Top Ten Classic 80′s NES Games

10. Dragon Warrior (1989)

A slime appears! This early role-playing game was the first in a long series of games in the Dragon Quest franchise. While simplistic, the role-playing style was still new to many, as this game was one of the first in its genre.

9. Double Dragon (1988)

This “beat ‘em up” game was based on the original arcade version. In the NES version you play as martial artist Billy Lee, who is on a mission to defeat his rival and brother, Jimmy. The game’s success not only spawned several sequels and similar “beat ‘em up” titles, but it also found its way into comic books, television cartoons and a live-action film.I was looking for more information and found it here.

8. Contra (1988)

Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A? Contra introduces one of the most famous cheats in gaming history: the Konami Code. This game is considered one of the best two-player co-op games to have been released on the NES.

7. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (1987)

TKO! In this game you play as a boxer named Little Mac, an amateur hoping to make his way to the top. Each fighter you encounter along the way has his own special moves you must master before you can get some of your own punches in. Your final opponent is the controversy-free version of boxing champion, Mike Tyson.

6. Mega Man 2 (1988)

Mega Man must once again defeat Dr. Wiley and his eight robotic creations in this popular sequel. By taking on Air Man, Bubble Man, Crash Man, Flash Man, Heat Man, Metal Man, Quick Man and Wood Man, our hero obtains new weapons with which to defeat the dreaded Dr. Wiley.

5. Metroid (1987)

Justin Bailey, anyone? Metroid marked a significant break from the linear style of gaming in this beloved action-adventure game. Players are introduced to a large alien world, which they are free to explore while playing as the main character, Samus Aran. Upon completing the game, players were met with a shocking revelation once the helmet was removed: Samus is a female!

4. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)

This game sets itself apart from the previous two in some major ways. Aside from the introduction of stage maps, Super Mario Bros. 3 also introduces mini-games, hidden levels and several outfits for Mario. My personal favorite from this game: The P-Wing!

3. Tetris (1986)

This game has successfully stood the test of time; it’s just as much fun to play now as it was 20 years ago. Thanks to its popularity, sequels have been released for almost every console imaginable. However, these sequels all have one major thing in common: the gameplay is no different today than it was in 1986, meaning the game is still just as addictive.

2. The Legend of Zelda (1987)

Many retro gamers were—and probably still are—in a love/hate relationship with this game developed by the renowned Shigeru Miyamoto. With challenging puzzles, well-hidden temples and a huge world at your fingertips, the Legend of Zelda was an extremely innovative game for its time.

1. Super Mario Bros. (1985)

When his beloved Princess Toadstool is kidnapped by the evil Bowser, Mario quits his plumbing job and sets out to find her. He travels through pipes, underneath water, up vines and across warp-zones, all in an effort to reach that final castle and save the day. This title was a milestone in the gaming industry for many reasons. Not only did it establish side-scrolling platformers as we know them today, but it also made Mario a household name.