Nintendo Switch Online is a great subscription service if you enjoy dipping your toe into yesteryear and experiencing some retro classics. With the service broken down into different Nintendo platforms, every era is covered and a great deal of amazing games can be played.
Today, we’re focusing on where it all began. The Nintendo Entertainment System, also known as the NES, was the starting place for a bunch of iconic Nintendo franchises and so many of these are worth playing. Along with a couple of lesser-known gems, this is your ‘must-play’ list for the Nintendo Switch Online NES collection.
Snake Rattle N Roll
Nintendo
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While Rare wouldn’t hit its stride until the SNES andDonkey Kong Country, the developer got started with this isometric action-puzzler that was a huge hit back in the day and still holds up now. It’s easy to see whySnake Rattle N Rollis so engaging even today, the visuals are simple and colourful and the concept is equally easy to grasp.
This part-puzzler, part-platformer saw players controlling a snake as it trekked downhill in search of food to eat while avoiding obstacles. It was difficult to master due to its perspective, but many players loved the Pac-Man-style gameplay with a surreal twist.
Blaster Master
Nintendo
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2D side-scrolling action games never really age andBlaster Master, with its moreish hook shot and grapple abilities makes the game feel fresh even after several decades. The action here balances vehicular and on-foot combat that gives the game a fast-paced feel although that does come with a higher difficulty level. Think of the MetroidVania genre, or Mega Man platforming and you’re on the right track here. It’s a little rough around the edges but it shows how far action games have come in the years since.
Double Dragon
Nintendo
Double Dragonis somewhat timeless if you look past the visuals and the stereotypes. Its simple two-button action allows for some impressive moments of action whether you’re pounding the faces of bullies or flying through the air to kick criminals to the ground. As with any beat-em-up of the era, don’t expect this to be a walk in the park. It was tricky then and it’s perhaps more so now due to the archaic controls, but there’s no denying the charm here and the all-out badassery of the genre.
Nintendo
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Wario’s Woods
Nintendo
Donkey Kong
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The Legend of Zelda
Nintendo
Another origins title,The Legend of Zeldawas the first step for a franchise that has, for so many years, never put a foot wrong. Is it still playable now? Absolutely. Of course, it’s hard to ignore where the series has reached and, of course, this is a much simpler adventure for Link and Zelda. One thing this title has is heart. It’s a great fairy tale of good versus evil and one that is filled with action and delight. You’re going to need a guide handy as the game relies on a map and plenty of world knowledge, but every step, every fight, every dungeon, is as great now as it once was.
Super Mario Bros 3
Nintendo
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Perhaps the best NES game of all time. I could have put any Mario title on this list (and I’m a big supporter of the second, quirky game) but really,Super Mario Bros 3distills everything that makes Mario such a fantastic series and expands it further. The powerups are great, the level design is Nintendo perfection, and the advent of the overworld map still retains its charm. The themed worlds are a joy and, most importantly, it feels unique and astounding to play. Even today, after so many Mario games. Stomping Goombas, dashing for the finish line of each level, and snagging a warp whistle, none of this gets old. It’s not just the best NES game on Nintendo Switch Online, it’s the best NES game hands down, and one of the best platformers ever made.
Topics:Nintendo,Nintendo Switch,Nintendo Switch Online,Retro Gaming
