The 10 Most overlooked NES games

The original Nintendo 8-bit console has an incredible library of games, with more than 1000 officially licensed games and even more unofficial titles. Which ones are the most overlooked and worth rediscovering? We have selected ten of them.

What are the most overlooked NES games?

Monster Party

Imagine you are strolling along a quiet village road. All of a sudden, thunder strikes, and everything turns grim, bloody and scary. That is the first level in Monster Party, a game that somehow managed to pass almost unscathed the fiery censorship eyes of early 90s Nintendo. This is one of those rare full-on horror games on the NES, with so many references to classic genre movies such as The Thing and Little Shop of Horrors.

Even the story is quite deranged, with a boy tasked to help a monster get back his world, with even a gorey fake ending! The gameplay is an interesting mix of RPG and classic sidescrolling action as well, with short levels and memorable boss fights. There are even bosses who won't fight you because they are too scared. Unfortunately, the Western version is still missing a few references that will have horror fans giddy with delight, so if possible, we would recommend checking out the Japanese version.

Little Nemo Dream Master

One of my favorite tropes from early 90s platformers is dreamy mechanics and levels that go into full-on fantasy mode. Much like Castle of Illusion for Sega consoles, Little Nemo Dream Master floats in that same direction. It features many unique and interesting gameplay ideas at its levels, plus the chance to ride anything from a frog to a gorilla, as long as you have enough candy to share. Naturally, you will need the animals to complete certain levels but don't expect the game to ever hold your hand.

With the animated movie quickly fading into obscurity, unfortunately, the game seemed to follow suit, and it is rarely remembered except by true NES aficionados. It is definitely worthy of being rediscovered today for its many unique mechanics.

Capcom at the time was on a roll with tie-in platformer games, even though with some pretty forgettable ones such as Avoid the Noid. Both Little Nemo and Ducktales 2 will surely make many platformer fans happy.

Kickle Cubicle

There are a lot of simple and quirky puzzle games on NES, especially ones originally inspired by Sokoban (the game where you move crates in the right spots). Here, Kickle Cubicle takes the idea and ramps it up to eleven with many challenging levels where you will have to figure out how to survive, as you will have to contend with springs, ice floors, and all kinds of traps and tricks.

Luckily, Kickle can freeze most enemies with his icy breath, which works quite well against them. But then, you can also walk up and give them a good kick in the rear. Talk about icy revenge! Naturally, each world will pit you against a boss at the end.

As with many puzzle games on the NES, this brings quite a bit of bang for your buck, with even a special post-game world to unlock. If you are looking for more obscure puzzle games, we also recommend Eggerland, which has recently received an English translation patch.

The Battle of Olympus

Often categorized as little more than a Zelda II clone, this unfairly treated action RPG from 1988 is instead quite different. This feels more like an early example of a Metroidvania, as you explore Greece, kill enemies, build up levels, and collect olives (which function just like rupees).

Naturally, you can solve several side-quests to get upgraded health, shield, and speed. If you have been on the hunt for a sort of demake of Hades, you could definitely get your fill of ancient Greek gods here.

While it can be a bit too cryptic in some places for the modern player, it is also fair to say that no one will yell at you for consulting a walkthrough. The Battle of Olympus allows you to explore freely, along with going back to previously visited areas to open up new places, especially since there are a lot of secrets and hidden power-ups. Naturally, in the end, you will have to fight none other than Hades in a two-phase fight that will leave you quite breathless.

Faxanadu

On a console that is mostly categorized by the two Zelda games, other 2D RPGs are often overlooked and forgotten. But don't give up on them; since Faxanadu is one of the better examples of the genre on the console, it's not an accident that the game has garnered a cult following over the last twenty years.

Thanks to its simple and atmospheric graphics, complete with areas filled with fog and atmospherical effects, plus grotesque enemies and huge bosses, this is one adventure with all the right ingredients to be of interest to lovers of old-school action RPGs. Not to mention, lovers of Norse mythology as it is all about climbing that huge world tree.

While it featured an original password system, which still works well, as it will allow you to pick up where you died, you can still use save states if you are planning on emulating it. This is an adventure that any serious The Legend of Zelda lovers can't afford to miss out on.

Space Shuttle Project

Houston, do you read me, over? We have something quite different here. Indeed, in this game, your objective is not to rescue the princess or save the Mushroom Kingdom but instead to successfully launch and fly one of NASA's historic Space Shuttles as a shuttle commander. But what if I told you this feels like a precursor to WarioWare?

Indeed, the game features a lot of minigames through the six missions the player has to complete in order to launch the shuttle. For example, you will have to activate oxygen and hydrogen pumps or get additional crew members to board the shuttle before the clock runs over. In space, you will have to control your astronaut around debris and various space hazards, along with keeping an eye on the air gauge.

Along with a classic series of Quick Time Events, this is a very different experience than most NES games. But it might definitely be worth it since, if you make it through to the end, you will receive congratulations directly from former US President George Bush himself! Or, well, maybe it's not worth it?

Isolated Warrior

This unique isometric action game is from the developers of other quite solid offerings in the genre, such as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and Mutant Fighter. You'll help Max Maverick, the last survivor of his planet, repel an alien invasion.

With a unique perspective lifted directly from the classic SEGA arcade Zaxxon, the game offers smooth gameplay, fun weapons, many different types of enemies, and some of the finest isometric graphics seen on the NES. There are even some, quite rare for the genre, story bits here and there, with Max reminiscing on his life between levels.

The game originally featured some technical problems, which can also be avoided today via emulation. While it would be too much to say that Isolated Warrior reinvents the wheel, it is one of the best of its kind in a genre that does not usually get a lot of attention on the 8-bit Nintendo console.

Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu

I hear you: a Jackie Chan game that ended up being forgotten? Perhaps because he still wasn't really a well-known action hero in the West back in 1990, but who cares? Action Kung Fu is one of the most fun experiences on the NES, wherein you'll fight against a powerful sorcerer to save Jackie's sister from certain doom.

The game has huge sprites and so many different fun enemies and ideas. Players punch and kick their way past frogs, ninjas, birds, and other enemies. But don't forget that good ol' Jackie can also use special moves like the Tornado attack and the classic 360-degree spin kick.

Somebody might complain that the game is a bit on the easier side, and it can be finished in a matter of a few hours, even if you have never played it before. But do you even mind when the gameplay never gets boring or stale?

Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti

In the '80s, companies were busy making little parodies of their classic games, and Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti fits the bill perfectly. The original gory and tragic horror game becomes a quirky, deformed romp with Dracula doing the Thriller dance and drinking Coke to refill his health.

A killer in a hockey mask has never looked so cute while axing down zombies and ancient Egyptian divinities. Beyond the parody, Wanpaku Graffiti manages to bring the horror to a dimension of entraining 2D platforming, which never gets too hard for its own good.

While the pacing could have been improved here and there, this is still a great adventure. You will definitely want to stay for that out-of-nowhere ending too! This game is ideal for a bit of Halloween fun.

Sid Meier's Pirates!

This is a title that any serious PC gamer should probably be familiar with, even though the series has been dormant for a bit. Back in the 90s, most platforms and consoles got their own version, and on the NES, there's really little that can compare to its mix of open-world exploration, strategy and naval battles.

Ported to the 8-bit console by none other than Rare, the NES version does away with some of the more complicated systems of the original PC game, as can be expected. What is left, though, is still quite the unique strategy game. KOEI released a ton of different strategy games on the NES, but Pirates! keeps things simple, with the focus on exploration, plundering and bringing back the treasure to be divided between your crew.

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