NEStalgia Essential Games List Community Vote (2024)
We asked our Patreon members to join us in a ranking of the Essential Games List (as it stood on December 1st 2024). Everyone in the community was allowed to create a personal top 10 list of the games featured. Each game was then given points (10 for 1st, 1 for 10th) based on those rankings to determine the overall top 10. Now that you know the rules, let’s get to the games
#10 - 56 points - Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 2 on the NES is a colorful, quirky adventure that stands out from the rest of the series. Set in the dreamlike world of Subcon, the game lets you play as Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess Peach, each with their own unique abilities. Instead of stomping Goombas, you’re tossing veggies, riding magic carpets, and taking on bizarre bosses like Birdo and Wart. Packed with charm, creative gameplay, and tons of personality, it’s a fan favorite that proves Mario can be anything but predictable.
#9 - 61 points - Contra
Contra is the ultimate co-op action game that defined what it means to be a run-and-gun classic. Blast through alien-infested jungles, bases, and futuristic fortresses, dodging bullets and taking down epic bosses. With its fast-paced gameplay, weapons like the Spread Gun, and intense difficulty, it’s the kind of game that rewards replays. Add in the legendary Konami Code for those 30 extra lives, and you’ve got a non-stop adrenaline rush.
#8 - 65 Points - DuckTales
DuckTales is a treasure-hunting adventure that’s as charming as it is fun. You play as Scrooge McDuck, bouncing around on your pogo cane and exploring exotic locations like the Amazon, Transylvania, and even the Moon. Packed with tight platforming, hidden secrets, and unforgettable music (the Moon Theme is legendary), it’s a game that oozes personality.
#7 - 68 Points - Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! is the ultimate test of reflexes, timing, and perseverance. As Little Mac, you work your way up through a cast of quirky, unforgettable opponents like King Hippo and Don Flamenco, each with their own patterns to learn and exploit. The gameplay feels like a rhythm game, where every dodge, punch, and counter lands perfectly when you find the beat. And let’s be real—facing off against Mike Tyson himself is an experience that Mr. Dream just can’t replicate. It’s challenging, addictive, and one of the most iconic games of its era.
#6 - 83 Points - Super Mario Bros.
Beyond its iconic status, what really makes Super Mario Bros. special is how perfectly it teaches you the rules of its world without a single word. From the first Goomba teaching you to jump, to the boundary breaking discovery of the warp zone it’s a masterclass in game design. What makes it timeless is how everything just works—the tight controls, the perfectly crafted levels, and that unforgettable music that’s stuck in your head from the moment you hit Start. Super Mario Bros. didn’t just set the standard for platformers—it created the blueprint for how games
#5 - 91 points - Castlevania
Castlevania is a game oozing with atmosphere and challenge. With its moody 8-bit visuals and dance-inspired horror music, it nails that perfect haunted castle vibe. As Simon Belmont, you whip your way through monsters, tricky platforming, and some brutally tough bosses, but every victory feels earned. The more you replay levels, the better you get, and that rewarding loop keeps you coming back for more. It’s tough, stylish, and iconic—setting the stage for an entire legacy of vampire-hunting adventures.
#4 - 112 points - Final Fantasy
The original Final Fantasy is a journey that sparks your imagination and pulls you into a grand, unforgettable tale. With its rich world, memorable characters, and twists that keep you hooked, it feels like stepping into a classic fantasy novel. The class and party system lets you create your own team of adventurers, from Fighters and Mages to Thieves, making every playthrough feel unique. Its mix of exploration, strategy, and epic storytelling set the foundation for one of gaming’s greatest franchises, proving that even in 8-bit, magic can feel limitless.
#3 - 123 points - Mega Man 2
Mega Man 2 took everything great about the first game and cranked it up to eleven. With smoother gameplay, more polished visuals, and an unforgettable soundtrack, it set the standard for the series. It’s tough, but fair—pushing your skills while rewarding persistence and pattern recognition. Mega Man 2 isn’t just a sequel; it’s a game that defined what a challenging, well-designed action game should be.
#2 - 163 points - Super Mario Bros. 3
What’s left to say about Super Mario Bros. 3? It took everything that made the original a masterpiece and expanded on it in every way imaginable. This isn’t Super Mario Bros. 2 Japan, which felt like a romhack of the original, nor Super Mario Bros. USA, which was a departure from the formula. Instead, Super Mario Bros. 3 delivered more levels, enemies, and power-ups—along with the introduction of the Koopa Kids, Boos, airships, and fun new features like overworld maps and minigames. It reinvented Mario when it didn’t have to, setting a trend that would continue with games like Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros and the latest entry Super Mario Wonder. The short, creative levels keep every stage fresh, each bursting with unique ideas that make every moment a joy to play. It’s the definitive evolution of a classic.
#1 - 170 Points - The Legend of Zelda
You know you’ve done something right when, 35+ years later, developers are still making games directly inspired by you. This isn’t just a case of a game that launched a huge franchise (it did) or a game that was copied by its contemporaries (it was)—this is something much bigger. The Binding of Isaac, Tunic, Enter the Gungeon—the list of games that draw direct inspiration from this classic goes on. While the franchise would evolve and tell essentially the same story over and over, no other game in the series truly plays like the first entry. Even Breath of the Wild, which took inspiration from the original and started as a top-down prototype, doesn’t replicate the experience, as its open-world 3D design prevents it from being a true return of the king.
This might explain why The Legend of Zelda edges out Super Mario Bros. 3 on our list. Fans of Super Mario Bros. 3 know they can find that experience evolved and reimagined in countless Mario games across Nintendo consoles, but the same isn’t true for Zelda. Arguably, the most exciting thing about The Legend of Zelda is that it offers players experiencing it for the first time today a near-identical experience to those who played it in 1987. The controls, difficulty, exploration, and world design all hold up to the modern gaming experience. Sure, you probably won’t be swapping secrets on the playground anymore, and many will need a guide to burn that bush, but The Legend of Zelda remains as great today as it ever was.