Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,400 most recommended games across 913 critic lists from 142 publications.

Updated: March 25, 2026

Most Acclaimed Nintendo Entertainment System Games of All Time

Filters

68 of 68

#1 Tetris (1985) (#2)

Alexey Pajitnov | 8 , DOS , NES, GB | Puzzle | ~3h | 99 lists

#2 Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) (#31)

Nintendo R&D4 | NES | Platform | ~5h | 61 lists

#3 Super Mario Bros. (1985) (#54)

Nintendo R&D4 | ARC , NES | Platform | ~2h | 44 lists

#4 The Legend of Zelda (1986) (#93)

Nintendo R&D4 | NES, FDS | Action-Adventure | ~8h | 30 lists

#5 Mega Man 2 (1988) (#102)

Capcom | NES | Platform | ~3h | 39 lists

#6 Donkey Kong (1981) (#121)

Ikegami Tsushinki, Nintendo | ARC , NES | Platform | ~18m | 34 lists

7 (#155)

Pac-Man (1980)

Namco | , , , , | | ~48m | 33 lists

#7 Pac-Man (1980) (#155)

Namco | ARC , 3 , 5 , DOS , NES | Maze | ~48m | 33 lists

#8 Punch-Out!! / Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! (1987) (#175)

Nintendo R&D3 | NES | Sports | ~3h | 26 lists

#9 Contra (1987) (#203)

Konami | ARC , DOS , 3 , NES | Run and Gun | ~1h | 27 lists

#10 Sid Meier's Pirates! (1987) (#226)

MicroProse Software, Inc. | 6 , DOS, MAC , NES | Strategy / Action-Adventure | ~8h | 18 lists

#11 Metroid (1986) (#235)

Nintendo R&D1 | ARC , NES, FDS | Action-Adventure | ~6h | 20 lists

#12 Double Dragon (1987) (#261)

Technos Japan | ARC , NES , SMS | Beat 'em Up | ~1h | 20 lists

#13 Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) (#281)

Nintendo R&D4 | NES | Platform | ~3h | 16 lists

#14 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985) (#293)

Origin Systems | 10 , DOS , NES | Role-Playing | ~21h | 18 lists

#15 Bubble Bobble (1986) (#356)

Taito | ARC , 7 , DOS , NES, FDS | Platform | ~3h | 14 lists

#16 Lode Runner (1983) (#392)

Brøderbund Software, Irem | ARC , 4 , NES | Puzzle-Platformer | ~2h | 13 lists

#17 Ninja Gaiden (1988) (#393)

Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games | NES | Hack and Slash / Platform | ~3h | 13 lists

#18 Castlevania (1986) (#399)

Konami | DOS , C64, AMI , NES, FDS | Platform | ~3h | 14 lists

#19 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987) (#410)

Nintendo R&D4 | NES, FDS | Action RPG / Platform | ~10h | 13 lists

#20 Ghosts 'n Goblins (1985) (#451)

Capcom | ARC , 3 , NES | Platform | ~3h | 12 lists

21 (#503)

Arkanoid (1986)

Taito | , , , , | | ~2h | 9 lists

#21 Arkanoid (1986) (#503)

Taito | ARC , 11 , DOS, MAC , NES | Puzzle | ~2h | 9 lists

#22 Dragon Quest / Dragon Warrior (1986) (#513)

Armor Project, Bird Studio, Chunsoft | NES | Role-Playing | ~9h | 9 lists

#23 Final Fantasy (1987) (#516)

Square | MSX , NES | Role-Playing | ~15h | 10 lists

#24 Micro Machines (1991) (#517)

Codemasters | NES | Racing | ~3h | 9 lists

#25 Maniac Mansion (1987) (#520)

Lucasfilm Games | A2, C64 , DOS , NES | Point-and-Click | ~3h | 11 lists

#26 Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) (#538)

Sir-tech Software | 7 , NES , MAC | Role-Playing | ~25h | 10 lists

#27 Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986) (#555)

Nintendo R&D4 | NES, SNES | Platform | ~3h | 8 lists

#28 Mega Man 3 (1990) (#564)

Capcom | NES | Platform | ~3h | 10 lists

#29 Tecmo Bowl (1987) (#587)

Tecmo | ARC , NES | Sports | ~2h | 8 lists

#30 Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse (1989) (#601)

Konami | NES | Platform | ~4h | 9 lists

#31 Tecmo Super Bowl (1991) (#626)

Tecmo | NES, SNES , GEN | Football (American) / Sports | ~10h | 9 lists

#32 Bionic Commando (1988) (#628)

Capcom | NES | Platform | ~2h | 10 lists

#33 Bomberman (1983) (#638)

Hudson Soft | 4 , NES | Strategy / Maze / Puzzle | ~2h | 7 lists

#34 Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987) (#654)

Taito | ARC , 5 , NES , SMS, GEN , TG16 | Platform | ~2h | 8 lists

#35 Gradius / Nemesis (1985) (#665)

Konami | ARC , NES | Shooter | ~1h | 7 lists

#36 Kid Icarus (1986) (#674)

Nintendo R&D1 | NES, FDS | Action / Platform | ~4h | 7 lists

#37 Baseball Stars (1989) (#679)

SNK | NES | Sports | ~9h | 8 lists

#38 Shinobi (1987) (#706)

Team Shinobi | ARC , DOS , 6 , NES , SMS , TG16 | Hack and Slash / Platform | ~1h | 6 lists

#39 Mega Man (1987) (#748)

Capcom | NES | Platform | ~3h | 7 lists

#40 Kirby's Adventure (1993) (#753)

HAL Laboratory | NES | Platform | ~4h | 4 lists

#41 DuckTales (1989) (#759)

Capcom | NES, GB | Platform | ~1h | 6 lists

#42 Mario Bros. (1983) (#763)

Nintendo R&D1 | ARC , A26, A52 , 5 , NES | Platform | ~54m | 6 lists

#43 Dr. Mario (1990) (#772)

Nintendo | ARC , NES, GB | Puzzle | ~3h | 6 lists

#44 Spy Hunter (1983) (#813)

Bally Midway | ARC , A26, CV , 6 , DOS , NES | Vehicular Combat | ~24m | 9 lists

45 (#852)

Smash TV (1990)

Williams | , , , , , | | ~2h | 5 lists

#45 Smash TV (1990) (#852)

Williams | ARC , 5 , NES, SNES , SMS, GEN | Shooter | ~2h | 5 lists

#46 Final Fantasy III (1990) (#862)

Square | NES | Role-Playing | ~16h | 5 lists

#47 Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (1990) (#865)

Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games | ARC , NES | Hack and Slash / Platform | ~2h | 6 lists

#48 Excitebike (1984) (#894)

Nintendo | ARC , PC88 , NES | Racing | ~54m | 6 lists

#49 River City Ransom / Street Gangs (1989) (#899)

Technos Japan | NES | Action-Adventure / Beat 'em Up | ~2h | 5 lists

#50 Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen / Dragon Warrior IV (1990) (#932)

Armor Project, Bird Studio, Chunsoft | NES | Role-Playing | ~27h | 5 lists

#51 Paperboy (1985) (#1009)

Atari Games, Vivid Games | ARC , 5 , NES | Action | ~1h | 3 lists

52 (#1011)

Qix (1981)

Taito | , , , | | ~42m | 5 lists

#52 Qix (1981) (#1011)

Taito | ARC , 3 , A52 , NES | Puzzle | ~42m | 5 lists

#53 Puyo Puyo (1991) (#1074)

Compile | ARC , 3 , 3 , GEN, GG | Puzzle | ~1h | 3 lists

#54 Super Sprint (1986) (#1076)

Atari Games | ARC , A26 , 4 , NES | Racing | ~24m | 3 lists

#55 Ikari Warriors (1986) (#1080)

SNK | ARC , MSX, CPC , NES | Run and Gun | ~1h | 4 lists

#56 Double Dragon II: The Revenge (NES) (1989) (#1097)

Technos Japan | NES | Beat 'em Up | 3 lists

#57 Blades of Steel / Konamic Ice Hockey (1987) (#1103)

Konami | ARC , DOS , C64, AMI , NES, FDS | Sports | ~2h | 3 lists

#58 Salamander / Life Force (1986) (#1117)

Konami | ARC , 4 , NES | Shooter | ~48m | 5 lists

#59 Commando / Senjō no Ōkami (1985) (#1147)

Capcom | ARC , 4 , DOS , NES | Run and Gun | 3 lists

#60 R.C. Pro-Am (1988) (#1176)

Rare | NES | Racing / Vehicular Combat | ~2h | 6 lists

#61 Spy vs. Spy (1984) (#1202)

First Star Software, Vatical Entertainment | 7 , NES , SMS | ~1h | 4 lists

62 (#1228)

Xevious (1983)

Namco | , , , | | ~1h | 3 lists

#62 Xevious (1983) (#1228)

Namco | ARC , 6 , NES , A78 | Shooter | ~1h | 3 lists

#63 Donkey Kong Jr. (1982) (#1231)

Nintendo R&D1 | ARC , A26 , NES | Platform | ~18m | 4 lists

#64 Battletoads (1991) (#1261)

Rare | NES , GEN | Beat 'em Up / Platform | ~4h | 3 lists

#65 Metal Gear (1987) (#1283)

Konami | DOS , C64, MSX , NES | Action-Adventure / Stealth | ~4h | 4 lists

#66 Ice Hockey (1988) (#1288)

Nintendo R&D4, Pax Softonica | NES, FDS | Sports | ~36m | 5 lists

#67 Solomon's Key (1986) (#1321)

Tecmo | ARC , DOS , 4 , NES , SMS , TG16 | Puzzle | ~4h | 3 lists

#68 King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder! (1990) (#1388)

Sierra On-Line | DOS, MAC , 3 , NES | Adventure | ~4h | 3 lists

Alexey Pajitnov

AMI, A2, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, E60, GB, MSX, NES, ZXS

Puzzle

~3h

99 lists

Tetris 1985

#31

Nintendo R&D4

NES

Platform

~5h

61 lists

Super Mario Bros. 3 1988

#54

Nintendo R&D4

ARC, NES

Platform

~2h

44 lists

Super Mario Bros. 1985

#93

Nintendo R&D4

FDS, NES

Action-Adventure

~8h

30 lists

The Legend of Zelda 1986

#102

Capcom

NES

Platform

~3h

39 lists

Mega Man 2 1988

#121

Ikegami Tsushinki, Nintendo

ARC, NES

Platform

~18m

34 lists

Donkey Kong 1981

#155

Namco

ARC, A26, A52, A8, C64, DOS, INTV, MSX, NES, PC88, ZXS

Maze

~48m

33 lists

Pac-Man 1980

#175

Nintendo R&D3

NES

Sports

~3h

26 lists

Punch-Out!! / Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! 1987

#203

Konami

CPC, ARC, C64, DOS, NES, ZXS

Run and Gun

~1h

27 lists

Contra 1987

#10

#226

MicroProse Software, Inc.

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, AST, C64, DOS, NES, PC88

Strategy / Action-Adventure

~8h

18 lists

Sid Meier's Pirates! 1987

#11

#235

Nintendo R&D1

ARC, FDS, NES

Action-Adventure

~6h

20 lists

Metroid 1986

#12

#261

Technos Japan

ARC, NES, SMS

Beat 'em Up

~1h

20 lists

Double Dragon 1987

#13

#281

Nintendo R&D4

NES

Platform

~3h

16 lists

Super Mario Bros. 2 1988

#14

#293

Origin Systems

AMI, A2, A8, AST, C64, DOS, FM7, MSX, NES, PC88, PC98, SX1

Role-Playing

~21h

18 lists

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985

#15

#356

Taito

AMI, CPC, A2, ARC, AST, C64, DOS, FDS, MSX, NES, ZXS

Platform

~3h

14 lists

Bubble Bobble 1986

#16

#392

Brøderbund Software, Irem

A2, ARC, A8, C64, NES, PC88

Puzzle-Platformer

~2h

13 lists

Lode Runner 1983

#17

#393

Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games

NES

Hack and Slash / Platform

~3h

13 lists

Ninja Gaiden 1988

#18

#399

Konami

AMI, C64, DOS, FDS, NES

Platform

~3h

14 lists

Castlevania 1986

#19

#410

Nintendo R&D4

FDS, NES

Action RPG / Platform

~10h

13 lists

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 1987

#20

#451

Capcom

CPC, ARC, C64, NES, ZXS

Platform

~3h

12 lists

Ghosts 'n Goblins 1985

#21

#503

Taito

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, ARC, A8, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, NES, PC88, TCC, ZXS

Puzzle

~2h

9 lists

Arkanoid 1986

#22

#513

Armor Project, Bird Studio, Chunsoft

NES

Role-Playing

~9h

9 lists

Dragon Quest / Dragon Warrior 1986

#23

#516

Square

MSX, NES

Role-Playing

~15h

10 lists

Final Fantasy 1987

#24

#517

Codemasters

NES

Racing

~3h

9 lists

Micro Machines 1991

#25

#520

Lucasfilm Games

A2, C64, DOS, NES

Point-and-Click

~3h

11 lists

Maniac Mansion 1987

#26

#538

Sir-tech Software

A2, MAC, C64, FM7, MSX, NES, PC88, PC98, SX1

Role-Playing

~25h

10 lists

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord 1981

#27

#555

Nintendo R&D4

NES, SNES

Platform

~3h

8 lists

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels 1986

#28

#564

Capcom

NES

Platform

~3h

10 lists

Mega Man 3 1990

#29

#587

Tecmo

ARC, NES

Sports

~2h

8 lists

Tecmo Bowl 1987

#30

#601

Konami

NES

Platform

~4h

9 lists

Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse 1989

#31

#626

Tecmo

NES, GEN, SNES

Football (American) / Sports

~10h

9 lists

Tecmo Super Bowl 1991

#32

#628

Capcom

NES

Platform

~2h

10 lists

Bionic Commando 1988

#33

#638

Hudson Soft

MSX, NES, PC88, SX1, ZXS

Strategy / Maze / Puzzle

~2h

7 lists

Bomberman 1983

#34

#654

Taito

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, NES, SMS, GEN, TG16, ZXS

Platform

~2h

8 lists

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 1987

#35

#665

Konami

ARC, NES

Shooter

~1h

7 lists

Gradius / Nemesis 1985

#36

#674

Nintendo R&D1

FDS, NES

Action / Platform

~4h

7 lists

Kid Icarus 1986

#37

#679

SNK

NES

Sports

~9h

8 lists

Baseball Stars 1989

#38

#706

Team Shinobi

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, DOS, MSX, NES, SMS, TG16, ZXS

Hack and Slash / Platform

~1h

6 lists

Shinobi 1987

#39

#748

Capcom

NES

Platform

~3h

7 lists

Mega Man 1987

#40

#753

HAL Laboratory

NES

Platform

~4h

4 lists

Kirby's Adventure 1993

#41

#759

Capcom

GB, NES

Platform

~1h

6 lists

DuckTales 1989

#42

#763

Nintendo R&D1

CPC, ARC, A26, A52, C64, FM7, NES, PC88, ZXS

Platform

~54m

6 lists

Mario Bros. 1983

#43

#772

Nintendo

ARC, GB, NES

Puzzle

~3h

6 lists

Dr. Mario 1990

#44

#813

Bally Midway

CPC, A2, ARC, A26, A8, BBCM, CV, C64, DOS, NES, ZXS

Vehicular Combat

~24m

9 lists

Spy Hunter 1983

#45

#852

Williams

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, NES, SMS, GEN, SNES, ZXS

Shooter

~2h

5 lists

Smash TV 1990

#46

#862

Square

NES

Role-Playing

~16h

5 lists

Final Fantasy III 1990

#47

#865

Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games

ARC, NES

Hack and Slash / Platform

~2h

6 lists

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos 1990

#48

#894

Nintendo

ARC, NES, PC88

Racing

~54m

6 lists

Excitebike 1984

#49

#899

Technos Japan

NES

Action-Adventure / Beat 'em Up

~2h

5 lists

River City Ransom / Street Gangs 1989

#50

#932

Armor Project, Bird Studio, Chunsoft

NES

Role-Playing

~27h

5 lists

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen / Dragon Warrior IV 1990

#51

#1009

Atari Games, Vivid Games

CPC, A2, ARC, BBCM, C64, NES, ZXS

Action

~1h

3 lists

Paperboy 1985

#52

#1011

Taito

ARC, A52, A8, C64, FM7, NES

Puzzle

~42m

5 lists

Qix 1981

#53

#1074

Compile

ARC, FDS, FMT, MSX, NES, PC98, GG, GEN, SNES

Puzzle

~1h

3 lists

Puyo Puyo 1991

#54

#1076

Atari Games

CPC, ARC, A26, AST, C64, NES, ZXS

Racing

~24m

3 lists

Super Sprint 1986

#55

#1080

SNK

CPC, ARC, MSX, NES

Run and Gun

~1h

4 lists

Ikari Warriors 1986

#56

#1097

Technos Japan

NES

Beat 'em Up

3 lists

Double Dragon II: The Revenge (NES) 1989

#57

#1103

Konami

AMI, ARC, C64, DOS, FDS, NES

Sports

~2h

3 lists

Blades of Steel / Konamic Ice Hockey 1987

#58

#1117

Konami

CPC, ARC, C64, MSX, NES, ZXS

Shooter

~48m

5 lists

Salamander / Life Force 1986

#59

#1147

Capcom

CPC, ARC, BBCM, C64, DOS, NES, ZXS

Run and Gun

3 lists

Commando / Senjō no Ōkami 1985

#60

#1176

Rare

NES

Racing / Vehicular Combat

~2h

6 lists

R.C. Pro-Am 1988

#61

#1202

First Star Software, Vatical Entertainment

AMI, CPC, A2, A8, AST, C64, NES, SMS, ZXS

~1h

4 lists

Spy vs. Spy 1984

#62

#1228

Namco

A2, ARC, A78, C64, FM7, NES, PC88, SX1, ZXS

Shooter

~1h

3 lists

Xevious 1983

#63

#1231

Nintendo R&D1

ARC, A26, NES

Platform

~18m

4 lists

Donkey Kong Jr. 1982

#64

#1261

Rare

NES, GEN

Beat 'em Up / Platform

~4h

3 lists

Battletoads 1991

#65

#1283

Konami

C64, DOS, MSX, NES

Action-Adventure / Stealth

~4h

4 lists

Metal Gear 1987

#66

#1288

Nintendo R&D4, Pax Softonica

FDS, NES

Sports

~36m

5 lists

Ice Hockey 1988

#67

#1321

Tecmo

CPC, ARC, AST, C64, DOS, NES, SMS, TG16, ZXS

Puzzle

~4h

3 lists

Solomon's Key 1986

#68

#1388

Sierra On-Line

AMI, MAC, DOS, FMT, NES, PC98

Adventure

~4h

3 lists

King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder! 1990

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