The Nintendo NES conquered the video game world in the 1980s. The main reason the NES conquered global gaming was its great games library, which included a wide variety of top Nintendo and third-party titles. Today, you can play many of the best NES games via the Nintendo Classic Mini retro console and Switch Online. These are the best NES games in history to discover in 2026 and beyond.
Super Mario Bros 3
Super Mario Bros. 3 was one of the best NES games for reinventing the platforming genre. This platforming game introduced the revolutionary world map and an inventory system. Players loved this Mario game for the wide variety of power-up transformations it offered, the most iconic of which was the Super Leaf, which let players fly. Super Mario Bros 3’s creative level design, hidden item variety, and brilliant NES graphics made it a masterpiece.
You can play Super Mario Bros 3 with a Switch Online subscription or the Nintendo Classic Mini. However, note that Super Mario All-Stars, which includes Super Mario Bros 3, is also available with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Mario All-Stars enables you to play Super Mario Bros 3 with spruced-up 16-bit SNES graphics and enhanced audio.
Bubble Bobble
Taito’s Bubble Bobble was a smash hit arcade game ported to the NES, and it was among that console’s first titles to have a true co-op mode. Players trapped monsters in magical bubbles and popped them with dragons to complete levels in Bubble Bobble. The bubble-popping mechanic that triggers chain reactions and rewards tactical play was ingenious in Bubble Bobble. This game is also packed with hidden items and secret rooms, which keep players coming back for more.
Bubble Bobble is not included on Nintendo Switch Online. However, the original Bubble Bobble is still available for the Switch as an Arcade Archives series. Or you can play the Bubble Bobble 4 Friends remake on the Switch, which has revamped graphics and a four-player mode.
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy was a genre-defining RPG on the NES with deep customizable character classes and an epic quest. This is among the best NES games because of its strategic turn-based combat and expansive world map for exploration. The original Final Fantasy has always had a pure, strategic charm with its deep RPG mechanics, resource management, and tactical planning.
Final Fantasy isn’t among the NES games within the Switch Online library. However, you can play the classic original FF game on the Switch and other games with the FINAL FANTASY I-VI Bundle. That bundle package includes the first six Final Fantasy games with updated pixel graphics and rearranged soundtracks.
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda introduced players to Link and the land of Hyrule. What set Zelda apart from other games of its era was how it discarded linear paths with a more open world for players to explore and fight through with sword, shield, and other gear. This has always been one of the best NES titles for its joy of discovery, rewarding action, and legendary game design.
Mega Man 2
The Mega Man 2 game perfected the MM formula in one of the best action-platformers for the NES. It was the first in the Mega Man series that enabled players to select to fight robotic bosses in any preferred order. The amazing soundtrack, great level design, strategic rock-paper-scissors mechanic, and firm weapon balance in Mega Man 2 made it one of the best NES games to play.
To play MM 2 on the Switch today, check out the Mega Man Legacy Collection. That compilation pack includes the classic 8-bit Mega Man games for the NES. It also packs in a Museum Mode for players to explore the history of the series.
Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros was the NES launch title that established the plucky plumber as a cultural icon in a game that became a blueprint for side-scrolling platformers. The smooth side scrolling, intuitive level design, fun power-ups, legendary musical score, and responsive controls made Super Mario Bros one of the best NES games. It proved that home consoles could eclipse arcade gaming.
Tetris
The Tetris NES game was a gaming masterpiece because of its pure, less-is-more design and responsive controls. This is classic Tetris that remains a joy to play without any of the quirky gimmicks incorporated in some iterations of the game. The purity of this game has made it the preferred version for the Classic Tetris World Championship.
Those best NES games above are much more than mere nostalgic museum pieces. They remain highly playable and masterfully engineered games you can discover on the Switch consoles. Or you can play five of them (Super Mario Bros, Zelda, Bubble Bobble, Mario Bros 3, and Final Fantasy) on the Nintendo Classic Mini for some great retro gaming.
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