If you’re looking for a nostalgic experience and want to get stuck in with some of Nintendo’s Golden Oldies, read this list for 10 of the best retro Nintendo games you can play. Granted, some of them may be a bit difficult to get hold of, but some will also be available on the Nintendo Switch’s built-in emulator for members of Nintendo Online.
A legendary game released in 1996 for the Nintendo 64, you get to explore multiple worlds as Mario. This is the first Mario game to include 3D gameplay, innovative for its time. Luckily, this game is still readily available through the Nintendo 64 emulator on Nintendo Switch.
Initially released in 1998 on the Nintendo 64, this game was (and still is) legendary. With a fantastic soundtrack and the first Zelda game to have 3D graphics, it was a complete game-changer.
Released in 1990 for the SNES, Super Mario World was a colorful delight that introduced new mechanics to the world of Mario. While it played very similarly to Mario games previously, it introduced the Cape Feather and the P-Balloon and was able to Spin Jump.
One of the most revolutionary tales of its time, this game was a hit on the SNES. Chrono Trigger doubles as an excellent JRPG and fantastic retro Nintendo game. It’s not hard to see why this game makes it on the list.
Fun for all the family, Donkey Kong Country was released in 1994 on the SNES, where it later went to the Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance. A vibrant world with side-scrolling platformer mechanics, you can play as Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong in this single-player game.
It is another timeless classic bound to be intensely nostalgic for many. Introducing the first 191 Pokemon to the universe, there are hours of fun to be had in this family-friendly game made for the Game Boy.
A game aimed at mature gamers, this game is a first-person shooter that was first made for the Nintendo 64. As the name suggests, this game is based on the James Bond film GoldenEye.