Image via Complex Original
Tons of people have good memories of playing the N64. But that doesn't mean you remember every good game that came out on the well-loved system.
The hits are what stick in your mind: Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Super Smash Bros., Goldeneye, Perfect Dark. But the N64 had plenty of support from third-party developers as well—probably more than other Nintendo platforms since have had—and it had a ton of good games that you might not remember.
And if you do happen to recall playing some of these as a kid, well, more power to you. But keep in mind, not everyone played the underrated classics like Jet Force Gemini, Snowboard Kids, and Forsaken 64. So it's time to unearth those lost treasures. These are the 15 Best N64 Games You Probably Don't Remember.
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Beetle Adventure Racing
Released: 1999
Beetle Adventure Racing is one of the only great blatantly licensed games ever made. But how great it is.
If you can get past the fact that you're driving VW Bugs around—and not even the good, old Bugs, but the crappy new ones—you'll find good tunes, fun physics, and incredibly detailed tracks honeycombed with shortcuts, secrets, collectibles, and unique events. It even has great multiplayer with a Mario Kart-like battle mode.
Mischief Makers
Released: 1997
Mischief Makers was distinctly Japanese, but that wasn't its only distinction. During the N64 era you might have sworn that the 2D platformer was dead, thanks to games like Super Mario 64, Gex: Enter the Gecko and Banjo Kazooie.
But Mischief Makers was a 2D platformer in which you play as a robotic maid who has to pick things up and shake them, and it was awesome. If you want to know more, then you need to play the game. We don't want to spoil it for you.
Jet Force Gemini
Released: 1999
Rareware made some truly memorable games back in the day, but for some reason Jet Force Gemini is one that isn't often remembered. And it was definitely better than Donkey Kong 64.
Jet Force had everything: a lengthy, plot-driven campaign, endless hordes of humanoid bug soldiers to splat, secrets to discover, and a very smart dog with a gun strapped to his back. Also, co-op multiplayer! Give it a shot if you ever find it at a flea market or yard sale.
Forsaken 64
Released: 1998
If there's one thing you do remember about Forsaken 64, it will be its evocative cover and marketing imagery. No wonder we enjoyed it as kids.
But more importantly there was a solid and challenging 3D shooter in there. It was no Goldeneye, and it definitely felt like a PC game smushed up to work on N64 (which it was), but it's still worth revisiting today.
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Released: 1998
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon was the oddly-titled sequel to a Super Nintendo game called Legend of the Mystical Ninja. In fact both titles star Goemon, and they're part of a larger series that definitely saw more play in Japan.
But many consider Mystical Ninja—the first of two Goemon games released on N64—to be up there with the best 3D platformers on the system. Too bad it didn't see more play here, too.
Snowboard Kids
Released: 1998
Who needs 1080 Snowboarding? Everyone remembers that game. But did 1080 feature a playable penguin boarder? Didn't think so.
Snowboard Kids was a really solid snowboarding game that was eclipsed by its better-remembered contemporaries, like 1080 and Twisted Edge. But it had more charm than those two combined.
WinBack
Released: 1999
WinBack was the type of game that your more mature friends would play when you wanted to play Snowboard Kids instead. It was a stealth-and-cover-based third-person shooter released exclusively (at first, at least) for the N64.
That made it, by default, the N64 rival to PlayStation games like Metal Gear Solid, and it actually held up pretty well. It was also one of the first games with something resembling a modern cover system. And one of the first to capitalize two letters in a single word, which wasn't as cool back then as it is now.
Blast Corps
Released: 1997
Here's another Rare game that isn't always remembered, but should be. The entire game is based around destroying buildings to clear a path for a truck carrying nuclear missiles.
The vehicles were awesome, featuring anything from a simple bulldozer to a building-stomping robot. But most important was getting the platinum medal on all level. You just had to have them. It was like getting achievements, but even more pointless.
Space Station Silicon Valley
Released: 1998
It may not sound like much from that title (who the hell greenlit that?) but Space Station Silicon Valley was a great little 3D platformer. The game took place on a space station that doubled as an amusement park and stars Danger Dan and his robotic partner Evo as they investigate the station and battle cyborg animals.
Oh, and how about this? It was created by a developer called DMA Design—a studio now known as Rockstar North, the creators of Grand Theft Auto.
Body Harvest
Released: 1998
Here's another game by DMA Design. Even back then, the company which would eventually become Rockstar North was a powerhouse. Body Harvest was a third-person sandbox game—a lot like GTA, actually, but with much more time travel.
And also like GTA, it got the developer into trouble because of its violence; it was meant to be an N64 launch title, but DMA had to find a new publisher after Nintendo dropped it.
Chameleon Twist
Released: 1997
Chameleon Twist is not your average 3D platformer. It stars a chameleon with a lengthy tongue that can be used for everything from attacking to crossing large gaps.
The controls are a big part of what set it apart, and they turned a lot of people off. But if you practiced long enough there were some interesting boss battles to discover.
Tetrisphere
Released: 1997
Tetrisphere is exactly what you imagine it would be: 3D Tetris in the shape of a sphere. Yes, it seems messing with Tetris has always been a trend in video games, at least ever since the Game Boy version made the puzzle game popular.
It took some getting used to, but once you got the hang of playing Tetris on a 3D orb instead of a flat up-and-down plane, it was just as much fun as the original.
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Released: 2000
Oger Battle 64 was definitely not for everyone, but fans of PC RPGs ate it up back in the day. For a console game it was surprisingly detailed.
Despite the dorky subtitle, it's one of the best RPGs on the N64, and even a worthy item in Atlus's now-beloved repertoire of Japanese imports into the states.
ClayFighter 63⅓
Released: 1997
This game's odd name was emblematic of the entire experience: it just had to be different, but that was one of its strengths. Every other game was "this 64" and "that 64," so this obviously had to be ClayFighter 63⅓.
The fighting game didn't suffer for the lack of its final two thirds, though, and the stop motion claymation graphics were awesome. Plus the characters included an evil snowman, along with another fighter that was simply a blob.
Micro Machines 64 Turbo
Released: 1999
Micro Machines 64 Turbo was a special version of what was called Micro Machines v3 on other platforms. The series features toy cars that race across household settings like desks and kitchen tables.
But more importantly though, MM64 Turbo should be remembered for one incredible distinction: it actually had eight-player multiplayer, where two players could share a controller, one using the d-pad and the other the C buttons. Can you think of another game that did that?