Wanna know what’s a hot topic for debate? NES platformers. Specifically, the best ones. Most people are willing to admit that Super Mario Bros 3 is at the top of the list. After that things get dicey. I’ve seen many arguments on this topic. The truth of the matter is we all have nostalgia for different games. None of us had access to the entire library. At least no one I knew. There’s no question that the games played as kids are going to be our favorites. I’m no different. Today we’re trying to put our personal nostalgia aside, and deliver a list of the top 25 best NES platformers of all time. It’s no easy task, but I think we narrowed things down nicely. Enough of that let’s get started.
#25. – Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers
Now this is a product of its time. If you grew up in the 90s then odds are you were a fan of this show. It was amazing. The theme song is literally running through my head as I write this. Capcom was well known for doing incredible work with Disney licenses on the platform, and this is no different.
Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers has you playing as the duo of rodent gumshoes in a side scrolling action platformer package. You can run, jump, and throw objects. The level designs are really good, and it has decent graphics with catchy music. That’s not the best part. You can play with a buddy and tackle the adventure together. There are two rescue rangers, after all. Well, there’s more than that but this is besides the point. Chip ‘N Dale is a great game that’s still worth playing.
#24. – Tiny Toon Adventures
Capcom had Disney on lockdown. Konami secured Warner Brothers. In my opinion that’s more of a consolation prize. The house of mouse dominated 90s households after all. Regardless, Konami made a Tiny Toon Adventures platformer on the NES, and it’s a really good game. With this one the developers seem to have taken some notes from Super Mario Bros 3. That’s not a bad thing by any means.
First of all the level designs are fantastic. They’re almost Nintendo good. There’s a variety of different enemy types and obstacles. Tiny Toon Adventures isn’t a cakewalk, but it’s more than fair. I also really like the boss encounters. Some of these have unique objectives like simply surviving for a specific amount of time. The best part however is that you have four different characters to play as. Each has one unique ability, and they’re all useful. Despite being a licensed title it feels like no one played this one. Tiny Toon Adventures is still a lot of fun.
#23. – Mega Man 3
This one is my least favorite Mega Man game on the plain old Nintendo. I realize it’s a fan favorite, but it didn’t do for me as much as the sequels did. No hard feelings. Mega Man 3 uses the same formula established by the two games before it. You know, select a stage, overcome the challenges, face off against the boss, and then gain their primary weapon. That’s great, right? No Mega Man is outright bad, but this one has a few issues.
Part 3 introduced the most annoying ability in the series. I’m speaking of course of about the slide. It overuses it here. This adds little to the experience besides annoying little segments where it’s required. The list of robot masters is also kind of lame. Hard Man? Admittedly it’s a hilarious name, but the concept is kind of dumb. I don’t even have time to rag on the likes of Top Man, Snake Man, Gemini Man, etc. It’s Mega Man so you know it’s good, but this sequel feels kind of phoned in.
#22. – Castlevania
Who doesn’t love Castlevania? Sure, it has its warts but it’s good old fashioned fun. This first adventure has you playing as Simon Belmont. He’s a whip wielding vampire hunter. Any guesses as to what his mission is? To kill Dracula, of course. Standing in between him and the king of the vampires is a horde of different monsters from classic horror movies. Frankenstein? Castlevania has that. The Creature From the Black Lagoon? That too is in this game. For a Japanese game from the 80s I’m impressed with the references to classic American horror cinema.
Castlevania is clunky. It’s also really hard. You will die some cheap deaths, and yes, it will be the game’s fault. Castlevania’s main issues are rooted in how old it is. Walking up steps is awkward. There’s poor collision detection, and every time you’re hit Simon gets knocked backwards. The game doesn’t scroll downward and so if you’re climbing in elevation and fall off the screen you lose a life. It’s frustrating, but Castlevania is worth it. The game is a solid action platformer with good level design, a fun theme, and good gameplay. It’s a classic.
#21. – Mega Man 4
Capcom thought they would make things more interesting by introducing a new villain. Now instead of Dr. Wiley your ultimate goal is to overtake Dr. Cossack. Then comes Wiley. Capcom just can’t stick with a plan. Not when it comes to Mega Man anyway. Despite this Mega Man 4 doesn’t re-invent the wheel. You still have a series of robot masters you can tackle in the order of your choosing. Oh, and it’s a 2D action based platformer. That’s Mega Man for you, and this is definitely that. For better or worse.
Unfortunately the slide mechanic returns. Yes, it’s still required to bypass specific obstacles in certain stages. At the time I was hoping Capcom had forgotten about that. New to the mix is the charge up shot. I actually like this addition even if it does make the weapons taken from felled bosses less significant. Unfortunately Capcom had already ran out of good ideas for robot masters. Dust man is the worst offender. He’s basically a vacuum cleaner with a face. You gotta love it. Mega Man 4 is a step up from part 3, but it lost some of the magic. Still it’s a great game.
#20. – Little Samson
This one is mostly known for being one of the most expensive NES carts. This one is sure to bring hardcore collectors to tears. Maybe if more people played it back then Taito would have produced more carts. Or perhaps it’s because they waited for the SNES to launch before bringing this one to North America. Regardless it’s rare, expensive, and a great NES platformer. Is it worth the price though? Heck no.
At first glance Little Samson looks kind of like Mega Man. The primary difference from this initial impression is that you aren’t a robot, and it takes a more fantastical approach. You begin the adventure with just Samson, but eventually unlock additional characters. With these come new abilities, and you can switch between them at will. You’ll need to do so in order to get past specific puzzles. They’re never too challenging, but you’ll need the whole cast. There are some really good level designs here, and the gameplay foundation is solid. That price though… ouch.
#19. – Ducktales 2
Capcom decided to bring us back to Duckburg with a sequel to Ducktales, and once more it came out on the NES. Unfortunately this one released kind of late. Most gamers had moved on to the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis by 1993. That leaves this sequel as sort of a hidden gem. I for one didn’t even know this one existed until decades later. Since playing it I have discovered it’s just about as charming and fun as the original.
Ducktales 2 plays in a very similar fashion to the original. You play as Scrooge Mcduck, cheapskate extraordinaire, in a side scrolling platform adventure. His cane abilities return. That’s good because that was my favorite part of the original. You can use it to bounce like it’s a pogo stick, and this is your primary means for fighting off enemies. He can also knock blocks with it, but that’s far less handy. Besides that the game once again uses the non-linear approach allowing you to select the order in which you want to play the primary stages. New to the game is the cane upgrades. These are mostly used to access new areas and collect treasure. Part 2 is still Ducktales, and it’s still good. That’s pretty much all that needs to be said.
#18. – Mega Man 5
Another day, another Mega Man game. These releases were almost annual by the time part five hit the scene. Not that I’m complaining. I love Mega Man, and even the fifth sequel has a lot to like. Capcom pretended to once again pull the old switcheroo with Proto Man serving as the new antagonist. If you know the series then it’s obvious there’s more to it. Still, it’s kind of unique. At least it’s a returning Mega Man character this time.
My biggest issue with the last release was the robot masters. They were kind of lame if I’m being honest. They aren’t amazing here, but hey, any kind of improvement is a good thing. In addition to this the charged mega buster is now more useful, and the weapons are more interesting to use. Even the stage designs have been upgraded with smarter puzzles and enemy layouts. This is hardly the best Mega Man game, but after parts 3 and 4 it’s at least something. It showed us Capcom was back on the right track.
#17. – Kid Icarus
This one was a game that helped define the term ‘NES hard.’ It was grueling. I recall playing it in my childhood and giving up straight away. I was no stranger to difficult games, but Kid Icarus is particularly painful. Now that I’ve honed my skills I can see that it’s a bonafide classic. It’s just a shame that Nintendo ignored the franchise for so many years. Kid Icarus could have been further refined with more powerful hardware. It was eventually brought back into the spotlight, but that’s another story.
The first thing worth pointing out is the sheer amount of variety in this game. Kid Icarus tricks you into thinking it’s a vertical scrolling platformer, and then bam! Suddenly you’re hit with side scrolling stages, maze-like dungeons, and even a few areas that play like a shmup. It’s also deeper than your run of the mill platformer from this era. You have shops in which to purchase items for example, and these upgrades help out a ton. Kid Icarus is a pretty unique little NES adventure and I love it.
#16. – Bionic Commando
There’s a good reason why there are so many Capcom games on this list. They are, and have always been, one of the best developers around. Bionic Commando helps push this motion. Imagine if you would a platformer where you can’t jump. That’s Bionic Commando. Instead you have to use a grappling hook to gain elevation. This is a bit unwieldly at first, but you’ll get the hang of it in no time. It actually works really well, and the game is based entirely around this mechanic.
Bionic Commando has a lot going for it. You know, besides just the grappling hook mechanics. It has overhead stages that play kind of like an on-foot shooter. It’s kind of like Rambo or Ikari Warriors, but better than both of them. Besides this there are several different weapons, and really interesting level designs. It all comes back to that grappling hook though. Capcom incorporated some really neat tricks with it, and the level designs are based around the item. Bionic Commando is a really unique game in the NES library.
#15. – Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti
Wait, isn’t Splatterhouse a beat ’em up series? Yes, but for the only NES outing Namco decided to play on the platform’s strengths and instead design it as an action platformer. Good on them, because this is a neat little spin-off. Unfortunately they left it in Japan only. Despite being kid friendly in design the horror themes (although mostly parody) probably didn’t jive with Nintendo of America at the time. For shame.
Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti has you once again assume the role of Rick, and he’s out to save Jennifer once more. This time the characters are all drawn in chibi style. Furthermore Rick can jump high, and defeats foes by swinging his junior machete. How cute. The gameplay is fun, but for me this one is more about atmosphere. It’s rife with horror parodies. You’ll see everything from Michael Jackson’s Thriller, to Poltergeist and even The Fly referenced here. It’s hilarious. The game has a really fun theme and it’s one of the best horror games on the Famicom.
#14. – Mega Man
He’s big, he’s blue, and he was here to stay. This is the game that kicked off the Mega Man franchise, and it did so with a bang. It may not have been the first side scrolling action game based around stealing boss characters’ weapons, but it popularized the concept. This was Capcom’s first real attempt at a breakout console exclusive, and is one of the few times they didn’t simply port over one of their arcade titles. The rest is history.
For a first attempt at a side scrolling platformer this was pretty good. Mega Man does show its age however. The interface to switch weapons is kind of clunky. Furthermore the game is hard. Some if this is by design, and the other part is awkward gameplay. Memorization is key here. Things like disappearing blocks and moving platforms cause serious headaches. So does facing off against a boss without the weapon they’re weak against, and also, trying to complete the game without the hidden magnet beam. The first game is worth trying out, but the formula wasn’t perfected until the next one.
#13. – Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Who doesn’t love a good spooky game? The first Castlevania was great, but unfortunately Konami tried to change things too much with the second one. With Castlevania III they got things just about right. Their first good decision was ditching everything they introduced in Simon’s Quest. Part III returns us back to the roots of the franchise, and expands upon it. Instead of solving cryptic puzzles we get to focus on whipping famous horror creatures and icons. What’s not to love?
Castlevania III plays in a similar fashion to the original. You play as a whip wielding Belmont as you fight your way through various horror themed areas including Dracula’s castle. This time there are three characters to choose from which are unlocked as you progress. Furthermore there are even branching paths now. You can’t see every stage your first time through. This works really well within the Castlevania universe. The level designs are better, boss encounters are more fun, and the graphics and audio have had some good upgrades. Castlevania III is the definitive 8-bit release in the franchise.
#12. – Mega Man 6
This one is kind of a guilty pleasure. Yes, it suffers from many of the same issues of its predecessors. The formula was wearing thin by now, and the enemies/hazards were too similar to those in past installments. The new stuff they came up with is what hooked me. Additionally the interface has been improved, and I actually love the new robot masters here. It’s interesting to note that Capcom didn’t even publish this one in North America. Nintendo had to do it.
Yeah, some of the robot masters are recycled. Blizzard Man is nothing new. The same goes for Flame Man. Some of the other ones are fantastic though. Centaur Man for example ranks among my favorites. So does Knight Man. The weapons are mostly recycled thematically but their functions are more interesting than previous incarnations. What I love in particular about Mega Man 6 are the character’s new powers. You remember Rush, right? He’s the robot dog. Now he can combine with Mega Man to give him a mega punch, or even function as a jet pack. These actually add a lot to the game and I loved using them. It’s hard to carve out an identity when you’re the fifth sequel on the same console, but Mega Man 6 is special.
#11. – Blaster Master
Okay so this one is only part platformer. I know, I’m cheating. Bear with me because Blaster Master is an amazing game. This one tells the story of a boy and his pet frog. Oh and there’s a tank. The boy shrinks down, and boards his tank to rescue his amphibian companion. It’s one of the most absurd stories ever told on the Nintendo Entertainment System, but I’m here for it. I for one relish in that hilarious story sequence we get to watch upon booting the game.
With the funny stuff out of the way let’s get to the gameplay. Blaster Master is played in two different ways. It features both side scrolling stages wherein you command the tank. You can jump and move in both directions, but your method of attack is firing shots at enemies. There are upgrades to be found which gives you the ability to hover, float in the water, etc. You can even leave the tank, but this isn’t recommended because our boy is a weakling. The other part of the game involves overhead shooter stages designed like mazes. Honestly, the platforming sequences are more interesting. Blaster Master has a cult following but it’s sort of a hidden gem. I’m here today to tell you that it’s worth checking out.
#10. – Adventure Island II
Why Master Higgins never hit it big i’ll never understand. Sure, the first Adventure Island was pretty bad. The sequels however are some of the best NES platformers of all time. The franchise itself is an off-shoot of the Wonder Boy brand. The first title was a carbon copy but with new graphics and enemies. Adventure Island II however changed things up. It has some of the same mechanics, but the level designs were fleshed out and we were given a bunch of great power-ups.
Unfortunately the hunger meter returns here. Despite his portly stature Master Higgins is an eating machine. He has to constantly gobble down fruits and meat or else he dies. His hunger meter is at the top of the screen, and it constantly ticks down. Thankfully food is plentiful, but sometimes you gotta put the little guy in danger to get it. The real highlight however is the dino buddies. These function like power-ups. Master Higgins saddles up on these prehistoric reptiles and they each have different abilities. The red and blue dinosaurs can fire projectiles. There’s also an aquatic dino that lets you glide through the water effortlessly. This one wears sunglasses, so you know it’s cool. There’s even a pterodactyl that can fly. It’s these power-ups along with the great level designs and bosses that make Adventure Island II so great.
#9. – Little Nemo: The Dream Master
Here’s a little known fact. Little Nemo on the Nintendo Entertainment System is actually a licensed game. It’s true. This one is based on an animated film released in 1989. The more you know. Regardless, Little Nemo: The Dream Master is one of Capcom’s less talked about titles. That’s absolutely ridiculous considering how good it is. Maybe it’s because the film it’s based on wasn’t that big? Who knows.
Little Nemo has you playing as the titular little boy on an adventure through slumberland. The setting allows for some fantastical settings and enemies. Capcom does not disappoint in this regard. Your goal is to collect a series of keys in each stage to unlock the exit. Sounds easy, right? Some of these are well hidden, and the enemies aren’t exactly pushovers. The level designs are fantastic with thoughtful obstacles and careful enemy placement. The real high point is the power ups. By feeding various creatures Nemo can become costumed versions of them. There are eight in total, and each gives him a variety of different abilities. Some allow you to fly, climb walls, dig, jump higher, etc. This mechanic is amazing, and it’s a big part of what makes Little Nemo such a special game.
#8. – Super Mario Bros.
Ah, the big cheese. Numero uno. Well, not on this list, but to many it’s number one. Super Mario Bros is what modernized the platformer genre. This title can largely be credited with reviving the video game market following its major crash in the 80s. Nintendo took a simple concept here; running and jumping and made it magic. Super Mario Bros is not only one of the earliest side scrolling platformers, but it’s also one of the best.
One thing that’s really incredible about this game is how timeless it is. Even in the days of smart phone gaming I could throw this title on the television and my kids had an absolute blast. Super Mario Bros may be simple in design, but the difficulty curve is super well done, and the level designs are fantastic. I remember as a child I just couldn’t wait to see what was around every corner all the while really hoping I could hold on to that fire flower a little longer. It’s an amazing game that probably deserves higher placement on this list just due to its historic value. Not today, Mario.
#7. – M.C. Kids
A McDonalds game? Yes, you read that right. No, I’m not a sucker for big macs and fries, and I have no interest in Ronald McDonald. The game is just really that good. M.C. Kids is amazing in spite of its license not because of it. This was a forward thinking side scrolling platform game with thoughtful level designs, and forward thinking gameplay mechanics. No, I don’t want some fries with that. In the game you play as either Mick or Mack. They have the same abilities so it’s really just which one you think looks cooler. No, neither is not an option.
Your goal is to hop and bop your way through a variety of different stages collecting puzzle cards. What are these? I’m not sure exactly, but you’ll need them to unlock the next world. McDonalds characters are asking for them, and are you going to tell Birdy no? Regardless this one had a lot of inventive game mechanics powering it. For example, in some stages you can reverse gravity. This is really disorienting, but fun. Other items send you flying back to the beginning of a stage, and in the Winter landscapes you can even throw snowballs. These puzzle cards are really well hidden and it’s rewarding to find them. It’s like the stars from Super Mario 64, but years before that was a thing. M.C. Kids was no doubt held back by its license, but I assure you it’s great.
#6. – Adventure Island 3
Master Higgins returns, and he’s still hangry. He’s starving on such a level that if he isn’t constantly stuffing his face he’ll wither down to nothing. That’s Adventure Island 3 for you. Apparently the second game was popular enough for Hudson to greenlight a sequel. It’s a good thing because they improved on it in pretty much everything while keeping the excellent gameplay intact. It still feels like Adventure Island, and that’s the most important thing. It’s just bigger and better this time around.
Adventure Island 3 plays much like its predecessor. This time around Master Higgins can duck. Don’t worry that’s not his only new trick. The game also brings with it a new dino buddy in the form of a green triceratops that can spin into foes, the boomerang throwing tool, and more. Pretty much everything we loved about part two returns here. This includes all of the other dinosaur friends, enemies, etc. What is new however are the levels, and Hudson really outdid themselves here. These make the game a lot of fun to play. The boss encounters are also a joy. I love all of the little secrets hidden in Adventure Island 3. This is one of the few games where you’re meant to randomly stumble upon things instead of searching them out. It’s good, and you should get it.
#5. – Super Mario Bros. 2
This is not the real Super Mario Bros. 2. That one was released only in Japan because Nintendo assumed it would be too hard for North American players. Honestly, they were kind of right. That one’s frustrating. What we instead got was a port of another platformer Doki Doki Panic which was disguised as a Mario game during localization. It’s an amazing game that I loved from the moment I started playing it. At the time I never thought twice about it not being a real Mario game, but in hindsight it’s pretty obvious.
Doki Doki Panic, I mean, Super Mario Bros 2 plays unlike any other game in the franchise. It’s still a side view platformer, but there are many differences. For one thing you no longer stomp on enemy heads. Instead, you ride them. Sure, you can pick them up while atop their body and throw them but it’s not the same. It’s weird, and different. I’ve always liked the mechanic. The enemies are all new with a variety of different bizarre creations. Shyguys for example. Who else could have thought of something like that besides Nintendo? The level designs are excellent and have a lot of variety. It’s the boss encounters and the castles that house them that I really liked though. Super Mario Bros 2 plays like a dream. Pun intended.
#4. – Ducktales
Ducktales helps us to answer an age old question. Is life like a hurricane? Why yes, yes it is. This may not have been Capcom’s first Disney game but it’s the one we all remember most. There’s good reason for that. On one hand the Ducktales franchise was on fire when this game came out. All of us older folks watched it as kids. Secondly the game design was absolutely amazing. It not only encapsulated what made the show so great, but also played well. Plus, there’s the rendition of the opening theme song that plays on the title screen. It sounds amazing.
Scrooge Mcduck is the star of this adventure, and grubbing gold and money is what he’s all about. He can walk and jump like Mario, but this bird has some tricks all his own. For one thing he’s got a cane. He’s a distinguished gentleman, after all. This can be used to bounce on like a pogo stick. With this he can reach higher areas, defeat enemies, and even pass hazards with a breeze. The level designs are based entirely around this mechanic, and it’s a lot of fun to make use of. Speaking of stages they’re wonderful. Seriously, this game is what got my imagination going about what developers could cook up when it came to video games. They’re inventive, have fun hazards, and a nice variety of enemies. Plus, you can go to the Moon. You gotta love Ducktales.
#3. – Mega Man 2
The hard fact is that any best of list Mega Man 2 is eligible to be listed on it’s going to be near the top. It’s the best of the original franchise, and was a mainstay on NES consoles when it was released. Capcom fixed some of the problems with the first game while refining the experience as a whole. They also managed to do things with the NES sound chip that I didn’t think was possible. Wily’s theme? Absolutely incredible. It’s seriously one of the defining pieces of music from this era of video games.
The game itself is a little more action forward than platformer, but I’ll give it a pass. It plays exactly like the original game (and every other sequel for that matter) allowing you to tackle the first stages in the order of your choosing. There’s some strategy behind this because you gain the weapon of each defeated boss, and the robot masters are each weak against that of another. Mega Man 2 came out before Capcom had exhausted their ideas for their boss characters This time we have the likes of Cut Man, Metal Man, Quick Man, Bubble Man, Crash Man, Heat Man, Flash Man, and Wood Man. These are simple, iconic, and fun. That’s the name of the game here. The level designs are seriously on point with some fun but challenging hazards to overcome. Mega Man 2 is simply one of the best games released on the NES.
#2. – Kirby’s Adventure
Wow, just wow. There are few platformers as technically advanced or as fun to play as Kirby’s Adventure. Especially when compared to other 8-bit games. Although many believe this to be the first it’s actually the second game in the series. Kirby’s Dream Land predates it. That doesn’t matter because no one cares about that one anymore. What they do care about is Kirby’s Adventure, and how it was a landmark platformer. Even as a late release this one was turning heads. The Super Nintendo was already out, and HAL Laboratories was still outperforming developers on 16-bit consoles.
Kirby’s Adventure is truly something special. I just wish it wasn’t so easy. Due to the nature of the character’s abilities there are few platforming challenges to be found. He can fly, and endlessly at that. This make’s Kirby’s Adventure more of a relaxing experience. This was the game that introduced the character’s trademark ability to eat enemies and absorb their abilities. This unlocked so much potential for the pink little guy, and it’s fully realized here. In all he could absorb over twenty different powers. Think of them as power-ups, and in that sense there are few platformers from this era that can match it. Kirby’s Adventure also has excellent level designs, and a fun whimsical visual style to it. Who doesn’t love Kirby? I know I do.
#1. Super Mario Bros. 3
I don’t usually do this, but here goes. Super Mario Bros 3 is objectively the best platformer on the NES. Yes, I realize that’s a bold statement, but just try to find someone that will disagree. Good luck. Super Mario Bros. 3 was one of the biggest leaps forward I’ve ever seen in a series, and on the same console at that. It took the basic premise of running and jumping, and incorporated compelling new power-ups, absolutely incredible level designs, and some of the most rewarding secrets to find in any game, ever. I love Super Mario Bros. 3. It’s fair to say that just about anyone who has played it does too. As I mentioned the premise is the same as in the original Super Mario Bros. I mean this in the most basic sense.
Your goal is still to run, jump and stomp on enemies’ heads until you reach the end goal of the stage. It’s the getting there part that’s so compelling. On top of a variety of new enemies and significantly more technical level design we also have amazing power-ups to help out. These include the old super mushroom, fire flower, and super star. Now Mario can gain a tanooki tail and ears with the super leaf. He can also fly with this, but only for a short time. There’s also the tanooki suit which functions largely the same, a hammer bros suit that lets him throw hammers, and more. My personal favorite is the frog suit. You can stockpile these items and you’ll need to. This game is challenging. Super Mario Bros. 3 is just as amazing as it ever was.
