without Mike Tyson

Punch-Out!!, which was originally called Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, is one of the most iconic sports titles ever made, regardless of whether Mike Tyson's name is in the title. What makes Punch-Out!! special is its focus on arcade-style boxing that doesn't actually play out like real boxing. Instead, it feels like the inspiration for FromSoftware's soulslike action games, where all of your success comes from failure. The game is entirely about learning the patterns and movements of your opponents, so you can counter them and strike at the right moment, just like the way combat works in modern action games or recent RPG darling Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This focus on pattern recognition makes Punch-Out!! special, because not only does it not require knowledge or enjoyment of boxing, but because the gameplay is so focused around one core idea, that the core idea is quite special. It is so special that the game still has an active speed running community.

6 Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos

Hardcore action platforming

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos is a difficult, 2D platformer where you play as Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja tasked with taking down demons. Those demons are controlled by Ashtar, who plans to engulf the world in darkness. Similar to the original, Ninja Gaiden II has you work through platforming levels, climbing, wall jumping, and latching onto walls. Ryu can use his sword or powerful items to take out enemies. While the modern Ninja Gaiden games take the difficulty even further, the classic 2D games also feature that blistering difficulty, which makes beating them so much more rewarding.

Ninja Gaiden II gets away with that incredible difficulty thanks to its precise and smooth-feeling controls, which stand out even among the many fantastic platformers on the console. It also looks incredible compared to most of the NES library.

5 Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation

The best of the NES Dragon Quest games

Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation, originally released as Dragon Warrior III, is the best Dragon Quest game on the NES. It takes the turn-based RPG mechanics of the first two games, non-linear storytelling, equipment, stats, and experience, but expands upon it in a few ways. The game has a class system, which allows you to not only pick the classes of your three companions but later unlock the ability to swap classes, letting you mix and match what spells and abilities each character knows. It also features a bit more story than the first two games, but includes a party made up of characters unrelated to the main story.

It takes place chronologically before the first two games, making it an excellent place to start with the series. The class system, as well as the large open world you can explore at your own pace, makes this RPG feel like a massive quest, just like it should.

4 Tetris

There's a reason it's the best-selling game of all time

There isn't much left to say about Tetris, the greatest puzzle game ever made. It's rare that someone makes something so transformative it just becomes a type of game. At this point, Tetris is closer to Solitaire than Super Mario Bros. Despite coming to nearly every platform ever made, the core game has changed very little, and even when it does, it's more of an experiment than a permanent change to the game. Tetris is a high-score focused puzzle game, where you need to continuously clear lines as pieces get faster and faster. Clearing four lines at once is a Tetris, and the best way to earn points.

Everyone knows what Tetris is and knows if they enjoy it or not. As for what makes the NES version a classic, its the first home console version and the preferred version for speed runners, which you can learn about in a Summoning Salt video.

3 Mega Man 2

The best of a series that has many great games

Mega Man 2 is the best Mega Man game on the NES, and the third-best game on the console overall. While some of these retro games are incredibly difficult, and Mega Man 2 does feel tough in modern times, its easier difficulty compared to the original, and the password system makes this game a classic. The password system would track your defeated bosses and the total number of energy tanks collected, so you can pick up where you left off if you ran out of lives. Energy Tanks are also new for this game, allowing you to refill Mega Man's health fully by using one. All of these quality-of-life improvements, combined with a cast of eight incredible bosses, are available before you take on Dr. Wily.

It's a classic action platformer, a high point in a series with many great games, and Mega Man himself is a de facto mascot of that era of gaming.

2 The Legend of Zelda

A great game, but nobody's favorite

The Legend of Zelda for the NES is a bit of a strange game. It has some of the notes that Super Mario Bros. does, where it has so many elements that became foundational to the series. But it's a bit different, because it's hard to find somebody whose favorite game in the series is the original. That's not to say The Legend of Zelda isn't one of the best NES games of all time; It's obviously number two, but many of the games in the series have improved upon it.

That said, adventuring around as Link, searching for your next objective or tool, so you can continue forward, still hits. It's helped by the fact that modern entries in the series, specifically Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, have moved back towards the directionless freedom of the original.

1 Super Mario Bros. 3

A fantastic platformer, better than the previous games in nearly every way

If it's impressive how many of the building blocks of the series were created in Super Mario Bros, it's almost strange how much comes from Super Mario Bros. 3. It's got the Tanooki Suit, sliding down hills, picking up and holding items, and the ability to save items. All of these are still present in modern games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, including the overworld map and the Koopa children, who run the airships that serve as boss levels for most of the worlds. While Nintendo would later improve even more upon the formula with Super Mario World, that game doesn't reach the heights it did without Super Mario Bros. 3 coming out first.

The worlds are more distinct in their themes and designs, and the soundtrack is an all-timer. Of course, the precise platforming, strong difficulty, and design that makes it easy to play it one more time make Super Mario Bros. 3 not only the best NES game of all time but also one of the best video games of all time.