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The best N64 games are still the obvious ones: Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart 64, GoldenEye 007 and Banjo-Kazooie. The more useful question in 2026 is where you can play them without hunting down cartridges. Most of this list runs on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, a few sit in a separate Mature 17+ app, Conker’s Bad Fur Day lives on Xbox, and Super Smash Bros. still needs the original hardware. Below are 14 picks, each with the place it runs today.
How we chose
We didn’t rank by our own nostalgia. We started from the games that come up again and again in the current top search results, including GameSpot’s all-time list and long-running fan threads, then checked every pick against Nintendo’s official N64 library page and a September 2026 snapshot of the full Switch Online catalog. For Rare’s games we checked which version Rare Replay actually ships, because it isn’t always the N64 original. Accessory details come from the manufacturer pages and Amazon listings, checked October 27, 2026. Nobody on our side ran hands-on tests; the controller notes summarize specs and owner reviews.
The best N64 games at a glance
| Game | Genre | Switch Online + Expansion Pack | Other legal option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 | 3D platformer | Yes | Cartridge |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Action adventure | Yes | Cartridge |
| The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask | Action adventure | Yes | Cartridge |
| Mario Kart 64 | Kart racing | Yes, with online play | Cartridge |
| GoldenEye 007 | First-person shooter | Yes | Xbox (free for digital Rare Replay owners) |
| Perfect Dark | First-person shooter | Mature 17+ app only | Rare Replay (Xbox 360 remaster) |
| Banjo-Kazooie | 3D platformer | Yes | Rare Replay (Xbox 360 version) |
| Star Fox 64 | Rail shooter | Yes | Cartridge |
| Paper Mario | RPG | Yes | Cartridge |
| F-Zero X | Racing | Yes | Cartridge |
| Jet Force Gemini | Third-person shooter | Yes | Rare Replay (N64 version) |
| Pokémon Snap | Photo safari | Yes | Cartridge |
| Conker’s Bad Fur Day | 3D platformer (mature) | No | Rare Replay (N64 version) |
| Super Smash Bros. | Fighting | No | Cartridge only |
Switch Online availability per Nintendo’s N64 library page and the G2A catalog snapshot dated September 9, 2026. Nintendo can add or remove titles, so check the app before you buy anything for one specific game.
The 14 games
1. Super Mario 64
Nintendo dates it to 1996, and it is still the cleanest way to see what the N64 was built for: an analog stick, a free camera and open levels you explore in any order. It is the first game to try if you are testing a new controller, because the stick feel matters in every jump. Play it on Switch Online + Expansion Pack or on the cartridge.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The 1998 Zelda is the most common answer to “best N64 game” in the fan threads we read. On Switch Online you can suspend at any point, which Nintendo calls out specifically for this game, so the slower dungeons are easier to fit around a busy week.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Majora’s Mask reuses Ocarina’s world style but builds the whole game around a repeating countdown before the moon falls. It is darker and stranger, and some players like it more for that. Play it right after Ocarina if you can, since the controls carry over directly.
4. Mario Kart 64
Split-screen racing is why most people remember it. On Switch Online it gained online play for up to four players, so friends in other cities can race the same tracks. If you only buy the subscription for one multiplayer game, this is the usual pick.
5. GoldenEye 007
Rare’s 1997 Bond shooter is the game most people mean when they talk about N64 split-screen deathmatch. It is on Switch Online, and Microsoft also gave it to owners of the digital version of Rare Replay in January 2023, so Xbox players have a second route. The original control scheme leans on the C buttons, which is where controller choice matters (see below).
6. Perfect Dark
Rare’s 2000 follow-up adds a longer campaign and a deeper multiplayer setup. On Switch it isn’t in the main N64 app: it sits in the separate “Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature 17+” app next to Shadow Man and both Turok games, so you need to download that app too. Rare Replay on Xbox includes the Xbox 360 remaster instead of the N64 original.
7. Banjo-Kazooie
GameSpot calls it a close second to Super Mario 64 among N64 platformers, and the collectathon structure still holds up. You can play the N64 version on Switch Online, or the Xbox 360 re-release through Rare Replay. Rare picked the 360 versions of Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie and Perfect Dark for that collection because of their quality-of-life changes.
8. Star Fox 64
A short rail shooter with branching routes, so one run is an evening and replaying for different paths is the point. On Switch Online you can share your screen with a friend for the ride, a feature Nintendo highlights for this game.
9. Paper Mario
Nintendo lists it as a 2001 release. It is a turn-based RPG with timed button presses in battle, and it is the easiest N64 game on this list for someone who doesn’t like 3D platforming. Long, text-heavy and very playable in handheld mode.
10. F-Zero X
Big fields of racers and very little scenery, all in service of speed. If Mario Kart feels too random, F-Zero X is the skill-based alternative: no items deciding the last lap. Included with Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
11. Jet Force Gemini
A Rare shooter from 1999 that gets less attention than GoldenEye. It is on Switch Online and also in Rare Replay as the N64 original. One owner review of the 8BitDo 64 controller says aiming in Jet Force Gemini is close to impossible on that pad, so this is the game where a controller with a different setup may suit you better.
12. Pokémon Snap
An on-rails photo game rather than a battler, which makes it a good pick for kids or anyone who wants a low-pressure session. It is part of the Switch Online N64 library alongside Pokémon Stadium and Stadium 2.
13. Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Rare’s 2001 platformer is crude, mature and still funny. It is not on Switch Online. The legal modern route is Rare Replay on Xbox, and Rare chose to emulate the N64 original there rather than the 2005 Xbox remake, which it felt had strayed too far from the original.
The disc version of Rare Replay for Xbox One shows 4.6/5 from 2,700+ Amazon ratings (October 2026). It plays on Xbox One, One S and One X per the listing. Keep in mind that GoldenEye was only given free to owners of the digital version, so the disc doesn’t add GoldenEye.
Check price on Amazon: Rare Replay (Xbox One)
14. Super Smash Bros.
The N64 original started the series, and it is the most notable gap in the Switch Online N64 library: it isn’t on Nintendo’s list as of our check. If you want this one specifically, the cartridge on original hardware is still the main route. That alone is a decent reason to keep a real N64 hooked up; our CRT vs LCD guide covers what to plug it into.
What you need to play them on a Switch
Twelve of the 14 games above need the same thing: a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. The standard Switch Online tier only covers NES, Super NES and Game Boy games. Expansion Pack adds the N64 library, the Mature 17+ app, Game Boy Advance, SEGA Genesis and Virtual Boy, and on Switch 2 it adds the GameCube library plus Rewind and a CRT filter for N64 games.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (12-month individual)
Who it’s for: anyone with a Switch or Switch 2 who wants most of this list without buying cartridges. Who should skip it: players who only care about Conker or Smash, neither of which is included.
- Covers 12 of our 14 picks, Perfect Dark through the separate Mature 17+ app.
- Online play for up to four players in N64 games, plus screen sharing.
- Suspend points in every game; Rewind and CRT filter on Switch 2.
- Delivered as a digital code; the listing shows 4.7/5 from 1,000+ Amazon ratings (October 2026).
Cons: it is a subscription, so the games disappear if you stop paying. The console also has to connect to the internet periodically to confirm the membership, even when you play offline. GameCube games are Switch 2 only, so original Switch owners get less for the same tier.
Check price on Amazon: Switch Online + Expansion Pack
Which controller for N64 games on Switch
N64 games were designed around a three-pronged pad with four yellow C buttons, and a Joy-Con maps those to a second stick or face buttons. That works for Mario Kart 64; it gets awkward in GoldenEye and Perfect Dark. Nintendo sells its own N64 controller for Switch directly to paid Switch Online members (US and Canada shipping only, four per account), so it isn’t on Amazon. These two are the common alternatives.
8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller
Who it’s for: Switch and Switch 2 owners who also play on PC, Android or an Analogue 3D and want one N64-style pad for all of them. Who should skip it: anyone who wants to plug into an original N64 console, which it doesn’t list as compatible.
- Bluetooth or wired USB; works with Switch, Switch 2, Windows, Android and Analogue 3D per the listing.
- Hall effect joystick with a wear-resistant metal joystick ring.
- Vibration on Analogue 3D and on Switch, where it applies to the Nintendo 64 Online games.
- 4.5/5 from 1,000+ Amazon ratings for the black version (October 2026); Amazon’s review summary says many buyers call it the best modern N64 controller.
Cons: Amazon’s review summary rates connectivity and button responsiveness as mixed, with some owners reporting connection problems. Control orientation also splits opinion: one owner found aiming in Jet Force Gemini close to impossible.
Check price on Amazon: 8BitDo 64 Controller
Retro-Bit Tribute64 2.4GHz Wireless Controller
Who it’s for: people who play on an original N64 and on Switch or PC. It ships with two receivers, one that plugs into the N64 controller port and one USB receiver for Switch, PC, Mac and other devices. Who should skip it: buyers who want Bluetooth with no dongle.
- N64 receiver accepts a Controller Pak (memory card); built-in rumble per Retro-Bit.
- Rechargeable 500 mAh battery, rated by the manual at 15-20 hours with rumble and up to 30 hours without.
- Up to 30 ft wireless range; USB-C cable for charging and firmware updates.
- Adds Home and Select buttons and a repositioned D-pad compared with the wired Tribute64.
Cons: 4.1/5 from 1,000+ Amazon ratings (October 2026), lower than the 8BitDo. Amazon’s summary reports connection issues with PC and Switch for some owners, C-button faults and durability complaints, with buttons failing within six weeks for some. On Switch you have to enable “Pro Controller Wired Communication” before pairing, and Retro-Bit recommends updating the firmware first.
Check price on Amazon: Retro-Bit Tribute64 Wireless
Which route fits you
- You own a Switch or Switch 2 and want the most games for the least effort: Switch Online + Expansion Pack covers 12 of the 14. Add an N64-style controller if you plan to play GoldenEye or Perfect Dark.
- You want Conker’s Bad Fur Day: Rare Replay on Xbox is the legal modern option. Choose the digital version if you also want GoldenEye on Xbox.
- You want Super Smash Bros. or the untouched originals: original hardware and cartridges. The Retro-Bit Tribute64 is the pad from this list that works on a real N64. For other systems, see our retro game console picks.
- You mostly play handheld: the Switch Lite runs the N64 app, though Nintendo notes the experience may differ on it. Our Game Boy Advance games list covers another library in the same subscription.
If you are coming from 16-bit, everything on our best SNES games list that Nintendo has added sits in the standard Switch Online tier, so you can start there before paying for Expansion Pack.
FAQ
What is the best N64 game of all time?
Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are the two most common answers in the lists and fan threads we checked. GoldenEye 007 usually wins for multiplayer.
Does regular Nintendo Switch Online include N64 games?
No. N64 games, including the Mature 17+ app with Perfect Dark, require the Expansion Pack tier.
Is Super Smash Bros. 64 on Switch Online?
Not as of Nintendo’s library page and the September 2026 catalog snapshot we checked. Neither is Conker’s Bad Fur Day.
Why can’t I find Perfect Dark or Turok in the N64 app?
They are in a separate app, “Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics: Mature 17+”, which you download from the eShop with the same Expansion Pack membership.
Can I play N64 Switch Online games offline?
Yes, once the app is downloaded, but the console has to go online periodically to verify the membership.
Sources
- Nintendo, Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics product page (included games, release years, online play, Switch 2 Rewind/CRT filter, N64 controller terms, Switch Lite note): https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/nintendo-64-nintendo-classics-switch/ (checked 2026-10-27)
- G2A, “Every Game on Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack”, catalog snapshot dated 2026-09-09 (Mature 17+ app contents, tier breakdown, GameCube on Switch 2 only, offline check-in): https://www.g2a.com/news/features/guide/every-game-on-nintendo-switch-online-and-expansion-pack/ (checked 2026-10-27)
- Wikipedia, Rare Replay (included games, release years and versions, GoldenEye for digital owners, Conker version choice): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_Replay (checked 2026-10-27)
- GameSpot, Best N64 Games Of All Time: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/best-n64-games-of-all-time/1100-6496612/ (checked 2026-10-27)
- Retro-Bit, Tribute64 product page and wireless press release: https://retro-bit.com/controllers/platinum-collection/tribute64/ and https://retro-bit.com/tribute64-wireless-press-release (checked 2026-10-27)
- Retro-Bit Tribute64 2.4 GHz Wireless instruction manual (battery, range, receivers): https://manualspro.net/524154-retro-bit-tribute64-24-ghz-wireless-controller-instruction-manual (checked 2026-10-27)
- Amazon listing ASIN B09WJY877B (Switch Online + Expansion Pack, rating) – checked 2026-10-27
- Amazon listings ASIN B0DKX7JZQD and B0GWZY1ZNX (8BitDo 64 Controller, features, rating, review summary) – checked 2026-10-27
- Amazon listing ASIN B091QTLZ39 (Retro-Bit Tribute64 Wireless, features, rating, review summary) – checked 2026-10-27
- Amazon listing ASIN B00ZMBMO06 (Rare Replay, Xbox One, rating, compatibility) – checked 2026-10-27
- Owner notes / photos: none