One of the two most important consoles of the classic era (the Atari 2600 being the other), the Nintendo NES is home to hundreds of games, many of which are as fun to play as anything on the market today. This list documents the best of the best, giving prospective NES buyers a good starting point in building a quality library of games.

Now while nowadays games have come a long way, remembering where we came from is important.

1. Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 takes the platforming action pioneered by the original Super Mario Bros. and adds a wealth of fun features, including some highly entertaining, costume-based power-ups. Raccoon Mario sports a tail attack, Frog Mario swims fast, and Tanooki Mario can turn into a statue. Nintendo’s famous mascot can also fly, perform a sliding attack, and more. One of the best selling games in the history of the industry, Super Mario Bros. 3 boasts epic gameplay, cleverly designed levels, surprises galore, and a heck of a good time.

2. The Legend of Zelda

No best-of list for the NES is complete without the groundbreaking Legend of Zelda, which gloriously tells the tale of Link and his quest to rescue Princess Zelda from the clutches of the evil Gannon. Armed with a sword, boomerangs, bombs, arrows, and a magic wand (each of which are hidden throughout the game), Link must explore a vast, non-linear world filled with puzzles, monsters, and secrets. The scope of The Legend of Zelda is vast, but not prohibitively so, meaning most anyone can enjoy the game.

3. Super Mario Bros.

Though hundreds of games have aped the basic elements of the original, genre-defining Super Mario Bros., the sheen has not worn off of Nintendo’s legendary platformer. Running through the surprise-laden levels, hopping on top of (and throwing fireballs at) Koopa Troopas, Buzzy Beetles, Bullet Bills, and other now-famous enemies is just as much fun today as it was in 1985, when the game took the world by storm and helped make the Nintendo NES a standard household appliance.

4. Contra

This tough-as-nails platform shooter helps the NES retain its reputation as a hardcore gamer’s game system. Sure, the NES had lots of cute, all-ages titles, but games like Contra are why the NES remains a favorite among so many bloggers, message boarders, and other Nintendo maniacs. The two-player simultaneous action is a blast, but purists will want to go it alone against the hoards of enemies and hazardous traps. Two elements of the game are particularly noteworthy: the awesome Spread Gun weapon and the famous Konami cheat code (for extra lives): Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A.

5. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse

The best game in the vaunted Castlevania series (yes, it even tops Symphony of the Night for the PS1 in terms of sheer gameplay), Castlevania III has amazingly detailed graphics, a rich musical score, and a highly unusual element of play: the ability to absorb the spirits of defeated bosses (including the son of Dracula himself). The whip-wielding action from the first Castlevania remains firmly intact, but the formula is embellished with various routes to take, four different endings (depending on Trevor Belmont’s traveling companion), and a password feature for saving progress.

6. Ninja Gaiden

Like Contra, Ninja Gaiden is a super challenging game that will test the mettle of any joystick (make that control pad) jockey, regardless of skill level or experience. The running, jumping, sword-slashing action is supplemented by the lead character’s (Ryu Hayabusa) ability to cling to walls and do wall-spring jumps and wall-spring climbing jumps, giving the gameplay a distinctive feel. The involving storyline (involving the death of Ryu’s father) is enhanced by cinematic cut scenes and the ending, though very difficult to reach, is worth the effort. As with all the games on this list, Ninja Gaiden spawned numerous sequels (including a 3D version for the Xbox).

7. Castlevania

Unlike many monster-themed NES games, which are cartoonish or campy, Castlevania takes itself seriously, pitting Simon Belmont and his magic whip against a fiendish assortment of bats, zombies, ravens, Medusa heads, and other creepy creatures (including such bosses as the Hunchback and Count Dracula). In addition to the whip, Belmont can find a watch (for freezing enemies), a dagger, an axe, a fire bomb, and a boomerang. Climbing the many staircases while listening to the atmosphere-enhancing music gives the game an epic, Hammer Films type of vibe that will please classic horror buffs. Better than most of its sequels, Castlevania simply rocks.

8. Mega Man 2

The best game in the popular platform shooter series, Mega Man 2 ups the ante on its predecessor with better graphics and sounds, larger, more sophisticated bosses (all of which are robots), and the ability for the title character to acquire such helpful items as a levitation platform, a jet sled, and an elevator, giving the game much more in the way of variety. Like most games in the series Mega Man 2 poses quite a challenge, but at least the game includes a password feature for saving progress (unlike the first Mega Man). Mega Man 2 is a staple of any serious NES fan’s collection.

9. Tetris (Tengen Version)

Most every gamer knows of the addicting nature of Tetris, the greatest puzzle game of all time. Less well known is that the Tengen version of Tetris (which was taken off the market due to a lawsuit by Nintendo) offers two-player simultaneous action, which the Nintendo brand version doesn’t have. For those not in the know, gameplay in most any version of Tetris for any platform is as follows: Players arrange four types of blocks as they fall down the playfield, fitting them together near the bottom of the screen so they will disappear. If the blocks pile to the top, the game will end. For a variety of reasons (including accessibility and smooth difficulty progression), this formula remains endlessly enticing.

10. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!

A vast improvement over previous console boxing titles (such as Boxing for the Atari 2600 and Rocky Super Action Boxing for the ColecoVision), Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! features an unusual, behind-the-boxer perspective that works extremely well. A diminutive underdog named Little Mac must work his way through a variety of fighters, including Iron Mike himself. The game, which was later released as Punch-Out!!, is a masterful combination of action and strategy, making it the best sports tile for the system (beating out such classics as Blades of Steel, Double Dribble, and Tecmo Bowl).

~Brett Weiss