Support NeoGAF

[Rran]

Honestly the list is pretty good overall. I think MM2 is slightly overrated but it deserves to be in the top 10 (I'm more of a MM3 kind of guy). Zelda should be even higher. Kirby and Dragon Warrior 4 should be on there. Otherwise, not too many complaints.

And StarTropics is a cool game. Maybe not quite great but it looks good, sounds good, has a ton of personality, and even some minor exploration aspects. I'm surprised so many people struggle with the tile-based moveset. I thought it was fairly intuitive, no more clunky than committal platformers like Castlevania.

Speaking of which, where tf is Castlevania 1? Castlevania 3 was too busy being ruined by the US team making it tonsil-gougingly hard.

 

[ZehDon]

I'm glad they took their time with this one.

 

[DForce]

This list needs Mega Man 3.

And this.

 

[kevboard]

no Vice Project Doom? pfft!

 

[Knightime_X]

Hell yeah to Life Force! easily the best pure shmup on nes

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

this was a good game not released in us

I know that the game is good, but to this day I can't imagine a kid going to the store to pick up a new game, seeing this box art, and going "yeah, I want that".

 

[Beretta]

Captain Skyhawk is one of the greatest games of all time with an awesome soundtrack and they couldn't even put it on a top 20 list?

 

[Celine]

Dragon Quest IV is the best RPG on the NES (miles better than all the Final Fantasy games on the consoles).

 

[Emedan]

Yeah.. where the heck is Duck Tales?

 

[Randall365]

No Final Fantasy games seems bold.

 

[Hudo]

Solid list. I would've probably included Kirby's Adventure and thrown out Duck Hunt, though.

 

[CashPrizes]

Pretty good list.
I would have Ducktales, River City Ransom, and Jackal on there for sure.
Could cut TMNT3, Star Tropics, and Duckhunt.
Metroid, while an innovator, is a chore to play, and I would have it like at #18 or #19 if on the list at all.
I prefer not to have multiple games from the same franchise in top 20s, but Super C , Castlevania 1, and Mega Man 3 are a lot better then some of these games.
Ice Hockey is a personal favorite of mine, would definitely make my list over Tecmo Super Bowl.

 

[NeverYouMind]

Very nice and predominantly agreeable list. With so many games on the NES everybody likely has their own, so here is mine:

20. Magic Jewelry - An addictive puzzle game with unforgettable tracks.

Spoiler

19. Rad Racer - Probably the only racing game of the era that resembles the genre today.

Spoiler

18. Zen Intergalactic Ninja - A psychedelic action game with no rhyme or reason.

Spoiler

17. Super Mario Bros. - The most aesthetically captivating entry of the plaformer franchise on the system

Spoiler

16. 1943 - Amazing World War II themed shoot 'em up bringing arcade action home.

Spoiler

15. Final Fantasy - An enthralling JRPG experience that keeps the player hooked.

Spoiler

14. Yie Ar Kung Fu - An affordable port of the first bonafide fighting game.

Spoiler

13. Felix The Cat - A platformer about a cartoon cat looking for a kidnapped love interest with gear up the wazoo.

Spoiler

12. Castlevania III - Multiple unlockable characters and stage selection make this game the best of the horror-themed action side-scroller franchise.

Spoiler

11. Little Nemo: The Dream Master - An Alice in Wonderland kind of platformer with a child transforming into various creatures.

Spoiler

10. The Jungle Book - A boy raised by wolves and befriended by various animals survives malevolent entities in the jungle.

Spoiler

9. Cobra Triangle - A fun and varied boat combat game.

Spoiler

8. Home Alone 2 - A bizarre action platformer about a kid knee-sliding against rogue appliances and hostile adults.

Spoiler

7. Darkwing Duck - Noir duck hero Megamans his way past various obstacles, henchmen, and villains.

Spoiler

6. Monster In My Pocket - Fun hack 'n slash about toy monsters duking it out in an interesting rendition of a home.

Spoiler

5. The Legend of Zelda - The coolest top-down action RPG which created the mold for others to follow.

Spoiler

4. Super C - Epic run n' gun sequel with improved top-down sections for that early 90s Rambo Commando feel.

Spoiler

3. Aladdin - Platformer that retains charm and challenge of Disneyfied Persian tale of a thief and a magic lamp with a Genie.

Spoiler

2. Tetris (Tengen) - Best version of the perfect puzzle game.

Spoiler

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game - Beat 'em ups do not get more fanservicy than this at the peak of relevance.

Spoiler

 

[Setzer]

Missing some great games on that list:

Final Fantasy
Crystalis
Shadowgate
Faxanadu
Battletoads