One of the Nintendo 64’s biggest new features was having four controller ports right out of the box. You didn’t need a multitap to play with three other friends, and that was one of the major reasons I picked it up instead of the other consoles at first. Nintendo and it’s third party developers immediately took advantage of this and it was one of the system’s major selling points. The problem is not all of these multiplayer games were good. I learned this the hard way. My friends and I were huge into video games we could all play together so we spent a lot of time seeking out the best ones. We literally spent hundreds of hours with the console. Many of our best memories are playing video games together in this era. That’s why I’ve decided to highlight the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games today.
Before we jump in I’d like to establish some of the rules I set when constructing this list. These are as follows:
- These aren’t the best games for the Nintendo 64 that have multiplayer modes. That wouldn’t be fair to the spirit of multiplayer. Instead these are the best games on the Nintendo 64 measured purely on their multiplayer merits.
- While four player modes were better than two this isn’t a list exclusively highlighting the former. You’ll find games on this list with a dearth of different capabilities as far as multiplayer goes.
- Not all of these games hold up. Some are pretty rough to play now. While I did take modern playability into mind while constructing this list it’s not the primary focus. These are the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games primarily based on how we ranked them back in the console’s heyday.
With those out of the way let’s get started. These are the top 25 best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games.
#25. – Turok: Rage Wars
Two words; Monkey Tag. Those might not mean much to most gamers (even those of the retro persuasion) but to us it was everything. Turok: Rage Wars is entirely focused on it’s multiplayer and offers a lot of different options. This first person shooter allowed you to play traditional battle modes where you frag your opponents and whomever has the highest score wins. Then there’s monkey tag. Here one player is the monkey and the others only score points when they defeat said player. It’s crazy, frantic, and downright addictive. This alone makes Turok: Rage Wars one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games. There’s nothing quite like becoming the monkey and running for your life while your friends are shouting and trying to get you. The only issue is the framerate. This game can sometimes feel like a slideshow, but we never cared.
#24. – Hydro Thunder
I’m not going to sugar coat it. The Sega Dreamcast version of Midway’s classic speedboat racer is superior to this N64 iteration. That’s if you’re playing with just two players. With four you’re going to want this edition, but with the expansion pak. There’s something to be said about Midway’s ‘thunder’ series. They were blistering fast arcade titles and most were ported to home consoles. This is probably the best of them. Racing with speedboats is a lot of fun and the physics make it feel unlike your traditional mad dash to the finish. I also really love the turbo boost system, and how Hydro Thunder nudges you to perform dangerous stunts in order to get these precious power-ups. While this isn’t a game my friends and I played back in the day it’s still one I can appreciate now because it’s one of the best multiplayer Nintendo 64 games.
#23. – Excitebike 64
This is one that most gamers sleep on. It’s also a title that I didn’t discover until I was an adult, and at one of my old friends houses where we played it nonstop. Excitebike 64 is a motocross game that offers a standard two player mode where you race against each other as well as AI opponents. There’s also a four player soccer mode (Rocket League eat your heart out) which is a great diversion. Honestly the two player mode is superior here which is why this one didn’t rank higher on the list. The more realistic approach meant this one takes a lot of time to master, but also that it’s more fun than just about any other similar title from this era. This is kind of a hidden gem, and easily one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games.
#22. – 1080 Degree Snowboarding
1080 is the best snowboarding game of the generation. Come at me. Seriously though, as far as physics go, as well as course design and general playability nothing would come close to matching this title until the next generation. Most multiplayer games of this era suffered framerate hits but not this one. Even sliding down the slopes with a friend it ran smooth as butter. I absolutely love 1080 Degree Snowboarding if you can’t already tell. The multiplayer mode is lacking in a lot of options but that doesn’t matter because it plays so well. It also brings back memories of my friend Ryan who hyped this game to no end, and we would sit in his living room playing it every day after school. It takes a lot for a two player game to make my list of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games, but 1080 Degree Snowboarding qualifies.
#21. – Beetle Adventure Racing
This was low key one of the best racing games for the Nintendo 64. I understand why most gamers chose to pass on it. I mean, VW Bugs? They aren’t exactly known for their ‘racing’ qualities. Those who gave into their curiosity were well rewarded however. This racer has absolutely amazing track design. What looks like generic and somewhat random courses is revealed to be so much more once you start looking for shortcuts. These are super well done and very intelligently designed. What makes this one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games is how well it plays with two players. You can tackle the main mode with a friend which is amazing. There’s also a nice diversion for four players wherein you can battle against each other in set arenas. This isn’t as fun, but it’s a nice addition.
#20. – Mario Tennis
Mario is a man who wears many hats. One of these apparently is a visor. The thing about Mario Tennis is that the name describes it all. You know exactly what you’re getting into with this one. It’s an over-the-top sports game. You may be surprised to learn that it’s also one of the most technical Tennis game of it’s era. You can do multiple types of returns based on the face button you hit, and the number of times you do so. This adds a lot of options and makes Mario Tennis a ton of fun. In multiplayer terms you can play with up to four friends with doubles teams. This is why Mario Tennis is one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games. Because it’s not split screen the framerate takes no hits whatsoever. Mario Tennis runs smooth as butter even when engaging with three friends.
#19. – Donkey Kong 64
DK64 gets a bad rep. It is the typical Rareware collect-a-thon, but with huge worlds and amazing graphics. I’m not here today to talk about that aspect however. This is all about why Donkey Kong 64 is one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games. It’s so good I used to bring my expansion pak to friends’ houses so we could all play together. Donkey Kong 64’s multiplayer is exclusively in it’s deathmatch mode. Up to four players duke it out in a third person shooter mode. Each character is armed with crazy weird guns and they shoot each other in various arena settings. The framerate isn’t the best but even today it’s still perfectly playable. Few even knew that this game had multiplayer because it wasn’t heavily advertised, but it’s a lot of fun to fight against three friends here.
#18. – Dr. Mario 64
This was a late release for the Nintendo 64. A super late release. The Nintendo 64 was basically on it’s way out when this one came out so most gamers missed it. Most remember Dr. Mario as a variation on Tetris released on 8-bit consoles. What this N64 version brings to the table is four player competitive play, and that’s why it’s one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games of all time. The only real drawback is that the play area is really constricted due to the number of screens that have to be included here. Still, something must be said for playing one of the best puzzle games of all time with three of your friends. Even going solo here is a real treat.
#17. – F-Zero X
Here’s another multiplayer game for the N64 that I missed out on until way later. The game itself was incredibly impressive because it ran at a blistering 60 frames per second. That wasn’t commonplace in the early days of 3D gaming. What’s even more impressive is the fact that it runs this well even in four player split screen. F-Zero X itself is a futuristic racing game where you are in hover ships. You gain boosts from sliding along specific areas but even just staying on the track takes a fair amount of attention. In addition there are a ton of CPU controlled opponents. Multiplayer is limited to just you and your friends, but it’s still impressive nonetheless. I wish I had played this one earlier because it’s clearly one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games.
#16. – Duke Nukem 64
If I’m honest this is my favorite version of Duke Nukem 3D. PC gamers may cry blasphemy, but there’s truly something special about split screen multiplayer in this game. I absolutely love the fact that you can play through the entire main campaign with a buddy here. My cousin Cameron and I sat down in his basement and worked together here, and it’s one of my favorite memories from junior high. Then there’s the multiplayer. At the time of release no other FPS on the console allowed players to compete against bots. What really makes this one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games is the stage design however. We spent hundreds of hours in the Duke Burger alone trying to secure it from bots. I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything, and I can’t imagine playing Duke Nukem 3D on any other platform because of it.
#15. – Goemon’s Great Adventure
I talked my brother into asking for this one for his birthday one year. We absolutely love the Goemon franchise, and played through Legend of the Mystical Ninja more times than I can count. The first installment in the series passed on multiplayer, but this one allowed for two players to work together in the main quest. That’s because Goemon’s Great Adventure returned to the 2D roots of the franchise despite using polygonal graphics. While it’s one of the worst installments in the franchise the ability to work together with a buddy in this type of game is unique to it. Goemon’s Great Adventure is absolutely incredible and is easily one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games. I still hate those Impact battles, but it was better to face them with my brother than alone.
#14. – Starcraft 64
Admittedly I had never heard of this game until college. My friends and I would play it over LAN on PC and we spent hundreds of hours competing against one another in this mode. Little did I know there was a port to the Nintendo 64. Starcraft 64 is a real time strategy game. You choose from three different races of army and compete against a foe to gain resources and ultimately engage in battle. This Nintendo 64 port plays identical to the PC version, but doesn’t offer the expansion. That’s of little concern because the base game is so amazing. Honestly split screen does reduce the amount of strategy you can use but it’s still an incredible title. Starcraft 64 is definitely one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games.
#13. – Pokemon Stadium
You had to have been there to know how amazing it was to see Pokemon in 3D for the first time. Before Pokemon Stadium we were limited to just 8-bit sprite representations of our favorite Pocket Monsters. It was absolutely glorious to battle with them on the Nintendo 64. My brother and I have always been huge Pokemon fans and so we spent way more time with this game than we did with any other. On top of being able to battle an opponent in the classic turn based way Pokemon Stadium also included mini-games. Despite being afterthoughts these were absolutely addictive and incredible. The Lickitung game in particular we spent hours with. It isn’t these diversions that make this one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games, rather, it’s the battle mode. This is a kind of ‘you had to be there’ sort of moment.
#12. – Wave Race 64
The first time I saw this game in commercial I was absolutely floored. Even moreso than Super Mario 64. That’s because of the simple fact that it showed two players competing at the same time and the frame rate looked incredible. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to partake. That is, until I had a school project to do with a buddy named Rachel. We spent most of our time playing Wave Race 64. Hours upon hours, and eventually we scrambled together a bad group project. Totally worth it. Wave Race 64 is so amazing considering how well the base game plays. Few other titles offered physics that could compete on any level. Wave Race 64 is simply sublime, but playing with a friend makes it even better. It would be downright irresponsible of me to not include it on a list of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games.
#11. – Gauntlet Legends
Gauntlet is a classic arcade action RPG. It’s been on multiple platforms, and has almost always featured some sort of multiplayer mode. Specifically this Nintendo 64 version is what my friends and I played. You work together across various levels gaining stats for your characters as you slay hordes of foes. I had never played a multiplayer game quite like this at the time so we all fell instantly in love with it. Honestly I can’t count the number of Friday nights we spent in this medieval magical world working together. It took a whole lot for any game to dethrone Goldeneye as our go-to multiplayer game, but Gauntlet Legends did the trick. It’s clearly one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games.
#10. – Star Fox 64
Nintendo’s follow up to their SuperFX game made major waves in the video game industry. It also introduced the world to the rumble pack, and vibration technology in controllers. I’m not here today to talk about either of those things however. This was the first multiplayer capable game I purchased for the Nintendo 64. It’s also the reason I got two additional controllers. On top of the amazing single player mode is also a deathmatch option. You can compete against three other players in various arenas, but the real highlight it in the options you can unlock. Eventually you gain the ability to use the landmaster, and even battle on foot! Deathmatch is an absolute hoot, and without a doubt this is one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games.
#9. – Mario Party
Honestly this should have been a launch title. I guarantee it would have sold more copies because it’s clearly one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games of all time. There were 3 Mario Party games released for the platform but honestly the games repeat themselves sometimes so I have a hard time recommending anything other than the original. Here you are competing against up to three different players across a game board where you’re duking it out in mini-events. These include things like getting the most points, lasting the longest, etc. It’s a really novel approach to the party game but is very self realized. The reason Mario Party makes the list of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games is because they tended to repeat in sequels. Mario Party is amazing and very playable even today.
#8. – Snowboard Kids
Have you ever wanted to play Mario Kart, but with snowboarding? Well Snowboard Kids has your number. Here you compete against various opponents in a downhill slalom. Realism is not the focus but you could probably gather that from the crazy art style this game uses. Snowboard Kids is a racing game at heart. You compete with either other players or AI opponents as you compete to complete races. What sets this one apart is the unique power up system, and the fact that you have to wait at the end of each lap for the ski lift. Along the way in reach race you’ll find various items that can both help you and hurt enemies. It’s the basic Mario Kart formula but set to snowboarding, and it just works. Snowboard Kids is easily one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games of all time.
#7. – Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Conker is best known for being the raunchiest Nintendo 64 release of all time. Rareware apparently got fed up with the development cycle with their original title and instead released this one. We aren’t here today to talk about the quality of that one, but rather, it’s multiplayer mode. My friend Brian was convinced that Nintendo was just for kids, but still insisted I bring my 64-bit console over. We immediately started playing the multiplayer. I was expecting it to be tacked on but that’s far from the truth. There are so many interesting modes here that you won’t know what to do with. You have typical deathmatch modes which played like a third person shooter, as well as others that were really far ahead of their time (Beach for example). There’s even a racing mode which, while it’s not Diddy Kong Racing, was a great diversion.
#6. – Bomberman 64
With the Nintendo 64’s limited library and software droughts Bomberman 64 is a game I felt pressured to buy. My brother and I had this shiny new console but nothing to play on it. Bomberman is always a sure bet so we went with it. The mechanics have been highly altered with stages that are more open, and explosions that blow up in a circle rather than cross shape. These concepts make the whole thing a bit more frantic than your typical Bomberman game. You can even pick up and throw opponents! What made this really worth playing was the fact that you could dress your character up in costume articles found in the adventure mode. It was the entire reason I played this one single player in the first place. Bomberman 64 is different, but definitely one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games of all time.
#5. – Mario Kart 64
I’m sure many will be upset to see this one score so high on any list of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games. After all, Mario Kart 64 was an absolute institution on the console. Unfortunately it just didn’t mesh as well with me as its predecessor did. That’s not to say my brother and I didn’t have a blast with it, because we did, but it was never one of our go-tos. Mario Kart 64 allows for both four player racing and the battle mode. The former is pretty standard but super fun thanks to the excellent track design. No real complaints from me there. Battle mode however is where the real fun was to be had. You and four friends duked it out in enclosed arenas as you attempted to destroy three balloons that hovered about your head. The Block Fort stage is downright legendary.
#4. – Diddy Kong Racing
Does ‘best kart racer’ of all time mean anything to you? Diddy Kong Racing is it, and my friends and I played this one endlessly. It filled the void I was initially expecting Mario Kart 64 to. The big new mechanic introduced here is multiple vehicles. On top of the standard karts you could use an airplane and even a hovercraft. What’s neat is that the stages were designed with all three in mind so they each had their own paths. In standard multiplayer mode each player could even pick from the three depending on the course. That alone made this one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games, but there’s even more. There’s a battle mode (which is a ton of fun) and two players could even work together in the main adventure. It’s a real shame that this didn’t become a series because it’s an absolutely amazing game.
#3. – Super Smash Bros.
The concept of a four player fighting game immediately piqued my interest. This just wasn’t common in this time. What’s more is the fact that it mixed characters from Nintendo’s many franchises, and had a unique life system wherein you only die if you fly off the screen. Super Smash Bros is a ton of fun, and more technical than people give it credit for. I actually prefer the slower pacing of this original release to Melee. There are few that wouldn’t consider this one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games. It was like a love letter to Nintendo fans (and also had one of the best video game commercials of all time). There was huge novelty in watching Mario beat up Pikachu. There’s good reason why this became one of the best selling series of all time.
#2. – Goldeneye 007
Come on. You knew this one would be near the top of this list. Everyone who played video games in the 32/64-bit era knew about Goldeneye 007. It single handedly pushed first person shooters to the next level, and on a home console nonetheless. There are few who would argue this isn’t one of the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer games of all time. While the framerate causes some issues nowadays there was nothing better than duking it out with three friends here. The stage designs are hit or miss, but some were absolutely on point. I can’t think of a multiplayer FPS level I like more than the Facility. The single player mode was great, but if I’m honest, I only spent so much time with it so that I could unlock more for multiplayer. Goldeneye is a legend, and rightfully so.
#1. – Perfect Dark
To this day I haven’t played a multiplayer FPS with this much variety. It was absolutely unprecedented back at the time of release, and to this day hasn’t been matched. Perfect Dark is the spiritual successor to Goldeneye 007 and absolutely refined the formula. In the deathmatch mode you could now add up to 8 bots which means a total of 12 combatants if you have a full roster of human players. It was absolutely insane, and the customization on them was and still is incredible. You can also play through the story mode with one other player which was amazing. Then there’s counter-op mode where you compete against each other in the main adventure. While it wasn’t my cup of tea it’s over the top that they included it. This is still the best Nintendo 64 multiplayer game to this day, and maybe the greatest FPS ever released.
