Retro gaming is all the rage these days, and Nintendo is taking full advantage of that.

The company's release of the NES Classic was a hit last year, and they recently confirmed that they would be releasing a similar product for the SNES. It won't be out for a while, but it will almost certainly be a hit too.

That begs the obvious question: what about an N64 Classic? While the Nintendo 64 was not nearly as commercially successful as either of its predecessors, it was still a beloved machine that was home to some of the greatest games ever made.

Which of those games will make it onto our imaginary (for now) N64 Classic? There are some obvious choices, like Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64. No arguments there! But a number of great N64 games probably won't be immortalized on the N64 Classic for licensing or logistical reasons, which in turn will leave room for games that may not deserve a spot.

These are 9 Games That Should Be On The N64 Classic But Won't Be (And 6 That Shouldn't But Will Be).

15 GoldenEye 007 (Should, But Won't)

Few games are as synonymous with the Nintendo 64 as GoldenEye 007. Rare's unforgettable first person shooter revolutionized the genre on home consoles, paving the way for games like Halo and Call of Duty. It also took full advantage of the N64's four controller ports with a multiplayer mode that kept fans entertained for years.

The game has aged rather poorly, it must be said. The blocky visuals, while quaint, are hard to ignore and the N64 controller (as revolutionary as it was at the time) pales in comparison to modern peripherals. But even still, it deserves a spot on the N64 Classic.

It probably won't get one though, due to the minefield of licensing issues surrounding the game. Developer Rare is now owned by Microsoft, while the rights to James Bond video games have changed hands more than once. So if gamers want some classic Bond action, they'll probably just have to dig their old N64s out of the closet.

14 WWF No Mercy (Should, But Won't)

The N64 was famous for its wrestling games. While it did feature some multi-platform titles like WWF Attitude, the real standouts were the games made exclusively for the system. From 1997 to 2000, publisher THQ and developer AKI cranked out one hit after another: two for the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling (World Tour and Revenge) and two for the World Wrestling Federation (WrestleMania 2000 and No Mercy). The games have diehard fans to this day, and modern games still struggle to match them, especially No Mercy.

So why won't N64 Classic owners be able to enjoy some virtual wrestling? Well, it's unclear who would own the rights to the game at this point, with THQ gone and its assets sold off. The WWF (well, WWE now) would also probably be reluctant to allow the game to be re-released, given its now-ancient roster of characters and its setting in the controversial "Attitude Era" that featured copious amounts of violence, profanity and sex appeal.

13 Pokémon Snap (Shouldn't, But Will)

A Pokémon game is probably a no-brainer for inclusion on the N64 Classic. The series remains one of Nintendo's strongest brands, after all. Snap allows gamers to visit an island teeming with Pokémon, and they're tasked with photographing the different species in their natural habitat.

It was a popular game for its time, and the continued success of Pokémon probably makes it a safe choice for inclusion on the N64 Classic. But we're slapping the "Shouldn't" label on it for a simple reason: control.

A game like Snap would have been much better suited with a re-release on the Wii U. That system's tablet controller would have made photographing Pokémon a, well, snap. Gamers who are used to modern control options will be hard-pressed to return to the classic N64 controls.

12 NFL Blitz (Should, But Won't)

Sports games, like wrestling games, are forever cursed to become out of the date the moment they're released. Athletes are constantly retiring and switching teams, after all. Pick up a Madden or NHL game from just three years ago and see how much things have changed!

Now go back and play the NFL Blitz games on Nintendo 64. They're almost 20 years old! Some teams have switched cities since then, and most if not all of the players have retired. But that's just one reason why the NFL wouldn't allow the game to make a comeback.

The Blitz series lost the NFL license in 2005, as the league wasn't overly enthused with its portrayal of over-the-top gridiron violence. A toned-down NFL Blitz returned in 2012, but it paled in comparison to the original.

11 Beetle Adventure Racing (Should, But Won't)

The N64 had some great racing games, didn't it? With games like Mario Kart 64 and F-Zero X hogging the glory, Beetle Adventure Racing was a bit of an unsung classic.

Most racing games place great importance on variety, offering gamers a number of cars to choose from. With a name like Beetle Adventure Racing, though, it's not surprising that this game gives you Volkswagen New Beetles and... nothing else. That may have irked some racing fans, but fans who were happy just choosing different colors for their cars found a well-crafted game with some unique modes and fun tracks.

Why won't it find a place on the N64 Classic? Well, those aforementioned classics will probably take its place, and Volkswagen may be reluctant to license it again anyway.

10 Donkey Kong 64 (Shouldn't, But Will)

Donkey Kong 64 was a rare misstep for, ah, Rare. The sprawling 3D platformer earned strong reviews upon release, but with the benefit of hindsight, it pales in comparison to other classics of the genre like Super Mario 64 and Rare's own Banjo-Kazooie.

3D platformers are known for their 'collectathon' elements, and they can be fun if used sparingly. Donkey Kong 64 leaned too heavily on the concept, though, with different colored collectibles that could only be grabbed by their corresponding character, resulting in tons of backtracking for those with 100% completion in mind.

It's not Rare's best N64 effort, but it might be the only one to live again on the N64 Classic. With its use of Nintendo characters, it's probably the only Rare N64 game Nintendo still has the rights to: it is on the Wii U Virtual Console after all.

9 Turok 2: Seeds Of Evil (Should, But Won't)

Two words: cerebral bore. Not enough? Ok, but seriously, go to YouTube and check it out.

The first Turok game was a hit on the Nintendo 64, one of the few first person shooters available on the console. Its sequel took the relatively simple concept (hunting dinosaurs) and threw it in a blender, throwing in aliens, spaceships, energy totems, and more wackiness.

But Turok 2 wasn't great because of its story. The graphics were terrific for the time, with players traveling through a lush world and dealing death to dinosaurs of various shapes and sizes with a number of crazy weapons. It also featured a celebrated multiplayer mode.

It's unlikely you'll see the game on the N64 Classic. A remastered version for PC was released earlier this year, though.

8 Space Station Silicon Valley (Should, But Won't)

Nintendo has never been afraid to get a little wacky, especially in the N64 days. The system was home to some truly strange games, but perhaps none were stranger (or more fun) than Space Station Silicon Valley.

Here's the premise: in the far future, you're a robot (actually just a microchip) on a space station filled with strange animals. To survive on the station, you need to take control of the animals as you go, from dogs to sheep to bears and more.

It was one of the most celebrated games on the system, though it fared poorly commercially and the series was never revisited. Odds are it's not high profile enough to turn up on the N64 Classic, which is a shame, as it would give a lot of gamers the chance to play a great game they missed out on.

7 Mario Party (Shouldn't, But Will)

Mario Party has become one of Nintendo's most popular franchises, and it got its start on the N64. The first three games in the series were released for Nintendo's 64-bit console, and it seems like a safe bet that at least one of them will be featured on the N64 Classic.

We're not saying that's a bad idea. The games are pretty fun, after all. But with limited space on a novelty system, does it really need to be included? The series is still going strong on Nintendo's newest consoles. Fans can have a comparable Mario Party experience on their Wii or Wii U (the latter with HD graphics). So why not save space on the N64 Classic for a game fans haven't seen in a while?

6 Castlevania (Should, But Won't)

Castlevania is one of the most celebrated franchises in gaming. The majority of games in the series are side-scrolling platformers, though Konami did make an attempt at pushing into the 3D realm with this release on the N64. Admittedly, it wasn't great, and it's routinely cited as one of the weakest entries in the series. So why include it on the Classic?

Well, even if it leaves a lot to be desired, it is a quintessential N64 game. The 3D platforming, the murky graphics, the occasionally finicky controls... taken together they're actually kind of charming. Gaming has come a long way since the Nintendo 64 era, but occasionally it's fun to throw on our nostalgia goggles.

And while it may not match up to the 8-bit Castlevania games or more recent entries, it has its moments: the score, atmosphere and story all stand out.

5 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (Should, But Won't)

The N64 was home to some great Star Wars games. Shadows of the Empire had its flaws, but it was still a fun jaunt through the Original Trilogy. Episode 1: Racer was a great racing game that brought the podracing sequence from The Phantom Menace to life, even if some fans held their noses at its Prequel-era setting.

Rogue Squadron was perhaps even more impressive for bringing the space combat genre to home consoles so successfully. With the N64's analog stick, soaring over the snowy surface of Hoth and through the Death Star trench was more believable than ever.

With Lucasfilm placing a focus on new games that slot into official Star Wars canon, it seems unlikely they would consent to Rogue's inclusion on the N64 Classic, but you never know.

4 Mario Kart 64 (Shouldn't, But Will)

The rest of our "Shouldn't" entries may raise a few eyebrows, because they're all fantastic and iconic N64 games that are all but guaranteed inclusion on the N64 Classic.

We're not saying Mario Kart 64 isn't a great game. It took a terrific formula and made it even better. But like Mario Party, Mario Kart remains one of Nintendo strongest brands, and the formula has been continually refined (and arguably perfected) in the years since its release.

Simply put, why bother playing the N64 version when Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U and Switch is so much better? Nostalgia will fuel it for a little while, sure, but fans will always return to the newer games. Why not leave it off the Classic console and make room for another racing game instead?

3 Super Smash Bros. (Shouldn't, But Will)

Our argument against including Super Smash Bros. on the N64 Classic is basically the same as it is for Mario Party and Mario Kart. The first Smash Bros. game was a revelation, a fun take on the fighting genre mixed with an irresistible premise: throwing Nintendo's iconic (and frankly, adorable) characters together for an unlikely but awesome smackdown. Who could forget the commercial for that first game, featuring Nintendo's mascots frolicking together before launching into an incongruous but hilarious battle royal?

Like Party and Kart, though, later games in the Smash Bros. series have rendered the original obsolete. A quick look at the N64 version's character models and environments will tell you that much.

Leave the memories alone, we say.

2 Banjo-Kazooie (Should, But Won't)

Controversial opinion time. Nintendo established the 3D platformer genre on the N64 with Super Mario 64, but Rare perfected it with Banjo-Kazooie.

Rare was definitely the MVP of the Nintendo 64, contributing so many unforgettable games to the system. Banjo-Kazooie was perhaps the best of these efforts, a charming and colorful platformer with tight controls and a surprisingly funny group of characters and story.

Unfortunately, like most of Rare's Nintendo output, it now lies in Microsoft hands. They haven't touched the franchise since the underwhelming Nuts & Bolts, and they definitely won't be encouraging fans to relive its glory days on the N64 when they can play it on their own system via Rare Replay. Sadly, this is one N64 icon that won't be on the Classic.

1 The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Shouldn't, But Will)

Just to be clear, Majora's Mask is a fantastic game. There's a convincing argument to be made that it's actually better than Ocarina Of Time, which is itself on the shortlist for best game of all time. So why in the world are we saying it shouldn't be on the N64 Classic?

It's because the games recent 3DS remake outclassed the original in every way. Yes, Ocarina got the same treatment, but there's no denying that game its spot on the N64 Classic. It simply has to be there.

Majora's Mask, on the other hand, can more easily step aside to make room for another game, while fans who love it can continue to enjoy it in its original form on the Virtual Console, or in its refurbished form on 3DS.

What do you hope to see (and not see) on the seemingly inevitable Nintendo 64 Classic?