Highlights

• The N64 library on Nintendo Switch Online offers mesmerizing adventures that are still fun to play today.
• While some N64 games may not have aged well, many still have the hallmarks of great games, like memorable boss fights and fantastic soundtracks.
• Though single-player experiences make up quite a few of these games, some of the best titles are enjoyed with friends!

The Nintendo 64 was released in 1996 and quickly became a sensation due to its innovative 3D graphics and revolutionary gameplay. Popular series like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda were re-imagined with this new technology and allowed you to explore places like Hyrule in ways previously unimaginable.

Unlike the NES and SNES, it took a while for Nintendo to put N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online. It costs a little extra to access them, but the N64's library is full of mesmerizing adventures that are still fun to play today.

There are a good number of N64 games on the Switch (a new one drops about once a month), and while many of them are good, others feel just as magical and exciting as they did when they first launched nearly three decades ago.

Updated February 24, 2024, by Kyle Chamaillard: We are updating this list again to include the remaining N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online. Now, every title on the service is ranked to help you decide which one to spend your time with.

30 Pilotwings 64

Pilotwings 64 is a unique game that focuses on niche activities like skydiving and hang gliding. If you love flying in games, there is a surprising amount of fun to be had, but if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, this experience could be more frustrating than fun.

Pilotwings 64 was one of the two launch games for the N64, so if you wanted to play anything else on the console except for Super Mario 64, this was your only other option. It's worth checking out if you want to test your aerial abilities, but it might be better to fly to another title for a more enjoyable adventure.

29 Excitebike 64

Excitebike 64 is still an interesting game to hop into, but like most extreme sports games, you might not enjoy it if you're unfamiliar with the world of off-road motorcycling. It's a blast to ride your bike over hills and through stadiums, but certain aspects of the game, like balancing your bike in the air, might feel tedious by modern standards.

There are seventeen tracks included with Excitebike 64, but one of its best features is the track editor, which allows you to create your own courses to challenge friends with. There aren't many motocross games on the Nintendo Switch, but if you're looking for one to play alone or with friends, Excitebike 64 is still a great choice.

28 Yoshi's Story

The first time you could play as Yoshi was in the excellent Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, but the dinosaur wouldn't star in its own solo game until Yoshi's Story shipped for the N64 in 1998. You will swallow enemies, throw eggs, and flutter jump to new heights like in Yoshi's Island, but without Baby Mario to protect, you can focus on platforming without worrying about losing a child.

Yoshi's Story is incredibly charming with a gorgeous aesthetic, but the actual gameplay and level design feel incredibly shallow compared to Yoshi's Island. You can also only play one stage per world per run, which means it'll require multiple playthroughs to see everything the game has to offer. It might not be the best Yoshi game, but there are some memorable boss fights and a fantastic soundtrack hiding behind the less-than-fantastic story.

27 Dr. Mario 64

When Dr. Mario first arrived on the NES, it provided a fresh twist on the familiar formula of dropping blocks onto each other. With its color-based system, Dr. Mario was an excellent alternative to games like Tetris or Columns.

It's hard to innovate puzzle games for sequels, and while Dr. Mario 64 has some new features - like four-player multiplayer and a story mode - the core concepts are the same as the original. You could pick one or the other and have just as much fun destroying viruses with colorful pills.

26 WinBack

Though the N64 was perceived as a family-friendly console compared to the PlayStation 1, it still had plenty of action-based games to appeal to a large audience. Winback was developed by Omega Force - the team mostly known for the Dynasty Warriors series - and follows secret agent Jean-Luc Cougar as he infiltrates a terrorist organization to stop them from destroying the world.

It's hard to revisit Winback these days, especially if you're playing on a modern controller. While its cover system and laser-sight mechanics were revolutionary when it launched, they haven't aged spectacularly, especially when you think about how much these concepts have evolved over time.

25 Blast Corps

Blast Corps is the first game Rare developed for the N64, and though it's not nearly as iconic as other titles, the game is still an excellent example of the company's versatility and flexibility. Instead of controlling a loveable mascot, you'll control numerous vehicles to destroy buildings and solve puzzles.

There are just under 60 levels in the game, each requiring you to think outside the box to progress further. With eight different vehicles to control, from the Ramdozer to the Cyclone Suit, there is plenty of variety in Blast Corps if you can overlook the less-than-fantastic visuals.

24 Pokemon Stadium

While Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow dominated the handheld market, Nintendo made sure there were plenty of spin-off games available for home consoles as well. Pokemon Stadium resonated with many fans when it first launched because it was the first time you could witness Pokemon battling in 3D. To make it better, you could import the Pokemon from your party from the Game Boy cartridge to watch your own Pokemon duke it out.

Pokemon Stadium's inclusion on Nintendo Switch Online is great, but one of its best features - uploading your own Pokemon to use - is unavailable. You can still complete the gym challenges and tournaments by renting Pokemon, and the mini-games alone make it worth booting up Pokemon Stadium whenever you have friends over.

23 Mario Party

The original Mario Party is a bit bare bones when compared to its many sequels, but it introduced the core mechanics that would carry the series across every Nintendo platform following the N64. With only six playable characters and forty mini-games to play with or against your friends - including some that could leave a blister in the center of your hand - it won't take long to see everything this game has to offer.

The biggest problem with the Mario Party series is that it relies on multiplayer to reach its full potential. Sure, you can play against CPU opponents, but the game is at its best when personal relationships are at stake. Fortunately, you can now play the original Mario Party against friends online while communicating through apps like Discord.

22 Pokemon Stadium 2

After Pokemon Gold and Silver launched and introduced 100 more creatures to the Pokedex, Nintendo quickly made a sequel to Pokemon Stadium to embrace and celebrate the second generation of the series. With 251 Pokemon available to choose from, the possibilities seemed endless, but Pokemon Stadium 2 is ultimately a re-skin of its predecessor with only a few new features.

Tournaments and the Gym Leader Castle return, and as fun as it is to watch your favorite Pokemon battle with more animations than the current generation, it does grow stale after a while. The mini-games are all new, and though not as memorable as the original line-up, they are still a blast to play with or against someone else.

21 Jet Force Gemini

Jet Force Gemini is one of the last games Rare developed for the N64, and though it might not be as memorable as Banjo-Kazooie or Goldeneye, it's still one of the more unique games on the console with a compelling single-player campaign.

Inspired by Starship Troopers, Stargate, and other 80s science-fiction films, Jet Force Gemini tasks you with saving the world from an insectoid invasion. There are multiple planets to explore and many deadly weapons you can use to protect them. The variety is impressive, and as fun as it can be, it still struggles to reach the same heights as other Rare titles like Donkey Kong 64.

20 Mario Tennis

Mario had a lot of downtime during the N64 era. After Super Mario 64 launched alongside the console and became an instant classic, the plumber spent the rest of the 90s partying with his friends and picking up new hobbies like tennis.

Mario Tennis is a great sports game packed with fun modes and mini-games. The controls and mechanics are intuitive after a few matches, and it's a blast to play either alone or with friends. Mario Tennis was also the debut for Waluigi, who has since become one of Nintendo's most popular and interesting recurring characters.

19 Mario Party 3

Each Mario Party features the same core mechanics, but the presentation and execution of the maps and mini-games are what help define each entry. Mario Party 3 is certainly better than the first game in almost every aspect, but it fails to stand out nearly as much as Mario Party 2's unique themes and character costumes.

There is still a ton of joy - and misery, depending on how lucky you are - to be found in Mario Party 3. Its single-player mode will task you with winning on every board in the game to earn "Star Stamps" from the Millennium Star, and most of the mini-games are just as fun as you would expect them to be. Mario Party 3 also has a unique Duel Mode that requires you to use partners like Boos and Thwomps to attack your opponent before they get you first.

18 1080 Snowboarding

It's not often that Nintendo develops a sports game without characters from Super Mario, but 1080 Snowboarding is one of the few exceptions. Inspired by Shigeru Miyamoto's love of skiing, the team decided to focus on snowboarding because it was more popular at the time and allowed you to perform stunts for points.

Despite its age, 1080 Snowboarding feels just as good to control today as it did when it first launched. The collision physics are still impressive, and the soundtrack makes you feel like you're in a snowy adaptation of Point Break as you race down mountains with the wind in your hair.

17 F-Zero X

F-Zero might not be as popular or prominent as The Legend of Zelda or even Metroid, but it's still regarded as one of Nintendo's best properties for a reason. From the head-banging soundtracks to the death-defying speeds of the races, the series provides something completely different from other Nintendo racing games like Mario Kart or Diddy Kong Racing.

One of the most impressive aspects of F-Zero X is how well it ran on the N64. It might not look as polished as the original game for SNES, but its ability to run at a steady sixty frames per second with thirty vehicles racing against each other was certainly impressive.

16 Mario Golf

There are a lot of Mario sports games. From baseball to every competitive event at the Olympics, it seems like the plumber and his pals are willing to take a swing at almost anything. One of the gang's more relaxing pastimes is golf, and Mario Golf for the N64 features modes for if you're feeling competitive or just want to relax and master each course.

Developed by Camelot, Mario Golf features a variety of playable characters like Yoshi and Baby Mario, each with their own specialties. With ten different modes to explore - including Speed Golf, Ring Shot, Mini-Golf, and more - it's impressive how much content is packed into this rewarding sports title.

15 Star Fox 64

Star Fox 64 was one of the most impressive and fascinating games on the N64 when it launched in 1997. It was one of the first titles to utilize the Rumble Pak expansion, which made it incredibly immersive. Its branching path system also made it one of the best games to replay over and over again as you look for secret paths and objectives.

Unfortunately, Star Fox 64 hasn't aged as well as other N64 games. Its campaign only takes a couple of hours to beat, and finding hidden paths without using a guide can be incredibly frustrating. Star Fox 64 was remade for the 3DS with improved visuals and voice acting, and it would be great to see that version on the Switch for a much smoother experience.

14 Pokemon Puzzle League

Pokemon Puzzle League originally launched on the N64 during the early 2000s and provided fans of the series an opportunity to explore a new genre. Instead of using your Pokemon to battle other trainers, you compete in a puzzle-based strategy game to see who can fill up their opponent's screen by successfully lining up three or more blocks either horizontally or vertically.

One of the best parts about Pokemon Puzzle League is that it's directly inspired by the anime series. Not only does the game begin with an original animated sequence, but all the gym leaders and characters you fight are based on how they appeared in the show. It's great to see familiar faces like Tracey and Ritchie, and the journey to becoming a Pokemon Puzzle Master is just as fun as facing the Indigo League.

13 Mario Kart 64

Super Mario Kart is a pretty good game, but Mario Kart 64 took almost every idea from the original and expanded on it to create a chaotic racing game that is still immensely popular to this day. It hosts some of the series' best tracks and now features online multiplayer through the Nintendo Switch Online service.

Mario Kart 64 is usually considered one of the best N64 games, but it's not the best Mario Kart on the Switch. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has gorgeous visuals, a phenomenal soundtrack, and even contains classic N64 tracks that feel like new with clever redesigns. It's fun to hop into Mario Kart 64 for a nostalgic road trip, but it's not nearly as fine-tuned as its modern iteration.

12 Mario Party 2

The original Mario Party has some great mini-games and maps, but Mario Party 2 ups the ante and doubles down on what made its predecessor successful. Each board has an interesting mechanic that allows it to stand out from the rest, and they're also incredibly immersive with their themes and character costumes.

One of Mario Party 2's few disappointments is that it features the same six characters from the original game, but besides that, the game is a consistent blast to play with friends before they steal your star and you vow to never speak to them again. This is now even easier to do because you can play the game online against friends across the world.

11 Harvest Moon 64

Harvest Moon 64 might not feature all the bells and whistles of modern farming simulators like Stardew Valley, but it still contains the core elements to draw you into its daily cycle without ever feeling like a chore. After inheriting a farm, it's up to you to restore its reputation while befriending the villagers and attending local events.

From growing crops to taking care of animals, there is so much to do in Harvest Moon 64 that you'll likely be planning out the rest of the week as you wind down after a long day of working and socializing. It can take anywhere between 40 and 100 hours to see everything the game has to offer, an impressive feat for an N64 title.