Guide: Every Nintendo Switch Online NES Game Ranked

81. Donkey Kong Jr. Math (NES)

Donkey Kong Jr. Math incorporates some mathematics into the fundamental vine-swinging and platforming of Donkey Kong Jr. in a title that drains the enjoyment from both gaming and arithmetic. It fuses ‘education’ and ‘entertainment’ to create — you anticipated it! — an awful game. Consider the unfortunate child who received a launch NES console along with this title. At least one must have existed.

However, don’t feel too sorry. Boxed editions of Donkey Kong Jr. Math are valued quite highly these days, so silver linings and all that. The title does make the game sound dreary, and it certainly is, but at least it fulfills its name’s promise, and a unique, surprisingly enjoyable two-player experience is this retro oddity’s saving grace.

Previously available via Virtual Console and now on NSO, it’s technically playable on GameCube, too, as it’s one of the NES titles featured in the original Animal Crossing.

80. Urban Champion (NES)

When Urban Champion launched, it would probably have been average even for its time, but played in today’s context it’s excruciatingly poor. It’s awful, and we would rather hit the streets and engage in random brawls — which we’d likely lose — than endure this again.

Nevertheless, there’s no disputing that as the first entry on a very brief list of Nintendo fighting games, it’s a noteworthy addition in the company’s history.

79. Volleyball (NES)

Some entries in Nintendo’s ‘Black Box’ series have aged more gracefully than others and, regrettably, Volleyball went outdated long ago. In fact, we’d argue it’s the lowest of Nintendo’s early sports offerings, delivering only the very fundamentals of the game in a rather unappealing format.

We much prefer a game of Tennis when it comes to ball-oriented net sports, but we suppose you’ve got nothing to lose in firing up Volleyball for a match or two.

78. Baseball (NES)

Another rather rudimentary interpretation of a national pastime, the ‘Black Box’ title Baseball is a slow and steady game that requires time to master, but stick with it and you’ll discover it to be an enjoyable, if simplistic, experience – especially with a second player in the mix. It’s more of a historical artifact at this stage, but there’s enjoyment to be found if you give it a shot.

77. Soccer (NES)

The beautiful game has undergone numerous digital adaptations through the years. This quaint early attempt won’t hold your attention for long, but Soccer is an interesting glimpse into early sports titles on the system and merits a test run at least once.

76. City Connection (NES)

City Connection didn’t appear or perform particularly well back in the day, and time has not been beneficial to Jaleco’s city-hopping arcade adaptation. With so many other choices available in the NES library, diving back into this one isn’t advisable unless you’re resolute about trying every last NES title for a quick test drive.

75. The Immortal (NES)

An isometric fantasy action RPG published by EA, The Immortal might not be the NES classic that pops to mind, but it was generally well-received when it released back in 1990.

Developer Sandcastle’s adaptation of the Apple IIGS game drops you in the Labyrinth of Eternity and tasks you with searching the dungeon for your character’s mentor, Mordamir. Along the way, you inevitably battle monsters, cast spells, and perform typical wizard-like tasks.

74. GOLF (NES)

This is the game,

originally coded by HAL Laboratory’s Satoru Iwata, that was concealed in Switch’s software as a talisman for the console in 2017. Golf may not be the most thrilling game on the NES, yet it established the model for nearly every video game adaptation of the sport until Wii Sports debuted over twenty years later.

73. The Mystery of Atlantis (NES)

Sunsoft took a daring approach with The Mystery of Atlantis in Japan, branding it “The game that outperformed Super Mario!!” And, while it does indeed feature more levels than Super Mario Bros., we’re uncertain if the company achieved such grand aspirations. Its jumping mechanism feels considerably less accurate, and the stringent timer can prove somewhat frustrating.

Nonetheless, there’s a robust atmosphere within Mystery of Atlantis — originally Atlantis no Nazo for its exclusive Famicom release in Japan — and it’s worth exploring if you’re a fan of platformers in general.

72. Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia (NES)

Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia is, as the title implies, the sixth installment in a seven-part saga. As the sole game launched on the Famicom, it was reportedly simplified significantly compared to its predecessors to cater to Nintendo’s younger demographic.

Regardless, the game showcased a fairly advanced visual design and certainly presented a challenge despite the apparent downgrading. Honestly, weren’t all NES titles somewhat difficult to a degree?

71. Ninja JaJaMaru-kun (NES)

Jaleco’s Ninja JaJaMaru-kun wasn’t made available outside Japan until the introduction of the Virtual Console on Wii. The game is set in a horizontal arena with four levels, interspersed with solid concrete floors and fragile brick floors that you can break through.

It can become pretty challenging further along in the game, so if you’re among those who struggle to complete even the first stage of (Super) Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, this title likely isn’t for you.

70. Kung-Fu Heroes (NES)

You’ll want to bring a second player along to fully enjoy Kung-Fu Heroes. It’s a straightforward martial arts title, but the blend of solid moves, power-ups, and the strategic possibilities that come from having two players controlling Jacky and Lee makes this one worth trying, especially if you enjoy kung-fu combat.

69. Clu Clu Land (NES)

If you can tolerate the peculiar controls and steep difficulty, you might extract some fun from Clu Clu Land, and as a ‘Black Box’ title, it certainly carries some curio appreciation. However, this arcade puzzle-style maze game is unlikely to maintain your attention unless you’re a true Nintendo aficionado or scholar. We’d rather stick to collecting Rupees with Link.

68. Tennis (NES)

Basic may be too generous an adjective to characterize Tennis, although we’ve always had a fondness for it (and its Game Boy counterpart, in particular). It’s an incredibly simplistic approach to the sport, and not one that will engross you for a long duration, but at the very least, it’s enjoyable to see how far we’ve progressed.

Game? Why not. Set? Hmm, perhaps. Match? Nah, you’re good. Let’s play Mario Bros. 3.

66. Eliminator Boat Duel (NES)

One of the lesser-known titles in the NES catalog, Eliminator Boat Duel is worth trying out if you’ve never taken its speedboats for a spin. A bird’s-eye view racing game from the early ’90s, it may not blow your mind, but it’s a solid inclusion to the console’s library, and there are certainly worse ways to spend an hour or two than at the helm of a hefty 8-bit powerboat.

The quirky ’90s mix of a 12-year-old boy’s fantasy and technicolor on the cover alone makes it worth checking out at least once.

65. Mighty Bomb Jack (NES)

A relatively unique offering from Tecmo, Mighty Bomb Jack may not resonate with everyone and couldn’t be labeled as ‘essential’. However, if you’ve played through all the obvious NES platformers and seek something a little different, this hybrid platformer provides a good challenge that’s enjoyable to control. Worth considering for arcade-style platforming enthusiasts.

64. Pinball (NES)

There just isn’t much to elaborate on regarding Pinball. It’s a small segment of history, demonstrating what home console video games were (essentially inferior versions of their arcade counterparts) before they discovered what they could be — a lesson that can typically be grasped by most in a single session.

Nothing here is subpar; in fact, the game performs quite well. It’s merely repetitive, lacking in variety and overshadowed by superior choices we’ve enjoyed in the years since. Those who experienced the NES launch and cherish memories of Pinball will surely find merit in revisiting it, but anyone else would likely benefit more from opting for a contemporary alternative instead.

Easily accessible for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, some enjoyment can be found here, but it’s basic and limited.

63. Nightshade (NES)

An action-adventure title incorporating point-and-click gameplay elements, Beam Software’s Nightshade presented a peculiar blend of gangland drama in the gritty streets of Metro City alongside an intriguing system that tracked the main character’s popularity as the titular vigilante crimefighter.

Fascinating, but ultimately not successful, this later NES release (it came out in 1992) is perhaps best remembered as the precursor to the far superior Shadowrun on SNES.

62. Star Soldier (NES)

As vertical shooters go, Star Soldier hasn’t aged spectacularly, and appears particularly dull these days. It’s not without merit, and shooter fans may derive some enjoyment from it, but better alternatives are readily available. One for ‘fans of the genre’ only, then.

61. Pro Wrestling (NES)

“A WINNER IS YOU.”

This title is worth experiencing at least once just to see that iconic meme phrase in its original setting. It’s a straightforward representation of professional wrestling with a limited roster, but it’s infused with nostalgia and character, and given the unfortunate state of the genre in recent years (Fire Pro Wrestling aside), you could do much worse than revisiting Pro Wrestling for a match.