The Nintendo 64 marked a significant change in the gaming industry as Nintendo’s flagship franchises transitioned into the world of 3D gaming. The transition didn’t seem to phase Nintendo’s development team in the slightest, as they were able to create wonderfully well-designed 3D adventures for numerous franchises. Nintendo’s mascot characters Mario and Link exemplify this point the best, asSuper Mario 64andThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timewere instantly considered by many to be the best entries in their respective series, despite being their first voyage into 3D.
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Unfortunately, the success of Nintendo’s flagship franchises on the Nintendo 64 has meant that many great games have fallen through the cracks and been forgotten in time. To give such games their due recognition, this list will look at some thoroughly enjoyable games that many people have forgotten about today.
Updated June 08, 2025, by Jack Pursey:Considering that the Nintendo 64 was Nintendo’s first 3D console, it’s impressive how so many of its games hold up well today. While games from theMario,Zelda, andPokémonfranchises steal most of the limelight, there were numerous other excellent games on the system that are often overlooked today. To jog people’s memory about great games from the era, we’ve updated this list to include some more forgotten Nintendo 64 games.
15Excitebike 64
Excitebike 64was released in April 2000 and was the sequel to the originalExcitebikeon the Nintendo Entertainment System, a game that mastered the art of simple but addictive gameplay. This put the development team ofExcitebike 64,Left Field Productions,in a tough spot, as they had to try and match the original’s near-perfection in the unprecedented world of 3D.
ThoughExcitebike 64couldn’t match near-perfection, it did offer astellar 3D racing experiencethat was fully deserving of its impressive88 Metascore.
14Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok: Dinosaur Hunterwas developed by Iguana Entertainment and originally released on the Nintendo 64 in March 1997 before arriving on PC a few months later. Unfortunately,Turok: Dinosaur Hunterisn’t alone in being forgotten, as the entireTurokseries seems to havedrifted far away from the gaming industry’s attention.
Consequently, it may surprise some people today to learn that the originalTuroktrilogy was considered by some to be the strongest trilogy of FPS games released up until that point. The franchise made a comeback in 2008 withTurok, though it struggled to impress, and there hasn’t been another game in the series since.
131080° Snowboarding
Though snowboarding video games have never reached the heights thatskateboarding gameshave with theTony Hawk’s Pro Skaterreleases, there have still been some excellent games over the decades, such asSteepand theSSXseries.
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1080° Snowboardingis another one of the best snowboarding releases, particularly due to the game’s excellent trick mechanics and sense of speed in races that made it one of the N64’s most enjoyable releases from the sports genre.
12Diddy Kong Racing
As the name suggests,Diddy Kong Racingis akart racing game. It was released on the N64 in November 1997 before being remade for the Nintendo DS almost ten years later in February 2007.
Diddy Kong Racingis considered by many who played it to be just as good asMario Kart 64, but because it featured a less recognizable cast of characters and didn’t go on to be a long-running series likeMario Kart, it’s often forgotten about.
11Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machinewas developed by LucasArts on PC, while Factor 5 handled the Nintendo 64 port, which was released just over one year later in December 2000.
Infernal Machinewas the firstIndiana Jonesvideo game to release in 3D. It took players back to 1947, where the iconic archeologist is racing to secure a mythological Babylonian power. The game featured a nice blend of combat andpuzzle-solvingand earned a respectablecritic score of 75 and a user score of 8.0 from Metacritic.
10Quest 64
Quest 64may have the blandest title in gaming history, thoughthe role-playing gameprovided a memorable gameplay experience to compensate for it. Imagineer’sQuest 64(known asHoly Magic Centuryin Europe) takes players to a fantasy land that seemed to have been inspired by Ireland and tasks players with finding their father and collecting elemental gems.
Quest 64takes inspiration from classic RPGs likeDragon Questand theFinal Fantasyseries, though it also throws a few interesting curveballs into the mix, such as its complete lack of in-game money.
9Goemon’s Great Adventure
Due to the Nintendo 64’s 3D capabilities,side-scrolling platformersfor the console were few and far between, as the concept seemed outdated at the time. Konami, however, decided to go against the grain with their third entry into theGoemonseries,Goemon’s Great Adventure.
The game featured side-scrolling platforming, which was especially surprising as the game’s predecessor,Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon,opted for the more modern 3D approach. The bold decision paid off, andGoemon’s Great Adventurebecame recognized as one of the console’s best side-scrollers.
8Wetrix
Goemon’s Great Adventureisn’t the only game on the Nintendo 64 that went against the grain, as Zed Two’sWetrixoffered a 3Dpuzzle experienceunlike almost anything else seen up until that point. The 1998 game puts players in control of a stretch of land, which they need to manipulate with various mechanics known as Pieces to earn points and prevent the Drain meter from filling.
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The game’s unique gameplay was well-received, and a sequel was released two years later on the PlayStation 2 titledAqua Aqua.
7Chameleon Twist
1997’sChameleon Twistwas developed by Japan System Supply, who had the difficult task of making their 3D platformer stand out from the many other similar games already released on the console.
The studio accomplished this by giving their mascot character a tongue that could elongate and act as a fundamental gameplay mechanic. The tongue is controlled with the analog stick and can be used to fight enemies or leap onto previously unreachable platforms.
6Rocket: Robot on Wheels
1999’sRocket: Robot on Wheelsis another 3D platformer that had the tough task of standing out from an already overcrowded genre.Rocket: Robot on Wheelsdifferentiated itself withits realistic physics engine, which gave the gamepuzzle-solvingand platforming mechanics unlike anything else at the time.
Rocket: Robot on Wheelswas the first game to be developed by Sucker Punch Productions, who have gone on to develop theSly CooperandInfamousseries, along with the recently releasedGhost of Tsushima.
