3 N64 Games Everyone Should Play Before They Die

Published Sep 2, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Tom Wilson is a Gaming Features Writer at Screen Rant. Over the past five years, Tom has worked as the Editor-in-Chief at The Game Crater, as a Staff Writer for GamingIntel, a List Writer at TheGamer, and, of course, as a Senior Writer at ScreenRant. Tom has experience writing reviews, guides, news, and features, and has been responsible for teams of writers, training them and editing their work. Tom graduated with a Masters in Multimedia Journalism, and has since gone on to build up his portfolio of games journalism work. Sign in to your ScreenRant account There are so many excellent, weirdly wonderful, and downright comically bad Nintendo 64 games, all of which are absolutely worth playing today. Whether it is to see just how Nintendo revolutionized the platforming genre with Super Mario 64, or to see Nintendo revolutionize the fighting genre with Super Smash Bros. Melee (Nintendo sure did revolutionize a lot of genres), or to see what one of the worst RPGs in the world looks like with Quest64, these games, irrespective of their overall quality, offer something unique that is well worth experiencing at least once. Among these games, the vast majority of which I do really recommend trying, are games that you truly cannot miss. From the greatest N64 masterpieces to some of its most emotionally charged epics, there are a handful of titles on Nintendo's legendary console that everyone, regardless of how much they love Nintendo, video games, or Mario himself, must play before they die. So, do yourself a favor; grab an N64 or borrow one from a friend and play through these exceptional games, as missing out on them would be a legitimate shame. 3 Paper Mario Paper Mario is one of the most remarkable RPGs ever made, and easily a contender for one of the greatest N64 games of all time. Intelligent Systems crafted a truly unique role-playing experience, one that leveraged the creativity, whimsy, and ingenuity of the Mario IP to deliver an RPG that, much like its platforming counterpart, was unlike anything else on the market. Indeed, Paper Mario's core visual identity and mechanical innovations were so profound in their implementation that it managed to inspire an entire generation of developers and spawn its own sub-genre. Paper Mario is one of the most unique N64 games on the market, and while its successor undeniably bested it through several key improvements, the original game is still very much worth playing. In fact, I believe that missing out on this legendary RPG would be a huge disappointment, as its quirky collection of characters, wonderfully unique approach to combat, and overall cozy atmosphere and delightful sense of whimsy make it a heartwarming, life-affirming joy that illustrates exactly why the N64 captured the hearts of so many children, teenagers, and adults in the 90s. 2 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Many likely expected Ocarina of Time to be on this list, and that would be completely understandable. It is, after all, the quintessential Zelda game, the one that encapsulates its grand scale, impressive dungeon design, and core design philosophies the best. However, as great as Ocarina of Time is, Majora's Mask is a more unique experience, one with infinitely more heart, a darker, weirder, and almost unbelievable atmosphere and world, and a captivating story that eschews many of the expected Zelda tropes. It's an iconic game, an eerie, brilliant, tear-jerking, somewhat traumatizing, and beautiful journey in a richly detailed world packed with fascinating characters that truly make its world feel alive. It expanded upon Ocarina of Time in ways that fans may not have expected or wanted, but illustrated Nintendo's passion for innovation, its ability to truly deviate from the traditional, and its penchant for the surreal. Majora's Mask is a game that needs to be seen to be believed and, consequently, is absolutely a game we should all experience once before we pass. 1 Wave Race 64 Much like one would have expected Ocarina of Time to be a must-play N64 game, I suspect many likely saw Super Mario 64 or even Mario Kart 64 as obvious candidates. However, as great as they are, and as phenomenal as many of the console's other excellent games are, there truly is nothing else like Wave Race 64 on the market. It is hard to believe that Wave Race 64 is one of the few N64 games turning 30 in 2026, as its groundbreaking water physics, controls, visuals, and general gameplay still hold up to this day. Beyond its industry-leading water physics and innovative visuals, Wave Rave 64 is also just a wonderful racing game that perfectly balances the tension of besting your opponents with its rather laid-back atmosphere and exceptional soundtrack. It is frankly not discussed enough, although far from being underrated, and is a must-play for all fans of the Nintendo 64, as well as those who just want to experience Nintendo at its absolute finest: a studio in its prime, delivering experiences that, as aforementioned, to this very day, remain undefeated in practically all aspects. Released October 26, 2000 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Nintendo EAD Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Proprietary Engine Franchise The Legend of Zelda