10 NES Classics With Endless Replayability

Being a Millennial doesn’t have a lot of perks, but one of the best was getting to grow up with the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES. I wasn’t a very good gamer back then and really had to learn skills like timing and patience. Looking back, though, the NES was an incredible console with a huge library of amazing games to enjoy.

This list highlights NES games that are particularly fun to replay. Many games offer hidden secrets, but mostly these are just titles you’ll enjoy playing over and over, even after finishing them.

The world of NES games offers a huge variety of adventures, starring everything from brave robots and dragon boys with magical powers, to tired heroes who can change shape, and strong soldiers with guns. Let’s dust off those game cartridges, plug them in, and explore some amazing NES games!

10. Blaster Master

Just a Boy and His Tank

When it first came out, Blaster Master offered a really original adventure experience. It stood out because it mixed overhead gameplay with side-scrolling levels where you drove the SOPHIA tank. However, it was also incredibly difficult – the game had huge underground areas to explore, and you couldn’t save your progress at all.

The game is so expansive that simply finishing it in one go is a rewarding experience. Though it’s not as brutally difficult as games like Ninja Gaiden, it’s still a significant and enjoyable adventure.

If you’re looking for a smoother, more user-friendly experience, the Blaster Master Zero games are updated versions with a lot of helpful improvements. However, these wouldn’t exist without the original game, so I’m glad Sunsoft decided to take a risk on it.

9. River City Ransom

One of the First Beat ’em Ups

Similar to Blaster Master, River City Ransom was a very popular game at the time. It let you explore and fight through different gangs in a non-linear way. Luckily, the game had a password system, which was almost the only way to save your progress on the NES, making it much more relaxing to play.

Alex and Ryan are on a mission to rescue Cyndi and be heroes, but it won’t be easy. Luckily, the game River City Ransom has easy-to-pick-up fighting controls and lots of martial arts moves to learn. You’ll need to use everything you can to defeat the different gangs, each with their own unique fighting styles and personalities.

Although it didn’t immediately become popular in North America, critics liked this game enough to help keep this type of adventure alive and well even now.

8. Contra

Muscle Men to the Rescue!

It’s not often I talk about this, but I actually first played Contra with my babysitter – she was a really awesome person! I definitely needed her help, though; getting good at those run-and-gun games takes a lot of practice.

Even when I was young and not very good at video games, Contra immediately grabbed my attention with its bright colors, scary monsters, and amazing soundtrack. Although you can finish the game relatively quickly, it’s one you’ll want to replay often, enjoying the excitement as you improve your skills.

Over time, Contra has become significantly more challenging, but it still maintains the simple, intuitive controls that made the original NES game so great – a hallmark of a truly classic title.

7. Mega Man 5

Rock and Roll

I have to admit, I’m a massive Mega Man fan, even though I was awful at the games when I was a kid! I think it was mostly because the original three were brutally hard. Thankfully, the series got a little easier with each new release after that.

I don’t want to pick a favorite Mega Man game, but I especially liked Mega Man 5. It struck a good balance and offered a lot of variety, letting you call on Rush and Beat for help with jumping and fighting. You’ll definitely need those assists, because Proto Man, who usually fights alongside you, has gone rogue and is now the game’s villain.

I absolutely loved the Robot Masters in Mega Man 5! Napalm Man, Gravity Man, Charge Man, and Star Man were standouts for me. Honestly, it’s just a really solid and fun Mega Man game that I keep coming back to play again and again.

6. Bubble Bobble

Daffy Dragon Delights

I have fond memories of playing Bubble Bobble when I was a kid. It was a really fun and creative game, and one of the first I encountered with multiple ways to finish it. I only managed to see one ending myself, though – it was full of secrets and got increasingly challenging the more you played.

The game initially presents itself as a charming adventure where you play as one of two adorable dragons. You defeat enemies by trapping them in bubbles and then popping those bubbles before the monsters can become furious. It also had impressive boss fights, like one memorable encounter I called Whistler, who served as the main villain.

Plus, there was that spooky ghost whale that showed up when time ran out! Bubble Bobble was an incredibly full game, filled with lots of hidden secrets. Even now, after years of playing games, it’s still surprisingly difficult.

5. Super Mario Bros. 3

Koopaling Craziness

I had fun with the original Mario games, but Super Mario Bros. 3 is the one that really made me a fan. It was incredibly creative, with cool power-ups from the different suits, lots of secret areas, and Bowser’s mischievous Koopalings.

This game is incredible – easily one of the best platformers I’ve ever played. It’s maybe not quite as challenging as Super Mario World, but it’s still a fantastic adventure. Plus, there’s so much to do and so many secrets to find, you’ll want to play it again and again.

Even today, Super Mario Bros. 3 remains a fantastic game. If you haven’t experienced it, it’s definitely worth playing through the classic version available on the Nintendo Switch.

4. Little Nemo: The Dream Master

Capcom’s Dreamy Platformer

Growing up, Capcom was my favorite game developer, especially during the Nintendo (NES) and Super Nintendo (SNES) years. Their games were always a good challenge, with exciting gameplay and beautiful visuals. While the Mega Man series is well-known, Capcom also created other fantastic games like Little Nemo: The Dream Master.

This NES game is clearly inspired by the movie Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, but you don’t need to know the film to have fun with it. You play as a young boy exploring a dream world, and like Mario, you can change forms by wearing different costumes. These costumes—like a frog, gorilla, and mole—give you special abilities, and you can earn them by giving the creatures candy.

Despite its charming, colorful appearance, Little Nemo: The Dream Master is a surprisingly difficult platformer. You’ll face constant enemies and have to search large levels for keys to unlock doors. Be prepared for a challenge, or this game could become frustrating!

3. Dr. Mario

Pill Popping Panic

Try this: just think about the game Dr. Mario, and you’ll probably find its catchy music starts playing in your head almost immediately! Even though it’s a simple game, Dr. Mario has a truly memorable soundtrack that made getting rid of those smiling viruses incredibly rewarding.

When Tetris first captivated players with its addictive puzzle gameplay, Dr. Mario offered a fresh take on the formula. The game cleverly combined dropping colorful pills with matching them to viruses of the same color, creating a surprisingly fun and engaging experience.

Even though the game didn’t have a story, the gameplay itself was incredibly addictive. I kept challenging myself with higher difficulty levels and trying to beat my own high scores. It was exactly what I needed from a game back in the NES days.

2. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse

Heroes United Against Dracula

While technically the third game in the Castlevania series, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse was the first experience for many players. It struck a great balance between difficult enemies, tricky jumps, and rewarding secrets.

Though not a lengthy game, exploring optional areas opened up new levels and allowed you to team up with different characters. It was also the first game to let you play as three different heroes – Trevor Belmont, Grant, and Syfa – each with their own special abilities for getting around and fighting enemies, and each offering access to unique parts of the game.

A great example of how influential Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse was is that it later became a popular animated series on Netflix and sparked numerous similar games from other companies.

1. Ghosts ‘n Goblins

Arthur’s Quest

There are a lot of fantastic NES games here, but Ghosts ‘n Goblins is the best. It’s incredibly replayable, mostly because achieving the true ending is almost impossible!

This game is notoriously one of the hardest platformers ever made. Playing as Arthur, a knight, you’ll face relentless waves of ghosts, goblins, and other monstrous enemies. Even jumping can be tricky, and just one hit will strip Arthur down to his underwear, leaving him vulnerable to any further attacks.

To be fair, a few players have likely achieved the best possible ending in this game. Just know that it will take a lot of effort and determination, as this is a particularly challenging adventure, rivaled in difficulty only by its sequel on the SNES.

2025-11-23 01:16