ComicBook.com has published a ranking of the 10 best Nintendo Entertainment System games, highlighting titles based on sales, industry impact, and replayability. The list features iconic entries from franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Mega Man, limited to the strongest game per series. Released on December 28, 2025, the article celebrates the NES's legacy since its 1985 North American launch.
The Nintendo Entertainment System, launched in North America in 1985, revitalized the video game industry with over 700 officially licensed titles. ComicBook.com's recent ranking selects the top 10 based on sales figures, cultural influence, and enduring enjoyment, restricting choices to one per franchise for variety.
At number 10, Excitebike (1985) offers simple motocross racing developed by Shigeru Miyamoto, selling over 4.6 million copies as the ninth best-selling NES title. Its replayability keeps players returning to beat personal records.
Dragon Quest III (1988), also known as Dragon Warrior III, ranks ninth for its RPG innovations like an open-world map, character swapping, and day/night cycle, enhancing the series' formula.
Eighth is Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (1987), a boxing game ported from a 1984 arcade version, featuring the heavyweight champion as the final boss. Players guide Little Mac through increasingly tough fights, learning opponent patterns.
Contra (1988), a challenging action game from a 1987 arcade port, places seventh. Famous for the Konami Code granting extra lives, it delivers intense gameplay with varied formats and tough enemies.
Sixth, Metroid (1987) pioneered the Metroidvania subgenre of nonlinear action-adventures, requiring new abilities to progress and influencing platformer mechanics.
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989) takes fifth as a prequel to the 1986 original, with Trevor Belmont battling Dracula in a return to pure action-platforming, later inspiring adaptations like Netflix's series.
Fourth is Ninja Gaiden (1988), a hack-and-slash platformer following Ryu Hayabusa's quest in a retro-futuristic 1988 setting, blending narrative with action to shape the genre.
Mega Man 2 (1988) ranks third, improving on the first entry with 1.5 million sales, considered the pinnacle of the classic series for its balanced difficulty and innovation.
The Legend of Zelda, second, transformed RPGs with its gold cartridge, save feature, and vast Hyrule map, where Link collects items to defeat Ganon.
Topping the list is Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988), the best-selling non-bundled NES game at over 18 million copies. It introduces a world map across seven kingdoms, power-ups like flight, and RPG-like elements for high replayability.
The article invites readers to share their favorite NES games in comments.
