Just a bit of feedback, I wish this video had visuals of some sort, even just a lower third showing the game you're talking about. Chapter breaks for each game would also be nice. This feels like it should be a podcast
I treated it as one because I didn't really need to pay attention to the visuals unless it was to see the reactions, and I kinda already knew what each game looked like. But to each their own. 🤷🏾
I second that this kind of video needs a visual component. Gameplay snippets would be nice now and then. Plus it would be cool to see the list grow with a picture of the boxart as you guys are ranking them.
I agree guys this is really below standard in this day and age. There''s no timestamps, no video of any of the games. I saw the title of this video and was looking forward to watching it, but there's no way I'm sitting through half an hour without those things
Roughly 170 people generating a list of 164 different entries is a testament to the variety of great games on the system. I discovered how good the NES is only in the past 5 years since it came before me, and I'm still not remotely close to seeing all it has to offer.
Kirby's Adventure is a tech marvel. It's tied for largest cart size on NES (it and Dragon Quest/Warrior IV are only 512 KB carts on NES) and it uses it. Insane content for an NES package. It does things no one else did, like the rotation and parallax scrolling on the tower. It really does feel like a generational leap vs early NES titles.
Don't forget about Metal Slader Glory which is actually the biggest Famicom cartridge at 1024kb beating Hoshi no Kirby/Kirby's Adventure by about 256kb. Both were developed by HAL Laboratory.
@@richtersundeen6105 Kirby's Adventure actually was 512 KB + 256 KB (768 KB). Dragon Quest 4 was 512 KB though (as was Dragon Quest 3). Kirby's Adventure is the largest officially licensed NES game to release in the US, but outside of it Metal Slader Glory is (as Bro mentioned).
1. EarthBound Beginnings 2. Super Mario Bros. 3 3. The Legend of Zelda 4. Super Mario Bros. 5. Metroid 6. Tetris 7. Super Mario Bros. 2 8. Dr. Mario 9. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 10. Wario's Woods I also like Mario Bros., Kid Icarus, Mario&Yoshi, StarTropics 1&2, Crystalis, Wrecking Crew, Vs. Excitebike, Lemmings, Bubble Bobble, Ice Climber, and Kirby's Adventure.
Kirby’s Adventure is my personal favorite game on NES so i’m glad others acknowledge it. it’s just extremely charming and unique, for being on NES it always feels so far ahead of many other games on the system. i’ve replayed it countless times, i always have a smile on my face when i play it.
An interesting metric for the future polls would be the option for voters to list their country too. Especially for people who grew up in PEGI regions because we just didn't get the same games for the longest time, especially when it came to RPGs. I know it would be more work but it would be interesting to see what the spread is in voters and theorise on how much that effects the outcome.
Would be especially interesting for the SNES considering how Europe basically didn't get any of the ones most people talk about but we did get Terranigma.
Surprisingly good list. Also, the NES version of Tetris is arguably more popular now than it was in its heyday. Tons of crazy stuff happening with Tetris these days, and new players are constantly starting to play the NES version. Some of the most competitive players in Tetris are in their 20's and teens.
I agree with Jon on Metroid. Incredibly hard going in blind, surprisingly playable once you know what you're doing. I think just the addition of a map on hand and a couple energy tanks under your belt changes the difficulty immensely.
The omission that I'm most prepared to go to bat for is Gargoyle's Quest 2: The Demon Darkness. I think it avoids a lot of the things that normally trip people up in this era of games, it's very nice to look at and listen to, the movement feels really good, and the fact you can hover and climb walls leads to a lot of "omnidirectional" platforming that you don't see too much of in that era (and not all that much in 2D platformers since, really). Even as someone who prefers Demon's Crest on the SNES, I'd argue that GQ2 has superior level design that's more specifically tailored to your character's abilities. I'd love to see it get more attention. Similar with Life Force. In a genre and an era of gaming in general that are usually pretty tough on newbies, it's one of the most accessible, forgiving shoot-em-ups around. It even has co-op! And some really eye-catching settings. I do feel bad for games like CV3 and Ninja Gaiden 3, which were hit with region-exclusive artificial difficulty, and are great games in their Famicom incarnations. I'm assuming Ninja Gaiden suffered from some "ticket-splitting" (1 is the most iconic and has the best music, but 2 and 3 have proper wall climbing, 2 has the shadow clones, but 3 has the giant sword upgrade).
I agree with some who said some footage or graphics would be nice so we can see the games if we're not familiar with them, but at a minimum I'd hope to see just a lower third showing the game being discussed. That's just me though. It was fun reminiscing the classics of the NES.
Since this talk was mainly about the NES, here's my personal list of 10 great Famicom games (in no particular order) 1. Binary Land 2. Captain Tsubasa II: Super Striker 3. Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken 4. Flipull 5. Gimmick! 6. The Goonies 7. Hello Kitty World 8. Joy Mech Fight 9. King of Kings 10. Tetris 2 + BomBliss
@AldoInza if it were by price, one of the Koei strategy games would be the most expensive by MSRP, but in terms of the secondhand market, Gimmick and Recca share the title as the most expensive Famicom games today
Glad Kirby's Adventure ranked high, that's my favorite NES games. I'm also surprised Zelda 1 ranked in the top 5. I feel that game got a lot of flack at one point for being too guide heavy, but the game does give plenty of hints and you can argue it was one of the earliest open world games with how much freedom it gives you right at the beginning. Breath of the Wild is a modern take on what the first game was going for, which I feel helped Zelda 1 get more appreciation.
Speaking of Journey to Silius or the Batman games, Sunsoft sure is missing from this list (apart from Blaster Master a bit down the line). Gimmick! / Mr. Gimmick too could be a top contender.
Dragon Quest 3 made the top 10 therefore this list is legit(should be higher IMO). For me I think Dragon Quest 4 is the better game BUT 3 is what paved the way for so many RPGs.
I think 3 is the better game overall, but 4 is a smoother playthrough on the NES... But also, DQ4 on NES was my first game in the series, and I think it holds up remarkably well!
Dragon Quest 3 and 4 are still really unique for JRPG's. But I agree, 4 is the better game on the NES. That SNES port of 3 though... beats both, but the DS version of 4 beat that too. Hoping 4 / 5 / 6 all get 2D-HD Remakes, because that trilogy is amazing, and I want to see those games get their dues (especially the GOAT Dragon Quest game in 5).
Most of the games I voted for were at the very least in the top 23. The only two that sadly didn't get mentioned at all in the video were Fire N Ice and Joy Mech Fight. Fire N Ice may not do anything too out there but it is a damb good puzzle game and holds up incredibly well, I hope more people check it out in the future.
Really excited to see the other systems top ten lists come out overtime! Also highly recommend checking out Jeff Gerstmann’s NES ranking series if you want to see a ranked list grow to over 420+ entries
That was on my mind while watching this. While Jeff isn't 100% objective, he really gives all of those games a fair shake and tries to highlight what they were going for in the context of the era. You would never see Rygar or Baseball Stars that high on the average Nintendo fan's list, despite what they both accomplish.
I was about to comment on Fire n' Ice too, but i found your comment. I dont even have nostalgia for it, i discovered it through NSO like 3 years ago and honestly, one of the best of the best, ahead of its time.
It should've been higher, but I'm glad that the greater community acknowledges just how phenomenal the original Castlevania still is. Though I agree with Jon, Murasame Castle should've been on this list somewhere.
I feel re-releasing in the modern era had a lot to do with the ranking of some games in the public eye. There are plenty of amazing games that won't get any votes in this system because they're not as easily accessible like, let's say, Ice Climber. As an old NES fan, I encourage everybody to just emulate what you can't find on NSO. You really need to play Crystalis, Guardian Legend, Blaster Master, R.C. Pro-Am, Batman, Clash at Demonhead, heck, check the Little Mermaid as well. You will find a few stinkers, but more often than not you'll come across some of the most fun and most entertaining games you'll ever play. Also, come on, Ice Climber, really?
I played through Metroid earlier this year. I played it once on VC back in the day using a guide, but this time I went in "blind" (or, I forgot everything and didn't use a guide or a map) So, I made my own map in a spreadsheet, and it was actually really fun. I even routed a sub 1 hr speedrun. The biggest L is respawning with 99 health
I love the original Metroid, but I agree completely that starting with 30 health is the worst part of the game. Drawing my own map for the game is fun, and I can always look up a map online if I get stuck, but grinding for health and ammo sucks. Metroid 2 deserves so much credit for introducing refill stations.
@@xalrons4831Yeah, like in a way I guess I can understand not wanting to start the player with too much health so that they don't try to just run screaming through hallways sponging damage, but 30 is just too low. Bare minimum they should start you at 99 to get you going. Starting at 30 you can get killed just by walking though a door, hit by an enemy on the other side while you're locked in transition.
Going to throw this out there - Crystalis might be the most underrated game on the system. It might be Top 5. Has Zelda-like combat, some RPG-like interactions / overworld / systems, a great soundtrack, and is just a pleasant but challenging experience. I first played it on the Nintendo Switch Online per a suggestion, and I loved it so much I bought a NES cartridge (was less than $20 if I remember correctly). Also want to say Kunio-kun games like Super Dodge Ball and River City Ransom deserve more dues.
Hey Guys, great list, but I am surprise that some of my favorite was not even mentioned! Like Crystalis, The Guardian Legend, Willow, 1943 or River City Ransom! So much great games on the system!!
Would have loved to see the whole list at some point. I'm really interested in statistics like this. Also would be nice to get just a little bit of visuals in the video. No fancy editing or anything - maybe even just a boxart or a bit of video footage somewhere or inbetween after the placement was revealed. Maybe next time (depending on how this does and I hope it continues on :-) )
As someone who didn’t grow up with these older games, I feel like a lot of NES games don’t hold up too well, especially just compared to how many masterpieces there are on SNES. The only games I’ve found that are genuinely hold up super well to me are Kirby’s Adventure and Mario 3
Dragon Quest 3 is also the game that holds up well. It introduced so many things that help staple later RPG series and the gameplay is still really good & fun. Of course, it got remakes or remastered in later gen consoles and I would say there the superior versions now. But that don't mean the original NES version is unplayable.
I grew up in the 2000s and I feel right at home playing the NES, yeah I can see why a lot of folks think the games don't hold up but, I have a much easier time wrapping my head around a D-Pad and 2 buttons than I do around the general complexity of many modern games, and the execution-based diffiulty doesn't really bother me... And well... 4 out of my top 5 favourite RPGs are NES games... Buuuuuuuuuut, that aside, the SNES is A LOT better lol
Honestly, the biggest surprises for me were Metroid and Dragon Quest 3. Dragon Quest 3 surprised me because I didn't think there were that many western Dragon Quest fans there to give it the boost it needed to get in the top 10, though it absolutely deserves said spot. Metroid surprised me because I didn't think there were that many fans of the NES game; it feels like most Metroid fans became fans with Super Metroid and anything before that is rough because of the lack of an in-game map. Still, credit where credit is due, it DID start off the Metroidvania genre for a good reason. Kind of wish Kid Icarus and StarTropics did better, though.
SMB3 is also my favourite game of all time, I've tried so so many 2D platformers throughout the years and the only 2 I'd consider close to the same level of SMB3 are Super Meat Boy and Rayman Legends. I know a lot of people have the SMB3 vs SMW debate but to me SMW is lower than all the NSMB series because of how it controls, it's just way too floaty to me. That's just personal preference tho in terms of everything else SMW clears a majority of 2D Mario games I just wish I liked how it controlled more.
Yay, Amiga... And I take great offence to saying it was just played by Brits in the 70s! I played my Amiga 500 in the late 80s/early 90s. Amigas were absolutely huge in the UK in the early 90s. No one had a NES, SNES were rare, Mega Drive was a tiny bit more common but barely. But I knew loads of people with an Amiga. Amiga was games. And there were some great ones... Speedball 2, Sensible World of Soccer, Cannon Fodder, Lemmings, Civilization, Worms, Monkey Island, Settlers. Feels like an alternate history when all you see is the US perspective online.
I am surprised Tetris was not #1, let alone did not top the list. I believe NES Tetris is probably the best single-player game ever made. It is flawless in design and perfectly addicting. My top 3 NES games probably goes: 1. Tetris 2. Zelda 3. Mario 3 Then a tier lower with: Castlevania 1 / 3 Crystalis Dr. Mario Dragon Quest 3 / 4 Final Fantasy 3 Kirby's Adventure Mega Man 3 / 4 / 6 Punch-Out!! Puyo Puyo River City Ransom Super Dodge Ball Super Mario Bros. 1 / USA Tecmo Super Bowl Followed by a tier lower of: Final Fantasy 1 / 2 Gargoyle's Quest 2 Mega Man 2 / 5 Metroid Ninja Gaiden 1 / 2 Star Tropics Super Contra Super Mario Bros. 2 (aka Lost Levels) Tetris 2 Wario's Woods Zelda 2
You can see it on Derrick's Bluesky account, but the results are: 10.) Dragon Quest 3 9.) Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA) 8.) Metroid 7.) Castlevania 6.) Super Mario Bros. 5.) Mega Man 2 4.) Punch-Out!! 3.) Kirby's Adventure 2.) The Legend of Zelda 1.) Super Mario Bros. 3
I grew up with Commodore 64 and Amiga. Archon and Populous are top ten. And a lot of arcade games, Burger Time, Time Pilots, Mario Bros, Bc’s Quest for Tires.
This list will be limited to the best games that were mostly accessible and most voters will be gamers that were in their 10s-teens and now adults. The NES came out during the video game crash. It was really marketed toward kids and kids don't have disposable income. Parents bought Atari's for themselves, kids got NES. Most people probably owned up to 20 games, maybe 30. If it wasn't for being in Nintendo Power, pushed by Electronic Gaming Monthly and mostly restricted to what was available on retail shelves, obviously the better selling games, you won't find less common games on this list. Everyone had Super Mario Bros. 1. Zelda screenshot was featured on the NES box. Super Mario 3 was the main goal in the movie The Wizard.
It also depended on the family. I am an only "child"; my wife was one of three. I had mostly RPGs and single-player platformers. Her parents only ever got multip-player games like Super-Spike V-Ball and RC-Pro Am and Super Off-Road. I had Dragon Warrior, Final Fantasy, the Castlevania's, etc. They even got the 4-player Satellite. And as only-child and "family systems" go, my original is long gone; my wife's family still has theirs, recently hooked up to.
Interesting list to say the least. Dragon Quest 3 ( or Dragon Warriors 3 as it once called ) should be alot higher. I'm not suspecting it'll be number one. But it should be in the top 3 at least. More so than any other games at the bottom 5-3. As important as Mega Man 2 is, I think later games are better. My favorite is Mega Man 6 and is my top 5 favorites. But this isn't my list. So for it's perspective; if not MM2, than MM3 & MM4 certainly for the strong contenders. Glad Kirby's Adventure is at the top 3. That game still holds up very strong. And the more I can see Mario 3 being on top, the better choice I'm ok with.
Castlevania vs Castlevania III...honestly, I know western Castlevania III has a reputation for being too hard compared to the original JP version but...I don't know if I agree. Like, I played it for the first time on the anniversary collection, the western version, and it was pretty hard but no impossible, and not even GnG/Ninja Gaiden hard. Then I went back and played the original JP version and...bro, it's so easy. Some of the boss fights are trivial. Literally free. Between the two even if they go overboard sometimes, the western version of CV3 is better. Overall CV1's difficulty is probably more balanced but I still think CV3 is a more interesting game overall...but they're close.
Castlevania 3 is just too dang hard. Mainly because the difficulty in the western side of the game is mostly obnoxious and unfair than challenging. It may not be impossible to beat. But it does drag on you alot if you don't be careful and that's what makes it worst. You died so many times, you probably wouldn't finished it in time. The enemies down the road hit harder than your first halve of the game, some of the level designs are insane; especially when it comes to the stairs, too many cheap enemy placements, the final level is absurd because of the lack of the checkpoints system near the end, Grant doesn't throw a dagger and it just keeps on going & going. It's mostly exhausting to get through.
I recognize I’m likely very colored by personal bias and history, but I think Mario 3 is just fine. Understandable it’s at the top but I prefer 2 USA and World. Though of course, I grew up with the GBA ports of 2 and World, and didn’t play 3 until after having played almost every other 2D Mario (besides New U, Mario Maker and Wonder), and while I recognize all those newer games primarily draw from 3, I just think they mostly all play better.
AAAUHHHGGGGG OK MEGAMAN 2 IS ICONIC BUT LIKE 4 5 AND 6 ARE SO MUCH BETRTER URHUGHFHH PPL NEED TO REALIZE THAT THEY NEED TO BECOME BASED AND CHARGESHOTPILLED SMH
Just a bit of feedback, I wish this video had visuals of some sort, even just a lower third showing the game you're talking about. Chapter breaks for each game would also be nice. This feels like it should be a podcast
Same! At least like 5 seconds of gameplay/visual for each game.
I treated it as one because I didn't really need to pay attention to the visuals unless it was to see the reactions, and I kinda already knew what each game looked like.
But to each their own. 🤷🏾
I second that this kind of video needs a visual component. Gameplay snippets would be nice now and then. Plus it would be cool to see the list grow with a picture of the boxart as you guys are ranking them.
Yes this is an audio podcast. Not for youtube.
I agree guys this is really below standard in this day and age. There''s no timestamps, no video of any of the games. I saw the title of this video and was looking forward to watching it, but there's no way I'm sitting through half an hour without those things
This video could have used some imagery of the games in each place,
Roughly 170 people generating a list of 164 different entries is a testament to the variety of great games on the system. I discovered how good the NES is only in the past 5 years since it came before me, and I'm still not remotely close to seeing all it has to offer.
Love the channel man, it’s been really cool to see you explore the NES library!
@@ChillinChambers yea, HPRshredder is surprisingly hardcore!
10. 4:48
9. 7:03
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7. 10:01
6. 12:21
5. 14:05
4. 16:37
3. 18:38
2. 21:12
1. 24:13
Kirby's Adventure is a tech marvel. It's tied for largest cart size on NES (it and Dragon Quest/Warrior IV are only 512 KB carts on NES) and it uses it. Insane content for an NES package. It does things no one else did, like the rotation and parallax scrolling on the tower.
It really does feel like a generational leap vs early NES titles.
Don't forget about Metal Slader Glory which is actually the biggest Famicom cartridge at 1024kb beating Hoshi no Kirby/Kirby's Adventure by about 256kb. Both were developed by HAL Laboratory.
Umm... Dragon Quest/Warrior III is 512 KB too...
@@richtersundeen6105 Kirby's Adventure actually was 512 KB + 256 KB (768 KB). Dragon Quest 4 was 512 KB though (as was Dragon Quest 3). Kirby's Adventure is the largest officially licensed NES game to release in the US, but outside of it Metal Slader Glory is (as Bro mentioned).
1. EarthBound Beginnings
2. Super Mario Bros. 3
3. The Legend of Zelda
4. Super Mario Bros.
5. Metroid
6. Tetris
7. Super Mario Bros. 2
8. Dr. Mario
9. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
10. Wario's Woods
I also like Mario Bros., Kid Icarus, Mario&Yoshi, StarTropics 1&2, Crystalis, Wrecking Crew, Vs. Excitebike, Lemmings, Bubble Bobble, Ice Climber, and Kirby's Adventure.
100% agree with Jon about Metroid. Playing it a second time was such a different experience.
Kirby’s Adventure is my personal favorite game on NES so i’m glad others acknowledge it. it’s just extremely charming and unique, for being on NES it always feels so far ahead of many other games on the system. i’ve replayed it countless times, i always have a smile on my face when i play it.
An interesting metric for the future polls would be the option for voters to list their country too. Especially for people who grew up in PEGI regions because we just didn't get the same games for the longest time, especially when it came to RPGs.
I know it would be more work but it would be interesting to see what the spread is in voters and theorise on how much that effects the outcome.
Would be especially interesting for the SNES considering how Europe basically didn't get any of the ones most people talk about but we did get Terranigma.
Surprisingly good list. Also, the NES version of Tetris is arguably more popular now than it was in its heyday. Tons of crazy stuff happening with Tetris these days, and new players are constantly starting to play the NES version. Some of the most competitive players in Tetris are in their 20's and teens.
I agree with Jon on Metroid. Incredibly hard going in blind, surprisingly playable once you know what you're doing. I think just the addition of a map on hand and a couple energy tanks under your belt changes the difficulty immensely.
If there was a Japanese audience for GVG then DQ3 would absolutely make top 3.
I hear DQ there is like one of the biggest things ever
Dragon Quest IV probably makes the top 10 as well.
@@lightdarksoul2097It is. It's one of there national treasures for RPG'S and gaming in general.
The omission that I'm most prepared to go to bat for is Gargoyle's Quest 2: The Demon Darkness. I think it avoids a lot of the things that normally trip people up in this era of games, it's very nice to look at and listen to, the movement feels really good, and the fact you can hover and climb walls leads to a lot of "omnidirectional" platforming that you don't see too much of in that era (and not all that much in 2D platformers since, really). Even as someone who prefers Demon's Crest on the SNES, I'd argue that GQ2 has superior level design that's more specifically tailored to your character's abilities. I'd love to see it get more attention.
Similar with Life Force. In a genre and an era of gaming in general that are usually pretty tough on newbies, it's one of the most accessible, forgiving shoot-em-ups around. It even has co-op! And some really eye-catching settings.
I do feel bad for games like CV3 and Ninja Gaiden 3, which were hit with region-exclusive artificial difficulty, and are great games in their Famicom incarnations. I'm assuming Ninja Gaiden suffered from some "ticket-splitting" (1 is the most iconic and has the best music, but 2 and 3 have proper wall climbing, 2 has the shadow clones, but 3 has the giant sword upgrade).
Very chill discussion. Helps bad anxiety. Thanks guys.
I agree with some who said some footage or graphics would be nice so we can see the games if we're not familiar with them, but at a minimum I'd hope to see just a lower third showing the game being discussed. That's just me though. It was fun reminiscing the classics of the NES.
I still play SMB3. Never gets old.
I love this kinda video ! This is vintage GVG. This is the kind of stuff I love from you two , Steve and Ash. Talking Nintendo !
Ice Climber had more votes than Bionic Commando, huh? Man, that Smash Bros bump has really been carrying that game since 2001.
Jon and Derek yessss just needed a Daniel cameo to make it complete
Since this talk was mainly about the NES, here's my personal list of 10 great Famicom games (in no particular order)
1. Binary Land
2. Captain Tsubasa II: Super Striker
3. Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
4. Flipull
5. Gimmick!
6. The Goonies
7. Hello Kitty World
8. Joy Mech Fight
9. King of Kings
10. Tetris 2 + BomBliss
By price?
@AldoInza if it were by price, one of the Koei strategy games would be the most expensive by MSRP, but in terms of the secondhand market, Gimmick and Recca share the title as the most expensive Famicom games today
Love that these are all Famicom exclusives! (Besides Gimmick and King of Kings)
Guys there is no excuse for this video not having time stamps with the game labels and no associated footage from each game
Glad Kirby's Adventure ranked high, that's my favorite NES games. I'm also surprised Zelda 1 ranked in the top 5. I feel that game got a lot of flack at one point for being too guide heavy, but the game does give plenty of hints and you can argue it was one of the earliest open world games with how much freedom it gives you right at the beginning. Breath of the Wild is a modern take on what the first game was going for, which I feel helped Zelda 1 get more appreciation.
Hoping for a Journey to Silius mention.
EDIT: No Ninja Gaiden? No Batman? People be missing out on some great NES games.
Speaking of Journey to Silius or the Batman games, Sunsoft sure is missing from this list (apart from Blaster Master a bit down the line). Gimmick! / Mr. Gimmick too could be a top contender.
The whole of Poland played ZX Spectrum and Amiga games as late as the 90s.
09:25 Being a Wonderful101 fan who's currently watching Derek's vods of when he streamed the game, this remark stands out to me...
if action 52 and the uncanny x-men aren't here, than this list is completely worthless
Um, aren't those games hated by AVGN (Angry Video Game Nerd)?
and don't forget Back to the future, it has that distinctive Ljn style and an interesting timer!!
@@stripedrajang3571yeah, which means they're great!
Dragon Quest 3 made the top 10 therefore this list is legit(should be higher IMO). For me I think Dragon Quest 4 is the better game BUT 3 is what paved the way for so many RPGs.
I think 3 is the better game overall, but 4 is a smoother playthrough on the NES... But also, DQ4 on NES was my first game in the series, and I think it holds up remarkably well!
Dragon Quest 3 and 4 are still really unique for JRPG's. But I agree, 4 is the better game on the NES. That SNES port of 3 though... beats both, but the DS version of 4 beat that too. Hoping 4 / 5 / 6 all get 2D-HD Remakes, because that trilogy is amazing, and I want to see those games get their dues (especially the GOAT Dragon Quest game in 5).
Most of the games I voted for were at the very least in the top 23. The only two that sadly didn't get mentioned at all in the video were Fire N Ice and Joy Mech Fight. Fire N Ice may not do anything too out there but it is a damb good puzzle game and holds up incredibly well, I hope more people check it out in the future.
Really excited to see the other systems top ten lists come out overtime! Also highly recommend checking out Jeff Gerstmann’s NES ranking series if you want to see a ranked list grow to over 420+ entries
That was on my mind while watching this. While Jeff isn't 100% objective, he really gives all of those games a fair shake and tries to highlight what they were going for in the context of the era. You would never see Rygar or Baseball Stars that high on the average Nintendo fan's list, despite what they both accomplish.
Fire N’ Ice and Solar Jetman would be somewhere on my list
I was about to comment on Fire n' Ice too, but i found your comment.
I dont even have nostalgia for it, i discovered it through NSO like 3 years ago and honestly, one of the best of the best, ahead of its time.
@ exact same experience. It’s so polished and very addictive
It should've been higher, but I'm glad that the greater community acknowledges just how phenomenal the original Castlevania still is.
Though I agree with Jon, Murasame Castle should've been on this list somewhere.
You gonna do DOS classics?
That would be sick. Doom, Jazz Jackrabbit, Commander Keen, One Must Fall, Descent, Wacky Wheels, Raptor, I could go on forever…
@@CrowTRobot Duke Nukem 3D and Quake, King’s Quest, yeah it’s a monster
if they ever do that, they should invite eXo from the eXoDOS project as a guest.
yeah it's never gonna happen.
I feel re-releasing in the modern era had a lot to do with the ranking of some games in the public eye. There are plenty of amazing games that won't get any votes in this system because they're not as easily accessible like, let's say, Ice Climber.
As an old NES fan, I encourage everybody to just emulate what you can't find on NSO. You really need to play Crystalis, Guardian Legend, Blaster Master, R.C. Pro-Am, Batman, Clash at Demonhead, heck, check the Little Mermaid as well. You will find a few stinkers, but more often than not you'll come across some of the most fun and most entertaining games you'll ever play.
Also, come on, Ice Climber, really?
I played through Metroid earlier this year. I played it once on VC back in the day using a guide, but this time I went in "blind" (or, I forgot everything and didn't use a guide or a map)
So, I made my own map in a spreadsheet, and it was actually really fun. I even routed a sub 1 hr speedrun.
The biggest L is respawning with 99 health
I love the original Metroid, but I agree completely that starting with 30 health is the worst part of the game. Drawing my own map for the game is fun, and I can always look up a map online if I get stuck, but grinding for health and ammo sucks. Metroid 2 deserves so much credit for introducing refill stations.
@@xalrons4831Yeah, like in a way I guess I can understand not wanting to start the player with too much health so that they don't try to just run screaming through hallways sponging damage, but 30 is just too low. Bare minimum they should start you at 99 to get you going. Starting at 30 you can get killed just by walking though a door, hit by an enemy on the other side while you're locked in transition.
25:38
No, it isn’t better than World. Still an excellent game, though.
Everyone respond with a NES hot take. I start with Zelda II is better then Zelda I.
I like dragon slayer 4 and fire emblem 1
These are easily the best. As soon as I saw the “according to you” in the title my hopes of seeing them vanished
My fav NES game actually changed this year. It always used to be Mega Man 2. Now it is Castlevania 1.
My favourite NES game is "Gimmick!" and that wasn't mentioned once.
I wish I knew there was a poll for this. I totally would have voted.
Kickle Cubicle FTW - was my favorite as a kid
Going to throw this out there - Crystalis might be the most underrated game on the system. It might be Top 5. Has Zelda-like combat, some RPG-like interactions / overworld / systems, a great soundtrack, and is just a pleasant but challenging experience. I first played it on the Nintendo Switch Online per a suggestion, and I loved it so much I bought a NES cartridge (was less than $20 if I remember correctly). Also want to say Kunio-kun games like Super Dodge Ball and River City Ransom deserve more dues.
NES time I’ve seen and have all from 1980-Now I have every console tons of games what a life of gaming throughout the decades
Hey Guys, great list, but I am surprise that some of my favorite was not even mentioned! Like Crystalis, The Guardian Legend, Willow, 1943 or River City Ransom! So much great games on the system!!
gimmick got so shafted... more people need to play that masterpiece!!
A Top 10 NES game list? Impossible.
Try Top 100 in no particular order.
14:45 speaking of the Mega Man games. Whatever happened to the "series playthrough" videos?
Would have loved to see the whole list at some point. I'm really interested in statistics like this.
Also would be nice to get just a little bit of visuals in the video. No fancy editing or anything - maybe even just a boxart or a bit of video footage somewhere or inbetween after the placement was revealed. Maybe next time (depending on how this does and I hope it continues on :-) )
17:43 I love Super Punch-Out, and play through it regularly.
It's by far the easiest Punch-Out game. It really shines in Time Attack mode, though.
Been meaning to give kid Icarus and mysterious castle a fair try 😅
Has to be BUBBLE BOBBLE
Based on this video, Batman, Castlevania 2, Gradius, Life Force, Super Contra and Twinbee are definitely underrated.
Ironsword Wizards and Warriors II would have been in my top 10. I plugged away at that game for an entire summer to finish it.
Thank god StarTropics got a mention somewhere.
Poor Ice Climber. It's actually my number 1. 2 is Dr. Mario, and 3 is Kirby's Adventure.
As someone who didn’t grow up with these older games, I feel like a lot of NES games don’t hold up too well, especially just compared to how many masterpieces there are on SNES. The only games I’ve found that are genuinely hold up super well to me are Kirby’s Adventure and Mario 3
Well said. I agree. Those two games do hold up well. I will say, however, that Super Mario Bros. 2 is not too bad either.
Dragon Quest 3 is also the game that holds up well. It introduced so many things that help staple later RPG series and the gameplay is still really good & fun. Of course, it got remakes or remastered in later gen consoles and I would say there the superior versions now. But that don't mean the original NES version is unplayable.
I grew up in the 2000s and I feel right at home playing the NES, yeah I can see why a lot of folks think the games don't hold up but, I have a much easier time wrapping my head around a D-Pad and 2 buttons than I do around the general complexity of many modern games, and the execution-based diffiulty doesn't really bother me...
And well... 4 out of my top 5 favourite RPGs are NES games...
Buuuuuuuuuut, that aside, the SNES is A LOT better lol
Honestly, the biggest surprises for me were Metroid and Dragon Quest 3. Dragon Quest 3 surprised me because I didn't think there were that many western Dragon Quest fans there to give it the boost it needed to get in the top 10, though it absolutely deserves said spot. Metroid surprised me because I didn't think there were that many fans of the NES game; it feels like most Metroid fans became fans with Super Metroid and anything before that is rough because of the lack of an in-game map. Still, credit where credit is due, it DID start off the Metroidvania genre for a good reason.
Kind of wish Kid Icarus and StarTropics did better, though.
Well that and Zero Mission is the superior way of playing the first Metroid game.
How the hell is Duck Tales not top 5?
I wonder if Dragon Quest 3 will be on here, considering it's probably Japan's favourite
SMB3 is also my favourite game of all time, I've tried so so many 2D platformers throughout the years and the only 2 I'd consider close to the same level of SMB3 are Super Meat Boy and Rayman Legends.
I know a lot of people have the SMB3 vs SMW debate but to me SMW is lower than all the NSMB series because of how it controls, it's just way too floaty to me.
That's just personal preference tho in terms of everything else SMW clears a majority of 2D Mario games I just wish I liked how it controlled more.
Yay, Amiga... And I take great offence to saying it was just played by Brits in the 70s! I played my Amiga 500 in the late 80s/early 90s.
Amigas were absolutely huge in the UK in the early 90s. No one had a NES, SNES were rare, Mega Drive was a tiny bit more common but barely. But I knew loads of people with an Amiga. Amiga was games. And there were some great ones...
Speedball 2, Sensible World of Soccer, Cannon Fodder, Lemmings, Civilization, Worms, Monkey Island, Settlers.
Feels like an alternate history when all you see is the US perspective online.
I’d love a list of all the single vote games.
I am surprised Tetris was not #1, let alone did not top the list. I believe NES Tetris is probably the best single-player game ever made. It is flawless in design and perfectly addicting.
My top 3 NES games probably goes:
1. Tetris
2. Zelda
3. Mario 3
Then a tier lower with:
Castlevania 1 / 3
Crystalis
Dr. Mario
Dragon Quest 3 / 4
Final Fantasy 3
Kirby's Adventure
Mega Man 3 / 4 / 6
Punch-Out!!
Puyo Puyo
River City Ransom
Super Dodge Ball
Super Mario Bros. 1 / USA
Tecmo Super Bowl
Followed by a tier lower of:
Final Fantasy 1 / 2
Gargoyle's Quest 2
Mega Man 2 / 5
Metroid
Ninja Gaiden 1 / 2
Star Tropics
Super Contra
Super Mario Bros. 2 (aka Lost Levels)
Tetris 2
Wario's Woods
Zelda 2
This was a fun experiment, even if I know basically nothing about the NES lol
why are the tmnt games not up there? paper boy? chip n dale? little nemo dream master? silkworm?
No love for TGL, TSB, and Rygar disappoints me, but i get it. Glad Dr. Mario got some love, though!
Pretty good list, personally I would swap the places of Zelda and Mega Man II, but otherwise it's pretty accurate imo
there are no visuals on this video, and I don't have the time to watch all 36 minutes. could someone comment the full ranking? thanks
You can see it on Derrick's Bluesky account, but the results are:
10.) Dragon Quest 3
9.) Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA)
8.) Metroid
7.) Castlevania
6.) Super Mario Bros.
5.) Mega Man 2
4.) Punch-Out!!
3.) Kirby's Adventure
2.) The Legend of Zelda
1.) Super Mario Bros. 3
@Rubberman202 thank you!
Why limit the poll to Bluesky when X is a much, much larger platform? I don't understand.
I grew up with Commodore 64 and Amiga. Archon and Populous are top ten. And a lot of arcade games, Burger Time, Time Pilots, Mario Bros, Bc’s Quest for Tires.
More people should play Bionic Commando, it’s a shame Capcom has not re-release it for some reason.
Maybe for future lists you can set up a Google Form or something so you don't have to manually tally every submission.
Batman NES will always be my favorite! 🙂
Absolute greatness.
It's kinda sad that he said that PC games for the 80s might get skipped.
Kirby is fucking amazing, my top 3 of all time, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Kirby's Adventure and Silent Hill 1
This list will be limited to the best games that were mostly accessible and most voters will be gamers that were in their 10s-teens and now adults. The NES came out during the video game crash. It was really marketed toward kids and kids don't have disposable income. Parents bought Atari's for themselves, kids got NES. Most people probably owned up to 20 games, maybe 30. If it wasn't for being in Nintendo Power, pushed by Electronic Gaming Monthly and mostly restricted to what was available on retail shelves, obviously the better selling games, you won't find less common games on this list. Everyone had Super Mario Bros. 1. Zelda screenshot was featured on the NES box. Super Mario 3 was the main goal in the movie The Wizard.
That being said, I LOVED River City Ransom (only ever rented) and Crystalis (still a great game to play, its in the SNK 40th compilation and on NSO)
It also depended on the family. I am an only "child"; my wife was one of three. I had mostly RPGs and single-player platformers. Her parents only ever got multip-player games like Super-Spike V-Ball and RC-Pro Am and Super Off-Road. I had Dragon Warrior, Final Fantasy, the Castlevania's, etc. They even got the 4-player Satellite. And as only-child and "family systems" go, my original is long gone; my wife's family still has theirs, recently hooked up to.
Kirbys adventure is my #1 but the community clearly needs to get more dragon quest culture, even dq1 wld make my top 5 tbh
Mega Man 4 🙌 there are dozens of us, Derrick. DOZENS!!
I'm more of a Mega Man 6 guy. But I can understand why people like Mega Man 4 the most.
If mario bros 3 isnt #1 we failed as a community
If course it is, it always is. It wasn't even competition.
Batman: The Video Game standing ominously in the corner:
unfortunately it doesn’t have saves or passwords so mega man and kirby are better imo
@@leightonsmith9928 Thats a good point actually u right
I put Kirby's Adventure as my #1, personally.
Interesting list to say the least. Dragon Quest 3 ( or Dragon Warriors 3 as it once called ) should be alot higher. I'm not suspecting it'll be number one. But it should be in the top 3 at least. More so than any other games at the bottom 5-3. As important as Mega Man 2 is, I think later games are better. My favorite is Mega Man 6 and is my top 5 favorites. But this isn't my list. So for it's perspective; if not MM2, than MM3 & MM4 certainly for the strong contenders. Glad Kirby's Adventure is at the top 3. That game still holds up very strong. And the more I can see Mario 3 being on top, the better choice I'm ok with.
I'd love to, but im not moving over to blue sky. I don't need any more social media
What do you mean people who played Amiga were around in the 70s! I got my Amiga in the 90s 😆
Castlevania vs Castlevania III...honestly, I know western Castlevania III has a reputation for being too hard compared to the original JP version but...I don't know if I agree.
Like, I played it for the first time on the anniversary collection, the western version, and it was pretty hard but no impossible, and not even GnG/Ninja Gaiden hard.
Then I went back and played the original JP version and...bro, it's so easy. Some of the boss fights are trivial. Literally free. Between the two even if they go overboard sometimes, the western version of CV3 is better. Overall CV1's difficulty is probably more balanced but I still think CV3 is a more interesting game overall...but they're close.
Castlevania 3 is just too dang hard. Mainly because the difficulty in the western side of the game is mostly obnoxious and unfair than challenging. It may not be impossible to beat. But it does drag on you alot if you don't be careful and that's what makes it worst. You died so many times, you probably wouldn't finished it in time. The enemies down the road hit harder than your first halve of the game, some of the level designs are insane; especially when it comes to the stairs, too many cheap enemy placements, the final level is absurd because of the lack of the checkpoints system near the end, Grant doesn't throw a dagger and it just keeps on going & going. It's mostly exhausting to get through.
Kind of a shame wizards and warriors was not present.
Metroid #8, Castlevania #7… Metriodvania. Y’all planned this.
Obviously remember folks, popular (aka number of votes) does not mean 'best'. So many underdogs.
Super Mario Bros 2 baby!
I recognize I’m likely very colored by personal bias and history, but I think Mario 3 is just fine. Understandable it’s at the top but I prefer 2 USA and World. Though of course, I grew up with the GBA ports of 2 and World, and didn’t play 3 until after having played almost every other 2D Mario (besides New U, Mario Maker and Wonder), and while I recognize all those newer games primarily draw from 3, I just think they mostly all play better.
I found Mario 2 ( USA ) more of the weaker side. I found that game kinda boring.
I made supah mario Brothers 2
KICKLE CUBICLE MENTIONED
No Ninja Gaiden mention?
I'm surprised Dragon Quest beat Final Fantasy into the top 10. Dragon Quest to me has always seemed incontrovertibly worse by comparison.
I would actually place Dragon Quest III as number 1
No Ninja Gaiden makes me sad....
You should allow voting on different platforms. BS (unfortunate acronym) aloneis a bit limiting the audience.
They apparently made a UA-cam community post for Game Boy now, where you can vote too. I assume they will also do that going forward.
is voting only open for patrons? I bet you could get a lot more votes if you open it up
☺️😊🙂↔️ It's so hard to choose. I like so many games😢
oh 100% using a guide takes away from Zelda! take notes, draw maps - woo!
No ninja gaiden 😢
AAAUHHHGGGGG OK MEGAMAN 2 IS ICONIC BUT LIKE 4 5 AND 6 ARE SO MUCH BETRTER URHUGHFHH PPL NEED TO REALIZE THAT THEY NEED TO BECOME BASED AND CHARGESHOTPILLED SMH