The Nintendo 64 invented the codes of modern 3D and couch multiplayer: Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros. This Top 50 gathers the best of the N64 library, re-tested and re-ranked by RomWize, each title with its re-evaluated score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"WWF WrestleMania 2000, the last step before No Mercy. Attitude Era roster, beefed-up modes and the AKI engine in full maturity. The formula already brushes perfection, and only its direct successor surpasses it. Excellent wrestling and the first truly great WWF game on the platform."
"Star Wars Rogue Squadron, a Factor 5 monument. Sixteen aerial combat missions, X-Wings, Y-Wings and other mythic craft piloted with rare precision. The engine pulls off technical miracles and the staging honours the saga. A reference for Star Wars games and air-combat action alike."
"A Left Field motocross outing that revives Excitebike with real ambition. Twenty outdoor tracks with aggressive elevation, careful physics, a course editor and changing conditions. A genuine technical surprise for a Nintendo licence, and it stays jubilantly accessible too."
"The Japanese release of the original Turok. The Acclaim FPS that helped define the N64, with its misty jungles, dinosaurs and humid mood, comes through unchanged but translated. The draw distance suffers, yet the exotic adventure and lavish arsenal still feel like a unique breath of air."
"An adaptation of Rare's Killer Instinct 2, beefed up for 64-bit. Outlandish combos, devastating ultras and Robin Beanland's rock soundtrack make for fighting that's as spectacular as it is demanding. The roster is short and the flow trails the arcade, but the punch stays very satisfying."
"The first WCW vs nWo World Tour, the Western face of the AKI engine. Official WCW and nWo wrestlers, complete modes and a grapple-and-counter system that changes everything. With this title AKI demonstrates the superiority of imported puroresu. For many, the dawn of a golden age of console wrestling."
"An AKI Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 sequel, the peak of Japanese wrestling on N64. An expanded roster, the AKI engine at its very best and total puroresu faithfulness. The finest Japanese pro-wrestling simulation on the platform, still a reference for hardcore aficionados."
"A more level-headed 3D Mystical Ninja follow-up, less wild than the first outing. Four playable characters, a semi-open world and cleaner combat make for a more accessible adventure. It lacks the musical madness of the original, but the writing stays tasty and the Edo world feels firmly planted."
"The first ISS on N64 and already a dazzling display of Konami know-how. The flow, the crisp passing and the snappy rhythm immediately lay the foundations of a rival school to FIFA. The content stays modest, but the ball touch is already magic."
"A special edition of NFL Blitz with bonus content, hidden teams and beefed-up cheat codes. No revolution, but a love letter to anyone who wore out the original cart. The over-the-top arcade vibe still hits hard, especially in multiplayer, and the extras are real fun."
